The Deeper Resonance of Beauty

In a world where beauty is too often mentioned, I want to reflect on the concept of beauty and its deeper meaning.

Beauty, that divine spark, is the very essence of our being, a reflection of our earthly existence, here and now. Beauty is vital energy, purity, a glimpse of perfection that resides in each of us.

However, beauty is not just an internal experience. Often, our understanding of it is amplified when we encounter it in the external world. It is a more arduous journey to discover the beauty that dwells within us, but it is in this play of mirrors that it becomes more tangible, more present.?

We discover beauty by searching the infinite geometries of flowers, caressing the perfect curves of another human, observing the vivid colours of a painting.?

Art and nature are our mentors on this path. Nature, with its perfection, its forms, geometries, and colours, constantly reminds us of the beauty that permeates the world.

In this context, art becomes a master key that unveils the multiple facets of beauty, teaching us its intrinsic value and reminding us of the beauty that we are and that surrounds us.

However, beauty can also be interpreted in different ways, influenced by cultural and historical canons that change over time, such as the way we dress, the jewellery we wear, the haircut.

A recent exhibition on the cult of beauty at the Wellcome Collection in London made me reflect on how our society is enslaved by a superficial idea of beauty, unable to appreciate its depth and complexity.

John O'Donohue speaks in this case of glamour rather than beauty. Our society's obsession with the cult of beauty reveals our deep crisis towards time and the fear of death.

But, what is the purpose of beauty? According to John O'Donohue, it has the power to interrupt the monotonous flow of daily life, to enlighten us, to allow us to see beyond, to discover new perspectives. Beauty has the gift of stopping time, of making it flow at a slower pace, allowing us to savour every nuance.

Yet, often we stop only at the most superficial aspects of beauty, without taking the time to explore its deepest essence. But how can we break the monotony of life, the routine?

Children, with their sense of wonder and their ability to be amazed by novelty, teach us how to do it. Perhaps, the key is to regain that childlike perspective, free from prejudice and conditioning.

And then there's nature in its immensity and simplicity reminding us that we are surrounded by so much beauty and that we ourselves are an integral part of this universal beauty.

Artists are creators of beauty. But the creative act goes beyond the artistic object itself and becomes beauty precisely as an act of creation, an expression of the human spirit.

As John O'Donohue states, life is creativity, and we all are creators. The more we are illuminated by this truth, the more we see beauty inside and around us, in every moment, in every person, and in everything.

In a society where time seems to run against us, beauty offers us a refuge, a way to slow down, to stop time and appreciate the beauty of the passing seconds, minutes, hours, days, and seasons. It reminds us to savour life in its fullness.