The Cult of Beauty rewrite

The Cult of Beauty

Part two

By this title, you might think I’m going to bash beauty or the worshipers of beauty as frivolous and superficial. No. Beauty is considered a transcendental.

What is a transcendental? Merriam-Webster defines it as: relating to a spiritual or nonphysical realm.

The Greeks describe three touch points as transcendental. These are truth, goodness, and beauty. You could also call them logic, ethics and aesthetics. These have been labeled the apex at which man can rise above base desire and connect to that which is everlasting.

So, what the heck does all that mean?

It’s the point at which nattering thoughts evaporate and time slips away, immersed in that which fulfills and nourishes. For some it’s study and research, for others it’s giving of your energy to another, to some it’s being in the presence of beauty. To know oneself is to know that which gives you access to the eternal.

Do you love solving puzzles, unraveling the secrets of our world, logically pursuing answers that lead to more questions? If the saying, “Research is formalized curiosity. It’s poking and prying with a purpose” calls to you perhaps Truth is your touchstone.

Do you seek justice or the teachings of compassionate living? If the understanding that all men are created equal and that commitment calls you, perhaps Goodness is your touchstone. The saying, “There but for the grace of God go I” might ring for you.

As to Beauty, Marcus Aurelius said, “Dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars and see yourself running with them.” If that saying speaks to you then perhaps Beauty is your touchstone.

Truth, Goodness and Beauty hold important functions not only for individuals but humanity as a whole. Without verity we cannot function, without compassion we fail one another, without beauty we lose reverence.

My touchstone is beauty.

Beauty inspires me. An aesthetically organized garden, or the graceful arch of a horse’s neck, or the sight of a harvest moon rising and my mind settles. I lose myself in beautifully composed music, elegantly written sentences and the delicate shape of objects.

When in the presence of beauty there is a momentary silence. Think of a beautiful sunset, or mountain vista. Think of the bust of Nefertiti.

Her bust is considered the most perfectly balanced, perfectly formed face. Visitors in the museum will stare at it for hours. Consider how many past and present movie starts, models and champions possess this kind of magic.

However, as in all things, there is a dark side to the three aspects. We’ve witnessed the corruption of truth, the subversion of religious teachings and the subjugation of beauty. When this happens the transcendental is diminished, denied and false ideals are worshiped.

In a previous post I stated that men with power, push against lawful boundaries and try to get away with what we politely call misdeeds. The line, “as long as I can get a way with it” speaks to them.

Honestly, who hasn’t tested the boundaries? We’ve all been teenagers and questioned the whys and wherefores of just about everything. I have. There is a big difference between questioning to learn or open up an archaic and biased issue and questioning to undermine and subvert.

It has to do with the desire to dominate, control and crush. The test between the distinctions shows up when the person gets challenged. How do they respond? Are they interested in an alternate opinion? Humbled? Irritated? Irate? Angry? Do you worry they will retaliate?

When I got caught in typical teenage arrogance, I didn’t like the divide between who I thought I was with how I was behaving which was like some mean girl from a teen movie. I came face to face with my gleeful ego. Frankly, I was horrified of the hurt I caused, and on someone who didn’t deserve it. I chose a different path from that moment.

What about the people that don’t want to change? They like the excitable gleeful ego?

As an example, I witnessed this while playing simple board games. These weren’t competitive cutthroat games such as Monopoly or a WWII re-enactment game called Axis and Allies, nothing like that. Each week we’d gather have some snacks, drink wine and play a board game. One player had the need to not merely win, but stomp the others. I saw it as an unchecked ego, all consuming and frankly clueless that the behavior wasn’t supportive of a friendly game night.

After a few weeks of this eventually game night shrank in attendance. Games weren’t fun any longer and they stopped. Nothing reached this player to alter behavior.

My example is a straightforward one and you might miss the long-term affects.

According to studies, hubris, arrogance and pretension are related to the need for victory. Hubris often indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one's competence, accomplishments or capabilities.

The modern definition of hubris may be thought of as, "that pride that goes just before the fall."

It is only when one ‘hits rock bottom’ do they consider changing behavior. The only difference between people is the definition of rock bottom. How low is one willing to go before crawling back?

Some people never see bottom until it is too late. Consider the people dying of Covid-19 and arguing with the doctors that Covid is a hoax. These are the people I feel for. How do we interact with a stubborn ego? Is it even possible?