The Salon de la Rose+Croix : the religion of art / Vivien Greene -- The reception of the Rose+Croix of a symptom of the réaction idéaliste / Jean-David Jumeau-Lafond -- Afterlife : The important and sometimes embarrassing links between occultism and the development of abstract art, ca. 1909/1913 / Ken E. Silver

A 20th anniversary edition of the art classic that celebrates the intersection of creative expression and spirituality—from one of the greatest living artists of our time Twenty years after the original publication of The Mission of Art, Alex Grey’s inspirational message affirming art’s power for personal catharsis and spiritual awakening is stronger than ever. In this special anniversary edition, Grey—visionary painter, spiritual leader, and best-selling author—combines his extensive knowledge of art history with his own experiences in creating art at the boundaries of consciousness. Grey examines the roles of conscience and intention in the creative process, including practical techniques and exercises useful in exploring the spiritual dimensions of art. Challenging and thought-provoking, The Mission of Art will be appreciated by everyone who has ever contemplated the deeper purpose of creative expression.

Pioneering work by the great modernist painter, considered by many to be the father of abstract art and a leader in the movement to free art from traditional bonds. 12 illustrations.

There is a growing awareness that we are doomed as a species and planet unless we have a radical shift in consciousness and the re-emergence of the Goddess is becoming the symbol and metaphor for this transformation. Feminine Mysticism in Art fills the void of Goddess imagery and wisdom in the West by providing images and writings by 70 contemporary visionary artists and writers (male and female) who have committed their life's work to the re-birth of the Divine Feminine in the West. Some of the visionary artists are: AfraShe Asungi, Yasmin Hernandez, Martina Hoffmann, Penny Slinger, Autumn Skye Morrison, Heather Taylor, Mark Henson, Abba Yahudah, David Joaquin, Andrew Annenberg, Paul Heussenstamm, etc. Some of the visionary writers are: Anne Baring, Margaret Starbird, Arisika Razak, Vicki Noble, Sandra Ingerman, Hank Wesselman, Llewellyn Vaughn Lee, Lotus Linton, and so many more. It is an epic co-creative effort by powerful voices in the Women's Spirituality movement, Inter-Spirituality movement, and Transcendental Art movement. The mission of the book is to not only document a genre of art referred to as feminine mysticism or Goddess art, but also to reveal powerful images of the Divine in his/her myriad forms. The ultimate mission of the book is to assist humanity in evolving our conceptualization of the Divine, transcending out of antagonistic, dualistic, and hierarchical gender associations and into a new mode of consciousness that is more inclusive of all of God's creation. In order for this to occur, however, it is essential that the sacred feminine be firmly rooted in human consciousness. Since the masculine side of God has been so heavily portrayed in Western culture, a large number of people are yearning for images of the Goddess in order to provide alternatives to the conventional dominance of men in religion and society. In contrast, the Goddesses show us that the female can also be symbolic of all the is creative and powerful in the universe as well as provide us with an orientation that can help us save the planet from ecological destruction. Feminine mysticism is a spiritual movement devoted to the re-enchantment of the feminine principle or feminine side of God. Feminine mysticism is a spiritual journey for women, as well as for men, which has been lost to many Westerners, but is beginning to resurface in various ways. In the past thirty years, scholars from various disciplines have documented the ancient cultures and religions of the Goddess and the ways in which they had been intentionally subjugated by the patriarchal religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Archeological and historical evidence all reveal that for thousands of years, matriarchal religions and patriarchal societies existed simultaneously, and that over time, matriarchal or "pagan" religions suffered under centuries of persecution and suppression by the patriarchal societies, which held male deities as supreme. As a result, the feminine side of God has been hidden from view, leading to a deconstructed perception of humanity and disrespect towards many attributes associated with the feminine. Although the reign of matriarchal societies is long gone, the time of union between the masculine and feminine principles are close at hand. The Goddess is revealing herself to the human psyche in an assortment of ways, from the arts to the sciences. Her re-emergence is crucial to our society's shift into a new paradigm, a symbiotic union between the masculine and feminine aspects within the human psyche, society, and the world of spirit. However, before this shift in consciousness can occur, the awakening of the Divine Mother needs to occur on a worldwide level, which is why is is crucial to get as many images of HER as possible into the public's view at this time. See book's website: www.mysticspiritart.com

The book examines the use of mystical imagery in the literary works of the 16th-century Spanish writers and mystics, Santa Teresa de Jesus and San Juan de la Cruz. In addition to the variety of sources on which they draw and the influence they exercise on later generations, what emerges in the study is a multivalent use of diverse images that is the mystics' means of grappling with the ineffable nature of mystical union."

From the visual and textual art of Anglo-Saxon England onwards, images held a surprising power in the Western Christian tradition. Not only did these artistic representations provide images through which to find God, they also held mystical potential, and likewise mystical writing, from the early medieval period onwards, is also filled with images of God that likewise refracts and reflects His glory. This collection of essays introduces the currents of thought and practice that underpin this artistic engagement with Western Christian mysticism, and explores the continued link between art and theology. The book features contributions from an international panel of leading academics, and is divided into four sections. The first section offers theoretical and philosophical considerations of mystical aesthetics and the interplay between mysticism and art. The final three sections investigate this interplay between the arts and mysticism from three key vantage points. The purpose of the volume is to explore this rarely considered yet crucial interface between art and mysticism. It is therefore an important and illuminating collection of scholarship that will appeal to scholars of theology and Christian mysticism as much as those who study literature, the arts and art history.

Paperback edition of the Winner of three 2005 Catholic Press Association Books Awards! Design and Production First Place. As the Mother of God, Mary surpasses all other humans and yet is united with all who are to be saved. Here you will find a magnificent and inspiring collection of colorful images, meditations, and prayers about and for Mary, both painted and written.Many of McGraths paintings in this collection are the result of his loving fascination with Black Madonnas, which have inspired pilgrims, saints, and sin-sick souls for centuries. Combined with Richard Fragomenis poetic and candid prayers, these images of Mary speak directly to all people who struggle to find meaning and joy in a world filled with crisis, divisiveness, and insecurity. They speak, too, to the artistic, creative soul in all of us, which longs to see things in new and challenging ways while holding on to the history and traditions of our Catholic heritage.