Functional Beauty: A Divine Gift of Nature 

“Pretty is as pretty does,“ my Great-Grandmother used to say. That was her way of trying to counterbalance the unsolicited attention I received as a “pretty” young girl growing up. “Isn’t she cute?” my Dad would boast. And sometimes, after several drinks, his friends would seem a little too interested in “how beautiful I would be when I grew up.” Yuck! I can remember wanting to become invisible at one such drunken party. My Dad insisted I recite one of my poems in front of the group while bragging about my looks. I was only about 8 years old, but being objectified was already against my nature. I instinctively wanted to be liked for something more than just my long legs or smile. I wanted my writing and intellect to be of value as well. I wanted to be functional in nature–not just objectified. 

As I became an adult, I didn’t understand other girls spending so much time and money wanting to be looked at. I developed early and would walk around in baggy clothes trying to hide my figure. My eldest stepbrother would tease me, and I did not feel “beautiful” at all. As I continued on my journey, I learned that there are many different standards and opinions about beauty. Some people see it as a tool to generate power or money. Some see it as a gift. Still others see it as a reflection of nature and creation, and something to be expressed and enjoyed. 

Over time, I have come to understand that beauty is part of natural design–not something to be exploited or repressed. I have also come to believe that the $ 67 billion-a-year cosmetic surgery industry is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it is a blessing that people are empowered and able to take their physical appearance into their own hands and create what they want for themselves. On the other hand, it indicates that as a society we place great value and money on outward appearance, instead of accepting and appreciating our own unique appearance as it is.  

Meditating on the deeper meaning of beauty has been especially pleasant as we are currently in the season of Spring. Here in Southern California, that means bright colors, beautiful sunsets, and fresh breezes. God’s winged creatures are fluttering about–like angels of nature. My yard is filled with bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and fragrant jasmine flowers. All forms of life are blooming and coming forward to take their appointed place and perform their divine duties. The bees come out to pollinate. The birds come out to spread seeds and help our gardens grow. The caterpillars transform into beautiful butterflies–living testimonials of transformation–just as we humans transform during our own seasons of growth. 

The Supreme God created attraction, energy, and all things beautiful. While understandings of God and Creation are as varied as flowers in a field, most agree that a divine and powerful creative force emanates from the Supreme God-source. From that pure divine energy, the power of shakti and beauty is created–and like all beauty in nature, there is function behind this energy.

There is a deeper meaning beneath our physical beauty because we carry the spark of God within our soul. Regardless of the outer expression on our “Instagram face”-we have a function and divine charge in nature. Just as a flower turns its face toward the sun, we are meant to turn our awareness toward our Creator. We are meant to be an antenna for divine frequency and pollinate the world with love. We can choose to spend our salary on neurotoxin injections or surgical embellishments, but if we embellish our daily actions with our soul power, then divine beauty will radiate outward. If we spend at least as much effort grooming our soul as we do our physical appearance, we can glow like the sun. We can serve our divine purpose–to evolve, love each other, and care for the Earth–becoming functional beauty in nature. Like the busy birds and butterflies, we can plant the seeds of truth and light and help the world blossom and grow. “Pretty is as pretty does” is no longer just an admonition to me. It is a simple reminder that actions create reactions, and thoughts and deeds matter. What we project into the universe becomes our reality. If we put value in the sales-based trends of media beauty standards instead of the time-tested truth of our Creator, we miss a golden opportunity to evolve.

Beauty is everywhere as a reminder of God’s perfect design. Nature is raw and gorgeous. The fragrant rose has a stem of thorns, the honeybee is equipped with a stinger, and the unattractive caterpillar is a butterfly in disguise. We can be outwardly imperfect–yet perfect by design. Beauty is a creationary force in nature–and functional beauty is a conduit for God’s healing love–one divine and conscious action at a time. 

TAKE ACTION: Heal non-beneficial belief systems, strengthen your connection to your soul power, and radiate beauty from within. Book a free 30-minute exploration call with Jan. Let’s grow–and glow together!