The body underlies the law of the now; it can only be enjoyed in the present moment. As for the mind, however, we got the ability to anchor in a primordial self-awareness, alertly touch the present, and expand our awareness into the future. Such an extended and multi-directional quality of the mind does not fall prey to present-moment boundedness and is able to navigate time freely. Like a bird, we can let our thoughts fly across the infinite topology of awareness.
ARMS OF AWARENESS (M. Sager, 2021. Acrylic on canvas, 120 x 80 cm)
The observation of the environment helps to see the light as all material objects reflect light. Light is everywhere, including in all of us, and time does not let it fade. That’s how reflections become perennial. There is still the reflection of our ancestors in the light, the same light that will transport our visual and energetic appearance forever. That’s how, whether present, future, or past, consequently, everything exists in light in parallel. Besides such a notion of cosmic time, I agree that in everyday life the concept of a timeline is practical. However, such a linear conceptualization of time represents a serious impediment. Maximal temporal awareness bends the imaginary timeline into a circle in which the past and the future, both infinitely stretching into eternity, meet. If you can stretch your linear image of your lifetime between birth and death into this cyclical form beyond our physical existence, you have achieved a similar quantum leap to the one we’ve accomplished when accepting that the physical world is round rather than a finite plate with dubiously ending edges. Don’t fear thinking into the seemingly impossible and become of the infinite, spherical, and parallel nature of time. Don’t stressfully define your mind, stretch it. The farther apart you can stretch, the broader your arms of awareness. That’s how we can embrace the whole universe.
Excerpt from Awareness Intelligence (M. Sager, 2018)
THE POSITIVE KILLJOY. Acrylic on wood panel, 70 x 100 cm
Hoping, speaking out for, and acting for social justice and change is not coming from negativity. Instead, it is the expression of positive thinking that things can be done better and a healthier and more peaceful world is possible.
M. Sager
PIECE WITH THE UGLY. Acrylic on canvas 100x 100 cm
It is easy to love people when they smell [look] good, but sometimes they slip into the manure of life and smell [look] awful. You must love them just as much when they smell foul.
As we deserve to be not judged by our past, we should not judge others according to the labels they are given. The socio-economic status of people doesn’t tell us much about their human qualities. Try to see people’s soul regardless of social personality appearances. Don’t waste your thoughts on interpreting equipment, façade styles, and fashions. They are not relevant to our true self, and they are gone as fast as they came. We are not our social personalities. Clinging to our social identity and old ways of thinking about ourselves makes us in any case matter less than we deserve. In that sense ‘reality before appearances.’
Excerpt from Awareness Intelligence (M. Sager, 2019)
Many people believe that they would not be complete without a legally bounded better half, that everybody needs somebody to romantically relate to and be taken care of, that one has to be someone’s personified treasure, and that an embodied relationship is the source of all strength. These prince-and-princess fairytales are sweet to promote the continuance of family lines, the stability of societal power structures, and the economy of dependability. The problem is that people are made to believe that without their dependency they would lose a part of themselves. They suffer from the misbelief that they wouldn’t be worthy anymore, or that they would lack the energy that can only be sourced from others from the outside. This is severely compromising self-reliance and self-efficacy, both of which are the key factors for a human being to thrive and fulfill their purpose of life to be and give their true self.
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As much as we try, for example in romantic relationships, we can’t fully connect with other creatures on a physical level. We want to unify so much that we sometimes try to become one body; in vain. It is only on a mental level that it is possible to transcend the separating physical forms and plug together into the life that is the soul, respectively the animating spirit of everything and everyone. Only the collective of this life force of the human species persists into the future, long after my and your body will have died. The awareness of this timeless extra-personal relationship with all humanity is what I call the ‘extra-future.’ As part of and as the culmination of Awareness Intelligence, it bears the biggest truth of spirituality.
Excerpts from ‘Awareness Intelligence’ (M. Sager, 2019)
(Non-violent) ‘fighting’ for Awareness Intelligence that comprises the three treasures of Taoism:
MODERATION leads to generosity (All are born the same as humans. There is no superiority of anyone, just different cultures, and societal norms. -> I’m thinking about my INTRAPERSONAL PAST. Who am I really regardless of my upbringing?)
COMPASSION leads to courage (Unconditional love removes fear from pressure, allowing to be oneself and even unliked amidst the expectations of others. -> I’m thinking about my INTERPERSONAL PRESENT where I share the present moment with others; are these free from judgment of the past and expectations into the future?)
HUMILITY leads to leadership (Benevolence and responsibility benefit all humanity rather than ego-inflated ambitions. -> I’m thinking about the EXTRAPERSONAL FUTURE that will outlast my lifetime. Am I leaving the next generation a better world?)
United Colors of Humanity (Mathias Sager, oil on wood panel, F8, 455×380
Sing me (Mathias Sager, oil on wood panel, M10, 530×333)
#75 Culture shock (Mathias Sager, oil on wood panel, M10 530 x 333)
#73 Broken Cultures (Mathias Sager, oil on wood panel, F10, 530 x 450)
#72 Sad (Mathias Sager, oil on wood panel, M6 410 x 242)
#69 Queasy feeling (Mathias Sager, Oil color water mixable on wood panel, M20 727X500)
#65 Samurai Make-up (Mathias Sager, oil colours water mixable on wood panel (F10 530 x 455)
#59 Family groove (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colours on canvas board, 33.5×24.3×0.4 cm (13.2″9.6″x0.16″))#52 Hola Salsa! (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 4F 33.5×24.3×0.4 cm (13.2″x9.6″x0.16″)#049 The crowd (Mathias Sager, oil colour water mixable on canvas board, 46.7×38.1×0.4 cm (18.4″x15″x0.16″))#047 Please let me in! (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 53x46x0.4 cm (20.8″x18.1″x0.16″))#046 Look, our children! (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colours on canvas board, 53x46x0.4 cm (20.8″x18.1″x0.16″))#044 Coffee head (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 16x23x0.4 cm (6.3″x9.1″x0.16″))#042 Ookami big wolf (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, F6 41.1×31.8×0.4 cm (16.2″x12.5″x0.16″))#037 Spiritual revolution (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 46.7×38.1×0.4 cm (18.4″x15″x0.16″))#033 Courage (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 46.7×38.1×0.4 cm (18.4″x15″x0.16″))#030 Stand up II (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 41.1×31.8×0.4 cm (16.2″x12.5″x0.16″))#029 Shiatsu intensive (Mathias Sager, water mixamle oil colour on canvas board (46.7×38.1×0.4 cm (18.4″x15″x0.16″))#027 Body and mind (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 33.5×24.3×0.4 cm (13.2″x9.6″x0.16″))#023 Stand up I (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board (41.1×31.8×0.4 cm (16.2″x12.5″x0.16″)). Given away.#020 Dark’n bright (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 46x53x0.4 cm (18.1″x20.8″x0.16″))#017 Shiatsu (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 27.5×22.1×0.4 cm (10.6″x8.7″x0.16″)). Given away.#016 Tear drops (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 41.1×31.8×0.4 cm (16.2″x12.5″x0.16″))#014 Happy Japanese dinner (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 46x53x0.4 cm (18.1″x20.8″x0.16″))#012 Playful Kanji (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 46x53x0.4 cm (18.1″20.8″x0.16″))#011 Twolips (Mathias Sager, water colour on paper, A3)#001 Window gekko (Mathias Sager, water mixable oil colour on canvas board, 33.5×24.3×0.4 cm (13.2″x9.6″x0.16″))
#75 Culture shock (Mathias Sager, oil on wood panel, M10 530 x 333)
#73 Broken Cultures (Mathias Sager, oil on wood panel, F10, 530 x 450)
#72 Sad (Mathias Sager, oil on wood panel, M6 410 x 242)
#69 Queasy feeling (Mathias Sager, Oil color water mixable on wood panel, M20 727X500)
#65 Samurai Make-up (Mathias Sager, oil colours water mixable on wood panel (F10 530 x 455)
