spirituality, art and the unity of all mankind

“…Beauty is not a need but an ecstasy…a heart inflamed and a soul enchanted.”
-Khalil Ghibran

If it were possible to transport ourselves through time and space, to the very origin of human life and, thus, the human need for expression, we would find one very potent truth that underlies virtually all of mankind’s most brilliant creations: the celebration of the Divine through beauty and creativity. From the primitive cave paintings of Lascaux featuring animals and human forms to the awesome pyramids of Egypt, in every remote region on earth, we have sought to speak of that which is greater through form – in poetic language, devotional music and, of course, through art.

Artistic expression is a means through which an individual can become in tune with the magic and mystery of the cosmos. For thousands of years there has been a thriving relationship between artists and Spirit, and by becoming channels through which this presence can express itself, a certain energetic essence reveals itself through their work. Whether it is an outwardly religious image of sorts or simply a lone brushstroke on a blank canvas, one senses an opening deep within the silence of the heart. There is a celebration of beauty, wonder and the connection between human and the Absolute.

Not so long ago, however, a shift occurred. Many artists and art movements lost their connection to spirituality. Whereas the force of creativity was once understood to be universal and artists sought simply to be channels through which this energy could flow, it soon became a power to harness and manipulate for status. Art became a commodity, and artists became celebrities when their work displayed something sensational and “cutting edge.” For many, the ideas expressed through art were less about the glory and greatness of life and spirituality, and focused much more on the personal ideas or statements of the artist.

There is certainly nothing wrong with this approach to art, nor is any judgment intended. It is simply a shift that has occurred and one that is important to recognize because this is a reflection of a general trend that affects more than just art. So many of the impressions we take in from the images that surround us pull us away from the experience of interconnectedness and the essence of spirituality. Our egos are guided in every possible direction in the eternal search for lasting happiness in a world where, by its nature, nothing lasts forever. We look outside of ourselves in the quest for happiness and then we find ourselves completely distanced from our own life experience and center. Happiness exists “out there,” and nothing around us gives even a moment of clarity into the magic that dwells within us and that permeates the entire creation.

What distinguishes art that is infused with a mystical or spiritual dimension from work that is more self-referential is not just the artist’s own creative process, but also the experience of the viewer. To define “spiritual” or “sacred” art is a challenge in itself, but one common characteristic is that there is a reflection on something much greater than the human experience that can be perceived by the artist’s audience, even if it is hidden deep within the shapes and lines of the image. When artists fully submit to the creative process and allow themselves to be a channel for this force to flow through freely, what results is an image or composition that is a pure expression of something Divine. A viewer may recognize a certain style or color palette unique to the artist, but the artist’s egoic, personal being is seldom present. What remains is the deeply familiar presence of something to which we are all connected.

This experience is universal and that which is stirred within the soul when we look upon a work of sacred art is one’s true nature, and the one constant source of happiness in the world. The creative power one sees in a wildly compelling painting is the same creative force that gave rise to the universe, the planets, the stars and to all of life. There is simply no separation. G.I. Gurdjieff, the 20th century mystic and spiritual teacher, once said to a student, “I measure the merit of art by its consciousness and you measure it by its unconsciousness.” And this truly is what we as humans do; we are drawn, as if by habit, to those images that inspire unconscious behavior and are sometimes repulsed by those things that ask us to become more present and mindful. The only solution to this is to consciously shift our attention toward those images that awaken within us a connection to spirituality, those which bring us into deeper relationship with others and, thus, with ourselves.

The spiritual truths that some contemporary artists seek to express through their work are universal and transcend all religions and cultures, and it is important to move our attention in the direction of such imagery for our own well-being. While some may draw their influences from particular traditions or have a personal relationship with a given faith, that unique experience of gazing upon such artwork and experiencing an awakening in the heart is the common experience of a universal spirituality that is indescribable, limitless and more real than anything we could imagine. It is to gaze into the hidden chambers of the heart and to experience Reality.