Why art matters: Connecting to the creative energy of the universe

I grew up in a hardworking Norwegian farming family in the Midwest, where practicality was a way of life. This mindset is etched into my being. When I walk into an art gallery, I often marvel at the hours—sometimes thousands—that someone has spent creating a sculpture, a painting, or a work of art. All that effort with no “practical” purpose other than to be admired. After all, we can look at and admire a tree or a mountain—so why do we need art?

In our culture, we often judge the success of an artist by their ability to make a living from their work. For many artists, this is an uphill battle. But perhaps the true value of art lies elsewhere. Beneath the surface, art may not just be about creating something beautiful to look at. It’s about engaging in a process that allows the artist to touch something alive—and, in doing so, to help the rest of us connect with that same vitality. Maybe art, in its essence, teaches us how to step into something bigger than ourselves.

The Forgotten Value of Art

Our culture often overlooks the deeper value of the creative process. This becomes evident when schools cut arts programs at the first sign of budget constraints. And while corporations talk about the importance of creativity and innovation, they rarely invest in exploring the profound wisdom that art offers—a wisdom that goes beyond our cognitive minds.

Artists, whether consciously or not, have been tapping into the metaphoric realm for centuries. Metaphor lies at the heart of the creative process, offering a way of knowing that goes far deeper than logic or reason.

Arthur Zajonc, a physicist, once wrote:

“I believe that artists are the harbingers of the future mentality required both by science and by the imperatives of living in our precarious times. We now truly stand in need, not only as scientists but as a civilization, of the artist’s cognitive capacities.”

Even Sigmund Freud admitted that no matter where his research led, a poet had already been there before him. But why? What is it about the artist’s process that transcends ordinary reasoning?

Art as a Path to the Divine

In tribal cultures, art wasn’t something separate from life—it was a way to commune with the divine. They created art not for admiration but to connect with something greater. That need is universal. To grow as humans, we must reach beyond ourselves. We must learn, evolve, and connect with the creative energies of the Universe.

When we engage with metaphor, we enter another dimension—a place I often call the Feeling Dimension. Here, we don’t just see or think; we feel the profound creative forces of the Universe moving through us.

Art invites us into this space. It’s not just a luxury or an adornment—it’s a fundamental way of being, a bridge to the divine, and a reminder of our shared need to grow and reach for something greater.