The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
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The
Return of the Divine Feminine & the Revolution It Represents 02/07/2024 |
In yesterday’s DM, we meditated on a “revolution in values” that is symbolized by moving from Patriarchy’s preoccupations with power-over to a Biblically grounded power-with, that is to say, compassion and a justice-based value system. |
Such a revolution is found with the prophets of Israel and with the teaching and example of Jesus, and also in the work of the Divine Feminine. The “Magnificat” of Mary articulates well the “routing of the proud of heart,” the “exaltation of the lowly,” and more (Lk 1:46-55), as
I discussed in the DM for January 31. |
Print of a revolutionary Mary, inspired by the Magnificat, by lithographer Ben Wildflower. Purchase HERE. |
Carl Jung says that archetypes return when we need them, and the archetype of the Cosmic Mary and the Black Madonna are very much in need today, when the face of fascism and patriarchal privilege is showing itself in many guises. Today’s appeals court decision turning down an attempt to declare that any president is immune from prosecution, rejects an extreme effort to assert one
individual’s power over that of the people and the common good. Two questions arise: - Are the gospel values and the values the Divine Feminine represents just an aspiration–or are they
real?
- Does compassion represent mammal values of kinship and compassion that are needed to restrict the values of reptilian brain dominance?
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Modeling compassion for humankind: “Jesus Wept.” Painting by James Tissot. Wikimedia Commons. | Human creativity is so powerful that it needs to be steered and directed by values like justice and compassion, which urge our caring about future generations and peoples and species other than ourselves. All this because we belong to a “web of creation” as Hildegard called it. |
We are part of a larger whole, a sacred cosmos, a “common good” that Aquinas says is “more divine” (divinius est) than just the good of an individual or a particular tribe. All this is symbolized by the archetype of the Cosmic Mary, the Divine Mother, as well as within the arena of
the Black Madonna. One cannot remember the strength of Mary and the prayers attributed to her in the Gospels without remembering the Black Madonna, who is undergoing a resurgence in our time. To be continued. |
See Matthew Fox, The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors To Awaken the Divine Feminine, pp. 231-244.
And Fox, “Our Mother is Dying,” in Fox, The Coming of the Cosmic Christ: The Healing of Mother Earth and the Birth of a Global Renaissance, pp. 11-34.
See also
Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet.
Banner Image: The Black Madonna of Częstochowa and Christ Child with rainbow halos, similar to designs from Pride Parade in Częstochowa. Wikimedia Commons. |
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Queries for Contemplation Meditate on the two questions posed in this essay. How do you respond to them from your deepest center? |
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 Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine
To awaken what Fox calls “the sacred masculine,” he unearths ten metaphors, or archetypes, ranging from the Green Man, an
ancient pagan symbol of our fundamental relationship with nature, to the Spiritual Warrior….These timeless archetypes can inspire men to pursue their higher calling to connect to their deepest selves and to reinvent the world.
“Every man on this planet should read this book — not to mention every woman who wants to understand the struggles, often unconscious, that shape the men they know.” — Rabbi Michael
Lerner, author of The Left Hand of God |
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The Coming of the Cosmic Christ: The Healing of Mother Earth and the Birth of a Global Renaissance
In what may be considered the most comprehensive outline of the Christian
paradigm shift of our Age, Matthew Fox eloquently foreshadows the manner in which the spirit of Christ resurrects in terms of the return to an earth-based mysticism, the expression of creativity, mystical sexuality, the respect due the young, the rebirth of effective forms of worship—all of these mirroring the ongoing blessings of Mother Earth and the recovery of Eros, the feminine aspect of the Divine.
“The eighth
wonder of the world…convincing proof that our Western religious tradition does indeed have the depth of imagination to reinvent its faith.” — Brian Swimme, author of The Universe Story and Journey of the Universe. |
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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. |
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 |
Matthew Fox speaks on "What the Mystics Tell Us About Dying" at the 2024 Symposium on Death and Bereavement Studies. To listen, click the video thumbnail at right. |
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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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