The muscles in my back melted with the sunshine pouring over me, and every cell in my body seemed to wake up with the warmth surrounding me on such a cool crisp morning. I sat precariously on a very tall rock with my legs reaching over a huge crevice, and yet I felt securely anchored to the earth’s stability. This allowed fatigue to give way to creative inspiration and as I sat thinking with my eyes closed, a dear friend came to mind. Then I saw the distinct image of a phoenix rising from fierce flames, and I experienced a knowing that this was a representation of my friend, and that she was the one who chose to create those flames in the most courageous act of bravery and self-preservation. I felt profound reverence for her journey in life, and I rushed to pull out a pen and notebook from my hiking backpack in order to capture the message I had received. It wasn’t until months later that I felt it was the right time to turn the sketch into a painting to give to my friend. It was a relief to me that when I showed her the painting and told her the meaning behind it, that she understood exactly what it meant to be the creator of the flames. So often the phoenix is portrayed to be courageously fleeing the scene of the fire, but I think there are a few unique souls who understand that it is necessary to be the fire in order to create the most life sustaining and beautiful outcome.