Artwork by me through Procreate. 

A little back story. I had major back surgery (artificial disc replacement) at the end of December after my first surgery (microdisectomy) failed. I also just worked 7-10s for 3 months straight prior to surgery. Thankfully my employer let me work remotely due to my condition but between all the work and pain, I was in a dark place.

The surgery went well and I've spent my disability leave healing myself physically with therapy/diet and mentally through monthly psychedelics. Mentally, I've learned a lot about myself during this time and accepted my purpose in life, which is teaching and spreading love through my art. Physically, I'm slowly getting better and enduring less pain every month which makes me happier and in turn, makes me want to do more art! 

This piece sort of visually describes the process of my personal enlightenment journey but hopefully many of yall can relate it to your own journies. It starts at the top of the picture with the little white birds/stars and the Mother. These are the little epiphanies we have during life(or trips) that are like hints from Mom that help wake us up. They flow down, around and back in towards the center. Occasionally, some of these bands or vibrations gather up enough to open our eyes, which are represented by the eye waves. These wash into the school of fish that are swimming/transforming towards the owl, which represents the ones who want to educate themselves more through divine wisdom for the final stages of enlightenment, which are grown through the tree of knowledge. Each fruit (stage) opens your mind just a little bit more until you finally see, you are the all seeing eye...you are one with all.

It was a beautiful and satisfying process, getting to the final edition of this. I plan on painting an analog edition of this at some point this year so I'm looking forward to that. Anyways, thanks for taking the time to check this out. Please enjoy and I hope it helps someone in some way like it did for me. 

"Tree in Paradise"