Reclaim Your Inner Power After Abuse: The Story Behind the Crowns
Megan Carty
I get asked all the time: "What’s the deal with the crowns on your bird paintings?". To really explain what they mean to me, I have to take you back to when I was fifteen.
At the time, I was just a "good girl" who had dealt with some pretty severe bullying, so when a guy four years older than me showed interest, I was absolutely "jazzed" about it. I thought he was my first real love, but over the eight months we were together, things took a dark turn. He came from a very tumultuous background involving alcoholism and struggle, and he ended up being very subtly manipulative.
When the Shine Goes Out
Whenever I felt proud of something or excited about a new goal, he would find a way to "nip it in the bud". He’d tell me my excitement wasn't a big deal, or that the people praising me were wrong, constantly asking, "What’s so great about you?".
Eventually, that constant criticism shut down my "shine". The innate belief I had in myself; that childhood ability to just manifest things and think big, simply disappeared. By the time I was sixteen, I was facing my first real bouts of depression, and I spent years dealing with the deep-seated trust issues and damage that relationship left behind.
Why Birds?
You might see a bird on a canvas, but to me, those birds are us. Just like people, every bird I paint is a unique personality with its own name, energy, and special talents. We are all different, and we are all serving a unique purpose in this world.
The Meaning of the Crown
That little glowing icon hovering above their heads is the most important part. In the real world, this crown is invisible, but we all have one. It’s a "crown of power" or a halo that reminds us that we are holy, unique, and that we matter intrinsically just because we were born.
Sometimes, life has a way of beating that message out of us through trauma, addiction, or abuse. We might lose our way or stop believing in our own value. But the crown is there to say: You are inherently important.
Starting Again
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that no matter what you’ve been through or how "dull" you might feel right now, there is always a time to pick up and start again. You were made to succeed, to thrive, and to be at peace.
So, when you see those crowns, I hope they serve as a little nudge to remember how precious you are and how much power you truly have. You’re meant to shine!.
Shop the ORIGINAL bird paintings here.
Shop the framed wall art PRINTS here.