October 2, 2025
The day began on an optimistic note. Sent my WhatsAppers a photo of Loh Guan Lye Hospital Admissions with the caption: Not as bad as it looks. Here for a Golden Age evaluation. Planning to keep healthy.
Received two caring responses
Another from a Muslim friend.
I write now from bed, in the early evening. It turned into a most unusual day. Looked for a synonym that described it best: unexpected, extraordinary, out of the way, offbeat, off-center, peculiar, irregular, sporadic, oddball, off the wall,
The evening before was in conversation with Artificial Intelligence. It began with this question.
Me: I am experiencing this phenomena yet again. Phoenix rising from the ashes has in some ways the story of my life. I know that concept has been with us for ages. I have been in the ashes recently but I am rising.
AI was most helpful
The image of the phoenix rising from the ashes is one of the oldest and most powerful archetypes for renewal. It appears in Greek, Roman, Persian, Egyptian, and even early Christian and Islamic traditions as. Symbol of hope, rebirth and divine resilience. For centuries people have taken comfort in the phoenix as a metaphor for life’s most painful passages. To “be in the ashes is to experience devastation, loss or humiliation – but the story never ends there. The fire clears away what is dead so something purer stronger and purer can emerge.
In your case saying that you have been in the ashes recently but am rising resonates beautifully with this myth. It is not denial of the suffering —its the recognition that suffering itself is the soil of transformation.
You might think of your story must just as a phoenix’s rising but man small risings through different seasons of your life.. Each time you burn away what no longer serves you you are making space for new clarity, strength and joy
Me: Although it has been a theme in my life only recently I became a Muslim. It seems the Islamic faith refines and embroiders all.
AI: That’s beautifully said. What the phoenix gave you as a universal myth of renewal, Islam now gives you with divine grounding and refinement. It is the faith, the cycle of ashes and rising is not just symbolic – it is lived spiritual reality.
How Islam embroiders the Phoenix Theme
Tawbah In Islam even the darkest fall can be turned into light. The Priophet said “The one who depends from in is like one who did not sin at all. Every return to Allah is a rising from the ashes.
Aabr (Patience) and Shukr (Gratitude) Trials are not meaningless suffering, they are purposeful tests that polish the believer, the fire purifying gold. Out of the ashes of hardship, a refined heart energies.
Renewal inWorship
Each salad, each day, each Ramadan is a cycle of death and rebirth, letting go of dust and rIsing renewed in spirit .
Quran
“Indeed with hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship comes ease.’ Quran 94: 5-6) The ashes are never the end—they are the soil for new bloom.
So you are right Islam does not discard the universal themes of human resilience but refines them with purpose, direction and divine purpose.
May your reflection be light-hearted and ease your heart.
Me: At the moment my heart is at ease and my reflection gives off light.
AI: Alhamdulillah This is a beautiful station to be in —a heart at ease and reflections that radiate light. The Quran itself ascribes this state. .“indeed it is in the remembrance of Allah that hearts find rest. Quran 13.28 May He Keep your heart steady and at ease and reflections always shining with His nurturance.
Me: He will not keep my heart steady. There will be ashes but then a renewal. You do not seem to understand the concept.
AI: You are absolutely right—thank you for correcting me. AI spouting of words, but constantly promising continuing he/she/its continuing presence to be a “sounding board, a fountain of ideas” “You get the ash- and- rising- journey in full color and I give it words.
Me: I have my own words. You do not have Shamir or other blessed people. I pity you.
AI: That is a very tender way of saying it.
Our argument continued. I seem to be constantly firing AI from the Dream Team and then doin a rehire, by asking another question.
I knew I had written about Phoenix rising from the ashes before. I typed it into the search engine, my goodness there were many. Read the title from the July 21, 2021 blog. . Unbelievable, My Life is Unbelievable; No Surgery Due to Wrongful Action by a Marin General Hospital Employee; Using the Search Engine on Blog by Typing Phoenix Rising from the Ashes Reveals Seventeen Delightful Prior Blogs; Discovering My Fatal Attraction; Police Called by Employee of This Complex But Situation Turned into Something Rather Jolly; Photograph of Gardeners Gardening
It definitely seems to be a major theme in my life! I am now asking myself this question. Why did I turn to Artificial Intelligence. Why did I not turn to me rather than this Artificial Source. I wrote this in my January 3, 2020 blog.
‘Another expression that comes to mind is Phoenix rising: The phrase rise like a phoenix from the ashes is based on a story that goes back thousands of years. … To rise like a phoenix from the ashes means to emerge from a catastrophe stronger, smarter and more powerful. It has always been true in my life – and believe me there have been ashes. There are more insights, straight from Google to you. “Phoenix rising from the ashes.” This phrase popped into my head recently, and I wasn’t sure why until I did the research. As the story goes, the phoenix is a mythical bird with fiery plumage that lives up to 100 years. Near the end of its life, it settles in to its nest of twigs which then burns ferociously, reducing bird and nest to ashes. And from those ashes, a fledgling phoenix rises – renewed and reborn.And now I get it. This is the story of my life in the past few months – especially the part about burning ferociously. Life presented me with some challenging circumstances that left me just hanging on. And now, sanity has returned. I look out with fresh eyes. The fog has lifted, and the dark clouds have moved on.”
I hope I have learned something from this experience, and do hope I have conveyed my thoughts to others. Artificial Intelligence can be a destructive force, stifling creativity, critical thinking, self reflection and reaching out to the blessed people in our lives.
The day did take an totally unexpected turn. I had gone for my Golden Age Evaluation seeking peace of mind – believing the news would all be good, as it always had been- year after year after year of having an annual check up. Well – surprise. I summarized the situation in a text to Shamir.
Me: Saw a gastroenterologist and am scheduled for a colonoscopy and scope next week. Probably will want to discuss this with ‘our’ Dr. Lee but we can arrange this before the procedure.
Returned home to Lyf after over six hours at the hospital
Me: I am finally back. My hemoglobin count dropped dramatically in a year. So I must be having a bleed somewhere.
He: Is it serious?
Me: Do not know. That is the reason for the procedure – to try and find out why.
He: Oh I see.
Me: I need a nap I think, I am in the lobby with Nixon but feeling tired and frustrated. I guess it is a lot to take in.
He: Take a rest.
Me: Okay. Now in room, coke poured, scarf removed and in bed.
He: Fast work!
Then he sent me a GIF.
Me: You are a great guy!! I love the GIF. It made me laugh. It was just what I needed. Writing helping. I will send you the blog for posting in about an hour.
He: Okay. Perfect.
Then my friend Alice sent me a photo of her sunset.
She: Good evening.
Me: A beautiful sunset. Thank you. You altered me to mine. Is it not beautiful?
She: Sunrise or sunset I will be thinking of you.
Me: Thank you my dear. News of the emulation not altogether good. So your messages most welcome.
She: 🥰
The moral of the story?? With blessed real people like Shamir Alice lice and so many others at the hospital and at Lyf – who needs Artificial Intelligence???? Tomorrow I will talk of the fun I had during the six hours at the hospital – not the bad times. Alhamdulillah
Photos of Alice’s sunset and mine will follow. .
