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Master original available (48 X 60) The Tragic Myth of Luxe Ferre tells the story behind the story of Lucifer and its tragic misconception as a literal Biblical tale. No where in the Bible is the story of Lucifer as a fallen angel condemned to darkness ever mentioned. As a matter of fact, the "word" Lucifer only appears once in the King James version in Isaiah Chapter 14 where Isaiah is taunting the current most powerful ruler on earth-the King of Babylon. All modern biblical translations never even mention the word Lucifer and instead revert to the original Hebrew and Greek meaning-the Morning Star. So how did the word Lucifer and its association with the "devil" come about? In the year 405 Jerome is commissioned by the Orthodox Catholic Church to translate the Greek Hebrew scriptures (Septuagent) and the new Christian canon (New Testament) from Greek into Latin-this translation is called the Vulgate in which three passages refer to “The Morning Star”.: the above mentioned passage from Isaiah, 2 Pete 1:19 and Revelation 22:16. Jerome translated The Morning Star as Lucifer from the latin “Lux Ferre” which means “the Light (Lux) Bringer (Ferre).” And yet it is this Lucifer that came to be known as Satan, Lord of Darkness. As Lucifer is the Morning Star, Day Star or Venus, the absurdity of connecting this with Satan is revealed in the following New Testament passage…”you will do well to be attentive to this as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your heart.” -2 Peter 1:19. In the Vulgate, the word Morning Star in this passage is also translated as Lucifer. So how did we get the story if Lucifer as the rebellious angel who fell from heaven to eternal damnation for the sin of pride? The story belongs to the non-canonical text of The Book of 2 enoch chapter 29 which dates between the 5th and 6th century as an attack against the Gnostic sects of Christianity who taught in direct opposition to the Catholic Church. During this period the Catholic Church now had control of the Constantinian armies and was gaining control of the land, money and power. Their primary tool was that of behavioral control which established the Church as God’s chosen mediator between Himself and His wretched, fallen creation deserving of hell fire. Through penance and absolution the Church began it’s rapid rise. The Gnostics, on the other hand taught that mankind is of the Divine Spark of God, made with “God Matter” and therefore needed no mediation but could commune directly with it’s Creator. The story in 2 Enoch emerged telling of a beautiful Angel Lucifer who commits the ultimate sin-that of thinking of himself like God. He is therefore cast from Heaven into eternal darkness and damnation as well as those who followed him. This became known as The Sin of Satan and was connected with the Gnostic belief of humanity containing a Divine Spark of God. The story gave reason and justification to the accusation of “Ultimate Heresy” of which the Gnostics where systematically slaughtered. This was the beginning of what has come to be known as ironically, The Dark Ages. In this painting, “The Tragic Myth of Luxe Ferre”, we see in the valance above the curtains the many faces of Lucifer, many from pagan fertility gods and symbols of protection demonized for specifically Christian purposes as in the Pan who the devil often resembles. The curtains represent the symbolic image of hell, hand painted by tradition as opposed to actual flames-symbolizing hell as a human creation. We see Lucifer, the Light Bringer starting to push back the drape which reveals a glimpse of not heaven, but enlightenment from which the many spirits of wisdom or Lucifers burst forth, representing the light bringers of the many spiritual traditions of the world. The dove nearest Namaste-Hindu for “May the God of your heart be with you.” Her hairnet represents the covering up of the Light-as we’ve seen in numerous mythologies such as Heracles and Samson where the long flowing hair emanated the power giving rays of the sun. Her red hair is symbolic of the demonizing of those who were left handed and red haired as being filled with the devil and burned at the stake during these dark ages. The small, real flame wings on her back represent the original concept of hell from the Persian Zoroastrian religion which greatly influenced the Hebrews upon their release from Babylonian and Assyrian captivity. It was the Zoroastrian religion that gave the Hebrews the concept of duality-forces of good versus forces of evil, as well as heaven and hell. However, for the Zoroastrians hell was not a pit of eternal damnation but rather a place of purification and transmutation. Punishment was for three days in hell, upon completion you were then cleansed and ascended to sit at the right hand of Ahura Mazda (God). In her flowing dress we find many sparks of the divine of which the Gnostics taught and have been covered up for millennia now starting to shine anew. Looking down, she is still aware of the fact that her name is chained to the concept of eternal damnation. However, awareness alone begins the process of breaking the chain and releasing the understanding of our divinity. Originals and multiple limited edition options by Lynden St. Victor represented year round exclusively at Lynden's home gallery, POP Gallery in Santa Fe, NM. POP Collectors receive special pre-publication pricing and special offers with every purchase. Inquire directly about multiple options available on paper & canvas in standard and mural sizes, personalizations and commission opportunities by Lynden St. Victor directly with POP Gallery at 505.820.0788. |
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