Connecting Through Art
In the first post in this series, Connecting with God through Nature, art was briefly mentioned. In this post, we will take a more complete look at art as a way to connect with God. Some of this seems obvious, but much of it is not. We can easily understand how music can connect us with God since many of us have attended church services or spiritual practices where music is used. We might question how arts like sculpture, architecture, and poetry can help us connect with God unless it is clearly Christian art or religious art, so we will look at some possibilities for each of those arts, and others.
Connecting with God Through Music
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,...” ~Ephesians 5:18-19
There are several ways to connect with God through music. One way is to simply listen to music that helps us get closer to God. This can happen in two ways. With some music, the lyrics tell a story that helps us understand God better. In other cases, the sounds of the music, whether voice or instrumental, can vibrate our energy centers, often called Chakras, helping them to grow stronger and attune to spiritual forces, especially the Light of the Spiritual Sun. Loving God is essential if we are to connect with God.
“We are reminded of the Inca high priest who – when presiding over a ceremony of the sun in Vilcabamba (the last refuge city of the Incas) at a temple (where I have spent many, many hours and days), in which his followers prayed all night, then greeted the rising sun, singing hymns to it until sunset. – caused brilliant spiritual beings to appear upon the altar.” ~Gene Savoy, Sr (Theology Lectures)
Another way is to write music and work at making it as inspirational as possible. Our own Gary Buchanan did much of that for the Cosolargy community before passing into the Light a few months ago. Other great musicians sought religious and spiritual inspiration for their compositions. One of the most obvious of these is “Messiah” by Handel. But inspirational music doesn’t have to be classical. A more contemporary example of inspiring music is “Sparrows” by Jason Gray which tells us that fear is the weapon of Satan against God. Handel’s composition is more of the type that uses sound vibration, while it is all in the lyrics with Gray’s song. If you compose music, make it devotional by word or melody.
Now you might think, “I can’t write music, I know nothing about musical composition, so I can’t do that.” On the contrary, you can and probably did as a child. Children like to make little songs about anything that pleases them (which shows how much music is a part of our spiritual nature). Adults can do it too. I sometimes find myself during quiet time drumming with my fingers songs that I am completely making up. Try it and think of God and being inspired when you do. Sing for the glory of God. You might find it inspiring, or it might simply make you happy. Either way, it helps you connect with God. For a human being to experience spiritual growth, they must connect with God. A spiritual life is a journey, not just a destination, and it begins with awakening the soul and connecting with God.
“I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted.” ~ Exodus 15, The Song of Moses and Miriam
Connecting With God Through Painting and Sculpting
“I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.” ~Michelangelo
I am putting paintings and sculptures together because they are similar in many ways and a lot of the great spiritual artists who did one also did the other. Most of us are familiar with some of the great artists who painted or sculpted great religious or spiritual works. Many of the Renaissance greats did them, but that may have been partly because the Catholic Church was one of their greatest patrons. Some of the best examples of such art are Da Vinci’s “Last Supper,” and Michelangelo’s sculpture of the Pieta. But as with music, there are other ways to get close to God through painting and sculpting besides choosing religious subjects. A good spiritual artist can paint or sculpt a person or a scene in Nature in such a way as to have the spiritual side of it show through to those who are looking for it, whether the subject is a woman sitting in a chair, or a grove of apple trees. I think a good example of such a painter is Vincent Van Gogh. Some of his paintings have a swirling effect in them as if he saw everything in a constant motion of energy that to me indicates he was seeing something beyond the physical. His “The Starry Night” is the best-known example of this style, but it is seen in some of his other works as well, such as this one titled “Wheatfield”. Art that brings you closer to God doesn’t have to have Jesus Christ or a saint as its subject. It doesn’t have to be an attempt to capture the image of God. It is instead an attempt to capture the essence of God and the Word of God.
To those who are not inclined to do painting or sculpting themselves, you can instead study the works of the great masters and learn from them. Try to see what they saw—or at least were looking for—beyond the mere physical. Think about their Muse. What inspired these works? In that way, you too can connect with God and the spiritual worlds. You can also do visual arts with software on your computer.
Connecting With God Through Writing and Poetry
When you mention art, many people don’t think of writing or even poetry, yet they are arts. Many of the world’s great poets were very spiritual people and oftentimes when people have a spiritual awakening, they start to express their spiritual knowledge through poetry. Rumi was one such poet. Kahlil Gibran another. It is not by coincidence that Rumi and Gibran were both spiritual teachers as well as poets. These poets were clearly connecting with the Holy Spirit on a regular basis. That’s how they worship God through art.
Writers who are not poets may also be connecting with God through writing. Some books by Paulo Coelho, Don Miguel Ruiz, and even some by Charles Dickens demonstrate this ability to get closer to God through writing. The many books by Gene Savoy, Sr. also qualify, though, with many of them, he was clearly already connected to God when he wrote them. Spiritual writing that brings us closer to God doesn’t have to be evangelism, although it can be. Even just reading such books can often help awaken something in us, so simply reading good spiritual books and poetry is a way of connecting with God.
Even if you are not a professional writer, and have no plans to become one, trying to express yourself through some form of writing, even if no one ever reads it, is a way to connect with God. Make a workbook or journal of your writing. Of course, it does mean that you do so with the correct attitude, with a desire to get closer to God. You can also study the great writings, Christian or otherwise. If you study the Bible, especially the Old Testament, you will find many references to holy people singing, dancing, playing a musical instrument, or otherwise expressing their devotion through art. Bible study is one way to connect with God, but you must go beyond the written word to truly experience God. God’s Word is found by connecting with God, not in any book. Books can help, but we must connect with God, and it is not a coincidence that many people in Christian communities and spiritual communities are into arts in one way or another, writing is a common one.
Connecting With God Through Other Arts
There are similar ways to connect with God through practicing or studying other arts. Arts such as architecture, stained glass design, pottery design, clothing design, dance, choreography, acting, photography, calligraphy, etc. Art is not a world of one-size-fits-all. With most of these arts, the important thing is to use harmony and divine proportion in your art, and have an attitude of following God’s Divine Plan rather than your own egotistical desires. The creative process alone gets us closer to God through art since God is the source of all creativity and we are all part of God’s creation. You could do a podcast about your spiritual growth and your search for Christ within. Then you might connect with God through your art. Aim to see God’s presence in your works of art or those you study. Go beyond the sensate to the spiritual. Your Soul depends on your connecting with God. It’s your own life, so find your own unique way to express it, but do it according to God’s Will. And I will repeat what I said in the first post: the best way to connect with God is to become a student of a reputable spiritual school like Cosolargy.
Some helpful resources for studying art:
Look for more new posts on connecting with God in the coming months.