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VISIONARY REVUE PARIS - SPRING 2003

ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER LEO VIRGO

1975 1975 1975 1974 1974 1974

According to Johfra, there were primarily three
esoteric systems which inspired the symbolism in his
Astrology Series:
“These systems are precious treasures from our
past, offering the artist unlimited creative possibilities.
Above all, three great philosophical schools have
strongly influenced esoteric thinking in Europe from
the Middle Ages to our present day. Taken together,
they constitute a secret science. They are:
Neo-Platonism, Hermeticism, and the Jewish
Cabbala.”(Astrology p. 3)
What Johfra says here about his Zodiac Series is
true of his Hermetic works as a whole: all of them
are designed for indepth meditation, so as to
gradually reveal - through images - the vision of
hidden unity that Hermeticism, Neo-Platonism and
the Cabbala describe.
The artist spent years studying these texts, both
at the Lectorium Rosicrucianum in Holland and
alone in his cabin in the South of France.
In the end, he devoted himself to painting
Hermetic images which would not only illustrate
those themes, but become a means in themselves to
spiritual awakening.
Successfully penetrating his Hermetic imagery
seems to be, at first glance, a rather daunting task.
We must first familiarize ourselves with the Ancient
texts, and the complicated language they use. But, as
Johfra himself noted:
“The deepest truths come to us through myths and
symbols. They cannot be conveyed through exegesis
or philosophical treatise. The truth can only be hinted
at, and will be understood only by those who already
know it to a certain degree. Such a seedling of
knowledge lies dormant in each of us.” (Astrology p.
2)
And he adds.
“A truly universal and archetypal symbol digs
deeper, it touches man in his unconscious core, where
he recognizes it from the inside.”(ibid)

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