“I am just as passionate about defending the right to practice a religion as I am to protect others from it. In America as it was conceived–a free nation of opportunity–no specific religion or set of spiritual beliefs is greater than another, and everyone has an equal right to practice their faith–provided it does not infringe upon the freedom of others.

We were born into an era where we inherited rights that a legacy of women fought hard for, to ensure we would have opportunities they never knew. And we bear a responsibility to their legacy. Have we completely lost reverence and acknowledgement of their sacrifices? The rage I feel in my bones is greater than myself–it’s ancestral, an ascending chorus of the brave women who came before me. We were entrusted to carry the torch forward to illuminate the path of a brighter future, to protect personal freedom–not incinerate all of the progress made….”

Of all the many beautiful, remarkable works of art I had seen that day, this became the one I wanted to take home. I chose one holding a tiny amethyst point. A bright smile lit her face when she saw me select this Kristomos. She felt this was particularly special because he was holding the crystal close to his heart. Her radiant warmth, generosity, and genuine love for creating have stayed with me ever since, and this tiny figure is a reminder of the infinite connection that is possible through being open in meeting others. It’s the people we encounter on every journey who really define our experiences, like the points of starlight that comprise a constellation.