Divine Masculine

Divine Masculine, acrylic on canvas © D. Yael Bernhard

“Divine Masculine” is the name of the card for which this illustration was created, for The Power of the Yin Oracle Deck (published by Daven Lee, illustrated and designed by me). As the title suggests, the deck focuses on the feminine, or yin, attributes of human nature and nature itself: that which is receptive, intuitive, diffuse, generative, and nurturing. For women and men alike, cultivating these qualities can be a healing process or even a spiritual journey. The cards are meant to inspire and gently guide you along the way.

This is one of only two cards in the deck that explicitly shows a man. As the counterforce that defines its opposite, this archetype of masculine energy is essential to complete the deck – and the inner psyche. This is not subtle energy, but a striking force, full of determination and purpose. The text on the card speaks to this intensity:

As the illustrator, I could have depicted this polarity in any number of ways. I love images of male-female interaction – an inexhaustible subject for artists. But when I read the text, a prior image came to mind – a hand-colored linoleum block print I had created years earlier titled The Night-Sea Journey:

The concept of the Night-Sea Journey comes from ancient myths, formalized by ethnologist Leo Frobenius and later Carl Jung, symbolizing the hero's descent into the dark and transformative sea of the unconscious, mirroring the sun's nightly passage beneath the world. This theme is also seen in myths like Jonah and the Whale, Osiris, or Inanna. Some forty years ago I was captivated by it, and created this image of a man and a woman on their night-sea journey together, entwined in the energies of the unconscious as they hold each other in a dream state.

I decided to create a new version of this image for the card. In the new version, I played around with the tapestry of colors and shapes through which this couple makes their passage. The man comes from the sky, and the woman is of the earth – yet she is the color of water and he is the color of clay, as they both embody these elements. And while the first version of the unconscious sea is a checkerboard of geometric patterns, this new version divides it into two separate palettes that correspond to the figures – cool, watery hues on her side, earth and fire on his. The entire composition is balanced differently by this interaction. It’s also balanced with the rest of the deck, standing out as one of the most bold and graphic images, and the only one with stripes. All of this was deliberate, as I thought and thought about how to create visual harmony within the image and in the deck as a whole.

I’ve been gifted with amazing masculine energies in my life, in both human and divine form. I thrive on these polarities as an artist, a dancer, a drummer, and in personal relationships – and I count my lucky stars that we are free, in this society, to explore these dualities within ourselves and others. When the polar energies of feminine and masculine come together in harmonious union, life is sweet.

The original painting of Divine Masculine is for sale. It’s acrylic on canvas, measuring 9”x12”. Please inquire for more information if you’re interested.

A good week to all!

D. Yael Bernhard

https://dyaelbernhard.com

Have you seen my other Substack, The Art of Health? In addition to being a visual artist, I’m also a certified integrative health & nutrition coach with a lifelong passion for natural food cooking and herbal medicine. Now in its second year, this illustrated newsletter explores cutting-edge concepts of nutrition. I strive to make relevant information clear and accessible, and to anchor essential health concepts in unique images. Check it out, and if you like it, please subscribe and help spread the word. Your support keeps my work going!