Down through the history of the church there has been a tension between mystics (or contemplatives) and the establishment. Church officials have often had the suspicion that the mystics were bending or breaking “the rules”. These mystics were usually not in the mainstream of church politics and protocols, and yet most have been able to stay in the good graces of the church. I’m thinking of folks like John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, and Julian of Norwich. These are heroes of mine. There have been some which the establishment has felt had gone too far and had condemned as heretics, such as Madam Guyon, Miguel de Molinos, and Margaret Porete. These are also heroes of mine.
In this piece, “Mystical Theology” I portray my stance of remaining within the fold of Christianity and yet exploring the boundaries of contemplative practice. At first glance it is a nice Celtic cross. Somewhat. The style of the cross is Celtic, but the knotwork breaks the rules of Celtic design. It breaks the rules yet stays within the borders.
And a rose at the centre of the cross? That breaks the rules of Celtic design. There should be a tight little knot in the centre. But here I have a white rose, which is a symbol of holiness. A white rose is associated with the Virgin Mary, and it is associated with saints. A red rose is romantic love; a white rose is spiritual love. And it is not a tame garden rose; it is a wild rose. A wild rose is not contained. The rose on this piece is not in a tight little Celtic circle but pushes beyond boundaries.
The background is an old shipping pallet. This is not a cross in a well-contained, proper holy space. This is not an establishment cross; it is a cross that is embedded in everyday life.
Therefore, I am a Christian, and I engage in Christian spiritual practices, but I question authority and push back when I feel that their rules obscure the love of Christ.
.: Material: 210gsm (9mil) premium paper stock with smooth satin finish
.: Please note: Each poster features a white 0.5cm border with a small barcode
Down through the history of the church there has been a tension between mystics (or contemplatives) and the establishment. Church officials have often had the suspicion that the mystics were bending or breaking “the rules”. These mystics were usually not in the mainstream of church politics and protocols, and yet most have been able to stay in the good graces of the church. I’m thinking of folks like John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Catherine of Siena, and Julian of Norwich. These are heroes of mine. There have been some which the establishment has felt had gone too far and had condemned as heretics, such as Madam Guyon, Miguel de Molinos, and Margaret Porete. These are also heroes of mine.
In this piece, “Mystical Theology” I portray my stance of remaining within the fold of Christianity and yet exploring the boundaries of contemplative practice. At first glance it is a nice Celtic cross. Somewhat. The style of the cross is Celtic, but the knotwork breaks the rules of Celtic design. It breaks the rules yet stays within the borders.
And a rose at the centre of the cross? That breaks the rules of Celtic design. There should be a tight little knot in the centre. But here I have a white rose, which is a symbol of holiness. A white rose is associated with the Virgin Mary, and it is associated with saints. A red rose is romantic love; a white rose is spiritual love. And it is not a tame garden rose; it is a wild rose. A wild rose is not contained. The rose on this piece is not in a tight little Celtic circle but pushes beyond boundaries.
The background is an old shipping pallet. This is not a cross in a well-contained, proper holy space. This is not an establishment cross; it is a cross that is embedded in everyday life.
Therefore, I am a Christian, and I engage in Christian spiritual practices, but I question authority and push back when I feel that their rules obscure the love of Christ.
.: Material: 210gsm (9mil) premium paper stock with smooth satin finish
.: Please note: Each poster features a white 0.5cm border with a small barcode
