Iman Cassells Alleyne
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Islamic Prayer
Iman Cassells Alleyne
Friday, July 9, 2010
"Maranatha" & The World Community for Christian Meditation
We recently emailed him to invite him to participate as a representative to Skywheel Project, and received an enthusiastic reply from his assistant Timothy Casey, and a prayer by Fr. John Main, who had been Laurence Freeman's spiritual teacher, and had established the first Christian Meditation Center in London. This prayer will be included in the Skywheel Satellite and will one day orbit the planet!
The prayer reads:
"Heavenly Father, open our hearts to the silent presence of the spirit of your Son. Lead us into that mysterious silence where your love is revealed to all who call. Maranatha*...Come, Lord Jesus." * Maranatha is an Aramaic phrase that means "Our Lord, come!" "Our Lord has come" or "Come, O Lord" and is believed to have been used as a greeting between early Christians. (wikipedia) Also, according to wikipedia: " 'Maranatha' is the prayer word recommended by the World Community for Christian Meditation, the community of followers of the teaching of John Main OSB's teachings on the practice of Christian meditation. The prayer is one where one places everything aside: instead of talking to God, one is just being with God, allowing God’s presence to fill one's heart, thus transforming one's inner being."
For more information on the World Community for Christian Meditation, visit their website here:
http://www.wccm.org
photo credit: http://sixthformstjames.wordpress.com/2010/01/27/dom-laurence-freeman-osb
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Rabbi David Rosen Joins the Skywheel Project
He has contributed Psalm 19 in both the Hebrew and English translations, saying, "The book of Psalms is the oldest and most extensive feature of traditional Jewish prayer. This particular psalm expresses a fundamental Jewish teaching that the Divine is encountered in the cosmos around us (and within us) and in ethical values/conduct."
Psalm 19 verse 2 asserts, "the Heavens recount the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork," (you can read the full text from Psalm 19 in English and Hebrew on our facebook page:http://www.facebook.com/notes/the-skywheel-project/sacred-text-submission-psalm-19/406293334029)
He also included a truly inspiring quote by philosopher Emmanual Kant, believing that he may have had this particular Psalm in mind when he said, "There are two things that fill my soul with holy reverence and ever-growing wonder- the spectacle of the starry sky that virtually annihilates us as physical beings, and the moral law that raises us to infinite dignity as intelligent agents."
(top right picture cred: Artist unknown)
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
A New Definition of Ritual
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
James Turrell -- Skyspace
The Skywheel Project is certainly an epic work of art-in-progress. For all of us devoted to its completion, it’s a mountain we climb as pilgrims, step by step. As we go along this long trail, we remember and are inspired by other artists and visionaries who are also making monumental works.
The work and dedication of James Turrell has been inspiring Steve and I for years, long before the Skywheel Project. His “skyspaces” are chambers of holy interaction between the Earth and the Sky. His minimalist manipulations of light and space create powerful spiritual sanctuaries where the elemental and the infinite can be expressed and contemplated – all without words or metaphor.
In contrast, within the Skywheel satellite, we seek to house a collective body of text that describes our planet’s attempts to put humanity’s contemplation of the sacred in writing. But, like Turrell, we hope to expose these beautiful verses, prayers, and devotions as metaphor, symbols of all the spiritual perspectives on Earth, all pointing to the same thing -- a direct experience of that which is greater than ourselves: the divine, which is always beyond words.
Turrell’s life work is a series of skyspaces contained in the Roden Crater, near Flagstaff, Arizona. He has been designing, carving and shaping this space for the last 35 years, creating one of the largest works of art in history. And he’ll get there, one step at a time.
So will we.
Read more about James Terrell’s work here:
http://www.arttimesjournal.com/art/reviews/Oct'06%20James%20Turrell/James%20Turrell%20Oct%20'06.htm
Saturday, February 27, 2010
This year's Parliament theme was "Hearing Each Other, Healing the Earth," with a strong focus on indigenous peoples. These are cultures whose voices have gone unheard of for so much of Western history, but remain closer than most of us to the Earth, while many of our "civilized" cultures have become far removed from the natural world.
Many sessions were held by indigenous spiritual leaders, whose cultures and peoples have been sorely mistreated by others, and in some cases, have had their traditions almost eradicated. Many of these peoples had restrictions imposed on them, making practicing their religions illegal. Indigenous leaders had a great deal to speak about at the Parliament, and at times emotions were high. After one session held by Aboriginal Elders, audience members were coming up front to shake hands and I heard more than one European-descent Australian say,"I'm sorry." Those are powerful transformative words.
Consistently, the aborigional elders talked of the present and future, and making things better now and for their grandchildren. They offered this advise not just as their own philosophy for moving forward after being wronged, but as advise to be taken by everyone, especially in regard to the care of the Earth, our home.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Deepening wisdom is a result of listening to nature.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Wisdom from the Parliament
Friday, February 5, 2010
Skywheel 2009, a Retrospective
It's been almost a year since United Catalysts began to work on the Skywheel Project. The year of 2009 was all about planning and brainstorming, meeting with rocket scientists, and people of various faiths and cultures including attending the Parliament of the World's Religions in Melbourne, Australia.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
A Warm Welcome
Welcome to the official blog for The Skywheel Project. Here, artists Kim Garrison, Steve Radosevich and I (the bloggy studio assistant), will be sharing with you our adventures with this incredibly exciting project. We'd like to invite you to be a part of our community and join us on this journey