L1salindahl

December 7, 2014

An Experience of The One-ness?

There is no time, nor space. These are our illusions to help keep a sense of order.

That’s what science is telling us this week. (I say “this week” because who knows what will be touted as The Truth next week, month, year…. Remember when the earth was flat, and was the center of the Universe?) Anyway, I try to imagine the chaos I would perceive if left without those ordering concepts of space and time. It is a fun game…

…the tree is over there, and I am here. Noooo…the tree and I occupy the same space — oops! There is no space! So what am I left with? How do I wrap my head around that?

Here’s what saves me: experience. When I was a child — I can’t remember what age, but I recall being about eye level with the railing of the balcony — I had an odd and wonderful experience. The balcony was off my mother’s bedroom, on the second story of our house. I was standing there in clear morning sunshine looking into the branches and green leaves of trees. A slight breeze riffed through the leaves; a bird’s vibrant call rang out — and all at once I was one with it all. In every way. There are no words, really, to describe what occurred. I have never forgotten the experience. Interestingly what ended it was my noticing what was happening.

Throughout my life I have come across other experiences and terms to describe them: “out of body”, “trance”, “journeying” (in the Shamanic tradition), but none — neither experience or terminology — have adequately caught what I experienced that long-ago morning. Subsequently, still while quite young, I had two other similar experiences but not as complete and intense as that first one, as all too soon I would notice it was happening and that would slip “me” back into regular/normal perception.

Sunlight through California Trees, photo by Lisa Lindahl — Sunlight through California trees

November 30, 2014

Science vs. Beauty – 2

There is a prevailing and ubiquitous disregard of Beauty and the sacredness of nature. Nature, the “natural world” is the primary manifestation of our universe’s luminous matter in this time/space/place we know as the planet Earth. Rare, precious, matter.

I find it of further interest to consider that currently a popular scientific theory posits that all matter “pops” into existence out of dark energy. And back out of existence again. It is what remains around that becomes our ‘visible and tangible’ world. One must wonder: since there is so much dark energy – 73{d26b639eb74f8edb8884074db06109d949b84d3d1d14796b516693be64172811} — why is matter so rare? Why doesn’t it manifest more and more often? Or does it, and it is just outside the realm of our current levels of understanding and perception? Hmmm.

While matter is an important form in which Beauty can manifest, indeed the form in which we are most familiar recognizing Beauty, it is not the only form. I suggest that Beauty is a field (as in electromagnetic field) and therefore a resonance. Sometimes we experience Beauty almost outside our sense perceptions, I think. We are uplifted for no apparent “good reason.” This all speaks to Beauty’s link to harmony, and how it (harmony, harmonic relationships) pops in and out of our experience and awareness.

Some propose that the Universe began with a sound. A single musical note. More than one, and you might have a harmony; wavelengths that flow together, in synchronicity, harmonious. Wavelengths exist in a field. We get into the physics here that lead to the metaphysics:

So I propose a further definition of Beauty:

True Beauty is the synergistic, flowing field that holds all in dynamic, resonating harmony as the next movement unfurls.

If you are a physics geek, at this point you might, most appropriately, find the moving computer illustration of the equation called the Mandelbrot Set. It is waaaay cool!

November 23, 2014

Science v. Beauty – 1

A Wee Bit of Science

Dark energy, a substance of the Universe not currently completely understood, is currently believed to constitute 73{d26b639eb74f8edb8884074db06109d949b84d3d1d14796b516693be64172811} of said Universe. Dark matter, 23{d26b639eb74f8edb8884074db06109d949b84d3d1d14796b516693be64172811}. Luminous matter, made up of photons, the stuff we understand best and from which all matter is constructed – is a mere 4{d26b639eb74f8edb8884074db06109d949b84d3d1d14796b516693be64172811}. Only Four percent of the Universe!

Luminous matter is what WE are made of – what humans, animals, and our fluid, gooey earth is constructed of. I concur, then, with a Brian Swimme statement:

“Matter is rare and precious.”

How does this relate to Beauty? In this way: Isn’t it interesting that in our current culture(s) we are learning — and have been “learning” — to despise matter. At best, to disrespect it; to take it for granted. Matter is crude. Matter is stuff. Matter is material to be used, servant to us, something to exploit. Matter is profane.

This is evident in some religious attitudes and cultural values all over the planet in one way or another. Think of attitudes towards flesh itself – thinness: be thin! The less body the better — skinny is glamorous (notice I did not say ‘beautiful’). Further, sex as dirty, a sin; the female body and its reproductive organs as something to be owned, covered, and legislated. Beyond merely human flesh, there is the abuse of other natural resources – whether animal flesh or plant beings – they are mere objects to be used in service to our species-centric considerations. Not considered precious and rare by too many. And in these times, I don’t think I need do more than mention the issue of the earth’s mineral and oil deposits and the embattled relationships that have evolved around that form of matter.

All matter is sacred. But luminous matter? It is a beautiful phenomenon, rare and precious — just a mere 4 percent of our universe. It is luminous us — and trees, rivers, oceans, insects, stars and chocolate. Think about it.

Sacred luminous matter masquerading as dark energy?

November 16, 2014

Art & True Beauty

Beauty vs. “Art”:

Humility in the artist is his frank acceptance of all experiences, just as Love in the artist is simply that sense of Beauty that reveals to the world its body and its soul. ~ Oscar Wilde

I have noticed that people often — and I think unconsciously — use the words “art” and “beauty” interchangeably. As if one equates with the other. When you think of it, that’s kind of odd, don’t you think?

Well, what is the relationship between “Art” and “Beauty?” Wonderfully, it is a couple of guys writing about Chaos Theory that put it best, I think. In their book “Seven Life Lessons of Chaos” John Briggs and David Peat state: “Nature makes its fractal forms out of matter and energy. The material of art includes human consciousness, as well.”

Art is our human recognition, interpretation and expression of Beauty; a manifestation of the need to replicate Beauty.

So I use the term “art” primarily to refer to the man-made kind, in order to stay out of the thorny peripheral issues concerned with “what constitutes art ” (which is another purview altogether, and someone else’s –many other elses, really– book(s)). My working distinction here is between man-made art, vs. nature’s “creation.” I use ‘creation’ to mean all that is (both seen and unseen by the human sensory system) arising from the organism we think of as the Universe –our Earth, Sun, the skies, neutrinos, space, bosons – Everything — what I call “The Is-ness.”

Often the natural world, creation, is many people’s first and most direct experience of the Beautiful: a glimpse of the sky, trees, clouds, sunlight; the sound of birdsong, waves kissing the beach, rain on a window pane, or the smell of soil and small green growing things. We shiver with elation at our encounter.

Yet we must also include that which may not come to us through our bodily senses, but perceived by the heart, or as Diarmuid O’Murchu phrases it: “only the heart can intuit the quantum.” We resonate with certain external or internal vibrations. We “sense” what is beautiful for/to us in ways and on levels for which there may not yet be words to give it articulation. Think of friendships that form almost instantly — we resonate, literally, with someone.

In response to our individual perception of True Beauty, we create. We make or modify stuff. We infuse our humanity and individuality into that which has resonated with us. We make visual representations, symphonies, architecture, relationships, philosophy. We create “Art” from a deep experience of True Beauty. One might say True/Deep Beauty is the maker’s muse. I believe the quest for True Beauty is also Creation’s muse.

Starry Night - painting by Vincent Van Gogh — Starry Night – painting by Vincent Van Gogh

“Art is not found only in the painter’s studio or in the halls of a museum, it also has its place in the store, the shop, the factory and the home….” Thomas Moore

But I am not a rose-colored glasses kinda girl. Trauma, and that with which we resonate negatively can move us to create as well. Seems to me that while Beauty may inspire us to replicate it, negativity needs to be regurgitated out of our being. Regardless of the impulse, the process of making art can be healing.

Many things mankind creates are not Art. And all Art is not Beauty-full. Hence, my need to make a distinction between Art and True Beauty.

November 14, 2014

Core Shamanism

Some people’s eyes glaze over when one brings up the term “shaman”, or shamanism. That’s the best case, actually. Many others equate it with superstition, woo-woo crazies or witchcraft.

Shamanism exists everywhere on the globe, and has for thousands of years. It is about humankind’s relationship with the natural world and our spiritual connection with other sentient beings. Shamanism, at its core, is a healing modality. A term floating around these days is “Neoshamanism”, referring to modern folk who follow particular cultural patterns and practices of Shamanism. While familiar with Neoshamanism, I am currently studying what is called “Core Shamanism.”

There is a link, I find, between the awareness and the practice of True Beauty and the shamanistic viewpoint — so I explore this path. But the best description I have found of Core Shamanism — thoughtful and far more comprehensive than my quickie definitions above, was written by Judy Tsafrir, a fellow student in this journey (no pun intended, really). Please read the link for a truly fascinating Post about Shamanism by a Boston psychiatrist, Judy Tsafrir, MD.

If Judy’s article piques your interest, below find a link to Michael Harner’s new book, Cave and Cosmos. Harner is the the anthropologist who founded the Foundation for Shamanic Studies (FSS). Check it out!

November 9, 2014

Party Hearty!

True, deep Beauty is reflected in the life force that is present all around us – it’s a joyous, sometimes riotous party given by the entire Universe. We’re always invited, though too often we don’t attend. “Attend,” pay attention to… .. Look up, look around! Look out your window – there’s a gorgeous party going on!

November 2, 2014

Natural Beauty

Beautiful Hawaiian Sunrise - photo by Lisa Lindahl — Hawaiian Sunrise

The natural world is often a human being’s first introduction to and relationship with external beauty – the True Beauty without. In our current urban-central, agri-business world, unfortunately too many people develop only a “nodding basis” with the natural world. Sadly, it is no longer a central reference point for the culture.

Yet our instinctual need for relationship with the natural world and its beauty will out…we create gardens. We plant pots. “Gardening” has become a giant industry. Last I looked it was ranked the #2 hobby of American households. And everywhere I have traveled around the globe I’ve noticed the ubiquitous window boxes, flower pots, community plots.

True Beauty is all around us. The first, basic Practice of Beauty is to actually see. To practice turning off what I call our sensory “auto-pilot” and really see/perceive what is around us. We take short-cuts. That intersection we pass by everyday — when was the last time you really looked at it? Or the tree in the front yard?

Try it! How many colors of green do you see outside? Any pink in that grass? And purple in that tarmac? Practice seeing. You’ll find the habit eventually goes far beyond the merely visual.

Natural beauty is True Beauty. Eternal. We yearn for it, and create it as we able.

October 26, 2014

What is meant by “The Way…”

So, here I am going on about The Way of Beauty. Lou asked me what the heck that was about… so here goes:

The ancient Chinese developed Taoism from “Tao” meaning “path” or “way,” specifically in reference to their ancient studies of the Universe and its ways, or paths — meaning its processes and methods. Taoism is considered to be the Religion of Heaven and Earth, of the Cosmos, the World, and Nature in the broadest sense.

So, Lou — and anyone else who was wondering — it is with that thought tradition in mind that I put forth this Way of Beauty.

The Way of Beauty is about cultivating a daily-living practice of beauty awareness. The reason to do so is rooted in the belief that Beauty — its creation, cultivation and discovery — is an important and centralizing principle of our universe.

The Way of Beauty is simple. It requires no esoteric tools or objects. To practice it requires only an attitude and awareness shift. It is something that is done every day, a practice, a habit. And it will effect one’s choices on every level.

We can make Beauty a verb, as well as a noun and an adjective. The time is now to Practice Beauty. The Practices of Beauty are outlined in my book, “The Way of Beauty.” Of course, sometimes they get articulated here, on the blog…

There are some time-honored practices that speak to and support the Way of Beauty. Meditation is one. Being still and present in the midst of our busybusybusy environment is another. Maintaining a healthy physical body (exercise) is yet another. None of these “practices” are new. But their connection with Beauty has been diminished, even forgotten. I am here to remind us. As we go on here, I will tie Beauty theory back into specific Beauty practices. Stay tuned!

A caution: At the same time that we return to Beauty we must avoid the temptation to idolize it in those ways that stultify and narrow our understanding and practice of it. This is the very trap that the ancient Greeks fell into, and is echoing in our Hellenistic cultural roots. It is the tendency that has, in great part, gotten us into our current dismaying blind and paralytic relationship with Beauty today. The nature of true Beauty is its surprising, refreshing, and elastic daily discovery…kinda like a good blog!

October 19, 2014

Shifting Paradigms

How did we get to the point we are at today in our modern western civilization? How did greed, corruption and selfishness become so prevalent? How did our lives get so busy, our frustrations so many, and our sense of contentment and achievement so hard won?

We live in an atmosphere charged with the expectancy of change. We are in a time period which some purport to be the end of the earth’s geological Cenozoic era. Some culture-watchers, cosmologists and theologians believe the era in which we are living needs to be the period for forging a whole new paradigm; that the old operational ideas have outlived their usefulness, en masse, and are now just causing harm. The evidence of this is becoming increasingly apparent.

The shifting consciousness around humanity’s place on the planet and our use of its resources is a prime example of this perceptual shift. Certainly, there have been recent events that support this hypothesis.

When people talk about “shifting the paradigm” I take this to mean changing the “standard operating procedure” as it relates to those cultural norms that have evolved, particularly since the advent of the industrial revolution.

This work can be contributed to by anyone, I believe, through independent, personal action. Creating cultural change through personal responsibility that manifests in ones actions. It is the old “pebble in the water creating ripples” motif. Moving Beauty out of the abstract and back into the realm of the concrete, where it actually resides, is key to a successful cultural and values shift.

To this end I propose evolving a 21^st century applied philosophy of Beauty: “The Way of Beauty.” This Way introduces “The 18 Practices of Beauty.” These are primarily guidelines on what to explore and what to do (practice) to evoke, nurture and support beauty-full choices in the everyday living arts to better heal ourselves and our spiritual and physical environments — and through these individual actions and choices — eventually our very culture.

It has become critical now at this juncture that the term “Beauty” be reclaimed, and its concept be understood at a far deeper, truer level to be embraced and revered by humankind.

We must move from giving only lip-service born of abstract philosophical theory (“Truth, Beauty, and Goodness”) into behavioral practices born of value shifts based in a new, emergent paradigm.

Passageway - photo by Lisa Z. Lindahl — Passageway

October 12, 2014

Once upon a Time

Vermont Winter Day photo by Lisa Lindahl — Wintry Vermont day

Once upon a time, somewhere in the winter of 1980, maybe, my business partner and I were driving north up a gray Interstate 89 on our return home from Montpelier, Vermont from yet another all-important business meeting. A few years earlier I had invented the sports bra, the then-named “Jogbra,” and was creating what would become a multi-million dollar business. The day was gray. The road was black and icy.

My business partner was at the wheel of my cranky old Volkswagen beetle. She was going on and on about the meeting, our fledgling business, her concerns and expectations. Her intense energy filled the small space. I was getting claustrophobic. Suddenly, light from the early setting sun erupted from beneath the dark clouds heavy with the coming nights snow. Spectacular beams shot to earth, made the dingy road sparkle. Crimson and gold rays caught tree tops, transforming them into a glowing latticework of color and light, and reached across the snow-covered land to touch our gas-powered capsule of human intensity.

“Beauty break! Beauty break!” I cried, interrupting her tirade. “Look at the gorgeous light on those trees! Look at that sunset!” My partner glanced at it and smiled. Her shoulders visibly dropped. Her brow softened. In a few moments we were laughing together.

Beauty lifts us up.

Ten years later we sold that business, and I devoted some time to thinking deeply about what really mattered to me. Really.

What kept coming up was BEAUTY. True beauty.

What the hell did that mean?

I decided to focus on this question; how I could create, support, and be surrounded by beauty in my life. Before the sports bra entered my imagination and took over my life I had been a visual artist, and I felt as if one painting –– the business –– was finished and another was waiting to be born.

Why was the subject of beauty haunting me?