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The Artist as Mystic

Posted Sat, 10/04/2008 - 17:28
12 Comments
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This post marks the first in a series I have planned addressing the need I believe our species and this planet has for creative people to evoke a spirit of sacred service within the arts. In doing so, I'll be exploring principles that many highly accomplished artists draw upon as they embrace their vital roles as prime functionaries of an emerging global mythos

Comments (12)
James_Baquet's picture
Posted by James Baquet on Saturday, October 4th, 2008
Hi, Manny. Great post; thanks. On a kind of tangent: I have always found "Uncle Joe's" fascination with the arts to be intriguing, especially since he never seems to have gone far as an "artist" himself. Certainly, his athletics and his college band were "toes in the water." And one could argue that there is a poetic element to all of his writings. But in terms of "real creativity," it seems he was a dilettante (a charge sometimes leveled at him by scholars, too!) Certainly he was CLOSE to many artists--especially Jean, and Angela Gregory. But did he (or how did he) give expression to his own muse? Only through writing? Would this qualify him as a "mystic with a craft"? Thoughts? peace, James
manny.otto's picture
Posted by Manny Otto on Sunday, October 5th, 2008
Hi, James! Thanks for raising these questions. I think the answer lies in how we define
manny.otto's picture
Posted by Manny Otto on Sunday, October 5th, 2008
...oh yes, and I would be totally negligent if I did not share Campbell's famous response to the question regarding whether he had a meditation or spiritual practice: "I underline sentences." So, yes, I definitely regard Campbell as a 'mystic with a craft.'
olivia's picture
Posted by Olivia Khalili on Monday, October 6th, 2008
Hi Manny, this promises to be an interesting journey. I look forward to other posts and techniques about tapping into my ultimate creative potential.
stuball56's picture
Posted by Stuart Berlin on Monday, October 6th, 2008
Dear Manny, I am on the same side as you. The next great leap in human evolution has to be cultural not biological. Essentially it is to reverse patriarchy and bring back an appreciation of the Divine Feminine and to change how women are treated on this planet. This is the subject of my book Everywoman a Goddess: Everyman a Hero in Her Service. http://stuartmarkberlin.com. I would love for you to read it and review it. My favorite Joseph Campbell quote is about the Hero who descends into the nether world and is torn to pieces and then reintegrates himself and returns to the world bearing boons for humanity. love and light, Stuart
Richard's picture
Posted by Richard Gerber on Monday, October 6th, 2008
Yes in deed. http://gaia.me has begun a Paradise Restoration Project.
Dave's picture
Posted by Dave Trager on Monday, October 6th, 2008
Looking forward to this!
Alsterberg's picture
Posted by Rebekah Alsterberg on Tuesday, October 7th, 2008
Delighted to read your thoughts. I also believe the artistic process and our service to it is in ways a rite of passage. We are born with many or all of the expressive arts of the senses, (the visual sense, tactile, movement, taste, hearing sound, vocalizing, smell, and more) Our health is dependent upon the expression and depth of the creative, expressive process, and the embodiment of the deeper mystery it evokes.
manny.otto's picture
Posted by Manny Otto on Wednesday, October 8th, 2008
Thanks for all the comments, folks : ) Stuart, I pm'd you back; I'm honored by your request! Richard, gaia.me looks like a great project; good luck with that. And, Rebekah, great point about artistic expression as a rite of passage; it very much ties into the idea of artistic expression as spiritual practice. Thanks again, =m=
Rod's picture
Posted by Rod Wunsch on Sunday, October 12th, 2008
I love the idea of the Artist as Mystic. A craftsman becomes an artist once the craftsman's abilities express more than function (or content) but the sublime as well (which is context), the realm of mystics. And we have had mystics who were artists too such as in the poetry of Rubia, Hafiz, St. John of the Cross, Rumi, Dogen, and many, many others. It seems that the exploration of humanity's function has been with us since the birth of consciousness. Art, Religion, Science all asking similar questions from different angles and arguing over perspectives and bias. Placing one's self in "context" to the whole makes for optimal functioning rather than identification of self-righteous "content." Context is mythic in nature and provides understanding for the content, right? Artist and Mystics remind us the Context and content and how they properly relate..........................................or so I think. Ha! Just working it out for myself folks...LOL! Bring it on Manny. Love One Another
manny.otto's picture
Posted by Manny Otto on Sunday, November 16th, 2008
I just came across a wonderful essay on the nature of the artist mystic by the fine art photographer, Courtney Milne: http://www.courtneymilne.com/html/seeing_with_new_eyes/mystic_within/ind.... The great artists do get this...
michaelgarfield's picture
Posted by Michael Garfield on Thursday, March 12th, 2009
Hot stuff, Manny. You know I'm already in the boat with you on this one...the fun and mysterious part is figuring out how my work is helping people, and the planet, and how I'm working WITH people, and the planet. A big part of the question is this: "By saving 'this place,' we save ourselves. Ecological conservation is personal salvation." More on that soon from you, I'm sure. love Michael Free songs, live painting gallery, and visionary music essays here: http://myspace.com/michaelgarfield "Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night."