Smells and Bells

Seeing Signs: Angel Numbers and the Divine in Everyday Life (Darsan) By Calliope Mills  ( source ) In a world that constantly rushes forward, many of us long for moments that pull us into deeper awareness—glimpses of the sacred, signs that there’s more to life than the visible. Whether it’s the flicker of a temple lamp or the repetition of 11:11 on a clock, humans have always found meaning in what they see. Across traditions and times, the eye becomes a gateway to the divine.    Diana Eck’s  Darsan: Seeing the Divine Image in India offers a powerful insight into this connection. In Hindu practice, darsan is not merely about looking at a sacred image—it’s about being seen by the divine. When a devotee stands before a murti (a sacred icon or image of a deity), it’s not just a passive experience. It’s an exchange of presence. The divine is not hidden; it’s made visible, accessible, and relational. In this moment of mutual gaze, the line between seeker and sacred becomes...

Darśan To See & Be Seen By Ava Barry Darśan, a term that is seemingly unknown for may Americans who don't practice Hinduism. This term means to see or view a deity, sacred place, or sacred person and be seen back. Darśan is at the center-view of Hindu worship, for in Hinduism one believes that that the eyes are the windows to the divine. Images in Hinduism hold great meaning because the deities reside in the images of themselves. Moreover, images of deity's in your home must be taken care of by performing pūjā. The deities entrust themselves to the human to take care of them, and by doing this the people are given blessings.  Image of the deity Shiva- creative commons license Shivacropped.jpg " God is present in image, whether for a moment, for a week, or forever. It is this fact which is at the basis of darśan. People come to see because there is something powerful there to see. " - Diana L. Eck While I do not practice Hinduism, I can say that this act of seeing...