Tree of Life Eyes and Hands

The Tree of Life represents God as joined mind and heart, as the crown and roots. God's omniscience often is portrayed through the symbol of the eye. The eye is the window to the soul and spirit, the organ of spiritual perception. The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel described God's glory and His throne upon wheels within wheels full of eyes (Ezekiel 1:18,10:12). This drawing started when I saw eye-like figures in the branches of a tree. Then, inspired by a majestic oak that I had been looking at for months, I incorporated those eyes spontaneously, in place of the leaves.

            The root system is in balance with the crown, the Divine mind connected with the Divine Heart. The multiplicity of hands, perhaps signify the generosity of God - bestowing Love tens of thousands fold. The hands are symbolic of labor, creativity, and love. Interestingly, a viewer can turn the picture upside down and still perceive that unity and balance and harmony.

            The three birds represent the Holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit above all, and the two birds - the Father and the Son - represent the perfect Agape - Love of the Trinity, sustaining the Creation by the flowing in of the Holy Spirit.