Soul Challenge - Andanza

The Animus & the Anima, riding in on horseback

This painting, which Elis Regina and her heraldic Andanza helped create, seemed to me the perfect candidate for a "Soul Challenge".


All my life Brazil has called to me as a primary receptacle of what one might call 'soul'. The music, in particular - and the few times I managed to visit, there was something in the air, the people, the way skyscrapers clung to the seascape, the vast diversity of people, electricity everywhere, the giant butterflies, the portentous weight of humidity - but especially the music. Brazil has duende, Elis has duende, and duende is 'soul'.

Something of proudly forging ahead on a trusty horse (the physical body, or vehicle), through shadowy, uncertain, swampy grounds (real life), looking out for friendly guides and co-travelers (the animals various), and never forgetting those shadowy hungry things that follow us (cloud person), we, the brave riders (as soul on the horse), can find our brave and epic passage through life.

Whee!