The Creation Spirituality Lineage Calling All Social and Environmental Activists, Mystic Explorers, Justice Makers, Cosmic Thinkers, Earth Keepers Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox |
Watch for Matthew Fox's video meditation -- now appearing every Monday! |
Can a
Solar Eclipse Assist in Making Mystics & Lovers of Us All? 04/010/2024 |
Called “the most viewed astronomical event in history,” the solar eclipse on April 8 for those who were in its path did not disappoint. People said they were “wowed” and “moved deeply” and underwent an “unforgettable experience.” |
Another way to talk about it is that they had a mystical experience. Humans tend to undergo mystical experiences when they are awakened by Father Sky doing its wonders. It translates into psyche and cosmos connecting. Such experiences touch on all three I’s that a mystical experience
is about: Immensity; Intensity; and Intimacy, |
Thousands of people along Waterfront Park in Burlington were in awe as the total solar eclipse brought parts of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine into total darkness. WCVB Channel 5 Boston |
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reality that humans are hardwired for. The mystics offer their own one-word definitions of a mystical experience this way: Ecstasy (Thomas Aquinas); Breakthrough (Meister Eckhart); Oneing (Julian of Norwich); Radical Amazement (Rabbi Heschel). The mystic remembers the marvels (i.e. miracles) of our
existence and how Father Sky interacts with Mother Earth in special ways such as solar eclipses, but also in everyday ways such as providing healthy sunshine, protection from radiation, fresh air and fine-tuned atmosphere so suitable for life on earth. |
The eclipse brought together gatherings all across North Texas and other communities along its path on Monday afternoon. | It is good when humans are awakened by the cosmos and our relationship to it. Maybe such an event can move
us beyond our pettiness that makes for war, violence, revenge, and strutting to be Number One, to being what we really are—brothers and sisters and kin. |
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common and endangered humanity with common goals and a common origin and common needs and a striving for the common good. One common good also in the news on April 8 was this: The good of a healthy planet. If a mystic is a lover, then we need to fall in love all over again with Mother Earth, and that includes defending her–from
ourselves. |
An international court in France ruled Tuesday that Switzerland’s failure to adequately tackle the climate crisis is a crime. The case was brought by more than 2,000 Swiss women, most in their 70s, against the Swiss government. They argued that climate change fueled
heat |
A group of older Swiss women have won the first climate case victory in the European Court of Human Rights, charging that their age and gender made them particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate-driven heatwaves. BBC News |
waves, undermined their health and quality of life, and put them at risk of dying. A failure to meet past climate targets was such a violation. This decision “sets a historic precedent that applies to all European countries....This is
a massive win for all generations,” commented a lawyer with Global Legal Action Network.* |
* See Laura Paddison, “International court rules Switzerland violated human rights in landmark climate case brought by 2,000 women,” CNN, Tues., April
9, 2024
See Matthew Fox, Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality.
And Fox, Christian Mystics: 365 Readings & Meditations.
And Fox, Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation
Spirituality
Banner Image: A collage of the many phases of the solar eclipse as seen from Pittsburg, New Hampshire, which was the only town in New Hampshire to experience Totality for more than three minutes. Image by KMHTSpotter on Wikimedia Commons. |
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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. |
Queries for Contemplation |
Were you moved by the solar eclipse or hear from others who were? Do you think it fulfills the dimensions of the “3 I’s” that characterize a mystical experience? Do you think the decision of the international court can inspire many more people and their governments to assert their
prophetic vocations to stand up for Mother Earth? |
Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality
Selected with an Introduction by Charles Burack
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. |
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Christian Mystics: 365 Readings & Meditations
As Matthew Fox notes, when an aging Albert Einstein was asked if he had any regrets, he replied, “I wish I had read more of the mystics earlier in my life.” The 365 writings in
Christian Mystics represent a wide-ranging sampling of these readings for modern-day seekers of all faiths — or no faith. The visionaries quoted range from Julian of Norwich to Martin Luther King, Jr., from Thomas Merton to Dorothee Soelle and Thomas Berry.
“Our world is in crisis, and we need road maps that can ground us in wisdom, inspire us to action, and help us gather our talents in service of compassion
and justice. This revolutionary book does just that. Matthew Fox takes some of the most profound spiritual teachings of the West and translates them into practical daily mediations. Study and practice these teachings. Take what’s in this book and teach it to the youth because the new generation cannot afford to suffer the spirit and ethical illiteracy of the past.” — Adam Bucko, spiritual activist and co-founder of the Reciprocity Foundation for Homeless
Youth. |
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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 |
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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 |
Join Matthew Fox as he speaks on “The Deep Feminine and the Deep Masculine and their importance in elevating consciousness and healing our world” at the The Heart of Nature 7-Day Summit with Jane Fonda, Marianne Williamson, Paul Hawken, Nina Simons and over 30 leading experts, Tuesday-Monday, April 16-22. Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Sheer Joy: Conversations with Thomas Aquinas on Creation Spirituality in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, April 18, 4:00-5:30 pm PT.
Register
HERE. Join Matthew Fox in a free online event hosted by the Shift Network: “Explore Compassion in Spirituality With Meister Eckhart’s Wisdom: Mystical Teachings for Renewal, Love & Forgiveness in Times of Turmoil.” Thursday, April 18, 5:30pm PT Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox as he speaks at a worship service and conducts a workshop to mark Earth Day 2024, hosted by Unity of Walnut Creek, CA, Sunday, April 21: 9:30am & 11:30am – Worship Service – Sermon. Earth Day, 2024: Preserving Things in the Good 1:30-3:00pm – Workshop – How the Earth Crisis of Our Time Can Move Humanity to Its Next Stage of Evolution Register HERE. Join Matthew Fox, Mariko Middleton, and Skylar Wilson of the Order of the Sacred Earth in a
free virtual meeting for connection and networking with other mystic warriors, Tuesday, April 30, 4:00-5:00pm PT.
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88665302478 Meeting ID: 886 6530 2478 Learn more at www.orderofthesacredearth.org |
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Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book with scientist Rupert Sheldrake, Natural Grace: Dialogues on Creation, Darkness and the Soul in Spirituality and Science in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, May 16, 4:00-5:30 pm PT.
Register HERE.
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Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Ilia Delio and theologian Matthew Fox pick up on their conversation about the viability of contemporary religious institutions in an evolutionary world. They discuss death and resurrection—the enduring challenge of modern approaches to the subject and what we can learn from mystics, past generations and ancient peoples alike. To listen, click HERE. |
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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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