Visionary Journeying
This past weekend, due to the encouragement and generosity of Gail and Alec Wiggin, I made a pilgrimage to NYC for a conference on the life and teachings of Ibn al-‘Arabi and the Sufi Way of Compassion. It was an extraordinary conference held at historic Riverside Church and well attended. Ibn al-‘Arabi was a 12th century Muslim mystics, and one of Sufism’s greatest teachers. His work is voluminous and much of it is based upon the “Meccan Openings” (a visionary treatise of revelations made to him while in Mecca). Born in Spain, Ibn al-‘Arabi traveled East and made the rest of his life a spiritual and physical journey to the roots of his own deep seeing. His work and sight was the subject of this conference, and I hope to make postings on his life, work, and thought in the future.
In addition to the conference, we visited three separate exhibitions on display at various museums throughout the city, each carrying this underlying theme of visionary journeying. The first was the original works of William Blake on display in NY, clearly showing how a modern visionary sees the world as it is unfolding around us. Blake was one of the first of the modern visionaries who contemplated the fate of modernity and its aftermath through his etchings, drawings, poetry, and prose.
The second exhibit featured the recently discovered and published Red Book, of Carl Jung. Both the original and copies of it were on display and available for examination. What was striking was how Jung’s thought had evolved into visionary seeing concerning his own transformation as a human being and the ultimate transformation of humanity. His hand painted illustrations were compelling and beautiful and if you have not seen any, visit the Rubin Museum of NY’s website and see these powerful illuminations of Jung’s vision.
Finally, before the conference, we visited the NYU’s gallery to see a display of the iconic art of the Aboriginal peoples of western Australia. Again, these images from the dreaming past of these ancient peoples were an amazing manifestation of a men and women who made visionary journeying a part of their seeing and their “songlines” across the inner and outer landscape of the world.
I am reminded again of Yeshua’s words. Blessed are those who possess clarity of heart, for they shall see God.
In addition to the conference, we visited three separate exhibitions on display at various museums throughout the city, each carrying this underlying theme of visionary journeying. The first was the original works of William Blake on display in NY, clearly showing how a modern visionary sees the world as it is unfolding around us. Blake was one of the first of the modern visionaries who contemplated the fate of modernity and its aftermath through his etchings, drawings, poetry, and prose.
The second exhibit featured the recently discovered and published Red Book, of Carl Jung. Both the original and copies of it were on display and available for examination. What was striking was how Jung’s thought had evolved into visionary seeing concerning his own transformation as a human being and the ultimate transformation of humanity. His hand painted illustrations were compelling and beautiful and if you have not seen any, visit the Rubin Museum of NY’s website and see these powerful illuminations of Jung’s vision.
Finally, before the conference, we visited the NYU’s gallery to see a display of the iconic art of the Aboriginal peoples of western Australia. Again, these images from the dreaming past of these ancient peoples were an amazing manifestation of a men and women who made visionary journeying a part of their seeing and their “songlines” across the inner and outer landscape of the world.
I am reminded again of Yeshua’s words. Blessed are those who possess clarity of heart, for they shall see God.
posted by Lynn Bauman at 7:55 AM
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