“Oh, wow”. “That’s so beautiful”. “Look how pretty this is.” 

These are the first involuntary, excited words exclaimed by children and adults alike when they enter the vibrant world of shocking shades of pink, peach and purple blossoms at Isabella Plantation, Richmond Park, London in spring.

Imagine a stunning sunset setting the sky on fire, the crystalline laughter of a child, the sweet citrus scent of a rose. 

You KNOW Beauty. You can feel it in your body. It touches and moves you at your core.

MAGIC BEAUTY FACT 1: 

Beauty opens our heart

Whenever we appreciate beauty in anything, our hearts open effortlessly. Appreciating beauty is a gateway to cultivating appreciation for everything (including ourselves). It helps us access the most regenerating emotion of them all: LOVE. Appreciating Beauty will give you instant new energy.

“Beauty is a light in the heart.” Kahlil Gibran

What is the native way to appreciate beauty?

"Walking in Beauty" ("hozho naasha") is a Navajo native American concept which encourages you to be in a harmonious relationship with all of life.

It teaches that the more you sense and see beauty around you - in your environment, yourself, your body - the more beauty will fill your life in all forms. 

When you look for beauty inside and outside and affirm beauty even in small ways like appreciating the delicate colour and scent of a cherry blossom, cherishing your body, or adorning your personal space with flowers or candles, the world around you will literally become more beautiful.

Below is the closing prayer from the Navajo Way Blessing Ceremony. The original author of this beautiful blessing is unknown. It is said that reading the words will bring peace and calm. (It certainly has that effect on me whenever I read it).

Walking in Beauty:
 

In beauty, I walk

With beauty before me, I walk

With beauty behind me, I walk

With beauty below me, I walk

With beauty above me, I walk

With beauty around me, I walk

It has become beauty again

Today I will walk out, today everything negative will leave me.

I will be as I was before, I will have a cool breeze over my body.

I will have a light body, I will be happy forever, nothing will hinder me.

I walk with beauty before me. 

I walk with beauty behind me.

I walk with beauty below me. 

I walk with beauty above me.

I walk with beauty around me. 

My words will be beautiful.

In beauty, all day long may I walk.

Through the returning seasons, may I walk.

On the trail marked with pollen may I walk.

With dew about my feet, may I walk.

With beauty before me, may I walk.

With beauty behind me, may I walk.

With beauty below me, may I walk.

With beauty above me, may I walk.

With beauty all around me may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, lively, may I walk.

In old age wandering on a trail of beauty, living again, may I walk.

My words will be beautiful.
 

Just take a moment to let the beauty of these words permeate your being.

And there is more to the Power of Beauty.

MAGIC BEAUTY FACT 2: 

Appreciation of Beauty is a human need and virtue.

Have you ever felt deeply touched by a beautiful song or dance performance?

The VIA Institute on Character describes Appreciation of Beauty as part of the human tendency to feel powerful and self-transcendent emotions. It is listed as a strength within the virtue category of transcendence, which helps you connect to the larger universe and provide meaning.

So how will appreciating Beauty strengthen you?

When you appreciate beauty it helps you to:

• experience awe, wonder and elevation 

• feel expansive, positive, and grateful

• transcend ego and fear

• open your mind to new opportunities and actions

• be able to savour enjoyment without feeling the compulsion to act 

Appreciating beauty leads to positive emotions which help to build our psychological resources (Fredrickson). It makes total sense, when we feel good, we become mentally and emotionally stronger.

In addition, feelings of elevation mediate ethical behaviour (Haidt). In other words, when we are being uplifted by appreciating beauty, we want to be kinder to ourselves and others. Appreciating Beauty can help us become a better person. 

Fill your heart habitually with beauty and it is always full when you need it. No matter how uncertain the world around you may feel.

“It always pays to dwell slowly on the beautiful things. And the more beautiful, the more slowly.” - Atticus

MAGIC BEAUTY FACT 3: 

Nature offers an abundant Beauty Banquet for us. 

Nature makes is exceptionally easy for us to practice appreciating beauty intentionally to raise our vibration, mood and energy. When we are in a natural environment or a space with natural elements, it may take us little or no effort to observe and open to the beauty around us. 

It can be as simple as taking a moment to appreciate the shape of a cherished houseplant, the patterned bark of a tree outside your window or the soft curve of a cloud. 

“Nature is painting for us, day after day, pictures of infinite beauty.” — John Ruskin

Micro Challenge:  Appreciate the Beauty of the Sky
 
Look through a window or step outside and let your eyes travel comfortably up to the sky. Simply appreciate the spaciousness of the sky.
Observe the beauty of the sky in this moment.
Notice any changes in your energy or emotional state.

“The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Optional Wild act of kindness: Reflecting Beauty

At your very next random encounter with another living being (plant, animal, human) notice something beautiful about it. It can be anything you perceive (colour, shape, sound, scent etc.)
Then express it inwardly or outwardly towards it.
Notice how you feel.

Mini- Recap: 

• Beauty has the power to open your heart.

• Focusing on beauty around you invites more beauty into your life.

• Appreciating beauty will energise and strengthen you.

• Nature is a wonderful place to practice appreciating beauty. 

“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.” 
- Rachel Carson

Let’s fiercely focus on Beauty around us, especially in nature to grow our energy, and elevate ourselves and others in the process.

Here’s to growing your natural energy “beauty-fully”.

Sus x