Fueling Our Courage at the Crossroads: ‘Knight at the Crossroads’

Reaching Within: What traditional art offers the heart

“Knight at the Crossroads,” 1882, by Viktor Vasnetsov. Oil on Canvas, 65.7 inches by 117.7 inches. Russian Museum. Public Domain

There are those moments in our lives when we are called on to accomplish an overwhelming task. We become nervous, sweaty, shaking messes, but most of the time we try our best to hide our nervousness and complete our task despite our fears.

What do our fears say about us? How might we be courageous when we are pulled into an overwhelming adventure? I was thinking about these questions as I read the story of Ilya Muromets. 

Ilya Muromets

Ilya Muromets was a great hero in Russian folk tales. He was a Russian bogatyr, which is similar to a knight. He went on many adventures and was fearless in his service to those around him.