What a marvelous thought by this great writer on subjects pertaining to the soul. It may seem strange, in these days of severe trial and tribulation, to write on such an apparently far-removed subject as beauty, but is it not possible that much of what has occurred, and is occurring in the world, is due to a lack of appreciation for the things of true beauty?

We live in an environment of many troubled and anguished souls who seem ever ready to judge harshly those who seem ever ready to judge harshly those who are not willing to agree with them on exactly how the world should be run. For these individuals there can be no real peace until they are able to find it by the way of the inner beauty for which every Soul thirsts. They frequently believe that they can find this peace by forcing others to their will. This is one of life's greatest delusions. The inner peace these troubled souls seek can be found only in the development, within themselves, of the emotions of understanding, compassion, forgiveness, love, and, of course, an appreciation of beauty.

Almighty God did His best to provide us with a world of beauty. The woodlands, green valleys, lake, flowers, shrubbery, birds with their varied plumage, small game that in many ways act like mischievous gnomes, and all other parts of what we call Nature are here for us to enjoy and to be as food for the Soul. How many of us in our efforts to earn our daily bread forget these forms of beauty and so starve our Soul for this nourishment? Do we not, too often, become so carried away with the stress of the times that we forget to appreciate this great largess of our loving Creator? Each of us must answer for ourselves.

"Certain it is that the natural and primitive relationship of Soul to Soul is a relationship of beauty. For beauty is the only language of our Soul; none other is known to it. It has no other life, it can produce nothing else, in nothing else can it take interest. And therefore it is that the most oppressed, nay, the most degraded of souls - if it may truly be said that a Soul can be degraded - immediately hail with acclamation every thought, every word or deed, that is great and beautiful. Beauty is the only element wherewith the soul is organically connected, and it has no other standard of judgment."

This paragraph, from The Inner Beauty by Maurice Maeterlinck, offers some hints as to the connection and power of the combination of the human Soul and beauty. The thought, that even the lowliest of souls responds to that which is great and beautiful, is most convincingly presented. And who, out of one's own experience, is able to deny it?

When true nobleness or beauty is displayed, it reaches deep into the very Soul of all present (assuming they have souls). Although they may not agree with the nobleness or beauty displayed, it penetrates to the Soul and attaches itself to have an effect at a later time when least expected.

Incidents in the lives of both Nathan Hale and Patrick Henry may illustrate this subject. Without doubt, many of the Souls of the British soldiers who heard Nathan Hale proudly declare, "I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country," were not only moved by this statement but secretly leapt with joy to be present at the occurrence of such nobleness. Like wise, can we not also assume a similar feeling in the heart (Soul) of those who were present when Patrick Henry proclaimed, "Give me liberty or give me death!"?

On the opposite hand, even the most material soul may respond adversely to the converse of these noble thoughts and actions. Julius Caesar was reported to have said, "I love treason, but I despise the traitor."

The Language of the Soul

If beauty is the language of our Soul, from whence came the other qualities we see so commonly displayed among mankind? If something is not from the Soul, it must come from the variable mind and/or the carnal body. These two often have trouble with things of beauty, because they do not usually appear profitable. And so we strip the verdant land to find coal, cover the top soil with asphalt and concrete for roads and parking lots, poison the wild flowers so they will not be in our way, and pour other toxic substances into both the air and the water to the extent that is a major feat of Nature that anything at all of beauty is left for us to enjoy.

Obviously, if we are to live in our modern world, we need both utility and beauty. "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God those things that are God's." One of today's greatest challenges is to create a balance between these two. However, each of us can, in our own humble way, bring beauty into our world. In one of his last books, The Great Work; The Council of Three, Dr. R. Swinburne Clymer wrote concerning the production of beauty at home:

"Comparatively few persons are especially interested in the development of the multitudinous varieties of gloriously beautiful flowers, one of the more perfect symbolizations of god manifest.

"Such an individual is a true lover of the beautiful which man has, or may, develop for his own pleasure and for the enjoyment of others. Man is generally unaware that with just a little effort and a few moments of time, he might be living in ‘a little garden of delight.'

Not only will he enjoy the fruits of his labor, but will savor the pleasure that comes with such effort and achievement. The vision impressed upon the soul will be a potent influence in directing his thoughts, desires, and actions towards both material and spiritual advancement. In addition, countless barren spots, unsightly and even detrimental to health, cold be turned into garden spots, islands of beauty, therefore part of that promised Heaven which ultimately, but only through man's efforts, is to come upon the Earth - making life in every respect more pleasant and more desirable."

In a footnote to this passage, he stated further: "Men differ in their concept of beauty. Such difference is of no import. What is important is that there should be a consciousness of the beautiful in the inner, though possibly as yet dormant, Spiritual self."

This last statement bears a close affinity with the statements of Maurice Maeterlinck on the relationship between beauty and the Soul. This, of course, is not unexpected as both were trained in similar Secret Schools and both were able to retire into depths of the Soul itself and there read its truths, which have been the same since the Oversoul first gave to man the Divine Spark.

Although, in these last quotes, the beauty of shrubbery and flowers is much stressed, it is also allowed that "Men differ in their concept of beauty" and that "Such difference is of no import." One person may find beauty in building monumental structures, another in painting or sculpture, still another in playing a musical instrument so beautifully that it brings tears to the eyes of all within hearing range. Beauty, as a language of the Soul, can take many forms, just as the Godhead Himself filled our material Universe with a diversity of His own beautiful creations.

It is a wise person, who, if he has not already done so, learns to bring beauty into his own life, even though it be only a single wild flower picked from the roadside. As he allows his gaze and thoughts to dwell on this simple form of beauty, his Soul will be enriched and help to guide him to seek more beauty and, then, still more, until he is eager to surround himself with beauty of many types to allow his soul an almost constant feast.

Words as an Expression of Beauty

Can beauty be found in our words, or their opposite, in the lack or misuse of them? Maurice Maeterlinck apparently thought so when he wrote: "A single word will often suffice to clear the mountain of refuse. Why not have the courage to meet a base question with a noble answer? Do you imagine it would pass quite unnoticed or merely arouse surprise? Do you not think it would be more akin to the discourse that would naturally be held between two Souls?

"We know not where it may give encouragement, where freedom. Even he who rejects your word will, in spite of himself, have taken a step towards the beauty that is within him.

"Nothing of beauty dies without having purified something, not can aught of beauty be lost. Let us not be afraid of sowing it along the road. It remains there for weeks or years, but like the diamond it cannot dissolve, and finally there will pass by some one whom its glitter will attract; he will pick it up and go his way, rejoicing. Then why keep back a lofty, beautiful word, for that you doubt whether others will understand. An instant of higher goodness was impending over you; why hinder its coming, even though you believe not that those about you will profit thereby?"

Thus, a kind word, a consciously projected oral vibration of hope and inspiration, can be a seed whose potential for future growth is unlimited. Could we then not contend as well, that a word poorly chosen is also a seed which may grow into a plant whose nature we may find most unpleasant at some later time?

The Law is neutral. It tells us that our "seeds" will reproduce, "each after its own kind." The plant which grows in our garden will be the direct result of the seed we place in the soil.

Love and Beauty

If beauty is the language of the Soul, is not love the most sublime poetry of that language? "Is it not in love that are found the purest elements of beauty that we can offer to the Soul?" asked Maurice Materlinck in The Inner Beauty.

He continued, "Some there are who do thus in beauty love each other. And to love thus means that, little by little, the sense of ugliness is lost; that one's eyes are closed to all the littleness of life, to all but the freshness and virginity of the very humblest of souls. Loving thus, we have no longer have anything to conceal, for the ever present Soul transforms all things into beauty. It is to behold evil in so far only as it purifies indulgence, and teaches us no longer to confound the sinner with his sin. Loving thus do we raise on high within ourselves all those abut us who have attained an eminence where failure has become impossible; heights whence a paltry action has so far to fall that, touching Earth, it is compelled to yield up its diamond Soul.

"It is to transform, though all unconsciously, the feeblest intention that hovers about us into illimitable movement. It is to summon all that is beautiful in Earth, Heaven, or soul to the banquet of love. Loving thus, we do indeed exist before our fellows as we exist before God. It means that the last gesture will call forth the presence of the soul with all its treasure. No longer is there need of death, disaster, or tears for that the Soul shall appear; a smile suffices. Loving thus, we perceive truth in happiness as profoundly as some of the heroes perceived it in the radiance of greatest sorrow. It means that beauty that turns into love is indistinguishable from the love that turns into beauty. It means to be able no longer to tell where the ray of a star leaves off and the kiss of an ordinary thought begins. It means to come so near to God that the angels possess us. Loving thus, the same Soul will have been so beautified by us all that it will become, little by little, the ‘unique angel' mentioned by Swedenborg. It means that each day will reveal to us a new beauty in that mysterious angel, and that we shall walk together in a goodness that shall ever become more and more living, loftier and loftier."

There is little to be added to his classical statement of the interweaving power of the Soul and beauty, except to say that never has there been a time more propitious for every individual to expose his own Soul to as innocent beauty as possible. As each of us can work to give our Soul the "food" it loves best, we go far in preparing ourselves for the seemingly unavoidable trials and tribulations ahead. To survive and prosper at this time it is important that each person seek to become as wise as the serpent, as indomitable as the bull, and as gentle as the dove.
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