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 Olympic Opening
Ceremony, the Unio Mystica & the Next Revolution 8/1/2024 |
As boats made their way along the Seine, loaded with athletes from around the world, dance of many variations was celebrated: Ordinary citizens of many generations and ethnicities, young and old, some slim, some very large, all dancing. And professional dancers as well. |
Musicians singing and playing grand pianos in the rain—I’ve never seen that before—I hope the pianos survived unharmed. A rendition of "La Marseillaise" sung magnificently by a woman singer in the rain standing alone atop the Grand Palais with rain beating down on her exposed chest.
Stunning. |
Fire and water: Armanet sings "Imagine" on the Seine. Click the image to view the video by LGRCreation on TikTok. |
A runway constructed on a bridge with women and men strutting down the walkway in costumes of various colors and tastes. Replicas of famous paintings from the Louvre with sculptures emerging from the river itself, some remembering famous French women who had never been represented in sculpture before (80% of the statues in Paris being that of famous men). It was a night to remember that underscored our common humanity as well as our common genius as a species. It brought us together—which is after all—as I understand it—the purpose of the Olympic Games. |
Axelle St Cirel, Guadeloupean mezzo-soprano, sang “La Marseillaise” on the roof of the Grand-Palais in Paris during the opening ceremony. Click the image to view the video by viensoncausetv on TikTok. | Otto Rank says that only the unio mystica—which we experience “in love and art” can heal what ails humanity. bell hooks has declared that “the next
revolution” which will connect humanity and what she calls the “black underclass” will be “a revolution in aesthetics.” If she is right—and she usually is—this breakthrough Olympic Opening Ceremony—is a harbinger of a needed non-violent revolution. |
I thank the French for their originality and grace and courage to undertake a unio mystica in what was, at least for me, a deeply memorable in-the-rain launch of the Olympic Games. Am I right thinking that only the French could have pulled this off so successfully and
elegantly? Au chapeau to all involved! |
NOTE: There are those who have taken umbrage in a supposed scene of the Last Supper that included drag queens. Such clutching of pearls by French bishops, the majority head of congress and others is based on ignorance. The scene invoked is not about the Last Supper. The central figure in that scene—which was not even shown on American TV— |
The Feast of the Gods at the Paris Olympics, misrepresented by offended Christians as a parody of the Last Supper. Click the image to play the video by shakwill on Tiktok. |
was
an actor in a blue body suit and paint representing Dionysus, the god of wine. The Olympics began in Greece after all, and featuring a Greek feast is fitting since wine is notably dear to the French heart (and economy). The other actors weren’t disciples but maenads–participants in Dionysian rites. |
See Matthew Fox, “Psychotherapy and the ‘Unio Mystica’: Meister Eckhart Meets Otto Rank,” in Fox, Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior for Our Times, pp. 139-156.
And Fox, Creativity: Where the Divine and the Human Meet.
And Fox, Original Blessing: A Primer
in Creation Spirituality.
And Fox, The A.W.E. Project: Reinventing Education, Reinventing the Human.
Banner Image: A mysterious masked man hands off the Olympic flame to famed French footballer Zinedine Zidane after parkouring through the famed sights of Paris. Photo by Andy Miah 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 |
Did you take umbrage at the scene of the Greek Dionysian rite honoring the god of wine? I hope not—or if you did, that you now understand what it was about–and not about. (One DM subscriber said she was quitting the DM because of yesterday’s affirmation of the opening ceremony) |
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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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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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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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 Order of the Sacred Earth: An Intergenerational Vision of Love and Action in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, August 15, 4:00-5:30 pm PT.
Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, Thursday, September 19, 4:00-5:30 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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