Queen of Swords Painting

I painted the "Queen of Swords" in a frenzied triggered state. She was my attempt to calm my mind so I could make sense of a situation. Her symbolism in the tarot has to do with the courage to look at the truth with open eyes. No ilusions. The queen has the courage to do what's right in any situation. My depiction is somewhat different from the traditional symbolism, because it is more personal. For instance, in this painting, the queen has no hair, reflecting my hair loss as being something symbolic in my spiritual growth. The queen is stoking the fire which will eventually become the phoenix, rising from the ashes in yet another rebirth. I often paint with acrylics and have been doing so for 50 years. My painting is a source of comfort—a type of therapy and a coping mechanism. I hope I inspire others with my work, to look inside for a deeper meaning to their life, and to seek comfort in creativity.