Step into the mystery of the Holy Spirit with Anna Cassel’s abstract No. 98 Pentecost. This episode invites viewers to pray through symbolism, seeking divine insight beyond words and images. Embrace patience and openness as the Spirit reveals new visions and dreams for your life.

Acts 2:17-21

In this episode of Art and Prayer, Rev. Rob McPherson invites viewers to open themselves to the mysterious and transformative presence of the Holy Spirit through Anna Cassel’s abstract and symbolic painting No. 98 Pentecost. Cassel, part of a visionary circle that included Hilma af Klint, sought to create art that transcended earthly realities to touch the spiritual realm. Her work invites us into a tradition of biblical visions and dreams—images that speak not only to the mind but also to the soul, offering layered meanings that unfold with prayerful attention.

The episode begins by grounding this mystical experience in scripture, reading from Acts 2:17–21, where God promises to pour out the Spirit on all humankind, inspiring prophecy, visions, and dreams. As viewers center themselves in this promise, they are invited to look closely at Cassel’s intricate patterns, colors, and shapes, and to ask the Holy Spirit for insight and guidance in interpreting these abstractions.

Though symbolic art can feel challenging in a rational age, the episode encourages patience and openness, reminding us that the Holy Spirit is the interpreter who bridges our earthly experience with divine mysteries. By reflecting on the painting’s colors, forms, and repetitions, and returning repeatedly to scripture, viewers can discern how the Spirit is speaking personally through this visual prayer.

The closing reflection acknowledges that understanding may come gradually—sometimes immediately, sometimes later in a dream or quiet moment—and encourages using the painting as a meditation tool over several days. In this way, the episode becomes not just an encounter with a work of art, but a doorway into ongoing spiritual dialogue, deepening our capacity to see visions, dream dreams, and receive God’s saving grace.