Making Friends With the Unknown

Fear is a weapon, fashioned by those around us.

As the moon peeks out from behind the clouds, and I enjoy the candlelight of the mind, it falls upon the pages of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, where Ichabod Crane is pursued by what he perceives as the terrifying Headless Horseman, a profound allegory for how we confront—or fail to confront—our internal fears. While often interpreted as a supernatural tale, I was surprised to learn there's an alternate story that the presumed specter that sent the would-be hero running was actually Brom Bones, Ichabod's human rival, cleverly disguised as a local legend to troll Ichabod because Brom was a hater and he was waiting for Ichabod on the route he knew Ichabod would take home with the intention of harassing him, or worse—who knows?!

The Headless Horseman, whether it was in fact a ghost or an attack mislabeled as a prank, represents the unreasonable challenges we face. It's a reminder that our rivals might not always confront us with swords but with ridicule, unsettling us or excluding us to gain some ill-perceived or actual leverage. Ichabod's decision to retreat, and subsequent demise or disappearance, illustrates that running from our fears can have dire consequences. It wasn't the ghost or Brom that ultimately defeated Ichabod; it was his own unwillingness to face discomfort or challenge head-on.

The pumpkin hurled by the Horseman, which knocks Ichabod off his horse, can be seen as the opposition's ability to strike from a distance. This mirrors how fear and external pressures can disrupt our progress, even when the source seems non-threatening or ridiculous upon closer inspection. The tale teaches us a critical lesson : when we perceive a threat, whether it be from within or without, the path to power does not always lie in avoidance.

By willing willing to see the specters, aliens, or adversaries we encounter, whether external or internal in origin, and by being willing to be present in alert awareness, we potentially dismantle the illusions of otherness created by our fears and move toward spaciousness. Observing with an alert awareness when faced with a specter, real or metaphorical, may offer a better experience for you and for the spectre than avoidance or sudden retreat.

When we encounter something that makes us want to retreat, whether it's the unknown we fear in the machinations of a perceived rival or the shadows of our own doubts - we might inquire each time which feels more like power and self-mastery: forward progress? Observation? Or engagement? Especially in social situations, before following our instinctual rituals that we engage when feeling threatened, we might benefit greatly by being willing to face uncomfortable or unfamiliar territory with curiosity instead of rejecting an opportunity to face new experiences, we may be missing an opportunity to affirm our resolve and our actual capability to make strategic decisions based on our desire for directing our own long-term growth, even in the face of heated emotions, adversity, or fear of the unknown.

About the Artist: Dabb3r Immersed in the world of art from the tender age of childhood, Dabb3r's journey into creativity was nurtured by his grandmother, whose painterly talents sparked his early fascination with the visual arts. This initial spark evolved into a lifelong passion where Dabb3r not only admired the aesthetic allure of art but dissected its intricate techniques, seeking to understand the very essence that makes each piece singularly poignant. The digital era, with its transformative technologies, rekindled Dabb3r's artistic fire around early 2024. The rapid evolution of AI and digital tools presented both a challenge and an opportunity for him to reconnect with his long-standing love for creation. Embracing the digital canvas, he embarked on a public journey of artistic exploration, committing to share his "daily artwurk" on X, inviting followers into his evolving creative process.

Nestled in the stark, yet spectacular landscapes of Alaska, Dabb3r finds his muse in the extremes of nature. The stark contrast of the Alaskan environment, from the ethereal dance of the auroras to the rugged beauty of glaciers and the untamed wildlife, infuses his work with a raw, natural energy. This constant interaction with nature's grandeur fuels his artistic endeavors, providing an endless palette of inspiration. Dabb3r, while serving as a lab director in the burgeoning cannabis industry, has carved out a niche for himself in the digital art community.

His explorations are not just about mastering new tools or adapting to the digital medium's evolving landscape; they are a quest to define his unique voice amidst the cacophony of contemporary art. His self-critical eye often leads him to share more than he mints, valuing the process of creation over the product. Beyond his personal artistic pursuits, Dabb3r is a fervent advocate for the decentralization of art, seeing in blockchain technology not just a new frontier for art commerce, but a revolutionary platform where artists can truly own and innovate their work's journey. His ambition is to not only navigate but to expand the horizons of digital art, questioning and reshaping how art is perceived, valued, and experienced in the digital age. Through his work, Dabb3r invites the art world to venture with him into uncharted digital territories, where the fusion of technology and traditional artistry birth new forms of expression.