Where is everyone?! :)

[Gary Hodges]

This has to be one of the quietest groups/blog/forum that I've ever belonged to. Which isn't a complaint, really. I just wish it was a bit more lively. That being said, I just discovered that there is a Twitter following for Thomas Moore.. here>> http://twitter.com/Jessop . Is everyone following that now, does this Ning stand on its own. I would like to keep up here :)

As an aside, two books of Thomas's, "The Soul's Religion", and "Writing In The Sand", stirred my long ago studies in Esoteric Christianity. Such as, Saint Seraphim of Sarov, Saint Francis of Assisi and other writings. Which reminded me that at a very young age, I encountered my first experience of a test of faith. Now, I will not say that Christianity is the ONLY way. As I'm a lover of all the teachings, and believe they have there own certain ways of expressing the divine.  My encounter was with a book by John Allegro, called "The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross: A Study of the Nature and Origins of Christianity within the Fertility Cults of the Ancient Near East". Which has purported, from the Dead Sea Scrolls, that Jesus formed a fertility cult. Well, in utter disbelief, but also in reaction to it, it had me question all that I had come to know or felt about spirituality. Nonetheless, it was a very sad experience at that time. I do not agree with the author to this day, but it really brings home how some authors can have a major affect on how we approach our lives.

Although, I would counter this by saying, that of all my studies throughout my life, none come close to the huge positive affect/reaction, that Thomas Moore's works has. Always, always, it comes back to caring for the soul. So, thank you Thomas for being who you are and for sharing your insights.

Moreover, I would like to ask this group something. The inspiration to further delve into early Christian writings, such as The Gospels of Thomas, Phillip, Mary, to name a few, brings up various questions. Like, how can any particular translation of something as important as say the Nag Hammadi, Dead Sea Scrolls, etc., be considered accurate? If we take English, as an example, and the translation of these important documents, should it not be a serious consideration to utilize Etymology in such a body of work. Furthermore, what about semantics in that its not the word, per se, but how its used and meant by the person who said it?

Now, I'm not a scholar, and at times find works written by scholars as dry and hard to follow. But, the soul of these Gnostic writings, for me, lies deep in the heart and evokes love.  Which I get that love is the core of Jesus's teachings. Let alone most all religions.

I think I read somewhere that Thomas is going to espouse on the Gnostic writings further. I am deeply looking forward to this, as he always seems to have a way of gleaning through the mishmash and pulling out the soul of things.

Here is a quote from them that comes to mind:

"For whatever is from itself is an empty life; it is self-made. Providence is foolish. Fate is an undiscerning thing." from Eugnostos the Blessed.

Anyway, please don't mind my ramblings, is anyone out here? :)

Gary

[Rita Abreu Costa]

Hi Gary! Hi Barque! :)
I would like to thank Gary for the references and Barque for the efforts, in order to find the article! I will e-mail the Southern Methodist University, and see what they can do about it. Then, I will tell you the answer. Thank you!

Gary, I appreciate to link the different aspects of art, like music with painting, music with some photos, etc... I will share, in the blog, a photo of the work I’m doing, so you can catch the idea.
I enjoyed doing my last work, with oil pastels. I joined a smell, mixing an essential oil in the medium. So, I was painting a scene in the countryside, and if I get close to the canvas, I could feel the perfume from a plant that can be found there. So “I was in that place”, seeing the image, and feeling the smell!
Well, it’s a bit crazy! But that’s the kind of memories/sensations that brings me back to childhood and the dream of being connected with the world (that places that touches your heart).
I loved your art work, especially some pictures from “A Dream” and from “The Theory of Nothing”. In this last album my favourite it’s the number 44 (with all that movement!), and the mudras – that I use in my Yoga classes!

[Barque]

Hi Rita,
Yes, please share a photo of your work.
I hope SMU co-operates with your request for the Hillman article.
Thank you for responding.

[Gary Hodges]

Rita!! I think thats so awesome with what you did on your painting, the essential oil. :) And, no its not crazy at all, unique though, I love it! Thanks for your comments on my album. This is/was a total immersive experience in a virtual world. There is/was actual movement in the blue parts that look like they are streaming in a still picture. As you walked it gave you the 'feeling' like you werent moving, that was intentional in that in Nothing, there would be no sense of time and space. You might have noticed my Hypercubes too, this is a avenue I'm currently pursuing in the hope of being able to impart what it 'feels' like to be in the 4th dimension, now that might seem crazy? :)

[Rita Abreu Costa]

Hi Gary!
Now, I look at the Hypercubes, and and it gaves a sense of depth. I like it! I was'nt aware of what can be done with virtual art. The sense of light, in contrast with shadow is, also, very powerful!
Yesterday, I didn´t tell you something, because I was searching for a link, and I didn't found it. It's about your work, based on your dream. When I saw the pictures of the album, it made me remember a passage from a book - it's the introduction of "Wind, Sand and Stars", from Saint-Éxupery. I didn´t find the text in English. Well, here is the link of the wikipedia, with the excerpt that I'm talking about, but in French: http://wikilivres.info/wiki/Terre_des_hommes
Hope you enjoy it!

[Gary Hodges]

Oh my gosh, Rita!! :) this is awesome, the book, I used Googles web page translator. The prose in it is no less than fantastic. Its funny, that you chose this as in a virtual world you can fly. The immersiveness of a virtual world pretty much allows you to do most anything you can imagine. The interesting aspect of Second Life, is that you can readily, in the moment, create content for it. The most impressive aspect I experienced when I first went there was a re-creation of Vincent Van Gogh's "Starry Nights" painting. This might not seem, at first thought, not all that impressive. But, what virtual worlds have brought to art is an ability to re-imagine famous paintings, and show aspects that cannot be seen in a 2D picture or painting. Of course this is an interpretation of sorts by the person creating it. But, the experience, of not just creating something like this, but viewing it (walking around inside it), is a "without words" experience. This type of art, which is new, is called Immersiva art. My first public art exhibition was a re-creation of Dali's "Crucifixion" which was inspired by this Starry Night creation in Second Life.

I hope I'm not digressing from this forums main focus. But, I've not in my entire lifetime ever experienced things that in our own real lives there just isn't either time for it, due to many various factors, or that are just not something available in our present circumstances. To the point, as a huge example is for the disabled people in our world. There are things that they will never, ever be able to do, but in a virtual world they can. Now, skepticism might arise here, and that I can understand. But, in a scientific sense, its an experience that activates what's called Mirror Neurons. So, even though your not actually IN or DOING what you are in a physical sense, you FEEL it, I would even assert the soulful quality of the experience is, in many ways, deeper than I have ever felt.

Anyway, see this video, and have some tissue with you. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vV1YbWBSXS8

And thanks for sharing this book... I love it!! :)

Oops I just noticed the editor you use here in this forum doesnt do Web links right. So, you have to just paste it and not use the Link function. :)

[Rita Abreu Costa]

Hi Gary!
Well, the forum also helps to improve my English - I had to go to the dictionary to see the meaning of “hitting the nail on the head”. Thank you for the compliment!
In fact, I must confess that I’ve never paid much attention to the virtual art. Nowadays, there are so many possibilities and so much information, that sometimes you have to choose. But, in fact, virtual art can be a very effective way to expand our imagination and sensibility. I think that Thomas Moore stresses the importance of imagination in our inner life, and also as a way of facing our problems in a more creative and multifaceted attitude. So, I understand your enthusiasm for the virtual world. The expression “key factor” is very clarifying. I noticed in your album “Castle of the Soul” the pictures called “Joy”, “Fire”, “Air”, etc. They are like keys to open the doors? I loved the “earth key”!

I read in the wikipedia this excerpt about the Augmented Reality: “Future Applications: Virtual plants, wallpapers, panoramic views, artwork, decorations, illumination etc., enhancing everyday life. For example, a virtual window could be displayed on a regular wall showing a live feed of a camera placed on the exterior of the building, thus allowing the user to effectually toggle a wall's transparency”.
It’ funny! The first idea that comes to my mind is that this new technology seems to give us the possibility to see the reality like when we are dreaming – all that images arriving, one after another, in front of our eyes. It’s difficult to explain.

I’m glad you enjoyed the music! Mafalda Veiga is one of my favorite singers. In my opinion, she has a special way to express feelings, and, in fact, the lyrics are very profound. I will try to “translate” the poem from Balancar, so you will “be” with all of it! :) I found a bit difficult to translate poems, but it will be, also, another way to improve the English.

[Gary Hodges]

Rita!!, Rita!!...Ritaaaa!! :) wow, you seem to amaze me at every turn!! lol, sorry I should be more universal in my language :) am glad you found my meaning. Yes, one might need to choose. I'm finding that im dabbling in most all the 'virtual' forms or art, or rather themes, as it were, not sure how to say it. Assuredly, it seems to take on a more soulful/spiritual bent. Anyway, the energy of an inspiration prompts and drives me very intensely at times. Sometimes, I just have to let it flow, like its not me. I have to say, never in all my life has my imagination been so "out there", in a manner of speaking. Ya know, the KEY part of my creation you see, wasn't planned either, one part, the circular part of the key hole is an entry, the other part of the key hole is a walking path.

Ahhh....augmented reality!!, dreaming, your sooo attuned, I can feel you lol. Even if I'm on the other side of the planet. This is what can be so great with technology, in some ways it separates us, physically, in others it brings us together in ways I never thought possible. I've managed, when I choose, to be able to control my dreams, do things as you mentioned. I have to be careful, especially when I want a dream to take its course naturally. I've seemed to manage that well, too.

Oh and I perfectly understand the translation issues, especially with poetry. Please, no need, but I do appreciate it. Its hard to translate a poem and still express a poems/poets intention. But, thank you anyway. :)

[Rita Abreu Costa]

Hi Gary! :)
I like the idea of not planning, and then, appears a key, joining two aspects – an entry and a walking path! Maybe the keys for our questions, longings and dreams join the entry with all the process to arrive there. When you find the key it’s because you done the way, you lived the process… Thanks!
You manage your dreams? Like managing a virtual world… It makes sense. I think I do it in a semi-unconscious way. Sometimes I think, during the dream: I wish to return to that place, to those images. And it works. However, many times, the dream is so overwhelming that I can’t do anything but “live it” and, then, when I wake up, I stay whit it, thinking how it was so mysterious and disturbing.

[Barque]

Thanks for the flickr links, Gary and for the background prose. I appreciate the dial-up version and will visit the other sets again -- too much to take in during one viewing. I like the mudras and the sense of motion in image no.44, too. I found some to be eerie (no. 5). Thank you for sharing the significance of the Venus-moon imagery when you may be thinking of last year at this time.

[Gary Hodges]

Barque, thanks for all your kind words. For the most part virtual worlds, or 3d content creations, the textures are often darkened, as the lighter the texture the less REAL it looks, for some odd reason? But on the same token, it seems to me more soulful, shadows, etc. :) Anyway..thanks

[Barque]

Hi Gary,
That makes sense: the darker the textures, the more real the world, whether virtual or not . . .
I meant to include that I liked your treatment of the tree bark.

[Rita Abreu Costa]

Hi Gary! I'm glad you enjoyed that excerpt!
Well, I love Van Gogh. I will never forget the day I read his life history.
And thank you so much for the link - I loved it! It's a completely different vision of the painting. It seems you enter, inside the reasoning of the painting, and, at the same time, you feel it's heart and soul.
I agree with your considerations of Immersiva Art.
If it helps your imagination to grow, well, why not pay attention to it?
Who knows, if starting with a virtual "vision", one could build something meaningful in the real world, step by step...
And about "The Starry Nights", today, when I was driving home, I listened, in the radio, a music from Mafalda Veiga, a portuguese singer. The music, called Balancar, ends with the following excerpt:

If what kills more is not seeing
what the night conceals,
not having
and not feelling
the burning wind
blowing in the heart

When we look at the Starry Nights, we know, for sure, that Vincent had that burning fire.