Sacred Fire - Roerich

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Sacred Fire: Sacred Fire: Panentheism in Nicholas Panentheism in Nicholas Roerich’s Art and Roerich’s Art and Philosophy Philosophy Sasha Chaitow Sasha Chaitow BA Comm, MA Eng.Lit. BA Comm, MA Eng.Lit. MA Western Esotericism MA Western Esotericism

Transcript of Sacred Fire - Roerich

Page 1: Sacred Fire - Roerich

Sacred Fire: Sacred Fire: Panentheism in Nicholas Panentheism in Nicholas

Roerich’s Art and Roerich’s Art and PhilosophyPhilosophy

Sasha ChaitowSasha ChaitowBA Comm, MA Eng.Lit.BA Comm, MA Eng.Lit.

MA Western EsotericismMA Western Esotericism

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Act I:Act I: A Kiss of the Earth A Kiss of the Earth The Augurs of Spring The Augurs of Spring Ritual of Abduction Ritual of Abduction

Spring RoundsSpring RoundsRitual of the Two Rival Tribes Ritual of the Two Rival Tribes

Procession of the Oldest and Wisest One [the Procession of the Oldest and Wisest One [the Sage] Sage]

The Kiss of the Earth The Kiss of the Earth The Dance Overcoming the EarthThe Dance Overcoming the Earth

Act II:Act II: The Exalted Sacrifice The Exalted SacrificeMystic Circle of the Young Girls Mystic Circle of the Young Girls

The Naming and Honoring of the Chosen One The Naming and Honoring of the Chosen One Evocation of the Ancestors OR Ancestral Spirits Evocation of the Ancestors OR Ancestral Spirits

(Ritual Action of the Ancestors (Ritual Action of the Ancestors Sacrificial Dance (The Chosen One) Sacrificial Dance (The Chosen One)

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Joffrey Ballet Joffrey Ballet reconstruction reconstruction of the original of the original

choreography for choreography for ““Rite of Spring”Rite of Spring”

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Pantheism:Pantheism: God God isis the (living) universe the (living) universe and and is inis in the universe. God can affect the the universe. God can affect the

universe, but not vice versa.universe, but not vice versa.

Panentheism:Panentheism: the whole is more than a the whole is more than a sum of its parts: all is within God – but has sum of its parts: all is within God – but has

its own identity , purpose, and willits own identity , purpose, and will, and , and can effect change.can effect change.

- Reflects Hermetic axiom “As above, so - Reflects Hermetic axiom “As above, so below”below”

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The Perennial Philosophy:The Perennial Philosophy: “Divine Truth is “Divine Truth is one, timeless, and universal. The different one, timeless, and universal. The different

religions are but different languages expressing religions are but different languages expressing that one Truth.” that one Truth.”

William StoddartWilliam Stoddart

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““The universe [is] the self-development of a primal, non-rational force that The universe [is] the self-development of a primal, non-rational force that can only be grasped by the intuitive powers of men of imaginative genius.”can only be grasped by the intuitive powers of men of imaginative genius.”

Isaiah BerlinIsaiah Berlin

[The damage caused by the inherent duality of the universe] “was first [The damage caused by the inherent duality of the universe] “was first noted by poets and artists, noted by poets and artists, and in this way poetry and art or sculpting may have been invented.” and in this way poetry and art or sculpting may have been invented.”

““this striving after the primal inner aspiration of an Ideal […] should be the this striving after the primal inner aspiration of an Ideal […] should be the focus for all outwardly effective creations of poetry and art of man.”focus for all outwardly effective creations of poetry and art of man.”

Franz Xavier von BaaderFranz Xavier von Baader

The poet is: The poet is: “the recipient and transmitter of revelation and a divine “the recipient and transmitter of revelation and a divine universal language” universal language” ““a priest who will lead humanity to its eschatological fulfillment by a priest who will lead humanity to its eschatological fulfillment by relinking the world here below and divine transcendence.” relinking the world here below and divine transcendence.”

“ “Poetry is the intuitive faculty of penetrating the essence of beings Poetry is the intuitive faculty of penetrating the essence of beings and things.”and things.”

Antoine Fabre d’Olivet, Antoine Fabre d’Olivet, La langue hebraïque restituée, La langue hebraïque restituée, (1815-1816)(1815-1816)F. Schlegel, Novalis, F. Schlegel, Novalis, Athenaeum Athenaeum (1798-1800) (1798-1800) Pierre-Simon Ballanche, Pierre-Simon Ballanche, Vision d’Hébal Vision d’Hébal (1831)(1831)

- - OrphéeOrphée (1829) (1829)

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LifeLife thunders - be watchfulthunders - be watchfulDanger! The soul hearkens to its warningDanger! The soul hearkens to its warning

The world is in turmoil - strive for salvationThe world is in turmoil - strive for salvationIn creation realise the happiness of life,In creation realise the happiness of life,

and unto the desert turn thine eyeand unto the desert turn thine eyeTry to unfold the power of insightTry to unfold the power of insight

That you may perceive the future unity of mankindThat you may perceive the future unity of mankindWe possess the power to create and destroy obstaclesWe possess the power to create and destroy obstacles

Thought is lightningThought is lightningThe spirit in revolt shatters the bolts of the prisonThe spirit in revolt shatters the bolts of the prison

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If a common myth haunts the minds of poets and initiates, it is the If a common myth haunts the minds of poets and initiates, it is the myth of Prometheus: the man who wins divine powers and achieves myth of Prometheus: the man who wins divine powers and achieves his own salvation, and the salvation of the entire universe, through his own salvation, and the salvation of the entire universe, through his own efforts.his own efforts.

Albert Beguin – Robert G. CohnAlbert Beguin – Robert G. Cohn

Above all, poiein (Above all, poiein (ποιείν), ποιείν), means to create.means to create.Antoine FaivreAntoine Faivre

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Sacred Fire: Panentheism in Sacred Fire: Panentheism in Nicholas Roerich’s Art and Nicholas Roerich’s Art and

PhilosophyPhilosophy

Sasha ChaitowSasha ChaitowBA Comm, MA Eng.Lit.BA Comm, MA Eng.Lit.

MA Western EsotericismMA Western Esotericism

[email protected]@yahoo.comwww.sashanonserviat.netwww.sashanonserviat.net