The image for The Sacred Life began with an Ensō, the Zen meditation circle, with ink and a lot of water. Then I sprinkled gold powder on the circle while the ink was still wet. The vertical letters are the alphabet, lettered with masking fluid. I painted the red background over the masking fluid, but around all the nooks and crannies of the circle. I did this five times to get the boldness of the red that I wanted. The paper curved with the water, so it not flat, but looks alive. To honor that, it is framed in a shadow box, so the curling of the paper is preserved. The black squares and rectangles set off the circle, while grounding it. This powerful painting complements the poem in its strength and insights.

THE SACRED LIFE

There comes a time
when you want to run.
Run as far away as you can.

Run from your life.
Run from the task
that is so large
it cannot be done.

But your feet don’t move.

And slowly
life opens up
and help appears.
Not in the form you expect
but in secrets
and winding roads
and gateways into
the world you long for
but don’t know how to reach.

And the task
doesn’t get easier
but life gets more beautiful
with a richness you couldn’t imagine
and a warmth you had never felt

as you directly face
the immensity
of what you are
called to do.

©Sherrie Lovler