"Jewel in the Lotus" Within every problem there is a jewel. This jewel has in it the solution to the problem. Find the jewel within and you will bloom like the open lotus. I started this painting with great enthusiam . When I reached the circular light area, I came to a complete standstill and didn’t know how to resolve this area. A year elapsed when I discovered a photograph of a lotus in full bloom. At that moment, the name “The Jewel in the Lotus” came to me. With great resolution I painted the lotus into the incomplete circle. I then realized that I didn’t grasp the significance of the jewel.I had to discover what the jewel was! On an early solitary Sunday morning hike, I was on a remote mountain trail. After reaching the pinnacle, I proceeded down the long descent. I lost the trail and found myself bushwacking through rugged unfriendly terrain. Shindaggers pierced my knees. I became very tired , hungry and discouraged and was trapped on a ledge. Fear and emotions built up and tears ran freely for a long time. Suddenly I realized that the little girl within was crying for help. I embraced myself and felt a wave of calmness. Spirit came through and said that the jewel in my painting was the discovery of my neglected inner child. When I returned to the studio, I painted the little child in the center of the lotus. The jewel in this difficult journey was that I realized that I needed to nurture and take better care of myself and never overlook the needs of that inner child. Notice the light rays are touching some of the beings. The beings in the shadows are pulling themselves out of the darkness and are being drawn to the light!