What do you think?
Rate this book
Patterns of Creation: Logos and the Tree of Life in the Gospel of John
This book is a radical exploration of the mystical teachings in the Gospel of John. It helps the reader to experience these spiritual truths for themselves, and go beyond the everyday mind, which is dominated by the ego and realize their eternal Being, which Johns Gospel calls Logos. By approaching the teachings in a meditative state, the symbolism contained within the Greek text opens out and comes alive in the present moment. The Gospel is not a historical document; it speaks directly to each person now and the states of consciousness represented in the stories are accessible now. The book contains guided meditations to help bring this to life for the reader. This awakening concerns our relationship with the whole of life. Spiritual consciousness means that we are aware of the sacredness of our connections to each other as fellow human beings, and to the creatures of the natural world. Christ and the Logos contain both masculine and feminine in balance; at this critical time, our well-being and that of our fellow creatures is dependent on this realization.
285 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2012
14 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 8, 2015
As I’m a person who likes to live ‘outside the box’ I love to read authors who think outside the box. So many people just repeat stuff in a parrot-like fashion and/or believe things that they are taught without questioning the authenticity of that information. Stephen Pope has questioned and researched the Gospel of John and in this book he offers us an interpretation of the gospel that hit me with the intuitive knowing that his interpretation is Truth.
This book is not a dry ‘thesis’. It’s a rich text that I could not rush as there was so much to savour. Stephen connects the words of John’s Gospel with our life here, right now, in the world in the 21st century. His book brings John’s words alive and gives them meaning.
‘Consciousness realizes consciousness within the patterns of creative Spirit in form and matter.’
‘All the ego seeks to possess is an illusion, which is the primary cause of suffering.’
I could quote ad infinitum from this book. It’s full of moments of ‘yes, yes, yes’ and that feeling of things falling into place, a deepening understanding of the meaning of life. The chapter on the Kabballah was almost a mini book in itself with a very clear description of what the Kabballah represents. In fact it’s the first interpretation that I have really understood.
I love this book. It’s wise, it’s intelligent, it’s profound and it’s accessible. The fact that I am writing this review on Easter Sunday is no coincidence because at some level I feel as if I have been reborn into a higher level of awareness through reading it.
This is an important book. Thanks for writing it Stephen.
This book is not a dry ‘thesis’. It’s a rich text that I could not rush as there was so much to savour. Stephen connects the words of John’s Gospel with our life here, right now, in the world in the 21st century. His book brings John’s words alive and gives them meaning.
‘Consciousness realizes consciousness within the patterns of creative Spirit in form and matter.’
‘All the ego seeks to possess is an illusion, which is the primary cause of suffering.’
I could quote ad infinitum from this book. It’s full of moments of ‘yes, yes, yes’ and that feeling of things falling into place, a deepening understanding of the meaning of life. The chapter on the Kabballah was almost a mini book in itself with a very clear description of what the Kabballah represents. In fact it’s the first interpretation that I have really understood.
I love this book. It’s wise, it’s intelligent, it’s profound and it’s accessible. The fact that I am writing this review on Easter Sunday is no coincidence because at some level I feel as if I have been reborn into a higher level of awareness through reading it.
This is an important book. Thanks for writing it Stephen.
September 9, 2014
“Patterns of Creation” is a brilliant work, truly ground-breaking on all levels, and should be required reading for all students of Biblical theology. Stephen Pope has given us an extremely impressive and masterfully written book, revealing not only extraordinary scholarship, but profound mystical wisdom -- for only one who has tasted divine truth directly could write so authoritatively on its hidden essence. With each sentence, Stephen Pope invites us to experience, personally and directly, the mystery hidden within the ancient words of the Gospel of John. As he says, “Everything presented in the Gospel stories points to your inner awakening: realizing your own consciousness.” The subtle meanings he reveals for us echo into many languages and religious traditions, for he is not only an expert on the Bible, but also the Kaballah, and he is not only a master of Hebrew, but has retranslated the Gospel of John for this book from the Aramaic, using the original Greek version to balance his choice of words in English! His rich linguistic explanations are combined with numerous sections guiding the reader into meditation and contemplation, to help us come out of the intellect and find our center of stillness, our own inner silence. Beautiful geometric designs are used throughout the book to help communicate the Gospel’s essence visually, the most simple of which is “a point within a circle to represent unity and wholeness, the One, Being, source of all life.” The book presents us with a new understanding of the concept of creation, not as something that occurred in the ancient past, but as something ever-happening in the eternal now, with each aspect of the creation reflecting the unity of all existence. I was also impressed by the book’s focus on the divine feminine, all too often overlooked in Christian theology; one chapter is dedicated to the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, fragments of which have been discovered in manuscripts belonging to the Coptic Church. “Patterns of Creation” represents a new breed of Christian theology, one which fully integrates astonishing intercultural scholarship with the highest kind of New Age spiritual wisdom. I heartily applaud this precious contribution to religious literature. Thank you, Stephen Pope!
~Ram Das Batchelder, author of “Rising in Love: My Wild and Crazy Ride to Here and Now, with Amma, the Hugging Saint”
~Ram Das Batchelder, author of “Rising in Love: My Wild and Crazy Ride to Here and Now, with Amma, the Hugging Saint”
July 19, 2012
Steve Pope's book has been many years in the writing - I've been lucky to have known Steve for more than 20 years now and have attended some of his workshops. This has been a true labour of love.
The end result is more than worth it. Steve has taken the entire prologue of the Gospel of John and translated it in the mystical terms that most likely would have been used at the time (when the oral tradition was much stronger than the written one - 95% of people did not read or write).
Together with these beautiful translations, Steve has placed the teaching fairly and squarely in the 21st century, showing us how ancient wisdom is still valid in the modern world.
It shows that the teaching of Jesus (and the mystical teaching of the time) is all-embracing AND it shows it with Biblical text and translation. This is incredibly valuable in the modern world where the fundamentalist will quote the Bible at the spiritual believer. Without wishing to encourage 'Bible tennis' it is wonderful to have contemporary but clear alternative translations to work with.
The book takes a wider brief than just the prologue - giving a clear and concise view of the life and times of the people who wrote the Bible, and a sensible and not over-complicated guide to the Kabbalistic tradition.
I won't give it away, because the whole book is worth reading, but Steve's translation of Jesus' 'well-known phrase, 'I am the way the truth and the life...' made me go 'Yes!' and feel a tremendous sense of relief and joy.
Highly recommended.
The end result is more than worth it. Steve has taken the entire prologue of the Gospel of John and translated it in the mystical terms that most likely would have been used at the time (when the oral tradition was much stronger than the written one - 95% of people did not read or write).
Together with these beautiful translations, Steve has placed the teaching fairly and squarely in the 21st century, showing us how ancient wisdom is still valid in the modern world.
It shows that the teaching of Jesus (and the mystical teaching of the time) is all-embracing AND it shows it with Biblical text and translation. This is incredibly valuable in the modern world where the fundamentalist will quote the Bible at the spiritual believer. Without wishing to encourage 'Bible tennis' it is wonderful to have contemporary but clear alternative translations to work with.
The book takes a wider brief than just the prologue - giving a clear and concise view of the life and times of the people who wrote the Bible, and a sensible and not over-complicated guide to the Kabbalistic tradition.
I won't give it away, because the whole book is worth reading, but Steve's translation of Jesus' 'well-known phrase, 'I am the way the truth and the life...' made me go 'Yes!' and feel a tremendous sense of relief and joy.
Highly recommended.
December 13, 2014
Stephen Pope provides intricate insight into John's gospel in his book Patterns of Creation. This book invites the curious reader to explore the mystical teachings of this gospel and gives the reader an introspective perspective with their own relationship with spirituality and God.
I especially appreciated the sections devoted to exploring the masculine and feminine energies and Stephen teaches how this relates to symbolism, which in turn relates to our understanding of our relationship with Mary Magdelene and Jesus. What would be interesting to see is how this manuscript shifts the reader's perspectives of these prominent figures in the gospel.
Throughout the book is various meditations to help the reader tune into their spiritual consciousness and release blocks. These meditations are well written in their description as well as their delivery to evoke a state of calm and surrender to a higher power.
If you are interested in learning about symbolism or are seeking a tool to use for your meditation practice, I highly recommend you read Patterns of Creation.
-Melissa Escaro, Life Coach and author of In10tions: A Mindset Reset Guide to Happiness
I especially appreciated the sections devoted to exploring the masculine and feminine energies and Stephen teaches how this relates to symbolism, which in turn relates to our understanding of our relationship with Mary Magdelene and Jesus. What would be interesting to see is how this manuscript shifts the reader's perspectives of these prominent figures in the gospel.
Throughout the book is various meditations to help the reader tune into their spiritual consciousness and release blocks. These meditations are well written in their description as well as their delivery to evoke a state of calm and surrender to a higher power.
If you are interested in learning about symbolism or are seeking a tool to use for your meditation practice, I highly recommend you read Patterns of Creation.
-Melissa Escaro, Life Coach and author of In10tions: A Mindset Reset Guide to Happiness
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews