The heart magic mirror is an ancient tool used for self-reflection and inner healing. It is not a physical mirror, but rather a metaphorical one that allows individuals to look deep within their hearts and gain insight into their emotions, beliefs, and desires. The concept of the heart magic mirror comes from the belief that our hearts hold the answers to our deepest questions and desires. By quieting the mind and connecting with our hearts, we can tap into the wisdom and guidance that lie within. Using the heart magic mirror involves setting aside dedicated time and space for reflection. This could be in the form of meditation, journaling, or any other practice that allows for introspection.
A solo show of Decker’s photographs of stone heads around the city was held at the Manhattan Borough President's Gallery in March 2010 . The Ultimate Eye Foundation selected her photograph ( Cursive Indigo ) for Waking Dreams at Peninsula Museum of Art, Calif. (2008). She received a cash award for Incognito in a juried show at Kauffman Gallery, Shippensburg University, PA (2008).
I remembered how, when I was a child I was fascinated with magic, making potions out of plants herbal tea , rituals for manifestation i would write down things i wanted and them bury the paper in the forest. Candid glimpses of narrative moments in peoples lives, these cinematic sequences and leitmotifs record the transformation of a landscape as weather and season change, turning people and their animals into miniature figures in a living scroll painting.
This could be in the form of meditation, journaling, or any other practice that allows for introspection. The goal is to create a quiet and still environment where you can connect with your heart without distractions. To begin, take a few deep breaths and bring your awareness to your heart center.
Elisa Decker Fine Art
Decker’s photographic images are the result of an ongoing inquiry into the possibilities for transformation in the everyday. They celebrate serendipitous findings filtered through a painter’s sensibility, and often, humor. Texture, color, movement and ambiguity of scale come into play in works derived from both natural and inorganic sources. Conceptually, the work is simply about being present.
Other ongoing series include portraiture, street photography, flora and fauna, still life.
When photographing weathered walls in Marseilles during a Camargo Foundation photography grant in 2003, I was first drawn in by the colors, textures and abstract compositions that had informed my landscape painting. I soon realized that not just any wall would do. So what began as a purely formal study became an exploration of the seen and the unseen. This ongoing series of photographs documents my investigation of quotidian reality and its potential for transcendence. Discovered mostly on sidewalks, street pavements, walls, dumpsters and on construction sites, these easily overlooked motives resonate with me, suggesting portals to other worlds. -- Elisa Decker
On January 1, 2011, Decker began shooting what she sees every morning from her Westbeth perch overlooking the Hudson River. A solo exhibition in 2014 at the Manhattan Borough President's Gallery featured 245 works from the series. They document the flow of time and represent a departure from the photographs Decker usually takes. Candid glimpses of narrative moments in peoples' lives, these cinematic sequences and leitmotifs record the transformation of a landscape as weather and season change, turning people and their animals into miniature figures in a living scroll painting.
Though anchored in reality, Decker’s paintings and works on paper have an otherworldly quality that invites the viewer on a magical journey. As the artist examines the ways in which nature corresponds with her internal life, her approach to realism takes a metaphysical turn. Organic weathered forms undulate in a shimmering dance. Mysterious crevices lead to secret places and hidden treasures. Swirling roots and limbs pulse and vibrate in a visceral landscape revealing the spectral, fairy-tale shapes of the imagination. Broad suggestive passages combined with attention to fine detail produce a combination of dreaminess and earthiness. Entering the worlds within worlds of these multi-layered pieces, the viewer is invited to partake in a participation mystique , a communion with the numinous in nature.
Elisa Decker received a B.F.A., summa cum laude from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). She has exhibited extensively since 1975 and has work in the permanent collections of Pfizer Inc., Peter Hay Halpert, Lawrenceville Hospital, Bronxville, NY, International Art Studio, Valievo,
Altos de Chavon, Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado and in many private collections. Ms. Decker is an exhibiting member of Professional Women Photographers (PWP). In 2008, her work was featured in PWP magazine’s March/June Issue XXV.
A freelance art critic since 2004 (Art in America, Brooklyn Rail)
Three art review links (more on LinkedIn)
Selected Exhibitions, 2019
Circles & Squares , Rick Wester Fine Art, NYC (6/13- 8/9 )
Abstracted Reality (PWP), Atlantic Gallery, NYC ( 6/4-6/15)
Our Botanical World (PWP), Matted LIC, Long Island City, NYC (3/22-5/12)
Glimpses of Our World, Salmagundi Club, NYC (PWP), Magdalena Solé , juror (2/ 4-2/15 )
Selected Exhibitions, 2018
Our Botanical World (PWP), Queens Botanical Garden, Flushing, NY (5/4-8/8)
Artist-Curator, Sympathetic Magic (31 artists), Westbeth Gallery, NYC (3/29-4/15) http://westbeth.org/wordpress/sympathetic-magic-group-show/
In Studio: BMCC Art Faculty Show , Shirley Fiterman Art Ctr., NYC (2/14-3/24)
Solo show, Stones Speak, Jefferson Market Library Gallery, NYC (Jan. 3-30)
Selected Exhibitions, Performances 2017
The Power of Tones (PWP), Jadite Gallery, NYC (12/5-12/16)
Four on Paper, Westbeth Project Space (7/6-9/30)
Duality: Glimpses of the Other Side, Islip Art Museum, New York
(6/24-9/17)
Solo show, Chase Bank, 8th Ave, W. 12 St, NYC (8/31-12/31)
RE-SEARCH , BMCC faculty recent work , Shirley Fiterman Art Center
(2/22-4/1)
Scene on the Street , Jadite Gallery, NYC, juror: Meryl Meisler (2/1-2/15)
Bastard (The Painted Bird: Part 1) La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, The Downstairs, NYC, in association with Pavel Zustiak / Palissimo, 1/4-1/8, performed with the Ensemble
Selected Exhibitions, 2016
Structure in the City, PWP, National Arts Club, NYC (5/16-5/31/16)
ART/ WORKS, BMCC faculty recent work, Shirley Fiterman Art Center
(2/10-3/19)
Concerts on the Canal, slide show, Gateway City Arts, Holyoke, Mass. (Feb. 14)
Butterflies and Insects , San Diego Museum of Natural History
(9/19/15-1/11/16)
Selected Exhibitions, 2015
Twyla Tharp's The One Hundreds, River to River, performed June 20
Whims of Weather, PWP, The National Arts Club, NYC, (5/18-5/31)
Spring Together, Medicine Show Theatre, NYC, Other Side of the Mirror, slide show for dance performance by Beth Soll and Janet Aisawa (4/10-4/12)
At this Moment: Recent Artwork by BMCC Faculty, Shirley Fiterman Art Center (2/18-3/24)
Selected Exhibitions in 2014
Small Wonders, PWP, Atlantic Gallery, NYC (12/9-12/20)
Hudson River Park Series, solo show, Manhattan Borough President's Office
( 10/1-10/31)
Time Frames Marking Time, Westbeth Gallery, 19 artists (5/ 24-6/15),
co-curated with Barbara Lubliner
Interior Lives, National Arts Club, NYC (5/19-5/31)
Selected Exhibitions, 2013
Curate NYC, curator: Wim van Sinderen, The Hague Museum of Photography
NYC25, Westwood Gallery, NYC (10/25-11/14)
Crest Hardware Art Show, Williamsburg, New York (6/8-8/17)
Collective Currents, Contemporary Artists Guild, Manhattan Borough President Gallery (6/3-6/21)
Beasts & Bodies, Schema Projects, Brooklyn, New York (11/8-12/8)
Rising Waters: Photographs of Hurricane Sandy, Governor’s Island, ICP and the Museum of the City of New York (9/22-9/29)
Women Inspired, Grady Alexis Gallery, El Taller Latino Americano, NYC
(3/18-4/30)
Abundance and Scarcity, Calumet Photo Gallery, NYC (2/1-2/22)
Festival in Le Grand Continental , choreographer Sylvain Emard.
A solo show of Decker’s photographs of stone heads around the city was held at the Manhattan Borough President's Gallery in March 2010 . The Ultimate Eye Foundation selected her photograph ( Cursive Indigo ) for Waking Dreams at Peninsula Museum of Art, Calif. (2008). She received a cash award for Incognito in a juried show at Kauffman Gallery, Shippensburg University, PA (2008).
A 30-year survey of Decker’s photographs, paintings and drawings was on view Oct 8-Nov 8, 2005 at the Westbeth Gallery.
Ms. Decker was awarded a 2003 Camargo Foundation grant and residency in Cassis France, which was followed by a solo exhibition of her photographs at Pfizer in 2004.
Other fellowships include the MacDowell Colony, the Millay Colony, I-Park, Fundacion Valparaiso, Altos de Chavon, Chateau de Rochefort-en-Terre, Chateau de Lesvault, Fondation Karolyi, Ragdale Foundation, William Allen White Cabin, Villa Montalvo Ctr for the Arts and Ossabaw Island.
Concerts on the Canal, slide show, Gateway City Arts, Holyoke, Mass. (Feb. 14)
Close your eyes and imagine a mirror within your heart, the heart magic mirror. As you gaze into this mirror, become aware of any emotions, thoughts, or images that arise. Notice what is being reflected back to you. The heart magic mirror acts as a guide for exploring and understanding the various aspects of yourself. It can help you gain clarity on your deepest desires, uncover any fears or limiting beliefs, and offer healing and transformation. The mirror reflects back to you what is true in your heart, even if it is something you may not have been fully aware of. As you engage with the heart magic mirror, it is important to approach it with openness, honesty, and self-compassion. This practice is not about judgment or criticism, but rather about self-discovery and healing. Be gentle with yourself and allow whatever arises to be seen and felt without resistance. Through regular use of the heart magic mirror, you can develop a deeper connection with your inner self and cultivate a greater sense of self-awareness. This process can lead to personal growth, healing, and the manifestation of your heart's desires. Remember, the heart magic mirror is a tool that empowers you to access your own wisdom and guidance. It is a reminder that the answers you seek are already within you. Trust in the process and allow the mirror to be a sacred space for self-reflection and transformation..
Reviews for "The Heart Magic Mirror: Healing Heartbreak and Finding Love Again"
1. Jane - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Heart Magic Mirror". I found the plot to be predictable and the characters to be one-dimensional. The main character's journey of self-discovery lacked depth and felt forced. Additionally, the writing style was overly simplistic and lacked nuance. Overall, I found this book to be underwhelming and not worth the hype.
2. John - 1/5 - "Heart Magic Mirror" was a complete waste of time in my opinion. The story dragged on and had no clear direction. The author seemed to be throwing in random plot twists for the sake of it, without any coherent explanation or resolution. The characters were unrelatable and lacked any development. I struggled to connect with the story and found myself counting down the pages until it was finally over. Save yourself the trouble and skip this one.
3. Sarah - 3/5 - While "Heart Magic Mirror" had potential, it fell short for me. The concept was interesting, but the execution was lacking. The pacing was inconsistent, with some parts dragging on while others felt rushed. I also found the romantic subplot to be unnecessary and underdeveloped. However, I did appreciate the author's descriptive writing style, which helped to bring certain scenes to life. Overall, this book was just alright; it had its moments, but it didn't leave a lasting impact.
4. Michael - 2/5 - "Heart Magic Mirror" failed to capture my interest from the start. The plot felt contrived and lacked originality. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked depth, making it difficult to invest in their journeys. The dialogue was often awkward and unrealistic, further adding to my disappointment. Overall, this book did not live up to my expectations and I would not recommend it to others looking for a captivating read.