The Birdcage

The Birdcage We spend so much of life trapped in invisible cages — shaped by our thoughts, pain, and the belief that happiness lives somewhere outside of us. This painting is about that awakening: the moment we realize the door was never locked. In today’s world, we’ve become numb — distracted by our phones, social media, endless emails, the news telling us who we should be. It leaves us anxious, afraid, and shackled to a rhythm that isn’t our own. But that’s not how we were meant to live. True freedom begins when we stop waiting to be saved, and instead become the love we were searching for. Happiness is our natural state — but we forget this as we grow older,  attaching our feelings to stories, pain, and the wounds of others, hoping for approval or validation, becoming entrapped in our own minds.  The woman in the painting discovers she doesn’t need permission, control, or support from anyone outside herself — she already holds the strength. Once she opens the door, she finds joy, peace, courage, humility, and love waiting for her on the other side. The herons flying beside her carry the spirit of purity, transformation, and quiet wisdom — guiding her home.   When we face our feelings, quiet the mind, and return to presence — we rise. We become light. And in doing so, we set others free too. “The key was never lost — it was hidden in your own heart all along.” 💜