What is that experience like for you in a way that, that you know is not subject to the scrutiny of anything outside of yourself?

Oof.

That takes me...

All sorts of things happened as you spoke.

Uh, and one was this religious woman, Mother Teresa, and one of her lines was, "I just want to be a pencil in the hands of God." She was speaking about more than art for me.

It was, as you said, being a vessel, having the inspiration come into you and fill you up so much that you have to let it come out.

And in that desire and the need to let it flow through you to the tips of your fingers to create whatever it is that you're inspired to, that's what's important.

Like you said, whether there is a true self or a soul, a divine spark, a god, whatever that may be, how do I surrender to being made a vessel? And this is where, in my experience, the trauma, pain, suffering, has been the most effective way at removing that hubris, bringing me to almost, like, to my knees and saying, "Teach me." And I, I hear the same for you.