NOM

I have always been fascinated with the mystical experience. I was reading Karen’s Armstrong’s A History of God when I was struck by the vast variety of such experiences, and in particular how much the divine experience in Western/Biblical traditions can differ from what is found in Eastern worldviews. Armstrong expressed this dichotomy like this: “The process of awakening or illumination was clearly very different from the wrenching, violent inspiration of prophecy.”

I thought it would be a fun challenge to try to capture the two extremes in clay. The prophet catching the full firehose of Yahwehic revelation was a lot more fun (and successful I think). The other is supposed to be a person looking inward with raised eyebrows at the "aha" moment of visionary enlightenment, but maybe just looks like a sleepy guy. These are works in progress and I don't know how well I am succeeding, but here ya go:

Those are great, Hagoth. This is far outside of my talents and I think you have captured a moment of inspiration for both of them.

Hagoth wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 09, 2020 3:22 pm

These are works in progress and I don't know how well I am succeeding, but here ya go:

You are succeeding.

I am overjoyed that there is no lighted pen associated with the "wrenching, violent inspiration of prophecy."

Noice!

That is some fine talent you'er not hiding under a bush!

The first guy looks like a zen guy in enlightenment, so I think you've captured that. And the second one definitely looks like he got hit with a firehose of knowledge/understanding/information.

I love your talent!

Random wrote: ↑

Thu Apr 09, 2020 8:15 pm

The first guy looks like a zen guy in enlightenment, so I think you've captured that. And the second one definitely looks like he got hit with a firehose of knowledge/understanding/information.

I love your talent!

Bible prophecies are full of monsters, demons, reanimating skeletons, Yahweh's buttocks, and all kinds of other horrors. Those stories still keep millions of people up at night. I assume they're really just literary metaphors, but I kind of like the idea that those guys were unwilling participants in a horror show that they couldn't switch off.

The first one is me when I realized that it's all made up.

The second one is also me when I realized that it's all made up.

For your next sculpture, how about a Caesar Marcus Aurelius? I was recently reading an article about this guy. Here's a clip from Gladiator where Marcus talks with Maximus about taking over as Caesar when he dies:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8MtObh-wDo

The CEOs of LDS Corporation just offer empty platitudes, quoting each other standing on the shoulders of real giants of the past, taking credit where it's not due. Original thoughts from great leaders like Marcus are the source of some incredible truths that require no gods or religious inversions hanging over or around them, distorting them to their own selfish purposes. During his reign, Caesar Marcus Aurelius often wrote his thoughts down in a journal. Here's a few gems:

"You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

“The needs of a happy life are very few.”

“You don’t have to turn this into something. It doesn’t have to upset you.”

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”

“Just that you do the right thing. The rest doesn’t matter.”

“Understand that your time has a limit set to it. Use it, then to advance your enlightenment; or it will be gone, and never in your power again.”

Freakin' love them!

Those are really GOOD man! I had no idea you sculpted. Keep showing us more of your stuff, I LOVE em!