We Belong Together: Consciousness and Sentience

Publication information:

Jaoudi, Maria. 2026. “We Belong Together: Consciousness and Sentience.” in Belonging: Practices of Inclusion in Spiritual Communities, the Academy, and Society. Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: Harvard Divinity School: Program for the Evolution of Spirituality.

Abstract

Jaoudi’s transcendent paintings inspired by the insights of world mystics visually form landscapes of consciousness in nature. These inner and outer worlds are taken from microscopic and telescopic imagery, and ordinary observations in nature. Included along with the paintings are actual images from biology, botany and other illustrations of nature: SEM images of human neuron networks and plant cells, octopuses and bird feathers, James Webb telescopic views of our cosmos. These mirror and expand our insights into consciousness, who we are and how our identity is shaped as kin belonging with all of sentient life. 20-minute film with music.

Presenter Biography

PhD, Fordham University, Professor, Department of Humanities & Religious Studies, California State University Sacramento, UC Davis.
Websites: https://www.csus.edu/faculty/j/jaoudim/
https://www.saatchiart.com/maria-jaoudi
Books: Christian & Islamic Spirituality; Christian Mysticism: East & West: Medieval & Renaissance Spirituality; Mindfulness as Sustainability: Lessons from the World’s Religions