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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Week of
12/2-7/2024:
How to Survive and Live Fully
following the Election 12/08/2024 |
As the results of the election ripple out, learn the deeper stakes involved. Get your copy of Trump & the MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election today! Choose your format in the book block below. |
December 2, 2024: Cosmology, Spirituality, & the Power of the 4 Paths to Awaken Humanity
One of the teachings of Thomas Aquinas is his observation that experience is not enough for teaching
spirituality: One also needs concepts. When Matthew looks at his 55 years of teaching creation spirituality, sharing concepts is a notable piece of the pie. For instance, of course we have “original blessing.” Another concept was the Four Paths. Both of these concepts drew the ire of Cardinal Ratzinger and, among other things, ultimately led to Matthew being silenced. This week, Matthew and cosmologist Brian Swimme begin teaching a 7-week course entitled “The 4 Paths of Creation Spirituality: Embracing Awe, Chaos, Creativity & Transformation With the Universe as Your Guide.“ |
“This is an example of the Medicine Wheel that is being used as a pedagogical tool
in First Nations and New Age groups.” Wikimedia Commons |
December 3, 2024: The Prayer to the Four Directions as Taught Me by Sister Jose Hobday
Sister Jose was a Seneca elder, a Franciscan sister, and a faculty
member of ICCS at Holy Names College and then the University of Creation Spirituality. Here is an abbreviated form of the prayer to the Four Directions as she taught by Sister Jose. Matthew tells us that we are not to memorize this prayer, but to speak it from the heart. To the spirits and angels of the North, where the fierce storms come from: Give us strength and courage. To the East, where the sun rises: Bring light to our hearts and minds. To the South and the midday sun: Bring
warmth into our hearts. To the West, where the sun sets: Teach us to appreciate the silence and darkness of the night. Father Sky: Give us long vision, like the Eagle. Mother Earth: May we be ever grateful for you and may we treat you with respect. (Placing hands on the Heart): Spirits and angels of the six directions, gather in our hearts that we may be filled with love and gratitude. Aho. Amen. December 4, 2024: How We Fall in Love with the World—in Spite of History
Sister Jose Hobday and Brian Swimme help us remember that both science and
indigenous wisdom can assist us in bringing Spirit alive in times of crisis. Meanwhile, psychologist Otto Rank declares that “irrationality” can help mend our democracy, and that “the epitome of the irrational is creation itself.” It is in us all to be mystics, lovers, birthers. This is beyond the rational. And it helps heal. Rituals are also important. They draw forth the deep gratitude that is so needed in the bigger picture of things. Poet Derek Walcott, on receiving the Nobel prize for
poetry in 1972, declared: “The fate of poetry is to fall in love with the world in spite of history.” |
Sister José Hobday talks about living life “to the hilt,” identifying with Life and all its ups and downs.
From the National Council of Churches film Search for
Spirituality. Grateful Living |
December 5, 2024: On the One-Month Anniversary of Trump’s Return
Today marks one month since Americans voted to return Trump to the White House. For Matthew and for many of us, it has been a time of processing
grief and trying to figure out how to live with a different version of American than we thought we lived in. Matthew received a letter from his friend, Jenny Hereth, an accomplished artist and former faculty member. She highly recommends the Bonhoeffer film because she thinks it may help Trump supporters to learn something and be inspired. About grief, Matthew says: Rather than getting rid of it, we may be called to carry the grief with us while we work all the harder and with opened and expanded imagination. After all, “hope is a verb with the sleeves rolled up.” December 6, 2024: Election Follow-Up
One reader responded to yesterday’s DM as follows: Excellent Matthew … hope, courage, faith, fierce revolutionary love, making good trouble, keeping the balance between contemplation and action
(Richard Rohr), dancing, singing, hugs, tears, laughter, “this too shall pass”, trepidation, uncertainty, one step at a time, first things first, day by day by day … Other readers, however, are very concerned about economic changes that portend under a Trump presidency. Bruce Boccardy, in Common Dreams, shares his thoughts about the recent election: “The oligarchs were led by Mr. Trump, a charismatic, convicted criminal cult leader” under whom “projectile lying became the new norm.” It’s puzzling why working people voted against their best interests. Boccardy believes it was Trump’s tone that resonated with many: Feeling, anger, resentment,
grievance. |
Comparison of actual vs. perceived percentage of U.S. households by income bracket.
US Census Bureau 2020; infographic by Statista for World
Economic Forum; CC BY-ND license. |
December 7, 2024: Notre Dame Rising from the Ashes
This weekend, a fully restored Notre Dame will be open to the public, only five years after the fire that shocked the world. The Cathedral has a new roof and spire and is clean and
shiny on the inside. “Like new,” one might say. Surely there is symbolism in this resurrection. The Gothic movement in architecture occurred in the 12th and 13th centuries, along with the ascendance of the Divine Feminine. Over 80 cathedrals were built to honor “Our Lady” within those hundred years. In contrast to the dark and thick fortresses of years past, within Notre Dame there is light and color and space. Henry Adams, author of Mont-Saint-Michel & Chartres, puts it this way: Society was turning from worship of its military ideal, Saint Michael, to worship of its social ideal, the Virgin. |
Heather Cox Richardson, Letters from an American, December 4, 2024 Bruce T. Boccardy, “The Democratic Party Reaped What It Sowed,” CommonDreams.org, December 1, 2024. Harry Litman, “Why I Just Resigned From The Los Angeles Times,” December 5, 2024. Henry Adams, Mont-Saint-Michel & Chartres Banner image: Coming together. Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash | A Caring Note from the DM Team: The results of the U.S. election are affecting us all in a variety of ways, and challenging times certainly lie ahead. If the burden becomes overwhelming, we urge you,
please, to seek support. Here are a few resources that can help: National Helpline for essential services: 211 or 211.org National Suicide/Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. Veterans
Crisis Line: 1-800-273-8255 LGBTQ Youth Lifeline: Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678. Trans Lifeline: Call 877-565-8860 National Sexual Assault Hotline: Call
800-656-4673 |
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. |
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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Prayer: A Radical Response to Life How do prayer and mysticism relate to the struggle for social and ecological justice? Fox defines prayer as a radical response to life that includes our “Yes” to life
(mysticism) and our “No” to forces that combat life (prophecy). How do we define adult prayer? And how—if at all—do prayer and mysticism relate to the struggle for social and ecological justice? One of Matthew Fox’s earliest books, originally published under the title On Becoming a Musical, Mystical Bear: Spirituality American Style, Prayer introduces a mystical/prophetic spirituality and a mature conception of how to pray. Called a “classic” when it first appeared,
it lays out the difference between the creation spirituality tradition and the fall/redemption tradition that has so dominated Western theology since Augustine. A practical and theoretical book, it lays the groundwork for Fox’s later works. “One of the finest books I have read on contemporary spirituality.” – Rabbi Sholom A. Singer |
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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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The Hidden Spirituality of Men: Ten Metaphors to Awaken the Sacred Masculine
To awaken what Fox calls “the sacred masculine,” he unearths ten metaphors, or archetypes, ranging from the Green Man, an
ancient pagan symbol of our fundamental relationship with nature, to the Spiritual Warrior….These timeless archetypes can inspire men to pursue their higher calling to connect to their deepest selves and to reinvent the world.
“Every man on this planet should read this book — not to mention every woman who wants to understand the struggles, often unconscious, that shape the men they know.” — Rabbi Michael
Lerner, author of The Left Hand of God |
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Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election Matthew Fox tells us that he had always shied away from using the
term “Anti-Christ” because it was so often used to spread control and fear. However, given today’s rise of authoritarianism and forces of democracide, ecocide, and christofascism, he turns the tables in this book employing the archetype for the cause of justice, democracy, and a renewed Earth and humanity. For immediate access to Trump
& The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election, order the e-book with 10 full-color prints from Amazon HERE. To get a print-on-demand paperback copy with black & white images, order from Amazon HERE or IUniverse HERE. To receive a limited-edition, full-color paperback copy, order from MatthewFox.org HERE. Order the audiobook HERE for immediate download. |
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The Return of Father Sky: A Cosmic Mystery for Kids of All Ages
The second book in the Father Fox’s Fantastical Fables series, The Return of Father Sky helps boys and girls to celebrate a new relationship with the masculine by way of Father
Sky, whose return excites joy and wonder and possibility that enlarge the soul to welcome others and all creation. Written in a rhyming Dr. Seuss-like style, this full-color, beautifully illustrated book, written by world- renowned theologian Matthew Fox weaves together modern science and classic spirituality in a whimsical, entertaining format to illustrate important truths to readers aged 4 and up. 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. |
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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 cosmologist Brian Thomas Swimme in a new 7-week live video course hosted
by The Shift Network: “The 4 Paths of Creation Spirituality: Embracing Awe, Chaos, Creativity & Transformation With the Universe as Your Guide.” Tuesdays, December 3 – January 28 (except Dec 24 and 31), 5:00pm - 6:30pm PT Register HERE. |
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Join Matthew Fox for an on-site and online Advent Retreat titled “A Great Coming: Creation Spirituality and the Renewal of Religion, Humanity and Holy Mother Earth,” hosted by Immaculate Heart Community, Los Angeles. Saturday, 12/14, 9 AM -5 PM; Sunday, 12/15, 9-11 AM.
Register HERE. |
Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his two children’s books, Father Fox's Fantastical
Fables – In the Beginning There was Joy and The Return of Father Sky in an Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat, online. December 19, 4:00pm-5:30pm PT Register HERE. |
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Creation Spirituality Conversations |
Don't miss Matthew Fox in an interview with Sandie Sedgbeer of What is Going
Om, looking at Trump & The MAGA Movement as Anti-Christ: A Handbook for the 2024 Election. |
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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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