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Transformation and
the Divine Feminine:
Rich & Eckhart 07/19/2024 |
[FROM THE ARCHIVE: February 8, 2022] We are trying to bring some feminist awareness–such as protecting Mother Earth–to the current political scene where, alas!, one whole political party has no interest in combating climate change, i.e., saving Mother Earth. And awakening
not power-over but a transforming power of creativity. Power-with. Thus, the DM below. |
Speaking of creativity, Eckhart applies the annunciation story to our creative work when he writes: The work that is ‘with,’ ‘outside,’ and ‘above’ the artist must become the work that is ‘in’ him, taking form within her, in order towards the end that she may produce a work of art, in accordance |
“The Annunciation: the Virgin Mary says Yes to the conception of the Christ. Fra Angelico, ~1430. On Wikimedia Commons. |
with the verse ‘The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee’ (Lk. 1:35), that is so that the ‘above’ may become ‘in.’ Indian art historian and Hindu philosopher Ananda Coomaraswamy recognizes that “Eckhart thinks of God as a mother.” Adrienne Rich tells us: the images of the prepatriarchal goddess-cults did one thing; they told women that power, awesomeness, and centrality were theirs by nature, not by privilege or miracle; the female was primary. The
Goddess represented the intrinsic power and sacredness of creativity itself. She embodied transformation, and one expression of this in ancient societies was the reverence for pottery making, which, Rich writes, was invented by women, was taboo to men, [and] was regarded as a sacred process. |
The Neolithic Mother Goddess, giving birth while seated on her throne: 8,000-year-old statue unearthed at Çatalhöyük in Anatolia. Photo by Onur Doğan on Flickr; Public Domain. | She observes: It does not seem unlikely that the woman potter molded, not simply vessels, but images of herself, the vessel of life, the transformer of blood into life and milk — that in so doing she was expressing, celebrating, and giving concrete form to her experience as a creative being possessed of indispensable power. Without her...invention and skill, the pot or vessel — the most sacred of handmade objects — would not
exist. |
She adds that in primordial terms the vessel is anything but a ‘passive’ receptacle; it is transformative — active, powerful....The transformations necessary for the continuation of life are thus, in terms of this early imagery, exercises of female power. This power was not over others,
but transforming power, was the truly significant and essential power, and this, in prepatriarchal society women knew for their own. In biological motherhood, too, as in these other activities, woman was not merely a producer and stabilizer of life: there, too, she was a transformer.* |
*See Adrienne Rich, Of Woman Born: Motherhood As Experience And Institution, pp. 93f., 96-99, 101
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior for Our Times, pp. 69-73, 95f.
See also Matthew Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and Human Meet, pp. 39-40.
Banner image: “Embraced by Grace.” Stained glass window commemorating the
Annunciation, in Swaffham’s Catholic church, Norfolk, England. Photo by Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P., on Flickr. |
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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 |
What does it mean to you to be told that the annunciation story applies to you when you are being creative? What follows on Rich’s teaching that women’s power is transformative power? How does that differ from power as power-over? |
Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior For Our Time
While Matthew Fox recognizes that Meister Eckhart has influenced thinkers throughout history, he also wants to introduce Eckhart to today’s activists addressing contemporary crises.
Toward that end, Fox creates dialogues between Eckhart and Carl Jung, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rabbi Heschel, Black Elk, Karl Marx, Rumi, Adrienne Rich, Dorothee Soelle, David Korten, Anita Roddick, Lily Yeh, M.C. Richards, and many others.
“Matthew Fox is perhaps the greatest writer on Meister Eckhart that has ever existed. (He) has successfully bridged a gap between Eckhart as a shamanistic personality and Eckhart as a
post-modern mentor to the Inter-faith movement, to reveal just how cosmic Eckhart really is, and how remarkably relevant to today’s religious crisis! ” — Steven Herrmann, Author of
Spiritual Democracy: The Wisdom of Early American Visionaries for the Journey Forward
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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. "Matthew Fox has created a narrative, for every parent, 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 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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