THE MOONSHOT COLLECTION Emerging from a long evolution stretching back nearly 50 million years comes the horse, a wild beauty, grazing peacefully on the plains, and then suddenly breaking free with snorting and fiery breath, swift as the wind. It flies across the landscape with thundering hooves as if to run out of its own skin for the love of freedom. The horse is a fabulous striving power to which we aspire for good and ill. We tamed them and they understood us. We whispered to them and they gave us their service. Represented the strength of maturity to handle what life brings, the black horse was a messenger of esoteric knowledge. He was a keeper of secrets and mysteries. The horse meaning signifies overcoming obstacles, and how you should carry your- self in the face of adversity. Similar to the heroin spirit animal, the horse spirit animal works hard to remind you to take care of your emotional, mental, and spiritual wellbeing. In some cultures, the white horses stand for the balance of wisdom and power. The horse is a universal symbol of freedom without restraint, because riding a horse made people feel they could free themselves from their own bindings. Inspired by this deeper meaning of the horse, Van Zeijl travelled the Wild West upon a horseback in search for the iconic American symbol: the wild horse, who still live freely on the Western rangelands. The meaning- ful relationship between horses and humans inspired her to portray herself with horses. For several years Van Zeijl worked with horses to overcome her troubled childhood traumas. “I learned to connect, listen deeply, embody their wisdom and experienced how the horses guided me to reach toward greater freedom.” Shortly after coming home from The Wild West, Van Zeijl travelled again to The West to shoot her new series at the Moonshot Ranch in Aspen, Colorado. Every night she photo- graphed herself with horses under the moonlight. Sitting naked on the concrete floor in a freezing cold barn in front of her camera. In order to gain the horse’s trust she had to evolve into complete surrender. As horses mirror our deepest fears, they are typically non-judgmental, have no preconceived expectations or motives, and are highly effec- tive at mirroring attitudes and behaviors of the humans. These series remind us to embark on the ultimate voyage trough inner space, to deepen your courage and humility, to learn about trust, surrender, and natural leadership to achieve the impossible, reach for the stars and touch them. Isabelle van Zeijl is an established mid-career international acclaimed artist. Recognized for her mastery to create striking self portraits with depth and meaning who enriches life, possessing lasting and impressionable depth and value.