Neo, did you know that Lawren Harris, a companion of Emily Carr, from the Group of Seven, was a theosophist? I just read that today. That was in the 20s.
Being secular but spiritual in a landscape of wonder
- Thread starter Delightful Life
- Start date
Welcome to Wondercafe2!
A community where we discuss, share, and have some fun together. Join today and become a part of it!
Last Year's Chariot Festival, which is a Hindu Festival, but by the looks of it they're being serenaded by a quartet of Mariachis. 
That's BC!
http://www.chariotfestivalofindia.com/default.htm
That's BC!http://www.chariotfestivalofindia.com/default.htm
Hermann
Well-Known Member
Yes, and from this region we have Westernized Zen, the concept of co-evolution, Allan Watts, the hippy movement, and Timothy Leary. When Timothy Leary followers wanted to establish a commune in 1972, they went north, not east, and tried to establish one near Lumby BC on Shuswap River Road. Unfortunately, there was a lot of very vocal, local opposition to it, and the commune did nor materialize.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
And I think that spiritual, mystical side shows in his painting, too, esp. the later more abstract works.
....And so does Emily Carr's painting. Hers are almost psychedelic. He was obviously an influence on her style or vice versa.
I wonder what the impact would've been?Yes, and from this region we have Westernized Zen, the concept of co-evolution, Allan Watts, the hippy movement, and Timothy Leary. When Timothy Leary followers wanted to establish a commune in 1972, they went north, not east, and tried to establish one near Lumby BC on Shuswap River Road. Unfortunately, there was a lot of very vocal, local opposition to it, and the commune did nor materialize.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
I think it is one of the reasons Harris is my favorite of the Group of Seven. If I was going to drop big bucks to have a Group of Seven painting on my wall, it would be for a Harris. Perhaps this one:
And you are right about Carr. Her real strength is capturing the "spirit" of a scene rather than just a picture of it. In general, that is why I prefer painting to photography to some extent. Photography is great for capturing an image, but a painter can draw out the feeling, the emotion, the "spirit" of the place or moment in the image. Just look at the Mona Lisa vs. a simple portrait photo. There are, of course, painters who simply capture the image without reflecting that "spirit" and photographers who can capture something of the "spirit" but in general the former would not be painters I would care for and the latter would be extremely talented photographers.
Hermann
Well-Known Member
Tremendous! As you probably know, he was not a drug-crazed acid head, as some of the locals who opposed his commune thought, but advocated the taking of LSD as a spiritual sacrament, under strictly supervised conditions, as an aid to spiritual enlightenment.
My mom was a fan and for a short time worked in a gallery that showed some of her paintings - as a 'tour guide' - I guess. So I learned a lot then. Can't remember details but do know Emily Carr spent a lot of time with coastal First Nations' and that was highly influential to her work. She is the first BC artist that comes to mind if anyone asks.
You are a heck of an interesting senior, Hermann! I mean that in the best way. I love it!
Not that I am interested to try that...but I love your enthusiasm. How would that idea go over at church? 
Last edited:
Also...about Carr...there is so much depth and you feel the awesome, in the proper sense of the word, energy of nature - the power of the old growth forests especially. Looking at her paintings I can smell cedar! By memory anyway - but that's how powerful her work is.
Hermann
Well-Known Member
Yes!
I think it is one of the reasons Harris is my favorite of the Group of Seven. If I was going to drop big bucks to have a Group of Seven painting on my wall, it would be for a Harris. Perhaps this one:
And you are right about Carr. Her real strength is capturing the "spirit" of a scene rather than just a picture of it. In general, that is why I prefer painting to photography to some extent. Photography is great for capturing an image, but a painter can draw out the feeling, the emotion, the "spirit" of the place or moment in the image. Just look at the Mona Lisa vs. a simple portrait photo. There are, of course, painters who simply capture the image without reflecting that "spirit" and photographers who can capture something of the "spirit" but in general the former would not be painters I would care for and the latter would be extremely talented photographers.
In terms of forest...this, I thought captures the spirit of the forest...the enchanted forest feeling...a photo on a wallpaper site...but it's a good one. But I know what you mean. However, looking at photos of the Sea to Sky Highway...last night, took my breath away and does everytime I have gone down that highway.
http://www.hdlandscapewallpapers.com/landscape/vancouver-island-british-columbia-1331-x-888-653
What do you think?
And this is about 6 blocks from me:
http://www.hdlandscapewallpapers.co...bay-in-vancouver-british-columbia-canada-3065
Last edited:
Hermann
Well-Known Member
You are a heck of an interesting senior, Hermann! I mean that in the best way. I love it!
The Theological Faculty of University of Oxford, England, once did an experiment with students of theology. One group tried to achieve a mystical experience by conventional means, such as meditation, fasting, sensory depravation, etc., while the other group took LSD. The LSD group reported similar results, experiences, and insights as the conventional group.
A few years ago there was talk of the United Church undergoing union with the Anglican Church, but it fell flat. This may have something to do with their respective stance on mysticism. The overly intellectual and rational Untied Church takes a dim view of mysticism, whereas the Anglican Church is more catholic in that regard, and embraces mysticism.
I, personally, think that mysticism/intuition is the flipside of rational intelligence, and that the two complement each other.
One-sided emphasis on the rational intellect is, I think, a big mistake.
Intuition alone is holy but unintelligent; rationality alone is intelligent but unholy. The union between the two renders intelligence holy and intuition intelligent.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
UUs, as in so many other matters, are all over the map on mysticism. The more humanist and atheist folks dislike anything that smacks of it while UUs of a more New Age, pagan, or Eastern leaning can, and do, embrace it. I recall a more humanist UU complaining that the fellowship was becoming "too New Age" at one point (this was before I joined, and I knew him through my wife whose thesis supervisor was a UU). OTOH, I know Hamilton had for many years (not sure about now) a very active mindfulness meditation program.
I am in an odd space myself. I value mysticism but practicing meditation and such has never gone especially well for me. The closest I come to mystical experience is occasional moments of spiritual insight when I'm out in nature or appreciating creative or scientific insights.
I am in an odd space myself. I value mysticism but practicing meditation and such has never gone especially well for me. The closest I come to mystical experience is occasional moments of spiritual insight when I'm out in nature or appreciating creative or scientific insights.
Instead of coffee time it'd be the Mad Hatter Tea Party in the narthex!
I understand the effects of hallucinagens are similar...I didn't have a sheltered youth, but I would rather become good at meditation (which I am not)...because once you take the drug you have to wait for it to leave your system how ever long that takes. And I think that's more dangerous.
I understand the effects of hallucinagens are similar...I didn't have a sheltered youth, but I would rather become good at meditation (which I am not)...because once you take the drug you have to wait for it to leave your system how ever long that takes. And I think that's more dangerous.
Mendalla
Happy headbanging ape!!
- Pronouns
- He/Him/His
That has long been my attitude to any kind of recreational "high". If I can achieve the "high" and the insights through other means, why resort to pharmaceuticals (which includes, for me, alcohol and pot)? It seems to me that using drugs is a way of getting there faster (as happens with too many things in our impatient age) without learning from the experience of getting there (ie. it values the end more than the journey, another bugaboo of modern culture) and with the risk of serious damage to one in the long run. It's like those race cars whose engine burns out after every race, except in a human being, replacing the engine isn't so easy.