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The
Mystic, the Best in Us, Tackles Despair, the Worst in Us 04/11/2024 |
T.S. Eliot says this about the mystics: “Mystics are the only hope—or else despair.” The mystic offers medicine for despair and confronts it–despair in oneself, despair as it wafts through a culture in a particular historical period. |
There is a lot of despair in the air these days, in fact people are writing books, offering workshops, and making a good living selling and organizing despair. There are gatherings (“churches”?) where people come together to talk about how they have given up on life and society and are giving in because humanity is doomed. Despair is one reason for the rise of fascism, authoritarianism and conspiracy theories of our day. Not only because social |
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media platforms readily distribute despair, but because despair and giving up is easier than the kind of arduous inner journey of wisdom that Hildegard for example describes and paints for us in a recent DM. The reality of climate change, and the refusal of many adults to admit that reality, understandably throws many young people into despair. Despair builds on despair, and it is far easier to tear things down than to build things up or renew things damaged by neglect, distortion or outright denial. |
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| Aquinas warns that despair is the “most dangerous” of all sins—not the worst, that would be injustice. But dangerous because when one is in despair one does not care about either self
or others. Medicine for despair that the mystics offer is the delight we |
undergo taking in the wonders and beauties and goodness of being in this vast two-trillion- galaxies-big-and-expanding universe. Poet Rilke says simply, “existence is a miracle.” The Via Positiva recognizes the truth of Rilke’s observation. “Just to be is a blessing, just to live
is holy,” comments Rabbi Heschel. To be invited to join this 13.8-billion-year journey of the universe and to wonder at it and learn about it and participate in it—all that is marvelous, all that is a miracle. |
Existence is the ultimate gift, for without it we cannot enjoy or participate in any of the other gifts life offers. There is a lot more non-being than being in the universe. The mystic has an eye for goodness and where it manifests itself. The mystic is a hunter-gatherer after
goodness. The mystic is a lover attuned to goodness. |
Julia Butterfly Hill describes the lessons she received while surviving a terrible storm as she lived in a 2,000-year-old redwood to save it from the chainsaws of a logging company. louangelola1 |
See Matthew Fox, Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality.
And Fox, Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society, pp. 191-195, 343-346 (on despair).
And Fox, Christian Mystics: 365 Readings &
Meditations.
Banner Image: Maurice Denis (1870-1943) “La Solitude du Christ” From “Beyond the Stars. The Mystical Landscape from Monet to Kandinsky – A Special Exhibition at the Musee D’Orsay” – Paris, May 2017. Photo by JRP on Flickr. |
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Queries for Contemplation |
Do you agree with T. S. Eliot? Do you find hope in praying the mystics? And in exploring the mystic in yourself? And the goodness and beauty in nature or creation? |
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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Sins of the Spirit, Blessings of the Flesh: Transforming Evil in Soul and Society
Visionary theologian and best-selling author Matthew Fox offers a new theology of evil
that fundamentally changes the traditional perception of good and evil and points the way to a more enlightened treatment of ourselves, one another, and all of nature. In comparing the Eastern tradition of the 7 chakras to the Western tradition of the 7 capital sins, Fox allows us to think creatively about our capacity for personal and institutional evil and what we can do about them.
“A scholarly
masterpiece embodying a better vision and depth of perception far beyond the grasp of any one single science. A breath-taking analysis.” — Diarmuid O’Murchu, author of Quantum Theology: Spiritual Implications of the New Physics |
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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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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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