When I was invited to participate in this celebratory exhibition, I was struck by how similar the way ancient artists extracted pure pigment resembles our own spiritual development. You see, they ground the stone into a fine powder and kneaded it with a warm paste of melted beeswax, pine resin, and oil. Then, the concoction was submerged in warm water or a weak lye solution, allowing the blue particles to release from the wax and float to the surface. If the stone was not heated, crushed, or washed properly, the pigment became irreversibly muddy.
With that in mind, think about us. We have experiences that frighten or hurt us, and a little part of our heart closes up. Each time an experience compounds that fear or hurt, we become a bit more hard-hearted, determined not to let it happen again, until our defenses are like stone. The Vedic tradition refers to this as a "stuck heart." That stuck heart, that heart of stone, weighs heavily over time and interferes with our ability to experience the depths of sorrow and the heights of joy. Everything becomes muddy.
So, what is a simple human to do? Ah, that is the quandary for each of us to address in our own way. I know, though, that it requires fire—the application of will; pulverization—the dismantling of guilt and blame; a concoction of a healthy, nourishing diet; and tears that will release the hurt stagnant in our bodies. It is an arduous process that may require the oversight of those who have walked this path before. But it will be liberating! As our hearts open and compassion (especially for ourselves) flows freely, we become more perceptive, resilient, and our lives grow rich with meaning.
I hope this piece inspires you to crumbled and cry.
The Key to the Iconography of Anahata Rising
The Night Sky: the abyss of the Dark Night of the Soul, a phase of existential loss of meaning. Here representing when the stone is crushed.
The Golden Halo: in the historical extraction of ultramarine, it was considered more valuable than gold and was reserved for sacred robes and holy books. Gold represents the illumination of spirit and here it is joined in vibration with the liberated soul.
The Gilded Border: the sacred, safe boundary of a dedicated spiritual practice that holds the volatile emotional process intact while the transformation takes place.
The Blue Bird: The bird does not fly because the darkness has vanished; it flies because it has extracted its own internal light from the deep. It is Anahata in its purest, most vibrant state: an unbroken spirit soaring into the golden light of unconditional love.
The Green Iris: the unstuck heart views experiences through the eye of compassion/love. Though western culture often associates love with the color red, ancient Vedic (Sanskrit) systems assign green to the Anahata chakra.