ISSTD GALLERY OF INSPIRATION
 
  Susan Stone Salas

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Into the Light
16" x 20"
Oil on Acrylic on Canvas
Into the light, is attempting to get closer to the long ago buried truth, tainted by guilt and shame. Its process seems slow, but is steady as the closer one gets to the light, the easier it gets to cope with its reality. It takes courage as that of a strong horse to even gaze towards the light, and that horse is one's self when the time is ripe. Within that light there is a recognizable fury, anger, and rage that is alas understood. It's the first step of many, as one begins the journey towards inner peace, genuine self-love and harmony.

Mired
16" x 12"
Acrylic on Canvas
Mired is broken inside. She is condemned by society because her behavior is that of self exploitation. She feeds on self-condemnation that has blinded her, for her way of coping is to allow what happened a long time ago to keep on happening. Other survivors who dare to speak to her can help her to understand that she is not the only one to have coped this way. Then she can begin to see that desperate pattern and begin the process of overturning subconscious self-hate, guilt and blame into genuine self-acceptance and understanding, that reverses the destructive cycle that was her "normal" for so long.

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Mirror
16" x 20"
Acrylic on Canvas
Woman and horse stand together in parallel. For is not woman supposed to keep silent, keep secrets, and to carry burdens, just like a horse? Both are taught/trained by society to fit in a mold of submissive obedience. For the survivor of trauma this dynamic alone challenges the very essence of womanhood to stand up, to speak out, thus breaking out of the mold, empowering herself and being a light to others.
The Path
20" x 40"
Oil on Canvas
A safe mental state of being nurtures a troubled soul. It's a place of escape, it's a place of peace, where there is no harm. The seasons change like the seasons in our lives change, but its peace and harmony remain. On this path of life it takes courage for everyone to pass beyond what is not foreseen; like the death of a loved one, changes in employment, or divorce; and though the baggage of being a survivor can seem confusing particularly when untreated, survivors have already been through the worst and armored with incredible courage, stamina, tolerance and patience.
   
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