Peace be upon all,
- Qel-Droma, you perceive goodness outside of yourself because it is within yourself. Thank you for your feedback.
- PokerJedi, the custom "Dooku-Pimped" sounds like a great way to start 8). Your feedback is worth waaay more than 2 of those Republic Credits!
-Tyranus,
The scroll in my avatar between the Maul sabers is an original piece of sacred art by renowned Muslim Calligrapher, Haji Nur Deen of China. He is a dear friend and brother who visits Zaytuna Institute (
www.zaytuna.org) which is where I work and does calligraphy workshops that the community always enjoys.
The lower part of the calligraphy says,
Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem which means, "In the Name of God the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate ". It's one of the most oft repeated Islamic invocations usually said before any formal speech or act that you want to have blessing in.
This "bismillah" is encased in a circular shape meant to represent a seed. Growing and rising above this seed is a floral/vine design patterned after a favored flower that the Chinese associate with many benefits (I forgot it's name).
Together, this piece conveys that this invocation is the seed from which multiple benefits and blessings bloom.
I just felt the style and color of the Maul sabers looked good next to this and added to the whole esoteric vibe. My personal interpretation of the red-colored sabers is that the red is a reminder of the sanctity of blood and that it can only be spilled under the most dire of circumstances and under the limits and restraints of sacred law.
* Read this excellent article to understand what I mean by this last, easy-to-distort point...
http://www.zaytuna.org/seasonsjournal/article.cfm?article_id=91Attached are also a picture of the artist and a picture of another scroll that I purchased from him.
Sorry to be long, but you asked Ty ;)
Bin Adam