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I knew I didn’t make up those words but I had to search for their source. I finally located them in Exodus where Miriam (along with Aaron) gives her brother Moses a sound reprimand for divorcing his wife. The mishnaic tradition attributes his desire for divorce to Moses not wanting to continue having sexual relations with his wife Tziporah. Miriam (in the midrash) says to Moses (essentially), “who the hell do you think you are? You think you’re too holy to have intercourse with your wife? I have intercourse with my husband and I am a prophetess!” The story goes on that Miriam turns white, is treated like a leper and is sent to reside outside of the camp. The people, however, are not going anywhere without Miriam since water follows her through their sojourn in the wilderness. Moses, feeling disgrace calls out the words el na rifah na lah - Please, God, please heal her. Within the week she is no longer a “leper”.
I would say that, given these words at this time, healing the Tree of Life also involves healing the voice of feminine prophecy.
You can see the stream of blue that manifested in the etch at the bottom right, as well as at the top left. At first I identified both waters with Miriam, but sitting with it longer I’ve come to recognize that one is above and one below. The one above appears to be pouring towards the one below. I see them now as mayim cHaim and mayim sheuvim, the masculine and feminine waters that “kiss” in a mikvah. I’m also thinking that the reason that the luterose form is hexagraminal reflects that “as above so below” motif. I did not choose that form, it chose me.
The Arabic Cufic calligraphy which is echoed in the shape of the top arch is from the Hadith: ma anzala Allah da' illa anzala lahu shifa' - What God has sent down has not been sent down without healing also. (“God has sent a cure for every disease”).
Acid etched copper and fretwork. Framed in African Mahogany. 24" x 14"