In the Face of Death,

I am Deathless.

I loosen my grip,

I capture the Fortress.

These days, many people in my community speak of the return of the goddess and praise her dark feminine qualities (i.e. Kali Ma, Isis, Aditi, Black Madonna, Hecate, etc.); and one day, I realized that the dark masculine wasn't really part of my archetypal vernacular. So I wondered, where is her counterpart? Who are the dark gods? The hidden gods? The wrathful gods? Those healing ignorance with a lightning bolt kind of gods? I knew of some characters that might fit the bill, but I hadn't done any in depth study or ritual with them to really explore and integrate their gifts into my understanding. I sought balance. From my knowledge of the dark feminine, I intuited that the dark masculine must also be a powerful force within our collective unconscious; and that they were the ones to also wake us from our slumber, to shake us from our hidden pain, to point out our blind spots so that we may live a life more fully aware and alive.

The results of my query led to this painting.

This piece incorporates a few figures who are symbolic of the dark masculine, and sheds a little light on what their super powers might be. Ultimately, this piece is about rediscovering one's own center, one's own connection to source, and interacting with the world from that place. For how would anyone ever be able to live from their own truth if they don't first learn how to listen to it? The world is such an easy place to lose your footing; everything else around you (including your own mind) can be so distracting, with so many opinions about what is right and wrong, what is important and what is not, so many opportunites vying for your attention. Without our inner guidance, we are just a bunch of ships lost at sea. The man in this painting is remembering his true self, his true nature, by going within and quieting the chatter. He is learning to face his fears and move through them. We watch his transformation from a life fraught with turmoil and shame to a life lived with impeccability, a life without sin against himself. Here, he is resting in forgiveness, starting over, and living with integrity again. From this place, one discovers their true light, and allows their heart's passion to guide their way to freedom.

To learn more about my creative process for this painting, click here.