Date with the Divine - Dancing in the world of Art

Have you considered going out on solo outing or dates with yourself? Frankly, it was not something I would have done or felt comfortable doing coming healing from co-dependency. That has changed since I began on this path of remembering who I am and my connections with all that is, nothing and in between.

In a recent trip to Boston to celebrate the matrimony of a good friend, I decided to go out to some museums and art galleries instead of being cooped up in my hotel room. I woke up early, got ready, and dressed in my finest museum attire. Truth be told, I had set the intention of rendezvousing with myself before getting on the plane; however, I had some pre-date jitters before getting ready. As quickly as those feelings came, they soon left after meditating and imaging how this date would be. All ready to go, I hopped on to an Uber and went to my first destination in 80 degree Fahrenheit weather. It was hot. Good thing, I stopped by and had a short-lived affair with an iced matcha latte from Starbucks.

Arriving at the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum, I was not sure what I would expect given that what greeted me was a modern contemporary structure. I hastened through the entry way and was about to gulf down my latte when the most elegant and kind woman, Linda, told me to take my time and enjoy my latte. In that moment, and beautiful sacred pause, I was reminded through this lady to pause and enjoy the latte. In this brief moment, I was invited into reprogramming my hastiness and anxiousness.

Enjoying the last bit of my iced matcha latte, I began my journey into the museum passed the bag checks. I took a moment to ground into the space, and set the intention to simply be led by my date, the divine. We went through the archway into what I had imagined, old brick-laid corridors.. What took my breath away was the lusciously green and well-maintained garden. All four corridors, rooms, and all was surrounding the garden, like a beautiful bouquet of flowers placed in the center of a dinner table. It was quite a feast for my senses.

The sunlight flooded the room through see-through pane of windows up above, you can feel and sense the wave of people. An ocean of souls gathering from near and far, enjoying the gifts of this space. We were welcomed into the home of Isabella Stewart.

As my date and I made our way through the museum, room by room, lined with intentionally placed artwork, textures, colors and energetic frequency. I was in awe with the play-on of dark and light, soft and hard textures, artisans from east and west clothed these empty rooms from one wall to the next. When I needed a break, I would find myself at a seat or window and met, once more, the central garden with its foray of observers and nature, the duality of busy people with their camera out and the tranquility of nature.

Isabella was a woman before her time adorning herself in a signature long pearl necklace and short-sleeved black dress. There was one painting of her, a full-length painting by John Singer Sargent located at the far corner of the Gothic room. Of all the various paintings and work, this is one of my favorite. She was radiant and glowing. Not only that, her presence was strong. I felt resistance and in some ways... intimidated.

When I look back as to why and I look at her image below, I understand that my ego was uncomfortable with her confidence and her vulnerability. It was my own projection of where I am at, where I desire to be, and my own fears of getting there.

She looked directly at me, I could sense her before me. The resistance comes from my own deep desire to live authentically and aligned to my heart. In other words, her radiant confidence is not only inspiring but triggering. Being on this date, It was an invitation for me to be with my resistance, and simply be present to the pieces of myself who wanted to simply wanted to hold on another day longer.

As someone who was very attuned to the space and energies, I heard myself saying out loud "Thank you for inviting me into your home." Upon saying these words, I felt myself deeper into the energies of her home. I was a guest in her home, and as if I were a guest in any ones home, I showed reverence to her life and her legacy by simply being with her. When I made my way downstairs, I found a well-lit corner to settle down. In this moment, I basked in the warmth of the sun and the sea of people rushing about, simply observing the throng of people in various phases of their own path.

I could feel the warmth, the surge of creative energy coming through, energy that I knew so well, a co-creation with the divine, this space, and me. Please enjoy the message in the poem below:

"Corridors perfumed with the linger of blossoming blooms,

Amidst a throng of bodies, floors echoing each footfall's tune,

Light and shadow cascade through water-stained glass,

Revealing the spaces where art meets beauty, pleasure mingles with pain en masse.

Chambers dressed in finery from floor to ceiling,

A legacy where past and present entwine,

A tapestry woven with threads of passion's call,

Echoes of heartfelt tales within these hallowed halls.

Tracing fingers along stone and wooden banisters old,

Feeling the distant roughness of stories untold,

Worlds collide within, we are artists, lovers, voices in this void,

Guided by our love, what we seek and treasure as embraced and alloyed.

Let art serve as our window into hearts' deepest planes,

Life as our companion through uncertainties and refrains,

May my heart unfurl to desires true and grand,

My name is Isabella, I invite you into my home.

Here, may my world show you the way to live your own,

In this sanctuary, may your spirit and aspirations be nourished and grown.”

Thank you Isabella for inviting me into your home. Thank you, my love, the divine, for being my date. I look forward to the next part of this day's adventure.

Love,

Sally

Akanda Ra