My loves, in no particular order, are:
The ocean
The sight and smell of lavender
The teachings of Alan Watts
A tight heart against heart hug from my children
French wine
The humour of Ram Dass
The crescendo in E minor of Ludovico Einaudi’s Oltremare
Chanting Kirtan in Sanskrit
The lyrical content and musical composition of Lateralus (both the album and it’s namesake song) by TOOL
What a random allotment of items to keep in the junk drawer of my heart. But to me, it’s all precious, perfect art.
What all of these things have in common is the ability to crack open my heart. Anytime, anywhere.
Alan Watts raspy, tobacco stained laugh makes me smile. The self depreciating way Ram Dass makes casual observations about himself makes me giggle. The polarity of tension in a masterfully played song can make me cry.
Art has the ability to touch us. It’s an opportunity to merge our inner and outer worlds. Art helps pull our souls from the subconscious to the surface. Art helps define who we are and what we are here for.
Anything that fills you with an uplifting sense of inspiration is a signpost pointing you to your path. When we are inspired, we are in spirit.
The mind chatters relentlessly all daylong. When you tune it out, you can pick up on the subtle impressions from your heart. When you become even stiller and tune into your inner and outer environments, you can feel a lightening. An energetic shift. The vibe levels up. This is your soul speaking to you.
Pay close attention to what brings you simple joy in this life. Pay even closer attention to what moves you. This is where your path lays.
Make a list of these items. Sit with them, look at them, listen to them, meditate upon them. Spend more time actively opening your heart. The more you can live with an open heart, the more you synchronize your inner and outer worlds. The goal is to live a heart centred life, so that eventually, everything opens your heart.
Because everything, my beautiful friends, is art.
Amanda is a Halifax-based Manual Osteopathic practitioner who has trained with the College d’Etudes Osteopathique as well as the British College of Osteopathic Medicine. Amanda practises a heart-centred approach to Osteopathy and enjoys working with humans of all kinds.