I am in the midst of a body of work which explores the Santos Awakening.

In France in the 1600’s, carved wooden statues sitting atop wooden cage frames were placed in the center of the household to stand in as priests when the regional priest was too far away. In this way, they represented the household intention of being connected to the regional church. Each family had it’s own little priest standing guard at home. 

But those days are long gone, and the Santos that remain are tattered and worn. If they could speak they would tell us of their role, and wonder where the families went. Their skirts and wigs are faded and gone, the dry wood of their old cage undercarriage stands empty like the bones of a prehistoric bird. Why have we been forgotten, they wonder, with their sacred expressions and uplifted arms…

I invite you to join me on my journey of the Santos Awakening. I believe it’s form holds secrets for us and can be a real tool of self-discovery. Today we have become the priests and priestesses of our own homes, and the Santos vessel  is becoming a relevant form, as we face discerning and conquering our own spiritual pathways.

After all, the Santos is a fascinating form; it has unlimited  potential to be an expression of ourselves. It can be a vessel which holds not only our hopes, dreams and visions as a type of living altar, but it can reflect us back to ourselves like an ever changing mirror, calling and challenging us to continued transformation, luring us to see ourselves differently, and growing us into becoming our highest selves. 

I am creating a new vessel of vision in my Santos. I believe this Awakening will deepen our understanding of ourselves, and ultimately our relationship to the Divine.  

I invite you into my work and into my world! 

-Linda Lenart