THE WHIRLING GIRL
The theme of this year’s cover picture is of the Whirling Girl. This is an image of the female seeking her true self, through a journey of danger and discovery. Psyche, who represents the soul is often chosen by women as an image of their life journey. Although the story of Psyche first appears in Apuleius’ ‘The Golden Ass’ which is a late classical tale, Psyche’s descent into the underworld to recover the secret of eternal life may be a Hellenised version of Ishtar’s descent to the underworld. Many women finding themselves dis-located seek myth and story to help them in their spiritual journey. There is a sense that the patriarchal world does not hold valid answers for women, and a need to seek further into the past. The Whirling Girl is carried away by the West Wind in a quest to discover her true self.