Life Deals You a Hand

The latest piece to roll of the studio production line is this sweet little box with a deep and meaningful story contained within ...

Life deals you a hand - it may deal a bad hand or it may take away a good hand you were already dealt ... the way you play the hand is how your life is defined ...

 

I found this discarded and neglected box at a local flea market 
some time ago - and it has been sitting in my studio
gathering dust - just waiting for me to polish it up
and fill it with a story worthy of its charm ...

The hand - given to me by a friend - is a plaster casting of 

artist Brett William's hand - now painted black

to represent the absence of colour ...

This ancient Persian garden scene - rescued from

a discarded botanical book - takes me on a journey

from the pool of my memories way back and beyond ..

 

The open black hand also represents mystery and strength,

as well as fear and age - it is open inwards,

but facing a mirror reflecting its other ...

Ancient writings on parchment - scrolled and tied,

tales of past - secured and protected

by the sturdy sentinels ...

 

... and seated within the palms of our hands is 

the ever-present buddha of enlightenment in our life -

giving direction and meaning, hope and reward ...

... closed, the box keeps us safe, secure and isolated ...

... during your time of isolation,
may your buddha keep you safe ...