Reflections on Al-Muhsi

by Deb Hansen

Al-Muhsi, the accountant, the appraiser, the numberer of all, the one who registers and records every thought and deed.

My journey with this characteristic of God began as an invitation, actually a pretty unusual invitation. My dear friend Julie, who envisioned the 99 names project, asked me to be a part of the pilot, as an artist. What is unusual is that I’ve never been an artist. I sat with the invitation for about a month and tried to simply notice what came up for me. I had a lot of resistance to applying the term artist to myself. My resistance advised me that I had absolutely no training or aptitude for art and would have no clue how to proceed. I also had scarce knowledge of the Islamic faith and could not possibly represent an aspect of God in that tradition. My wisdom told me that as a fairly competent grown-up I could probably figure it out; it was less about representing something that I would consider real art and more about curiosity and willingness. My intuition told me that I really wanted to do this. This “artist” space would be a great way to explore a side of myself that hadn’t had room for expression but really, really wanted to emerge. And so I agreed to participate.

Once I agreed, the next step was choosing one of the 99 names. I let my intuition speak and one evening, after dinner with Julie, I asked for the Most Beautiful Names book and held it in my lap. I took a deep breath and simply opened the book, and there was Al-Muhsi. I didn’t have an immediate positive resonance with the description of that characteristic. I did find it interesting that I had some actual experience for a number of years in my career in accounting. Al-Muhsi is also number 57, which happens to be my age at the time I created my response. Further, I have a real aptitude for reading the akashic records, the energetic archive of the soul and it’s journey, and Al-Muhsi is the one who registers and records every thought and deed. That’s the part that really spoke to me once I allowed it. My aptitude for deep connection could guide me in this project.

After some time of just being with this aspect, this Al-Muhsi, I simply asked “what now?” How do proceed when I barely know a watercolor from a crayon? I remembered that I had a book about art called “Art School”; it’s actually a basic step by step for the uninitiated. When I had some quiet time I just browsed through the book and a couple of things emerged. It occurred to me that I didn’t have to even use brushes or paper. In fact I decided to use a piece of plywood. I noticed that I was drawn to acrylics. That was it for a while.

My next inspiration came from Hollywood. I love movies, especially movies about people. I happened to come across a movie about the artist Jackson Pollack and what intrigued me was that he could paint, seemingly by throwing color around on a canvas. Now that was a technique I thought I could handle.

Some time later it occurred to me that I could go to the craft store and look around. I could just take a tour and see what appealed to me. And I knew that I would incorporate a mirror. The mirror was for me the key element. I left the craft store with a mirror, some glue, and some acrylics; the next step was what to do with it all. I was guided to put the mirror in an old pillowcase and smash it with a hammer. I primed the plywood, glued the pieces of mirror on it, and applied some layers of color.

I had to sit with the piece a few days to determine if it needed something else or was finished. My husband, who took the photograph, believes there are 99 pieces of mirror. I had no intention of placing 99 pieces of mirror but what an interesting coincidence.

For me, this piece is about reflection. That is how this characteristic Al-Muhsi speaks to me. Al-Muhsi records and reflects; as human beings we may not see the whole of that, hence the many broken pieces.

I’m still sitting with the idea of having an artist statement. What I’ve learned about myself through this process is that even with no training or aptitude, I can be guided into creating something, from my own inner wisdom, as well as the collective wisdom of countless souls. I’ve learned that I can connect to my own creativity, explore it, and allow it to emerge.

In a way, Al-Muhsi also speaks to my view of community. Al-Muhsi is all-inclusive; no one is omitted. Everything and everyone is recorded. It simply “is”, reflecting this fathomless universe.