The Art of Seeing 

The Ancient Egyptian Goddess 

Thursday 30th March 2023 

 7-8pm UK time via Zoom

“The Egyptians lived with an awareness of what might be called the imaginal

– a non-physical yet objective reality that we become aware of through the human faculty of the imagination.

They understood that we were not just terrestrial but cosmic beings“

Dr Jeremy Naydler

 

The ancient Egyptians lived with an understanding of the cosmos that is sometimes difficult for us to grasp today. Seeing themselves not just as earthly, but also cosmic beings, their lives were lived with a continual awareness and preparation for what followed ‘death’ – the afterlife. They lived with a true comprehension of the imaginal through which the sun, the sky and and the forces of nature were seen and felt through the image of gods and goddesses. Their awareness of the imaginal shaped these deities into extraordinary forms – the great statues –  which straddle the animal, human and natural world – an expression of their wholly integrated view of existence. For the ancient Egyptians, the sense of hearing was the most important and primary sense which equated to a greater consciousness, of deep listening as divine knowing. In this session, we will ‘meet’ just one image, one of the greatest goddesses from ancient Egyptian myth whose presence might be worth turning our minds, ears and eyes to in light of the forces currently abound in the world.   This session will offer an approach of theory, participation and reflection in order to get to ‘know’ the image a little better.    

The Art of Seeing – Overview – What are these sessions about?
We know how to read a book and get lost in the other world of the imagination, and we allow ourselves to be moved emotionally and viscerally by music, but have we lost our visionary capacity when it comes to looking at works of art?
Just one work of art will be the focus of our attention and discussion each month. By slowing down and taking time with each work of art, we are able to relax and un-wind, observe detail, character, emotion, gesture, atmosphere, nuances and subtleties presented through the image that are simply not possible from rushed or fleeting glances. When we spend longer than a few minutes looking, we are also able to engage more embodied responses which include imagination, visualisation, contemplation, meditation and reflection, all modalities of knowing and seeing that are just not attainable from a rational mode of looking. Space will be created for you to share what you see, perceive and feel as well as learning a little about the context of each work of art.
These sessions are £10 per person. Email me directly to book at info@maryattwood.com or you can use the PayPal button below.
This session will be recorded. If you are unable to make this time, you can still purchase the recording.