Mind the Light and it Shall Light the Way

I am an artist who enjoys dabbling in the visionary realm of the psychedelic experience.  It has undoubtedly fostered a healthy spiritual nature within me and my work. With my influences consisting of visionaries such as Wassily Kandinsky, Joan Miro, Andre Masson, Keith Haring and Alex Grey this was bound to happen, but joining an actual religious organization was something I had never imagined. Besides my love for art, I grew up cherishing stand-up comedy. In High School I actually wanted to be a stand-up comedian, but lacked the writing skill and dedication to pursue it with the passion, which I now have for fine art. Being a fan of Bill Hicks and George Carlin has undoubtedly fostered a skepticism of religion within me, but I had never become cynical enough to throw in the towel and become an avowed atheist.

There has always been a spiritual affinity embedded in my nature, even before my use of psychedelic substances. This has grow substantially over the years with my exposure to the writings of Carl Jung, Terence McKenna and Timothy Leary thought stoner rock legends Tool. This exposure lead me toward a personal philosophy that became more mystical and shamanic, but still rooted in the appreciation of the underlying message of Jesus, revealed most effectively, I thought, by the mystical Christians known as the Gnostics.

Shamanism and Gnosticism are wonderful philosophies, but they both possess some limitations. First of all there are no shamanic/gnostic communities in the great state of Pennsylvania. Secondly, some of the mythologies, particularly within Gnosticism, I found extremely difficult to wrap my head around. Also, much of the history and knowledge of these two mystical groups has be either destroyed, or severely distorted by western minds. The Catholic Church has a very celebrated history of deeming Gnosticism as heretical, and therefore destroying any living documents they could get their hands on. Shamanism on the other hand has been practiced by as bpredominately preliterate indigenous people from around the world, leaving any documentation coming from the pen of westerners, leading many towards a the type of ‘Plastic Shamanism’ that has become fissionable amongst new agers.

One community that I did find, which resonated with my personal spirituality for quite some time, was The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, but it also had its limitations. First of all, COSM relocated from a small spot in Chelsea New York City, all the way to a 40 acre plot of land in Wappinger Falls in Upstate New York. I’ve been to both sites quite a few times in the last 7 years, but a 3 hour drive isn’t financially feasible, or environmentally responsible. Alex and Allyson Grey are wonderful people, who I hope to work with in the future as my artwork grows, but there were a few things about the congregation that gathered, not the Grey’s themselves, which I had a hard time identify with. First, there seemed to be a heavy contingency of what can only be referred to as evangelical vegans. I have no problem with people that choose to be vegan, in fact I commend them for doing what they do, and the sacrifices that they choose to make. My problem is those individuals that proselytize why veganism is good, and why non-vegans are inertly flawed and ignorant. Secondly, I also didn’t appreciate the dirty look directed at my girlfriend simply for wearing leather. The self-righteous judgment that I experience from some of those which made the pilgrimage to COSM seemed disingenuous, and also counter intuitive, to the culture that I believe Alex and his wife Allyson intend to foster. Also, I’m not a big fan of the whole rave atmosphere, coupled with the flightiness of some of the congregants that seem to be there solely for a party, rather than genuine self-reflection. It may work for those individuals, but it is a particular aspect of western culture that I have grown to view as both fruitless and unenlightened.

Soon Thereafter, I met a beautiful redhead, and self-proclaimed atheist, which I had begun dating. Little did I know that she was about to take me on spiritual journey of a lifetime. Through our relationship we began to sort out our spiritual ideals and come to a more focused idea of what we each were spiritually. We both came to the conclusion that we both believed in the divinity within all living beings. We also both stood in awe, not of the idea of God, handed down from generation to generation, but the awesome power of the Cosmos. A Cosmos that spawned not only us, but also the exponentially growing potential generated by the human brain, making it possible to conceive of such things as science, art and philosophy.

Eventually, in order to find some kind of community, I began rummaging the internet trying to locate any local art communities. I began to follow Chet Zar’s twitter feed after finding out that he had started a very unconventional art group with the hashtag #FridayNightArtDorks. I was not only familiar with Chet’s artwork, but also his collaborations on music videos with the band Tool, and also his close friendship with Alex and Allyson Grey. After participating for about a month I was sold on his idea and decided to approach him about bring his idea to Facebook. He responded with an emphatic “Do it!” and I got to work. Within 6 months the group on facebook quickly grew to include over 300 artists from around the world, most of which also seem to want to quench a thirst they had for a close-knit art community. I’ve since started organizing events with some of the other artists out in public, in order to foster and encourage a creative atmosphere with as many artists as possible, which has also been a big success.

Two year later, I find myself in the most loving and engaging relationship I’ve ever had, with a brilliant woman now attending Bryn Mawr College; one of the most esteemed woman’s liberal arts school in the country. As a Result, we have both begun to learn the very rich Quaker history of her school, increasingly becoming intrigued by those little known people called ‘the Quakers’. The more she told me the more I wanted to find out. I figured our local meetinghouse would be the best place to start, which is conveniently within walking distance from where we live. I admit I procrastinated for some time, since it difficult for me to not sleep in on the weekend, but eventually I made it to the meeting house and I have every intention to keep going back.

With only a few meeting under my belt I’ve begun to find many similarities between the Religious Society of Friends and many of the more dedicated, spiritually minded, individuals that I’ve meet from my trips to the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors. The Quakers, much like the Grey’s themselves, have a very open and compassionate disposition, which makes one feel very welcomed and at home. The Religious Society of Friends also reflects the same idea of what Alex refers to as ‘unorganized religion’. Thought the Society of Friends has a somewhat peculiar history with art, one which once viewed the arts as ‘self-indulgent’, due to their pragmatic approach to the spirit they have begun to accept the arts over the last century. The Quakers now recognize the arts as a legitimate tool for the expression of spirit, which I think showcases their ability to evolve as a community. It is precisely this ability to grow and foster new ideas, specifically in regards to the role of spirit and creativity in their own community, which has allowed me to recognize they’re work as a testament of spirit, in and of itself. Because of this I believe that I can make a more substantial and immediate impact with the Society of Friends as their artistic community continues to grow. As for the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, which already has two colossal visionaries at the helm, I wish them all the luck in fostering the community they’ve envisioned, and I hope that I, and the rest of my new friends (Quakers), can collaborate with them creatively in the future. 

Namaste
DeadGuy Chuck (the Psychedelic Quaker)