This newsletter is a publication of the Mystical Order of the White Rose, a multifaith devotional and spiritual support organization. We support and share information about mystical, monastic, contemplative and creative ways of living. We encourage prayer, the reading of sacred scripture(s), lectio divina, meditation, journaling, solitude, fasting, silence, kindness, hospitality, worship, simplicity, creativity, active involvement in spiritual and/or religious communities, and loving service to others. You can view past issues here and you can subscribe to it here .
Theme: Mystical and Visionary Art
Table of Contents
-- Thoughts on Post-Modern Mystical Art by Cynthia Kiteley Lee
-- Artist of Light: Mari Sue Baga
-- Poem: "Visions and Dreams" by Cynthia Kiteley Lee
-- Links of Interest
-- Daily Devotionals
Thoughts On Post Modern Mystical Art
by Cynthia Kiteley Lee
Digital animation now easily achieves and makes public images that, with the help of mescaline and LSD in the 60's were private and difficult to describe (except for psychedelic colors, now commonly described as neon).
Visionary and mystical art are still "stand alone" genres, but combining sequences of visionary art with music and animation is increasingly a multi-media post modern norm.
Baby boomers and their children and grandchildren are more visually sophisticated and demanding than previous generations. They have also been exposed to more mystical, magical, spiritual and mythical themes than earlier generations. Static images remain powerful, important and ubiquitous, but animated images have added a new dimension and new "genre" to visionary and mystical art.
Artistic creation does not copy God's creation, it continues
it. And just as the trace and the image of God
appear in His creatures, so the human stamp, sensitive
and spiritual, not only that of the hands,
but of the whole soul.
- Jacques Maritain
Artist of Light: Mari Sue Baga
Born in Montreal, Quebec, Mari Sue showed an interest in art at an early age. After moving to British Columbia at age twelve, she began private instruction with artist Charles Steggmann of West Vancouver. Eventually Mari Sue moved to Toronto where she attended the Ontario college of Art and the Three Schools of Art focusing on Portraiture, Life Drawing, and Costume Design.
While traveling through Europe and the Middle East, she became intrigued by the Renaissance and Impressionist artists, whose influence is reflected in her work. Mari Sue returned to British Columbia in the 1970’s and continued studying with artist Dave Preston at his Burnaby Art School, where she became an instructor.
Mari Sue’s Art Studio opened in 1982 in Surrey, British Columbia, where she taught oil painting to adults.She was commissioned to paint numerous portraits and various expressions of art over the years. Mari Sue's' work has been featured in galleries in British Columbia and Ontario, as well as local magazines, newspapers and television.
Artswest – the largest arts club in western Canada-- was originally created in 1985 for students of Mari Sue’s Art Studio. In 1986 Mari Sue was listed in Artists of British Columbia. Actively involved in the arts community, Mari Sue was a past member and chairperson for the Surrey Arts Council, served a year as administrator for the Surrey Cultural & Arts Festivals Association, and was appointed Visual Representative for the British Columbia Arts Board.
After taking a ten year sabbatical Mari Sue moved to the North Okanagan and is a new member of the Enderby Arts Council.
Essence Portraits
Mari Sue is now offering a new and unique service to her clients. She says: "You may now have your own original piece of art channeled specifically for you. This is called an Essence Portrait and it can assist you with your healing, and your path to ascension. The artwork will have specific intentions, positive affirmations and any special personal requests of a positive nature encoded into it. This can and will have an affect on all levels of your being."
The activation received from an Essence Portrait is intended to anchor a person's higher energies more deeply into their consciousness and to act as a catalyst for healing, giving them greater clarity for the path ahead. Each painting is accompanied by a full personal reading.
An Essence Portrait may take a few days to several weeks to complete. The cost of an Essence Portrait starts at $222; the final cost depending on the size and medium used. If clients want certain symbols or energies included and/or encoded in their portrait, Baga will work with them, but since the portrait is mostly channeled and can be created from a distance, the only information required is the client's birth name and date of birth and, ideally, a chance to talk with client. Please contact Mari Sue for more details. You can contact her by visiting her website: www.livinglightart.homestead.com The painting below is an Essence Portrait.
The Rosine Temple and the Sisterhood of the Rose
Mari Sue is also affiliated with the Rosaline Temple and the Sisterhood of the Rose and Friends , which also accepts Brothers. The comments below were written by various members of the Sister and Brotherhood of the White Rose.
The "Elixir of Love is the Essence of Purity, and its Source is the White Rose"
....... Rosaline Temple
"The Order of the White Rose, like white light, and sunlight, is made up of all colors combined, which means all Orders of the Rose. The White Rose signifies "purity" and "the Divine Feminine". It is connected to each of the many different Goddesses, including The Ein Soph (Sophia Shekinah) Isis, Mary, and Aphrodite, Venus, the Rainbow Goddess Iris, White Buffalo Woman, Quan Yin , and Mari Magdalene. We work with the crystalline energy of the grid and the opening of stargates.
"The symbols of our Order are the White Rose, the Dove, the Swan, the White Buffalso, and the Great White Eagle. Men can also belong to this Order.
"The Order of the White Rose is connected with the Angelic realm, and particularly the group of Angels or luminous beings known as The Hashmalim. They can sometimes be seen as Hebrew Flaming Letters that form part of the Ancient Jewish Mysticism known as Kabbala, which means "to receive" and especially The Zohar which is known as The Book of Splendour or Brightness." You can read the entire article by clicking here. It is one of the sections listed in the Sisterhood of the Rose and Friends website.
Below is another painting by Mari Sue.
Whatever your life's pursuit -- art, poetry, sculpture, music, whatever your occupation may be -- you can be as spiritual as clergy, always living a life of praise."
Multi-Faith, Multi-Media Daily Devotionals for March 2010
Each day we should expose ourselves to the inspiration of others. Thousands of saints and wise men and women have left us messages of hope and encouragement. Read what is honest. Read the scriptures and the commentaries. Read great literature and poetry. Read the psalms. Read that which expresses the anguish and the exhilaration of experience, and teaches us that we are not alone.
- John McQuiston II, p. 88, Always We Begin Again--The Benedictine Way of Living
These devotionals also serve as excellent "journaling prompts" for written reflections.
