Nepsis Foundation and Oracle of Xibalba: Cycle II & III

 

165-94b WHO TOLD YOU YOU WERE NAKED? (Detail)

165 [94] “Who Told You You Were Naked?”

Theopoeisis A New Innocence Oil on Canvas 12′ x 8′ 1996-99

When Adam and Eve are found hiding from God in the Garden of Eden, God replies to Adam’s complaint about being naked with the above query. “Who told you you were naked?” Before the Resurrection and after the creation of Adam and Eve, this question might be the most important moment described in the Bible. How do we lose our innocence, i.e. our natural relationship with the divine spirit… and everything else? This painting in combination with #93, #43, (and #84-88), comment upon the ‘answer’ to the problem of the Fall in Genesis–The Christos, or our christic identity—or as Panikkar would have it, a “New Innocence.” The old innocence is lost. It cannot be reclaimed by modernity. But there is the possibility of a “new” state that comes from the influence all the “wisdom traditions” of the past and the altruistic intentions of our own secular age. In relationship to the “New Innocence” is the ancient Church teaching about Theopoeisis, the Rhythm of God, or the movement of the divine spirit in creation. This refers to an early, predominant teaching, or spiritual method, in the Church concerning how such original innocence is rediscovered in one’s life. To live life according to the Rhythm of God, is to discover one’s true identity, and holiness as the completion of nature. The “horns of light”, yellow shapes around the central figure are a reference to mandala themes. See #84-88, or dissertation appendix. This painting is the seventh in a series of male nudes at first overtly sexual in the practice of sex magic—the most powerful and dangerous of magics.  (Does Magic work? Its world view?   It is safe to say that for the last 50,000 years, most people have believed in magic- Perhaps, still do.)  Working through issues of sexual identity, one comes to a NEW INNOCENCE, with sexuality a discreet mystery—even abstinent, perhaps chaste.  See also:  #s 48, 49. 71, 93, 93c, 158…

93_Ressurection Ascension Parusia 105. [93.] RELIGIOUS NUDES- Celibacy?

Nudity in Frost’s work indicates primal innocence–certainly of intention. Clothes after all are the result of the Fall in the Old Testament. But such a metaphor is limited. Most people look better clothed. Social order, and individuals, are benefited by physical disciplines. But which? Nepsis considers Tantric, Christian, Shamanistic attitudes about the body. Though respectful about real accomplishments in terms of human knowledge and practice, ultimately Fr. Frost feels that compassionate celibacy is, at least a most powerful, but certainly the kindest form of Sex Magic. It attempts the highest altruism and deepest ‘Yoga.’ See especially #[48]’s caption here.


CYCLE II creates an collection of the best Nepsis prose (fiction and non-fiction narratives, essays), poems, and paintings to suggest the sensibility of an oracle such as the I Ching or even Siwa- i.e. the world in which an Oracle operates. CYCLE III treats material that completes both Cycles I and II as well as LETTER TO A BISHOP and INDIAN WITCHES (How Dionysius Saved His Mother From Hell.)

BEFORE CHAPTER NINE OF CYCLE I IS AN ACCOUNT OF SERIOUS RESEARCH WHILE LIVING A SPIRITUAL TRADITION. WHAT FOLLOWS SPECULATES, EXPERIMENTS AND EXTRAPOLATES FROM THE PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE.

(It’s allegory, sorry- and there be monsters…)

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