Ponderlust: Art and Soul: February 2014

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Universal Expression ~ The Flower of Life

One of the most fascinating visuals I have ever laid eyes on, is the Flower of Life. This geometrical design is a visual representation of creation itself. If you look deep enough at creation taking place in the natural world, you will see this pattern emerge. This pattern is found everywhere including the creation of planets, stars, galaxies and the entire universe! Whether the pattern is there mathematically, or visually, you will always find it. Such is the case with mitosis! That's right, the Flower of life was involved in the creation of you and me! Even if, like me, you are NOT so much a Biology scholar, it is pretty amazing to see mitosis occurring under a microscope.

This beautiful and sacred pattern has been understood by humans since antiquity. It has been recorded by ancient humans in stone carvings, cave paintings and there was even a secret school dedicated to the study of sacred geometry in ancient Greece. The Flower of Life pattern is a fascinating concept that is valid in science, mathematics, and even art! If you were to draw a Flower of Life pattern, from there you will discover all five of the Platonic Solids hidden within and if you combine the Flower of Life pattern with all five Platonic Solids, you get something called Metatron's Cube.

By studying and drawing the Flower of Life, I have opened myself up to an immense amount of information. I just cannot get enough! Not only does this pattern offer information about creation, but it has led me on a path of many other sacred geometric discoveries. Things like: Vesica Piscis, the Fibonacci Spiral, The seed, fruit and tree of life, the Platonic Solids, Metatron's cube, Fractal patterns and many more. Since discovering the Flower of Life pattern, I have expanded my understanding of geometry significantly and I feel that it has encouraged me artistically.

In my own painting of the Flower of Life, I chose to depict it without the usual, encapsulating zona pellucida and instead chose to set the pattern free. I show this pattern in perpetual expansion in all directions, allowing it to create it's wonderment, forever.

~Universal Expression~ Available on etsy.com

If I have awakened your sense of wonder and you would like to study the Flower of Life and sacred geometry further, I'd like to help you begin your journey with this video. Patchman has an incredible ability to explain things in a visually stimulating way. Spirit Science and it's creator have been hugely inspiring in my own studies and I harbor a deep love for both!

Spirit Science 6 ~ Flower of Life

Thank you, and many blessings on your journey!

-Rev. Raven Behr

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

The Challenge of Getting Inspired

So, lately, I have been spending a lot of time attempting to get my name and art out 'there.' I have been doing different ad campaigns online, some have been doing well, others have failed terribly. That is just the way it goes, I guess, I have to try it all and see what fits and works for me and I also have to become aware of things that do not. So, the last few months have been largely dedicated to finding my advertising 'mojo,' if you will. Also, while I was in the throes of figuring all of this out, I happened upon and opportunity that I couldn't turn down. The opportunity to be a co-host on a friend's podcast. Not only is it a lot of fun and a LOT of laughs, it gives me a chance to put myself out 'there' more, which is something that for most of my life, I have been TERRIFIED of doing. I prefer to stay in my safe, comfy, shell. However, even after a few very recent past attempts to come out have been very unpleasant experiences, I realize that it is time to 'strap on a pair,' as it were, and allow my soul the expansion it needs. It comes as no surprise to me, that the person who runs the podcast is a friend who has pulled me out of my shell before and helped me grow in confidence that I never thought I had, even if he doesn't realize it. ;) So, I am taking this new opportunity as a chance to have fun and interact with some pretty talented people and learn from the experience as well. Even if I end up with my foot in my mouth or a backlash complete with pitchfork wielding, angry villagers, I will allow this experience to unfold, inspire and enlighten me. I am excited to move forward and see what great things can come out of it.

So, with new ventures underway and a renewed sense of direction, I am challenging myself to get inspired and embark on a new path with my artwork. I want to expand my style and self expression. I want to experiment with emotion and spirituality in upcoming works. My hope is that, with spring right around the corner, I can be 'born again' with the Earth and find a way to express my new perception in a way that both inspires others, and awakens their own sense of wonder. So, here's to growing and new experiences! Cheers!

-Rev. Raven Behr

Thursday, February 6, 2014

If you are on Google+ Please join my new community!

Art and Soul Community on Google+

Follow the link and begin sharing!

~Namaste~
Rev. Behr

The Hidden Story of Jesus ◦ Complete Documentary

This is a wonderful video that demonstrates that Jesus, The Christ, may have had many faces. As Christians, many are taught that any religion, other than their own, are inherently evil and false worship. Yet, there are many uncanny similarities between the story-myths of Jesus and Krishna, and others who predate him. Maybe if we halt our tendencies to close our ears and condemn ideas that don't jive with our own "beliefs,' we would be able to see the divinity in everything, and even each other. If you have the ears to hear and the eyes to see!

~Namaste~

-Rev. Behr

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Monday, February 3, 2014

WHAT IS God, to me?

What is God to me? Everything. God is the life force of everything. Many people and I, when I was younger, believed God was the God of the bible. The God of scripture. With his wrathful and jealous ways. We believed that. Why? Because we were told, by figures of 'authority' that it was the truth. And what choice did we have but to believe or burn in damnation for eternity. YIKES right?! Then one day, as a young woman, I grew brave enough to admit to myself that, I didn't believe God was a jealous man that lived beyond the sky. I just cannot accept the premise that, God loved me, but, if I sinned, he would send me to burn in Hell forever. Thus, thrusting me onto the path of discovering the nature of "God" for myself.
I studied and studied for many years. I read anything I could get my hands on that just might have an answer for me. I studied the pantheons of pagan gods, as crazy as their mythologies sometimes were, I couldn't get enough! To this day, Eros and Aphrodite are still my favorites. (The god of love often depicted as Cupid and his mother, the goddess of beauty and sex) From the ancients, I moved on to Wicca, another pagan/nature religion that still has a special place in my heart and I will always believe that the Earth is our mother. I will always have a fondness and nostalgic feeling for Samhain (pronounced 'sow-in' and is October 31) After I had grown to love the nature religions, I found a faith that would begin my journey to the -inside-
Buddhism opened me up to an entire new world. My inner self. I learned what it really meant to meditate and practice yoga. I began to understand what detachment was as a way of ending suffering. (By the way, it does not mean that you stop caring or give up) Detachment, I have found, means to let go of expectation. It means to no longer define yourself by the mistakes or accomplishments you have made in this life because, you can't carry it with you into the next life. Studying Buddhism, I finally came across the idea that God is within you. Not the way he is "inside you" listening to your thoughts and constantly 'scanning' for sinful thoughts like the 'authorities' of old would have us believe, but God, as a divine energy is within us all. Therefore, in order to know 'him' we must go within ourselves. This is why we meditate. We listen to our inner selves. With Buddhism and Hinduism, I could ponder the idea of reincarnation and the cycles of Karma.
There were many different religions that I studied. Such a wealth of spiritual wisdom, and still, I wanted more! And I found it! When the student is ready, the teacher will appear! The teacher came in the form of a series of fictional books. Yes, fictional! Some would argue, just like the bible... Anyway, These books of fiction just fell into my hands, one after another. No sooner had I read one, I would read the sequel or another amazing book would appear! It was like a waterfall of wisdom! A wisdomfall! ...? I will list these books at the end of this blog for you in the hopes that if you read just one, that it may just enlighten you the way it did me.
So, what is God to me? Everything. God is the life force energy that permeates the entire universe. 'He' is the mysterious power that causes electrons to fly around atoms. 'He' is the energy that causes every blade of grass too grow, 'he' is the force that ignites stars and expands space and time into eternity. 'He' in fact is not a he, but is chi. (pronounced chee) The life force of the Universe! The spark of the divine that is inside you and inside me.
~ Namaste~
Rev. Raven Behrendt

'Perceive Infinity' available on etsy.com

List of spiritual fiction

The Way of the Peaceful Warrior
The Journey of the Peaceful Warrior
-Dan Millman

The Celestine Prophecy
The Tenth Insight: Holding the Vision
The Secret of Shambhala: In Search of the Eleventh Insight
-James Redfield

The Dharma Bums
-Jack Kerouac

Buddha, His Life and Teachings
-Osho

A State of Mind. Ramtha, the Adventure Begins
-J.Z. Knight

A New Earth
-Eckhart Tolle (I read it BEFORE Oprah did! lol)

Into the Wild
-John Krakauer

Welcome!

Hello. I am Reverend Raven Behrendt, ordained minister and artist. I have created this blog to share with you my art and spiritual insights. I only ask that you be patient with my writings. I am not a writer. My writing style may seem a bit crude and scattered to the eye of an educated literary. I will however, do my very best to convey my ideas in a meaningful and entertaining way.
I am an Universalist. This is a spirituality that accepts peoples of all faiths. We welcome and respect all spitiualities. I, personally have spent many years studying many spiritual ideas including but not limited to: Paganism, Gnosticism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and more. What I found by diving deep into the fundamental ideologies was that at their core, they are all the same. All of the stories and myths are meant to point to the very same higher principles. I love studying spirituality and I know that I will never be finished. No one can know all things, but I have a constant drive to continue expanding my awareness on such things. As a Universalist in perpetual study, I do not adhere to any specific beliefs. This being because, the act of simply 'believing' any one principle: 1. closes your mind to further possibility of learning more. 2. doesn't make it absolutely true. I will never stop learning and growing and I will never close or turn off my mind.
As a novice artist, my intention is to always create things that cause people to feel. I have always loved to paint and experiment with my own creativity. I tend to allow my spiritual ideas flow through my artwork in an attempt expose my deep love for nature and the energy of God. As with my spirituality, in my art I will continue to grow and learn. I am excited to continue my work as an artist and minister always attempting to expose people to Art and Soul!
Please feel free to visit my shop here. Also my website here. "Like' me on Facebook here and Google+ here.
Thank you for visiting, have a magical day!