Breath
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Islamic art is filled with the geometric expression of this fundamental.

The square, representing form itself, is expanded into an octagon star and contracted into a cross by means of the extension and inversion triangles. This star and cross together forms a single Breath of the Compassionate.

This illumination contains five such breaths. In the Hebraic mystical tradition "5" is both associated with breath and being (the letter hei) and is also the number of souls potential in the human experience. Words for soul in the Semitic languages (both Hebrew and Arabic) have breath at the root of their meaning. The four Hebrew words with the stars read:
    My soul (nafeshi) blesses the Source of Being.

The Sufi tradition contains a parallel teaching concerning five subtle points of spiritual energy.

The central star contains the Arabic:
    al-baqi - The Eternal.
    The One who remains when all that is transient has gone.

Rubies bind vibrant life to the expansions and contractions.

Acid etched copper, fretwork and lab ruby hearts mounted on African Mahogany.   37" x 7.25"