As Above So Below
“As Above, So Below”
original oil painting plus hand painted frame
measures 15.5 inches tall and 7.25 inches wide (including frame)
🖤
The classic occult phrase stating that what exists on a higher plane manifests on a lower plane.
My favorite interpretation is that my world is a reflection of my mind. And this painting titled “As Above, So Below” is my promise to prioritize my mental health over all else. Because my mental health, more than anything else, directly affects everything in my life.
Mental health before work.
Mental health before ego.
Mental health before productivity.
Mental health before money.
Mental health before deadlines.
Mental health before family.
Mental health before friendship.
Mental health before addiction.
Mental health before any “should.”
Sometimes those things help aid my mental health, but they must not be conflated with mental health. Of course I want to be a responsible person, but I can be more productive if I first take care of my mental space than if I frantically push myself to the point of depletion. I can be a better friend if I first take care of my mental space than if I go to a party and fake being happy. If I’m at 50% then everything I do will be at 50% and in return I will be only 50% satisfied, still yearning for more and thus continuing the cycle. If I prioritize my mental health first, then I will be more present, more calm, more grateful, more creative, more kind, more authentic, more energetic, more mindful, more wise, and less caught up in things that don’t matter.
There’s no exact formula for caring for my mental health. Each day could require something different. The important thing is to check in with myself daily and honestly assess what I truly need to maintain a healthy mind.