The Idea That Wouldn’t Go Away
Long ago, I made a pact with myself that I needed to expand my awareness. I wanted an active part in as many experiences as possible. In 2004 I created a personal website and Beholds seemed an unusual, strong and active name. This site has had various incarnations over the past 15 years, but I never really gave it much sustained attention. I had to grow into the idea. Beholds has come to symbolize my philosophy. I want to see as much as possible. Do as many different things as possible, read as much as possible, and grow spiritually and creatively as much as possible. While I am still not as outgoing, proactive or self-disciplined as I would like to be, having an ideal has helped me to enjoy life so much more, to develop friendships and accomplish many of my goals.
Purpose of Brian Beholds
I have always had two big concepts in my life: Creativity and Spirituality. It has taken me a long time to find out (and grow into) how those ideas manifest in my own life. I want to share what I have learned (and am learning) about creating the unique life path meant for you.
- Inspiration for Creative Types. For anyone with a creative calling or talent, learning how to understand that calling and navigate the path to mastery and expression of that talent can be the biggest challenge. I am exploring how the creative cycle works, and what that means for those of us who want to do creative work.
- Tools for the Spiritually Unique. Each person has a unique spiritual path. Some people find direction and fulfillment within established religions, spiritual groups and practices. Others of us never seem to fit exactly into any of those. For us it is necessary to create our own custom spirit practice. Spirituality is at heart an individual thing, and while a community of like-minded people is important, ultimately you have to choose the tools that are best suited for you. This site aims to present a wide variety of ideas, principles, beliefs and practices form many different beliefs and disciplines.
- Celebrate life and life cycles. I love living in an area with four distinct seasons. Over the years I have learned to pay attention to the seasons and the energy and moods of each time of year. Doing this, and identifying other cycles in life, has enabled me to understand myself and my creative ideas better.
Creative Spirituality
Spirituality and religion are topics that many of us feel drawn to, and want to make a bigger part of our lives. But many of us have been stuck in communal based ways of thinking about spirituality. We need to re-frame the way we think about our beliefs, our life rituals and our ways of living. I use the term creative spirituality to describe my own attempts to discover meaning in my own life. Studying the beliefs and ideas from a wide range of places has helped me to slowly figure out what I believe. And what makes me feel connected to the larger universe. I have come up with my own core beliefs, my own rituals, my own ways to celebrate the things I think are most important. Many places on Brian Beholds show you ideas I have come up with, but my real reason for sharing is to help you open your thinking up. Create your own life, your own beliefs and your own creative spiritual practice.
Themes as a Fun Way to Expand, Grow
Creativity, Spirituality and How to Live Life are such big topics that at first I felt overwhelmed. Then I started thinking in terms of themes. These are universal concepts that each encompass so many different ideas. Many of the 54 themes I have identified have overlapping ideas. This entire site is set up around these themes. One theme is featured each month and becomes the focus of my explorations, readings and spiritual contemplation on. I would love for you to join me in exploring the current theme, or explore the content of another behold theme that is more suited to your current mindset or mood.
If you would like to share your own story of creative or spiritual growth, please consider becoming a Beholds Contributor.