“Fascination and the Soul”
Painting by John Diamond, M.D.
Our word fascination comes from the same root that gave us basket: a binding together, an interweaving, a oneness of the fibers, a union, a fusion – yoga.
Today the word is debased, has lost its essential magic; we even proclaim we are fascinated by TV ads! But it is not so. We are not fascinated – only attracted, drawn, to them (from the Latin trahere, to draw). Attracted to, but not bound to, one with. Merely superficial, momentary, evanescent, with little deep or lasting worth.
Oneness with the artist’s Soul is Fascination, fusion, yoga. Soul and Soul – one Soul. Fascinated by the painting, by the artist’s Soul. As one with it. (A song comes to me: “Close as the Pages in a Book.” But it’s closer – the two pages as One.)
A superficial, ego-directed picture or song will attract – only. We cannot bind with the ego, only with the Soul. For Souls yearn to be One.
And to meditate in fusion, in fascination, is indeed yoga.
