Mixed media by Julia Datchenko

The papercut “Encounter” is a prayer for love, understanding, and spiritual unity. It speaks of the moment when a person meets not only another soul, but also themselves—their true, deep, silent self. This work is about the sacredness of a meeting in which trust is born. It is an image of inner peace and tranquility that arise when the heart opens to another. Two women are the embodiment of love, support, compassion, and spiritual kinship. In Ukrainian tradition, a woman is the guardian of the home and life, so two women leaning toward each other symbolize the union of two sources of love and wisdom. The touch of women and hands is a gesture of deep acceptance, healing, and trust. It is not only a meeting of two people, but also an inner dialogue with one's own soul, an act of self-discovery. Ornate headdresses symbolize thoughts, prayers, experience, and the memory of generations. Diamonds signify fertility and vitality. Triangles signify faith, spiritual elevation, and the unity of the three principles (body, soul, spirit). Together, they create a “pattern of wisdom.” This papercut is not just a scene that can be associated with the meeting of Saint Elizabeth and Saint Mary, but a symbol of spiritual unity, female wisdom, love, and acceptance, in which the earthly and the heavenly touch each other.