ShinsungHwa: Visualizing Gary Renard’s Spiritual Energy (2019)
What is ShinsungHwa?
ShinsungHwa is a unique form of spiritual art where drawings emerge through spontaneous, flowing movements. Artists tap into their subject’s energy and let Qi(氣) guide their hands, creating geometric patterns that serve as a universal language.
A Brief Look at Gary Renard’s ShinsungHwa
At the heart of Gary Renard’s ShinsungHwa, there’s a clear ‘symbol of light’ at his center, paired with an upward-reaching ‘spiral energy symbol.’ Near the top of the image, another ‘symbol of light’ quietly stands out, even though it isn’t directly attached to Gary himself. A circular energy field gently surrounds him, almost as if it’s embracing and protecting his presence.
In the upper left corner, you’ll see a part of the image covered with a mosaic pattern. This area was intentionally hidden, based on a spiritual reading that determined it’s not meant for public sharing.
From Guitarist to Spiritual Teacher
Gary Renard grew up along Massachusetts’ historic North Shore, where old colonial homes and salty sea breeze tell stories of their own. Like many young people dreaming big beyond small-town life, Gary found his voice through music. Not just strumming chords in his bedroom, he became a professional guitarist—making a living with his instrument.
When Everything Changed
In 1987, during the “harmonic convergence,” a New Age event when planets aligned in a rare pattern, Gary felt a deep calling. He’s not specific about how or what he heard, but this experience marked a turning point in his life.
By the early 1990s, he had moved to Maine, known for its rugged coastline and calm retreats, a place people visit to reconnect with themselves. There, Gary underwent what he calls a “powerful spiritual awakening.” Though mysterious in detail, its impact on him was clear.
A Nine-Year Journey of Writing
Then something remarkable happened. Two “ascended masters,” Arten and Pursah, began appearing to Gary—not as visions or dreams, but as actual conversations. These enlightened beings had once lived on Earth but now existed in a higher spiritual realm.
They urged him to write a book—a task that took nine years to complete. The result was The Disappearance of the Universe, a dialogue exploring spiritual concepts through his interactions with Arten and Pursah.
The book centers on A Course in Miracles, a spiritual text from the 1970s. Gary’s teachers explained it in fresh ways, aiming to make its ideas accessible. They focused on forgiveness, the nature of reality, and the possibility that the world we see might be an illusion.
From Obscurity to Bestseller
Initially an underground hit in 2003, word of Gary’s book spread like wildfire in tight communities. By 2004, major publisher Hay House reissued it, launching it into bestseller status.
The success surprised many, including Gary. Translated into 26 languages, his work has thousands of positive reviews. Self-help author Dr. Wayne Dyer called it “one of the most significant spiritual books of this century.”
Gary followed up with Your Immortal Reality and Love Has Forgotten No One, continuing conversations with his masters about reincarnation, forgiveness, and authentic spirituality.
A New Stage as Speaker
Writing success opened doors. Gary started giving talks and workshops internationally, a path he hadn’t anticipated. His down-to-earth humor blends with radical metaphysical insights, making dense topics feel approachable. Rather than preaching solemnly, he uses jokes and everyday stories to explain consciousness and reality.
The Controversy
But Gary’s story isn’t without skeptics. Some critics, including other teachers of A Course in Miracles, doubt the existence of his ascended masters.
Notably, Robert Perry, a respected teacher, openly questions whether Arten and Pursah are real. Others point to inconsistencies in Gary’s writings, suggesting these figures may be fictional tools to lend weight to his interpretations.
Some disputes have become personal. Gary faced accusations of attacking critics and controversy around alleged fake online identities supporting his work, claims that remain unproven.
A Different Approach to Spirituality
Belief in Arten and Pursah aside, Gary’s books clearly resonate. His spiritual message is clear: the physical world is essentially an illusion, and true peace comes from a kind of forgiveness deeper than we often imagine.
This isn’t new territory, but Gary’s conversational style feels like talking with a wise friend who shares unusual insights.
Some worry that his teachings may foster spiritual selfishness—dismissing others’ suffering as illusion. Gary has addressed such critiques, but the debate continues.
The Ordinary Man Behind It All
What stands out about Gary is his ordinariness. Divorced and remarried, he moved from Maine to California, navigating the same challenges most face. He answers emails, runs discussion groups, and even created a TV series based on his books.
He embodies an American ideal: spiritual wisdom coming to anyone, anywhere—even a Massachusetts guitarist who never expected to teach.
Whether his masters are real or imagined, his work fills a spiritual need for many.
Today, Gary continues to write and speak. His latest book explores the past lives of Jesus and Buddha, maintaining his pattern of bold spiritual claims presented in accessible language.
Love or doubt him, Gary Renard has carved a unique niche in America’s spiritual landscape—one dialogue with invisible teachers at a time.
