A Spiral Journey of Liberation

Born in Bilbao, Basque Country (1964)
Of Galician origin, Gloria Cascón Calvar grew up on the industrial left bank of Bilbao, a working-class area marked by resilience and struggle. Her childhood was shaped by the duality of harsh realities and the strength required to face them. From an early age, she witnessed the power of collective movements, the devastation caused by heroin in her community, and the oppressive grip of a rigid Catholic education. Yet, even as she resisted the constraints of her environment, she began her lifelong journey of questioning and breaking free from societal norms.

A Deep Love for Life and the Act of Giving Life

Gloria’s connection to life and her love for nurturing it came to fruition when she became a mother. This experience, though transformative, was not without its challenges. The violence she endured during childbirth—obstetric violence—left a profound mark on her, fueling her awareness of systemic injustices and her desire to protect the sacred act of giving life. Her two children, Adrián and Paula, remain her greatest treasures and the foundation of her inner strength.

The Pain of Invisibility and the Longing to Be Seen

Throughout her life, Gloria grappled with the weight of invisibility. Her marriage, marked by emotional absence, deepened her sense of isolation. After her divorce, she sought to rebuild herself but faced further trials in toxic relationships, including abuse by a physically violent partner. These experiences reflected broader societal patterns of silencing and marginalizing women’s pain and resilience.

Breaking Free from Conventional Paths

Determined to reclaim her agency, Gloria began exploring alternative paths to healing and understanding. Diagnosed with fibromyalgia, she turned to natural hygiene practices, finding in them a way to reconnect with her body and mind. This was the first step in a broader journey that led her to explore feminism, Jungian and Reichian psychology, shamanism, and other transformative practices. These experiences allowed her to disrupt societal paradigms, venturing into the unknown and returning to familiar struggles with newfound strength.

Rediscovering Abundance Through Connection

While her path has been fraught with challenges, Gloria has found abundance in her connections with others. Along her journey, men and women alike have helped her rediscover trust and love—not just romantic love, but a profound love for life, humanity, and her art. These connections have been instrumental in her healing and growth, reminding her of the richness that lies beyond material wealth.

Art as a Catalyst for Liberation

The 15M movement in Spain in 2011 served as a pivotal moment for Gloria. It reawakened her natural affinity for libertarian and anarchist ideals and allowed her feminism to take center stage in her artistic work. Her art became a vehicle to tell stories of pain, resilience, and freedom. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gloria used her isolation to dive deeper into her creative process, exploring feminine and masculine archetypes and their complex interplay within herself and society.

A Holistic Approach to Health and Healing

In 2021, Gloria faced a new challenge when she discovered a tumor in her breast. True to her unconventional spirit, she chose a holistic approach to her treatment. Collaborating with a trusted medical team, including an oncologist and surgeon, she integrated spiritual and alternative practices into her healing process. This experience deepened her connection to the balance of body, mind, and spirit, reaffirming her belief in combining conventional medicine with spiritual and emotional exploration.

A Spiral Journey of Liberation

Gloria’s life is an ongoing spiral, a journey where each turn brings her closer to a fuller understanding of herself and the world. She moves through cycles of recognizing the horrors of our reality, celebrating the beauty of life and love, and overcoming the pain of invisibility. Her willingness to experiment with alternative health practices and spiritual pathways has allowed her to continually redefine her path.

Through her art, Gloria invites others to join her on this journey. Her work tells stories of struggle and triumph, healing and transformation, and reminds us all of the power of reconnection—with ourselves, with others, and with the world