The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors

[Fluorescent Leaf]

Hi DMT Nexus Community!

A few of you mentioned the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, owned by Alex Grey and Allyson Grey. They just re-opened their doors a month ago. Finally! There's no other place like CoSM. Years ago, I wrote a paper about CoSM for a college class - the class was about drugs. Awesome! I never finished the paper, and therefore, I got an A minus. Radical! I want to share excerpts from a printout of my paper I have here in front of me to help folks who have never been to CoSM understand it in greater detail, and hopefully, you'll make the trip out there, if you haven't been yet! (That sounds like exploration of space, lol!).

Here goes:

"We Take Sacrament Sacramentally"


"The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, lovingly called CoSM, is a transdenominational church of visionary art and a spiritual community center nestled in Wappingers Falls, a small town in the Hudson Valley. CoSM's mission is "to build an enduring sanctuary of visionary art", and one of its 5 core values is "to build community that bridges creativity and spirituality". CoSM provides an outstanding exhibition, open to the public, of the visionary artworks of Alex and Allyson Grey, CoSM's founders. It is supported solely by charitable donations."

"The main house has an extensive library of books on mysticism and the arts, The Mushroom Cafe, CoSM Shop (it's a gift shop that sells psychedelic clothing, jewelry, and posters), a classroom, private rooms, continental breakfast, and other amenities available for overnight guests and day-visitors. Outdoors, CoSM offers 40 acres of wooded grounds to explore, filled with hiking trails, and large art installations of an impressive stature. Many guests are seeking an escape from the city, and travel to CoSM to relax in the tranquil beauty of nature."

"Other guests come to CoSM for the different events that are offered. One of such is Art Church, which is a artistic exercise, as a group, offered on Sundays. A variety of different workshops draw in guests; the topics range from mycology to permaculture. On the Saturday closest to the full moon of each month, full-moon gatherings are held that feature psyrtrance DJ's and dancing, an outdoor bonfire, face-painting, fire-spinners, belly-dancing, acrobatics, and tarot card readings; and then, it all ends at 1 o'clock in the morning with a group howl at the moon. The Vernal Equinox, Autumnal Equinox, Summer Solstice, and Winter Solstice draw in even larger numbers of guests than the monthly full moons."

Then, I mentioned some personal things in a few paragraphs. I don't want to include anything that would give away my identity here, so I'm going to jump to the end of the paper. I ended the paper with a list:

"Safety Tips for CoSM Newcomers"

"Based on my personal experience and ethnographic observations, here are some individual safety recommendations for first-timers at CoSM:

1. Be careful and choose your words carefully.
2. Don't bring alcohol. The security guards check bags for alcohol. Alcohol is taboo at CoSM.
3. Don't ask staff members for psychedelics or where you can get psychedelics.
4. If you want to become a staff member, remember that you have to be hired from the inside. In other words, you have to be hand-selected by someone who is already working there.
5. Leave promptly when the events are over. Don't stick around.
6. If you want to be a day-visitor, remember that CoSM is only open Friday through Monday. Don't show up on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays - CoSM is closed, and the staff needs time to unwind.
7. Psychedelics/entheogens/sacraments are talked about openly and frequently at CoSM, but do not confuse this with thinking that the Greys want you to take these sacred substances on their property. They have repeatedly said in many speeches, "We don't want you doing it here"."


So, that was the bulk of my paper...and it was alot of fun writing it. Lastly, I want to add that this was years ago, before CoSM temporarily shut down (for 3 years!). Now that creative engine is back up and running, better than before, with tours of Entheon being offered. A number of upcoming events were recently added to the calendar, with tickets going fast. To say the least, the Greys have worked very hard. They're amazing human beings, and CoSM is an incredible place.

I would love to hear your thoughts about the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (new and improved!).

Fluorescent Leaf

 

[ContentCarrier]

That place is something else, and so are the people. Feels like home to me. Went twice in 2019, hoping to visit again next year.

Here's what I wrote back in 2019:

This was 2019 - Passing the torch

It is January 7th and we are sitting at a round table in the dining area of the Grey House. Lunch hour is over for guests and volunteers. No one is sitting at the other tables and there is me, Alex and Allyson Grey and Hospitality Manager Genevieve Wood listening intently.

The night before I had left the house after dark to explore the Wisdom Trail that cuts through the surrounding woodland. Located in scenic Hudson Valley, NY, the artist retreat Chapel of Sacred Mirrors serves as a sanctuary for the creative spirit. It also acts as an exhibition space for the visionary artwork of the Greys and numerous other artists.

Walking through the forest with a map of the domain and a small flashlight in hand, I froze up when I heard rustling bushes and noticed a silhouette nearby reaching to about hip height. The hunched creature made a hissing sound when I pointed in its direction and I turned away, returning to the path I had abandoned.

"May have been a coyote. Or a bobcat," says Alex.

"The animal spirits are not at peace," says Genevieve to the Greys. "They haven't gotten used to our human presence here yet. We have to respect their boundaries." The others at the table agree and, naturally, so do I.

Youth for Climate

Three days later I am back in Belgium. Riding the train from where I live to Antwerp there is a girl across from me holding a cardboard sign inside a tote bag. It reads 'Youth For Climate'. She exits at Central Station where she joins other students carrying other slogans: 'Protect What You Love', 'Where Is My Future?', 'Climate Change Is Happening'.

2019 became the year of climate protests. Time Magazine's Person of the Year Greta Thunberg walked the streets of Antwerp on February 28th in solidarity with the youth movement. Parents and grandparents joined in that day to express support for the cause.

Many of the protesters have been blaming previous generations for their inaction. I believe more progress can be made by sharing our concerns with those people that have come before us, without resorting to condemnation. Knowledge and wisdom must be imparted from one generation to the next. That is what we call 'passing the torch'.

Midsommar

This year's favorite film Midsommar takes that same notion of generational passage and turns it around in a horrific way. A group of American students are invited by their Swedish classmate Pelle to visit his hometown. They attend the midsummer festivities of the local commune he grew up in. Upon their arrival, Pelle informs the rest about the peculiar rituals performed by the Swedish community:

"We think of life like the seasons. You are a child until 18, and that’s the Spring. At some point we all do our Pilgrimage, and that’s between 18 and 36. That is Summer. Then, from 36 to 54, you’re of working age, which is Fall. And finally from 54 to 72, you become a mentor."

"What happens when you turn 72, then?" asks one of his classmates. Pelle makes a comical throat slash gesture, to the amusement of the Americans.

As the story goes on to show, the people of the commune in fact do have an unusually cruel way of keeping traditions. The film slowly builds to an overwhelming finale, in which the evil spirits of the past are set aflame to make room for the promise of the new.

Tool

After 13 years, music outfit Tool returns with a new release: Fear Inoculum. The metal opus reaches No.1 on Billboard's Top 200, thereby dethroning Taylor Swift's 'Lover'.

Just like on the two previous records, Alex Grey contributed to the cover art for the album. The imagery is a clear reference to one of Grey's earlier works, entitled 'Polar Unity' (1975). We see a form of tunnel spiraling from dark to light, a dim sign of hope amid a black mysterious vortex.

In many ways, it feels as if we are living in dark times. The challenges that lie before us can be paralyzing and almost insurmountable, be it environmental, social or technological. The point may be to acknowledge this and to find purpose in consciously lighting the flame inside each and everyone of us.

Vocalist Maynard James Keenan calls out in 'Pneuma': "Wake up now, child. Release the light."

Wishing you warm festivities and an illuminating, wondrous new year.