One of my daughter’s favorite books as a child — and one of my favorites to read to her — was Barbara Cooney’s Miss Rumphius.
While declaring her youthful intentions to see the exotic wonders of the world, a single-minded little girl is advised by her wise grandfather that in addition to accomplishing her goals she must do something “to make the world more beautiful.”
What a lovely Libran sentiment: making the world more beautiful! If someone told you that you must make the world more beautiful today, how would you react … Joyfully? With sheer panic? At a loss for where to begin?
Creating beauty doesn’t require an artistic temperament … Alice Rumphius planted lupines. We each have not only a unique way of creating beauty, but a human compulsion to do so! A post from Ida Lawrence earlier this spring discusses the notion eloquently:
“A few days ago I tuned in to listen to an interview with trends forecaster Gerald Celente. The conversation momentarily turned toward the beautiful environment Gerald has created within his office. He quoted a friend, saying, “Beauty is the antidote to fear.” Of course anyone who is mapping economic and social trends in today’s world is going to need courage. He created the office environment intentionally, both because he loves beauty, and because it is transformative – it changes energy, taking us from mind to heart.
The first question for us to consider is, how do we seek out beauty? We seek out beauty however we must! …..
… the next question is, what does beauty do for us? It changes our thoughts, and our thoughts change our energy. I’m sure you’ve noticed that certain tones of voice, certain images and certain sounds can put you into a state of fear, anxiety, self pity, aggression and so forth while others can give you comfort, trust in the human heart, a reconnection with spirit, and a subtle energy shift …
… How do we create beauty for ourselves and others? First of all, we don’t have to be fine artists to create beauty. I know 
you feel the difference when you enter an orderly space, as opposed to a disorderly or cluttered space. You know immediately that someone, some other human being, took the time and used their energy to create order, to place things carefully here and there, to refresh and renew, and that is beautiful . ..
… The dedication of the artist is to their own inner spirit and its connection to the life force: it is an outstanding devotion. We cannot deny that the time we are living in is tumultuous. It requires that we pull something forth from within us, and that we all become the artist, devoted to the renewal of life. Now keep your heart up, and let’s carry on!”
The notion of beauty as the mother of courage is a compelling concept for our times. Alice Rumphius lived in a simpler world yet her grandfather knew the wisdom of it then. With all the chaos, both natural and man-made, that surrounds us, the need for beauty is greater than ever.
See if you can take some time during this long holiday weekend to create something beautiful. Notice how the change makes you feel calm … relaxed … more at peace. See if you don’t enjoy your day just a bit more because you have made the world a little more beautiful.
Being that she’s a quadruple Libran, beauty is an essential nutrient in Jeanne’s daily diet.
If you’d like assistance creating order in your environment, or need some help refreshing and renewing the physical spaces in your life, She’s NEAT would be happy to help you scatter those seeds of peace and clarity. http://www.shesneat.com
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jeannefiorini 
Jeanne Fiorini said,
May 24, 2013 at 8:51 AM
Thanks Dan Staroff for the inspiration of this post. http://danstaroff.com/
Josephine Mori said,
May 24, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Libra Exalted!