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 Sunday!

Don't miss Matthew's exciting interviews, webinars and courses, listed at the bottom of this DM (you may need to click the ... to see them).

By Gianluigi Gugliermetto

4/25/2025

When patriarchal cultures — such as Judaism at the time of Jesus — bury the dead in caves, they perform a paradox, symbolically speaking. The cave symbolizes the body of the mother, from which a new life will be born. Thus, burying someone in a cave 

A burial cave in Emmaus Nicopolis. Wikimedia Commons.

is by itself an affirmation of faith in the resurrection. But “mother” and “woman” in the patriarchal mind are also connected to “the body” and thus to decay and death, while “male” is seen as eternal, connected to the life of the mind, thus free from earthly bonds.

Can the Empty Tomb be experienced as a symbol of rebirth that does not put down women? Christianity did not start off as a clearly pro-woman movement, even though scholars have uncovered deep contributions made by women in its early stages, including amazing elements of anti-patriarchal thought.

“Dionysus Triumphant” – the gender-bending god overcoming suffering and death. Mosaic from the House of Poseidon, Zeugma Mosaic Museum. Wikimedia Commons.

Earth-based spiritualities, on the other hand, can boast an array of symbols that have been connected to “woman” as well as the omnipresent spiral-symbol, which is universally recognized as pointing to rebirth, reincarnation, and new life. The ivy and grapevine, both spiral, are 

symbols of rebirth and resurrection among the Celts, and in the Mediterranean the vine that represents Dionysus is meant to imply a dying with the grape in order to rise through the vine. The main role of women in contemporary retrievals of earth-based spiritualities is, of course, pretty obvious.

Overcoming the dualism between body and mind, thus between “female” and “male," may seem a quaint enterprise when the house is burning down. One of the deep roots of the present crisis in American society is, however, the fear of powerful women. And patriarchal phantasies are not so hidden behind almost every presidential pronouncement of late.

For Christians, then, exploring deep ecumenism with earth-based spiritualities is even more necessary than it ever was. This may mean several things, including recovering those parts of one’s own tradition that are already enmeshed with other faiths. For example, celebrating 

A farandole of the sort often danced in France on Easter Sunday. Souleiado French Dance Group.

Easter with a spiral dance commemorating the King’s resurrection from the tomb, as it is the tradition in rural England and France. As a rule of thumb, whatever the powers-that-be see as quaint—but in reality make them deeply upset—that’s probably the right thing to do.

SIGN THE PLEDGE: Boycott pro-Trump corporations. Faithful America.

EngageForDemocracy offers curated trustworthy reporting, educational resources, and action campaigns to hold government accountable to the Constitution and democratic norms. 

Deep ecumenism is explored in several of Fox’s publications, including One River, Many Wells.

The overcoming of dualisms is discussed in several of Fox’s writings, but especially in A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice, pp. 79-87.

Fox quotes from A Spirituality Named Compassion, p. 117

Banner Image: The Inchnadamph Bone Caves, in the high limestone cliff walls of Creag nan Uamh, Scotland, where evidence indicates Paleolithic humans buried their dead. Wikimedia Commons

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 are you doing, or planning to do, that upsets the established order of patriarchal power-over?

Recommended Reading

One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths

Matthew Fox calls on all the world traditions for their wisdom and their inspiration in a work that is far more than a list of theological position papers but a new way to pray—to meditate in a global spiritual context on the wisdom all our traditions share. Fox chooses 18 themes that are foundational to any spirituality and demonstrates how all the world spiritual traditions offer wisdom about each.“Reading One River, Many Wells is like entering the rich silence of a masterfully directed retreat. As you read this text, you reflect, you pray, you embrace Divinity. Truly no words can fully express my respect and awe for this magnificent contribution to contemporary spirituality.” –Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit

A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice

In A Spirituality Named Compassion, Matthew Fox delivers a profound exploration of the meaning and practice of compassion. Establishing a spirituality for the future that promises personal, social, and global healing, Fox marries mysticism with social justice, leading the way toward a gentler and more ecological spirituality and an acceptance of our interdependence which is the substratum of all compassionate activity.
“Well worth our deepest consideration…Puts compassion into its proper focus after centuries of neglect.” –The Catholic Register

Matthew Fox comments on Pope Francis' legacy of environmentalism and support for migrants, amidst more controversial aspects of his papacy, KPFA Pacifica Evening News.

UPCOMING EVENTS

See Matthew Fox's full calendar HERE

Join Matthew Fox in a new 6-month program of mystical wisdom for a new world: Activate your spiritual awakening with the mystics Say “yes” to life & the beauty, goodness & potential it offers Awaken your inner mystic & prophet for deeper awakening Nurture the life-giving qualities of your humanity By Application only - apply HERE Register for a free information session HERE

Join Matthew Fox in a 6-Class Course: The Great Christian Mystics, exploring some of the richest and most inspiring mystic-prophets in the Christian lineage, including Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Mechtild of Magdeburg, Thomas Aquinas, and Meister Eckhart. Open-ended course includes six modules of pre-recorded lessons, live community discussions, and live conversations with Matthew Fox. Starts Thursday, May 8; 10% off discount code: FOX-10

Register HERE.

Join Matthew Fox as he discusses his book, Wrestling with the Prophets: Essays on Creation Spirituality and Everyday Life, in an online Our Lady of the Prairie Retreat.

Thursday, May 15, 4:00pm-5:30pm PT.

Register HERE.

MONTHLY: Join Matthew Fox 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  

Creation Spirituality Conversations

View this post, video, and more on our website

Daily Meditations with Matthew Fox is made possible through the generosity of donors.

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation. Thank you!

Inspired by this post? Share your insights on BlueSky, Instagram, Universeodon, or Facebook using the hashtag #RevDrMatthewFox and tag Matt with @RevDrMatthewFox

FOLLOW MATTHEW FOX:

Did you receive this email from a friend?
You can subscribe to our daily meditations via the opt-in box on the sidebar at DailyMeditationsWithMatthewFox.org