Microdose Beauty: A Cool 10-Minute Challenge
Between calling your legislators, and watching a new administration storm in, make sure to rest your mind-body-spirit. Art gazing is a great way.
Dear Beautiful Friends,
If your nervous system is on high alert these days; if you’re wondering what to do, who to call, and how to ground yourself as a new administration wreaks havoc, here’s something for you.
Rest the senses. Gaze at something beautiful
One of my favorite qualities of B E A U T Y is how it offers the human system a rest from whatever has it distressed, sad, or on high alert.
Consider how an everyday “distraction” like spotting camelia blooms on a grey winter day, hearing a favorite song, feeling a friend’s embrace, or smelling fresh pastries offers a rest from the music of life—even if for a second or two. In today’s vernacular, we might call this “micro-dosing beauty.”
These micro-doeses matter. Especially now.
Beauty experiences provide a vital respite, giving our mind-body-systems a break before going back in; beauty intermissions help us increase our capacity to be with all that life brings us. Which is a lot these days. You don’t have to DO anything.
The opportunities are everywhere. You can start by turning up your senses and being 1% more open/curious to your surroundings.
The exultation of the senses will come, like a surprise guest.
And try this:
The New York Times’ “10 Minute Challenge”
How it works: You’re presented with a painting to stare into for 10 solid minutes. During the staring period, you can zoom in and out on every part of the painting your heart desires, while contemplating the questions asked in the introduction (I forgot all the Qs and toured around on my own).
After the staring period, you’re taken on a deeper dive into the artwork (Boy, did I miss a lot!)
This week’s painting is “Hunters in the Snow” by Pieter Bruegel the Elder—a painting I ordinarily wouldn’t take a second glance at. There’s so much going on here, I loved roaming around the place.
Here’s a gift link to this week’s art gazing.
“Hunters in the Snow” is Bruegel showing us joy, gloominess, hardship, ease, fear, and equanimity, and how so much can fit into one canvas: the canvas of our lives, our communities, and history.
Art gazing is my favorite way to meditate.
Namaste. xo
PS. You can also consider the staring chair idea.
