Universal Symbols: The Sacred Circle

Before I begin this intro to the symbolism of the circle, I'd like to give a warm welcome to our new interns, Rachel Denney, who is contacting spiritual and cultural representatives, and researching sacred text, and Linda Gradert who is researching sacred symbols, beginning with the five basic symbols. Thank you for your hard work and dedication!

Throughout history and across cultures, there are five symbols- five basic shapes that are found in sacred art. While their specifics may vary from one tradition to the next, their basic meanings remain primarily the same cross-culturally.

The first of these is the sacred circle. In life, it appears as the sun, moon, and planets. Our own earth, representing and controlling seasons, natural cycles, the passage of time. A full rainbow symbolizes completion, the end of a tempest.

In western religious iconography, a cruciform halo is always used only to depict or adorn Christ, while the circular halo signifies angels, saints and other holy figures. The cruciform halo is a combination between the circle and cross- another universal symbol we will cover in a later blog.
In Eastern traditions the circle takes the form of the Dharma Wheel, and is the primary shape of the mandala, created in sand as a meditation by Buddhist monks.

The circle, in the form of an Ouroboro, or serpent devouring its own tale, was also an important symbol in alchemy, the precurser to modern chemistry. As the ouroboro, the circle represents the unity of all things, and the cycle of creation and destruction and recreation, and specific to alchemy, of chemical change. One thing becomes another, things change states but never truly go away.

The circle in the form of a ring has had a variety of similar meanings down through the ages, often worn as talismans for success or good fortune (as in the ancient Egyptians and Romans) or to ward off disease (as in parts of Europe during the middle ages).
The ring represents union and eternity, making the exchanging of rings a popular symbolic gesture in marriage ceremonies.

Sources:
http://www.math.dartmouth.edu/~matc/math5.geometry/unit9/unit9.html
http://whatisthepyramid.com/2009/09/07/ouroboros-that-which-devours-itself/

Song of the Sky

Thanks to all who made last Saturday's Song of the Sky benefit concert a big success! Thanks to our talented performers, guests and the power of nature.

Indeed, as we were setting out the snacks and wine and adding the final touches, a single clap of thunder boomed as though voicing the sky's approval.

This concert was the first major arts event in conjunction with the Skywheel Project. Concerns for the weather driving prospective guests back inside their own homes quickly melted as headlights rounded the bend, and people began arriving, umbrellas in hand. Certainly we couldn't deny that this was perfect weather for a spring concert featuring songs about the sky.

Once welcomed in and hustled out of the brisk evening air, our friends enjoyed conversation, hors d'oeuvres and glasses of wine, I was overjoyed to meet the faces of many people I'd known only by email, see others I hadn't seen in a while, and have so meny people from our different circles meeting under one roof, some of them for the first time. I also felt a rising sensation of nervousness and excitement for my own small roll singing backup for two of the songs.

This nervousness heightened as our guests filtered to their seats, rows of white chairs set up in what is normally the living room of the gorgeous wood beam house built by Kim's grandfather (the acoustics are absolutely incredible). But all of my excitement and jitters turned to a calm as the music began and I was reminded of how fortunate I am to be in such good company with these talented creative people.

Our Ensemble:

Carter Dewberry~ Cello, Vocals
Peter Sprague~ Guitar
Leland Means~ Bass
Kim Means~ Vocals
Jeanette McMahon~ Chimes
Steve Radosevich~ Vocals, Guitar
Rachel Hillberg (me)~ Vocals

The Set List Included:

Call to the Four Directions a Native American blessing sung by Kim Means
Miro by Carter Dewberry
Secret Code by Peter Sprague
Stormy Weather~ Arlen/Koehler
Blue Skies~ Irving Berlin
How High the Moon~ Hamilton/Lewis
Fly me to the Moon~ Bart Howard
The Heavens- Excerpt from Tehilim with Chimes by Jeanette McMahon with audience participation
Mundaka by Peter Sprague
Did you See?~ John Simon
Swing Low Sweet Chariot~ Wallis Willis
Satellite Rock~ Sammy Smith and the Rebelairs


Every once in a while throughout the concert, the rain would pick up and become another musical element, and we were literally hearing the Song of the Sky. It was truly magical.

Afterwards, while enjoying dessert and wonderful conversation, I was overwhelmed by an amazing sense of gratitude, and felt my spirits lifted by this experience. I'm struck by what an incredible gift community really is, grateful to play a helping role in the support of this project, and thoroughly happy to be surrounded by wonderful people who made this event so special.

Islamic Prayer

This is the first prayer I received back from a very gracious Imam Leader, named Sameh. I have always been interested in Islam as a religion because it has some very good ideas to follow. My name means Faith in Arabic, and I always wanted to get more information about the religion. When I got the following prayer in my inbox it made me realize that Islam is very much like any other religion out there. Please enjoy the following...
Iman Cassells Alleyne

Islamic Supplications

Written by Imam / Sameh Asal

Islamic Center of Raleigh

All praises and thanks are due to God, the Creator and Lord of all that exists, and peace and blessings be upon all His Messengers.

O God, You are the Creator of the heavens and earth and all that exists! You are the Lord of Majesty and Power and You have power over everything. Exalted and Glorified be You.

O God! You are peace and the ultimate peace comes from You alone; blessed are You, O Lord of Majesty and Honor. Guide us all to the Straight Path that pleases you and open our minds and eyes to the truth.

O God! Teach us what is beneficial for us, benefit us with what you have taught us and increase us in knowledge.

O Our Lord! You are the All-Merciful, Ever-Merciful shower us all with Your all-encompassing mercy and send us your blessings.

We ask you, our Lord, the Granter of security, to bless us and our families, friends, neighbors, communities and the whole worlds with everlasting peace and security.

O’ God! You are the Creator of heavens and earth and what is in them. You have created human beings male and female and made us nations and tribes so that we may know one another and live in harmony, and you told us that the best among us in Your Sight are the most pious.

"Maranatha" & The World Community for Christian Meditation

Laurence Freeman, a Benedictine monk and the director of the World Community for Christian Meditation, is strongly active in interfaith dialog and peace initiatives. He was also one of the inspired leaders and speakers at the 2009 Parliament of the World's Religions (pictured here with His Holiness the Dalai Lama).

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

Rabbi David Rosen Joins the Skywheel Project

The Skywheel Project is very honored to have the participation of Rabbi David Rosen as a representative of the Jewish faith. The Rabbi was on the International Advisory Committee at the 2009 Parliament of World's Religions, and is the International Director of Interreligious Affairs of the American Jewish Committee and president of the World Conference on Religion and Peace.

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)

A New Definition of Ritual

Ritual is an often misunderstood word that carries strong emotional connotations for most people. And, as the artwork we make as United Catalysts often intersects with the realm of ritual, I have contemplated the meaning of ritual for years.

Here is the Merriam Webster Dictionary definition of the term:

Ritual: noun

1 : the established form for a ceremony; specifically : the order of words prescribed for a religious ceremony


2 a : ritual observance; specifically : a system of rites b : a ceremonial act or action c : an act or series of acts regularly repeated in a set precise manner

People can easily relate to the last definition, which is essentially a synonym for a self-imposed habit (i.e. the morning coffee). But the other descriptions, which speak of ceremonies, observances, and rites, are more vague. To many, these definitions conjure up images of forced childhood church-goings or frighteningly bizarre acts of violence or sex.

The ceremonial definition of ritual is missing two important parts. First, it does not address the function of a ritual, which is transformation. Second, it gives no description of the mechanisms of ritual, which are symbolism, myth and metaphor.

From elaborate and public traditional wedding ceremonies, to private ceremonies for healing or purification, all rituals are designed to transform the participants. This transformation may be a social one, as in a change in status within a community (graduations, weddings, or rites of passage), or a purely personal one, aimed at the spiritual or psychological growth of an individual. Either way, transformation is the ultimate goal, and the specific type of transformation desired helps dictate the form and content of the ritual itself.

To accomplish this transformation, rituals employ the powerful mechanisms of symbolism, metaphor, and myth. In any ritual, participants go through a series of prescribed physical actions that are designed to serve as metaphors for internal actions. For example, in a marriage ritual, the bride and groom often pour sand into one container, drink wine from the same cup, or light one central candle from two individual ones. All of these actions serve as metaphors for merging two lives and destinies into one.  Many objects within rituals are symbolic; in this case the cup, candle or container of sand all symbolize the new union. These symbols are often dictated or informed by mythology, which refers to the set of spiritual or moral stories within a culture. 

Every culture on Earth has a their own combination of mythology, symbolism, and goals for transformation, so every culture’s rituals are uniquely different. Going further, every individual also has a unique perspective within their culture, and many of us create our own personal rituals, within or outside of our traditions.

The dictionary’s failure to describe the function and form of ritual in its definition is indicative of our society’s failure to understand and convey the value of ritual as a transformative tool. Many of Western society’s rituals are centuries old, and sometimes fail to move participants toward the transformations which they intend. In spite of this disconnect, they can still be powerfully moving.

My new definition of ritual is this: any set of physical symbolic actions that serve as a tool for internal transformation.

Demystifying ritual has enabled me to further appreciate the rituals of my upbringing, and encouraged me to continue to find my own personal rituals. In my work with Steve, this knowledge has strengthened our projects, which use metaphoric action to create new, contemporary rituals, and has ultimately led us to where we are now in the Skywheel Project.

This project, like a ritual, uses symbolism, metaphor, myth and physical action to evoke transformation. We hope the metaphor of a prayer wheel, containing the most sacred words from all spiritual traditions, orbiting the planet as a symbol of honor for all which is considered holy, will help encourage the transformation of our planet to one which is filled with respect, cooperation, and better understanding for all cultures and their beliefs.

Photo: Our first dialog with ritual, 9 years ago: The Purification Project

To learn more about this project, and other United Catalyst artwork, please visit: http://www.unitedcatalysts.net/

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