Bohm called matter “a condensate riding on a sea of energy.” One could say consciousness and matter are different aspects of the same reality, one being a different phase of the other. The more closely we look at either, the more they evanesce. Under powerful microscopes, matter turns out to be every bit as inscrutable as consciousness itself. Alchemist's are intrigued with both phases, and try to learn about one by observing the other — learning through the hands.

The cushion-like form of these two wooden yoga blocks provide some extra grip. At the same time, it invites the onlooker be touched. The hand, and the 'eyes in the skin' is drawn to surfaces with an unusual or hand-crafted textures. Sculpture museums feature many a “Do not touch!” warning sign, with many as visitors resisting the urge to touch the work of art. There is something unique in the direct encounter of matter, by way of touch, that eye and mind can't offer in our incarnate existence.

The Art of Alchemy plays out between to extremes of “do not touch” and “do touch,” with regard to consciousness, energy and matter. By engrossing yourself in the Art in any way, it will touch you.

I took my Gur for a float...

Link to movie: http://e.pc.cd/l3py6alK

Music is from Vangelis, Monastery of La Rabida

From the Skies thou hath arised
in a mystery not yet disguised

From up above to down below
i shall shew thy place thou have glown

Thou camest as a breath
a fleeting whisper
of love's sweet heft

Although thou'rt lost thou shalt be found,
in the ceaseless dance where time's abound.

This picture was taken in a little lost village in Ligury last summer. The village hosts a medieval castle where, inside, one can find small habitations were people are still living, part of the castle is still accessible upon request and the purchase of a ticket, the little churches inside are very small, and one feels magically brought back to the magic of past times when life was slow and calm.

It is a Qabbalistic picture, and those who have travelled The Path will readily recognise many qabbalistic and alchemical elements, a road map to the Great Work. The Sun is up above representing the One Life, the Sacred Breath, our Aleph, the ox which symbolise the motive power in agriculture which is the basic form of civilisation, that is the impetus or action that Aleph represents, hence the Fool, in its descending Journey.

The Life force as it slowly descend into manifestation is converted into Air, which is invisible in the picture.

We then see the water near the wall of the castle which when at rest, develops our Gur, the Womb, the Earth. Hence the Castle, representing a time when you were Earth and manifested into the mineral form. Cycle after cycle and day after day, after a long maceration, a more evolved Soul came about and is here represented by the vegetable kingdom.

We can find a nice orange-red flower with a green stem which shows us that from our Green Lion, we finally arrive to our occult Blood, our Sulphur, which becomes more and more active, present and refined.

The Spirit or Primal energy by Concentration and careful direction, is carefully seeded into the Garden, whence it multiply (key 3) and comes to fruition, a completion of a cycle. This is done in accordance to Key 2 The High Priestess, where the various spiritual Laws are at play and which is up to us to know these laws, so that we may use them in our favour in our every day to day life and not be slaves to our fate. The garden is represented by the Empress Key 3 (Daleth/door). Here we see the result of Concentration Key 1 and perfect Recollection Key 2, 2+1=3 The Empress Key 3. The Empress represents Venus, Mother nature, Aphrodite, goddess of Love, Beauty, Growth, Fruitfulness. In Key 3, we can see a field of wheat, it is ready to harvest, 3, the completion of a cycle of growth. It is by planting selected seeds in our mind that we can harvest the good fruits of our Labour.

The Red Mars is above the Venusian green, this represents the Emperor and the Hebrew letter He (window), Key 4, the Emperor is the result of Key 1 + Key 3. Now we can start to “see” and to reason correctly. Things are now in ‘order’ for us to continue toward the end of the Great Work of transformation.

Next to the orange-flower, we have a dead flower, to remind us of the law of duality, of birth and death, of day and night, is always present. There are many other elements and connections between the picture and the Keys, worth of serious qabbalistic investigation.

In conclusion, this picture has many levels, both mundane and esoteric. A remind of the various laws that governs existence, a mnemonic device, a road map to the Great Work, a brief history of where we come from and to were we shall return... but more than anything else, a reminder of the beauty of Nature in all its forms and the importance of preserving what’s left.

יהוה

“That which was, is, and shall be”