“Spirituality is often a wordless, silent subject and art is a trustworthy passport to this still place.” – Michael A. Franklin – Artist and Teacher, Naropa University

Yogas, the Vedas tell us, are mental, physical, and spiritual practices. They were brought to light thousands of years ago by seers from the ancient Indian subcontinent.  Yogas are aimed at achieving a clearer perception of reality and uniting the human spirit with the Divine.

There are many, many different schools and approaches to yoga. The Bhagavad Gita alludes to three: Karma yoga (action), Bhakti yoga (devotion), and Jnana yoga (knowledge).

Reflecting on my own journey of combining my art making and my spiritual practice, I feel the most in common with Jnana yoga. The practice of Jnana yoga seeks the union of the Self (Atman) and Ultimate Reality (Brahman) through knowledge.

My practice encourages me to study and seek inspiration from various visual manifestations of the Divine including yantras (Tantric mystical diagrams) and Tantric paintings, such as the small, exquisite abstracts from Rajasthan.

Also, in the Yoga Sutras, the sage Patanjali presents yoga as the suppression of the active mind.  For me, this means getting out of my own way to allow myself to create an energetic and unrestrained arena of art making where I experience a liberating alternate consciousness and sense of union.

Since beginning to work in these modes, my experience of art making is more productive, more satisfying and more grounded. It has also led me to evolve a more original and (to me) meaningful vocabulary and has intensified my commitment to my spiritual journey.

24″ x  24″ Mixed Media on Canvas 

Thanks for stopping by! Please post your thoughts!

Kev