Nordic Heritage and Emanation
With my upcoming show I will use a pictorial device, the emanation of line and form from a selected point of origin. Emanation mostly refers to the unitive mysticism of Plotinus who developed a theological system that combined Platonic and Aristotelian cosmology. His system was simple and beautiful and has since been adopted on some level by all Abrahamic faiths (and probably has its origin in the Vedas). Emanation also fits well into a poetic reading of current scientific cosmology. We all literally, have our origin in a singularity. “Divine mind”- the first emanation from the "one" can be thought of as mathematics, number sense, physical laws, etc. Emanation is a useful tool if one wants to view reality in a positive light.
In Norse Emanation, emanation is used to declare Nordic heritage as essentially good and developing out of a shared universal set of archetypes. To celebrate Nordic heritage with emanation is not to say that other cultures could not share this honor. Indeed, any indigenous culture should be seen as valued and emerging from a shared humanity. This work contains that assumption. This is not to say that traditional cultures should be accepted uncritically however. Re-envisioning any past culture by a modern descendent is always an act of cherry picking. There are certainly aspects of ancient Viking culture that were barbaric and no contemporary world citizen would advocate “chopping off the feet of your prisoners.”
Still, there is value in feeling connected. Whether to heritage or starlight, the ontological truth is less important than the sense of “I’m good” and “The World is Good”. As Neil Young once said “You can’t do good unless you feel good inside”. Emanation is all about “The Good” while Nordic Heritage is seen only as “good” sometimes – in pop-cultural cartoon versions. Nordic Heritage at times spans only the harmless cartoon Hagar to the juvenile Molly Hatchet album cover. Norse identity goes deeper than this but for now remains vague and unconscious. Norse Emanation at this point is a searching, a longing for connection. How much discontent can be healed is unknown.
In Norse Emanation, emanation is used to declare Nordic heritage as essentially good and developing out of a shared universal set of archetypes. To celebrate Nordic heritage with emanation is not to say that other cultures could not share this honor. Indeed, any indigenous culture should be seen as valued and emerging from a shared humanity. This work contains that assumption. This is not to say that traditional cultures should be accepted uncritically however. Re-envisioning any past culture by a modern descendent is always an act of cherry picking. There are certainly aspects of ancient Viking culture that were barbaric and no contemporary world citizen would advocate “chopping off the feet of your prisoners.”
Still, there is value in feeling connected. Whether to heritage or starlight, the ontological truth is less important than the sense of “I’m good” and “The World is Good”. As Neil Young once said “You can’t do good unless you feel good inside”. Emanation is all about “The Good” while Nordic Heritage is seen only as “good” sometimes – in pop-cultural cartoon versions. Nordic Heritage at times spans only the harmless cartoon Hagar to the juvenile Molly Hatchet album cover. Norse identity goes deeper than this but for now remains vague and unconscious. Norse Emanation at this point is a searching, a longing for connection. How much discontent can be healed is unknown.
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