Excalibur

When motives are unbalanced and preparation is lacking, figuratively drawing a sword can cause more harm than good. This painting depicts a sword forged in a balance of the four elements: earth, fire, water, and air. A moon in the background represents a balance between the feminine and masculine.

I was always ready for a fight -- as a child learning to fight back against bullies, and later standing up for my beliefs in business and politics. I used to see myself as a fighter.

In 2017, I stepped in to help a girl who was being harassed by three men in a parking lot. The men, posing as security, were attempting to force her out of her truck and prevent her from leaving. My intervention led to a fight that nearly cost me my life. I lost some of my will to fight. During my spiritual awakening I gave up bellicosity (the tendency to argue or fight) and became a pacifist. I was burned out from fighting.

As I began this painting a sword appeared, and I didn’t like it. In meditation I felt strongly compelled to finish it, learning to symbolically draw my sword again when appropriate.