Sacred Mirrors Cards [Box set] [Cards]

Alex Grey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 2006

A set of 23 meditation cards with art and poetry by Alex Grey

• Contains the complete series of Sacred Mirrors paintings plus two additional transformative images

• Includes guided meditations, reflections, and poetry by Alex Grey

• By the author of Transfigurations (25,000 sold) and Sacred Mirrors (90,000 sold)

The Sacred Mirrors are a journey through our physical, socio-political, and spiritual anatomy. Sacred Mirrors Cards contains twenty-three meditation cards featuring reproductions of all twenty-one of Alex Grey’s Sacred Mirrors paintings plus two additional transformative images: Oversoul and The Angel. Grey’s visionary poetry on the back of each card leads the meditator through contemplation of the image on the front of the card, culminating in a one-word theme for reflection. The twenty-three cards in this boxed set lead the viewer through the process of theosis--that is, coming closer to God--through contemplation of iconic archetypes and seeing oneself, each other, and the world as a reflection of the divine. The original 46” x 84” Sacred Mirrors paintings featured in the Sacred Mirrors Cards are on display at the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in New York City.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Alex Grey’s Sacred Mirrors, like all great transcendental art, are not merely symbolic or imaginary; they are a direct invitation to recognize and realize a deeper dimension of our very own being.”
(Ken Wilber,  author of The Marriage of Sense and Soul )

"Mr. Grey's paintings present man as an archetypal being struggling toward cosmic unity. Grey's vision of a flawed but perfectible mankind stands as an antidote to the cynicism and spiritual malaise prevalent in much contemporary art."
(The New York Times )

"If you are looking for something different to aid you in your inner journey, this deck could provide you with some interesting perspectives."
(Ladyfogg's Deck Reviews, Nov 2006 )

". . . they are wonderful keys to self-understanding, operating in a manner similar to other decks but with a specific focus not available elsewhere. Tarot readers will relish their approach."
(Diane C. Donovan, California Bookwatch, Feb 2007 )

". . . some of the cards would be well worth framing as pieces of art in themselves."
(Jae Napolitano, Facing North, Mar 2007 )

From the Back Cover

The Sacred Mirrors are a journey through our physical, socio-political, and spiritual anatomy. On the back of each Sacred Mirrors card, Alex Grey’s visionary poetry illuminates each system. The twenty-three cards in this boxed set lead the viewer through the process of theosis, that is, coming closer to God, through contemplation of iconic archetypes and seeing oneself, each other, and the world as a reflection of the divine.

“Alex Grey’s Sacred Mirrors, like all great transcendental art, are not merely symbolic or imaginary; they are a direct invitation to recognize and realize a deeper dimension of our very own being.”
-- Ken Wilber

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Cards: 76 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions (October 13, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594771626
• ISBN-13: 978-1594771620
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 4.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #542,132 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For Fans of Alex Grey, October 20, 2006

By 

Janet Boyer "Author, Blogger, Radio Host" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sacred Mirrors Cards (Cards)

"The Sacred Mirrors are a journey through our physical, socio-political, and spiritual anatomy." - Alex Grey

Arguably best known for his "X-ray" paintings, transcendental artist Alex Grey melds the anatomically correct with the visionary in the Sacred Mirrors Cards. The twenty-three cards in this boxed set are intended to lead viewers through the process of theosis. That is, we may draw closer to God by contemplating the iconic archetypes portrayed on the cards and by seeing others, the world and ourselves as reflections of the Divine.

Intending to remind us of the pure wonder that can accompany our Earth journey, Grey says, "My life is committed to making artwork that wakes people up to the miracle of Life". From skeleton to viscera, nerves to auric fields, Spirit infuses the "mundane" mechanics of the body as surely as the magnificent emanation of love and community.

At 8 ¼ X 4 ¾ inches, the Sacred Mirrors Cards are quite large, depicting colorful imagery on one side and poetic meditations on the other. For example, on the back of the card depicting the lymphatic system, Grey writes:

"Lymph, holy water of life,
Bathing every cell
With nutritional healing plasma.
Mysterious cleansing cousin
Of the cardiovascular.
Nodes that swell when inflamed,
Pick up the pieces of the circulatory system.
Take away and destroy invading predators.
Purify, recycle and regenerate white blood cells,
Lymphocytes, my defending militia.
Immunize me.
Keep me safely healthy and whole,
My guardians of the realm.
On a micro-level border patrol
Thou are the decided of what is and is not me."

Six of the twenty-three cards show nude males and females from Caucasian, Asian, and African ancestry. The poetry is basically the same on all six, except towards the end where Grey offers a comment about the specific image.

My favorite image from the Sacred Mirrors Cards is of Sophia, where all seeing, all knowing eyes bejewel her pink etheric gown. The Earth lies where her heart would be, doubling as the "brain" for a gestating baby. A luminescent halo encircles futuristic glyphs, while her third eye is wide open in a penetrating stare. The only thing that mars this otherwise glorious painting (in my opinion), is the disturbing image of Kali copulating with a reclining male (soon to be dead by her knife?). On the other side is baby suckling at a woman's breast, so I get the point of life and death being on the same continuum but...

The Sacred Mirrors Cards are indeed unusual, and would likely be enjoyed by fans of both Alex Grey and Ken Wilber. However, I find some of the imagery a bit gruesome and Grey's sentiments a bit "top heavy"--an analytical, rational approach to spirituality. This is, of course, a legitimate portrayal and path to Spirit, for All That Is does indeed lie within muscle, bone, and blood--the latter being our very (earthly) life force.

But, alas, contemplating organs and guts aren't my particular cup of tea. And, to be fair, that doesn't comprise *all* of the images in this set of cards. For example, the Spiritual Energy System is an arresting portrayal of the chakra system "sprouting jets of psycho gism". A European-looking Jesus makes an appearance, as does a thousand armed, eleven-headed Buddhist deity.

"Is it just me?" I wondered. I appreciate that the human body is a magnificent machine--a vehicle for spirit to be appreciated--but I didn't feel particularly inspired. So I asked my husband, who enjoys some of Grey's art (especially Oversoul), to give me his impression of the Sacred Mirrors Cards. He expressed the same sentiments that I had felt, so it wasn't "just me" after all. We both agreed, however, that some of the poetry conveyed brilliant insights into the human body and its connection to the Infinite.

So if you love Grey's art and vision--and books like Transfigurations--then you'll likely enjoy this unusual meditative offering.

(To see 6 images from the Sacred Mirrors Cards, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting...DEFINATELY, August 13, 2007

By 

Lindsay M. Wills "~*L. Wills*~" (Hickville, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sacred Mirrors Cards (Cards)

Alex Grey's art has interested me for quite some time. Wasn't really sure what I was buying but I figured "What the heck, why not?" If you like the art, and want some explanation behind it, these cards are for you. Each card has a "Poem", per say, on the back of it. It's a tour through the spiritual anatomy. I would recommend these to anyone interested in the chakras, your spirit, or just for curiosity. AND if you are a TOOL fan, check these out. A lot of albums have Alex Grey's art on them. If you like Tool, you've got to love Alex Grey.

13 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not what I expected, February 6, 2007

By 

Rabid Squirrel - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sacred Mirrors Cards (Cards)

I thought these cards would be more inspirational and have messages worth pondering. The poetry is second-rate, at best. It is not really poetry at all, but rather ramblings and explanations of what the art is supposed to be. Poetry is supposed to speak to your five senses, not sit flat and hard to read. The art on some cards is exceptional, but on other cards, it looks like the pictures in my anatomy textbook. I'm very disappointed in these cards, and I really feel as if I wasted my money.