Creative Artistic Expression

     The Creator intended humans to pursue that which brought pleasure and avoid that which brought pain, but not merely for simple survival. For this method also determines what contents of mind to choose in order to live the most complete and fulfilling life. Pain and pleasure, when understood are the essential learning tools of self development so that maximum spiritual expression can result. Since humans have not yet understood this simple truth, there exists far more pain than was ever intended.

Just as a child learns the lesson of heat and fire by having the unpleasant experience of touching them, and a mother knows that this is one of life's lessons that inevitably must be learned, so we prefer to keep that kind of lesson minimal. But suppose the mother said to her child, "Sweetheart, the more you burn in this life, the less you'll burn in the next." What effect might this have on children and their relationship to fire?

     Yet, since the dawn of humankind, there have existed outlets for such pain, inborn escape hatches through which pleasure can be experienced simply by resonating to the spirit within others. For this reason, pleasure is automatically experienced through the successful spiritual expression of others. Of course, resistance and beliefs can always still get in the way, but this ability to connect and resonate to the experience of others is quite powerful. And this ability gives birth to what is known as art in all of its forms.

Each time we see/hear and enjoy an "artist" expressing him/herself with skill and dedication, we are recipients of that spiritual joy, because in our creative moments, we know what they know.

     Throughout the most painful of human eras, with violation, war, fear and want, there have always been the arts. The basis of art is when the individual connects with the spirit of the moment allowing the divine spark to flow unabated, expressing itself outward. It matters not whether anyone responds, or is even present at that instant. Creative expression is a highly personal act, yet leaves a legacy so that the divine spark catches the spirit of all who witness it at some later point. This is why the arts are found to be so enjoyable; they connect with the kindred spirit within and affirm the universal validity of the necessary expression.

How grand the world could be, were there more artists than soldiers. Indeed there are, since we are all "artists" in one form or another.

     Creative expression occurs when the mind temporarily steps aside and allows the spirit to reign superior over the consciousness. Creative expression is when the spirit-body is alive without interference of the mind. It is an energy that flows through the cracks of mind, winding its way through the dense network of limiting beliefs, like a river flows through a thick forest to the sea. It is actually a slightly altered state of consciousness that scientists are just now beginning to notice. This state has been called the flow state. In this state, the mind does not attend other stimulus; its focus is away from the happenings of the world and honed in on the person's creative expression. And in this state there is an unmistakable feeling of pleasure.

Being creative is not a particular talent, it is a Universal Gift, as present in nature as Spirit itself. It is more than just doing, it is being, which is why time is lost when in the process.

     Although the feeling is most powerful for the individual doing the creative act, those witnessing such expression can also be pulled into the spiritual flow. This is a wonderful, vital and health giving ability. And it has rescued humans from the depths of despair time and again---for the Creator does not intend such pain and suffering. It is only due to the human choices, the slivers of mind, that lingering pain has become a fact of life. But enlightened ones understand how pain is merely a signal to be acted upon to right the mind to free the spirit. And creative expression is a powerful liberator.

The Spirit, so apparent in nature, is equally visible in humankind. We need only look, listen and feel to sense the beauty in even the most violent of circumstances. As nature can be frightening and beautiful at the same time, so humans, who should know better, can be also. The question is , which is emulating the other?

     Humans have an incredible flexibility with which they can handle huge amounts of pain in their lives. But perhaps most beneficial, is the fact that they can get by with a minimal amount of need fulfillment. They can channel the energy from one unmet need into another for which they have developed a successful outlet. They can use spontaneous creative expression to give regular release to frustrated spiritual energy.

We truly are marvelous in our potential.

     This is the reason why every cultural tradition has incarnated some expressive form into its institutional framework. Be it oration, music, singing, group movement, chanting, drumming or any other form, it endures because it is aligned with spiritual intention. But self-expression is not at all limited to such traditions or activities.

In fact, part of the creative process is to develop new forms of music, art, sport and non-conventional forms of thought and expression. While "traditionalists" usually do not welcome such efforts, whether it appears to enhance spirituality or not, it must be respected and allowed as a reflection of spiritual nature.

     In fact, any creative pursuit that involves using the hands to manipulate matter and changes its external form to match some internal vision is highly pleasurable and rewarding. Such creative pleasure drives human evolution itself. For spirits in flesh are intended to use the power of mind and the inspiration of Spirit to design and create a physical world of their choosing. Such creations do not have to be considered artistic to be highly rewarding. Most professional pursuits allow freedom of the creative impulse as well as provide the rewards of connection and meaning.

A final measure of the true value of what we create may lie in the "feeling" we experience upon making the effort and observing the result. When we are sensitive to Spirit we are automatically connected to the life forms around us and how what we do affects that form.

     The only caution is that human creations should flow from spiritual intent, or they can create undesirable physical results. Creations that follow cooperation, pleasure, and love will endure and create further experiences of cooperation, pleasure, and love. Creations that follow competitive impulse, fear and anger will always create further competition, fear, and anger. But no matter how long they are allowed to endure within mass consciousness, they will eventually give way to more enlightened forms of expression, as individuals, one by one, learn to heed and actively express the Spirit within.

The above appears to draw a direct link between that which a society's entertainment industry produces and the behavior of those who are subject to it. It is when that "link" becomes apparent that the producer begins to consider the consequences of the creation and alter it accordingly. That realization has to come from within.

     Unfortunately, this will not occur without the conscious choice of humankind. For within consciousness lies the ultimate freedom. The Creator gives all the necessary guidance through the feelings of pleasure and pain and the mental ability to create and actualize that which is chosen by mind. The creations then reflect their level of need-meeting success through resulting feelings of pleasure or pain. Thus, the cycle of development and expression continues. Just as the inner mind is developed within each individual, so follows the external evolution of human mental and physical technology or mass consciousness.

It may seem at times that society is not progressing on a spiritual path, but the fact that we are becoming more aware of our shortcomings is evidence that we are progressing.

     The life-giving habits of self-expression can bolster every other effort toward living in the Light. Self-expression is the integral step that unites humans within the physical realm. It is the driver of experience and the mechanism to solicit feedback from spirit regarding how well the mind is doing in its task of continuous development and meeting its needs in the world.

We know that All That Is assists that which strives to express its nature. If not, why are we here?

                                     Touch

     Creating with the hands brings us to another powerful life giving habit of self-expression---that of touch . The energy that flows through the hands in artistic creation, is that same energy that can be exchanged between life forms through the laying on of hands. The physical, emotional and therapeutic benefit of touch is already fairly well understood within mass consciousness, but basically only because humans find it mysteriously pleasurable to touch one another. What is not understood consciously, is the expressive value, spiritual fulfillment and the physical exchange of energy that accompanies human touch .

This does appear to give physical evidence that "feelings" are, in fact, a form of energy as valid as the more obvious energy we deal with in the physical, i.e. electrical, mechanical, etc. Understanding this is the next step to putting it to practical use in our lives, in new and innovative ways.

     Humans have discovered---in spades---certain pleasurable gifts of the flesh, such as human sexuality. The innate pleasure centers that motivate procreation have become the fodder of many limiting thoughts, beliefs, and systems of living that seek to tame the wild beast within. But the sexual experience is also a highly spiritual one wherein energies are exchanged between truly loving entities. This creates a deeply spiritual connection where energies meld again into one another, recalling the consciousness to the fact that we are all intermingling energies. There should be the highest respect for this act, and an honoring of its spirituality, instead of the simply physical excitements and releases. For this type of expression without the presence of love can be spiritually frustrating and damaging physically, psychically and emotionally, not to mention the problem of procreation outside of the original spiritual intent of loving interactive developmental connection.

This paragraph brings such clarity to the reasons for applying a discipline to the sexual act. In a society that worships wanton pleasure for its own sake, we have lost the meaning of the value of truly loving relationships and pay a price for this loss in the many other ways we relate to each other. Crime and violence have increased with narcissism, as the value of others declines inversely to that of ourselves.

     The benefits of touch, however, have far more applications. This simple touch of the shoulder of one who is in distress can communicate the empathic connectedness of spirit and loving compassion quite healing to one experiencing pain. To stroke a child or a pet is intensely rewarding to both parties. Overall massage of the body also provides actual therapeutic benefit to the cells as well as the energy system.

There are cultures that know and practice the art of physical communication with lots of hugs and abrazoes. These cultures reflect an openness and happiness that is reflected in the life style. Just as those cultures that refrain from physical expression are prone to produce an environment that reflects the restrained attitudes. Nowhere is this more evident than between northern and southern Europe.

     As humans develop less limited mindscapes, they will become attuned to the more subtle and powerful aspects of human touch. For now, like many other natural gifts, touch speaks for itself. Humans the world over are encouraged to exploit its physical and emotional benefits as much as possible.

We seek to understand and utilize the subtle energies around us while failing to notice that many of them are already in play.

                                    Vocalizing

     Self expression is about getting yourself out there, about telling the world what you think, dream, and desire. Humans rely mostly upon words---the gift of language, no matter what tongue. But self expression is any action or utterance that meets needs or shows gratitude when they have been met. It is how the individual creates change in the environment, how evolution proceeds. Thus, as part of the human natural motivative system, it has some built-in features. The Creator endowed humans with several kinds of innately rewarding vocal methods of spiritual expression.

Talking is one of the more complicated means of expressing our state of mind and emotions. The others that will follow give us an opportunity to vent our feelings in a deeper, more spontaneous fashion. We often did this readily in our youth, but became more restrained as we grew older. It may be time to re-examine that decision.

     The most rudimentary vocal form of self-expression is the ability to shed tears. Like every other inborn gift, the ability to cry is part of the Spiritual safety net, wherein physical processes take over and respond to spiritual frustration in necessary ways. For example, take a newborn. Crying is the first tool a human has to communicate distress and frustrated needs. The parents relate emphatically to the distress and then act in ways which solve the problem. Without such assistance, helpless newborns could not survive. (The sound of an infant crying is also innately aversive and humans are immediately motivated to make it stop.) The parents must have a high degree of attachment to the infant to respond to its needs, or the spirit will vacate the body. Such inter-dependence of humans is one of the physical requirements of the Creator.

One might say it is a "base requirement", that begins with our first entry into the physical and grows in complexity as we grow in mental agility and spiritual awareness. What we are not necessarily aware of is that this form of expression need not necessarily be totally outgrown and cast aside. For the reasons explained below, it has value to us throughout our lives.

     Crying not only happens when self needs are frustrated, but it also happens spontaneously when empathic pain of others is experienced. And crying is not limited merely to negative experiences, for humans can also weep with joy. Humans often weep over deep and abiding human experiences, rights of passage, and common situations of success and pleasure. Humans often weep when they experience the deeper meaning, or rhythms within daily living. For this system communicates the connectedness and intent of the spirit when the experiences of others touch the universal sameness and resonate with the knowledge that All Are One.

There are times when we weep for ourselves, when we can't seem to make a clear connection with the world around us. But this, too, is of value as it relieves some of the pressure to comply and conform with the situations in which we are uncomfortable.

     Crying is often associated with new beginnings, when the spirit swells with faith, hope and optimism. Such milestones are often marked with traditional ceremonies such as weddings, rights of passage, graduations, promotions, births, etc., as the spirit resonates, validates, and encourages movement along the path of life. Tears can mark the final breakthrough of consciousness into awareness of long held, yet denied conflicts, self-doubts and beliefs. Tears often accompany such personal rebirth, as spirit basks in enlightening self-development. Spirit sings its song of hope through tears.

This shows that "songs" may be sung even though they are devoid of words or music. There is a part of us that often "sings" with the other portions of our physical bodies, an experience we can become aware of and appreciate.             

     Crying is often also associated with closure, in universally human situations of endings---funerals, good-byes, relocations, divorces, or any other transitions that mark the end of one phase and the beginning of another. Tears punctuate the human cycles of birth, death, and rebirth offering physical release in lieu of clear understanding of the ever-evolving dynamic nature of the mind and of life itself. When these understandings are absorbed, crying will result less from resistance and more from the acceptance of the connection and universality of spirits. Humans shall instead cry tears of joy.

A true understanding of the cycle of death, in particular, will redefine the nature of grief and, someday, may even bring us to the point that the tears we shed in those circumstances, will be the tears of joy, knowing that the person who leaves us is actually being reborn to his/her natural environment.

     Crying continues to act as a human connector and a vent for frustrations throughout the entire lifetime. Crying is a very healthy activity, despite its aversiveness and corresponding reputation within mass consciousness. Men in particular need to learn how to understand and appreciate its benefits.

Men can begin to acquaint themselves with this activity from an intellectual perspective, but what can naturally follow is a favorable attitude toward participation when the positive aspects are clearly understood.

     Allowing yourself to be carried away within a good cry is tantamount to going into a healing altered state of consciousness. The body takes over and allows the emotional energy to pour forth in physical reflexive lurches and uninhibited tears. Crying is psychically and physically cleansing. It allows the body to cast off pent-up emotional frustrations and right itself, regardless of the limitations of mind which continually fuel the fires of frustration. The crying response automatically calls forth the necessary hormones and chemicals that actually wash away toxins and impurities that contribute to physical stress and decay.

Who knows, this might be a factor that explains why women tend to outlive their counterparts. If stress is truly the killer we are beginning to suspect it is, then this might prove to be quite beneficial to a state of health and well-being.

     Thus, humans are encouraged to cry with abandonment. Seek out opportunities---go to see sentimental movies, enjoy the literature, and other art forms which bring on tears. Cry when you are moving and dancing about, allow your spirit total liberation. Cry when you find yourself in deeply spiritually pleasing places, when you meditate, or when you gaze upon nature. Crying is the spirit resonating---so let the tears flow freely. Of course, private personal crying will be easier to accomplish than public releases. But let it be known that even big boys should cry with reckless abandon to help affirm and preserve their physical and spiritual boundaries.

It is probably time for the male species to get beyond the early programming, find a nice private space (or comfort with someone you care about) and let go. Do it as an experiment and pay attention to the results. What's to lose?

     Laughter is another of nature's gifts of vocal expression. It relates to the mystery of humor as well as to the crying response with equally cleansing and curative benefits. Laugh loud and often. For laughter also sings the Spirit's song of hope and oneness. Laughter speaks for itself.

Yes, I think we've shed enough tears for the moment. Surely, both sexes can be comfortable in sharing a good laugh.

     But it is all too easy for humans to become so entangled within the limits of their own minds that they forget to laugh. It takes conscious focus to remember to find the humor within, and to respond to it heartily. Thus, humans should also seek out opportunities to laugh, to find the fun in the unexpected and note it with a hearty burst of laughter---no matter how challenging life might be at any point. Laughter feeds the mind, body and soul.

...and it's non-fattening! There are actually people who take their personal health care so seriously that they forget to laugh about it. We know that the ability to laugh at ourselves is so essential to our emotional balance. We just forget sometimes.

     The final form of vocal expression is song. What human has not felt the physical effects of meaningful tones and vibrations upon the body? There is some form of uniform vocal expression in each and every human culture, which evidences its universal benefit. Song has been used throughout human history to invoke spiritual resonance and to connect it with religious teachings, political alliances, and community groupings. To experience the harmony and passion of voice raised in song, is to know in the fiber of our being the tremendous accomplishments that humans can achieve with cooperative expression. So, like laughter and tears, sing loud and sing often. (And remember not to mentally judge how it sounds!! Let the spirit squeak and howl freely.)

If one feels that his/her voice is not pleasing enough to be shared with others, there's always the time-honored practice of singing in the shower. It's exclusive and sounds pretty good, too.

     For the sounds of song also have direct effects upon the energy system of the body. The vibrations of certain tones correspond with major energy centers within the body. There is much to be learned in this area regarding physical transmutation and manipulation of matter with the use of sound. As the many limitations within mass consciousness are reduced one by one, new creative insights and approaches will be allowed to unfold in this area. At this time, suffice it to say that singing is nourishment for the body, mind, and soul.

There seems to be a suggestion here that we might be able to sing, cry, laugh, dance and whatever ourselves into a higher state of spiritual enlightenment. I suspect it's true.

     In sum, all vocal expressions can serve positive purposes. Be they words of kindness, or rejection of injustice. Be they tears of frustration or joy. Be they laughter or song. Use them and enjoy them, for they are the gifts of the Gods.

There are many who have overcome while singing about it.

                    Expressing Within The Creation

     One final comment in the area of self-expression relates to being at one in spirit with the Natural Creation. It is innately pleasing to express through interaction with other life forms within the creation. Creative expressions and art forms which interact with other organisms achieve a special emotional reward. To create with flora, to garden, landscape, or even simply to walk among the trees of a forest, are actions which strike a deep chord within the spirit in affirmation of the inter-connectedness of every apportionment of spirit.

This is more difficult when one lives in an urban environment and an alternative to the above suggestions in that case, might be to interact on an intellectual or emotional level with spiritual writings or groups who explore spiritual matters. Then, as often as possible, find an environment of pure nature and wallow in it.

     Interaction with animals is particularly pleasing, generating a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual response universal to all humans. Such forms of appreciation and interaction with all of creation are innately rewarding.

This is a practical alternative where pets (dogs and cats) are allowed. The latter seem to serve that need particularly well when not demanding undue attention or being an annoyance to others.

     Thus, there is a counterpart responsibility for humans to ensure that their own creative technological expressions are limited to those within the cooperative spirit that does not infringe upon any other form of life. This is a responsibility that should be accepted and honored at its highest levels. Humans should ponder this challenge and begin immediately to act upon it.

As we continue to expand as a species and take a greater share of space upon this planet, the very least we can and should do is apologize to the other life forms we displace. It's the honorable thing to do.

     With the understandings in place to begin replacing the deadly habits with life-giving ones, we can now turn the discussion to the human needs themselves.

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