A picture impresses the viewer by the information and energy it conveys. The informative content reaches us easiest when we look at it thoughtlessly, with our restrictive mind switched off. The energetic component, depending on its form, is a resonance generator and amplifier. All vibrations influence not only our senses, but also our physical body. For example, we are healthy when all our cells and organs are in the highest possible vibrational balance.

This explains the healing influences of harmonious art. To this purpose, many types of society used symbols, shapes and colors consciously to influence their people.

The more often we look, for example, at the pictorial message of love, beauty and harmony, the more omnipresent it becomes for us and to our thoughts and actions. It remains in our memory. The effect multiplies and lives on in us, and with increasing frequency, it even potentiates, similarly as with music. We know of sounds that resonate with body, mind and soul, but as opposed to listening, the feeling elicited through viewing is more subtle and we are less practiced in it. However, this effect can be significantly increased by the viewer’s openness and inner readiness.

We find harmony everywhere. Whoever consciously perceives it in nature, will also be able to recognize it in pictures. Art and nature belong together. All fractal self-similar patterns in nature have harmonious structures, very striking e.g. in the case of romanesco cabbage. We find ratios everywhere according to the golden ratio and the fibonacci formula, and think it beautiful. Just as in the macrocosm, evolution is promoted by harmony (t.campell-reduction of entropy or global scaling by h. Mueller), we as microcosmic humans are equally subject to those natural laws. Our organism is self-organizing and strives for self-preservation. Consequently, we have an inherent need for harmony, wholeness or healing. This need is fundamental to our self-healing powers.

For that reason, we should meet this aspiration and give our body, our mind and our soul the best possible care. Art can help us in this. We can work either actively or passively with pictures in a therapeutic way. Through meditation or by communicating with a, to us, harmonious picture, we willingly give our thoughts a conscious direction and heighten our awareness of intuition and feelings.

Feelings are more important than knowledge. Through them we are connected with the community and with everything else around us. They define us as individuals and guide our actions. To feel the effects of art does not require intellect or knowledge, only a willingness to engage with it. After all, we have our free will and can choose what we would like to pursue.

This choice allows us to consciously decide what enters our reality, since energy always follows the focus of our attention. The ancient mystics knew that, and in the meantime, scientific studies confirm it as well (e.g. the double slit experiment). So each of us has the choice whether we prefer joyful occupations or indulge in dissonances or even rebel against them. From this point of view, theatres of war are superfluous in art.

We do not have to look repeatedly at something unpleasant in order to recognize the beautiful. Neither does anyone have to explain to us what we should regard as art. Art is what does us good. Since this assessment is very individual, disputes are also unnecessary here. Harmonious music, objects of beautiful shape and color, pleasant natural smells and tastes, and above all the silence of nature, are available to all of us. We only must decide to learn again to consciously listen to our heart and gut. With a clearly chosen intention and devoted effort, every activity will be enjoyable.