Envisioning A New Earth
By: Gabriella Evangeline
Tags: Art, Creativity, Social Change, Vision, Spirituality

Alex Grey is a visionary mystic artist who believes that every one of us has a divine responsibility to create art. I love thinking about creating art as a responsibility rather than as an indulgence, hobby or general pastime. When we think about creating art being our responsibility it suddenly becomes so much more important, it’s bigger than us- the true possibilities begin to unfold. I often think about how different my life would be if my favourite artists hadn’t shared their art with the world. What if I had never discovered their poems or songs or photographs and paintings? Would I be the same person? My own art may have turned out very differently if it weren’t for the artists who came before me. The most talented musicians I’ve ever known have all been people in my own life who have never released their music, and maybe never will. While we tend to think about releasing our own art as something deeply personal and quite exposing, in reality art has far reaching effects that greatly surpass the individual who created it.

You can never know what the effects of your art will be on others. If you scroll down to the comments of any song on YouTube you’re bound to run into a few that say “this band saved my life”. If someone told you that your art could save someone’s life you wouldn’t be so hesitant to release it. Our creations are not about us, they’re about everything and everyone. The more music, poetry, paintings, photography and any other art form you can think of that people create the more beautiful our world will become. Creating and expressing yourself gives other people permission to create and express themselves, it validates people’s feelings when you express your true and authentic experiences, it lets others know they are not alone, and it connects us on a deeply spiritual and metaphysical level.

Yesterday I had a conversation with a guy on the street who told me he was a rapper but that he hadn’t released anything yet because he was procrastinating and didn’t have enough self-belief. It made me wonder how many people are walking around with these secret talents and ideas that could potentially change not only their own lives but the lives of everyone around them? We simply can’t afford to keep these things to ourselves any longer. I believe that everyone is a creative being who has their own individual creative mission and responsibility, but I also believe that we have a collective creative responsibility. I write and talk a lot about changing the world and the systems that currently function within it- it’s easy to point out the problems, since they’re so evident, and generally most people agree that things aren’t ideal. I don’t think anyone wants to live in a world where vast numbers of people suffer so intensely, no matter how indifferent some people may seem. I’ve found that the problem lies in coming up with solutions. Often when I talk about how capitalism doesn’t work someone will hit back with a “but communism doesn’t work either!” as if there are only two options available to us. I realised that it’s our collective lack of imagination that’s hindering our ability to envision a different world.

Albert Einstein famously said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge”, and it’s only now that I truly know what he meant. I’ve written in a previous article that I think most people accept depression/feeling unfulfilled as the background radiation of their lives, and I still believe that however I don’t believe they don’t want change, or wouldn’t embrace change if it was suddenly thrust upon them. I think they’re suffering from an acute lack of imagination. The world we live in actively discourages creativity and imagination. Schools and jobs teach us to conform, capitalism makes sure our survival is at the top of our priorities and makes art and creativity seem like silly frivolities only available to the rich and privileged. That’s why individual creativity and art needs to be embraced and explored. If someone is too scared to paint because they “aren’t good enough” or maybe they do paint or sing or do something creative but they’re too scared to share it with anyone- then they definitely won’t come forward with pioneering and creative ideas about how to change the world or make it a better place.

The more creative we can be in our own lives and with our own art then the more creative and imaginative we can be as a collective. If we make creativity the norm and accept the fact that everyone is an artist in some way, and we get rid of the idea that you have to be “good” to create something or showcase it, then people raised with those ideals will be more open to new ideas about how to run society. In order for us to fight for a better world we really need to know what this world will look like. People only fight for things they can truly conceptualise. To many, the idea of “freedom” or “change” is just too vague. It isn’t enough to give up our comforts and familiar ways for a vision we can’t quite see.

A great example of this is the TV series Roots. A story about slavery, it follows the story of the main character Kunta Kinte. We see him going about his life in his African village- dancing, singing, being initiated into the tribe and generally enjoying his life. We see him get violently kidnapped and sold into the transatlantic slave trade. Throughout the series he attempts to escape multiple times, facing atrocious consequences such as having his toes chopped off, but still he persists in his efforts to gain freedom. His escape efforts are greatly contrasted by the attitudes of the other slaves on the plantation- they accept their lot, they do not try to escape and they think Kunta Kinte is crazy for trying to. For the slaves born into slavery they simply can’t imagine a different way of life, they have never been exposed to anything remotely like it, so they will never fight for it. Kunta on the other hand is from a completely different world- he knows what’s possible and he’s willing to do anything to get back to it.

Most of us have never experienced anything other than our current realities which is why it’s so important to dare to imagine something greater and keep the flame of creativity alive inside our hearts. Although the story of Kunta Kinte is a fictional one, slavery was very real and I often wondered why slaves didn’t revolt more often, have some kind of revolution, try to escape? But then I also wonder why people are content with the way things are now. The 9–5 jobs, having to purchase basic essentials like food and water, the amount of poverty and homelessness and all of the other problems that come along with capitalism. The answer is the same, it’s all they’ve ever known and they have accepted it as “simply life”.

Life is our greatest canvas. Our biggest project. Even though many people may be content enough or “OK” with how things are, why can’t we dare to dream of more? And what about the people who are suffering greatly? A society that fails even one person is a society that fails everyone. Like the ripple effects of releasing art into the world, suffering in the world also has ripple effects far and wide. Since we are all connected it is in our interest for everyone to be happy and healthy so they can offer their own unique and creative gifts to us all.

I want to live in a world where people are not just “alright” but amazing, alive, creative and free. There is more than enough for everyone on Earth- more than enough food, water, shelter and love. I want more for myself and I want more for the people around me.

The first step towards this change is to imagine it — and that’s the fun part. If we all take on this collective project of envisioning a new Earth it won’t feel so daunting and scary, we need so many different ideas and visions of how life could be so that we can create a coherent picture of the future. We need all kinds of different artists- story tellers, musicians, poets, painters and photographers, short film makers- the more interpretations of this new Earth that we have then the stronger the vision and the more willing we will all be to fight for this new way of life.

Writing down and sharing even the smallest ideas is imperative, the most radical acts of change are often the smallest. Maybe you’ve had some of these ideas yourself. It could be anything from giving food and clothes to homeless people, starting up a community garden, organising a clothes swap instead of fuelling fast fashion. Or maybe you want to be even more daring and make friends with a stranger, invite that lonely old person in your neighbourhood over for tea or quit your job and start pursuing your real passions. The more unorthodox and unusual the better. In a world where homeless people begging outside of supermarkets stocked full of food is normal and acceptable it’s really time to rethink our values and do away with social convention.

Returning to the theme of slavery and Kunta Kinte- I’m sure that the world we inhabit now would have seemed impossible to a slave on a plantation. Slavery abolitionists were considered dreamers and out of touch with reality because of how common and accepted slavery was. It’s only ever the people who are willing to challenge the current narrative that create true and lasting change. Our creativity and imagination is our greatest power and we can never stop imagining how things could be, it’s too dangerous to simply accept how things are and not push for a more just and fair world. I’m sure people will look back at our times and be appalled at the injustices and atrocities that were allowed to occur.

How could things change if we approach our lives and the world around us as our divine, creative responsibility? I’m intrigued to find out.

“Another world is not only possible; she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing”- Arundhati Roy

The Inner Artist (by Alex Grey)

The inner artist guides us toward actions that serve our soul’s emergence.

The inner artist is not the voice of reason.

The inner artists can have wild and impossible ideas.

Artists are most themselves when they are out of their minds, transcending the ego skirmishes of conceptual thought, and intuitively relinquishing control to the greater Creator.

The inner artist is not the voice of comfort.

The artist challenges us to work at the peak of our potential and guides us toward greater beauty, meaning and love.

What decisions in our lives and work could satisfy and fulfil the artist in our soul?

If our lives are the most important canvas, let the inner artist guide the strokes and make the best possible picture of it.

If our lives are the most important theatrical production, let the inner artist unfold the plot, making decisions that bring excitement, wonder and revelation into life.

How does every nuance and whisper of colour, design, or music affect our feelings?

Our artist temperament is deeply penetrated by the experiences of all the senses- not just the five senses, but the moral and spiritual sense, as well.

The artist soul is open to and pounded by all the forces of creation, yet instead of shattering, is compressed into a radiant diamond.

The inner artist is not only sensitive, but takes action to make each project, and life itself, into a beautiful and meaningful creation.

The inner artist finds inventive ways of sharing gifts, inviting relationships and participation in life.

The inner artist has faith in and surrenders to God’s limitless creativity, combining aspects of both the mystic and the engineer to bring spirit into form.

Listen to the inner artist and begin your Magnum Opus. — Alex Grey.