“Fate” illustrates one of my favorite sayings: “Whatever the universal nature assigns to any man at any time is for the good of that man at that time. Man is manacled only by himself; thought and action are the jailers of Fate. You cannot be lost on a road that is straight. It lies not in our power to love, or hate, for will in us is over-rul’d by fate.”
Fate, in my opinion is different than destiny. With destiny there is a choice. Destiny brings you to a place where you get to turn right or left. Fate is the result of the choice.
When I decided to become a doctor, I chose a field I was fated for; what I didn’t realize what that I was meant to be a healer, not just an MD. After many years of feeling as stuck as the woman in the painting, I gave up a profession that was destroying me.
The politics in healthcare are as corrupt as the ones in government. Insurance companies are billed for services that weren’t performed, drug companies incentify physicians to write expensive prescriptions and many ER docs take amphetamines to stay awake for 36-48 hour shifts.
Even though I didn’t like western medicine, I still wanted to be a healer. I decided to visit an ashram in India to get clear about my calling. After a month I knew my real fate, alternative medicine. Namely, sound therapy for victims of strokes and other brain injured patients. I spent the next year studying native techniques such as drumming, chanting and Singing Bowls.
After seeing dramatic improvements in patients, I decided to teach other healers from New Mexico to Switzerland, and I can say, without a doubt, that a new generation of healers are proving that alternative techniques can be more effective than pharmaceutical’s. Alzheimer’s and Autism symptoms show signs of improvement by eating organic foods. Crystals and stones can change the energy of both plants and people. Meditation and yoga can reverse the damaging effects of stress.
The reason I love “Fate,” is it shows that we must fight our way out of being rooted in something we don’t enjoy anymore. We can pull ourselves out of a life where nothing can thrive and continue to grow even when we are threatened by outside forces. This painting is about fighting with everything we have to remain true to our fate, even if it means ripping everything apart to get there. I’m glad to know that someone else gets that; this work is a testimony of an unwavering commitment to expression.
