Research

UPDATES, Research

2/6/26

   Returning to The Book of Enoch, I am exploring another edition, originally published in 1863 (?). It is a much more intellectual exposition on the volume, but it also delineates the different writing styles, drawing the conclusion that there were two writers responsible for this book.

   In the context of how this information will be applied to the Libretto this conclusion does not matter.

   From my point of view, the mere existence of these other books is enough. These books expound upon the sequence of events which took place before the Garden of Eden and up to the Flood in the days of Noah. These events were not revealed to me at the time of writing the original text for “I Am Alpha & Omega”. So it is that I am attempting to gain sufficient knowledge of these writing that I can craft the first portion of A&O around this sequence of events.

   Further, the Third portion of the Libretto, as I have mentioned, will be a theatrical expression of The Apocalypse, as interpreted in New Church Doctrine (ie: the Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg”). Completing the Third Act will be difficult, based on the objective for it to be presented as an opera.

   In contrast, Act One will be predominantly an abstract “painting” using theatrical and cinematic elements as a backdrop for dance. I expect a certain amount of dialogue or monologue to be included in that abstract expression, but as I write this, I find myself visualizing some kind of dramatic action as well.

   All of this is contingent upon gaining a solid foundation of the core material and this first read-thru really only provides an overview. The next read-thru will be in order to highlight prospective portions that apply to the objective of presenting it in a theatrical context. 

   There is a plethora of material that needs to be boiled down to fit within the allotted time frame, on all three acts of the play. In large part, I am envisioning an abstract selection of elements that can be conveyed graphically and to use those aspects as a backdrop for other potentially dramatic moments. I will be building that backdrop first and inserting a sequence of events into the time-frame in the context of the design elements. Of course, that would be the initial shape of crafting the piece, with variation as needed depending on what dramatic element float to the top as being the most appropriate and potent theatrically.

1/25/26

  Further research is ongoing, having read The Book of Jubilees, The Book of Giants and returning to the second half of The Book of Enoch, it is clear that it will be difficult to craft the rewrite to reflect the plethora of information that has become available. But that is the goal.

   It is now apparent that the Eithopian Bible contains important information, particularly about the events that took place after the Lord's resurrection that must be considered. I will be acquiring a copy of that Bible and until I get a grip on that material, no rewrites will take place.

  My notes on Apocalypse Revealed were lost when I accidentally left my copy contains those notes behind at the Cathedral after performing as John on the Isle of Patmos. I suppose I need to consider that as Providence. Those notes were to be applied to the Third Act, which is intended to become an opera based on end time prophecy contained in The Book of Revelations.

   In regard to Act One, it has become apparent that there are events that occurred, which led to the Great Flood that destroyed mankind, leaving only Noah to preserve humanity. Those events will be conveyed in an abstract artistic expression, which will include dance as a significant expression within the conveyance. 

   Looking at Act Two, the expression is expected to be primarily dramatic monologue & dialogue and will likely contain transition elements from both Act One and Act Three, mostly in the context of design.

   Further, I expect to use this blog, or my web page (imageofthemindstudios.org) to actually write the Libretto. My rationale here is that I want the material to be available to anyone, in the event that I die before completing this task.

   Beyond the research mentioned above, I will be transcribing a number of my Journals, which contain a collection of poems and lyrics, to publish them as a book and which I hope to apply to the rewrites of "I Am Alpha and Omega". So, in effect I am advancing with rewrites, just not on the specific structure just yet.

  I advise anyone wanting to participate in the writing or music composition process to send an email to; imagemindag.publishing@gmail.com, where we will enter into direct, ongoing dialogue, about the project. There must be no third party engagement regarding business via this email at this point. Those conversations can, directed to; image.of.the.mind.studios@gmail.com. I expect to change my communication around to take into account the new web presence that is being designed.

   I must be clear that this is not an employment opportunity, nor is there any possibility of investing any funding (external to Image of the Mind Studios) at this stage of operations. Internal investment is ongoing. External investment may occur at the appropriate time, with the proper contracts, which are derived from legitimate verifiable business dialogue, founded on face to face meetings, after reaching specific creative milestones.

   I have previously discussed collaboration on this project. It is my position that a collaborative endeavor requires an equal balance of effort, application of resources and open certifiable communications. 

AG

ARCHIVE 12/20/25

   I have gained, and will discover,  a great deal of perspective from these ancient texts. I say this because forward momentum is manifesting in understanding. The creative form is taking shape in fleeting glances of conceptualization. But this has not yet taken shape, it has only revealed that the components of the required change are before me. A full comprehension of what those components are has yet to have been gained and therefore; I will need to engineer the rewrite in outline form, once I go through the material for the first time. I will begin an outline on the second reading, because I need a preview of the material before I start to isolate potential material that might be presented. Clearly, I will need to be highly selective.

   Jubilees, Enoch and Genesis will provide the Prelude (Act One) while the Old & New Testaments will provide the Interlude (Act Two) and the Writings for The New Church will provide the underlying current for the whole piece and the specifics of the Postlude (Act Three).

12/14/25

  My rewrite process is taking the shape of first gaining a sub-conscious overview. That means reading the research material through, before taking notes. It might be easier if I were to notate elements that occur to me as I go through the material, but I tend to think that doing that will bog me down with too much material. I'm wanting to gain an overview before I dive into the minutia. I'm standing to believe that I need an understanding of it in the context of my inate understanding of the timing that is required for the overall piece. 

   I know that there are elements which are already in place and there is a very rich trove of material that needs to be whittled down for the conclusion. I have a general drift of that material, from participating in the New Church Day Pageant, but also, if course, from extensive study of the material. Even so, the conclusion (Act Three) needs to be redressed because my notes were lost when I misplaced my copy of Apocalypse Revealed which had all my notes in it. So, before I redress that, I need to re-conceptualize the content of Act One.

I have had thoughts about how to approach dialogue in Act One. It's not exactly dialogue, it's more like a monologue. But there needs to be a significant contrast, some sort of dramatic devise that is entirely legitimate and draws the viewer deeper into the premise of the piece. I'm not entirely clear on how to achieve that. The main difficulty there is "the Oneness" of the Creator. I guess I will need to create that side of the dialogue, while presuming the audience will be the other side of the conversation. Hence, I need to anticipate what anyone's response might be to participating in that conversation. 

  There is the difficulty of perceiving the context of Oneness in the beginning, when creation was yet formed. Because before that event, there was no real mirror, so to speak, to reflect back to thought. Infusing life into form is a manifestation, not so much an interaction, it is more a reaction to influx. That in itself points to the creation of angels and men. But we are told two conflicting ideas. That angels were created before man and that "there are no angels in heaven, who were not first man". So this needs to be resolved.

  That in itself points to the idea of "a new heaven and a new earth", which frankly, seems to have occurred more than once. 

  This also ponts to corruption as the cause of a new heaven. If that is the case, then what heaven is being spoken of regarding angels there? Surely, if Angels were created before men, which is implied, then not all were corrupted by self-love as Lucifer and his minions were.

   Indeed, if the concept of The Grand Man is fully legitimate, then would that circumstance not take place outside of time and space? And if that is the case, are not those societies that make up the Grand Man composed if the Heavenly Hosts who exist in the Infinite Eternal? It is said that even the Celestial is finite, yet eternal not temporal, and that only God is infinite and eternal. But in the context of The Grand Man, God the Father constitutes the Mind that directs the body of that Grand Man, yet all those societies contained within the Grand Man must also constitute the Oneness of God. For a mind without a body is ineffective, if it can exist at all. Surely the mind of God infuses all of creation with life. But then, that creation becomes the life and the form of God.

More later. AG

ARCHIVE

  For those who are interested and following the progress of the Libretto, we are in a research stage of operations. The Libretto requires a complete rewrite, due to more information that has come to light. That information is contained in numerous books that have heretofore been unavailable for consideration.

    As it stands now, The Book of Jubilees is under review, as is The Book of Enoch and The Book of Giants. Other books that require consideration include The Book of Adam & Eve. 

   The previous versions of "I Am Alpha & Omega" were first derived from the Holy Bible, then with the addition of The Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. 

   Now it is appropriate to consider these other books and possibly The Torah. 

   So , all in all, this research will delay the rewrites until such time as antideluvian events can be clarified.

   For those interested in this progress, one might pursue their own research of these books.

AG