The Arts have enjoyed elevation since the 1400s in Europe and often through the patronage of religious sponsors. This connection is a springboard to explore the Arts & Spirituality … and Knowing Thyself! The Arts have continued to flourish but something interesting has happened since the Scientific revolution emerged from the mid 1500s in Europe.
In Europe since these times, there has been a shift away from a highly superstitious & religious culture towards a fact-driven, science-orientated way of thinking where science began to trump ‘faith’. Today a once highly religious Europe has become more pragmatic, with a rise in atheism or agnosticism, and a strong focus on improving day to day material aspects of life. As the relevance of religion started to erode in Europe it seemed many people threw spirituality out too – like throwing the baby out with the bath water. With this downgrading of Spirituality versus the Sciences, the Arts have also been sidelined in favour of technology, business, the sciences and financial subjects. Today numbers of schools have done away with the Arts altogether or made this an ‘extracurricular’ activity. There is a connection between the Arts and Spirituality and the loss of prestige surrounding these two in today’s times. Click here for the current status quo of the Arts in UK schools.
It must be stated that Science is not the bad guy – in fact the progress in Science has led to massive leaps throughout the world in technology, engineering, medicine, industry and more, and the world has transformed in leaps and bounds especially since the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century. However, the science-heavy worldview has created an imbalance in our society: today we have huge challenges in mental health issues, and I would argue that the denegation of the Arts & Spirituality is connected to this! There is a lot of work being done by some broad minded scientists working to bring spirituality into the understanding of Science, but the Arts also need to be elevated to create balance in the world between Art and Science. See scientific thought leaders like Nassim Haramein for more.
One of the quotes attributed to Einstein is: “The intuitive mind <Art> is a sacred gift and the rational mind <Science> is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honours the servant and has forgotten the gift.” ( Comments in <> are personal interpretations.) Here is an article that talks about other major thought leaders connecting the use of the intuition as key in making scientific breakthroughs. In the teachings of the Tree of Life, creativity and the use of intuition are often connected as seen in the Sphere of Netzach, and without the Science and the Arts (and the intuition) working hand in glove, real breakthroughs are not possible! To clarify further, on the Tree of Life, the Sphere of Netzach is side by side with the Sphere of Hod, which is a Sphere of Science. These two work in a direct partnership with each other on the Tree of Life, so ancient wisdom clearly shows how these Science (the Mind) and The Arts (the Intuitive Mind) need to work in close co-operation with each other.
Image to the right: ‘Bunny’ by Mariki Schwiebus. It was the first artwork I purchased, just for the sheer appreciation of the brushstrokes, use of colour and one of my favourite subjects – bunnies. Having this in a space where I can see this image daily, brings me way more joy than the pricetag could rationalise. There is something about the Arts, that can move something within.
If we look at metaphysical teachings from the Mystery School: meta meaning the science above or beyond the physical we find some interesting data. (Physics in contradistinction is geared to understand the mechanics of this physical density.) The metaphysical teachings of the Mystery Schools hail from a Hermetic Lineage of over 8000 years old (tested and re-tested over the course of time) and according to metaphysics, the structure of humans is not only a body & the measurable energy field around humans (often referred to as the Aura). We also have a Spirit and a Soul! The Soul is a large structure (150m in diameter) and is a bridge between the infinite (yes, I said infinite) Spirit and the Body! The Soul connects the two.
Why is this relevant? The field of the mind is much larger than the brain and resides also in the Soul – the more we are connected to the Soul, the more our mind expands and the healthier our mind is! The many mental health issues and addictions that we deal with today are often rooted in the disconnect & neglect of the Soul & Spirit. To heal the mind, we need tools that connect us to the core of who we are, the fullness of us, and that leads to true fulfilment in life & true healing.
The Arts are one of the tools that sets the Soul on Fire. Have you ever experienced a music gig, an exhibition, a dance performance, a theatre production that totally inspired you? Have you ever been in a creative flow that you could not switch off? Did it make you feel totally alive? Was it the total opposite of being depressed, or any other negative mental state you have felt? (Click here for more information on a session that ignites this creative force within you.)
When your Soul is on Fire it can act as a better gateway between your Body and Spirit, and in the Spirit is contained all of the holy keys of who you are, and your secret keys to joy! When on the converse you are focussed on material goals, or even physical survival only, you are working only with the lower mind, operating in the realm of the physical body, in limitation with limited priorities and potential, and living a one-dimensional life!
After exploring the developments of AI in the form of Chat GPT and Midjourney, there are no doubt huge payoffs in using these tools to be more efficient & more productive! It is quite mind blowing what AI offers us! However there is something missing…
A computer does not have a Soul. The Soul is a very unique structure of humans, and when we are looking at an Art form that is produced by a human who was ‘on fire’, creating something inspired from their own Soul, it awakens something in another Soul. An artist is someone who has kept the channels to their Soul open, and can, through an Art form ignite the Soul, and when another person feels that fire through their Soul, it can light something inside of that person.
For many artists, the very act of creating IS a Spiritual act as the Arts ignite the Soul and give you a heightened access to the profound energy of the Spirit that is filled with wisdom and something greater that you can’t quite put your finger on.
The Soul itself is like a treasure trove of qualities of your holy keys, the special qualities that make you uniquely you! It has become a common teaching amongst relationship experts that the only way to have a successful relationship is to have a good relationship with your Self, and to do this we need to be connected to the Soul as it acts as a gateway to connect to your Spirit where the vastness of you exists. The Arts can inspire the Soul to open!
Image above right: Installation view of 3/12 images from the solo exhibition ‘Buried Alive’ in April 2002 by Julia Tiffin. Large scale photographs (1m x 1m) are accompanied by low lighting, bags of soil & pine needles and a warm, earthy pine smell. Conceptually Buried Alive draws from the metaphor of the seed. The seed germinates once it has been buried in the soil & once buried it carries the possibility of life anew. Here family memories embodied in an inherited family TV are buried showing the possibility of transforming genetic, inherited memories and belief systems. More information on Julia’s artwork is here.
It is also interesting to note that the Archangel in charge of both the Arts & Metaphysics is the same Archangel – Archangel Haniel! Whilst metaphysics holds all the tools, teachings and steps imaginable to access your multidimensional self, the Arts is something each of us can explore to connect with your inner expression to help you to connect with your Soul and light up your passion. In the Universal Kabbalah one of the places we can find the energy of the Arts is in Netzach, and there is a direct connection between letting go of the concepts, experiences, beliefs, energies that keep you attached and limited and how cutting these energies unlocks your creative flow. However it is important to note that there are 10 Spheres on the Tree of Life, so there are many other hidden concepts, tools and journeys to unlock more of who we are! The Arts are a piece of this.
As you contemplate how to bring the Arts more into your life, know that it is through both creating AND participating in the Arts as a viewer that lights us up! There are SO many ways to participate in the Arts & I invite you to have fun with dance I drawing I fashion I music I theatre I writing …. And much much more!
If you are looking for a way to unlock all of these connections, start with a Life Activation, followed by a Spirit Activation, to activate, Body, Soul AND Spirit between these two sessions! And if you are curious about the bridge between the visual arts and metaphysics, have a look at these courses From Violet to Red workshop series and Photography for Magicians.
About Julia Tiffin
Julia is a Modern Mystery School Speciality Teacher working globally to share ancient teachings to help you find your unique you & your navigational system within to live your most fulfilled life. She has trained since 2004 within the Modern Mystery School and specialises in the ancient arts of Healing & Sacred Geometry. She has a background as an international Fine Art photographer, exhibiting internationally and lecturing at tertiary institutions in South Africa.
Find out more: https://juliatiffin.com
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