Austin Osman Spare’s work is known for its visionary qualities, which were deeply influenced by his interests in the occult and his own personal practice of magic. His art often featured mystical and symbolic themes, including sigils, entities, and other occult motifs.
Sigils
Austin Osman Spare’s work on sigils was one of his most important contributions to the field of magic and the occult. A sigil is a symbol or design that represents a particular intention or desire and is believed to have magical power when used in ritual or meditation.
Spare developed a unique method for creating sigils, which he called the “alphabet of desire.” This method involved taking a statement of intention and reducing it to its essential letters and shapes, which were then combined and manipulated to create a unique sigil.
Spare believed that the act of creating a sigil was a form of meditation that allowed the subconscious mind to connect with the desired outcome. By focusing on the sigil during ritual or meditation, the practitioner could harness the power of their intention and manifest their desires in the physical world.
Spare’s work on sigils has been influential in the development of modern magic and the occult, and his methods are still used by practitioners today. His emphasis on personal empowerment and the power of the individual to shape their own reality has resonated with many people interested in exploring the mysteries of the universe and the hidden depths of the human psyche.
Automatic drawing technique
Austin Osman Spare’s automatic drawing technique was a form of spontaneous creation that he used to tap into the subconscious mind and access hidden realms of creativity and inspiration. The technique involved allowing the hand to move freely and intuitively across the paper, without conscious direction or control.
Spare believed that this process allowed the unconscious mind to express itself in a pure and unfiltered way, bypassing the limitations and expectations of the conscious mind. He saw automatic drawing as a way of accessing the deeper dimensions of the psyche, and believed that the resulting images could reveal hidden truths and insights.
To create an automatic drawing, Spare would typically begin by clearing his mind and relaxing his body. He would then take a pencil or pen and begin to make marks on the paper, allowing the hand to move freely and spontaneously without any preconceived ideas or intentions.
As he continued to draw, Spare would often begin to see images and forms emerge from the chaos of the lines and shapes on the paper. He would then work to refine and develop these images, incorporating them into his larger compositions or using them as the basis for new works.
Spare’s automatic drawing technique was highly influential in the development of modern art, particularly the surrealist movement. His work on automatic drawing demonstrated the power of the unconscious mind to inspire and inform the creative process, and continues to inspire artists and creatives today.
Austin Osman Spare’s spiritual ideas are manifested in his works in several ways. One of the most noticeable aspects of his art is its highly symbolic and mystical nature, which reflects his belief in the power of the subconscious mind and the hidden dimensions of reality.
In many of Spare’s works, the figures and creatures he portrays have a surreal and dreamlike quality, suggesting a connection to the deeper realms of the psyche. His use of automatic drawing and other techniques also gives his art a sense of spontaneity and unpredictability, reflecting his belief in the power of the unconscious mind to reveal hidden truths and insights.
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