Speaking of the seventh chakra is to speak about light and community and allies. Let me say that I am impressed by the community building up around these daily meditations in the Comments section where much wisdom is being shared. Kudos to all those so engaged. And welcome to all who care to link up also.
I am also impressed by the community of OSE, the Order of the Sacred Earth, as well. We meet the last Tuesday of each month by zoom for an hour, 4-5pm Pacific time. You are welcome to join us. What unites us is the common vow that members take, “to be the best lover of Mother Earth and the best defender of Mother Earth that I can be.”
Today’s crises and today’s dark night of our species surely is inviting us to new forms of communities, new ways of being allies to one another and finding new allies. It is necessary in hard times to keep the spark burning, a spark that Eckhart says “never goes out” but that can become covered up at times.
Eckhart ’s use of “spark of the soul” is a core teaching in his theology. He says:
There is something in the soul in which God is bare and the masters say this is nameless and has no name of its own. It is, and yet has no being of its own, for it is neither this nor that, nor here nor there. …For in this the soul stakes its whole life and being, and from this it sucks its life and being.
The spark of the soul is where the “now” of time encounters the “eternal now” of eternity. Eckhart says: “Take away the now of time, and you are everywhere and you have the whole of time.”
At times, Eckhart identifies the “spark of the soul” with the Holy Spirit. Sometimes he calls it the “maternity bed” where God is born. And sometimes, an “uncreated something” that links what is created in us to what is uncreated, what links God the Creator to the Godhead, which is deeper, more hidden and darker than all of creation. It links being and doing, inaction and action.
This is how the angels perceive who “perceive in a light that is beyond time and is eternal. They therefore perceive in the eternal Now.”
Eckhart recognizes that the highest part of the soul dwells in community and close companions with angels in angelic nature. Angelic nature is not in contact with time, nor is the spirit which is… free from time.
Adapted from Matthew Fox, Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior for Our Times, pp. 189-193.
See also Matthew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake, The Physics of Angels: Exploring the Realm Where Science & Spirit Meet
To read the transcript of Matthew Fox’s video teaching, click HERE.
Banner Image: A visual jockey’s conception of an angel, projected during a Cosmic Mass.
Queries for Contemplation
Are you seeking and finding allies or communities at this difficult time to support you? Is the spark of your soul becoming well lit? Might it be that angels too are inviting us to be “close companions” also?
Recommended Reading
Meister Eckhart: A Mystic-Warrior For Our Time
While Matthew Fox recognizes that Meister Eckhart has influenced thinkers throughout history, he also wants to introduce Eckhart to today’s activists addressing contemporary crises. Toward that end, Fox creates dialogues between Eckhart and Carl Jung, Thich Nhat Hanh, Rabbi Heschel, Black Elk, Karl Marx, Rumi, Adrienne Rich, Dorothee Soelle, David Korten, Anita Roddick, Lily Yeh, M.C. Richards, and many others.
“Matthew Fox is perhaps the greatest writer on Meister Eckhart that has ever existed. (He) has successfully bridged a gap between Eckhart as a shamanistic personality and Eckhart as a post-modern mentor to the Inter-faith movement, to reveal just how cosmic Eckhart really is, and how remarkably relevant to today’s religious crisis! ” — Steven Herrmann, Author of Spiritual Democracy: The Wisdom of Early American Visionaries for the Journey Forward
The Physics of Angels: Exploring the Realm Where Science & Spirit Meet
By Matthew Fox and Rupert Sheldrake
When was the last time a scientist and a theologian discussed angels together? What are angels? Many people believe in angels, but few can define these enigmatic spirits. Now visionary theologian Matthew Fox and acclaimed biologist Rupert Sheldrake—pioneers in modern religious thinking and scientific theory—launch a groundbreaking exploration into the ancient concept of the angel and restore dignity, meaning, and joy to our time-honored belief in these heavenly beings.
10 thoughts on “Community and Sparks of the Soul, continued”
Matthew, Today our Queries for Contemplation are: “Are you seeking and finding allies or communities at this difficult time to support you?” First of all, thank you for “tipping your hat” to our Comment Community.” We have our regulars as well as those who stop in from time to time. I also remember when we began Creation Spirituality Communities. A few of us, who had envisioned this, even met in your office to share our plan with you. And my CSC has been meeting now for over thirty years, studying the mystics, various spiritual paths, world religions, and philosophies. Last month we studied women philosophers, and this month we are studying religions that took root in America such as Reform Judaism in America and the Buddhist Churches of America.
“Is the spark of your soul becoming well lit?” Yes, especially in light of Meister Eckhart’s quote above which is: “There is something in the soul in which God is bare and the masters say this is nameless and has no name of its own. It is, and yet has no being of its own, for it is neither this nor that, nor here nor there. …For in this the soul stakes its whole life and being, and from this it sucks its life and being.”
“Might it be that angels too are inviting us to be ‘close companions’ also?” Well, it just might be. And I just want to plug your book: THE PHYSICS OF ANGELS–it is such a creative approach to the subject of angels !!!
What I find really intriguing within today’s DM, is the statement by Eckhart that “God is the mystery of the depth of darkness.” Not often do we hear of God spoken of in this way… but rather we mainly hear God defined as Light, within many religions and spiritual paths. Yet, as I ponder more of Eckhart’s metaphoric words he associates with “God being the mystery of the depth of darkness… the maternity bed, birthing the uncreated likeness… of all that is eternal… now”… the more I sense that somehow our souls are enveloped in the mystery of the depth and darkness of the eternal womb… that our souls are sparked with the light of the Holy Spirit of God’s uncreated likeness… as we begin to take on substance, shape and form within the wombs of our earthly mother’s. The essence and presence of the Holy Spirit overshadows us all… the embryonic life giving waters of our earthly mother’s womb… is our souls’ BAPTISM… in which our souls are mysteriously sparked by the touch of the Divine of all that is eternal… the uncreated likeness… seeded and sealed within our humanness… fragile, vulnerable… in need of nurturing, loving, compassionate and merciful care… slowly unfolding, evolving and emerging daily… here and now.
Beautiful meditation Matthew on the mystical concepts of “Spark of the Soul” and the “Eternal Now.” Our unique divine “Sparks of the Soul” within our hearts unite us and All Creation, both visible/physical and invisible/spiritual, in Loving Oneness in eternal ongoing co-Creation~Evolution with-in God’s Spirit of Divine Love~Wisdom~Creativity… Cosmic Christ Consciousness….
🔥❤️🙏
This is deep stuff, Matthew: “There is something in the soul in which God is bare and the masters say this is nameless and has no name of its own. It is, and yet has no being of its own, for it is neither this nor that, nor here nor there. …For in this the soul stakes its whole life and being, and from this it sucks its life and being.” (Eckhart) I hope you will continue exploring these ideas in our daily meditations. Focusing on prophetic action (the prophet being the mystic in action) is important. Of course. And I can easily see that many readers here use unique God-given gifts to act as much-needed prophets in our world. As best I can, I do as writer, playwright, and activist. Currently, what I need (perhaps others do) are the deeper underpinnings you are presenting today–understanding of the ineffable, quiet, internal, apophatic mystic that will carry me when things look as entrenchably dark as they do on our planet right now. I need the wisdom to grasp the numinous things that carried Julian of Norwich and Meister Eckhart and John of the Cross in times that were surely as dark as ours. Your continued help in that vein is much desired. May we all achieve such rich understanding so that in times like these we do not faint in despair.
Michelle, I too, echo your sentiments and your request of Mathew… to delve deeper into the wisdom of the numinous things that carried the mystics and prophets… learning from those whom gained a rich understanding of the mystery of the deep darkness… without falling into despair. Thank you for your resonating words today. Jeanette
I second your ideas. I also would like some suggestions for actual practices as well as the deeper underpinnings to help keep me from not fainting in despair–so often, I feel actually strangled and have trouble breathing when I hear or see the latest outrage from the despot who is the FL governor, not to mention what goes on in the nation and in the world. Honestly, my spark is flickering, because we all also have our own sorrows and sufferings. Here is a practice that helps me a bit https://gratefulness.org/light-a-candle/, and there are many other resources at their website. Communities are absolutely vital, and this one is great.
Energy and matter… the light and the darkness… are two manifestations… different expressions and experiences… of the same Mystery.
As I understand it, darkness is but a light so brilliant it blinds us and we only see darkness. With wisdom we realize that all darkness is the source of all light.
Barbara, From a different perspective, white is the absence of color, while balk is all of the colors combined…
That’s lovely, Barbara.