Jul 09 2008
What is Beauty, Anyway?
“What is beauty, anyway? It’s more than something pleasant looking.
If it doesn’t stop us in our tracks and make us unable to move for a moment, unable to put into words what’s closing off the breath in our throats, then maybe it’s pretty, but it probably isn’t beauty.” - Alan Alda
In a recent article about the upcoming World Science Festival, Alan Alda discusses the concept of beauty and he writes about how beauty is perceived differently by artists and by scientists.
Of course, what he wrote had me thinking about what I find beautiful. As an artist and photographer I am a keen observer, always looking for things that evoke a sense of beauty. But, as Alan asks… what is beauty anyway?
Last week, I found beauty in a field of wildflowers, bathed in the golden light of sunset. Yesterday I found beauty in a pair of turkey vultures, perched on a branch on a dark, foggy morning drying their feathers. Interesting, as vultures are not often thought of as beautiful.
When I consider beauty, it comes down to what touches my soul. It arises from the eternal nature within all things. Beauty is that which inspires. Beauty reaches my heart in some inexpressible way. It does not have to be physical beauty. And, it doesn’t have to be something I see with my eyes.
Wayne Dyer says “your natural state is beauty”. I think the natural state of the world is beauty. We can see beauty in all things when we are living in a way that is closely aligned with the Divine source; that essential energy that enlivens and vibrates in all things. When we connect with this energy all things have beauty.
Explore beauty. Cultivate it. Be receptive to it. Be willing to be surprised by what you find beautiful. And bring beauty into your surroundings - not what the world or a designer or an art expert says has beauty, but what YOU find has beauty.
Be open to beauty and beauty will be reflected in your life.
Copyright 2008, Deb Swingholm. All rights reserved.
Tags: alan alda, essential energy, surroundings, wayne dyer
Hello Deb,
This morning I was looking at a catalogue featuring John O’Donahue’s CD set called “Beauty: The Invisible Embrace”. The description reads: “The human soul is hungry for beauty. We seek it everywhere–in landscape, music, art, companionship, religion, and in ourselves. When we experience the Beautiful, there is a wonderful sense of homecoming; we feel fully alive. Our lives become illuminated and we glimpse the true form of things.”
This morning I found Beauty as I was riding my bike and a deer with two fauns crossed the road in front of me and vanished into the country-side grasses.
Deborah
Hi Deborah,
What a wonderful quote by John O’Donahue. There are so many sources for beauty, and there is no shortage! I love to just continually notice where I find it and be willing to be surprised.
The last few days, beauty was all about music and drumming!
love,
Deb