The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers |
"Thou Shalt Dare the Dark" (Via Negativa)
part
2 |
08/01/2023
by Rick Reich-Kuykendall |
We continue our meditation on Matthew Fox’s writings of the way of darkness, silence, and solitude,
suffering, loss and grief. |
In the pathway that is the Via Negativa, we enter the shadow, the hidden or covered-up parts of ourselves and our society. In doing so, we confront the cover-up that often accompanies evil in self or society. ‘It is part of an unjust
society to cover up the pain of its victims,’ notes theologian Dorothee Soelle. This commandment requires that we not only let go of cover-up and denial, but that we actually enter into the darkness that pain is all about. It is not letting go of things that is important
but the letting go of
attitudes toward things. | “Imprisoned.” Photo by Tamirlan Maratov on Unsplash |
Forgiveness is another word for letting go. There are times in our lives
when waiting is best
and the most healing thing
we can do
for ourselves or
for others. |
| In contrast to
co-dependence, creation spirituality teaches interdependence. It attacks the issue of low self-esteem directly by teaching Original Blessing in preference to a psychology of Original Sin. |
Creation Spirituality
addresses
the compulsion to control directly
by teaching the mystical path of letting go and letting be,
the Via Negativa. A healthy Via Negativa,
one that truly teaches us to let go,
also assists us in learning
to accept our mistakes and
live in an imperfect world. |
See Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality, p. 57.
Also see Fox, Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality, pp. 160, 163, 164.
Also see Fox, Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of
the Earth, pp. 83, 84, 87.
While Matthew Fox is on a month’s sabbatical, the Rev. Richard Reich-Kuykendall is stepping in, drawing the Daily Meditations from his book-in-progress, Meditations with Matthew Fox, Mystic-Prophet, a distillation of Matthew’s voluminous body of work. Rick is a graduate of the University of Creation Spirituality, a minister, and the author of 17 books covering a range of religious subjects, including Creation Spirituality, Wicca, Buddhism,
dreams, Biblical criticism and more.
Banner Image: “The Fallen Church.” Collage by Daniel Arrhakis on Flickr. |
Queries for Contemplation How are you with living in an imperfect world? What
would it need to change to be a more “perfect world?” |
Responses are welcomed. To add your comment, please click HERE
to go to our
website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality
To encapsulate the life and work
of Matthew Fox would be a daunting task for any save his colleague Dr. Charles Burack, who had the full cooperation of his subject. Fox has devoted 50 years to developing and teaching the tradition of Creation Spirituality and in doing so has reinvented forms of education and worship. His more than 40 books, translated into 78 languages, are inclusive of today’s science and world spiritual traditions and have awakened millions to the much neglected earth-based mystical tradition of the West. Essential Writings begins by exploring the influences on Fox’s life and spirituality, then presents selections from all Fox’s major works in 10 sections.
“The critical insights, the creative connections, the centrality of Matthew Fox’s writings and teaching are second to none for the radical renewal of Christianity.” ~~ Richard Rohr, OFM. | |
Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
Matthew Fox lays out a whole new direction for Christianity—a direction that is in fact very ancient and very grounded in Jewish thinking (the fact that Jesus was a Jew is often neglected by Christian theology): the Four Paths of Creation Spirituality, the Vias Positiva, Negativa, Creativa and Transformativa in
an extended and deeply developed way.
“Original Blessing makes available to the Christian world and to the human community a radical cure for all dark and derogatory views of the natural world wherever these may have originated.” –Thomas Berry, author, The Dream of the Earth; The Great Work; co-author, The Universe Story | |
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth Fox’s spirituality weds the healing and liberation found in North American Creation Spirituality and in South American Liberation Theology. Creation Spirituality challenges readers of every religious and political persuasion to unite in a new vision through which we learn to honor the earth and the people who inhabit it as the gift of a good and just Creator. “A watershed theological work that offers a common ground for religious seekers and activists of all stripes.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice. | |
See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
Join Matthew Fox and Brian Swimme in a new 7-week online course hosted by The Shift Network: "Science, Spirituality & the Noosphere: Deepen the Meaning of Your Life & the Power You Hold to Create Fulfillment & Happiness," beginning August 8. Register
HERE and receive access to a free introductory video. Join Matthew Fox for a Cosmic Mass and Panel Forum at the 2023 Parliament of the World’s Religions - A Call to Conscience: Defending Freedom & Human Rights, August 14-18 in Chicago, IL Wed., 8/16, 7:00pm CT - The Cosmic Mass - Honoring Gaia, Solidarity for Our Earth Thurs., 8/17, 1:00pm CT – Panel and Response to The Cosmic Mass Register HERE. |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Aaron Perry hosts Matthew Fox on the Y On
Earth podcast, on “Hildegard von Bingen & Her “Viriditas,” sharing profound wisdom and deep insights about the essential importance of our relationship with Mother Earth, our celebration of the Divine Feminine, and our connection with Creation Spirituality, drawing upon centuries
of knowledge and wisdom from indigenous and mystical traditions world-wide… particularly from the Rhineland Mystic Movement of the medieval European Renaissance, and a most extraordinary woman at its helm: Hildegard von Bingen. | |
Please share this post! Just click the buttons below.
OR share your insights on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox
|
|
|
|
