The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Hand
and Eyes and Grace in
Alex Grey’s Homage to Viriditas 01/06/2024 |
Alex tells us that “the Green Hand is my homage to Viriditas!” Which indeed it is. Green hands bespeak the reality of human work that can bring eco-justice and eco-balance alive again.
|
Whatever our work, it can be a grace that heals our ailing souls and communities and planet. In her celebrated painting of the “Man in Sapphire Blue,” reproduced on the IIlluminations book cover (below), Hildegard names the healing Christ in all
people. |
“The Green Hand,” a painting by Alex Grey in homage to Hildegard’s concept of Viriditas. Published with permission. |
And what is this blue Christ doing? He is putting his heart energy into his hands, this being an archetype of the very meaning of compassion. Compassion is not just a feeling for the suffering of others, it is also an action to do something to relieve that suffering, thus the primacy
of hands in Hildegard’s work. |
“The Man in Sapphire Blue” by Hildegard of Bingen, from Scivias | The same is true of Alex Grey’s painting of Viriditas. Greening power, creative power, is meant to serve and to fill our hands with that creative energy that we invest in our
work. All of it can bless and heal others whether we be artists or musicians, lawyers or nurses, educators or clergy, farmers or parents, mechanics or journalists. All our creativity is meant to
be |
embedded, indeed incarnated, as a blessing and conduit of grace to one another. Alex pictures that wonderfully and alluringly in his fine painting. What about the many eyes within the hands? Hildegard frequently paints beings with many eyes. In her painting that I call “Original Blessing: The Golden Tent,” she paints a folded-up tent in the fetus inside a mother’s womb and she depicts our life’s journey as setting up that tent. |
The tent has many eyes in it which she describes this way: “I saw the greatest and most serene brightness like a flame with very many eyes, and having four corners turned to the four parts of the world.” The “countless eyes” signify God’s seeing and knowing, and God’s eyes see the pain of the
world and the joy of the world. The Book of Zechariah talks of the seven eyes of God that “run to and fro through the whole earth.” (Zech. 4:10). |
“Original Blessing: The Golden Tent.” Hildegard of Bingen, Scivias. |
Adapted from Matthew
Fox, Illuminations of Hildegard of Bingen, pp. 32-37, 76-82.
Banner image: The power and grace of green growing things. Photo by Jan Kopřiva on Unsplash |
|
Queries for Contemplation Contrast Hildegard’s painting of many eyes to that of Alex Grey. What are the eyes telling you and us? What are the hands pictured by both Hildegard and Alex telling us
as well? |
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. |
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. |
|
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 |
|
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. "Matthew Fox does it again, here for our young ones, who so need a positive, cosmic vision to thrive, or even survive, in a sad time." - Father Richard Rohr, Author of The Universal Christ
"Matthew Fox offers a resounding affirmation of what our souls have always suspected: we are made for joy." - Mirabai Starr, Author
of God of Love and Wild Mercy
Receive a 20% discount when you buy this and one other book from Matthew Fox’s store! Use Promo Code 20% at checkout. |
|
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. |
|
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.
|
|
Inspired by this post? Share your insights on Universeodon, Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox FOLLOW MATTHEW FOX: |
|
|
|
