Seeing Religion
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By
Sinead G
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Amidst the Pandemic
I think having the opportunity to take Smells and Bells and then experiencing a worldwide pandemic came with good timing. Oftentimes, we’re so rushed to get from one one place to another that we miss out on what happens around us. We’re so accustomed to the lifestyle of being busy that it has become the norm for many of us. However, the pandemic has forced us to slow down. We’re now appreciating everything that we had previously taken for granted and noticing things in our surroundings that we have never noticed before. Take this quarantining/social distancing as an opportunity to be more aware of what you experience through the senses. I don’t think my senses have necessarily heightened over the past 5 weeks, but I am actively making the choice to pay more attention to what I see, hear, touch, taste, and smell. I like going on nature/mindfulness walks and basking in the sunshine out in my backyard. This morning, I could hear a faint noise from the wind, hear the birds chirpin...
I couple of years ago, I went to an LGBTQ+ rally in front of the Catholic Diocese headquarters in Providence. Part of the rally's ritual was to have a row of people holding up all the different flags of the different subgroups of the Queer community. You would have loved it! Yes, the flags were flying outside the cathedral, but not because those inside were flying them. Still, It was quite a vision! I love how you make the powerful connection between the strategy/practice of heightening visibility and the the sacred connections brought about by vision itself. Vision, darsan, is a sacrament of communion.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing how much meaning and importance that symbols can hold for individuals. I feel like the idea of those of certain religions holding, touching and becoming emotional over statues or images of deities or idols is sometimes made fun of or deemed as dramatic or irrational, but symbols such as LGBTQ+, or political/social flags and symbols or "safe-zone" stickers can mean a lot to certain individuals too as well as many other meaningful symbols and idols.
ReplyDeleteThis is such an important idea and I agree entirely. Also, I saw your art outside and it was so beautiful and profound!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you wholeheartedly. Seeing a rainbow flag flying out in front of a cathedral would mean the world to queer Catholics who may not feel seen by the Church. One 'little' thing like that (and i say 'little' because it's not really something little) makes a huge difference.
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