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ART AND SPIRITUALITY

What is the relationship between art and spirituality? We know there is one, but can we articulate it? An artist might say he is dedicated to his art. Does that connote spirituality? Is the art his spiritual path? Many would not take him seriously yes, one honors the artist's choice to dedicate himself to art. But dedication to one's work does not necessarily a spiritual path make. Or does it? "I'm dedicated to my art." Pshaw, many would say, and, don't take it so seriously.

Besides, one knows very well that art cannot take the place of a divine Creator. Where is God in all this? For many dedicated artists, God does not exist, or at best his or her or its existence is in question. Are those artists spiritual? Can one be spiritual and not believe in a divine Creator? One can have character. One can have scruples and be a solid citizen. Is that spiritual? I would think so. But is it spirituality? Is it a spiritual path? Maybe. Maybe not.

Does dedication to a profession make a spiritual path? Not all artists are professionals. Making money has nothing to do with it. One might say that the professional artist has dedicated himself to art in the way a monk, priest, or nun has dedicated him or herself to God. Here one must look at the love of the profession as overriding the need to make money. Here, strangely or not so strangely enough, the profession of artist and that of the clergy collide. To have extraordinary passion for ones work: Is that not spiritual? But is it spirituality? And again, what about God?

What to do here: Define art and define spirituality and see if they have anything in common, see what they have in common and how closely they resemble each other. For this task, the widest definition of art would be desirable. And so for spirituality, the widest definition. I'll begin with art.

Art is the embodiment of life, that which is real, that which contains the primary forces of consciousness: vision, essence, and flow. Anyone who embraces life can make art. That's what art is about: embracing life and making art of that. Artists are human, just like anyone else. They don't always embrace life. But in their art, they have learned how to. The art reflects where they have embraced life. "The path of the heart," to quote Castenada's Don Juan.

What is spirituality? It is the embracing of life. The spiritual path is the path that allows us to do that more and more. Art is the result of spirituality. Do you doubt this? Is the result of living

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