MYSTERY SCHOOL |
OF THE RED LETTERS
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To the American Christian, the RED LETTERS represents the words of Christ from red-lettered Bibles first printed in 1901, favored by Protestant Christians in the United States.
To the marginalized woman, the RED LETTERS references Mary Magdalene who is symbolized by a red rose; the holy, sacred prostitute misrepresented in modern Christianity. The RED LETTERS also references "The Scarlet Letter" by Nathaniel Hawthorne, which is a book about a woman shamed with a painted red letter: A for "adultery".
But really, I've been using red letters all over my websites. I wrote it whimsically here. Made it red. Then laughed my ass off.
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NO. This is not an ACTUAL mystery school. This is, however, MY ATTITUDE toward things. Especially when exploring in uncharted spaces like eroticism. What have others learned before us? It can't ALL be bad, right? I've always loved theology, learning, and teaching. As a Christian, when I wasn't attending church or leading Bible studies, I was still being church and leading Bible studies. Having an attitude of a MYSTERY SCHOOL while exploring erotic content is an overflow of my love for church -- the GOOD parts of church, that is.
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MYSTERY SCHOOLS are ancient, esoteric institutions that date back to antiquity and have been associated with spiritual and philosophical teachings. These schools were known for imparting secret knowledge, wisdom, and practices to their members, often with the goal of achieving spiritual enlightenment, self-realization, and personal transformation.
The mystery schools were prevalent in various ancient civilizations, including Egypt, Greece, Rome, and the Near East. Some well-known mystery schools from history include the Eleusinian Mysteries in ancient Greece, the Egyptian Mystery Schools of Thoth and Isis, and the Mithraic Mysteries in the Roman Empire.
While the traditional mystery schools from antiquity have largely disappeared or evolved over time, there are contemporary organizations and groups that claim to be modern-day mystery schools. NOT THIS ONE THOUGH. We don't want to get in trouble with the superintendent of mystery schools. Who I suspect is Jeff Goldblum.
These modern mystery schools often draw inspiration from the teachings and practices of the ancient mystery traditions but may adapt them to contemporary contexts and beliefs.These modern mystery schools may focus on a wide range of spiritual and metaphysical teachings, such as ESOTERIC CHRISTIANITY, Hermeticism, Kabbalah, alchemy, and other mystical traditions. Some contemporary mystery schools also incorporate elements of psychology, self-help, and personal development into their teachings.
It's important to note that the legitimacy and authenticity of modern mystery schools can vary widely, and some may be more focused on commercial interests or New Age beliefs rather than preserving ancient wisdom traditions. IN OUR CASE, WE ARE DRAWING UPON ANCIENT WISDOM TO EXPAND THE CONVERSATION OF SEXUALITY FROM A WESTERN CULTURE STARTING POINT.
As with any spiritual or esoteric group, individuals interested in exploring modern mystery schools should exercise discernment, research the organization thoroughly, and consider whether its teachings align with their own beliefs and values. -
TO EDUCATE. America, a global superpower, is compared to its neighbors regarding sex education, it is surprisingly behind. As a result, THE SEXUAL PSYCHOSIS OF AMERICA IS UNIQUELY BI-POLAR, BEING BOTH HYPER-SEXUAL AND HYPER CONSERVATIVE. For example, in America, If you want to consider a narrative where Jesus had an erection when He saw a nipple, this could be seen as heretical igniting a "firestorm" of cancel culture against you, your children', and your children's children. Thus, you would need a MYSTERY SCHOOL to go down that nipple worm-hole. In Europe, that’s tea conversation on a Tuesday.
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The focus of the teachings of this "mystery school" follows my healing arc. To heal from a sexual-religious trauma of my Judeo-Christian roots, my focus is primarily on ANCIENT CHRISTIANIT. This is informed by exploring other branches: KABBALISTIC JUDAISM, BUDDHISM, MEZO-AMERICAN AND MICRONESIA INDIGENOUS STUDIES, and PLANT MEDICINE WORK.
Regarding modern science, I look at ALL THE SCIENCES AND LEADING TRAUMA WORK TO UNDERSTAND ENERGY AND BLOCKAGE. FOR A MAP, WE RELY ON OUR BODIES. To help us, I use TANTRA AS A THEOLOGY OF THE BODY AND COSMOLOGICAL STUDIES AS A GUIDE INTO THE EROTIC. Everything else, we're winging it.
SHAME
can turn things UPSIDE-DOWN. This is why we have —
HOLY EROTICA AND THE MYSTERY SCHOOL OF THE RED LETTERS.
This container is for the CREATION, EXHIBITION, and CELEBRATION of content that BEHOLDS FEMININE EROTIC INNOCENCE as expression of CHRIST, or what I call THE EROTIC CHRIST, an expression of EMBODIED CHRIST-LOVE beyond DOGMA. This includes the listening and articulating to the DHARMA that the EROTIC CHRIST inspires, what I call the “GOSPEL OF THE BODY”. Listening and attuning to this WISDOM is a life-long practice with no end that EVOLVES/MATURES/EXPANDS THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF HUMANITY.
MYSTERY SCHOOL OF THE RED LETTERS |
You will need a JOURNAL.
MYSTERY SCHOOL |
OF THE RED letters
“RIGHT-SIDE UP” TEACHING for an UPSIDE-DOWN WORLD.
Turned upside-down because of SHAME.”
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“I remembered the gradual patience
That fell from that cloud-like snow,
Flake by flake, HEALING AND HIDING
The scar of our deep-plunged woe.”
-James Russell Lowell
ALLOW HEALING SNOWFALL to COVER EVERYTHING — OUR WOUNDS, OUR PAST, OUR OLD STORIES — making all THINGS UNTOUCHED AND NEW.
| N / O
WELCOME |
AN INTRODUCTION TO CHRISTIAN MYSTICISM
I forgot the part about THE EROTIC CHRIST. It’s included here as an AUDIO FILE.
LESSON 1 |
EROTIC INNOCENCE AND ETHIC
While I was BEHOLDING
FEMININE EROTIC INNOCENCE
filming my first docu-erotic short film, I had
— A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE!
Filmmakers Log 041217 | A SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE
“My BODY was AWAKE. My CONSCIOUSNESS was AWAKE. I could SEE and FEEL EVERYTHING, including the vivid sensation of —
GOD PASSING BY.
WHAT I FELT was BURNING AND BRIGHT AND ALL-CONSUMING much like the EROTICISM I was filming.
What I felt was NOT OVERBEARING OR CONTROLLING. Nor did it feel like it needed to announce Itself. It simply IS.
Like a quiet constance. Like an ever-present, ABSOLUTE TRUTH.”
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In the Hebrew Bible, after Moses frees the Israelites from Egypt and destroys the Ten Commandments, Moses asks to see God. In response, God says He will cover Moses with His hand and allow Moses to see His back only, otherwise Moses will die. God does this, and as a result, MOSES FACE SHONE. (Exodus 33:22)
In the same way, after I filmed my first erotic short film, MY FACE ALSO SHOWN. It was impossible to be the same.
It is my belief that the physiological reactions that we have toward sexuality mirror Scripture's descriptions of our reactions with God. Hence, I find Biblical references such as Exodus 33:22 as evidence that FEMININE EROTIC INNOCENCE is God.
I created this 5-PAGE COMIC from my footage to depict my SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE.
It’s not A.I. generated. It’s Life-Generated. a glimpse OF MY SIDE of the filmmaking experience.
WHILE FILMING the TWO LESBIAN ANGELS, I FELT THE TWO CHERUBS ATOP THE ARK OF THE COVENANT. BETWEEN BOTH THE LESBIANS AND THE CHERUBS, I feEL the presence of
GOD.
Wow. That’s AMAZING! But what’s the ARK OF THE COVENANT?-
Being reconnected with your body as an adult is extremely disorienting and overwhelming. It felt like going through puberty again while getting to know my adult super powers. I literally felt like Peter Parking getting to know his "Spider Senses" for the first time while enduring high school. This is what inspired me to do the comic. It would be fun visualizing the explosive force of sexuality and arousal as a SUPERPOWER. Because it IS a superpower!
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This reference comes from Exodus 25:22. GOD SAYS HIS PRESENCE IS BETWEEN THE TWO CHERUBS ATOP THE ARK OF THE COVENANT, and that this is where God will meet Moses to give His commands to Israel.
The ARK OF THE COVENANT is the most sacred object to the Israelites — a gold-covered wooden chest with two angels on the top facing each other.
The Ark is said to have held the Ten Commandments, the Decalogue, the bedrock of Judeo-Christian ethics and throughout the West. THE LAW. This item is foundational Judeo-Christianity in Western thought and culture.
The Ark of the Testimony is both GOD AND IDOL to the Israelites, a polarizing force capable of bringing VICTORY OR DEATH. In Scripture, ENGAGING WITH THE ARK is no joke. The Ark requires PURITY OF HEART to approach it or even look at it, “lest ye die”.
This “God-Wrath” is depicted in one of my favorite films, specifically the special effects havoc in Raiders of the Lost Ark when the Nazi’s open up the Ark. KABOOM.
A SCENE |
FROM ONE OF MY FAVORITE FILMS
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK FEATURING THE POWER OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT
…and INDUSTRIAL LIGHTS AND MAGIC visual effects company.
BETWEEN THE TWO ANGELS
I FELT GOD
JUST As the ARK OF THE COVENANT carrieS the TEN COMMANDMENTS, the law, PERHAPS FEMININE EROTIC INNOCENCE carries a “LAW” IN HER.
To prepare for this presentation, I revisited the distinction between LAW and ETHIC.-
Ethics and law are the different forms of rules by which humans are expected to behave themselves in the society. ETHICS REPRESENT INTERNAL SYSTEMS OF CONTROL, AND LAW REFERS TO AN EXTERNAL MECHANISM OF CONTROL.
ETHICS comes from the inside of our body. The LAW comes from the outside. The LAW comes AT US. Do you feel the difference?
As GOD has a LAW that draws us close to Him TO EVOLVE US;
FEMININE EROTIC INNOCENCE HAS AN ETHIC that draws us close to Her.
FOLLOW the “LAWS OF HER BODY”.
“Lest ye die.” Mic drop.
TO BEHOLD Her IS TO BECOME MORE.| N / O
You received esoteric theological teaching, a transmission of
the MIND.
I shared my heart through the comic art, the same theological teaching through
THE SOUL.
Now let’s listen to the EMOTIONS AND SENSATIONS of
THE BODY.
LET’S PLAY! i WILL SHOW YOU THREE PANELS.
SLOWLY SCROLL BY EACH IMAGE. ALLOW any and all EMOTIONS AND SENSATIONS.
We will be using the KULESHOV EFFECT, a fundamental principle in film editing. It’s the principle that suggests a viewer derives NEW MEANING from juxtaposing different images together. When you have a pair of images and switch one of them, the remaining image can have a new context.
The Kuleshov Effect is also a foundational tool in the art of MANIPULATION. As a FILM-TV EDITOR for over 20 years, I’m familiar how the Kuleshov Effect CHANGES MEANING. Unless, we REVERSE-ENGINEER it.
Instead of starting with a pair of images and switching one, we will simply look at ONE PAIR of images only.
There is NO GOAL or NO AGENDA here. There is no desired end result that we are after. Only a CURIOSITY. We will ask ourselves —
what is COMING THROUGH?
Whatever you experience, whether is BLOCKAGE or AROUSAL or EMOTIONS or NUMBNESS — numbness is a feeling — these are ALL things we are LISTENING FOR. This is your BODY’s time — not your MIND or your HEART — to have it’s OWN EXPERIENCE.
We will be looking at a still of the Ark of the Covenant. Then a still of a kiss from my short film. Finally, a BIBLE VERSE. Exodus 25:22.
Get your journals ready.-
THE KULESHOV EFFECT is an editing effect initially demonstrated by Soviet filmmaker and film theorist, Lev Kuleshov. The basic principle of the Kuleshov Effect is that THE AUDIENCE DERIVES NEW INTERPRETATIONS FROM COMPOSITION AND SEQUENCE. In fact, the interaction between shots can CHANGE THE MEANING altogether.
Filmmakers can use the Kuleshov effect to evoke strong emotional responses from viewers by MANIPULATING the sequence of shots. For example, a shot of a person crying may seem sad on its own, but when followed by a shot of someone laughing, it becomes ironic or even comedic. -
As a PRODUCER-EDITOR, I am very accustomed to producing a slick package filled with swelling music and emotion. I can do that. I rather not. With important fundamental teaching like this, I prefer to DECONSTRUCT FILMMAKING BACK TO ITS ORIGIN -- the juxtaposition of two simple images. No forecasted emotions. No telegraphed thoughts. No comedic cut-aways or cliff-hangers. My preference is to start HERE.
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EMOTIONAL RE-ASSOCIATION is one of the three pillars of trauma-healing that I learned from The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk. The first is cognitive therapy. The second is medicine, such as plant medicine. The third is emotional re-association.
What I do is on this third tier. I emote eroticism like worship in my art films. What I'm realizing is that once this happens, people receive a new distinction. Their interior spaces need to be re-oriented. Because reality as they new it changed. Thus, the mystery school. It at least gets people connected to get footing again.
LET’S GROUND
THE NAME OF GOD IS BREATHING |
YAHWEH is the “nameless” name for God.
The name is written as four Hebrew consonants, YHWH, which is known as the Tetragrammaton, which is now TWO NAMES for something NAMELESS. SCHOLARS AND RABBIS — the ones with the two names for nameless things — say the letters “YHWH” represent breathing sounds or aspirated consonants..
When pronounced without vowels, it sounds like breathing: YAAAH (inhale), WEEH (exhale). WHICH CONCEPTUALLY MAKES SENSE! Because we’re not using letters or language even. It just . . . IS.
As God simply IS, so are WE.A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD INCLUDES A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BODY. AN
IS-ING.
WHATEVER COMES THROUGH, SIMPLY IS.
See you on the OTHER SIDE.SUGGESTED TIME | 15 MINUTES
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Breath prayers are a modern adaptation of the ancient prayer of the heart. We create them to express our deepest needs. They help us keep God in the foreground amidst our daily living and clarify our relationship with the holy.
BREATHING IS PRAYER. So as we breathe, make each part of the breath a prayer. An EXHALE-OF-BLESSING. An INHALE-OF-RECEIVING. You can give names to things you are releasing and receiving too.