Sun Dance
2025 Acrylic on Canvas 58 x 78 cm (Impasto technique / Texture)
The Sun Dance is a ceremony practiced by some Indigenous peoples of North America. It is performed to reaffirm spiritual beliefs and to strengthen the connection between the physical world and the supernatural.
For me, ceremony is also a sacred act—a way to invoke the Divine, much like prayer.
This piece marks my first attempt at Impressionism. I created it to honour the quiet power of prayer, something I now practice daily. Though I have no tangible proof of its effects, I know that I feel more peaceful and far less burdened by past trauma than before I began to pray.
The teacher Caroline Myss once shared a story told to her by a woman who had been in a severe car accident. During the accident, the woman’s soul left her body. From above, she could see the scene below—people stuck in traffic, expressing frustration or concern. Then she noticed a light emerging from a nearby car, shooting upward into the sky and then descending back into her vehicle. Curious, her soul moved closer and found herself beside the woman in that car, who was praying fervently for the accident victim—for heaven to send help. Before her angel instructed her to return to her body, she managed to remember the license plate number of this grace-filled stranger. After recovering, she located the woman and brought her a bouquet to thank her for her prayer.
That story deeply moved me. Since then, I have made a commitment to pray—not only for myself, but for the world. At first, it was challenging to pray for others, especially when I struggled with what I saw in the world. But over time, prayer has become a natural and grounding part of my life. It costs nothing, yet always leaves me feeling lighter and more connected to life.
I painted this piece as a tribute to prayer. I imagine sunflowers blossoming from the heart centre of my lady, dancing and radiating sunlight to fill the surrounding space. Perhaps that’s how prayer works—like energetic sunlight that infuses the air, spreading grace and healing wherever it touches.
For me, ceremony is also a sacred act—a way to invoke the Divine, much like prayer.
This piece marks my first attempt at Impressionism. I created it to honour the quiet power of prayer, something I now practice daily. Though I have no tangible proof of its effects, I know that I feel more peaceful and far less burdened by past trauma than before I began to pray.
The teacher Caroline Myss once shared a story told to her by a woman who had been in a severe car accident. During the accident, the woman’s soul left her body. From above, she could see the scene below—people stuck in traffic, expressing frustration or concern. Then she noticed a light emerging from a nearby car, shooting upward into the sky and then descending back into her vehicle. Curious, her soul moved closer and found herself beside the woman in that car, who was praying fervently for the accident victim—for heaven to send help. Before her angel instructed her to return to her body, she managed to remember the license plate number of this grace-filled stranger. After recovering, she located the woman and brought her a bouquet to thank her for her prayer.
That story deeply moved me. Since then, I have made a commitment to pray—not only for myself, but for the world. At first, it was challenging to pray for others, especially when I struggled with what I saw in the world. But over time, prayer has become a natural and grounding part of my life. It costs nothing, yet always leaves me feeling lighter and more connected to life.
I painted this piece as a tribute to prayer. I imagine sunflowers blossoming from the heart centre of my lady, dancing and radiating sunlight to fill the surrounding space. Perhaps that’s how prayer works—like energetic sunlight that infuses the air, spreading grace and healing wherever it touches.
All content © Wheeshan Ong. All Rights Reserved.
