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Thursday, January 16, 2014

THE RIGHT TO OPACITY: Celebrating our layered, textured, beautiful selves

THE RIGHT TO OPACITY! (Art by Hallelujah Truth)
Hallelujah for complexity! Hallelujah for being deeply layered, textured beings!

 Dear Pilgrims, we as individuals have THE RIGHT TO OPACITY!  Let's celebrate our privilege of remaining unknown and perhaps a challenge to understand!

I was introduced to this thought of the opacity of self for the first time on Tuesday night, January 14, 2014, at an Emory University lecture relating to an art exhibit of Romare Bearden's work by Robert O'Meally, an amazing speaker and the curator of the traveling Bearden exhibit, "A Black Odyssey." 
 
WE ARE LAYERS! (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

Yes...we already know that we are not one-, or two-, or three-dimensional beings. That is a given! However, have you ever thought about accepting and embracing how multifaceted each and everyone of us is! And that we don't need to be less than that! Or to expect others to be easily understandable. Hallelujah!
WE ARE NOT EASILY UNDERSTANDABLE! (Art by Hallelujah Truth)
Dr. O'Meally explained this concept of the RIGHT TO OPACITY in his lecture about Romare Bearden's collage, Louis Armstrong's jazz, and Toni Morrison's writing. Each one of these artists expressed their odysseys in their creative work. You and I--all of us--are on the greatest and most wonderful odyssey of all: OUR LIVES.
EMBRACING THE COMPLEXITY! (Art by Hallelujah Truth)
From our inception and the beginning of our journey to its end, we are changed. We are transformed. We are altogether something different than what we were. And what we have become is MORE. This MORE is complex, and, at its best, might invite us to investigate with curiosity all that is there in ourselves and in others. 
WE HAVE BECOME MORE COMPLEX! (Art by Hallelujah Truth)
What inhabits this person's soul? This question is one we might inquire while respecting that person's RIGHT TO OPACITY and that we may never learn the answer. It is this place of unknowing that the most profound mysteries are experienced.
 
EXPERIENCE THE MYSTERY BY BEING CURIOUS! (Art by Hallelujah Truth)

That's Coffee with Hallelujah! SOUL BLOG with me and tell me about your layers and textures! What makes you curious about yourself? How about others? But remember...you have THE RIGHT TO OPACITY!
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4 comments:

  1. Darlene SperberJanuary 16, 2014 at 11:35 PM

    I am happy to be a many layered and faceted being and to being transformed from what I was to what I am and to what I will become. Mostly I am happy to have you back!

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  2. Ruth SchowalterJanuary 17, 2014 at 7:28 AM

    Darlene! I'm so glad we met in this mysterious and wonderful world of the internet and all the layers of complexity of the ether sphere and you. Thanks for supporting my blogging and art making.

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  3. McKenzieJanuary 17, 2014 at 3:48 PM

    This came up in my singing class this morning - You wrote: "From our inception and the beginning of our journey to its end, we are changed. We are transformed. We are altogether something different than what we were. And what we have become is MORE. This MORE is complex, and, at its best, might invite us to investigate with curiosity all that is there in ourselves and in others." I had not read the blog until now and am, of course, delighted with the synergy. At my singing lesson we talked about the fact that singing doesn't have to be for a reason, for a purpose, with purpose and energy but can just arrive in all its complexity. In essence, the act of singing is opaque and for a person of purpose (ie, me!) this can be challenging. Thanks for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. Ruth SchowalterJanuary 18, 2014 at 5:50 PM

      McKenzie! I am so pleased that you shared the struggle you had at your singing class. And I agree that it is difficult to accept complexity as is and without deciphering it--to enjoy it!

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