Year of the Dragon

Spring Dragon by Masaaki Shibano

Today, January 17, marks the seventeen year anniversary of the Hanshin disaster from the eight magnitude earthquake in my residential area. It has also been about ten months since the Higashi-nihon (eastern district of Japan) earthquake disaster and nuclear power catastrophe that occurred last year.

Natural disasters like earthquakes are hard to prevent, but nuclear accidents can be expected, in a sense. Disasters caused by nature and human errors are a huge tragedy that we in Japan faced and are still facing now. Essentially, we should reflect on how nature and human beings could live in harmony, with human wisdom learning from the energy of nature.

As a spiritual director, I believe there are many things we can do. Being with people who have suffered and listening to them provides support during these unexpected tragedies. We need each other. Spiritual direction offers caring hearts, sympathetic interactions, and love.

I feel so much power from others by remembering that Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are my friends if you do whatever I command you." [Paraphrased from several verses in Christian scripture.]

We received so much support from around the world; some people sent their hearts in prayer and other people came here to share their hearts, even though they were in a dangerous situation. I feel a deep connection among people who have faced and are now facing hardship of any kind. Please remember that we are so grateful for your supportive hearts and love for us.

As 2012 is the Year of the Dragon, I painted two kinds of green dragons. I hope this year is special for all people on the planet.

Rising Dragon by Masaaki Shibano

 I titled the first painting Spring Dragon; it depicts Green Dragon who dwells in the east to bring spring to us as a guardian God. The second one is titled Rising Dragon which illustrates how Green Dragon raises us as far as we love one another, higher than Mount Fuji.

It is the moment for all of us to remember that Jesus told us to love one another as a true friend, for here and there, we now see that there are rising and shifting movements of a new consciousness within us, among us, and around us.

Sending you peace and love in the new year,

Masaaki Shibano, Osaka, Japan

P.S. The words below the paintings translate to "peace in the Lord" with my signature and seal.