This
image was created for a long-time friend of mine, a devout
Roman Catholic, with a history of service in the Christian
Brothers as a teacher. Although no longer under orders, he
remains faithful to the doctrines of his learning.
Over the course of several interviews, Tony mentioned many
symbols that had special meaning for him. I wasn't able to
include them all, but I did include the rainbow, signifying
divine deliverance through the Flood, as well as a common
symbol of the gay identity. (The rainbow is also the occult
symbol of the Goddess Iris)
To him, the serpent on the staff is a symbol of healing and
health (similar to the medical caduceus, refering to Moses
and the serpent in the Bible).
He wanted a triangle -- a symbol of the Trinity: Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost. I made it green (for growth/development)
and transparent so show that whatever he may view in life,
he should view it as if filtered through his idea of God (Omnipotent,
Omniscient, Omnipresent, and All-Loving) instead of through
the filters of mortal judgments, condemnations, separations,
and other discriminations.
The transparency is also a bit of an inside joke -- "Whatever
YOU think God is, I can see right
through it." -- because I don't acknowledge any particular
God, and usually identify as an atheist.
Common symbols flank the cross -- Light of the Word, and
Sword of the Spirit.
I didn't have any particular significance attached to the
rays in the background except that making them concave allowed
a more interesting effect through the transparency of the
triangle in front of it, while the disappearing into the distance
behind the center of the strapped timbers forming the Cross.
Copyright
2001