Spirituality and Myth

Filed Under Art & Film, Blog, Spirituality | Leave a Comment

A journey I never wanted to end, Werner Herzog’s Cave of Forgotten Dreams, is both a learning experience and a spiritual journey. In it I found my love of spirituality honored and an access to connecting with the people of a different time, the evolution of not only humanity but of the human soul. It amazed me that Herzog paid homage not only to the art historian, the archaeologist, and the scientist, but also the spiritualist.

This film is multilayered with art, how we as humans express ourselves, and our journey as a soul ~ our oneness together. In this film noted prehistorian Jean Clottes points out the paleolithic “concepts which produce a world view, fluidity and permeability”. To the paleolithic fluidity is the ability for a tree to speak, a man to become animal. This speaks not only to the spiritual concept and practice of shapeshifting, but to the multiple different cultures around the world that have used this as their spiritual context. Native American groups, for instance, have combined with animal spirits such as bear and eagle for centuries to receive spiritual guidance and become one with their surroundings and the earth. Through this is the ability to learn not only from books, but to listen and learn from the environment around us. To truly experience this the paleolithic peoples embraced the second concept of permeability, “there are no barriers between our world and the world of the spirits” (Ibid.). Clottes explains that to the paleolithic Shaman they could speak to the world of the spirits and the spirits could speak through them.

Woman and Bull

These concepts are tied back to the physical in the film team’s exploration of the only human image found in the cave, the painting of a female form combined with a bull (or Minotaur). As the film points out this is extraordinary because it means that we as humans have had a collective story of the myth of the woman and the bull for at least 28,000 years. It is further inspiring though because it points to a connection with other cultures of the worship of the goddess. This is a connection to the collective human spirit’s worship of the divine and all that provides for us.

Our spirit seeks oneness and it is oneness I found in Cave of Forgotten Dreams. From the spiritual context of the paleolithic people that ties to the modern day Aborigines to the combination of the team exploring the cave, a sense of common spirit prevailed. Watching scientist, art historians, perfumers, archaeologist, and paleontologist combining their skills to form the story of this cave and add to the journey of the human spirit moved my heart and stirred my soul.

Although parts of the film take patience for the viewer used to watching a more faced paced film scenario, it is akin to the reward found in being silent and still while watching nature unfold. Your spirit finds peace and you can hear that sometimes very quite voice calling you towards your purpose for higher good.

(Image Courtesy Bradshaw Foundation)