The Worth of Beauty

For a long time I've been getting the directive from the spirits to bring Beauty into the world. They tell me to sing, dance, write poetry, songs, create. 

Which is all fine and good, because I like to do that stuff. 

Until recently I've felt happy about this message in a vague, disconnected kind of way, and I've also felt a bit lukewarm about it, too: go to all of this effort ... to what purpose? Sure it makes the day nicer, and lifts my spirits a little. But really? All that work?

During this past week's shamanic gathering of colleagues, one of the peak shamanic experiences of my life so far, we as a group were given a huge amount of information about practices to increase our connectedness, and about practices that others can also use to increase their connectedness with the Pachamama in a very real, very deep way.

Here's my understanding now: the reason that the spirits have been bringing me the relentless message to bring beauty into the world on a daily basis is to point out in a clear way that we are in a very real relationship with the Pachamama, just as we are in very real relationships with those visibly incarnated beings we so love and adore. 

In any relationship, there must be "the little shows of love".

The Pachamama is a vast and complex being whose eyes and ears are those of all other Beings here - she sees us - and whose skin is the Earth and plants themselves - she feels us too. We already have an intimate relationship with her. 

When we woo her by telling her in concrete ways how beautiful she is, how lovely, delicate, graceful, clever and thrifty she is, we grow closer to each other. We open ourselves to be vulnerable to each other, and vulnerability which is handled carefully and with honor brings trust.

We are engaged in a lifetime of courting this wondrous Being! Speak 'delicious words' to her, as Martin Prechtel says. Let her know that you truly *see* her in all of her succulence.

Speak this perceived Beauty aloud: 

"Goodness, Pachamama! What beautiful colors you are wearing today!" 

"My, what a glorious dance your bird-folk are doing!" 

"I love it when you caress my cheek with the wind!"

Bringing into form the Beauty that we perceive is extraordinarily powerful food for the Spirits. A wise teacher once said to me that the power of Blessing is hundreds of thousands of times more powerful than any other Medicine. 

Start by taking one small thing: an acorn, a leaf, a twig, a drop of water, a stone, a piece of paper, a pen, a pencil, your computer keyboard. Sit with it and observe it in silence for even five minutes, connecting with its amazing properties; where it's been, where it's going, what it will turn into soon, how all of it's constituent atoms assembled themselves here.

Then, pull that wonder and amazement out of your experience and into the world via song, dance, poetry, sculpture, painting, or witty verse for all of us to see, experience, rejoice in, and be fed by.

This feeds the Pachamama, the Spirits, us, and the world in a truly wonderful way! Try it every day and see how life changes for you.