Divinity is in All Art & Nature
by Rev. Cory Bradford-Watts
Readings
Job 12:7-9
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you,
or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;
or speak to the earth, and it will teach you,
or let the fish in the sea inform you.”
Read the written message below with music videos
For such a relatively unknown mystical sage, the 18th-century’s Emanuel Swedenborg sure has had a huge impact on the realm of Western art, partly due to his interfaith-Christian writings being some of the first known Western literature that took very seriously the deep integration and expression of the Divine in nature. He believed that all natural forms were symbolic of facets of God(dess), with all created things expressing aspects of the vast divine unity of love and wisdom, expressed in form and function. William Blake, George Inness, Helen Keller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Hilma af Klint, and Nathaniel Hawthorne, to name a few, were artists deeply inspired by Swedenborg’s writings and some were the spearheads of new forms of art, among other monumental achievements. Through the inspiration of Swedenborg and especially from their lives walking with Divinity, these artists expressed in different ways how the God known-by-many-names is expressed throughout the world around us, and particularly, how each of us is deeply connected to all creation and the artistic Spirit of the Holy One herself in every moment.
Some may find it strange that Swedenborg could serve as such a historical catalyst in the world of art, but nevertheless, even in our exploration of these artists today we will only begin to scratch the surface! Perhaps his relative fame in his day (up until the 20th century) explains his impact to a degree, or perhaps it was just the radical nature of his widespread published spiritual works, which finally introduced into Western culture not only a form of Christianity that truly believed that other faiths could ultimately be saving faiths with the same God, but also a seemingly radical take on Divinity that emphasized nature’s deep expression of him and our own intrinsic unity with that God. More specifically, many artists seemed to explode with newfound expression after being introduced to Swedenborg’s science of correspondences: his deep cosmology about exactly how colors, animals, time, plants, and all geology speak about and connect to God throughout the universe (and particularly, in the correspondences and symbolism of the imagery in scripture).
One such artist was Hilma af Klint, who only recently started gaining recognition as the first progenitor of abstract art. Her work is both profound and beautiful, reportedly inspired partly by Swedenborg’s notions about the deep connections of meaning between color, shape, and nature with the spiritual realm and God. From being a realist, she transitioned to abstraction and strived to express the integration of the spiritual world with the natural, often using symbols to represent the two together. You can see a beautiful example of this in today’s sermon’s imagery from af Klint, apparently meant for an altar. Further, her art and writings often expressed her deep interests in philosophy, atomic theory, and evolution, which were also of deep interest to Swedenborg – who, before his time, wrote about the progression of animals into new species and is credited with having one of the earliest somewhat accurate atomic theories, as well neuroanatomical and nebular hypothesise - if you can believe it!
Another profound artist and a monumental justice worker in her own right was Helen Keller, also partly inspired by Swedenborg’s writings and life. Known for her blind and deafness, Keller wrote beautiful works expressing her deep appreciation for life and Swedenborgian spirituality (see her book on the subject, “My Religion”). Further, her life’s work also centered on uplifting the oppressed of many stripes, writing essays and giving talks about the importance of social justice, socialism, correcting society’s ills, and empowering the downtrodden, as well as leading and inspiring organizations to uplift differently-abled peoples. Saddeningly, many of these aspects of her life are largely ignored in modern reflections of her (although, it’s getting better!), with the hometown museum to her life ignoring most of them completely.
It was against forces of oppression that Keller dedicated her life, and Swedenborg as well. These kindred spirits both emphasized our oneness with each other even in our diversity, emphasizing the Bible’s emphasis on the necessity to uplift the oppressed and reject religious and social condemnation (despite much of Christianity’s legacy). Like af Klint, Keller’s work reminds us of the deep unity between the spiritual realm, humanity, and our earth, with Helen emphasizing Christ’s notion that this unity means that however we treat the lowest of these we ultimately treat God and ourselves.
And finally, William Blake is a particularly famous artist partly inspired by Swedenborgian thought. As part of the first known gathering of people interested in Swedenborg in Britain, Blake referenced many spiritual ideas in his work as well as Swedenborg himself, creating stark images of God and the plight of man, as well as the deep connectedness of spirit with the physical realm. Interestingly, most of Blake’s prints might not exist today if it weren’t for a Swedenborgian friend who housed them until Blake’s fame rose years after his death, as he spent his life largely destitute and unknown.
Some point to evidence of Blake’s contentions with Swedenborg’s ideas over the years as a nullifying factor on Swedenborg’s influence on him. In response, I can’t help but think about the sometimes-rocky nature of the many influential relationships in our own lives! In both poetry and art, Blake purposefully referenced Swedenborgian thought and spent his life in discourse on the subject. He also expressed his deep belief in the connection between humanity, heaven, and hell, as well as with the God at the root of all this creation.
Perhaps most importantly, these artists point to how art, nature, and creativity can serve to invite us into greater awareness of our unity with the Lord and a further appreciation of the sacredness of the universe. Many traditions also use art to help worshipers and practitioners come more into the moment, into a greater presence with Divinity and its infinity and vast beauty, and I believe that this too often happens to us with our favorite films, music, persons, cuisine, and nature paths. This knowingly or unknowingly highlights the opportunity we have with the beauty and creativity around and within us to allow ourselves to come into the peace and compassion of presence, as encouraged by many spiritual traditions.
This presence, partly motivated by an appreciation of the depth of the natural world, helps us to release our grip on painful and hurtful modes of thinking and feeling – chasing or fighting attachments and trauma while worrying about the future and our false ideas of self. The reality of God’s deep presence in and through all creation should also inspire us like it did these artists, leading us to always work to create more spiritual awareness, wholeness, and presence in this world. This should also help us become deeply aware that we are one with all things and in reality, in our compassionate light of awareness, at one with the Great Artist expressed in the undefinable beauty of everything we perceive.
Peace and care to you,
Cory