~ Continued from Part I ~
To illustrate the interconnectedness of material possessions and spirituality, I have a true story of quite a miraculous thing that happened to me a few years ago:
When I moved into my current studio apartment, I wanted to find the perfect painting for the wall above my altar. It’s a large wall, so I didn’t expect it to be easy to find. Because I am anti-consumerism and privileged to live in a community where my local Nextdoor and Buy Nothing groups have abundant free offerings of most things I might need, I’ve relied on my neighbors’ discards to furnish my entire apartment.
It has become a practice that if I want something - say a large painting - I set the intention that I will find what I’m seeking by allowing it to find me. Instead of going to Pier 1 or scrolling dozens of pages on Amazon, I love the idea of leaving it to chance that the ‘right’ painting will show up in my life. Just like I believe that if I’m too focused on finding a romantic partner who checks off items on my perfect man checklist, I’ll miss the magic of appreciating whoever naturally shows up in my life, I believe the same for material possessions I’m seeking.
So, when I wanted a large painting, I asked for something to come my way. That night, I dreamt that my deceased uncle (who was also my Godfather, and one of my favorite people in the whole world) was going through his artwork (he was an avid art collector), and choosing one to give to me. He settled on a painting of a woman sitting by a large body of water, and told me it was titled Edgewater. When I awoke from the dream, I knew this would be the painting for my wall. Sure enough, a few days later, on Nextdoor, I saw a free painting pop up in the Free/For Sale section of a woman sitting by a large body of water. It was gorgeous and exactly what I’d been seeking (without knowing what exactly I was even seeking). I contacted the owner - and a local high school boy with a truck who’d posted an offer to transport large items for people as an afterschool job - and within hours, it was hanging in its new home above my altar.
Since then, whenever people enter my apartment, it’s often the first thing they notice. It’s a gorgeous painting, but there’s more to it that people see. They often comment on the way it makes them feel - as if there’s a powerful energy emanating from it. Sometimes i just say, beautiful art does that; but, this is the full story of why I believe that piece is so powerful.