Article

The Beauty Way

Written by Devaa Haley Mitchell

Topic: Spiritual GrowthPublished June 6, 2012

No ratings yet1,216 viewsSign in to rate

When we experience something truly beautiful, it can open-up the universe and allow grace to bathe us in Her sweet embrace. Whether it be an incredibly gorgeous landscape, the smell of a rose in full bloom, an exquisite piece of music, or a delicious mouth-watering bite, when the senses are titillated and deeply experienced, we create a portal to commune with our true essence.
That essence is pure, radiant and divine.

Picture this: You are walking at sunset at on a long stretch of white sand, with soft grains that slide between your toes. The air is filled with the gentle sound of small waves lapping against the shore. As the amber sun drops its bright face below the horizon, it bathes the beach in a pinkish glow. A slight breeze brings you the smell of an open bonfire, while the taste of saltwater licks your lips. You wrap an arm around your beloved, who is walking beside you. And you smile.

As I allow myself to imagine this scene, I feel my own heart begin to open. I feel the boundaries that separate me from the world begin to soften and relax. I start to let go.

One of my mentors, Ariel Spilsbury, says that “through beauty, life is brought into natural harmony. . . . In this state of harmony, body, mind, feelings and spirit are not in conflict, but in unity and linked to one’s essence and the larger pattern of perfection. Harmony is merely a reflection of a higher level of reality.”

This reflection resonates deeply for me. I experience the Beauty Way not as a requirement to exte
ally look good or have the latest fashion (though that can be lovely when it truly delights me to do so). Instead the Beauty Way is a spiritual path, a way of living. It is an invitation to create beauty, to look for beauty, to live AS beauty in terms of the way I treat others and myself.
In the rush of our busy daily lives, can we find the time to stop and experience a bit of beauty? Are we willing to pen a hand-written note? Or arrange a breathtaking bouquet of flowers? Do we give ourselves long baths filled with rose petals? Or prepare a feast for the senses for a lover? For most, these moments are few and far between.

But I personally know that it’s worth the effort. Creating and taking time to deeply experience all the beauty around me and within me adds richness and depth to this wheel of Samsara. It’s like opening an old bottle of red wine that’s been aged to perfection. Beauty brings gratitude and joy. And we could ALL use a bit more of those things. So consider walking the Beauty Way for a week, and see how your life blossoms as a result.

You’ll be happily surprised by the magic that will surround you.

Article author

About the Author

Devaa Haley Mitchell is a spiritual guide, public speaker and musician, offering Soulful Women programs and devotional music to support the awakening of our planet. Rooted her deep desire to “democratize access” to some of the most stimulating women alive today, she founded and hosts the Inspiring Women Summit. This virtual gathering has grown to 55,000 participants from more than 160 countries.[www.inspiringwomensummit.com]

Devaa also founded and co-leads the Soulful Women Wisdom School, along with Elayne Doughty, offering deeply experiential and highly transformative programs for hundreds of women each year. She is considered a true pioneer in translating the ancient mysteries into a very modern and accessible context. Devaa also serves as the Chief Transformation Officer at the Shift Network, Inc., which she launched with her husband, Stephen Dinan.

For the past 20 years Devaa has studied and experienced many systems of personal growth and spiritual development. She is finishing her doctoral work and will receive her D-Min in 2012, after being ordained an interfaith minister by the Chaplaincy Institute in 2005. In addition, Devaa received a BA in Anthropology with Honors and an MA in International Development from Stanford University. In her former life, Devaa was the founding Executive Director of the Full Circle Fund, dedicated to building a new generation of civic leaders. Full Circle uses the “venture philanthropy model,”–identifying great nonprofit organizations and serving them with financial grants as well as hands-on help in key areas and access to to networks that can accelerate organizations to the next level. In addition, Devaa worked as an Associate Consultant at the Boston Consulting Group where she offered management advice to Fortune 500 Companies.She also served as the Director of Member Engagement at the Institute of Noetic Sciences. She also worked as an Associate Consultant at the Boston Consulting Group where she offered management advice to Fortune 500 Companies. In addition, Devaa was awarded a fellowship from the Fulbright Foundation and was also one of 26 contributors to a book called Radical Spirit, which focuses on Gen-X spiritual perspectives.
A core part of Devaa’s path includes sacred music. She recently launched her first CD, Sacred Alchemy, an album with a transformational purpose– to reawaken and liberate the many dimensions of the sacred feminine. Each song has a specific feel or texture to it evoking the archetypal energies of different Goddesses from the world’s spiritual traditions. For example the song “Tara” explores the softer yin aspects of compassion, “Saraswati” reveals the playful and creative energies of the muse, “Shekinah” offers the wisdom of the Crone, and “Aphrodite” expresses the sensual pleasures of life.

The True Source of Peace and Serene Happiness

The Psychic Being, the Vital Being and the Sunlit Path

Psychic Poise — the Standpoint of Balance in the Response to Life Situations

The Psychic Transformation — First Stage of the Triple Transformation of Consciousness