Where to start ? Global insanity surrounds us with not much making any sense as the floodgates are opening up and truth is being revealed quite abruptly. Can there really be this much evil in our midst ? Then I come upon this exquisite reflection on Beauty. I become immersed. Two points stand out for me. “Beauty is however, a thing for the aware and the awakening.” The part expounding on flowers and their universal appeal - equally uplifting. “Flowers are an offering of healing power . . . promise . . . joy.” The accompanying photo of a stark winter branch juxtaposed - truly beautiful.
It occurred to me some months ago when a tree I've passed many times mesmerized me one day with its beauty. I don't know why, on that day, it struck me. As I stayed to behold its beauty I learned that something more comes through... That stopping to behold, there's more that I receive, as if Beauty is the hook, to receive.... blessing that I can feel but don't have language for.
And speaking of language, a word's meaning is always formed through our experiencing and context. So the word beauty meant what it did to those teenage girls, the kind of beauty they are preoccupied with. There is a public meaning that we can find in the dictionary, but the meaning of any word is different with each of us. So when i am in disagreement, especially, I like to ask what someone means by the word they are using. Often we are just using different meanings and we actually agree when we reveal what we want a word to mean.
This rings so true, Cliff. Three things strike me. First is something I read a while back about how wealthy people can be more attractive because they have access to not only surgeries, but also fitness trainers, dentists, and other preventative measures that make them healthier and, therefore, at their "peak" beauty potential.
Second, when you mentioned the beauty of flowers, I instantly thought of the Kroger bouquet I gave my mother on Mother's Day. They lasted something like three months. They had no smell, and my guess is they were dyed, too. So, society wants to take something beautiful and not take it to a "higher level of wholeness" but what they believe to be a higher level - an artificial beauty that actually takes away one of its most appealing attributes.
Thirdly, I do agree with you about Maslow. Aesthetics is not at the top. It is essential to the human soul and belongs much lower on the pyramid. You can see this when we study art programs in prisons and beautifying blighted neighborhoods. Things happen when beauty enters the room.
Where to start ? Global insanity surrounds us with not much making any sense as the floodgates are opening up and truth is being revealed quite abruptly. Can there really be this much evil in our midst ? Then I come upon this exquisite reflection on Beauty. I become immersed. Two points stand out for me. “Beauty is however, a thing for the aware and the awakening.” The part expounding on flowers and their universal appeal - equally uplifting. “Flowers are an offering of healing power . . . promise . . . joy.” The accompanying photo of a stark winter branch juxtaposed - truly beautiful.
I used to do flower deliveries occasionally as a side income stream. Recipients got to see the flowers. I got to see the faces.
It occurred to me some months ago when a tree I've passed many times mesmerized me one day with its beauty. I don't know why, on that day, it struck me. As I stayed to behold its beauty I learned that something more comes through... That stopping to behold, there's more that I receive, as if Beauty is the hook, to receive.... blessing that I can feel but don't have language for.
And speaking of language, a word's meaning is always formed through our experiencing and context. So the word beauty meant what it did to those teenage girls, the kind of beauty they are preoccupied with. There is a public meaning that we can find in the dictionary, but the meaning of any word is different with each of us. So when i am in disagreement, especially, I like to ask what someone means by the word they are using. Often we are just using different meanings and we actually agree when we reveal what we want a word to mean.
This rings so true, Cliff. Three things strike me. First is something I read a while back about how wealthy people can be more attractive because they have access to not only surgeries, but also fitness trainers, dentists, and other preventative measures that make them healthier and, therefore, at their "peak" beauty potential.
Second, when you mentioned the beauty of flowers, I instantly thought of the Kroger bouquet I gave my mother on Mother's Day. They lasted something like three months. They had no smell, and my guess is they were dyed, too. So, society wants to take something beautiful and not take it to a "higher level of wholeness" but what they believe to be a higher level - an artificial beauty that actually takes away one of its most appealing attributes.
Thirdly, I do agree with you about Maslow. Aesthetics is not at the top. It is essential to the human soul and belongs much lower on the pyramid. You can see this when we study art programs in prisons and beautifying blighted neighborhoods. Things happen when beauty enters the room.
Great post!
Flowers are the manifestation of the beauty held implicitly within! Looking at nature as analogs of humans, can I attend to the flowerings?
Auras. Beautiful, auras. Everywhere.
Wow, I'm amazed by all these thoughtful responses to this essay! Thank you, everyone!