I spent most of the time waiting for Jon during his surgery trying to create my own version of Baubo. She’s the greek goddess with the bawdy sense of humor who pulled Demeter out of her depression.
In many of the greek figures of Baubo she is wearing a crown made of two acorns. In the most recognized one her face is on her belly and she has no head or arms.
In Martini Fisher’s blog post Baubo, the Great and Forgotten, she writes…. “If the crown tells what the person wearing it does, like all other crowns worn by gods do, then it is safe to say that Baubo is an old god from a culture before agriculture.” From a time when acorns were the “main food source.”
Martini believes that Baubo is a transition figure from the hunter-gathers to farmers. Which is why in the greek story of Demeter she is demoted from a goddess to a servant.
I went looking for an acorn under the oak that grew on the edge of the parking lot where I waited for Jon. The grass under the tree was mowed low and immaculate. But I did find one acorn that I used for inspiration as I drew.
After many attempts, I came up with the Baubo above. She has acorns for breasts and oak leaves for hair.
It was seeing how much Kamala Harris laughs and smiles that made me think of Baubo again. And the importance of laughter.
And Baubo’s acorn crown fit right in with the oak trees that keep making an appearance in my healing visualizations.
It was these two things that made me want create my own Baubo.
I don’t know if she will find her way into my work any further. But I feel like I have gotten to know and understand her a little better. As if she has entered my life for a reason that I’m still discovering.
