Sacred Geometry and Consciousness

Sacred geometry involves sacred universal patterns used in the design of everything in our reality, most often seen in sacred architecture and sacred art. The basic belief is that geometry and mathematical ratios, harmonics and proportion are also found in music, light, cosmology. This value system is seen as widespread even in prehistory, a cultural universal of the human condition. It is considered foundational to building sacred structures such as temples, mosques, megaliths, monuments and churches; sacred spaces such as altars, temenoi and tabernacles; meeting places such as sacred groves, village greens and holy wells and the creation of religious art, iconography and using “divine” proportions. Alternatively, sacred geometry based arts may be ephemeral, such as visualization, sandpainting and medicine wheels.

Sacred geometry may be understood as a worldview of pattern recognition, a complex system of religious symbols and structures involving space, time and form. According to this view the basic patterns of existence are perceived as sacred. By connecting with these, a believer contemplates the Great Mysteries, and the Great Design. By studying the nature of these patterns, forms and relationships and their connections, insight may be gained into the mysteries – the laws and lore of the Universe.

Music

The discovery of the relationship of geometry and mathematics to music within the Classical Period is attributed to Pythagoras, who found that a string stopped halfway along its length produced an octave, while a ratio of 3/2 produced a fifth interval and 4/3 produced a fourth. Pythagoreans believed that this gave music powers of healing, as it could “harmonize” the out-of-balance body, and this belief has been revived in modern times. Hans Jenny, a physician who pioneered the study of geometric figures formed by wave interactions and named that study cymatics, is often cited in this context. However, Dr. Jenny did not make healing claims for his work.

Even though Hans Jenny did pioneer cymatics in modern times, the study of geometric relationships to wave interaction (sound) obviously has much older roots (Pythagoras). A work that shows ancient peoples understanding of sacred geometry can be found in Scotland. In the Rosslyn Chapel, Thomas J. Mitchell, and his son, my friend Stuart Mitchell, have has found what he calls “frozen music”. Apparently, there are 213 cubes with different symbols that are believed to have musical significance. After 27 years of study and research, Mitchell has found the correct pitches and tonality that matches each symbol on each cube, revealing harmonic and melodic progressions. He has fully discovered the “frozen music”, which he has named the Rosslyn Motet, and is set to have it performed in the chapel on May 18, 2007, and June 1, 2007.

Cosmology

At least as late as Johannes Kepler (1571-1630), a belief in the geometric underpinnings of the cosmos persisted among scientists. Kepler explored the ratios of the planetary orbits, at first in two dimensions (having spotted that the ratio of the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn approximate to the in-circle and out-circle of an equilateral triangle). When this did not give him a neat enough outcome, he tried using the Platonic solids. In fact, planetary orbits can be related using two-dimensional geometric figures, but the figures do not occur in a particularly neat order. Even in his own lifetime (with less accurate data than we now possess) Kepler could see that the fit of the Platonic solids was imperfect. However, other geometric configurations are possible.

Mandala Artwork by my good friend Marlis Ladurée

A Portrait With A Soul

Three passions have governed my life:
The longings for love, the search for knowledge,
And unbearable pity for the suffering of [humankind].

Love brings ecstasy and relieves loneliness.
In the union of love I have seen
In a mystic miniature the prefiguring vision
Of the heavens that saints and poets have imagined.

With equal passion I have sought knowledge.
I have wished to understand the hearts of [people].
I have wished to know why the stars shine.

Love and knowledge led upwards to the heavens,
But always pity brought me back to earth;
Cries of pain reverberated in my heart
Of children in famine, of victims tortured
And of old people left helpless.
I long to alleviate the evil, but I cannot,
And I too suffer.

This has been my life; I found it worth living.

Bertrand Russell

The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts

The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts.
Think only on those things that are in line with your principles
and can bear the light of day.
The content of your character is your choice.
Day by day, what you choose, what you think, and what you do is who you become.
Your integrity is your destiny … it is the light that guides your way.

~Heraclitus~

Soul Perspectives On Love

Are you willing to commit yourself to Love – the infinite presence of Spirit in your soul? If so, there are certain basic principles we need to understand about how we love.

In our mentally polarized cultures that are dominated by a male energy that emphasizes doing and producing, we often unconsciously feel that in order to love we must act in certain ways. While this yang aspect of love is important, the primary aspect of love is yin – i.e., receptive, magnetic. Love does not require doing anything. It is a way of being present. This means that without engaging our minds, we allow the soul within to attract the soul of others, enabling soul to soul contact to occur. This is in fact what love is.

Every human being has an infinite capacity for love. In fact, infinite love seeks to express itself unconditionally through every one of us in every thought, every emotion, every word and every act we perform. The essence of the Spiritual Soul within us is infinite love. It doesn’t care where that love is directed by us, for it tries to direct itself everywhere all the time.

Our personalities have personalized love that is essentially impersonal. We have sentimentalized and emotionalized love. Our limited nature directs it here and not there, now and not then. By doing this, we’ve made it an impulse of our desires rather than the force that takes us beyond our desires to the fulfillment of need.

We don’t have to personalize love but we do have to individualize it. It is through our individualized nature that infinite love can be expressed uniquely and responsibly. No one else in the world now or at any time can ever express love in the same way you can. Because love is infinite, there are an infinite number of facets to it, perspectives of it, energies radiating from it, forms it can take and pathways to it.

There is a drive within you to keep expressing love. This is really why you love – not because it feels good, or someone wants you to, or because you feel you should. The only reason you love is because you cannot not love. You would die. You know that when you are in some fear and you do not let love through, you do die a little in the form of some pain, illness, discomfort, sadness, anger, discontent or unhappiness.

Getting in touch with the love within you is the most important step you can take on your spiritual journey. It will also be your most rewarding. Being in touch with the love within allows you to be accepting, understanding of yourself and others, vulnerable when you need to be. It allows you to look at your shadow and heal yourself while being supported by the love of Spirit and the soul within. It allows you to be truly who you are.

Exercises:

1. Think of ways that you express love in a yang or male way and in a yin or female way. Is there balance in your way of expressing love? In what ways could you express love in a more balanced way?

2. What do you feel is your individual way of expressing love? How do you often show love to others?

To grow spiritually, we must expand our understanding of personality and soul, and we must experience new aspects of soul every day. Please revisit our Spiritual Blog and send it to a friend. It will deepen both your understanding and experience of the core elements of soul development.

The beautiful Artwork offered above is hand painted by my good friend of + 10 years, and fellow visionary,  Patrick Delorme

Patrick: Merci mon cher ami de l’âme et l’esprit! Grace est l’énergie requise pour produire des miracles. Et il est gratitude qui engendre la grâce. Soyez toujours reconnaissants pour toutes les bénédictions, si petite soit-elle.

Patrick was kind enough to paint my personal angels into a portrait last year and send it to me via airmail from France. THANK YOU with all my heart Patrick!

I will be unveiling the masterpiece for the fist time ever, in an upcoming post. Subscribe to our blog for daily updates!

The Artful Home

Art is much more than an object of extraordinary beauty. Once invited into your home, it becomes a story to share with others, an inspiration in itself, a part of life. Explore the avenues here to connect with other art lovers, and discover more ways to make yours an artful home.

Artful Home is the leading source of fine art, contemporary art glass, modern furniture, home accents, handcrafted jewelry and unique gift ideas. Discover over 12,000 works of North American artists original artwork, all made by hand and shipped direct from artists’ studios.

Accomplished, celebrated, and rigorously selected by industry experts, Artful Home artists are among today’s proven masters. All 12,000 items available through the Artful Home catalogs and website are handmade by Guild artists and shipped direct from their studios. Learn more about Artful Home artists.

The Aesthetic Movement

The Aesthetic Movement and Its Influence on Home Decor covers the history of a movement that emphasized “art for art’s sake”-and the influence it had on home decor. The Aesthetic Movement in America lasted just a few decades (1870-1900), and served mainly as a bridge between the high Victorian sensibility and the radical shift to the Arts & Crafts style.

The movement germinated among artists who used opulent color, decorative patterning, and lavish materials simply for the aesthetic effects they could evoke. It was commonly held that a home that expressed an artful, harmonious soul would instill high aesthetic and moral merit in its inhabitants.

The Aesthetic Movement in America helped to popularize the idea that everyone should be able to enjoy beautiful, well-made homes and furnishings-not just the very wealthy. Artful homes could be composed from brilliant antique store finds, discriminating department store purchases, and gems hand-made by the ladies of the house. It was the moment when people embraced the idea that only a beautiful home could be a happy home.

The Aesthetic movement left us a legacy of Queen Anne houses and tidy suburbs, and its influence is now felt as Americans embrace the more-is-more philosophy of home furnishings. [visit this site]

Also check out UncommonGoods

Recycled Glass Tree Globes

Beauty, elegance and heartfelt sentiment are at the root of artist Stephen Kitras’ latest collection of glass globes. Hand blown of 100% recycled glass, this series features Kitras’ signature ability to create a delicate interior trunk within the globe. Vibrant splashes of color add the finishing touch on these one-of-a-kind home accents. Handmade in Canada. Sold individually.

Tree of Family (far left)

Like the roots of a tree, family nourishes and encourages us to grow to limitless possibilities. The Tree of Family reminds us that no matter how far we branch out as individuals, our family is always there for support, for encouragement, and above all for love.

Tree of Peace (middle left)

The beauty and tranquility of nature in essence captures the meaning of peace. Like a tree growing in harmony with the forest that surrounds it, peace brings with it a message of tolerance, acceptance and compassion.

Tree of Joy (middle right)

Delight in vibrant mix of life’s simple pleasures. Like a tree bursting into life after a long winter, spread the joy you feel today with those around you. The Tree of Joy reminds us that performing small acts of kindness can help make the world a more joyful place.

Tree of Love (far right)

There is no greater gift in the world than the gift love. Like a tree, love grows stronger and more beautiful with time. The Tree of Love represents the countless blessings the love brings into our lives.

Learn more