The Beauty Blog for Asheville’s Sustainability Open Space group:
6/28/06
We met for the first time June 26th/27th at Warren Wilson College and, for the life of me, I don’t know why I even offered the topic, as opposed to sustainable health, which would seem to be more connected to what I have been focusing on in my work life. But I think Kerry was right when he observed that many of our championed topics from this gathering have interwoven threads with each other, and beauty certainly needs to be a part of health care. (I recently met an Australian architect who, with his psycho/color therapist wife create sacred healing spaces for living and working. See: http://www.arcoessence.com.au/)
I see BEAUTY (one of Ken Wilber’s big three, Kerry reminded me) as absolutely necessary to human sustainability on this planet. In some respects it doesn’t really need a champion, as it will bubble up in the most unexpected ways/places (like in concentration camps). At the same time, I think the more consciously we intend/expect this to be a factor in both public and private decision-making, the more it will be included. Charlotte Anthony is working on a story for Spirit in the Smokies highlighting an example of this for us, and which will include an invitation to readers to join us in this venture.
For those who are new to the group, I will reiterate two experiences which led me to championing this topic:
1. I was at the Getty Center in L.A., meditating in the gardens, and had this thought: “What if everyone on the planet had access to this level (or higher) of beauty at least once a week; would we see an end to war?” (For those who haven’t seen it, it is one of the most beautiful man-made settings—both buildings and gardens—that I have ever seen; you can check it out at these various websites:
http://www.galinsky.com/buildings/getty/index.htm
http://academic.reed.edu/getty/
http://academic.reed.edu/getty/image_textchoices.html
http://academic.reed.edu/getty/category.html
http://academic.reed.edu/getty/category.html
2. PBS special with Yo-Yo Ma, who had been commissioned to help create a “music garden” (for Totonto); the paths themselves were musical, the plants evoked a feeling of music, and there were to be speakers at various places playing Bach’s music performed by Yo-Yo Ma. (You can see the garden at: http://www.toronto.ca/parks/music_index.htm)
Apparently BEAUTY is a state of mind as much as anything, because as I drove along Swannanoa River Road this morning, absolutely everything looked beautiful to me! Now, two hours later and about to drive back the same way, I’m not sure it will still be true. I’ll let you know.
cweaver said,
July 3, 2006 at 3:48 pm
Hey Laurel,
Thanks for this post. I am happy that BEAUTY revealed itself to you as the topic to post and the initiative to champion. You have invited us to cultivate an awareness…What if we asked ourselves, in every deliberation, “What about Beauty?”
I am also reminded of a passage from Osho, that The mind always asks “How?” The HEART listens and acts. Knowing and Action are one in the heart. By championing beauty you invite us to know & act from the heart, with the mind like a trusted loyal servant, like a little dog.
ps Laurel – I inserted the links into your post this morning. The publishing process doesn’t automatically insert links when you type in a URL. When you post as an Author, you can insert links by selecting the link text and clicking on the chain-link icon on the toolbar. Enter the URL in the pop-up window (& I suggest selecting “open in a new window”). Thanks!
Wondering how Swannanoa River Road looks this morning…
Chris
Liz Logan said,
July 6, 2006 at 7:49 pm
Every time I think of your topic I think of the Navajo Blessing Way:
In beauty may I walk.
All day long may I walk.
Through the returning seasons may I walk.
On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.
With grasshoppers about my feet may I walk.
With dew about my feet may I walk.
With beauty may I walk.
With beauty before me, may I walk.
With beauty behind me, may I walk.
With beauty above me, may I walk.
With beauty below me, may I walk.
With beauty all around me, may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.
In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.
It is finished in beauty.
It is finished in beauty