Closing the circle – on wholeness and moving forward
Every journey has a circle.
We rarely walk in straight lines. Instead, we spiral — forward, backward, inward, outward — until one day, we find ourselves standing at a place both familiar and new. This is what it means to close the circle.
Not to end, but to arrive at a moment of wholeness.
Circles as the shape of life
Circles hold deep symbolism across cultures:
They remind us of seasons, moons, cycles of breath.
They speak of return, of resilience, of the truth that nothing is wasted.
They reassure us that endings are not final — they are beginnings in disguise.
In art, the circle is both form and invitation. When I paint circular strokes, I feel myself completing something inside, even if I can’t name it.
What wholeness really means
Wholeness does not mean perfection. It does not mean every piece of us fits neatly.
Wholeness is the willingness to sit with all that we are — the grief, the joy, the unfinished, the radiant —
and to say: “Even so, I am whole.”
Art has taught me this again and again: a painting is not “whole” because it has no mistakes, but because it holds everything honestly.
The circle of creativity
Every creative act is itself a circle:
We begin with possibility.
We move through doubt, mess, and letting go.
We arrive at something that surprises us —
something that reflects not just the image, but the journey itself.
And then, the circle asks us to begin again. This is not a loop of futility, but of aliveness.
Each cycle makes us softer, deeper, more ourselves.
For therapists & space holders
The metaphor of the circle can be a grounding tool:
Invite clients to draw or paint circles, spirals, or mandalas as a reflection of their current state.
Use the circle as a symbol of safety: “Whatever arises belongs here.”
Closing a session with a circle — whether visual or ritual — can anchor a sense of completion.
For artists & seekers
You may notice circles already appearing in your work. They often show up when we need to remember balance, or when our subconscious longs for integration. Try this:
Draw a circle on paper.
Fill it with color, marks, or words that reflect what you carry today.
When finished, whisper: “This is enough. I am whole.”
It’s a simple act, but a powerful one.
Silver feathers rising – closing the circle
This final post in the Silver Feathers Rising series feels like a circle itself. We began with letting go. We moved through softness, symbols, rituals, and release. And now, we arrive here: wholeness.
The original works in this series are my circles of wholeness. Each piece, paired with its affirmation card, is not just an artwork — but a reminder that you are always already enough. They were created as ritual companions, to sit beside you as you move through your own cycles of release and renewal.
Closing the circle is not about finishing. It is about pausing, honoring, and stepping forward with what has been gathered. As this series comes to rest, may you carry one truth with you:
You do not need to be complete to be whole.
And like silver feathers, rising softly, you are always free to begin again.
