Photo via The Dalí Museum, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
Let’s We Forget
We live in a time of great material abundance coupled with spiritual demise. In this "poverty of the spirit" despite unprecedented technological and economic advancement, we all face an epidemic of unhappiness, leading to an inner emptiness, with hugely tragic costs and consequences.
What is enough is the pertinent question of our time. To my mind, the beautiful, inspirational and wise words of Vincent Van Gogh, ‘I have nature and art and poetry, and if that is not enough, what is enough?’ may go a long way in answering this timeless question.
Global Crises are Spiritual: A Time for Awakening
(As I had noted in an article 15 years ago on 1 Nov 2011)
A Journey to the Hub of Humanity
This is the Journey that offers Renewal and Hope
In modern economic thinking, greed and selfishness are upheld as guiding the ‘invisible hand’ of the market and are therefore exempt from moral consideration. It is time for us to redefine our values and build a just economy for the common good.
Many sages, philosophers and theologians throughout history have reminded us that there are two forces at work in society, the material and the spiritual. If either of these two is neglected or ignored they will appear to be at odds with one another: society will inevitably become fragmented, divisions and rifts will manifest themselves with increasing force and frequency.
It is clear that this is exactly what has happened today. We have a situation of disequilibrium and disharmony. Only the reawakening of the human spirit will save us from our own worst extremes. Physical wealth must go hand in hand with spiritual, moral and ethical wealth.
Since the collapse of the financial, banking and economic sectors, many articles, papers and books have been written on why such scandals took place, on what went wrong. However, these analyses, by and large, are mostly on the economics of the crisis and in turn suggest economic- only- solutions. But as we can most clearly see, the more economic tools are employed, the deeper the crisis becomes.
Those with a more spiritual disposition, with an eye on common sense, all agree on the role of one vital element in all these crises: dishonesty fuelled by greed. We forget at our own peril that honesty and greed are essentially spiritual and moral issues. Furthermore, they know that no part of human life can operate without these values, not least the sphere of business, commerce, media and government.
The greed-motivated neo-liberal capitalist world is out of control. Perhaps it is time for us to redefine our values by acknowledging that the marketplace is not just an economic sphere, ‘it is a region of the human spirit’...Continue to read
The Secret to a Good Life
Spiritual and Material-They must be in Harmony
This priceless, life changing concept is found in Persian literature, philosophy, mysticism and spiritual traditions.
Yes, indeed this manifesto is both simple to understand and easy to follow: A bird, to be able to take off and fly and land safely, needs to have two wings. We, too, need to have two wings to navigate our lives. If either is neglected, the balance is lost and the crash is certain. Such an outcome and result cannot be what we desire our lives to be.
Material well-being is of vital importance and cannot be ignored. But, if we only concentrate on this aspect of our lives, then, the end result is losing our sight on what it means to be human. Spirituality provides the way to restore this balance within ourselves and our humanity…A Manifesto for a Good Life and a Better World
‘Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.’ — John Muir
‘In the absence of the sacred, nothing is sacred. Everything is for sale.' - Oren R. Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Turtle clan
Photo:bing.com
'We are an integral part of Nature, which we cherish, revere and preserve in all its magnificent beauty and diversity. We strive to live in harmony with Nature locally and globally. We acknowledge the inherent value of all life, human and non-human, and treat all living beings with compassion and respect.'
World in Chaos and Despair: Let Wordsworth be Your Teacher
World in Chaos and Despair: The Healing Power of Mother Earth
A Sure Path to build a Better World: How nature helps us feel good and do good
How Art Can Heal
‘Nonverbal therapy helps people work through trauma and build resilience.’
Photo:AmericanScientist
‘One-fourth of the global population is at risk of developing a mental health challenge in their lifetime, and one-fifth of children and adolescents could develop mental health problems, according to a 2014 World Health Organization report. Wars, adversity, discrimination, natural disasters, and illnesses such as COVID-19 further exacerbate these unmet needs for psychosocial support.
'Oscar Wilde once said, “Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” Art provides a way to communicate experiences when individuals lack verbal skills or when words are insufficient. Humans evolved artistic expression as an imaginative tool for adapting to changing conditions and solving problems. Other scholars and I have asserted that art making is an integral part of human functioning, and that it helps humans survive. As an art therapist, I have spent decades trying to understand the role of art making as a therapeutic tool…’-World in chaos and despair: The healing power of art
Poetry is the key which unlocks the gates of hope, healing and wisdom
“Reading or writing poetry creates a space for empathy, for seeing another person, for bearing witness to our common humanity. Poetry, and the arts more generally, allow that chance to be human together with our patients…Empathy is essential for our survival . . . without empathy, how would we heal?”... “When we hear rhythmic language and recite poetry, our bodies translate crude sensory data into nuanced knowing . . . feeling becomes meaning.”-Poet and physician Rafel Campo, M.D.
Reading poetry, solitude, silence and sanctuary: finding ourselves on pilgrimage of self-discovery
‘He who draws noble delights from sentiments of poetry is a true poet, though he has never written a line in all his life.’ — George Sand