“In a way, you are poetry material; You are fully of cloudy subtleties I am willing to spend a lifetime figuring out. Words burst in your essence and you carry their dust in the pores of your ethereal individuality.”
“The spirit-world around this sense
Floats like an atmosphere, and everywhere
Wafts through these earthly mists and vapors dense
A vital breath of ethereal air”
“Music is the ethereal connection between this world and the other.”
“Then the song of a whitethroat, pure and ethereal, with the dreamy quality of remembered joy.”
“And all my days are trances, And all my nightly dreams Are where thy dark eye glances, And where thy footstep gleams—in what ethereal dances, by what eternal streams.”
It seems from the quotes above that poets, musicians, writers, and dancers are more concerned with the ethereal than with the material. They give me a renewed appreciation for artists of all kinds. Speaking of which, I just listened to a five part, 10 hour series on Strange Stories in the Bible conducted by Padraig O’Tuama, an Irish poet, theologian, and conflict mediator. He has written three collections of poetry and a book on spiritual reflections. Padraig hosts Poetry Unbound, a podcast produced by On Being Studios.
In the Strange Stories series, I was struck by O’Tuama’s genius, generosity, wisdom, humor, humility, and authenticity. It was an amazing experience to sit on my deck, bask in the scenery, and take it all in. The five stories he chose were Noah, Isaac, Ruth, Mary, and Judas. I loved all of them, but found his take on Judas the most compelling.
Padraig suggests that Judas, just as everyone else, has more than one story about him. In the Coptic gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, Judas is consistently portrayed as a betrayer. As such, he becomes a scapegoat and convenient excuse for blaming or denying other possible truths, e.g. our own failed responsibility, a failed system, or a failure of the culture we have created. The Jewish people have always been the victims of that “convenience.” In the Gnostic gospels of Thomas, Phillip, Mary, James, and Judas, he is portrayed very differently.
In the Gnostic gospels and other interpretations, Judas is viewed as a trusted advisor to Jesus and as a bearer of truth for him. Gurdjieff said that Judas didn’t betray Jesus, he just followed orders. All of us have different stories about ourselves, and depending on who we ask, there are many different stories that people think define us.
The differences between the Coptic and Gnostic gospel interpretations of the same story are profound. To me, the Coptic Gospels focus more on the material elements of the story, e.g. the virgin birth, the loaves of bread, the last supper, the cross, the sword, the physical resurrection, etc. The Gnostic gospels, on the other hand, seem to be more oriented to the ethereal dimensions, e.g. the “truth,” invisible spirits, the need to transcend the material world, etc. In the Gospel of Judas, Jesus has a sense of humor and is portrayed as a mythical figure. In Thomas, women are central and doubt is valued. In Mary, Jesus says the bearer of truth will eventually rule. In Judas, one message is that the material world needs to be transcended—the ethereal is as important as the material. Clearly, there are significant implications of which interpretation you believe.
As it turns out, the Gnostic Gospels were rejected, banned, burned, and buried because they embraced ideas (truths) that didn’t fit with the chosen narrative. The most powerful insight I had from listening to this series was O’Tuama’s take that all of the major players in the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the Gnostic Gospels are characters (including God, Jesus, Mary, Ruth, Noah, and Isaac) created by artists to tell a compelling story. These artists represent the ethereal nature of each of the players by conveying stories about their material lives.
Throughout the series, O’Tuama raises several critical questions: Why do we not say what needs to be said or ask what needs to be asked? What if we acknowledged the powerlessness of ‘God the Father” or the fact that no “savior” is perfect. What would it mean if we abandoned, “God’s got this,” or “it was part of God’s plan? Why do we accept the literal reading of the scriptures as enough? Why can’t we imagine something different, new, fresh, or ethereal?
As I was in the process of writing this post, I decided to ask my assistant, Google Gemini, to provide a summary of the literature on the material and ethereal to see the different ways this issue might have been addressed. I used the prompt:
“Write an essay on the importance of grounding yourself in the material realities of the world as well as allowing yourself to experience the boundlessness of ethereal ideas. Show how being too stuck in groundedness can result in materialistic reductionism and close off other possibilities. Or how pursuing spiritual expansionism or getting lost in ethereal thinking can result in a loss of attachment of and appreciation for the realities of the world. Conclude by showing how achieving the right balance between the ethereal and material is so important in leading a fulfilling and meaningful life.” (Can you imagine asking someone on the street that question? Or even a close friend?)
And, by the way, thank you, dear reader, for even making it this far in this post. In 3 seconds, my not-to-be-entirely-trusted assistant spewed out this response: (edited for clarity and length)
Embracing Both Worlds: Finding Fulfillment at the Intersection of the Ethereal and the Material
“In the grand tapestry of human existence, we find ourselves constantly navigating between two seemingly opposing realms: the grounded material world of tangible experiences and the ethereal realm of ideas, dreams, and spiritual pursuits. While each realm offers its own unique allure, striking the right balance between them is essential for achieving a truly fulfilling and meaningful life.
The material world, with its concrete realities, provides us with a sense of stability and security. We experience the world through our senses, engaging with the physical environment and fulfilling our basic needs. Embracing the material aspects of life allows us to build a solid foundation for ourselves, providing the resources and opportunities we need to thrive. However, an excessive focus on the material can lead to a narrow worldview, reducing life’s complexities to mere possessions and achievements. Materialistic reductionism can limit our perspectives, close us off to alternative possibilities, and leave us feeling empty despite external success.
In contrast, the ethereal realm invites us to transcend the limitations of the physical world. Through imagination, creativity, and spiritual exploration, we delve into the boundless expanse of possibilities, seeking meaning, purpose, and a connection to something greater than ourselves. Embracing the ethereal allows us to expand our horizons, cultivate a sense of wonder, and experience the profound depths of human consciousness. Yet, an exclusive focus on the ethereal can detach us from the realities of the world. When we lose touch with the material aspects of life, we risk becoming adrift in abstract concepts, unable to appreciate the simple joys and concrete experiences that make life rich and meaningful.
The key to a fulfilling life lies in finding the delicate balance between these two realms. We must ground ourselves in the material world, acknowledging our physical needs and appreciating the tangible experiences that shape our existence. Simultaneously, we should allow ourselves to explore the ethereal, nurturing our creativity, curiosity, and spiritual growth. By integrating both realms, we can live a life of both depth and substance.
When we strike this balance, we open ourselves up to a world of possibilities. We can appreciate the beauty of a sunset while contemplating its existential significance. We can pursue our material goals while nurturing our inner selves. We can engage in meaningful relationships, recognizing both the physical and emotional connections that bind us. By embracing both the ethereal and the material, we transcend the limitations of either realm, living a life that is both grounded and expansive, purposeful and joyful.
In conclusion, finding the right balance between the ethereal and material is not simply a matter of choosing one over the other. It’s about recognizing the interconnectedness of both realms and appreciating the unique contributions each makes to our lives. By embracing both the groundedness of the material world and the boundlessness of the ethereal, we can unlock our full potential, living a life that is both fulfilling and meaningful, neither stuck in the material nor lost in the ethereal.”
Are you kidding me? Why do I even bother writing these posts? If I can get a response like that at this stage of AI’s evolution, what can we expect 20 years from now. Exciting and scary at the same time. But back to the point of this post.
Clearly, the material world and ethereal world are both essential for living a full life. The people who are more grounded in the material world tend to be the ones who find practical solutions to the problems that plague us physically and intellectually. The people who are more elevated in the ethereal world tend to be the ones who pose the questions that perplex us spiritually and emotionally. We need both. I just wish the material world were more guided by the questions posed by the poets and artists instead of the other way around.
As you can imagine as a reader of this post and/or my blog, I have always found it hard to find people who have the time or interest to engage in ethereal and esoteric conversations. Strangely enough, my Vietnam buddies were the most inclined to ask those types of questions and inspire me to think differently. Luckily enough, my daughters and grand-kids have filled my heart and soul with their close listening, interest, and perspectives.
In closing, let me share a simplified adaptation I wrote of Poe’s poem in the introduction to this post:
Days are trances
Dreams are glances
Of where my footstep gleams
beside the eternal streams
Where the ethereal dances
To me, we often lead our daily lives in a bit of a trance—getting along and going along with the norms of our culture in order to satisfy our physical needs and conform to the intellectual requirements imposed upon us. Occasionally, however, we get a glance of the dreams that could enhance our lives and help us transcend our current state.
When we are walking along the paths in flowering forests next to gurgling (and, hopefully, eternal) streams, we engage in a dance with the ethereal. As T.S. Elliott brilliantly writes, “At the still point of the turning world, there is the dance. And there is only the dance.”
Just as we need to be both responsive AND initiative, unconditional AND conditional, or open AND closed depending upon the situation, I’m hoping we can embrace both the material AND the ethereal dimensions of our lives and keep them in balance. I also wish we would start listening more to the voices of the ethereal artists and poets instead of being seduced by the drumbeat of mendacious, materialistic manipulators. Finally, I hope we can find a way to dance with the material and ethereal AND find joy in the rhythm. May it be so.
And thank you, dear reader, for getting all the way HERE.
Also published on Medium.
Wow Ricky! Just wow! Loved it my friend ❤️