Lotus

There were seven reported cases of human trafficking in Huron County over the past year.
 
Three of these qualified as full-blown trafficking; four as priming. Five of the victims were girls under 17.
 
Let that sink in: someone from your high school is being victimized as a sex slave. Someone from your high school is a perpetrator in a human-trafficking network.
 
It starts with finding a victim: anyone who’s vulnerable will do. A freshman who’s out partying for the first time and forgot to guard their drink, or stays later than the crew they arrived with. A girl uncomfortable in her new body, desperate to be told she’s beautiful.
 
Incriminating images are created; dependencies are formed… these vulnerable people are lured or threatened into exchanging sexual acts for validation, status symbols, drugs or silence. Eventually, they’re entrapped and transported to a locked room where their bodies become the currency for someone else’s gain.
 
Victim Services of Huron County is the first line of prevention and restoration for local victims of human trafficking. Their educational and crime-related interventions are government-funded; however, they are able to offer much more support to victims and loved ones when we all donate generously.
 
Which I intend to. Proceeds from “Lotus” and “Sorghum” will benefit Victim Services of Huron County.
 
 
The lotus comes imbued with many meanings from many cultures.
From ancient Egypt, the lotus symbolizes unification or bonding and rebirth.
In Buddhism, lotus blooms are significant in their many colours:
Blue blossoms symbolize the victory of spirit over intelligence or knowledge. They are always only partially open; the centre is never observed.
White flowers speak of being awakened; of purity, perfection and the pacification of one's nature; of the womb of the world.
Purple blooms are rendered with eight petals to picture an eight-fold path to self-awakening.
The pink lotus is seen as the true lotus of Buddha.
And the red lotus, in familiar fashion, represents the heart, love and compassion.
To followers of Hinduism, the white lotus speaks beauty, fertility, prosperity, spirituality and eternity. To me personally, I can't think of more I could possibly wish for every human as I construct my own lotus upon the canvas.