Ana's Thought: "In Art, the Divine and Human meet."
Words are among the most deft tools creative spirits use to construct their masterpieces, but the barriers of languages may prevent beauty from soaring into eager hearts. That is why visual art is such a gift -- when we wish to broadcast our soul's desires to the world, we must only look to our paints and pencils. Meaning can be lost between tongues and translations, but art is understood instantly. The eyes, the mind, and the heart are fluent in its extraordinary language.
It is no wonder, then, that religious revelations around the world have spread through visual storytelling. When our souls are stirred, we are moved to create and share! When words cannot capture the immensity of a tale, an image can depict majesty and emotion in ways that are deeply felt. Masterpieces of such unshakable meaning are snapshots in time of when the touch of divinity enlightened mankind.
The breath of divine inspiration has brought such fantastically diverse works into being! The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, painted by the gifted hands of Michelangelo, is a triumph of creation. Within its remarkable frescoes, viewers travel through biblical scenes brought to life. When one lifts their eyes to take in the exquisite details, they lift their eyes to Heaven.
In India, the mysteries of creation also inspired works of mythic brilliance. Astoundingly meticulous and skilled artists paid tribute to the surreal beauty of Shiva Nataraja, the god whose dance of destruction paves the way for the birth of a new universe. Gazing upon sculptures of this powerful deity ringed in sacred fire, you can feel the rhythm of his movements, breathtaking in grace and poise.
Both spirituality and art stoke the embers of our imagination, calling upon us to see beyond our sight and all that separates us, opening our eyes to the truth alive in each soul. They are the bright lights that guide us into supreme awareness. Most importantly, they illuminate us in hope, assuring us that our faith and persistence will open the gates of infinite possibilities of universal Love and Peace!