The fire of anger burns away our defenses, revealing our deepest hurt. Raw and exposed, our primal instinct is to reduce whatever sparked the flame to ash—whether the trigger lies within or without. Sadly, striking back only piles charred remains upon an already wounded self. It is here, in the simmering pit of our transformation, that we must explore what set us aflame. Abandonment, inadequacy, and false pride are revealed to those who can sit in the discomfort of their heat. We do not sit to dwell or ruminate, but to examine the fuel that fed the fire. We are long-lived, and the quality of our existence is elevated when we explore, understand, and integrate even the most uncomfortable parts of our soul.

You can learn about the iconography in this painting on my JOURNAL page HERE.