Universes Beyond the Visible ~ Elements of Dream

December 21^st 2005, the Winter Solstice and the shortest day of the year, became, for Joseph and myself, in all its glory, the day which the ancient Celtic tradition defines as that of the Birth of the Sun.

This paradox became a reality which nevertheless makes all the sense, not only because after December 21^st the days begin, indeed, to grow again, but also because this year, on this particular day, a long cherished Dream became Visible and palpable to both of us:

Our book “Universes Beyond the Visible ~ Elements of Dream”, combining Joseph’s photography with his and my texts of poetry and poetic prose, was pre-released to the public in the course of a warm, friendly and very festive reception which we hosted in the city of Porto, Portugal.

Surrounded by all of those who are truly essential Elements in our Universe of affections, both those to whom it was possible to be physically with us and those whose presence was deeply sensed spiritually, we were fortunate to experience moments of a greater happiness than it is possible to express, for which we feel deeply grateful.

You see, to us, this event, which makes us indeed as happy as any author is when his or her books are published, has a much deeper significance. In fact, this book is the physical symbol of our complete mergence, not only in Art, but also, and especially, in Life.

The essence of our Love and of our Dreams of a lifetime has taken substance in the perfect mergence of images and words, brought together as breaths which are simultaneously offered and received in a kiss of Wholeness. This book is… OneLight*:

Light blossomed
when eyes merged dreams at sea
and
sea merged Love dreamed
by
gods lighting nocturnal fires upon divine emergences…
Light bloomed
when smiles poured wonders at sea
and
sea poured wonders orchestrated
by
gods harmonizing nocturnal sighs within divine embraces…
Light became
Sea
when
Night fainted by the Absolute in spasm
and
sea was divine glow
of
gods in Love
planting
waves of radiance
within a salty womb
of
Dreams.

© 2004/2005 Alexandra* ~ OneLight*® Authors & Creations

This poem, while defining, in a sense, a part of the OneLight*® concept, does not intend to convey the idea that we think of ourselves as gods. However, we do perceive in ourselves and in all beings a common essence that may probably be defined as divine. As far as it is possible for me to describe it, we perceive the soul as universal, all-inclusive and infinite Energy. In Its pure essence, it is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, does not have a substance or a form, and is the supreme creator which many identify and recognize and many do not identify and deny as the Spirit of God. In this same pure essence, It permeates - I personally don't understand that It "takes" - different substances and the most varied forms, and thus is, again, what many recognize (and many don't) as the Spark, thus the Spirit of Life – or the essence of gods - in every being, and in all things, from the apparently most insignificant, to the apparently most extraordinary and relevant.

These varied substances and forms which the Essential Energy permeates, are, in our unassuming and always flexible perception, the restrictive and restricted ones, and thus, they are not omnipotent, or omniscient, or omnipresent, or infinite, but they do have the attribute of continuity in that they are in constant evolution and transformation, and they "bear" the Spirit which is, therefore, simultaneously intrinsic and extrinsic to them. Hence, to us, to everything:

I want to understand the earth
run it through my fingertips
inhale its special scent.
I want to know its secrets
how it provides a foundation
for the roots of Creation to grow.
It will take a lifetime
to acquaint myself with the earth
but I don’t mind
I don’t mind at all…

I want to understand the waters
to drink, to taste, to feel.
I want to know their secrets
they are an essential Fountain of Life
for all Creation.
They are part of me
and I want to flow within their rhythm
to follow their journey back to the Source.
It will take a lifetime
to acquaint myself with the waters
but I don’t mind
I don’t mind at all…

I want to understand the fire
to dance with it and feel its warmth.
I want to know its secrets
how it is a light within itself
that sparked Creation
and illumines all paths before us.
It will take a lifetime
to acquaint myself with fire
but I don’t mind
I don’t mind at all…

I want to understand the wind
maybe soar with it
as it moves through the trees
or underneath a bird’s wings.
I want to know its secrets
where it comes from, where it goes
and how it is the breath
that sustains all living things.
It will take a lifetime
to acquaint myself with the wind
but I don’t mind
I don’t mind at all…

I want to understand myself
how my existence is so entwined
with these four elements.
How my body, mind and spirit
fit into this delicate balance of Life
and how I can contribute my best
for the benefit of all Creation.
It will take a lifetime
to acquaint myself with my true self
but I don’t mind
I don’t mind at all…

I want to understand you.
You are different, somehow,
in body, mind and spirit
yet you are so much like me.
You, as much as I
share an intimacy
with the four elements
of a whole Creation.
Let me embrace you.
Let us give Love freely to one another.
It will take a lifetime
for us to acquaint ourselves with each other
but I don’t mind
I don’t mind at all!

© 2004/2005 Joseph* ~ OneLight*® Authors & Creations

We also dare perceiving the Energy as a Whole, and all beings and all things as Segments of the Whole, not always in consonance, not always in harmony, not always recognizing themselves - ourselves - as such, and more often than not, torn apart and opposed in their individuality, thus constraining, and even obstructing, their own - our own - Wholeness.

In this, you are now probably identifying the concept of OneLight*® that may have intrigued you and others who have seen us use this "name" after our own, and of which we both spontaneously became conscious in each other, when we met. First through our writings and other creative expressions, then within the evolution of a more and more intimate relationship, blended inspirations, and perceptions of one expressed in the conceptions of the other, began to flow as naturally and effortlessly as the air we breathe. And when I mention this effortless coalescence, I would like to make it clear that it happened and happens, ultimately and primarily, because in our artistic and personal mergence, we have never lost our fundamental and unique individual paths, and neither of us has ever felt the compulsion, so disastrous, invariably, in its outcome, to impersonate one another's styles, or to restrain one another's individuality. In short, neither of us has ever sought to become the other, and neither of us has ever found light and growth by placing the other in the shade or under constraints of any kind.

For us, Art, Dream, Love, and thus Life are freedom, and neither exists or is whole when their wings are clipped or their voices are silenced. When their flow is obstructed, thus obstructing the flow of the Essential Energy. And in this freedom, fulfillment pervades us as we allow ourselves to become one with it, and One with the Energy that is simultaneously universal, of the two, and of each one of us.

So, more than in kindred Souls, we believe in One Soul, and in any said Twin Souls, we see two Halves of One that have recognized themselves as such in one another, and are thus probably closer to the consciousness of being two of the endless Segments of One - endless segments, with endless forms and endless substances pervaded by One Essential Energy.

With all this, dear friends, what we wish to share with you all is our hope that your lives may bring together more "fragments" of the Whole, and that your mutual discoveries and coalescences may be a marvelous part of the most universal, and yet, probably the most intimate of the being's quests: to understand its own intrinsic sense, and simultaneously, its sense within the universe, and then, through this, to understand the sense of the Universe itself.

And to all, may the New Year bring about the convergence of all the Elements of your Dreams and make them spark, breathe, flow and become seeds to sprout infinite Universes Beyond the Visible along your Path.

From within all Love&Light*
Your grateful friends and fellow authors,

Alexandra*&Joseph* ~ OneLight*® Authors & Creations