Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Alchemy of a Found Object


Alchemy of a Found Object - triptych (details) - 2009, DS
(click to enlarge)


"Jung held that in human life we possess two sources of Gnosis, or salvific knowledge. One of these is Lumen Dei, the light proceeding from the unmanifest Godhead, the other is Lumen Naturae, the light hidden in matter and the forces of nature. While the Divine Light may be discerned and appreciated in revelation and in the mystery of the Incarnation, the Light of Nature needs to be released through alchemy before it can become fully operative. God redeems humanity, but nature needs to be redeemed by human alchemists, who are able to induce the process of transformation which alone is capable of liberating the light imprisoned in physical creation."

Stephan A. Hoeller - excerpt from: "C. G. Jung and the Alchemical Renewal" - Gnosis Magazine,1988



"Alchemy of a Found Object" (above) is the result of a "happy accident"... but, then again, "accidents" are an important part of the Transfigurative process. Accidents and synchronicity seem to be the modus operandi of the psyche... a type of subliminal, alchemical process that unites ones inner and outer worlds. Consciously, of course, we choose to plan our agendas rationally with conventional goals in mind. Unconsciously, however, the tables are turned, so to speak, and the psyche must unfold its own mysterious agenda.

An excellent online Alchemical reference can be found here.




4 comments:

  1. Looks like alchemy to me -- transforming light into a transfigurative meme.

    As for the triptych, the object appears to be transdimensional -- being the same object viewed from differing dimensions - much like any 4th (or higher) order structure.

    Wonderful work.

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  2. Thanks, my friend.

    Re:transdimensional - good point!

    The thought just occurred to me that it's also like looking at the same object with altered states of consciousness...
    Question: do trans-dimensions and altered states of consciousness have something in common?

    P.S. And - though I don't know if this happens on all computers - isn't it annoying that "spell-check" keeps underlining transdimensional and transfigurative as if they were typos? ;-)

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  3. Hmmmm....odd, thought I'd answered this.

    "Question: do trans-dimensions and altered states of consciousness have something in common?"

    Well....that brings to mind DMT users and the 'elves' they see. Some claim these are other-dimensional entities. Just tossing that into the stewpot without any providence as to the validity of the source. ;)

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  4. Yes, DMT is making the rounds lately, but the subject has been approached by other people regarding different drugs as well... as far back as Aldous Huxley. Did you ever read Carlos Castenada? The peyote trips he describes had almost a regimented system, if I remember correctly, with a monster-like Guardian at the gates of the unconscious.

    I haven't tripped in years and years, and even then I never hallucinated... but there was always the sense that certain veils were being lifted and, yes, a glimpse of the transdimensional nature of reality was being revealed.

    Re: Peyote monsters... Perhaps not so unusual... Perhaps we're all somewhat wired to fear that vast unknown vista of the unconscious mind and what "secrets" it might hold, in the same way we're wired to fear death.

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