Who are you? The Koshas are a philosophical model of identity originating in South India, in which the self is viewed as layers not unlike an onion. The outer layer is how we identity ourselves through objects. Next is our body, and how what we do identifies who we are. Traveling inward, we see the knowledge layer, followed by our deepest held beliefs. In the center of our self, is the creative force of the universe, which could be described as a the breathe of God, the divine light or simply a creative power depending on your personal belief system.
We tend to identify with some layers more than others as we move through life. Perhaps it’s your first car, or first full time job that defines who you are. You may find yourself lighting up with the knowledge gained in Biology or resonate with learning how to see in drawing class. Perhaps it’s a belief system that you were raised with or one that you are discovering for the first time. Often we separate these layers to avoid having to process potential conflicts between actions and beliefs.
There are moments in life, when these layers can fuse into one reality. It may be a the loss of a job, or a death in the family that compresses everything that we know, feel and believe into one awareness. At times, experiences may burn holes in our layers. Do factory conditions in China have an influence on my desire for Apple products? If I define myself through my profession, what happens when I lose my job?
When others look at us, what do they see first or the most? Our clothes, our physical body or our profession? Are we identified as our belief system, or can the unfiltered light of the divine shine through us unobstructed? When our actions align with our beliefs, we achieve resonance. The light sculptures, the Koshas provide a visual tool for us to examine our own identity. Are we transparent or opaque? Are the rods of our belief system grounded or floating? How bright does the light within us burn?
Resonance is when you feel something powerfully vibrate your being to the core, to the point that you are lost in it. This resonance, this vibration of intent and purpose is so powerful that others cannot help but feel it, and are either pushed away or are drawn to you. Resonance is designed to create a quite place for introspection, encouraging the user to explore who they are and to discover what resonates deeply within.
