Shamanism, Surrealism and the age of the Visionary
"It is the modern day "visionaries" who are at the fore front of an ever growing international movement of individuals that are waking up to better and more enlightened possibilities for humanity as opposed to the primitive cycle of wars and deceptions that only serve to dumb down the collective subconscious." — Myztico
Pictured above: guest blog author, J. Myztico Campo
This is a “Guest Blog” and when I invite someone to be a guest blogger at The Gravaton it’s because I hold that person in esteem as well as for the fact my gut tells me that the person in question is an all around “good egg” based on my own personal dealings with them.
Guest bloggers have free reign to write about whatever they wish without censor and all guest blogs are presented without endorsement or rebuke of any kind. Any input from me as editor has already been incorporated into the article with the authors consent.
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Coded in our DNA, prepared to be awakened crucial moments in human history, at crucial points on the individuals journey, always at the front of the collective and individual sub-conscious, the spark of artistic expression exists.
From the primitive cave art found throughout Europe to the high art of ancient Egypt (with it’s often sacred geometry) to the vast variety of consecrated art that the Sumerians, Mayans, Aztecs, Olmecs, Native American and a host of other extinct civilizations have left us, it is what the artists leave behind that serves as the true spiritual legacy (and often informs how we interpret the intellectual legacy) of our progenitor civilizations.
In many of humankinds previous civilizations, art was meant to help provide and celebrate the exalted state of being to the beholder, to generate contemplation and reverence of that which can not be named or explained. Much modern day art however has become for the most part, another consumable commodity. Eye candy hanging on shallow walls, meant to match the color of the furniture with no true purpose other than just to cover a bare wall.
Lets look beyond arts superficial visual impact on the beholder and trace it backwards to the source. Does it’s creation come from a place in the psyche? Is it just a figment of the imagination of the artist? Or perhaps, might some artists be receiving glimpses, impressions, into other worlds and a deeper wisdom that exists parallel to our own material reality not readily perceivable by our five cruder senses. Might some artists be attempting to convey via "impressions", via their own "imperfect" means, a message? Some artists might simply be shamanic conduits without any preconceived notion as to what their art represents, just mediums that allow creativity to flow through them. There’s no objective or correct way of analyzing where some of these creative impulsive transmissions come from; particularly after they’re filtered through the artist. Hence, ultimately, the eye of the beholder completes the circuit, gives meaning to the message transmitted from source, through artist, to audience.
The shamanic artist perceptions of the inter-dimensional world
The vistas, dreamtime terrains and “profound” visions that artists who engage in meditative and entheogenic journeys experience will always (in certain ways) be presented with a "surrealistic" point of view that to the un-initiated eye, may seem difficult to comprehend or appreciate… but these "visionary experiences" whether they are being “translated” onto canvas, sonically, in dance choreography or within literature or poetry, can help awaken the spirit within the mass (often) slumbering public consciousness, can shake off the cobwebs of a dormant once childlike, imaginatively hopeful spirit! They can be seen as an urgent wake up call; the essence of who’s message is that we are ALL part of the energy source that imbues our Earth and all it contains. that our true nature IS spirit energy, that we exist in **a matrix that is web of all consciousness and reality (**Ren’s note: here’s some hard science to back this up).
The work of the clichéd “tormented artist” who’s artistic expression extends beyond the ordinary realm of thought and form is, in an indirect way, comparable to the art, verse and dancing that shamanic journeying or Vision Quests produce amongst those in "primitive cultures" that engage in the practice. In fact some native cultures refer to their Shaman as "wounded healers". In modern western culture I believe there is a parallel relationship between the path taken by certain "tortured artists" and the "primitive" "wounded healers" that still practice today.
As some artists enter their psychic caves in search of otherworldly realms knowledge and / or creative inspiration and emerge with "visions" that are then "translated" via their chosen art forms into works they can share with others… they are bringing forward the messages (if you will) they’ve gleaned from their “journeying”. After these experiences are "filtered" through the individual artists perception gates… the expressive arc of any visionary surrealist spans the universal balance / struggle between the "light and dark" that is manifest at all levels of reality and within the artist themselves so… the end results can enlightening, inspiring, humorous or even dark and disturbing… all dependent as much on what the artist brought to the "journeying" and creative process as it is on what the beholder brings to the art at the moment of experiencing it.
The artist as a modern day “shaman” has value within the present social context because the collective sub-conscience is now under "surveillance" and control by an elite few that are afraid of our mass awakening as more information becomes accessible via a public mediums such as the internet, pod casts etc. As more people are re-discovering that careful sacramental (and or scientific) use of natural entheogenic substances and or ancient meditative practices can be a vital tool for bringing humanity closer to the "source"; the visionary surrealist "shaman" artists and their "sacred art" can help to provide "road maps", ideas and ideals to contemplate, even warning signs to help others avoid the "dangerous paths".
As artists retrieve imagery from their “vision quests” to present to a public forum, the work itself can help provide deeper insights as well as healing energies to the beholder. Since the arts speak in a universal language, the effect can break down international, linguistic and perceptive boundaries in ways that prose or speeches may find more difficult to communicate.
In today’s reality, a new work of art can be instantly uploaded online and be seen by hundreds if not thousands within a matter of a few days. This is the magic age of instant communication, a true turning point in human history, where the visionary can reflect back to society what the possibilities can be if we all take our moments to reflect upon our roles as spirits connected to far more then just our individual material selves.
Shamanism is perhaps the oldest spiritual ritual known to human kind and it’s recent resurgence into the public subconscious might have happened because many people, have become skeptical of organized religions, that have, as they became more organized, stripped away the true power of their message and have often served to block people from seeking communion with our divine creator in intuitive and natural ways.
The “Visionary Shamanic Artists” are here to proclaim it’s time: for a major change in perception… to consult with our spirit allies… to co-exist, in peace with our international family of brothers and sisters… to encounter our “power animals” and to allow their guidance to help us become more in tune with our mother planet and help nurture her instead of plundering her for short term gain… to achieve self empowerment and sustain a long term positive, actualized vision for life on a planet that will be inherited by future generations.
Although our 5 senses limit most of us to consider material existence as our only reality, the “artist (as) shaman”, is on a quest to delve deeper into the source of all creation. We take on a(n often) very lonely (and sometimes dangerous) journey of exploration. We do it (and we risk it) because we are compelled to and we give birth to our art both to understand as well as proclaim the "discoveries" we made on those other planes of existence. This is what I attempt to do when I paint inspired by imagery from my dreams or vision quests. Some of that imagery has punctuated this article and I hope it helped to illustrate what the article tried to put fourth in words.
for inviting me to be part of this evolving community.
J. Myztico Campo
Welcome To The Gravaton.
P.S. I’ve added a video to the comments section with a Russian directors take on the nature of art that some may find to be an interesting afterword to “Tico”’s Article ~ Ren
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November 11th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Hmmm they were always just pretty pictures or head music or Avant-guard art to me. But I have to say your article gave me some insight into the possibility that it actually could be more then that. I’m not convinced but I am more open about it so thanks.
November 11th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Well, overwhelm him with praise why don’t you LOL (nice to see your still checking in Founder… Write me a guest blog dammit!)
Seriously though, Lemme thank “Tico” for meeting me more then half way on making sure I could introduce him to the “mainstream” Gravaton audience.
He’s my lifelong “brother” and for better and for worse, we’re both very much responsible for how each of us turned out and how we navigate the world around us. It was a labor or love to bring a part of his world into the Gravaton Collective.
I encourage you all to visit his website where you can get a much more complete and more honestly visceral understanding of who he is and what he does.
Here’s a Russian Directors take on the nature of art that some may find and interesting addendum to “Tico”’s blog
Peace
Ren