Author Archives: storehaufovic

Christian mysticism

10 Monday Oct 2016

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 Studying mysticism and what sets true christianity apart again today. I love studying this stuff! I love studying all religions, but specifically their streams of people who claim to have embodied its essence-their mystics, which i will define as those who claim to have a direct experiential knowing of the essence of their faith tradition. Those who claim to have embodied the essence of their religion.
Some people don’t like the sound of mysticism, too esoteric or impractical, but if you look at it as those who are seeking the true essence or Source of your religion, and wanting to express and live it, it gets more interesting for study. To see it as the actual spirituality (the lived out-ness of it!) of your religion.
Mysticism becomes practical as a way of reading what is at the center of your faith or belief system. It’s a good way to look at and read, the fruit of your core beliefs. The Mystics in your tradition are one way, and perhaps the most overt ways, to do this.
  Broadly with mystics, you have theistic and non-theistic ones, depending how they map Reality or the Cosmos–the structure of the Universe. Those who believe that ultimate Reality is a Personal God, and those who see it more as an Energy or abstract Force. Depending on which you pick as your lens, your mysticism has a different aim! One is to merge or become other; while the theistic world view is more to come into intimate relationship with The Ultimate as a Person. One is about eclipse, the other transformational dialogue, in simple terms.
  That’s a broad distinction, but takes you at least into the basic Vedic style Cosmogony verses the monotheistic religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism).  Fascinating, plus mystics make the best art in each tradition. So what sets Christian mysticism apart? Today’s quest-ion.
Reading the great thinker Dallas Willard on the subject today! One of the few contemporary christian thinkers who have really addressed mysticism as an important subject, and potential renovator of the Church. I’ll paste the article once I get permission. He’s dead, so it may take a while.
   Nice distinction Willard is making here both between christian or theistic mysticism and other types; but also, within Christianity between nominal or social “christians” and those actually in a relationship with Jesus Christ. I studied comparative religion, and my thesis was on art coming from mystical traditions-comparisons and contrasts.
  There is something unique about true christianity-in content and expression. And you can read it through her true mystics. This is another reason to not throw out your mystics! They symbolize your faith. So others may read it, if they choose.
 And mystics, though the term is ambiguous, here is used as those in some form of actual experiential existential, metaphysical, relationship of union with Christ, not just some nebulous absolute otherness or sacred. We do not blend into as in the Vedic streams, but relate to; Christianity is a collaboration not a merging, but an intimate relationship. That’s even what sets its mysticism apart.
 Interesting reading Dallas Willard again, and nice to hear christians including the mystical in their discussions.
 Christianity does not claim to lead us into desolving or disappearing into the absolute, but rather a relational model. A friendship with the Divine. More like intimacy with God through Christ, rather than a conjoining, more a conversation than a channeling. That’s a major difference between it and other non-theistic forms of “mystical union”.
 Nice meditation today. I like his point here also, that it is usually other “christians” that have the most trouble with those who claim to have an actual living relationship with Jesus. Seems true historically, as many were killed as heretics.
 I think many don’t make that distinction within a single religion—hey, wait maybe some of them are actually following Jesus (in imperfect but at least partial union with His Actual Being!); whereas others may just be nominal christians, who actually don’t know (the Hebrew for to know is intimate even sexual knowing) Christ. I’ve found that to be true.
 I’ve met actual cleric or priest or ministers, who are not actually saved, or in active relationship with Jesus. Sad but true. That’s just cultural religion.
 So don’t knock the mystics, whatever your tradition, at least they are having an actual encounter with something higher than themselves! They are seeking to know intimately the Source of their faith or tradition. That’s a noble pursuit. Prayerfully, if they are Christians, and Reality is as it says in the Bible, that Something Higher is the SomeOne-Jesus. If so, you will see the fruits of His Spirit flowing from their lives! (Galatians 5–gentleness, patience…..Love etc)
A tree is known by its fruit. I know some are anti-mystical as they can see that some have over prioritized spiritual experience above objective truth, but we need The Holy Spirit to even interpret the bible. The Spirit and The Word are both needed. And we must to be real Christians have living and actual contact with Jesus. That’s very basic Christianity!
 It’s meant to be a living relationship with God—like a Father with kids. That’s clear throughout the Book. Some form of actual union has to be in there. In our case, more characterized as a relationship than a merging. He’s onto something here!
  Mystical union with what or Whom? As one of my professors asked me. Is the “All” a Person, or an abstract energy force. Christianity would say, the Absolute, actually is Jesus The Christ! That’s unique.
  If your confused about mysticism, I’d ask these questions: what is your Ultimate that you want to have union with? What is the way you practice that union? Is your Ultimate a relational model or a merging one? Who are you in that union? And of course, is your ultimate, The Ultimate-the true Most High (the actual “ground of Being”, Tillich).
   Christianity would suggest to you that The Ultimate is Jesus The Christ. The Logos, or Way. Who called Himself: The Truth, The Way, and The Life. That is the truth about how things are (what Reality actually is), the way to live it (the model for daily living-ie sacrificial love of God and others-his two big laws), and the energy to live that life in (the empowerment of your beliefs and ethics). What empowers your best ethical beliefs? He said, He does, through His Spirit. That was His personal claim.
  So if you pick the Christ way–that’s the offer, in terms of her mysticism or way of living it “in contact”.
 In uniting with Him in active relationship, your best ideals are able to be lived out practically. He should be all three if He really is, as St John claimed, the Logos of Way of God on earth and heaven. This ultimate sets true Christian mystics apart. I would suggest His way is the Way! The true Tao of how to live life. At least, that was His claim to the east west and everywhere and dimension in between! The sustainer and maintainer, The Lord over and ground of all being.

On the anniversary of Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl”

08 Saturday Oct 2016

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Got to meet Allen Ginsberg once when in college, and hear him read that very poem. In some ways it is anti-materialism rather than anti american song. Materialism is placing your value in what you have and how you appear to others. Ironically, it has very little to do with money or resources. I think he was on to something. We’re not cured yet. He was also a very powerful performer reader-a good artist that is. I certainly don’t agree with his entire analysis–but he nailed consumerism, and some of its root causes, and how it as an ultimate leads to insanity, if it becomes your god. And the poem had a genuine lament for America itself i think. It’s also sort of a Jeremiah lament–not entirely cynical, but wanting her to wake up. I also think it had that empathy for his generation of artist (even the sexual confusion which was really based in identity confusion), and for the night, or decline of Western culture itself (as the poem ended). My favorite berlin artist sees it as the “fall” of europe now; i think Ginsberg was lamenting the not yet but already night of America (which could be a potential “dark night of the soul” for her, a moment of transformation, if we pray!)–which had been europe’s hope. Not an easy poem to sit with–very Whitman like though. Very deep and disturbing poem really. And powerful. Interestingly enough, he was hopeful and had joy in person! Glad you are considering the songs of that generation. Helps contextualize what artist and thinkers are trying to express now.

The gift and burden of insight.

07 Friday Oct 2016

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The gift and burden of insight! (Confessions of a counselor)
I like getting insights into people. People are amazing. I’ve never met a person who didn’t amaze me on some level. And people are always more complex than you assume.
I studied, been in and done counseling for many years, but you never fully get perfect at how to use best the insights you get into people. I think I’ve gotten better at it, but it’s still always humbling to see into people.
I get insights into people often. Sometimes its good and helpful in loving them. Other times, its like the girl jogging in that scene from the film “Run Lola Run”, where she sees into every person she passes. Too much information, and you have to filter it, or let it go.
Plus, it requires relationship to help in healing. Often, I’ll see into people I don’t yet know. That’s a unique challenge.
 I suppose it’s learning how to steward discernment or insight. It’s meant to bless people, but some days, it’s more like an overload of information. Sometimes your eyes get seared by what you see, as in trauma situations. There is visual trauma as well. Seeing someone’s hurt or wound too quickly or all at once. This happened yesterday several times—like reading too much of other’s mail. I’m sure this happens to counselors all the time, and they have to release what they have seen. “Take it to the Cross” daily as they say. To the Cross often, is my version. “His burden is “light”—it is insight into how things really are, and He knows how much we can carry. And only He can carry that level of vision. Still He lets us see little parts of what He sees in order to get to know Him.”
 I’ll keep jogging and seeing though! I like people. And it’s worth it to gaze into hearts. Gazing well (in love) is underrated in healing! Even when afterwards, it feels a bit like having watched a horror movie. Other times, it’s lighter. Yesterday was working with a girl with panic attacks who has been recently traumatized, so it was more like horror movie feeling afterwards. Always amazed at how much suffering some can endure. Make me turn often to “The Man of Sorrows”, who is intimately acquainted with all our grief. That practice becomes part of your spirituality if you like to counsel people.
  Anyway, if you never saw that film, it’s still great. I think I’ll re-watch it tonight in fact—great soundtrack, shot mostly in Berlin, i think. She uses her gifts to save her man in the end. A redemptive healing story. But somedays discernment is harder to carry than others. You wish you could just turn it off. Still, i would rather see than be blind, when it comes to people and places. And love people rather than not care about them. This is the burden and gift of awareness i suppose. I’m just learning to run with it.

Simple Love

05 Wednesday Oct 2016

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Simple love: sorry to be so cheesy, or overly sentimental but sometimes love is simple. This girl touched my heart last night.
 Saw a girl last night who exuded such loneliness. Immediately, I asked her how was her night, and if she needed anything. Because I didn’t know her, i didn’t hug her, but she needed that type of care. A pure father hug. Sometimes people just need to be seen in their days. Noticed. To know their stories matter.
Lonely people usually mostly need a real father or mother hug (something which doesn’t take from, or need anything from, but gives to “from internal abundance”), a listening ear. or to be acknowledged by someone—a gift of purity and care.
 So many lonely people in our midst. Just wanting to be tuned into as people at the end of the day. Can we do at least this for one another! It’s basic to care about one another’s days.
 I think of Mother Teresa’s story of the fellow who had been isolated all his life because of disease, and at the end, got welcomed into their community, and said “for the first time I feel family. Now, I’m ok with dying.” People need to feel apart of something and cared for, seen—it’s basic and simple love.
  Lonely people make me want to be pure in loving others. To just be present for them, and caring. Less concerned with my needs, and more with theirs. Once we know we are loved in our own heart bones, it’s something we can give others. Once we know we belong and are beloved, fully accepted and seen, we can offer that simple, but essential, gift to others.
 I never struggled much with loneliness. I did with depression. But I know that many people globally feel lonely, isolated, cut off from care and community. We can do small daily things to prevent that. And it’s free. We invest only our presence, a bit of awareness, and some simple love. Simple love saves lives.
 As I moved on in my night, i could sense that this girl may be considering taking her own life. There’s absolutely no reason for that. Just holding a door for, and listening to someone can prevent it, on any given day. Trying to practice simple love each day, anyway.

04 Tuesday Oct 2016

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Art Responding: This is one of the ways I process life!
After reading books, i like to make art responses in a different medium, to see what I took in. It’s a way of letting art dialogue with art, but also for some reason, always helps me process what I read. What did I really get from this book or encounter.
This is a drawing I’m doing after reading again “New Seeds of Contemplation” (Thomas Merton) this week —fun to make art responses to books—you realize the tone of your reading. Tone is everything. Even hearing God, means we listen for the tone of love—that’s always where His voice is. Start there, and you start hearing. I like making art after reading, helps me process what I read. I tend to make art responses to almost all encounters, with people places of things. But I liked how this one had this more eastern feeling, as I was reading lots about prayer and contemplation—things releasing, things coming in and out of color, and seasons of life. A sense of mentor and disciple plants; sort of father or mother plants blowing life into younger but more colorful blooms. When to release, when to cover, when to be brilliant and obvious. Timing of seasons of life. The fleeting or transiency of life, and how that informs and make each day matter. What stage your at, and so, what you have to offer to the whole picture. Etcetera. That’s part of what I get from these sketches. Lots here to learn. Sometimes I learn the most afterwards. Fun way to process. Lots in there, as there was as a read. Plus, making little sketches is fun. I encourage you to make art about your days, or whatever you encounter. It always teaches me new things, I didn’t realize I’d learned.

Spirituality, Identity and Creativity short

03 Monday Oct 2016

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Assuming all three are a process of discovery and integration. Three basic areas, I’ve always been interested in integrating:
Spirituality: What is your Ultimate or higher in which you ground or interpret your life? (What in your center; what have you placed at the Core of your being; your upper story?)
Identity: who are you, and how do you go about finding out?
Creativity: how does your creativity express both who you are, and from who you really are? How does your art attach and flow from your center?
How do the three integrate around a proper Center, which allows a mutually blessed fluid or dynamic personality?

Authentic creative spirituality

03 Monday Oct 2016

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Centering on the right thing…
Authentic creative spirituality is what I’ve always been interested in modeling and developing in my own life. To be living from who I really am, centered in what really is, and expressing creatively from this Real center.
Everyone must choose what to put in their center. Jesus taught us to lose our sense of of our own self, in order to find our Real self; He also told us, He would reveal to us our names as we put Him at Our Center. And would then be Authored or authentic. I think Jesus answers all these basic human needs. We Center in Him, He tells us who we are, and ground us, and then enjoys as we express it outwardly.
Technically this looks like His Spirit with our spirits at the center of our true identity, then acting in collaboration outwardly in expression. That for me, has become authentic spirituality. And yields real fruit.
To have authentic expressions is a natural outcome of being with Him in my Heart of center, and letting Him sing the song of myself through and in me. Art is overflow in this sense. The basic spirituality is friendship with Jesus at my core. Then I am free to be and express. He is the sustainer of all being. He is truly at our center if we invite Him to be. When we do, we are revealed to ourselves and able to express creatively outwardly.
Who we are can only be revealed if we center in the right Center. Once in that place, the rest flows naturally. Christ in me, so my real self in me, able to create freely.
Just as all healing begins by admitting our need for help from something higher. So once, He is at our center—that initial surrender; our true names can start to be spoken and expressed. His Spirit speaks with our yielded spirit, and this conversation starts to rule over the rest of us–our soul and body. Spirit to spirit to soul and so on…
Then, we move outwards to express this inner ongoing conversation–that becomes the art of our lives.

Art Talk: Art, Identity and Spirituality

03 Monday Oct 2016

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ART TALK:
I’m doing a series of small articles on: Art, Identity and spirituality. My favorite three topics. How are they related? How they are One or integrated in God, and should be integrated in us!
 Our ability to creatively communicate or express is part of being human. And is meant to be attached to our core identity, which must be centered in something other than itself to function well. Preferably something or Someone Higher. This is why healing begins by admitting we need a higher power, or something bigger than ourselves as our ground of being.
 Core identity is governed by spirit under the influence of whatever you have placed at the center of your life-ie is centered on whatever is our Ultimate. Create expression will flow from that well. So whatever we place at the center of our lives will determine expression. This is one of my core ideas.
What we read, when we look at art:
Art is a symbolic expression of what is at your center (individually and collectively). Art shows us what people have at their core. Art reflects what is lodged at our core. Statues of ourselves, statues of dieties, statues of ideals art about art etc. We express what is at our core, and what is flowing out of it. What we symbolize from and therefore about, is whatever we place at the center of our lives. What is placed at the center of highest value in our lives- that is ultimately what art ends up flowing from. Our expression flows from our core. It can do so directly, or abstractly. It can do so through any medium.
 So, one way to study cultural history, or what makes a person tick, is to look at their art, to see what its core is like, or is made of. I studied comparative religious art in school—specifically art flowing from mystical traditions. It becomes clear, that people and cultures express individually and collectively from whatever is at their center. Their primary concern in life. Their ultimate.
Art reflects what’s at the true center of your life. What you have placed at the core of your being, determines and informs outer expression. So what is there is readable as expression.
 If you have the Torah at your center, then the Torah will flow out from there, as one Rabbi put it. Whatever you place at your core, will be expressed through your creativity—directly or indirectly. I like this thought. It helps in reading other cultures. Sort of symbolic mapping. And it’s a cool way to study art history.
There are times in religious history, where the symbol itself was controlled, or even cut off, detached from the core identity. But in a healthy situation, what you see expressed is flowing from what is there at the core of that person or culture.
 This is another reason art is valuable, it allows you to read beneath the surface into what is really there.
Of course creative expression also flows back in strengthening or decaying the core. You see this with the use of propaganda, or much advertising, or porn, which corrupts the core identity. But it’s meant to work the other way around. Center outwards towards symbolic expression.
Our Center, our inner Identity, the seat of self, is really where healing and governing of self take place. But we can access it through creativity. Which is one of the reasons art can be healing. It allows us to get at the core of self, and see what needs to be cleared and rooted there.
 Even in cities, the symbols we see flow from inner collective identity. Sometimes they are detached or ushering from wounds, but they are meant to be flowing from core identity, and whatever is lodged there. We create from who we are. It expresses us. Identity precedes art, but art is an extension of it. Healing begins in the center, and is determined by what is placed there by the will. Even the way people dress reveals their inner life.
 As I’ve said before, how a city dresses reveals her current state of Identity health. How healthy is yours. Can you read where she’s at, based on her symbols? What about in your own life. How well do your symbols reflect your inner life and what you have placed at the true core of your life.
 What is at your center, or who or what is there, and how is it expressing itself outwardly for others to read! In what ways do your creativity and identity need to be properly connected in collaboration? Is your spirituality informing both? If you have placed some form of spirituality at your center, how is it expressing itself? What symbols does your spirituality create through you? If your spirituality is Jesus, is He centered in you, and freely expressing Himself through your creativity? Does He make overtly religious art, or something more indirect? Since He works through our authentic identities, and actually teaches us who we are, and tells us who we are, do you feel free to just express from your true self, or do you feel like you have to overtly make it about Him? Just some questions towards integration.
Art is a way of expressing from core identity. Our identity is meant to be based in Christ, who is the Center of all things. If it is, our creativity flows authentically and uninterruptedly from that clear Center.
 Our art self, needs to be connected to our True Identity, then both our spiritual perception and expression will be integrated. We see as we are, we express from who we really are. We find out who we really are, by Centering in the right Center.
 Some basics:
 Spirituality: what do you ground yourself in? What is your upper story or Ultimate ground of being for yourself? What’s your higher?
Identity: who are you, and how do you find that out?
Creativity: how do you express authentically from who you are?
How do these three areas integrate into one fluid express of the poem you are?
We are as humans all three–we are spiritual, we have identity, and we are creative. So the three have to come into a tandem and mutually blessing relationship.
What are some ways we can practice that integrational process? My next article is on this topic.

Jeremiah and Paul-unique men of God

02 Sunday Oct 2016

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There are different types of leaders in scriptures. I’ve been looking at these unique two people, Jeremiah and St Paul, as examples for the type of leadership we need now.
 Jeremiah the authentic personally vulnerable priest prophet. The autobiographical one. The intimate with God’s Heart one. The emotional one. The transparent one. One who interprets by how they live. The outer court-near the people, and their concerns-one. The social prophet. Jeremiah is the type of prophetic leader we need today. The transparent prophet. The poetic prophet. The persecuted and still favored prophet. The prophet aware and sensitive to the nations, and their purposes in God’s plans.
 I think Jeremiah in the OT and St Paul in the New were the most transparent with their personal stories (they had anointed autobiographies!), and had two of the hardest spiritual assignments in scriptures. Their lives both became models as well. Part of their message was their actual life. They lived symbolically in this way!
 They were both very transparent about their inner lives as well. Both lived in moments of displacement, and migration, cultural shiftings, and had to become compasses for their times. Both were intimate with The Father. They had a father spirituality.
 Both, also displayed the feminine and the masculine in their actions. They could move from God’s father and mother hearts! The ability to both father and mother things is essential now. Unique men of God.
 Authentic prophetic people and teachers are what is most needed now, to communicate God’s Heart in expressive and unique ways. It’s one of those times again! Their type of spirituality is needed again especially in leadership.
 Fathery transparent, story telling, poet teachers aware of cultural shifts from a spiritual perspective–ie revealed knowledge, not just book knowledge. Revealed  and lived out theology goes farther historically. Encountered in direct relationship with God, knowing, lasts.
We need the subtle interpreters-poet teachers. The gifts of poetic language and story telling speak and directly enter into the hearts of many types of people. The medium, in this sense, becomes part of The Message.
  Those with this gift of contextualizing what we all see daily, and expressing it in a way which translates, imparts hope, and offers understanding. And we need honest interpreters willing to be transparent about their own brokenness-the blues in their own songs.
 Those who can culturally contextualize the times, be an expression of His Message into it,  and live out their message. Be the teaching. And be becoming it, out loud or publically! Living life out loud, so others can hear and see it! And judge for themselves, the veracity.
  If I had to pick types of leadership needed now, i might add St John to this list-the pastor, theologian and seer poet! Poetic story telling leaders are needed to express the complexity and nuances of what God wants to speak into our times. We need priestly artistic leaders like Jeremiah, or Daniel, the prophetic ruler, and another practical mystic, willing to be raw about it all, and tell the true story well.
 So, authentic, willing to be autobiographical (i.e., vulnerable), transparent and very intimate with The Father is what I would be looking for from leaders today. That’s what I’m learning from these guys, today anyway.
Leaders who are very transparent with their own struggles and stories, tell their own stories well, are emotionally open, and good expressers of the essence of things. And priestly leaders who can also see prophetically and are in touch with the outer courts of the temple-where social exchange occurs.
All three were also practical mystics, being given revelations, visions, dreams, and visitations, but downloading it through the heart of God into practical messages, people could understand. Paul even received a “revelation of the mystery of the gospel to the Gentiles”, for which we all are thankful. In short, they interacted directly with God, in a way which brought needed communication to the society around them. And they did so in a transparent with their own stories type of way.