Shrine

Alexis Willis

“Spiritual Rebirth: overcoming the Bondage of Blood”

My shrine represents me breaking free from the unhealthy patterns with codependency and domestic abuse I saw women in my family subject themselves to all while they battled severe life long addiction. 85% of the women in my family have passed away due to substance abuse and less than 20% of the women in my family— including extended— married. Although, there are things I admire and appreciate about my birth mother, I have recently distanced myself from her. There is a victim mindset my mother is still overcoming, along with temptation towards alcohol overuse and mild narcissism used as her defense mechanism. Most of her life she battled cocaine addiction. Her mother, my grandmother, who was brave enough to raise me also battled addiction to cigarettes and alcoholism. It eventually led to her organ failure. My grandmother, who was my legal guardian, passed away my last year of high school, and also 12 days before my 18th birthday. Their love for me, had forms of neglect and emotional abuse, and I’ve often saw purpose in men and codependent relationships. Yet this is not the end of my story. It’s just a chapter.

Butterflies have always represented new beginnings for me. These gentle creatures crawl on the ground, in dirt and grass and debris until eventually get their wings! Once they take flight, life offers more beauty. Now, have freedom to enjoy the sweet nectar of life and help pollinate. The gold metal prongs and circle represent the sun and spiritual rebirth. The torn card pieces represent the notion that we won’t know the cards we will be dealt in life. Too, the numbers are my mom and my grandmother’s birth dates. The flower is protruding from a black background (the black tape) for life after death. Redemption after burial. The red ribbon is a stream of blood representing hard childbirth, and the devastation both women caused their body with alcohol and drugs. Their blood gave me life. Their blood is the foundation of my RESILIENCE!!!