The Mystery of Transformation

The soul, obscured by ego and encased in the body, expresses itself in the most unlikely ways and in the most unexpected places. In my search for this elusive human quality, I have crossed the land of health into the land of illness to meet with those who have experienced breast cancer. My subjects have realized beyond this hinterland of suffering, lies a body of water in which the spirit caresses their soul and heals their wounds.

Caught between the profane and divine realities, my subjects have faced their own mortality, mourned the loss of their breast and moved into the land of grace. This acceptance of suffering has enriched their souls and illuminated its shadowed existence. Their participation in this project is s way to share with the reader the acknowledgment that piety can strengthen us at a time of adversity. Through out this journey I have tried to capture in these images and words an intimacy that is both accessible and remote. The poems are my impression of their trials and transformational stories, cast in first person voice to carry the melody of each woman's voice. It is my wish that, collectively they create a chorus of hope.

Jila Nikpay from Heroines