BEAUTY

‘A quiet beauty was in her eyes. Her thoughts were delicate petals.
And together they made her - a rose.’

The Enigma of Beauty: What is beauty? What makes us, and the world, beautiful?

The quest to define beauty, to unearth its essence, is a journey that spans the depths of human perception. For some, beauty stands as a mere construct – defined by its physical attributes, a symmetry of form, harmony of colour, and pleasing aesthetics that enchant the eye. To others, beauty is a necessity – it inspires and motivates human life. Beauty weaves through life's tapestry as an irreplaceable force, an enigmatic power that ignites passion and drives human existence.

However, for many, beauty is far from a mere definition; it is a profound sensation, an ethereal energy that courses through our being. It is an embodiment of emotions and sentiments, a symphony of the heart that knows no boundaries. Beauty is felt as it flows within – a gentle, ever-present current that stirs the very soul. It is a force that touches the heart when glimpsing the exposed vulnerability in someone's eyes or witnessing acts of boundless love and kindness. Beauty surges within when gazing deeply into another's eyes – a reflection of their inner world. It can be sensed in the intricate petals of a rose, as though the flower's essence resonates with our own. When the wind rustles through the leaves on the trees, beauty wraps its arms around us. It unfurls before us, unveiling a realm of infinite possibilities and connecting us to a divine power – greater and more profound than our solitary existence. For many, nature's beauty has always held the power to captivate and unite us in its profound embrace, and inspires us, propelling us forward to explore new ground.

Beauty, in its truest form, is not simply observed – it is experienced. It is the quiet pause in the day when golden light spills across the floor, the flicker of candlelight on a rainy night, the sound of laughter that rises from the belly and echoes across generations. Beauty lives not only in sight, but in sound, scent, memory, and sensation. It is the deep stillness before a storm, the trembling breath before tears fall, the echo of a song that reminds us of love lost or yet to come. It is the stitching of wounds, the softness of forgiveness, and the sacred act of choosing tenderness in a world that so often hardens us.

Within the grand tapestry of life, every woman is, at her core, a unique and resplendent flower – a bloom ever-unfolding, each delicate petal representing a dance of expansion and contraction. This beauty is not something to be attained, but something to be remembered – it has always been there, waiting beneath the surface of socially constructed shame and comparison, beneath the hardened shell shaped by judgment and external validation. It is the raw, wild beauty that defies age, shape, and trend. It is the kind of beauty that glows in the dark – radiant, unbothered, and deeply alive.

Many aspire to possess beauty, shaped by the belief that physical allure sets us apart, promises love, and paves the path to a 'better life.' Yet the beauty that can be lost with time is not true beauty – for real beauty grows within and expands outwardly from the heart. As we traverse the vast terrain of womanhood, we begin to unearth an inner beauty – an elegance, a grace, and a heart overflowing with boundless compassion. This beauty cannot be photographed or pinned to a board – it must be felt, breathed, and lived.

By conventional standards, many are deemed physically 'beautiful.' Yet, the deeper we delve into life's intricacies, the more evident it becomes that the physical aspect of a woman's beauty often engenders division, separation, and judgement. In the quest to mould the face and body into the frame of mainstream, unattainable perfection, the less beautiful many begin to feel. The pursuit lacks authenticity, sincerity, and originality.

The most profound sense of beauty one can experience emerges when we become a vessel of love and generosity – experienced most intensely in the embrace of someone who sees the depths of the heart. This embodies true beauty – a sacred expression of the inner self, authentic truth, and the divine artistry of femininity. Our faces are merely windows, opening and closing doors to our inner humanity. We must learn to look within and invite others to see beyond the surface, to perceive the authentic beauty that lies deep beneath the skin – the finest facets of what defines us.

To reclaim inner beauty is to reclaim power. To step outside the entrapment of validation, and return to our natural state – wild, tender, sensual, and whole. Beauty is not a product. It does not live in the perfection of a filtered photograph, but in the quiet moments of courage, in the lines written by time and lived experience, in the eyes that still hold wonder despite what they have seen. This is the beauty that provides joy and heals the world. The beauty that doesn’t seek and demand attention, but instead simply radiates and shines.

When we begin to live in alignment with this deeper essence of beauty, we become its embodiment. Not because we meet the world’s 'standards', but because we meet our own soul. Then we truly become the rose – not picked or preserved – but living, and blooming unapologetically in the garden of our sacred feminine selves.