“I gaze deeply through the lattice of trees that construct the net within which I find my mind wandering; there I find space to be still and silent, there I am sheltered. This collection of talisman necklaces channels Earth’s spiritual energy through the forms of trees and plants. Based on the Buddhist metaphor of Indra’s Net and its concept of mutual identity, this body of work draws upon my meditations with nature, wherein I feel the most connected to trees. Contemplative processes of forging, piercing, braiding, binding, and crocheting intend to tether the physical body to the spiritual net — the larger interconnected whole. Through reveries induced by sensory experiences among trees and plants, individual consciousness dissipates into universal awareness. I aim to deconstruct the sense of “self” using web, root, and vein-like structures in textile and metal statement neckpieces that envelop the wearer, implying that their spirit is interwoven with the natural world. ”