The mood in America has certainly changed overnight from one of doom and gloom under the MAGA stranglehold to one of light and lightness, thanks to the recent election.
One person told me he feels a huge weight removed from his shoulders; another that she woke up happier and lighter and just felt better walking around and doing her work. Another–“there is so much cause for rejoicing. Our democracy is working again. Halleluia!”
The Guardian reported “tears of relief and cautious hope of an era of decency” now that transphobic ads and candidates associated with neo-Nazi and the peddling of racist tropes were roundly defeated. After years of outrage or numbness—fight or flight—being the main options for dealing with political news and the impacts of those in power, this kind of catharsis and joy feels like permission to be human and to be optimistic.*
Underdog success stories, including the first-ever senators of Native American lineage, the first black female governor of a state, the first Muslim senator, the first out gay man senator, the first Paralympic champion, shine a light on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.
In this milieu, it is exciting that Wednesday we celebrate my new book on St. John of the Cross, who was himself a fierce fighter for justice and renewal in a time of corruption in religion and society. The sixteenth century, which began with Luca Signorelli’s famous fresco of the Antichrist, extended to the efforts of Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, etc., to bring reformation to church and society.
That century was John’s as well, but the reformers’ efforts did not penetrate Spain, where the Inquisition held sway. Two Spanish reformers—Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, twenty-nine years her junior—teamed up and stood up to be counted.
John paid a tremendous price for his efforts. He was kidnapped, locked up in a tiny cell, and tortured daily by his own Carmelite brothers for nine months until he was very close to death. Against all odds, he accomplished a harrowing escape, partly thanks to the night being dark. The first person to see him, a Carmelite sister, reported he was nothing but skin and bones and couldn’t even talk.
After recovering somewhat, he wrote his most famous poem, the “Dark Night.” During his painful imprisonment, he composed his longest poem (and memorized it because he was deprived of paper and pencil), “The Canticle.” The poem is about his search for “the Beloved” (his favorite name for God). That poem, his imagination and creativity, kept him alive and believing in a better future.
There are so many lessons to learn from John in this time of what I call the “triple dark night” of Mother Earth being tortured today by climate change; of democracy grown impotent as well as being under attack by powerful oligarchic fascist forces; and the overall chaos and despair in our souls undergoing these trials.
Who better to call on than a mystic-prophet like John whose poetry shows us a way from deep darkness into the light?
Join us for a free one-hour event from 4-5 PT on Wednesday and spread the news! Mirabai Starr, who has translated John of the Cross and written two meaningful books on him, and who wrote the Foreword to my book, and Robert Holden, author of Shift Happens! How To Live an Inspired Life, will make appearances by video at this celebration. Click HERE to register.
My book demonstrates that reading John’s poetry through the lens of the Four Paths of Creation Spirituality grants us whole new insights into his wisdom and life choices. Reading him in light of our struggles to save the earth and reinvent humanity is a grace. He invites us to believe in the future—the kingdom/queendom of God, the “beloved community,” and work tirelessly to bring it about.
* Ankita Rao, “The most diverse, anti-establishment Congress in history is cause for optimism,” The Guardian, November 6, 2026.
Banner Image: Launch event promo for Matthew Fox’s new book The Beloved Will Guide You, with messages from Mirabai Starr and Robert Holden. Hosted by Rev. Cameron Trimble of Convergence Labs.
Queries for Contemplation
Are you now feeling permission to be human and optimistic? Do you feel America has passed at least partially through a dark night of soul and society and are deeper for it and ready to carry on a deeper commitment to the common good?
Related Readings by Matthew Fox
The Beloved Will Guide You: St. John of the Cross and the Triple Dark Night of Our Times
WHEE! We, wee All the Way Home: A Guide to Sensual Prophetic Spirituality
Christian Mystics: 365 Readings & Meditation
TRUMP AND THE MAGA MOVEMENT AS ANTICHRIST: Recognizing the Archetype of Evil in Our Time
The Tao of Thomas Aquinas: Fierce Wisdom for Hard Times
Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality
Creation Spirituality: Liberating Gifts for the Peoples of the Earth
A Spirituality Named Compassion: Uniting Mystical Awareness with Social Justice
Charles Burack, ed., Matthew Fox: Essential Writings on Creation Spirituality
Adam Bucko and Matthew Fox, Occupy Spirituality: A Radical Vision for a New Generation
2 thoughts on “Launch Party Wednesday Celebrating a New Valuing of John of the Cross!”
The last time I felt optimistic in the context of a US election was on Obama’s inauguration day. I am deeply relieved by the results of the November 3 elections, but not optimistic. My name is not Thomas, but I will only give myself permission to be optimistic when I see evidence that:
1) Earth Overshoot Day reverses its course without a COVID-like pandemic
https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Earth_Overshoot_Day_graph.svg
2) greenhouse gas emissions targets are met by the worse emitters and the GHG curve reverses its course
https://ourworldindata.org/greenhouse-gas-emissions
3) the International Committee of the Red Cross’s recent inventory of 130 armed conflicts around the world is proven to have been a historic maximum unlikely to ever be reached again
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MEoGP-GvjvI
Yesterday, November 9, was Thomas Berry’s Birthday, I believe he would have shared these 3 points of concern.
Optimism, especially in political matters, is too often an opium to be trusted; it is not required to “do the right thing.”
I prefer Eliot’s detachment:
“And do not think of the fruit of action.
Fare forward.
O voyagers, O seamen,
You who came to port, and you whose bodies
Will suffer the trial and judgement of the sea,
Or whatever event, this is your real destination.”
My favourite poetry and Mystic, Hafiz, his name for God was also ” The Beloved”. Looking forward to your new book.