The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Alex
& Allyson Grey, Hildegard,
and Grace For a New Year 01/05/2024 |
When I asked Alex Grey recently for permission to share his latest painting in our daily meditations, he responded generously.
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Dear Matt, How great to hear from you!! I just turned 70! Rick Doblin & I were born one day apart so we are having a celebration tonight at CoSM & Entheon.* We are doing what we can to embrace creativity and spirituality as a fruitful union. Of course, you can use anything of mine to share – |
Alex Grey and Matthew Fox in Alex Grey’s studio. Photo published with permission. |
You were the one to introduce me to Hildegard! Just saw one of her illuminations on exhibit at the New Museum in NYC at the Judy Chicago show. She assembled some outstanding women of Art Herstory as part of her feminist exhibition/retrospective. The Green Hand is my homage to Viriditas! If you are ever on the East Coast again we would love to host you here at CoSM. Love you,
Alex |
“The Green Hand,” a painting by Alex Grey in homage to Hildegard’s concept of Viriditas. Published with permission. | At our University of Creation Spirituality, we offered an art as meditation course on Judy Chicago where students made their own “dinner plates” honoring women of the past including Hildegard. Several years ago, on the occasion of the founding |
of CoSM, I
endorsed Alex and Allyson’s work this way: We are all blessed to be sharing the planet today—endangered that it is—with Alex and Allyson Grey. Why is that? Because their inspiring gifts of art and their generous dedication to creating sacred space highlights the marriage of creativity and spirituality which in turn
ignites hope and empowers individuals and communities alike. |
If the great mystic and scientist of the Middle Ages, Thomas Aquinas, is correct, then Spirit too enters such sacred spaces for he tells us that the same Spirit that hovered over the waters at the beginning of creation (we might say that hovered over the fireball at the beginning of creation) hovers over the mind of the artist at work. We are all artists at work, not only undergoing the art of our daily living but also as makers or receivers of the artist’s gifts. CoSM is a testimony to the power of art to awaken and to heal and to bring alive the sacred in a time when |
Alex and Allyson Grey at the TEDxMaui 2013 Welcome Reception. Photography by Jessica Pearl. |
humanity has
fallen into a certain deafness to the call of the sacred which is reaching out to touch us whether from the wild cosmos or the daily revelations of nature or the holy human imagination. To be continued. |
* https://www.cosm.org/
See Matthew Fox, The Tao of Thomas Aquinas, pp. 53-56.
And Fox, Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen, pp. 43-47.
And Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet.
Banner Image: “Every moment is an opportunity for love and transformation.” Interior view of the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors. Photo by RCubed on Flickr Correction: In yesterday's DM, a link to an article on the law firm used by Harvard, UPenn, and MIT was given incorrectly. THIS is the correct link. We regret the error. |
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Queries for Contemplation What does it mean to you, what does it mean for the future of humanity, to learn from a great mystic and intellectual like Aquinas that “the same Spirit that hovered over the waters at the beginning of
creation (we might say that hovered over the fireball at the beginning of creation) hovers over the mind of the artist at work”? |
Responses are welcomed. To add
your comment, or read other comments and enter into dialog, please click HERE to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times
A stunning spiritual handbook drawn from the substantive teachings of Aquinas’ mystical/prophetic genius, offering a sublime roadmap for spirituality and
action.
Foreword by Ilia Delio.
“What a wonderful book! Only Matt Fox could bring to life the wisdom and brilliance of Aquinas with so much creativity. The Tao of Thomas Aquinas is a masterpiece.”
–Caroline Myss, author
of Anatomy of the Spirit |
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Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen
An introduction to the life and work of Hildegard of Bingen, Illuminations reveals the life and teachings of one of the greatest female artists and intellectuals of the Western Mystical
Tradition. At the age of 42, she began to have visions; these were captured as 36 illuminations–24 of which are recorded in this book along with her commentaries on them.
“If one person deserves credit for the great Hildegard renaissance in our time, it is Matthew Fox.” – Dr Mary Ford-Grabowsky, author of Sacred Voices. |
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Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet
Because creativity is the key to both our genius and beauty as a species but also to our capacity for evil, we need to teach creativity and to teach ways of steering this God-like power in
directions that promote love of life (biophilia) and not love of death (necrophilia). Pushing well beyond the bounds of conventional Christian doctrine, Fox’s focus on creativity attempts nothing less than to shape a new ethic.
“Matt Fox is a pilgrim who seeks a path into the church of tomorrow. Countless numbers will be happy to follow his lead.” –Bishop John Shelby Spong, author, Rescuing
the Bible from Fundamentalism, Living in Sin |
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In the Beginning There Was Joy: A Cosmic Celebration for Kids of All Ages
The first book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series tells the story of the big bang and how humans fit into the awesome, fantastical,
cosmic picture! With artwork curated from illustrators around the world, this book expresses the joy and wonder of all peoples and cultures, planting seeds of respect, cooperation and hope to work together for the healing of our planet. "This delicious book for children of all ages celebrates joy as the essential truth of
reality." - Andrew Harvey, Author of The Hope and Radical Regeneration
"I absolutely LOVED reading this beautiful, creative, stirring story—a charming, whimsical, powerful, parable." - Robert Holden, Author of Happiness
NOW! and Higher Purpose
Receive a 20% discount when you buy this and one other book from Matthew Fox’s store! Use Promo Code 20% at checkout. |
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UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
SPECIAL EVENT: 5-DAY WORKSHOP IN AQUINAS’ HOMETOWN OF ORVIETO, ITALY
WITH MATTHEW FOX, MESHI CHAVEZ, AND CLAUDIA PICARDI
JUNE 9-14, 2024
LEARN MORE HERE. |
Creation Spirituality Communities instructor Penny Andrews leads a virtual course on “Cosmogenesis: Our Common Story” with Matthew Fox and Brian Thomas Swimme scheduled as guest speakers. Course runs Tuesdays, January 9 – February 20, 2024, 4 pm; Matthew Fox speaks
on January 16. Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox and Alessandra Belloni for an online Lecture, Concert, and Q&A on “Gifts of the Black Madonna for the New Year,” Thursday, January 11, 4:00-5:30 pm PT. Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “Confessions: The Making of a Post-Denominational Priest ” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat. Thursday, January 18, 4:00-6:00 pm PT. Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he lectures on “What the Mystics Tell Us About Dying" at the Conference on Death, Grief and Belief, “Emerging Spiritualities: Death and Bereavement Across the Spiritual Spectrum,” Saturday, January 20,
9:00am – 5:00pm PT. Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book “The Lotus & The Rose” in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, February 15, 4:00-6:00 pm PT. Register HERE. |
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Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Hunger for Wholeness: What is Wholeness in the Midst of Crisis with Matthew Fox (Part 1) In the midst of increased violence between Israel and Palestine, Ilia
Delio and theologian Matthew Fox discuss the state of the world today and how to have courage in Part 1 of their conversation. Ilia and Matt discuss his mentor, Marie Dominique Chenu, the influence of liberation theology on social justice in the church today, and what can still be learned.
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Inspired by this post? Share your insights on Universeodon, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox FOLLOW MATTHEW FOX: |
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