I have made choices in life that at first were a response to trauma and later became deeply ingrained habits. The consequence of some of these choices is a strengthening of beliefs and thought patterns that could be defined as thinking errors and delusions. At first I was not able to discern that what I was thinking was not in line with what was considered real. I have become more aware though through reading the Bible and also through making an effort to follow the teachings of Jesus.
I think that the Bible, taken as a whole, tells a story of the human experience, and of true reality. I think the Bible uses the language of myth, allegory, poetry, metaphors, and sometimes is literal and historical to illustrate to the reader the nature of reality and how to navigate it. I read the Bible for the first time starting in 2019 and have continued to read it over and over since then. Slowly, over time, it is shaping my perception of the world that is more aligned to what is true. When I say true I mean that it hit's the mark and is evidenced by my increased capacity for serving others, an improvement in my relationships, and a clearer understanding of the nature of the world.
I decided to have a fire in placed in the hand of the figure in the drawing because I wanted the ability to purify perception to be something within reach and something an individual can do deliberately. I chose the arm holding the eye to look mechanical because I wanted a sense of there being a systematic or methodical approach to being able to discern what is real. I wanted to indicate intention and purpose in the figure and not something that relies upon outside forces or chance to happen. I wanted to express the will of an individual striving for comprehension and enlightenment.