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! |
Week
of 6/24-29/2024:
Sr. Dot, Orvieto Art,
& Reinventing Education 06/30/2024 |
June 24, 2024: Sister Dorothy Stang to Be Formally Recognized as a Modern-Day Martyr
Matthew was recently informed that Sister Dorothy Stang will be the first American woman included in The
Sanctuary of New Martyrs at the Basilica of San Bartolomeo all’Isolaon in Rome, Italy.* Other modern-day martyrs to be included will be Saint Archbishop Oscar Romero, St. Charles de Foucauld, and Blessed Franz Jagerstatter who was executed for refusing to fight with the Nazis.** A young Brazilian Franciscan priest, who met Sister Dot two years before she died, said: She is a North American who became a martyr in the Amazon to defend us, and we are profoundly grateful for her
sacrifice. |
June 25, 2024: Creation Spirituality Teachings at the Medieval Cathedral in Orvieto
Before leaving California for Orvieto, Italy, Matthew was told by a friend that her “favorite cathedral in all
of Europe” was the Cathedral in Orvieto. Once Matthew visited it, he understood why. The cathedral is full of Creation Spirituality themes. Not only are various stories from the Bible depicted, but also humanity in all its diversity and glory. The human body is celebrated, depicted nude, and there are couples both straight and gay. The late Yale historian John Boswell in his iconic book, Christianity, Social Tolerance and Homosexuality: Gay People in Western Europe from the
Beginning of the Christian Era to the Fourteenth Century tells us that in the early years of the university movement there was a 125-year window of acceptance of homosexuality in culture and church. June 26, 2024: Anti-Christ Image in Orvieto Cathedral: Archetype For Our Times?
The magnificent Orvieto Cathedral is filled with art. One fresco had Matthew riveted. In a chapel depicting “The Final Times” was a fresco called “Sermon and Deeds of the Antichrist.” The narrative that accompanied it said: While he will seem to
bring salvation to the world by promoting himself as an enlightened leader and guide, in reality he is simply the animated puppet used by Satan to carry out his plan. The main figure resembles Christ “but his gaze appears sinister and disturbing.” The devil is whispering in his left ear. As Matthew stared at the large painting he thought, “It reminds me of Trump.” There is violence in the crowd and menacing forces slinking about in the background. Sigmund Freud was so taken by
this painting that he actually moved to Orvieto to study it more closely. |
“Sermon and Deeds of the Antichrist.” Fresco by Luca Signorelli, Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, Orvieto. Wikimedia Commons. |
June 27, 2024: Educating for Character and Chakra Development
Recently, the state of Louisiana passed a law demanding that the Ten Commandments be posted in ALL public classrooms in the state. Matthew proposes that
instead of such a silly and provocative law, the “10 C’s” be considered. [FROM THE ARCHIVE: 8/3/2020] In his book on evil, Matthew contrasts the seven chakras with the seven capital sins. Modern education has focused exclusively on the head chakra, and specifically the left hemisphere of the brain. Interestingly, the pre-modern age did not restrict education to the head alone. Monastic education, for example, incorporated working the fields, chanting, and meditating, along with
intellectual studies. Native American children learned from being outside with the animals, the plants, and the elements. Sitting in desks is not the only way to learn. We need to make room for all the chakras in our educational system. |
June 28, 2024: Building Character, continued
Instead of putting the 10 Commandments in every classroom—a silly and unconstitutional idea—we are proposing the “10 C’s.” We are currently exploring the “C” called Character. Character
is about committing to values. [FROM THE ARCHIVE: 8/4/2020] “Value-free” education leaves young people unprepared to question society and its economic, racial, or gender values. It operates under the premise that our society is not to be questioned. Ernest Becker talked about a “great abyss at the heart of modern life.”This is the heart of man [and woman], the heart of education, the heart of the social problem, Morality. David Korten suggests an Earth Community which practices
true democracy and an economic system that works for everyone and all creatures, not just a chosen few. Character makes manifest the beauty and nobility in us all. |
“I’m sorry we have failed you.” Black Lives Matter memorial to George Floyd. Photo by mana5280 on Unsplash |
June 29, 2024: Contemplation, Another “C” toward Becoming Human
We are proposing an alternative to the unconstitutional law of the state of Louisiana to put the Ten Commandments in all public schools. We call it
the “10 c’s.” [FROM THE ARCHIVE: 8/5/202] One of the “C’s” is Contemplation. Maria Montessori teaches children how they can “make silence.” All humans are capable of “making silence.” Many methods of calming the busy mind are available from wisdom traditions all over the world. Kaleo Ching taught Qigong and maskmaking at UCS and told Matthew that when he taught in prison, inmates approached him afterwards to say, “This is the first time in my life I have
experienced quiet.” Another way to calm the mind is yoga. Yoga was brought to inner city kids in San Francisco. One fourth grader reported: “I feel really grumpy in the morning. Yoga makes me feel ungrumpy.” Charles Burack reports that getting students to simply focus on one’s breath produces powerful results. |
*Based on the article below, from The Catholic Telegraph, this DM originally said that it was a Vatican memorial. However, a letter from Teresa Phillips of the Office of Justice, Peace, and Care of Creation from the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Ohio Province, apologized for “the confusion and incorrect information that was sent out” and informed us that it was actually a memorial at the Basilica of San Bartolomeo all’Isola. . **“Ohio’s Dorothy Stang to be the First American Woman included in Vatican Memorial for Modern Martyrs.” The Catholic Telegraph, June 7, 2024
Banner image: “Marble bas-relief ‘The Arts of the Trivium and Quadrivium : Naomi teaches reading; Jubal, father of
music,’ cathedral of Orvieto, Italy.” Wikimedia Commons.
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to go to our website and scroll down to the Comments field. |
The A.W.E. Project: Reinventing Education, Reinventing the Human
The A.W.E. Project reminds us that awe is the appropriate response to the unfathomable wonder that is creation… A.W.E. is also the acronym for Fox’s proposed style of
learning – an approach to balance the three R’s. This approach to learning, eldering, and mentoring is intelligent enough to honor the teachings of the Ancestors, to nurture Wisdom in addition to imparting knowledge, and to Educate through Fox’s 10 C’s. The 10 C’s are the core of the A.W.E. philosophy and process of education, and include: compassion, contemplation, and creativity. The A.W.E. Project does for the vast subject of “learning” what Fox’s Reinvention of Work did for vocation
and Original Blessing did for theology. Included in the book is a dvd of the 10 C’s put to 10 video raps created and performed by Professor Pitt.
“An awe-based vision of educational renewal.” — Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice. |
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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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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 has created a narrative, for every parent and grandparent, both spiritual
and scientific, that is a gift for all elders who recognize their responsibility in initiating the young ones into the grandeur of existence." Cosmologist Brian Swimme, Author of Cosmogenesis and The Universe Story "Matthew Fox has given all of us, children included, a wondrous and enchanting view of
creation and all that humanity should aspire to." - Caroline Myss, Author of Anatomy of the Spirit and A Time for Grace |
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UPCOMING EVENTS See Matthew Fox's full calendar
HERE |
MONTHLY: 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. Last Tuesday of every month, 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 |
Join Matthew Fox and 11 other speakers for a 6-week course on Cosmic Water: The Radical
Roots of Mystical Christianity hosted by Advaya.Life (Matthew speaks on June 18). Tuesdays, May 28 - Thursday, July 4, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PDT Register HERE (for 10% discount use code FOX-WOW) |
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Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Prayer: A Radical Response to Life in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, July 18, 6:00 - 7:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. |
Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Matthew Fox speaks on "Preserving Things in the Good" at the Unity of Walnut Creek Earth Day worship service held on April 21, 2024. |
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