Sunday, August 17, 2008

Sacred Life Sunday

Today is Sunday, and time for my Sacred Life post. This is actually my first post for the Sacred Life Series which was started in Zena Musings blog. Being my first post, I was trying to think of all the things in my life which are sacred. I had a basic understanding of what it meant to be "sacred" but I still wasn't 100% clear, so I started by doing a little research. Here is what I've learned.

Sacred. It is a very interesting concept. What do I hold as sacred? In some countries cows are sacred. In other countries water is sacred. Some peoples even hold the song of the land to be sacred. Sacred implies a value beyond measure. The dictionary says that a sacred thing is consecrated, devoted, set apart or dedicated to religious use, entitled to veneration or worship, something that is not to be violated or breached. It becomes more interesting if we compare this to the word sacrosanct, which describes something that is inviolable, protected by sacred or quasi-sacred rules, is something so valuable that it is, in effect, untouchable.

What is it that can produce this sense of value? Nothing concrete. Concrete things have concrete value. The most valuable of things are those things that are abstract, those things upon which a price cannot be realistically placed in an objective fashion (although the current consumer economy has led some people to try). Abstract things have a value that is equal to that which people are willing to pay for it. Van Gogh's paintings do not sell for six figure sums because that is the value of the materials, they sell for six figure sums because that is the money with which people have to part in order to ensure possession.

So what is the abstract thing upon which we can place no sum? What is there that we cannot buy? For that thing that is so valuable we term it sacred there is no sum, no concrete price that we can pay. These things are abstract qualities that cannot be manufactured, nor bought, nor produced by genetic modification. These are things that touch something within people in a way that is profound.

Sacred does not necessarily mean inviolate. Remember that there is a difference between sacred and sacrosanct. This, I think, is the major difference between non-experiential religions and the various forms of paganism.

What is sacred? Sacred is a connection with the universe. It is love, it is friends, it is family. It is all those things that cannot be bought - it is life itself. It is our expression of life, it is the price that cannot be paid by anything other than surrender of the spirit to the experience. If that price cannot or will not be paid, then a thing is not sacred, for sacred is, above all, a personal thing. It is experiential. One cannot hold a thing to be sacred unless one is at least drawn to make that surrender of the spirit.

My paintings are sacred to me. They have no price, they are an expression of my soul, they ground, centre and balance me, and get my creative juices flowing. Usually I paint for myself, I end up storing them in the basement afterwards, or stick them in the closet, sometimes I even throw them out. It's not because I think they are horrid looking (I never said I painted well - just that I painted haha), or because they don't have value for me, its just that the pigment on the brush, and the brush in my hands was more of a healing experience. I wish I could have an original idea and paint something fresh, and new, and gift it to someone who would in turn find it inspiring. Most of my idea's come from my photography. I paint alot of what I photograph, flowers, scenes, people. It doesn't feel original to me tho, even tho its my photograph it feels as if I am copying someone else's work. Sometimes I think I have an fresh idea, paint it, and then realize that I had saw something similar online, and I didn't create it, I just remembered it! hahaha I don't want to offend anyone with my idea stealing, copyright infringing eyes! LOL What I would really like to do is create a wonderful affirmation, created specifically for a friend and paint.


Enjoy and Embrace the Journey,
Bret

8 comments:

Unknown said...

this is beautiful.

and it's a heartfelt, masterful 1st Sacred Life Sunday post. welcome to SLS. =)

it was kinda funny, but i felt like you'd reached right into the hidden places of my heart and had pulled out words.

i often contemplate sacred and sacrosanct.

and i also struggle with the my creations, then tossing them. the very first novel i ever wrote, "Destinies," sits inside a D-ring binder, inside a shoulder bag, inside a box (taped up tight), inside a closet...and it will most likely never again see the light of day. i can't quite bring myself to toss it, or burn it, but i've come close.

basically, all my rambling is just to say that i hear you loud and clear, and this post really spoke to me. =)

you'll paint it. it'll come. just keep creating, bret.

Anonymous said...

igoddess is right... this is a beautiful post.
And one that I wish all the superficial, materialistic people of the world would read and really, really "get it".
I get it.

Keep painting, keep creating...you have your very own personal muse who will lead you in your creative direction.
xo

Suzie Ridler said...

We can not help but be influenced by the world around us and what we see. No one can completely recreate what you make and vice versa. Art is always in a state of evolution.

This Guy said...

Thanks everyone for your kind words again! :)

I am so glad to know I am not the only one who struggles with my creative creations! I often toss them! It just stunns people.

Its true, art is always in a state of evolution. I think art is always evolving because we ourselves as human beings are constantly evolving as well.

I can't wait until bohemian mom FINIALLY starts her monthy art circle! Too bad you igoddess and sacred suzie live so far away that you couldnt join us, im sure that room would be filled with some amazing creative energy!! So, come on boho, lets get this circle started!! ;)

Anonymous said...

Hi Bret. Just visiting via Sacred Suzie. I enjoy your insights into things and your big heartedness. You sound like you have a very special family and a gentle inherited wisdom.I will certainly return and congratulations on the creations, efforts,strength and beautiful honesty that comes through in your writing.So refreshing.

Nydia said...

Hello! I sign under your words, sacred is something so particular, it varies to person to person. My family is sacred to me, the time I spend with them, with my little son, this is sacred. Nature, laughter, love. I'dlove to see your paintings.

Kisses and bright blessings!

Cait O'Connor said...

Great blog, lots of interest to me here.

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