Calling David Bowie a musician is like calling croissants bread. Bowie’s substance was layered and complex; he was a visionary artist who seared his creative image into the flesh of popular culture. He was incandescent, a trail-blazer set on living an authentic life true to himself.

For the Thin White Duke, every individual is unique, and such uniqueness should be celebrated. He believed that we should strive to be our true selves, even if it means standing out like a sore thumb to unalike minds.

Bowie’s life was a testament to this philosophy. Throughout his career, he reinvented himself multiple times, always pushing boundaries and exploring new frontiers. His androgyny alone challenged traditional gender norms and often sparked debates about his identity and sexuality in a political climate far less forgiving than today’s. Religious critics and members of the public viewed the beginnings of Glam as downright disturbing.

It would surprise such critics to know Ziggy Startdust was not just an artist, but also a spiritual seeker. He explored various spiritual traditions, including Buddhism, and incorporated their teachings into his music and art. In an interview with the magazine Q, Bowie spoke about how he saw his life as a spiritual practice, saying, “I feel that my whole life is a constant process of spiritual evolution.”

Bowie’s music was often a reflection of his spiritual journey, and he used it to explore the mysteries of life and death.

In his song “Quicksand,” Bowie sings about the dangers of dogmatic thinking and the importance of finding your own way. He says, “I’m not a prophet or a stone-aged man, just a mortal with potential of a superman. I’m living on.” He doesn’t have all the answers or anyone’s permission. He’s living anyway.

The above video clip, with audio from a 1973 interview with Russel Harty on his show “Russell Harty Plus Pop,” is a gentle but strong declaration of faith.

Bowie’s legacy can be summarized in a single commandment: Thou shalt not be afraid to push boundaries and make others uncomfortable. His entire body of work beckons us to embrace our weirdness and use it as a means of exploring and expressing who we are and what we can be. We should not conform to societal norms of who we are and what we can do here. Instead, striving to live our lives authentically, as our fullest selves, is purpose enough.