That which would have been a source of surprise had I not previously known it was that “artists,” “painters,” “sculptors,” “musicians,” and even some of the “poets,” known by those names on Earth, are not fashioning landscapes, portraits, or carving from stone the images of lovely forms, nor are they fashioning or weaving into music or verse some classical or other theme: All of those who were “geniuses,” all who were Idealists, true lovers of their kind, find here (in spirit life) their highest happiness in ministering to others, in moving upon the minds, hearts, spirits of those to whom they are adapted, until they perceive the Soul of Beauty and fashion it into their lives. The “Masters” of art: painters, sculptors, builders, construct their temples and adorn them with lives—the true images of beauty in thought, feeling, aspiration, achievement.
Music is perfect Harmony, of one life with itself and others, of many lives in all their highest purposes. Such are the creators of the “Symphonies of the Skies.”
Those who had “Talent,” hoping to achieve the works of “Genius”—sometime, somewhere, are still intent on fashioning reproductions or imitations of natural objects and scenes, or impressing art students of Earth to produce such effects. But these are not the creators—“every ‘creation’ is from within and must live,” said my Teacher.
One wishes for a magic pen, or for a perfect Gift of Expression, to convey in language the subtle consciousness of the Beauty and Harmony that meet one as one is led to the “Atmospheres” of some of the
“Creators of Beauty.”
More wonderful than all else was the knowledge that many who had never painted, carved, builded, or traced the “score” of musical composition were surrounded and pervaded by such ineffable loveliness that one could weep for very joy on perceiving it.
“Art is Great, but the perception of the Soul of Beauty is Life! Love!” said the Guide.
One perceives in such states as were there revealed that the true “artist” has not always been known among his fellow human beings, moving upon the world of thought, influencing other lives by the beauty and harmony of their own natures, these seem, when viewed from the spirit, to constitute the real artists.
“Is not the Temple of the Soul a Living Temple, is not the art of molding the mind to perform the mandates of the spirit more to be sought for and greater when attained?” “Eternal in the Heavens” are the Temples “not made with hands,” so said the Guide and so I perceived more and more clearly.
In marked contrast to the foregoing were the thought-forms surrounding some of those who had been “artists” on Earth: broken lines, inharmonious colors, discords, sharp and jagged corners—all portraying disturbed conditions of the unruly thoughts and impulses that had possessed them in Earth life.