Net of Being

ART / SPIRITUALITY ." . . possibly the most significant artist alive. Alex's work, like all great transcendental art, is not merely symbolic or imaginary: it is a direct invitation to recognize and realize a deeper dimension of our very own being." --Ken Wilber, author of Integral Life Practice; Sex, Ecology, Spirituality; and A Brief History of Everything "Inspired by Allyson Grey, every single image that flows into vivid being from Alex's magical hand awakens, energizes, enlightens, and overjoys! The Net of Being is an ageless, yet now, glimpse of the Jewel Net of Indra, the divine Buddhist image for the mutual interpenetration of all beings and things, from the subatomic to the trans-galactic. It takes your breath away, in the best way possible!" --Robert Thurman, Jey Tsong Khapa professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist studies at Columbia University, cofounder of Tibet House US, and author of Inner Revolution "Alex Grey's artworks bring together the tangible outer worlds investigated by scientists--full of molecules, bodies, and stars--and the intangible visionary inner worlds--full of light, shadow and spiritual beings--known mainly to mystics." --Albert Hofmann, inventor of LSD and author of LSD: My Problem Child Revealing the interwoven energies of body and soul, love and spirit that illuminate the core of each being, Alex Grey's mystic paintings articulate the realms of consciousness encountered during visits to entheogenic heaven worlds. His painting Net of Being--inspired by a blazing vision of an infinite grid of Godheads during an ayahuasca journey--has reached millions as the cover and interior of the band TOOL's Grammy award-winning triple-platinum album, 10, 000 Days. Net of Being is one of many images Grey has created that have resulted in a chain reaction of uses--from apparel and jewelry to tattoos and music videos--embedding these iconic works into our culture's living Net of Being. The book explores how the mystical experience expressed in Alex Grey's work opens a new understanding of our shared consciousness and unveils the deep influence art can have on cultural evolution. The narrative progresses through a successive expansion of identity--from the self, to self and beloved, to self and community, world spirit, and cosmic consciousness, where bodies are transparent to galactic energies. Presenting over 200 images, including many never-before-reproduced paintings as well as masterworks such as St. Albert and the LSD Revelation Revolution and Godself, the book also documents performance art, live-painting on stage throughout the world, and the "social sculpture" called CoSM, Chapel of Sacred Mirrors, which Grey cofounded with his wife and creative collaborator, artist Allyson Grey. ALEX GREY is the author of Sacred Mirrors, Transfigurations, The Mission of Art, and Art Psalms. His work has graced numerous album covers including those of Nirvana, TOOL, and the Beastie Boys; appeared in Newsweek and TIME magazine; and been exhibited throughout the world. In 2004, Alex and his wife, artist Allyson Grey, opened the Chapel of Sacred Mirrors (CoSM) in New York City, a gallery and sacred space for Alex's original paintings and other visionary artworks. In 2009, CoSM, now a church, moved from Manhattan to the Hudson Valley. Alex Grey and Allyson Grey live in Brooklyn and Wappinger, New York.

Preface

Nihilist to Mystic

Finding the One

Worldspirit

Cosmic Creativity

Net of Being

COSM
Chapel of Sacred Mirrors

Acknowledgments