Below is another excerpt from my book 'The Spiritual Now'

'Chasing beauty thru the Trees'

Beauty is as an ellusive idea as any created by man. Though beauty exists, our interpretations are varied from person to person. For the individual beauty and our apprehension of it will change and grow. So it is not so important a matter of what we find beautiful, but rather that we acknowledge it when it is experienced. And stopping to 'smell the roses,' in our lives is paramount.

As we connect with beauty in our lives we refresh and nourish our inner self. The energy we take in by doing this (actually we are that 'energy' but thats for later discussion) is the elixer of life. The Universal medicine. The Philosophers stone. It can heal us, Body, Mind, and Soul. By seeing and connecting with what we experience as beauty around us, we open ourselves to the One. That is the true source of the spiritual now. This then also helps us to continuethe practice of 'following our bliss' (Joe Campbell). Furthering the possibilites of synchronicites and miracles in our lives.

Though beauty is found in many forms from Buildings, man made art, music, and other creations, it may be more functional to connect with beauty in it's more organic forms. This means to observe and connect with beauty as it is found in nature. Trees, Plants, Flowers, Birds and other life forms we find around us. People can often be a source of beauty, but at first I advise that you start with the more simpler forms of nature. This allows you to grow your deeper connections without the need for another person. This will help you now, and in the future with your relationships.

So sit down in a comfortable position near some source of beauty. Allow your vision to look aside the object, not directly at it. Breathe in it's color, it's shape. Then as you breathe out, send your love back into the object of beauty. Continue to do this for a few moments of the now. Allow your point of focus to go where it will. Perhaps you may find something else of beauty to connect with. Allow yourself to follow your own path of beauty thru the trees.

After spending some of your now in doing this, you will find that you create stronger connections and a wealth of light and energy of beauty...all connecting you to the source of the spiritual now. You create a circuit between your self and that which is beautiful.

Later you can extend this practice (and I advise you to do so) by using other forms of beauty. As found in man made art, and other objects. But by forging a connection with primal beauty first, doing so with intent, you open the doors to your own organic center. This center is located at the same position as your physical heart. It is in this place that you will come to experience inner peace.