about tcm
   
 
 

The Cosmic Mass, rooted in Western liturgical tradition, integrates live music, electronica, multi-media imagery and eastern and indigenous spiritual elements to create a multi-cultural, intergenerational and ecumenical form of worship. Celebration of this Mass has uplifted and inspired young and old of DIVERSE faiths and TRADITIONS from coast to coast!

  • “Techno” refers to the sacred use of technology in our worship: computer generated art, multivision projection and sound systems, and digitally composed and mastered dance music; all which encourage us to celebrate with our bodies.
  • “Cosmic” brings forth cosmology, the sacred connection of all creations described to us by ancient wisdom and the new science.
  • “Mass” is an ancient Judeo-Christian form of ritual which brings a community together to experience a common story, bring praise and thanksgiving to the Creator; and through communion, offer spiritual sustenance for works of compassion and justice in the world.
  • Each TCM brings together people of diverse ages, faiths, cultures and prayer. And each mass holds true to our ancestral traditions, respects and honors our held differences, and highlights our common human bonds.


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    Dear friend of The Cosmic Mass and Creation Spirituality,

    As we begin the year 2005, we would like to thank you for participating
    with us as we reinvent worship through The Cosmic Mass. Whether through
    attending Cosmic Masses here in Oakland, California, or by staying in touch via
    email, your presence has been felt and is appreciated!

    The year 2004 was one of change and transformation for The Cosmic Mass (TCM):
    At the beginning of 2004, the TCM took its first significant respite since its creation in
    1996; a well- deserved break that allowed deep breathing and re-centering for the future.

    At the end of May a TCM Revisioning gathering, which was an evolutionary moment
    for all three generations of TCM team members, occurred here in Oakland. The Techno
    Cosmic Mass teams met for two days to look at recreating the TCM with the intention of
    the deconstruction and reconstruction of the Mass.

    We reviewed the assumptions underlying the TCM:
    Intergenerational: a setting for elders and youth to share.
    A celebration of beauty: cosmological, bringing the body back, bringing play back,
    making room for the Via Negativa---darkness, silence, suffering, awakening
    and nurturing the prophet in all, bringing participation back.
    “We celebrate, therefore we are”.
    Redefining priesthood.…the posse is the priest…midwives to transcendence.
    Storytelling with technology as a medium.
    Deeply ecumenical.
     Bringing the goddess to the city.
    Bringing in the ancestors.
    Postmodern language.
    Activating the lower chakras.
    A vehicle of change and liberation.
    Get people high on creation…transcendence.
    The Four Paths: Via Positiva, Via Negativa, Via Creativa, Via Transformativa.
    Rites of passage…to climb the cross.
    Bringing Angels, the Cosmic Christ and the Buddha Nature back to worship.
    Unity of artistic energy of the community.


    Suggestions for revisioning/renewing the TCM:
    Change the name from “Techno Cosmic Mass” to something that was inclusive
    of more genres than “techno”.
    Have the Mass earlier on Sunday for people at a distance, etc.
    Collaborate with other communities thus expanding community and sustainability.
    Offer a pre or post-dance with the TCM.
    Develop ongoing community.
    Create and make available a TCM video/dvd.
    Educate participants on its flow and purpose.
    Offer TCM training for those at a distance.

    Changes agreed upon:
    Name change to “The Cosmic Mass”. It was felt that “techno” was too restrictive of a
    word since music has evolved to include house, trance, rap, world beat and more. We ask
    for your patience while we make the necessary name adjustments in our materials.
    The TCM is now held at 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm thus allowing people travel time, preparation
    for the work week, next day classes, etc.
    We have been collaborating with other spiritual communities in doing our TCMs
    which have added more depth, richness and cohesiveness to TCMs.
    A four week TCM Class was taught through Naropa/Oakland. Students were immersed
    and totally participated in creating a Comic Mass.

    PLUS

    A TCM video/dvd is currently being created from our TCM video archives with hopes
    of being ready for sale the beginning of 2005.

    A very exciting and significant development is occurring in February of this year.
    It is in response to many requests we have had over the years and it is this:
    February 11 and 12, 2005 we will be offering a TCM Intensive for people to learn the TCM
    and how to make it happen in your community, in the church.
    The facilitator will be Debra Martin who taught a powerful course on the TCM
    this fall at Naropa Oakland and who has been on the team for 6 years. The intensive will
    include the theology and history of the TCM with instructor Matthew Fox; the arts of DJing,
    VJing, setting up altars, creating sacred ambiance slides, ritual and more all taught by persons who have contributed substantially to our Masses in Oakland over the years.
    Included will be a handbook containing articles, flow sheets and more to assist you
    in making this revolution in ritual work for you and your community.

At Historic Sweets Ballroom:

1933 Broadway, Oakland

(between 19th & 20th near the 19th Street BART Station)