This art piece that I made on March 5, 2021, references insects, which have positive associations for me. I feel especially fond of spiders. As a child, I would rescue spiders from others who wanted to kill them out of fear. Since many people associate insects with dark energy, they offer a bridge for integrating shadow elements of self.

Dark and light exist in relationship to each other. They define, balance, and give meaning to one another. This art piece, with its interpenetrating layers of darkness and light, reveals how light arises out of emotional, spiritual darkness. The core seed of dark in the center, has healed enough so that understanding and light now radiate out from it.

There exists in life an equality of being. Underneath, all is united and equal. Hierarchies and judgments are myths that we layer on top of this underlying truth. We have all been indoctrinated into systems that give power, prestige, and resources to some; while stigmatizing and punishing others. I hope that the time has come to evolve structures and relationships based on an inherent equality of being. Intrinsic equality does not need to be earned; it just is. However, many of us have had our sense of self worth damaged to its core. It then becomes impossible to feel and live from a sense of internal dignity.

I inherited a legacy of shame from my maternal ancestors. I then experienced intense hardship during adolescence, which left me feeling inadequate and crippled to my core. On some deep unspoken level, I did not feel worthy of existence. I did not feel safe enough to take up space and be publicly seen. That I have healed enough to show you this image and write these words, has been an enormous, yet humble undertaking. I share my experience as a type of prayer, that you may also receive light from darkness. Many people endure great suffering. When pressed under weight of enormous hardship, the path of healing feels impossibly arduous and hard. But the rewards may eventually overcome the hardship. And darkness may reveal itself to be a blessing in disguise.

Click here to view the post on Instagram and read the comments there.

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