I have been a writer and artist since I was seven years old, trying to express myself and my process of seeking meaning. I have been a psychotherapist in private practice for thirty years. 2500 years ago, Jizo was a Buddhist monk. Upon his awakening, he promised to stay on earth until every soul was finished suffering. Revered as the protector of children, he connects with the child within us. Jizo also protects travelers. He is like the St. Christopher of Buddhism. Chibi simply means “little one” in Japanese. In Hiroshima, I saw a statue by a tree that had survived the atomic blast. He was wearing a baby’s bib. Our host told me, “Jizo protects all people but mostly we think of him as the protector of children: healthy, sick, unborn, never born.” I began my search until I found a stone statue, worn down from living outdoors for over 250 years. I made a small shrine for him and found comfort as I meditated while embracing the tiny child inside me. It was there that I wrote “what i heard & what you said” -- a conversation between a big Chibi and a little Chibi. It can help anyone talk to anyone about anything. I began writing and writing...more books. I began to illustrate them. My paintings insisted upon becoming jewelry. “We want to be worn, to be understood,” they said. I listened. Sometimes, we are like babies; we wish to feel safe. My Jizo now holds Chibi to his chest where he traditionally holds a pearl or precious stone to light up the darkness. I hope you find Jizo and Chibi in your own way; as I found Jizo in Hiroshima.
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