Interrelatedness. An Ideal Image of Contemporary Spirituality By addressing the work of Alex Grey this paper will argue the existence of a universal consciousness accessible to everyone. The analysis will take place within Anthony Talmage’s theory of Cosmogenic Energy and Doctor Susan Blackmore’s conclusions in regards to her studies and experiments. In his book In Tune With The Infinite Mind, Anthony Talmage is bringing in discussion the Theory of Formative Causation of Doctor Rupert Sheldrake as well as many aspects of Quantum Physics as sources of his answer to a few existential questions. He decides that the humankind is influenced by forces around us. Moreover, he is convinced that both the Universe and thought are energy. Talmage is sustaining his theory by quoting in his book the well know scientist Albert Einstein ‘After years of thought, study and contemplation I have come to the conclusion that there is only one thing in the universe and that is energy – beyond that there is a supreme intelligence’(Talmage, p.6). Another argument in favour of his view is The Double Slit Experiment. The experiment proves how photons react under certain circumstances. Jim Al-Khalili is explaining the experiment in a YouTube video of The Royal Institution. At the end of his speech he addresses the public a request ‘Now, if you can explain this using common sense and logic, do let me know because there’s a Nobel Prize for you.’(The Royal Institution, 2013). One might ask why mentioning the quantum world? The answer is that ‘The manifestations of the quantum world are out of this world. Those of us for whom the quantum realm is the stuff of frizzy-haired geniuses can take heart. Frizzy-haired geniuses don’t know what’s going on either. But something remarkable is happening, the greater understanding of which could change human destiny. And you are part of it.’(Talmage, p.11) Many other scientists conducted experiments intended to understand what is happening. For example, up-close analysis of the Einstein-Podolski-Rosen paradox served as an important cue to the theory that everything is interconnected. Another worth mentioning thing is the explanation of Quantum entanglement which is the existence of a connection between two particles separated by huge distances where one can affect the other immediately without a time lag of the action of travel. If science can prove all that, a logical assumption is that ‘We influence ‘out there’ and ‘out there’ influences us, which is where inspiration, music, art, inventions, new ideas come from.’(Talmage, p.2) Awareness is knowledge in the form of an ability to perceive a situation. Its existence is leading the current society towards change. The author J. D. Rhodes writes about this topic in her book Awareness…Something like Spirituality vs. Religion. She is pointing towards the change within the society ‘Awareness is infiltrating the ranks. People all over the world are questioning where we’ve been and where we are now going. Not technologically. That’s where we’ve been. I’m talking spiritually, intellectually, philosophically, intuitively. Those things with which we’ve lost touch and feel, hear and see.’ (Rhodes, 2007). Furthermore, she is observing that ‘Consequently, people are allowing themselves to question the norm, to try out new ways or even very old ways, to challenge the supposedly tried and true.’ (Rhodes, 2007). Another person alluding to this idea is the artist Alex Grey. He is doing so within his artworks and his writings ‘The current cultural situation is calling for individuals to transcend the fractured vision of postmodernism and awaken to some transpersonal and collective spiritual basis for truth and conscience.’(Grey, p. 30-31). Returning to Talmage’s idea of the Cosmogenic Mind and quantum entanglement Grey relates one of his paintings to something called The Hwa-yen ‘The Hwa-yen Buddhist description of the Jewel Net of Indra was one such reference: In the abode of Indra, Lord of Space, there is a net that stretches infinitely in all directions. At every intersection, each “eye” of the net there is a jewel so highly polished and perfect that it reflects every other jewel in the net.’ Not only him but his wife as well managed to materialise, the unseen interconnection ‘Allyson started painting sacred geometric gridlike yantras using the title Jewel Net of Indra.’ (Grey, Allyson, 1988) (Grey, p.39) ‘I started a series of paintings called the Sacred Mirrors, which featured a view of the Universal Mind Lattice. Whatever work either of us does refers to the insights from that state and related spiritual experiences.’(Grey, Alex, 1981) (Grey, p.39). In Alex Grey’s opinion, ‘Art can demonstrate the intricate interconnectedness of the web of life, as in magnificent landscapes or the cosmological mandalas from Native Americans, Australian Aborigines, and Tibetan Buddhists.’(Grey, p.43). Moreover, he is contributing to the validation of this statement through his works. One of the most powerful paintings showing this idea is Collective Vision(Grey,1995 ). Putting the artist Alex Grey in the spotlight one must mention The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors ‘The mission of CoSM is to build an enduring sanctuary of visionary art to inspire a global community. The Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, CoSM, is supported by charitable donations from the community and sales from our shop. CoSM provides a ceremonial context for fusing artistic and spiritual practices and a public exhibition of the Sacred Mirrors and other works of mystic art.’ (CoSM, 2018). Somehow, he accomplished to create a hybrid space. He and his wife Allyson Grey merged the idea of religious space and the purpose of a white cube space such as a gallery or a museum. Grey writes in his book about previous happenings related to the relation between art as spiritual form and the formal space of a gallery or museum ‘Though seeking a direct way to make visible the transcendental domain, the early modernists could be said to have “camouflaged’’ the spiritual in abstract forms.’(Grey, p.55). In a way, he envisioned unity of art and spirituality and he materialised it. Besides the efforts of a few people, within the current society art is not regarded as a form of tapping into the spirituality’s territory ‘The fact remains that we are inundated with massive amounts of information: information that blinds and deafens us to our own situations and needs, and makes us forget what we came for.’(Rhodes, ). The reasoning behind the society’s blindness is the implication of the ego ‘An overemphasis on ego-driven artworks has lead to a culture of narcissistic spectacle and nihilist fragmentation.’(Grey, p.30). In one way or another, it has been created an internal fight ‘Like breeds like. If you simply fire right back at this person, the situation will only escalate and grow more bitter and resentful with every passing hit. (Open your eyes to the pattern … dissension bleeds off into spite and revenge, it leads to divorce, it leads to war …).’(Rhodes, 2007). The Fifth Element (1997) is a movie which underlines not only the existence of the alienation but also the consequences and the possible solution. Whenever the evil planet was attacked, its dimension increased. The only salvation was love. Indeed, quantum entanglement is saying that one’s action has an instant reaction. The question arises which is the magnitude of the effect that an artwork has on the public and vice versa. Mark Rothko is one important example of the initiative to imply the idea of art with spiritual connotations ‘Mark Rothko, an abstract painter who was embraced by New York’s modern art world, early in his career acknowledged his art as related to the search for the transcendental, and then later in life he felt that it had become difficult to speak openly of it.’(Grey, p.56). Fortunately, his works can be associated with spirituality within the context of the Rothko Chapel. The ‘Formal novelty and egoic struggles for marketplace recognition’ (Grey, p.57) is blinding both the public and the artist to the potential spiritual oriented function of art. Material thoughts which serve as the purpose of a painting might poison the viewer 'Obviously some work that is disturbing and repellent is also great art. But unlike Dostoyevsky or Baudelaire, contemporary artists are just interested in sensationalism for sensation’s sake. Their peek into the abyss isn’t philosophically interesting; it’s just an excuse for a self-congratulatory smirk. The so-called artists are obsessed with money and selfpromotion.’(Kakutani, p.30). Maybe the maliciousness of materialist artists brought the idea of art for art sake ‘The artist is not responsible to anyone. His social role is asocial; his only responsibility consists in an attitude to the work he does. There is no communication with any public whatsoever. The artist can ask no question, and he makes no statement; he offers no information, and his work cannot be used.’(Baselitz, 1983). The artwork is no more in connection with anything but the artist. It is stripped of any purpose within the society ‘If Baselitz were an isolated crank with a bad attitude, unnoticed by the rest of the art world, his statements would not indict our culture. However, Baselitz is fully canonized by the art world and is regarded as one of the best that contemporary art has to offer. Therefore his statement provides insight into both the individual and cultural pathology of alienation.’(Grey, p.59). A proper example is the auction of the clown paintings of serial killer John Wayne Gacy. Alex Grey thinks that ‘These paintings would probably be worth very little if not for the infamous and sinister aura the murderer brings to the works’(Grey, p.61).