Horizon of the Unseen: Visual Reflections on Spiritual Themes

by Corinne Randall

Overview

Horizon of the Unseen' is a compilation of quotes taken from the eternal and universal truths that exist in all of the world’s spiritual traditions. The twelve themes are interpreted visually by the author, each page containing full colour reproductions. This book grew out of a series of guided meditations run within a counselling centre. The thematic mood of each meditation was then used as inspiration for painting. The artwork describes a meditative space and therefore works in parallel to the text. The diversity of themes result in a spectrum of approaches ranging from figurative to abstract or conceptual. They are drawn together by the metaphors contained within the quotes, that relate the signs and attributes of the physical world back to the One unknowable Essence. We live in an age of extremes. On one hand we see the disintegration of society reflected in much contemporary art. Out of these growing pains, however, a new holistic paradigm is emerging. “Artist” in Sanskrit means “one who sees things fitting together”. By redefining the importance of spirituality to visual art this book strives to demonstrate this obvious but often overlooked purpose of art. The format is simple and accessible but also contains deeper layers of underlying meaning. Horizon of the Unseen is therefore suitable as a gift book, as an aid for meditation or as a source of creative inspiration.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781841509389
Publisher:	Intellect Books
Publication date:	01/01/2005
Series:	Baha'i Books
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	68
File size:	25 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

Read an Excerpt

Horizon of the Unseen

Visual Reflections on Spiritual Themes

---

By Corinne Randall

Intellect Ltd

Copyright © 2005 Corinne Randall
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-84150-938-9

---

CHAPTER 1

Spiritual Journey


The doors of the spiritual
kingdom are open to all.

ABDU'L-BAHA

Thou art but one step away
From the glorious heights above.
Take thou one pace and with the next
advance into the immortal realm.

BAHA'U'LLAH

The pathway of life is the road that leads
to divine knowledge and attainment.

ABDU'L-BAHA

Never loose hope if the beloved pushes you away.
It is your patience that will draw him back.
If he blocks all your roads, be sure.
He will show you a secret way unknown to others.

RUMI

When the heart is pure the spirit enters,
and our growth is natural and assured.

ABDU'L-BAHA

The way is unimpeded harmony;
Its potential may never be fully exploited.
It is as deep as the source of all things:
It blunts the edges, resolves the complications,
harmonizes the light.

LAO TZU

The wayfarer who journeyeth
unto the Crimson Pillar
in the snow-white path,
will never reach his heavenly goal
unless he abandoneth all
that men possess.

The wayfarer ascendeth unto a City
that hath no name or description,
and whereof one heareth neither sound nor mention.
Therein flow the oceans of eternity,
whilst the sun of the Unseen shineth resplendent
above the horizon of the Unseen.

BAHA'U'LLAH

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

T.S.ELIOTT


LIGHT


Our deepest fear is not that we are
inadequate. Our deepest fear it that
we are powerful beyond measure.
We are all meant to shine as children
do and as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
the permission to do the same.

NELSON MANDELA

Love is the light that guideth in darkness,
The living link that assureth the progress
of every illumined soul.

ABDU'L-BAHA

Every particle of the world is a mirror,
in each atom lies the blazing light of a thousand suns.

MAHAMUD SHABESTAN

The Reality of Divinity may be compared to the sun,
which from the height of its magnificence shines
upon all the horizons and each horizon,
and each soul, receives a share of its radiance.
If this light and these rays did not exist,
beings would not exist.

The rays of the Sun of Truth are shed upon all things
and shining within them,
and telling of that Day-Star's splendours,
Its mysteries, and the spreading of Its lights.

ABDU'L-BAHA

As the sun ripens the fruits of the earth and
gives life and warmth to all living beings,
so shines the Sun of Truth on all souls filling them
with the fire of Divine love and understanding.

ABDU'L-BAHA

Keep your face to the sunshine
and you cannot see the shadow.

HELLEN KELLER

The rays of the Sun of Reality
will be reflected in your heart.


INNER VISIONS


"Men should hold in their souls
the vision of celestial perfection,
and there prepare a dwelling-place
for the inexhaustible
bounty of the divine spirit."

Abdu'l-Baha

Leaf sounds talk together
like poets making fresh metaphors.
The green felt cover slips,
and we get a flash
of the mirror underneath.

RUMI

The visible world was made to correspond
to the world invisible and
there is nothing in this world but that which is a symbol
of something in that other world.

AL GHAZALI

Trees show the bodily form of the wind,
Waves give vital energy to the moon.

ZERIN KUSHU

Love is the unique power that bindeth together
the diverse elements of this material world,
the supreme magnetic force that directeth
the movements of the spheres in the celestial realms.

ABDU'L-BAHA

O Universe, all that is in tune with you
is also in tune with me!
Every note of your harmony
resonates in my innermost being.

MARCUS AURELIUS

In every leaf ineffable delights are treasured
and within every chamber
unnumbered mysteries lie hidden.

BAHA'U'LLAH

Sorrow not
for days of blissful joy, of heavenly delight,
are assuredly in store for you.
Worlds, holy and spiritually glorious,
will be unveiled before your eyes.

To each and every one of them you will no doubt attain.

BAHA'U'LLAH

CHAPTER 2

Paradise


Have ye forgotten that true and
radiant mom, when in those
hallowed and blessed surroundings
ye were all gathered
beneath the shade of the tree of life,
which is planted in
the all-glorious paradise?

[TEXT UNREADABLE IN ORIGINAL SOURCE]


Flight


How could the soul not take flight
when from the glorious Presence
a soft call flows sweet as honey,
comes right up to her and whispers,
"Rise up now, come away."

RUMI

Cast away that which ye possess,
and, on the wings of detachment,
soar beyond all created things.

BAHA'U'LLAH

Break all fetters and seek for
spiritual joy and enlightenment;
Then, though you walk on this earth,
You will perceive yourselves
to be within the divine horizon.

ABDU'L-BAHA

Our body is like a cage and the spirit is like a bird.
If the cage becomes broken the bird will continue to exist.
The bird of her soul escaped! Free of the body and the grieving,
flying in a vast simple region that was itself, where it could sing its truth!

RUMI

Freedom is not a matter of place,
but of condition.
If we are imprisoned in the material world,
our spirit can soar into the Heavens
and we shall be free indeed.

ABDU'L-BAHA


The Ocean


This most great,
this fathomless and surging
ocean is near,
astonishingly near,
unto you.
Behold it is closer to you
than your life-vein!

BAHA'U'LLAH

Look not at your own capacities,
for the divine bestowal can transform
a drop into an ocean.

ABDU'L-BAHA

Your souls are as waves on the sea of the spirit;
although each individual is a distinct wave,
the ocean is one, all are united.

ABDU'L-BAHA

Divine bestowals are like the sea
and we are like the fishes in that sea.
The fishes must not look at themselves;
They must behold the ocean which is vast and wonderful.
Provision for the sustenance of all is in this ocean.

ABDU'L-BAHA

O Lord! O Thou Whose bounty granteth wishes!
I stand before Thee, all save Thee forgetting.
Grant that the mote of knowledge in my Spirit
Escape desire and the lowly clay;
Grant that Thine ancient gift, this drop of wisdom,
Merge with Thy mighty sea.

RUMI

(Continues...)

---

Excerpted from Horizon of the Unseen by Corinne Randall. Copyright © 2005 Corinne Randall. Excerpted by permission of Intellect Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---

Table of Contents

Contents

Forming,
Physical (figurative),
Spiritual Journey Our individual spirit forms as we journey through physical life.,
Spiritual (stylized),
Paradise Our spirit forms out of a place of pre-existence we remember as paradise.,
Emotional (abstract),
Transcending Suffering Emotions form out of suffering.,
Conceptual (graphic),
Unity Ideas form out of the universal unity of all things.,
Being,
Physical (figurative),
Light We reflect the Divine light as we interact with the world.,
Spiritual (stylized),
Flight We exist in a state of balance between earth and sky, spirit and form.,
Emotional (abstract),
Happiness Emotions express a state of being through happiness.,
Conceptual (graphic),
The Soul The soul is a conceptual word used to describe our eternal state of being.,
Merging,
Physical (figurative),
Inner Visions The physical merges with the spiritual within our imaginations.,
Spiritual (stylized),
The Ocean We aim to merge once more with the Divine but retain our individuality.,
Emotional (abstract),
Peace With inner peace our desires merge into radiant acceptance.,
Conceptual (graphic),
Nothingness Letting go of preconceived concepts allows our will to merge with the Divine will.,