Have you seen the amazing artwork hanging on the walls at Total Zen? There are currently pieces in each of the float rooms, in the hallway, and at the reception desk.
You may not have realized that each is a sacred geometric depiction of the Sri Yantra, an ancient instrument known to have a powerful effect on the mind. It is sometimes referred to as a "meditation portal."
They are painted by local artist Jon-Michael Birt, a long-time friend of the Total Zen crew.
Jon-Michael designs his works with the intention of helping people access deeper realms of consciousness, where, he says, that all of life is interconnected. His description sounds a lot like the state of mind that many floaters feel in the relaxation tank, making it a perfect compliment to the Total Zen environment.
Jon-Michael hopes that his works will inspire others to find compassion and to look at how our individual choices affect all of life on Earth.
He explains that the Sri Yantra is made up of nine interlocking triangles that come together to make 43 separate triangles, all situated around a center point. Everything in the picture generates from this single point and expands outward, in the same way we are manifested from the Universe.
Each work involves the creation of hand-crafted stencils and multiple layers of painting. The individual layers have symbolic and artistic meaning, and Jon-Michael uses a spray-paint-and fire-technique to get the desired effect. Further insight into the meaning of each layer and the technique are set forth in pictures and captions below:
In addition to his work with the Sri Yantra, Jon-Michael is passionate about Mayan Astrology. He paints symbolic depictions of the Mayan Astrology charts he prepares for clients, which go along with the thorough printed explanations he provides. With all of his art, Jon-Michael hopes to help people to deal with their internal fears and to find peace; so that we can all live on earth as compassionate humans who make good choices with respect to the Whole.