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Originally posted by swan001
reply to post by MamaJ
OMG she's great!!! As an artist myself, I really want to put a flag, here.
The Infinity Of Beginning
The fog dew
is the reflection of my glance.
Tears are already
my second life . . .
Yet I still fear
to live a life
that has already lived
in the eyes of the future.
Floating feathers of a hymn
are footsteps to the voice.
The choir on a dewy folded leaf—
I wither at once
In defense chasing nature
is a victory of delusion—
and vanish
in the immortality of the finish line . . .
Originally posted by MamaJ
reply to post by Darkblade71
Hi Darkblade71!!!! Thank you for coming on over....
Would you mind sharing your experience as an artist and maybe giving us a glimpse at some of your work?
I would REALLY appreciate it.
Originally posted by tallcool1
Thanks for posting this Mama - I ran across Akiane's story some time back and was just blown away by her gift as well as her story. I haven't read a whole lot of your posts (I have a very busy life and don't spend as much time as I would like on ATS), but it would seem to me that you are one of a growing number of us who are filled with faith, but not shackled by religion. Not to derail your thread about this wonderfully gifted girl, but my own journey of faith has been a very long road to where I am today. It is very liberating to shed the man made religions of the world and embrace our faith. Akiane's story is really an eye opening journey of faith as well. Thanks for reminding me about her!
Originally posted by trysts
reply to post by MamaJ
Surely, MamaJ, if I ever had a "spiritual" experience I may believe in those things. But, I don't think this is possible since experience seems to amount to either an experience of objects which our five senses can verify, or a solitary, personal experience of inner feelings. In my view, the experience of objects outside of yourself can be demonstrated and thus articulated, since the language you would use to describe it can point to the object of experience. But the experience of inner feelings makes communicating those feelings very unclear. The impression one has seems to defy a clear expression of it. Verbally describing it to others is sure to raise questions in someone like myself, as it is very difficult to distinguish between the reality and fantasy of one's solitary/subjective experience.
So, if you have subjective experiences, I think they are unique to you alone, and you risk confusion, manipulation, and ridicule by trying to say anyone else can have that experience. It is like someone saying they had a dream, and suggesting someone else to have the same dream.
Originally posted by sad_eyed_lady
Just to get an idea of the size of the Prince of Peace portrait check this out:
24.media.tumblr.com...
Awesome picture!
At eight-years-old, Akiane decided she wanted to paint the face of Jesus, based on the visions she received. She looked for a person she might use as a artist’s model for a long time, and finally told her family they should pray for God to send someone. On the day they prayed, a mysterious carpenter showed up at their front door looking for work. Akiane took one look at the man’s facial features – remarkably close to the vision she received – and told her mother he was the one. In humility, the man initially said he was not worthy to represent his Master. But reluctantly, the man agreed, although he asked to remain anonymous. Akiane’s painting of Jesus was a painstaking effort. “The ‘Prince of Peace’ took me 4o hours to paint and another 20 hours of working with model sketching,” Akiane says. Akiane deftly works with light and shadows to create powerful impressions. “The light side of his face represents the truth, the dark side represents suffering,” she notes.
Her atheist parents were surprised when their three-year-old began to describe dreams and visions from God. This inexplicable direction in their daughter’s life, combined with a remarkable talent in art and poetry, inspired her family to re-examine their own lives. “My life began in an unusual way,” says Akiane Kramarik, 17, who spent her early years in rural Illinois. By unusual, she refers to her underwater birth in “a shack” on the edge of a cornfield. “Our family had no money, no friends, no relatives, no television or radio. Our life was quite simple — long walks in nature, open conversations, and hands on explorations of knowledge,” she says. Her mother, Forelli, is a Lithuanian immigrant educator. Akiane’s father, Mark, is a chef from Chicago with a Catholic background. In her early family life, there was no prayer, no discussions of God, and no visits to church. Yet in the insular atheistic environment her parents created – free from media influences or even outside babysitters – Akiane suddenly began to talk about God. She spoke of colorful dreams and visions about heaven, Jesus, and God’s amazing love. Her stunned parents realized her intense focus on God could not have come have been inspired by anything in the world they created for her. Indeed, Akiane seemed to be having supernatural encounters with the living God. “Most of my spiritual experiences I kept secret, so as not to overwhelm my parents,” she says.
Originally posted by trysts
reply to post by MamaJ
I think she's a good painter, but I don't believe the story she and her parents tell. It seems to make the Christians happy. It has been proven for almost two-thousand years that Christians will believe anything
Originally posted by Dustytoad
Originally posted by trysts
reply to post by MamaJ
I think she's a good painter, but I don't believe the story she and her parents tell. It seems to make the Christians happy. It has been proven for almost two-thousand years that Christians will believe anything
Why would atheists make up a story about Jesus? Maybe you should pay more attention to detail. I have my own experiences...
I believe the Story. I'm no Christian, and I grew up with hippies and liberals all my life. Jesus came to me and taught me things when I needed it. Jesus is awesome.. Way more awesome than Christians. haha.. I found Jesus by meditating and practicing Hermetics.
You don't have to be christian to talk about Jesus. The Christians got it way wrong in my opinion, but he didn't. What a wonderful soul he is. He doesn't care what you believe. He only cares about the Love you carry within your heart.
I agree with the post directly above mine. We can do it too. Just as he did.
By the way that portrait looks exactly right to me, except that in my experience he appeared older.edit on 10/9/2012 by Dustytoad because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by nimbinned
reply to post by MamaJ
Thanks MamaJ for creating this thread. I had not heard of this girl/young woman before. She is a heavenly gift that's for certain. Her interpretation of Jesus really resonates with me too. He looks 'real' like you or me. I think it is more inspiring to think of Jesus as an ordinary man who did extraordinary things - someone who became a physical representation of the divine while on this planet.
I am going to check out more of her paintings and poetry.
Peace to You
* Ned
Originally posted by sled735
Thanks for this inspiring thread, Mama J.
I had heard of Akiane a long time ago, but had forgotten about her. I didn't know all the information contained in this thread about her story, so it is a great read. I believe her story.
IMO, the reason her painting looks like other pictures of Jesus is because this is what Jesus looks like, and the way he appeared to her, and others who have painted him.
It would get confusing to the masses if everyone saw Jesus as a totally different individual, wouldn't it?
Some paintings look a little different, but close enough to tell it is the same person.
I'll continue to follow this thread.edit on 10/9/2012 by sled735 because: addition to comment