The search for a mind treasure in the past relied on the astrological map of archetypes. This cross was emblemized into the tetramorph, a visual arrangement of four things.
In this artistic dramatization Aquarius is an agent of sapience directing itself as it’s own magnetic force. Taurus, Leo, Scorpio create a ladder of finer and finer interior triangles.
Taurus representing stability while channeling creativity between parallel lines beyond personality.
Leo directs it’s energy into a series of actions to deliver a flower or design to the world.
Scorpio are the lines drawn by the tool and is the evolving, crawling, flying spine.
These substances-earth, fire and water, create a closed triangle of electric currents, a ladder or chain of triangles.
The Aquarian mind refines all turbulent magnetic forces within one’s self Having been a floating needle lost in a circle, the tetramorph becomes a conscious map. Aquarius aims to manage gravity and balance the triangles like an egg standing on a level surface.
The ladder of triangles are steps to further our own development towards inner realization. The ladder becomes a hyper reflective yantra, a sort of inward escalator. With every step, the chain of being changes on all levels. Novelty and invention grow out of either end. The ladder is a link like a potter spinning a pot on a wheel that aligns with the Earth’s magnetic field in a beautiful way. A process where the potter manifests a copy of a form broadcasted from a heavenly pattern
every once in a while I enjoy experimenting with different concepts and design. here’s an avant garde chain mail style, copper enamel pendent. I like the way M’Chigeeng First Nation artist, Duncan Neganigwane Pheasant describes a special frame of mind as a Hall of Creation. everybody walks through two beams of structure and flexibility. these are qualities in every person to find and to build an interior temple or House of Invention within themselves. The ceiling is the sky while the floor board is a cross current of tiles, each representing a space on a calendar. in the center is a mercurial self with multiple layers of tissue that always change. a surface identity is contained inside a beaker but also a guiding star that links to genius, a birds eye view. universally an attentive path leads to the best, the good. this quality of being honest shares a sense of well being with others. these are the thoughts behind the design and intention of this pendent.
The Arcanauts is a spiritually oriented, psychedelic Jazz and Funk band. The band was founded by composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist David Andrew Moore. Moore founded the band with intentions of creating the kinds of music he liked as a vehicle to express the spiritual path he is walking.
The Arcanauts are: Joe Albano — woodwinds Greg Toro — basses Tom Dowd — guitars Evan Waaramaa — Keyboards David Andrew Moore — drums, percussion and additional keyboards
I was very excited to be a visual part of the Arcanauts experience. You can catch a great interview with David at DigBoston here
The Ancient Egyptian Ka is an expression of vital essence, a force rising from a place that can not be explained. I haven’t found any strict definition of Ka but it is similar to the word soul. Many sources explain that the hieroglyph that display two arms are symbolic of molding pottery on a potters wheel.
The Ka
My first impression of Ka is energy. Another translation, based partly on the educated guesses of Julian Jaynes in his book The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind mentions qualities of conscious related to autoscopy. This idea of Ka as a double isn’t significantly supported when cross examined but there are some credible details to consider temporarily.
The autoscopic narrative suggests reflection is a kind of illusionary duplication, a way of putting one’s self into an object For example the Tutankhamun sarcophagus is a vivid copy of the pharaoh’s Ka or soul. To me it seems valid to consider Ka a universal signature that represents a forms presence fully. That sense of residence and memory survives the limits of the original. In this case and many others, the forgery is a decoy that influences our subconscious more powerfully than the original source.
Norval Morrisseau from Norval Morrisseau: Shaman Artist.National Gallery of Canada; First Edition (January 1, 2006)
Ojibway artist, Norval Morrisseau talked about The House of Invention. He never explained what the House was dogmatically. The meaning I found in what Morrisseau was talking about was the House was a flash of instantaneous possibilities.
Rarely we receive a glimpse of light from The House of Invention unless it’s in our dreams. My personal experience was an astral dream where my future self (Visual Spatial perspective) was touring the House of Invention. All the art was holographic and animated in a sequence of a fluid loops. It was comparable to the graphics interchange format but without any tics, fully three dimensional while suspended in space.
Plato also mentions a House of Invention he called hyperuranion, a place were all the forms live.
Jupiter in Vedic astrology is Guru, otherwise known as an auspicious teacher of light or in old fashion terms, simply- lord of light. This the embodiment of the silhouette ventriloquized by light in the painting. How we talk to ourselves influences our smallest self at an atomic level. The effects of Jupiter widens, extends and liberates space between lines. The planet’s influence causes us to to see things clearly without mistake. Jupiter is benevolent, helpful and fatherly. It has everything and doesn’t need anything. With it’s massive weight it moves obstacles effortlessly. Jupiter rules the 9th house of theurgy, learning, spirituality and awareness of reality.
Dino D’ Taos is an outsider artist who lived in Taos, New Mexico from 1998 to 2006. Dino’s enchantment with the Spanish surrealist Salvador Dali motivated him to become a self taught artist and Dali Disciple. Dino believed Salvador Dali’s method of objectifying the psychic forces of the unconsciousness offered viewers a new scripture to understanding reality. The foundation of Dino’s work relied on continuing Dali’s message to help expand a new art testament in a post Dalian world. In company with the cosmic themes deposited in Dali’s book 50 Secrets of Magic Craftsmanship, Dino’s paintings resume Dali’s inquiry into occult subjects like alchemy, astrology and Pythagorean narratives.
From a personal perspective I get a powerful impression from his paintings that somehow part of Dino’s memory retained insights from the Elysian Mysteries in some former life. With Dino’s paintings there is a resurrection of an earlier bicameral state that explores space with lines, geometric shapes and paronomasia. This seems to fuse the hemispheres of the mind for a moment as Dali alludes to and calls “Pythagorean instantaneousness” which can be found in his painting, The Sacrament of the Last Supper.
Dali taught Dino that perspective played a key role in the surrealistic method. This magic was practiced by putting the viewer into an optical trance that was intended to trigger neural pathways. I’ll mention it briefly that Dino experienced auditory visitations. This mediumship included a reception from the Dutch post-impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh, which he openly talked about with my wife and me. Reference to Dino’s encounter with Van Gogh was channeled in a 48inx72in painting that can be found here on Vanessa Valencia’s page, a patroness and collector of Dino’s work.
I moved to Taos, New Mexico in 1997 a year before Dino. It wasn’t until 2000 I met Dino at the Cafe Tazza, a cool coffee house on Kit Carson Rd, which unfortunately no longer exists.
We both enjoyed strong coffee and became fast friends easily. Since we were both artists we had a lot to talk about. It wasn’t less than a few months the owner at Tazza provided a room where we hung our work. We both ended up selling work. Along the way Dino introduced me to my wife and from there the three of us would get together, have dinner, drink wine and smoked lots of flower.
The three of us would talk about art for hours and read each other’s tarot cards. There was always a steady flow of jazz in the background. It was a great time. A time without a computer overlooking our memories. These days bohemian and hippie are hashtags but back then we were organically experimenting with a bohemian and hippie lifestyle. I look back now on those carefree days as playing an integral part in my own development as an outsider artist.
Dino painted with acrylic on wood board he cut himself. He also made prints of his work. He had this cool trike with a little seahorse flag that he peddled around with. In the carrier he put his paintings and easel. You could find him comfortably painting in the Taos Historic District of the Taos Plaza. People would watch him paint and buy art from him.
Dino D’Taos was born on December 25 which made him a Capricorn who preferred the solitary life to an extroverted life. He was religiously dedicated to his work. He had some background experience in galleries but favored showing work at coffee house’s because he believed everyone buys a cup of coffee. In retrospect Dino and I shared the similar belief that coffee culture was a more authentic and less institutionalized avenue for showing art.
My wife and I own a few paintings. We also have some of Dino’s writings which remind me of James Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. I have no idea where Dino is now or how he is. I treasured the friendship dearly and regard Dino as a guide that helped mature the bond I have with my creative self. Even though I’m on my own path I regularly employ the methods of surrealism to enter the subconscious
It’s my duty as an artist to to mention the Woodlands Medicine painting founded by Norval Morrisseau and practiced today by Duncan Neganigwane Pheasant. The style has made a very relevant impression on me. This includes practicing the ability to X-ray Dreamtime and remember the House of Invention. It would be a great misfortune not to mention this source of inspiration. I have had a correspondence with Duncan Neganigwane Pheasant since 2009 around the same time I discovered Norval Morrisseau. The coincidence is very meaningful to me. It has helped mature and guide my own artistic process. I am honored to have Duncan as a friend and brother in the fellowship of art
Duncan Neganigwane Pheasant conversation in his own words
I started to do art in public school. I always was interested in drawing and painting. In time I realized I was quite good at it and was always asked to draw for the class room I always continued to paint throughout high school where I sold my first painting, it was of the rock band KISS. I did many rock bands and then I concentrated on motorcycles..I painted them on masonite board with oil based house paint. I also did many superhero’s and comic book cover reproductions. I then spent more time painting in the woodland style created by Norval Morrisseau.
Norval Morrisseau Painting and Duncan Neganigwane Pheasant’s notation on the Shaking Tent Ceremony
Eventually I developed my own style. I’m Ojibwa on Manitoulin Island and it is here where I developed my style of Ojibwe Woodland Medicine painting. I do not follow the color wheel or any training. When I went to college for art I learned more what not to do then what I was told to do, I let the brush take control and it is like automatic writing, my backgrounds which I do before I paint any subject takes me about two to five minutes to paint, depending on the size of the canvas.
Many subjects used in my art come from the sacred scrolls and rock art painted on cliffs throughout northern Ontario. The main subject is drawn out in a few seconds, like Norval Morrisseau I draw out ten paintings at once while the spirit moves me. It can be days even weeks before paint touches the canvas the all of a sudden the spirit comes and the art pours out. All the art I paint comes from the same place as Norval Morrisseau, from the house of invention. He said some day you will visit it, I did visit it one night..I dreamed I entered a great hall full of fantastic paintings and crafts as I walked through the great hall I noticed all of the art was mine..everything I ever done and everything I will do..it was fantastic.
Nanabush at the Cliffs
I continue on with my painting and exploration of creating art and there are times I feel something some sort of presence..it’s hard to explain but I feel a connection to something really really old ..as if something or someone is here while I paint. I will do a painting and later when it’s almost finished I’ll look at it and say to myself “I know what this is !” this is so n so or something in my past or a story, legend. Many paintings come out from someplace totally unknown to me and I’ll say wholly fuck! This is so n so..or I’ll start writing about a painting, a story and it’s like automatic writing..I’ll read what I wrote..a story or song or poem that goes with the piece and can’t believe I did it..
The Owl of Springtime . The story of the first Owl to return to Manitoulin after the great Purification Fire and how the Great Manitou gave the Owl the task of replanting the Island.
An elder told me the feeling I get of something old is the ancestors coming to watch me paint..especially if I’m painting them..of course I’m not in control, like Norval Morrisseau I draw out the painting in a few minutes..the same with the backgrounds. I look at them (backgrounds) for a painting and wonder where in hell did that come from? backgrounds take me maybe two to five minutes to do depending on the size of the canvas. I’ll do maybe three to five backgrounds in one session. I’ll put the paint on a platter and away I go, not even cleaning the brush doing all at once..then I’ll look at them and WOW this one has clouds or sunlight here n there or maybe a mountain a lake etc 30×40 canvas 5 minutes..where did I see this before I wonder..this is so familiar..then I think..from the house of creation.
Like yourself Mitchell, we create things that never existed in this universe. anyone can paint landscapes or people and animals but the work we do is totally from another dimension. I was in AA heading to a meeting walking from my place across town. I am not living in this house at the time. As I was walking all of a sudden a hole opened up on my left side just behind me..like a window into a parallel universe..bright light shone through the window and it lit up the street. I could see everything along the road like all the detail of the grass and gravel. Then I felt hands pulling on my clothing like people trying to pull me in or trying to pull themselves through into this world. Then the window closed with a whoosh! The light reminded me of car lights. Nobody was behind me, no traffic..I think this happened in a few seconds but felt like minutes..it took place exactly in front of the house I ended up renting and then buying. I think of it from time to time.
I’m quite interested in Quantum physics, dark matter, dark energy, the idea of fuzzy stuff as to what makes a molecule move a certain way and instantaneous. Another molecule a million miles away moves the same time, moves the same way as if connected and the idea of tests done on molecules that only work if there is an observer. I try not to have a favorite painting..I don’t want to fall in love with any of my art, if I did I would have certain pieces that are still here on my walls. Each piece I do will leave my place and be put out into the world. I let it go..sometimes I will run into one of them and it’s like seeing an old friend or family member.
The bird and the stone
I do favor some pictures of pieces. I did in the past and they are in my photo collections..The bird and the stone..not just for the composition but also for the story that was shared with me.
I was told about stones along the north shore of Manitoulin island..they came from the Lacloche mountains when they were as tall as the Rockies,,the glaciers shaved them down and deposited these stones all over Manitoulin, the stones are said to be a depository for everything that happened in the stones existence, The Stone is alive and has a memory..one day a bird landed on the stone very tired and quite old..The bird spoke to himself "I am nearing the end of my life and have no one to share my experiences", the stone made itself known and told the bird "I have seen a million sunsets..many animals have brushed by my face..many sunny days and cold winters I have seen..I have heard and remembered the sweet language of the people it is all here stored in my spirit..some day I will be up on the top of the mountain and again at the bottom of the sea. I will carry inside me your memories my bird friend I carry all the memories..and when I become sand again all the memories will be released into the world!"
The painting shows the stone and inside the memories, the red spirit of its life.outside in the sky is the great Manitou spirit and the creator waiting for the bird to let go of its hold on its world and fly up in spirit. The painting shows the stone and inside the memories, the red spirit of its life.outside in the sky is the great Manitou spirit and the creator waiting for the bird, to let go of its hold on its world and fly up in spirit. It is known that rocks contain minerals and these minerals can hold onto events that happened in its presence..When the conditions are right some of these memories can be perceived and heard by people passing by or sitting near the stone…Like magnetic tape when drawn against a device it’s memories can be heard or like VHS tape it can be seen.
Repulsive gargoyle like face with powerful gorilla like arms lives a huge wild man roaming the north eastern realm of the Niagara escarpment frequenting the area of the a Green bush road and up to the cup and saucer trail and in the basin between the cliffs of Mchigeeng First Nation. One of the first white men to write about this creature was a Jesuit priest Father Rolland. Entire Odawa bands would not venture outside during a sighting..all living in great fear while the head man of each household sat with his rifle all night long he wrote. I remember my grandfather doing this one night when I was about five years old 1965, My grandmother yelling out Jimniddo and chasing us kids into the house just before sunset.These beasts are said to be quite lonesome and stealing people. Some say the beasts are full of remorse and great sadness turning into great anger.
The thing about doing Woodland Native is the color choices. We don’t plan the colors it just happens and the originator of this style of art didn’t plan on the topics he (Norval Morriseau ) just drew it out in a minute then painted it. Guided by the spirits.
The Tantra is a special connection (fusion) with a deity or geometric symbol. Meditating on this double generates a navigating map towards a sapient future self. This is traditionally similar to a Yidam in Tibetan Buddhism.
I was inspired by Chögyam Trungpa’s book The Tantric Path of Indestructible Wakefulness and the metaphor of the Star in the Tarot. Tantra means weaving and is about a relationship between the projector and the projected (or programmer and program) The woman in the painting is a personal interpretation of Tara, the mother of liberation.
from my personal Tarot symbolique et maçonnique by Jean Beauchard. The Star card with it’s twin geometric blueprint below the surface of the image.
from a French Freemason Lodge
“The Star, still called pentagram, represents for the Pythagoreans, the radiant initiate. Indeed for a long time, we represent a man, arms and legs apart, registered in the Star. His five points are thus attributed to the five extremities of the man whose head occupies the summit. She can register in a circle. It is no longer about the man inscribed in the matter, but about the man who has straightened up, who has reached his Star.”
étoile flamboyante: Love when it is sufficiently intense, is source of light and knowledge, in this respect we can say that the blaze associates with the star is Love.
“If we manage to register in the Flaming Star, to use this magnificent template which is offered to us we will have, found our balance, realized our own unit and we will have found this spark of divinity in us which will allow us to blaze. The Star, under the Delta, receives its influence as it receives that of the Sun and the Moon. She is the Great Architect of the Universe in Man in general and in the companion in particular. It blazes in addition to the radiation of the Delta, it completes the Knowledge by Love.”
This is the place I share the mysterious things I research for my art. My central aim is to connect with artists and open minded people. I enjoy painting as a way to explore the mind. When I’m not painting my mission is to bring more beauty into the world by making jewelry.
Master of Reflections From my series The Hidden Folk, 12inx15in mixed media. Investigates suggestibility and sympathetic magic.
The Master has a forehead of mirrors that captures the on looker. Whatever the master says changes the shape of the viewers reflection. The warden of petals regulates and enhances scent and can influence specific moods of an entire group. The Prophet of mu is the last representative of mu. a close encounter with the medium has made people become more conducive to psychic waves.
The Poet Guillaume Apollinaire described a hidden world as Surreal. Although Surrealism became popular in the 1920’s there has always been an omnipresent clue among all cultures of a hidden world. The Icelandic phrase, huldufólk is a substitution for a name what would otherwise disrupt the hidden world and cause an encounter with it. While most of us are usually not suggestively affected by taboos there is a unique percentage of people in Iceland who do believe the hidden world is possible.
This is not far from asking someone if they believe in people from another space.
The Surrealist’s methods of accessing the subconscious were not new. Many of the techniques of surrealism rely on animism, pareidolia and apophenia.
These three special effects of our consciousness influence our beliefs and attitudes subconsciously. Animism is our oldest built in belief system. Under the suggestibility of the animistic brain every person. place or thing has spirit. This would also include power and expression as an ability to change events in an environment. As simple as sanctifying a successful hunt/crop by painting a picture of the future in the present. As animism believes that everything is an agent of expression or spirit, pareidolina impacts how one perceives this channel.
There is a symbiotic relationship between the faerie realm and what we would consider inanimate or motionless objects. Like seeing a face in a tree. Apophenia impresses upon how we organize what we perceive during pareidolina. Where as an abnormal encounter with a face in the tree that could be nothing at all, apophenia insists, sometimes obsessively, that this experience, seeing a face in the tree, means something more than it does. Apophenia places most people at risk because it can be dogmatic and unquenchable under a false conclusion.
Mitchell Pluto 