Ageless Wisdom Practices

Supporting Practices for The Way of Beauty

At the risk of sharing “platitudes as insights” as one journalist put it recently, there are three Beauty Practices that are old chestnuts, as my mother used to say.  They have been in the culture for a very long time and certainly have not been identified as “Beauty Practices,” though indeed they are, as they contribute to True Beauty unfailingly.   These practices, human activities, whatever we choose to name them, have endured through many civilizations and cultures because of their beneficial effect on the human body, mind, and spirit — and consequently on our planet (not hyperbole).  I have understood these as supporting and basic to the other practices of the Way of Beauty.

I bet you know them:

1)  Practice “The Golden Rule”

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  Such common sense.

2)  Be still

Whether meditation, time in prayer, or simply sitting quietly in a spot that resonates with you…find time each day to be still.  What comes in, resolved, or repaired is amazing when serene time/space is made available.

3)  Be active

Whole libraries could be filled with books about the myriad ways an active body benefits the mind, body, and spirit.  No need to re-iterate here.  I believe that the body is the temple of the soul and so must be cared for and maintained as such.  Not always a simple task as we age, BTW.

So these are the supportive and basic three.  In “The Way of Beauty,” more is said about how they specifically support and align with True Beauty, creating greater harmony.

And a little reminder — to myself as well — these are practices. As we sometimes forget, I shall point out that there is no “end state” of any of these activities, though some yogis might argue with me. These are ways of being.  And as none of us (except me & thee, perhaps) are perfect, they are rarely static or constant.  I fall short a great deal, currently in the keeping my body active department.  But I do practice at it. I do my best to practice the Golden Rule.  Being still is far easier; noticing beauty does that for me.  Practice, practice, practice.

Oh, and have fun doing so.