The Nature of Beauty

This shrine is of the watery, emotional realm. The presence of the tree evokes a solitary feel; its unitary presence burgeons out of a 6 petal flower base, a symbol of the 2nd energy center (chakra) within the pelvic bowl of the human body; this center is connected to the emotional aspects of relationships negotiated through the human psyche. The lemon tree-top can be interpreted as a sour perspective, but lemons detoxify powerfully, and add balance to excessive sweet and bitter in life.  The tree is also unified with the moon, present in the watery sky behind; being in rhythm with lunar energy as she waxes and wanes, and visible to us primarily during the darkness, suggests aligning to our inner compass. When we come from our own knowing of what is truly pleasurable and desirable, we can hold our center in the midst of relationships, as they grow, fruit and die.  Beauty is not only what we can observe on the outside when something is in the fullness, but also to the nuances of the rhythms of life: inner / outer; growing / dying; coming / going… It can all be understood as part of the great rhythm and beauty of existence.