Lawren Harris first painted in the Rocky Mountains in summer 1924, having recently joined the Toronto Theosophical Society. While at first disappointed by the Canadian range, he soon found a deep source of imagery that aligned with his philosophical and spiritual interests. In his art, the triangular verticality of Western mountains and trees, and later Arctic landforms (adjacent), symbolized the hierarchical progression of the soul toward an all-encompassing unity. Blues and yellows took on spiritual meaning.