PROJECT
Blanket of Stars
This unique blanket is a collaboration between two kindred spirits: Amy Rush, a St. Louis Death Doula at http://www.Inspireddying.com who helps families with the transition process; and Angela L. Chostner, a St. Louis meditative artist. The blanket features her painting, “Blanket of Stars.”
This project is an answer to a question Amy Rush asked while working with clients., "How do I assist people who are feeling disconnected and in pain, and unable to receive direct help? The answer came as "Wrap them in a blanket of stars."
Amy began envisioning those in need wrapped in stars. Clients, friends, family all felt the positive impact of this simple act. Soon Amy wanted to make this intangible idea further and make it tangible. She reached out to her friend, Angela L. Chostner.
Angela created a painting filled with healing intention, and symbolism that encompassed memory, emotion, and the energy of virtues such as trust and gratitude.
Amy found the painting completely synergistic with the way she wanted to help others. The next step was to have the painting reproduced onto big soft cozy blankets.
On November 11th, 2022, Amy and Angela officially introduced the project to the public at The Bridge St. Louis. During the presentation, Angela talked about the meaning behind the different aspects of the painting, which was created as two canvases hinged together, representing two energies meeting: solace and memory.
Symbolism in Blanket of Stars:
SOLACE
The left half of the painting is Solace. It is a deep, slow, grounded, connected feeling. The spirals within it represent Trust. Among the spirals are sprinkled carnelian stones, which evoke grounding, and symbols and words for Peace in Sanskrit, French, Spanish, and Japanese. As the energy flows toward the center point, the painted spirals become more subtle and layered while taking a more predominant form in the shells.
WORLDS MEET
The center of the painting is the dividing line between Heaven and Earth, the Spirit and Material realms. They are distinctly separate and yet fully connected by the bright white radiating circle that unifies both sides.
MEMORY
The right half of the painting is Memory. Represented here are feelings of joy, laughter, shared jokes, vibrant character traits — the things about us and our shared lives that remain and uplift. Animals represent playfulness; and the seahorse is the divine masculine, the starfish, the divine feminine. Amethyst stones call in soothing, peaceful, unifying energies. The outer rim’s stars remind us that we are all stars; we come from and return to them.
The deep purple band that wraps the center could represent the darkness we sometimes experience when we feel lost, sad, or confused. But note it’s richness and that it is held by all that surrounds it. This space contains a river that we cross to get to Solace.
SPIRIT
The two feathers are the bridge that links Solace and Memory but also the Earth and Heaven. They are light, pure essence of Spirit — the true connection that unifies all.
The impact this project had on families soon became apparent. Blankets went home to hundreds of people. Soon, stories came back on how the blankets gave comfort to people of all walks of life, from preschoolers who had difficulty sleeping to elderly who suffered chronic pain. It is our hope that we can connect this project with organizations that serve populations who could benefit from being wrapped in a blanket of stars.
