Karmen and I have a routine we follow when we go to the library. She’ll pick out a few books and find a place to sit. I’ll peruse the children’s section and pull books out based on titles or colors. I plant them all by her side and head over to the interior design section and grab a few books for myself. We sit in silence together for a while, engrossed in our books. Once it’s time, we grab ALL the books, scan them and take ’em home.
I am a lover of magazines and art books. Over the years, I’ve gotten rid of all books that I don’t use for teaching as I’ve moved across the country a few times and shipping books is expensive. One of my favorite ways to muse is drinking coffee, looking at art books or magazines and listening to soothing music. But I’ve fallen out of this habit as I don’t have any more books in my house to do this ritual.
Recently, I went to a new library and found a large art book section and spent a good part of the afternoon looking at art. From there I found the interor design section and have found my new love – beautiful homes. Within these books, I’m reading out people and the process of how they designed these homes, or what particular pieces mean to them. It’s been very inspiring!
It reminds me of a passage in Sally Kempton’s book, Awakening Shakti, about Lakshmi, the hindu goddess of beauty, abundance and fertility.
From the book –
“Here is Lakshmi’s first lesson: what we really crave is not more stuff, but the inner experience of abundance and beauty. Lakshmi is famous for giving material boons, but her deeper gift is the subtle ability to experience innate perfection and beauty. Because Lakshmi is an aspect of our life-force; the sense of sufficiency, abundance, and beauty is built into us, and so is the need for it. Love of beauty is an expression of the goddess. It’s true that when we pursue it greedily, we end up chasing an ever-receding prize. But when we deny it or are denied it, our hearts wither.” (Kempton, 94)
Beauty is a kama (desire) we all seek in our own ways. When we experience it, it’s awe inspiring, cultivates presence and awakens our hearts.
One of my teachers, Ana Forrest, created something she called the beauty report. She started this exercise with a friend of hers who was terminally ill. They would share three beautiful things they had seen that day with each other.
I leave you with my report and if you’re moved, write me yours.
Blessings,
Clara
✨ Beauty Report ✨
1. The cafe I usually sit in before yoga was closed so I headed across the street to a French wine bar that stated they served coffee. It’s a beautiful room with a European feel. Long tables, eclectic chairs, sofas and a fireplace. The afternoon light was shining through the windows making the shadows in the room longer. My books and tea on the table, it looked like a still life painting.
2. Sitting meditation one morning, the rain was pitter pattering on the windows, my daughter curled up in my lap. When I opened my eyes, the sky was pink and blue as the sun was rising.
3. I was teaching a class last weekend and my theme was to listen to your breath. They were all standing in mountain pose and just then a song came on that said exactly that – Listen, listen, listen to your breath. I couldn’t have timed it better.
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