On Beauty Now...
More than fifteen years ago, John O’Donohue (mystic, prophet author, philosopher) wrote: “These times are riven with anxiety and uncertainty, given the current global crisis. In the hearts of people some natural ease has been broken."
It feels to me as if these words could have been written in 2020 rather than 2003. I’ve been diving into the simple things that nourish my heart and soul, and John O’Donohue’s words do just that (along with other poets and a lot of time outside). He paints a true picture of the struggle and challenge, but does not leave us hanging in despair. Instead, he offers a remedy: Beauty. Not the passing glamour of youth and whatever is currently touted as the sexiest and most desirable way we must be or item we must have or thing we must do. But Beauty, that which touches the soul, causes us to feel at home and graces us with ease.
John O’Donohue goes on to say:
“When we lose sight of beauty our struggle becomes tired and functional. When we expect and engage the Beautiful, a new fluency is set free within us and between us. The heart becomes rekindled and our lives brighten with unexpected courage. It is a courage that restores hope to the heart. In our day to day lives, we often show courage without realizing it. However, it is only when we are afraid that courage becomes a question. Courage is amazing because it can tap in to the heart of fear, taking that frightened energy and turning it towards initiative, creativity, action and hope. When courage comes alive, imprisoning walls become frontiers of new possibility, difficulty becomes invitation and the heart comes into a new rhythm of trust and sureness. There are secret sources of courage inside every human heart; yet courage needs to be awakened in us. The encounter with the Beautiful can bring such awakening. Courage is a spark that can becomes the flame of hope, lighting new and exciting pathways in what seemed to be dead, dark landscapes.”
The path of Beauty is a path of Courage and one that will uplift you when you need it most. May you be open to the Beautiful (in landscape, music, movement, relationship, home, art, love, yourself) and feel how those moments bring home, into connection with the eternal.
Join me on the Beauty Way next week:
Sunday, Oct 4th @ 4pm PDT “DREAM MAGIC” - a class on dreams, magic and ritual offered through Saged (become a Premium member for access)
Wednesday, Oct 7th @ 4:30pm PDT “DEEP PEACE” - sound healing, mudra, and restorative yoga with Lydia Hwang and me (every week Zoom)
Friday, Oct 9th @ 9:30am PDT “YOGA FLOW” - strong integrated yoga flow (every week Zoom)
By appointment, Network Chiropractic at Bend Wellness Center
In Beauty,
Jennifer
