HOPE YOUR VALENTINE’S DAY IS FILLED WITH LOVE AND JOY!
I’m in the process of expanding the Divine Feminine work, looking at it from a religious/spiritual perspective. It’s taking longer than I expected, but my aim is to finish before Easter. Watch for notification of this new posting.
In the meantime, there’s much on the blog to review: The Tools for Spiritual Living and the Lent postings, in particular.
Blessings, Barbarah
WELCOME TO THE ADVENT/CHRISTMAS BLOG
Today we continue with our spiritual preparation for Christmas, culminating in the Nativity, the wondrous birth of Jesus to Mary. Jesus came to earth as a savior of humankind. His life and death model the qualities embedded in the faith He founded, which later became the Christian religion. If you haven’t done the earlier Imagery called Advent, Spiritual Preparation for Christmas, consider doing it before you begin this group of Imagery exercises. Together, they present the fullness of Christmas.
There’s a Click and Listen audio feature accompany the Imagery to enhance your experience. When an Imagery instruction is complete, there are 15 seconds of silence on the tape for your Imagery to emerge. When that time is over, you’ll hear a tone that is signaling you to breathe out one time and open your eyes. If your Imagery is finished before the tone, open your eyes and quietly be with your image until you hear the tone.
NATIVITY NARRATIVE: THE SHEPHERDS WATCH THEIR FLOCKS
“And in that region there were shepherds out in the field keeping watch over their flocks by night. And an Angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with fear. The angel said to them, ‘Be not afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”
CLICK AND LISTEN IMAGERY – SHEPHERDS WATCH THEIR FLOCKS
Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel, sense and know how the Shepherds are hearing the the angel announce to them that, “on this day is born a Savior who is Christ the Lord. You will find a baby in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger…” Keeping your eyes closed, breathe out one time. See, feel, sense and hear the heavenly hosts singing to announce the birth of Jesus. Take this into your heart. Breathe out one time and open your eyes…
__________________
CLICK AND LISTEN IMAGERY: THE BIRTH OF JESUS
Close your eyes and breathe out three times. As the Shepherds see the star in the East, Mary is about to give birth to Jesus. See, feel, sense and experience yourself as Mary giving birth to Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem. Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
__________________
NARRATIVE – VISITATION BY THE WISE MEN – Apostle Matthew
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem…in the days of Herod the king, behold Wise Men from the East came to Jerusalem saying, ‘Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.’ When Herod heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, Herod inquired of them where Jesus, the Christ, was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judaea, for so it is written by the prophet…”
CLICK AND LISTEN IMAGERY – VISITATION FROM THE WISE MEN
Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel, sense, know and live as the Wise Men following the star shining in the East……….Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
__________________
NARRATIVE: WISE MEN FOLLOW THE STAR TO THE NEWBORN JESUS
“…And lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy;…and they saw the child with Mary, his mother, and fell down and worshipped Him…
“Then opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.”
CLICK AND LISTEN – THE GIFTS OF THE WISE MEN
Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel, sense and experience the feelings of the Wise Men in the presence of Mary and the Infant Jesus………Breathe out one time. Select for yourself one of the Wise Men’s gifts of gold, frankincense or myrrh. Silently state the name of the gift you chose and remember it……… Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
__________________
Here’s a special gift from your Imagery.
The gift you chose is for you, personally. Gold represents transmutation; frankincense represents a biblical past life; and myrrh represents spiritual insights and wisdom. Use your gift well.
(Note: Feedback from Imagers is that their most profound experience was when they did the Imagery The Birth of Jesus without any other exercises on that day. Consider starting with the first Imagery exercise, Shepherds Watch Their Flocks; the next day, do The Birth of Jesus; then do the rest of the exercises in sequence, one or two a day. If you wish, repeat The Birth of Jesus around midnight of Christmas Eve or on Christmas morning.)
Have a joyful and blessed Christmas,
Barbarah
E-Subscribe at the bottom of the first page and you’ll be notified when new blogs are posted.
Comment, Please – I love hearing from you. Shy? Indicate that your comment is not to be published. Then, only I’ll see it
WELCOME TO BARBARAHS BLOG
There are some things we experience that are special enough to share year after year because they personify the spirit of Christmas. This story has become one of those experiences for me. Its purity and simplicity are elegant.
During the week before Christmas, two years ago, a delightful young couple with four daughters ranging then from 2 to 8 years old, created a Christmas labyrinth, a spiral path about twelve feet in diameter inside a yurt, for protection against the winds and snow. The path was marked with small rocks gathered by the family on their daily walks.
The girls described the intention of the spiral with an innocence and enthusiasm that was contagious: As they told it, each of us walking around the spiral to its center, where we lit our candles, were bringing love into our hearts, which would go out and light the world. As we reversed our direction and followed the spiral to its exit, we were to place our candles among the rocks with special intentions. Throughout, Silent Night was hummed in the background.
If you choose to do this, also explain to adults that when entering the spiral, they will be walking counter-clockwise, a direction used for releasing what is no longer beneficial in their lives. While walking in this direction, each adult may silencing release something they wish to let go. During the clockwise walk the focus is on a positive behavior or aim, hope or dream to replace what was released.
The spiral journey can be done anytime during Advent, but has traditionally been done at midnight, as Christmas eve wanes and choirs of angels are said to sing in reverence for the birth of The Newborn King. (Enya has a beautiful CD that describes that in song Journey of the Angels on a CD entitled And Winter Came on a CD)
WATCH FOR TWO AUDIO IMAGERY EXERCISES OF THIS RITUAL, ONE FOR CHILDREN AND ONE FOR ADULTS ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14,2012
ANTICIPATE CHRISTMAS WITH AN ADVENT WREATH
A simple, but meaningful Christmas ritual is to honor each week of Advent with a devotion using a wreath as its focus. Purchase a natural evergreen wreath–or make your own from tree cuttings. Place the wreath on your dining table with a pale blue candle, adding another candle each week until there are four. On each Sunday in Advent, before the evening meal, light the candle(s) and have a family member or guest read an Advent prayer for that particular Sunday…or do the Imagery exercise for that week recorded below.
You’ll also find Advent prayers on Google where there are several links to Advent 2012 devotions from many Christian denominations.
If you decide to do either of these rituals or create your own variation of them—or if you’d like to share a personal Advent tradition–tell us about it in the Comment section. Others will enjoy hearing what you’ve done and may get ideas that they too will adopt.
NOW FOR OUR ADVENT NARRATIVE WITH AUDIO IMAGERY (These exercises are not designed for young children. Adults may use these narratives and/or Imagery as their Advent Wreath Prayers)
The Annunciation By The Apostle Luke – Week One Sun Dec 2, 2012
In the city of Nazareth, a virgin named Mary was betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph. One day, the Angel Gabriel came to Mary and said, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with thee.” The Angel continued, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. He will be great, and be called Son of the Most High…”
CLICK AND LISTEN IMAGERY (ADVENT ONE, DECEMBER 2, 2012)
Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel, sense, know and live as Mary. Recognize your qualities as a young woman and imagine your feelings at hearing the news from the Angel Gabriel that you have been chosen to be the mother of Jesus………Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
__________________
Annunciation Narrative Continues (Advent, Week 1, December 2, 2012)
And Mary said to the Angel Gabriel, “How shall this be, since I have no husband?” And the Angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.” The Angel Gabriel went on to tell Mary that her cousin, Elizabeth, in her eighties and barren, also was to bear a son to be named John (the Baptist) for with God nothing is impossible. Mary consented and the Angel Gabriel departed.
CLICK AND LISTEN IMAGERY (ADVENT WEEK TWO, DECEMBER 9, 2012)
Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel, sense and listen as Mary consents to be the mother of the infant, who at birth is named Jesus, saying, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” At that moment, the heavens make preparations for Jesus to be conceived by Mary through the Holy Spirit………Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
__________________
Mary’s Visit to Elizabeth – Advent, Week Three, December 16, 2012
Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country of Judah to visit her cousin Elizabeth. When hearing Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed to Mary, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leapt for joy.”
CLICK AND LISTEN IMAGERY (ADVENT WEEK THREE, DEC. 16, 2012)
Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, sense and hear Mary’s feelings in her words to Elizabeth, “My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden, for behold, henceforth, all generations will call me blessed.” Imagine how this life-changing event is for the young Virgin Mary……….Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
Our next presentation will include The Birth of Jesus, The Shepherds Watching Their Flocks and The Visit of the Magi. Watch for it on or before December 23. 2012.
Blessings in this beautiful holiday season, Barbarah
E-Subscribe – If you’re not a subscriber, go to the bottom of the first page and click E-Subscribe. You’ll receive notice when a new Barbarahs Blog is posted.
Comment, Please – I love hearing from you. Comments help me address your needs in the blog, and help other readers. Shy? Indicate that your comment is not to be published. Then only I will see it.
WELCOME TO BARBARAH’S BLOG!
The last blog introduced the symbol for the Luminous Trinity, in which the traditional trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit is entwined with a feminine trinity of Mother, Daughter, Holy Soul. The male trinity was formulated in the late fourteenth century by the Christian church to profess that God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are equally responsible for our salvation, thus must all be Divine.
Valentin Tomberg makes the point that the belief in the feminine trinity goes back to The Zohar, considered by some to be the most important work of Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, and teaches that the great name of God YHVH “reveals the Father (Y) the supreme Mother (H), the Son (V), and the Daughter (H). Such is the eternal name YHVH. In the history of the created world there is also revealed the Shekinah, associated with the community of Israel.” The Zohar was written in Aramaic, spoken in Israel in the second century and the books first appeared in Spain in the thirteenth century.
Both Valentin Tomberg and Robert Powell, outstanding authorities and authors on the Divine Feminine support the reality of the Luminous Trinity. Let your personal religious beliefs be your guide.
Click Here for Audio Imagery: One Goddess In Three Divine Persons
Close your eyes and breathe out one time – See, feel and sense yourself as a column of light that is the Divine Mother. Breathe out one time, keeping your eyes closed.
Breathe out one time – See, feel and sense yourself as a column of light that is the Daughter, Wisdom Sophia. Breathe out one time, keeping your eyes closed.
Breathe out one time– See, feel and sense yourself as a column of light that is the Shekinah/Holy Soul. Breathe out one time, open your eyes and remain quiet for a long moment.
Close your eyes and breathe out three times – See the three columns of light form a triangle. Breathe out one time and keeping your eyes closed.. Walk into the center of the triangle and become one with the light as it intermingles, and slowly envelopes you. Sense yourself in and of all of these beings. Keeping your eyes closed…
Breathe out three times. Walk out of the triangle as one individual member of the trinity. What do you now know of the statement, One Goddess in three Divine persons. Breathe out and open your eyes.
A Practice For Elevating Consciousness
If you did not experience a knowing of One Goddess in three Divine persons, repeat the above Imagery exercises daily until it occurs. If this does not happen in three weeks, stop the exercises for one week and begin again. Repeat this cycle no more than three times. Imagery is not as effective when it becomes a habit.
During your off week, consider praying for Wisdom Sophia to help you elevate your consciousness for the influx of the deep spiritual meaning of One Goddess in three Divine persons.
_______________
Thanksgiving is almost here. The blog published on November 14, 2010 has ideas for creating a ritual for this special day. You’ll find it in Archives on the first page of this blog. We then move into the Christmas season with Advent beginning on Sunday, November 27, 2011. My aim is to update last year’s Advent blogs and add Audio Imagery for this holy season. You’ll hear from me when the first is done.
In the meantime, please take the time to Comment – and to become a subscriber so you automatically get notification of new blogs.
Blessings for Thanksgiving, Barbarah
WELCOME TO BARBARAH’S BLOG!
Today, we return to the Divine Feminine from a new perspective: her relationship to humanity from its “fall” to The Mystery of Golgotha.
“The astral nature of Eve received the spiritual being, who was worshipped in Egypt as the goddess Isis, and in the Christian Church today as the Mother of God, the Queen of Heaven,” is Valentin Tomberg’s description of Isis, after the “fall” of humanity. In a previous Tomberg study, he spoke of her as Sophia.
There also are thousands of current members of Isis cults who believe that Isis was a physical earth being. They look forward to the time when her remains are discovered and DNA testing proves her heritage. I don’t feel that either of these beliefs negates the other.
As I was working on this blog, I was frequently reminded how the “fall” was a necessary precursor to the Mystery of Golgotha.
In Genesis 3, we learn that Adam and Eve succumbed to the temptation of a serpent and ate the fruit of the tree of good and evil, the one thing in Eden forbidden to them. The serpent’s lure was to tell Eve that the fruit would make them “like divine beings who will know good and bad.” Being a loving generous God, they did not lose their lives as threatened: they were banished to the world outside of Eden, where they had to toil for their existence. It also laid the foundation for a conflict that altered the development of civilization: humanity’s difficulty in living with free will and temptation.
In Genesis 4, Adam and Eve’s son, Cain, became angered because “The Lord took heed to Abel’s gift, but to Cain and his gift He paid no heed.” Cain challenged God’s choice and soon after, murdered his brother Abel. God spared Cain’s life; however, he, too banished from his homeland.
So far, banishment and toil have been the outcome of human errors; however, as the transgressions become greater, so do the outcomes, as we see in Genesis 6-9. Divine beings see how beautiful are the daughters of men and with no opposition stated from the girls’ fathers, take wives from among them. The Lord responds by limiting man’s lifespan to 120 years This was a stringent response, since men were living up to 926 years (Jared, father of Enoch). As a result of these marriages, beings of human and divine parentage were born. “I will blot out from the earth the men whom I created, for I regret that I made them,” states The Lord. This is a devastating outcome.
The errors have a commonality: The desire of man to be as God. Adam and Eve expressed this when they made a choice God had forbidden; Cain behaved as if he was equal to God when he challenged His choice of Abel’s gift, and then went further into God’s province by taking his brother Abel’s life. And the divine men violated the separation of the kingdoms, creating a new kind of being, again the province of God. The girl’s fathers took no action, and were complicit by accepting what occurred.
But Noah, his wife, sons and their wives found favor with The Lord. In advance of ridding the earth of humankind, God instructed Noah to build an ark to ride out the flooding. After the waters receded, The Lord called Noah and his family and animals out from the ark. Soon after, Noah built an altar, and taking of every clean animal and bird, he made a burnt offering to The Lord. Smelling the pleasing odor, The Lord said to Himself, “Never again will I doom the earth because of man, since the devising of man’s mind is evil from his youth; nor will I ever again destroy every living being, as I have done.” God then made this covenant with Noah, telling him that He set His bow in the clouds as a sign of the covenant between Him and the earth.
The “fall” was a two-fold process, according to Valentin Tomberg. This process was experienced by Adam and Eve, as representatives of all humankind. Tomberg further tells us that there was first the descent of three members of the Human Personality or Lower Self, the mental body or lower manas; the astral or emotional body; and the etheric or dense physical body. This was accompanied by the rise of The Ego, Higher Self or Individuality through the immaculate warmth of Saturn; the night nature of Old Sun; and the kindled Pentecost flame of higher manas. These were protected in the higher regions, absorbed there by higher spiritual beings. The “fall” did not dim the astral, etheric and physical human organizations. It lifted the ego and higher self or individuality from the sensory world into the suprasensory world, temporarily withdrawing them from earthly humanity. (The members of the human personality and ego are from Tomberg and from Dr. Joshua Stone’s, The Soul, The Quality of Life.)
Sophia Bridges The “Fall” and The Mystery of Golgotha
The “fall” ushers in a new beginning. While this is the good news, it is also a challenge: How does humanity approach a new beginning without knowledge of universal laws or a code of behavior to guide them through temptation while making free choices. From Proverbs * Wisdom (Sophia) sings:
“I Wisdom, share house with Discretion. I am mistress of the art of thought. I hate pride and arrogance, wicked behaviors and a lying mouth. To me belong good advice and prudence. I am perception; power is mine! By me monarchs rule and princes decree what is right; by me rulers govern, so do nobles, the lawful authorities. I love those who love me; whoever searches eagerly for me finds me. With me are riches and honour, lasting wealth and saving justice. I walk in the way of uprightness in the path of justice.”
Perhaps it is Sophia who leads humankind toward the power to overcome the dark currents of the will.
Barbarah
WELCOME TO BARBARAH’S BLOG!
THIS SUMMER SHINE A LIGHT ON YOUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY
Each summer I have a vacation from formal spiritual classes. The time allows me to integrate what I’ve come to know and in September I’m refreshed and eager to start new classes or select topics for independent study.
During this off-time, I look back to see if I’ve corrected errors, what methods I’ve used and how the correction(s) have impacted my life. This process gives clarity to the present moment. It’s also a reminder to give thanks for the Divine support I’ve been given throughout the year. You could call it a Spiritual Inventory. Here’s how it works.
A Process For Taking A Spiritual Inventory
1. Write out your intention to take a Spiritual Inventory and in a prayer ask for Divine assistance in the process.
2. Close your eyes and go back through the last year in reverse, one month at a time Observe unproductive behaviors you’ve corrected–those that were not supporting your spiritual journey–and identify any new productive behaviors you’ve adopted. Review the Spiritual Tools you’ve used to make corrections and identify those that worked best for you. Make notes as you observe each month. Consider doing this in four sessions each covering three months.
3. After going back through the months, rewrite your notes in chronological order to know how you’ve progressed. Highlight in one color behaviors supporting your spiritual journey and in another color, behaviors you’d now like to correct. Do not judge these behaviors. Just be with their is-ness.
Help In Making Corrections Is Just a Blog Away
You may find it helpful to review the blogs that are tools for living with spirit. These are listed in the index in the right hand column of the blog that includes Recent Posts; Archives (by month posted); and Categories. You’ll find Synchronicity, Mirroring, Reversing and Dream Reading, tools I use for this process, in the Categories section by name and in the Archive section by month.
Synchronicity – Nothing happens by chance posted July 2010
Mirroring – Seeing our behaviors in someone else posted August 2010
Reversing – Eliminating and replacing unproductive behaviors – particularly useful for correcting imagery posted September 2010
Dream Reading – Understanding guidance revealed in dreams posted October 2010
Taking a spiritual inventory increases self-awareness, can uncover new information and affirms the Divine’s support in our lives. Our progress provides wings for the next steps on the journey of our souls.
You might also consider…
…continuing to develop your Spiritual Senses and/or establish a prayer practice to invoke the Divine Feminine. You’ll find both these topics in the blog Gateways to the Divine Feminine posted on June 4, 2011.
By creating a daily rhythm that includes honing our spiritual senses and prayers to invoke the Divine Feminine, we become active participants in the return of the Divine Feminine to her rightful place. This will bring about women and men fostering greater respect for Mother Earth, the holistic education of children and an authentic balance of the female-male energies weaving through the lives of individuals, families, communities and businesses. What a privilege to be part of that spiritual evolution!
Have a blessed summer journey, Barbarah
P.S. If you need support, contact me either through the Comments section of the blog or by e-mailing me at <fedzie@ptd.net> after July 15th. Of course, you can always call on the Divine Sophia or Virgin Mary for help.
The next blog focusing on the Divine Feminine will be posted by August 15, 2011.
Note: E-Subscribe and you’ll receive notification when a blog is posted.
Welcome to Audio Imagery on Barbarahs Blog!
In the days between the Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus Christ, there were twelve Apostles plus 70 disciples, all receiving His teachings, preaching and performing miracles, and receiving the Gifts of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. No doubt the women ministering to the Apostles were included. Let your Imagery be your guide.
You can do these Imagery exercises as a group of four. If you choose, you can also divide them into two sets, doing Exercises one and two together; and three and four together.
Pentecost Imagery 1 – Jesus Christ Imprints Teachings On the Apostles Souls
Close your eyes and breathe out three times – Imagine yourself an Apostle being taught on a soul-level by Jesus Christ (as you sleep). Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
Click Here And Listen To Pentecost Imagery Exercise 1
__________________
Pentecost Imagery 2 – Jesus Christ Ascends To Heaven
Close your eyes and breathe out three times – See, feel, sense and know the strength you draw from the presence of Jesus Christ on earth. As you listen to Him in Bethany, note your reactions as He is lifted up to the heavenly kingdom before your eyes. Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
Click Here And Listen To Pentecost Imagery Exercise 2
__________________
Pentecost Imagery 3 – Mary Rallies The Apostles Through Prayer
Close your eyes and breathe out three times – Imagine yourself as Mary. Look for the strength in the deep wells of your past and bring the Apostles back from despair by joining them in prayer. Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
Click Here And Listen To Pentecost Imagery Exercise 3
__________________
PENTECOST IMAGERY 4 – THE HOLY SPIRIT DESCENDS
Close your eyes and breathe out three times – “Suddenly there is from heaven a sound of a violent wind which fills the entire house. Tongues of fire come to rest on your head and on the heads of the other Apostles. You are filled with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak different languages as the Spirit gives you power to express yourselves. Know how you use this gift. Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
Click Here And Listen To Pentecost Imagery Exercise 4
__________________
Have a blessed Pentecost, Barbarah
WELCOME TO BARBARAH’S BLOG!
Our conversation today is about developing the Spiritual Senses of Mysticism, Gnosis and Sacred Magic that open our hearts, minds and wills. These senses are gateways to the Divine Sophia and her infinite wisdom to be discovered through Divine Sophia herself or through those who embody her. The most familiar among these are Mary Mother of Jesus Christ and for some, Isis; however, there are may be many more to be discovered on our journey.
Divine Sophia often waits for a sign that our hearts are wanting or needing the awareness of her presence. Honing our Spiritual Senses can be that sign. Valentin Tomberg and Robert Powell, authors and champions of Divine Sophia, recommend that we begin by embracing nature. So find a place you can visit regularly that is rich in greenery, one of the beautiful spaces Sophia has created for us and be there.
My favorite place is on a terrace surrounded by trees as old as this land. The wonder of these stately trees is their freedom of movement despite a height of 80-100 feet. The trees are supported by a root system securely entangled in the rocks of this mountain country. I began writing this blog on the terrace yesterday afternoon. A light breeze brushed against my skin as it touched the leaves so lightly their movement was barely visible. The breeze soon picked up enough to rustle the leaves, filling the air with music. Soon they dipped and swayed like giant dancers. And then the inevitable happened: a summer shower. What a wonder it is that trees so old and so tall are so graceful.
The Mary Tree stands tallest among them. It sprung up from the ground as a single trunk that separated into two, centuries ago. Growing side by side, these trunks share the original root system, their branches and leaves interlaced, moving in concert with nature. The Mary Tree is an analogy to the male and female streams that separated. And like the Mary Tree, they can learn to live in equalibrium with Wisdom Sophia regaining her original place as described in Proverbs 8:
“Yahweh created me, first-fruits of his fashioning, before the oldest of his works. From everlasting, I was firmly set, from the beginning, before the earth came into being. The deep was not, when I was born, nor were the springs with their abounding waters…I was beside the master craftsman, delighting him day after day, ever at play in his presence; at play everywhere on his earth, delighting to be with the children of men.”
Now, back to the Spiritual Senses. Discover a place where you can become at one with nature and bathe yourself in the comfort of Sophia’s creation. Soon your breath will slow, your body will relax, and if ready, you’ll let go and await the moment of mysticism, when the door to the Divine Sophia opens. As Tomberg noted, you are in “a state of quiet expectation” and have moved to the place of no-time. You’re aware that something has shifted–a sound, an aroma, a whisper-light touch. This is the touch of the Divine. Mysticism is opening your heart. One day, perhaps this day, mysticism will be followed by gnosis, a nugget of wisdom that enters your mind. The space between mysticism and gnosis is often so close they seem as one. Sacred Magic follows, when you have put your will to work by following this revelation as you feel directed by Divine Sophia.
A key to honing the Spiritual Senses is to acknowledge that others have done so before, are doing so now, and you, too, can claim the legacy that comes with them.
A Process For Honing The Spiritual Senses
1. Have the intention to visit with the Divine Sophia and engage her in opening and/or honing your Spiritual Senses.
2. Find your nature space. It may be a nearby woods, beach or pocket park in a city, whatever resonates with you.
3. Sit comfortably and be. Feel your breath slowing somewhat, your body relaxing as your physical senses take in the beauty of the nature surrounding you.
4. Remember to be in silent expectation, a joyful state of knowing that you, too, can discover or sharpen your Spiritual Senses, opening your heart, mind and will to Divine Sophia.
__________________
Prayers To Invoke Divine Sophia:
The Our Mother Prayer
This prayer is a series of petitions to invoke the Divine Sophia and was written by Valentin Tomberg. The Our Mother Prayer opens the channels to Divine Sophia and fosters an understanding of the trinity of the Mother, Daughter and Holy Soul, the counterpart to the trinity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Little Rosary
The Divine Sophia, embodied in Mary Mother of Jesus Christ, is invoked by praying the Little Rosary, also developed by Valentin Tomberg and revised by Robert Powell after working with it in his eurhythmy practice, a beautiful form of spiritual movement that is not required for the Little Rosary.
While the traditional Rosary includes fifty Hail Mary’s, the Little Rosary links a Hail Mary with one of Jesus Christ’s I AM sayings, each stimulating an individual chakra center, an organ of the soul. The full prayer includes seven of these combinations, each focusing on a different chakra.
Robert Powell tells us that we might “wish to pray the Little Rosary to bring the Divine Logos, the I AM, the power of divine love and divine light, to illuminate and warm your soul.”
Both these prayers are presented in The Sophia Teachings by Robert Powell, founder of the Sophia Foundation. The book jacket describes the book as “uncovering the secret stream of wisdom flowing through the heart of Christianity; the feminine principle known in Greek as “Sophia” or Divine Wisdom herself. This sacred embodiment–named in the Old Testament as the first living being made by God–has comforted and guided seekers of truth in every age and culture, including our own.” Powell has written several other books on this and related topics and is the translator of Valentin Tomberg’s Meditations on the Tarot.
Both books can be purchased on www.sophiafoundation.org, www.fieldsbooks.com or www.amazon.com __________________
Join me again on June 17th when we’ll have a conversation about the Divine Being, Isis.
If you need assistance using the Process For Honing Your Spiritual Senses, contact me at fedzie@ptd.net.
May the Divine Sophia guide you in your spiritual work! Barbarah
__________________
Comments are always welcome. Use the Comment section provided at the end of the blog.
E-Subscriptions are a free service that notifies subscribers when a new blog is published. Look for the icon and fill out the very brief form.
WELCOME TO BARBARAHS BLOG
Pentecost, is always the fiftieth day after Easter and the tenth day after the Ascension. It is considered the second most important Christian holiday, the first being Easter. The primary focus on Pentecost is the Holy Spirit descending on the Apostles, giving them the Gifts of the Spirit. In Acts 2:1-4, we are told:
“When Pentecost day came round, they had all met together, when suddenly there came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and there appeared to them tongues of fire, these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them power to express themselves.”
With this gift, the Apostles could communicate the teachings of Jesus Christ to all who were open to receiving them, regardless of the language they spoke.
Jesus Prepares The Apostles For Their Ministry
In the forty days after the Resurrection, Jesus Christ prepared the Apostles for their ministry. We read in Valentin Tomberg’s Christ and Sophia that pictures appeared before their souls, revealing pairs of information each containing an image of Jesus Christ and an event from His life before the crucifixion that held a higher spiritual truth. On the day of the Ascension, these pictures not only ceased being shared with the Apostles, they were “erased” from their experience along with images of Jesus Christ. This was a devastating experience, leading the Apostles into a downward spiral toward the death of their souls. In these hours of despair, with the unfailing support of Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Apostles bonded through their emptiness, creating a single group heart.
Pope Benedict XVI in his book, Maria, tells us that “Mary sustained the faith of Peter and the Apostles in the Upper Room, and today she sustains my faith and your faith.”
How Mary Rose Above Her Own Grief For the Apostles
Mary was prepared for her destiny as a child raised in the Essene religious community. She was aligned with the Ten Commandments, disciplined and connected to the heavenly kingdom. This prepared her for the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel that she was chosen to be the Mother of God.
The purity of Mary’s life was reflected in the clear energy surrounding her physical body. This clarity enabled her to receive the revelations of Wisdom Sophia and pour them out into the world as inspirations of the soul. In the days preceding Pentecost, the Virgin Mary occupied the central position in the circle of twelve. Tomberg describes this beautifully, saying, “At the time of Pentecost, the twelve Apostles represented a twelve-petalled flower in which the individual petals were arranged around a central point.” That point was Mary, the Mother of Jesus, or Virgin Sophia in the Hermetic Christian tradition. Virgin Sophia was the heart of the heart, which became, at the hour of Pentecost, the heart of humanity, elevating the revelations of the Apostles to personal convictions. The Apostles were then able to preach the gospels as truth that lived within them.
Jesus Christ Shares His Soul Energy With The Apostles
The last time Jesus Christ addressed the Apostles face to face was immediately before his Ascension, when he told them, “I was with you as your master; now I go to the Father, so that I may be in you, as the Father is in me.” This promise was fulfilled at Pentecost, when the Christ impulse entered into the souls of the Apostles and they received the Gifts of the Holy Spirit described in the quote from Acts at the beginning of this blog.
Pentecost is a passage of the Apostles to their full glory as witnesses to the Word of God. Their training by the Risen Christ, the sharing of his soul with them, their nurturance and prayerful soul elevation by Virgin Sophia and “the descent of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit so inspired them that on that first Pentecost day, St. Peter’s preaching brought 3,000 souls into the Christian community, as first fruits to God,” we are told at Fisheaters.com.
__________________
Celebrating Pentecost
Pentecost reminds us of the power of a group committed to a single vision. That power expands when we present our vision to the Divine and ask for heavenly support. Celebrating Pentecoat at church or with like-minded friends can remind us of the shared vision the draws us together.
If you decide to embellish a Pentecost event, the colors of the holiday are white and the fiery reds and oranges of flames. The dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit and the columbine, with its dove-shaped petals, is a popular flower for the day.
Click on June, 2011 for updated Audio Imagery for Pentecost. _________________
Other Sites For Information On Pentecost and the Divine Feminine
<http://www.fisheaters.com/customseastertide7.html>
<http://www.goarch.org/special/listen-learn-share/pentecost>
<http://www.uscatholic.org> for Desperately Seeking Sophia
<http://judaism.about.com/od/holidays/a/shavuot.htm>
__________________
Thank you for joining me again. The Imagery for Pentecost will be published next Saturday, June 4th, along with references for developing the Spiritual Senses.
As always, Comment please either in the Comment section below or by e-mailing me at <fedzie@ptd.net>.
If you E-Subscribe, you’ll receive notification when a blog is published. Just go to the icon and fill out the form.
May Your Pentecost Preparations By Joyful, Barbarah
Now a great star appeared in heaven, a woman robed with the sun standing on the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. Revelations, 12:1-2
Let’s begin our Divine Feminine series by entering into this description of Wisdom Sophia.
Imagery Exercises – Wisdom Sophia
Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel, sense and know Wisdom Sophia as the great star that appeared in heaven: a women robed with the sun, standing on the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
Click Here And Listen To The Imagery, Wisdom Sophia
Imagery Exercise – Mary Embodies Wisdom Sophia
Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel, sense and know Mary as a Divine being who embodies Wisdom Sophia. Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
Click Here And Listen To The Imagery, Mary Embodies Wisdom Sophia
__________________
Narrative
Mary Is An Inspiration To Children
Walking in a procession to honor Mary is a vivid childhood memory. Its enduring truth lives in the excitement of my seven-year-old self dressed in white, carrying flowers to be placed at the foot of the marble statue of Mary. I can smell the freshness of the newly cut grass in the courtyard and the aroma of the flowers we carry. Our sweet young voices sing Oh Mary we crown thee with blossoms today. This memory is crystal clear. It is a constant connection to a sacred event that weaves through the journey of my soul.
Imagery Exercise – Mary Inspires Children
Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel, sense and know a childhood experience in which you are in the presence of the Divine. Recognize how this lives within you. Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
Click Here And Listen To The Imagery, Mary Inspires Children
__________________
Narrative
Mary has many laudable attributes. Her names define how she relates to the needs of diverse people and cultures. Among these names are Mary Queen of Heaven; Mary Mother of God; Mary Mother of Divine Love, and many more. She is a guiding force, a model of behavior, a pillar of strength and much more.
There are churches named Mary Star of the Sea in many seaside communities. People in these areas often earn their living in its waters and are ever conscious of its force. Mary is invoked as boats leave port for the safe return of the fishermen and a bountiful catch. And families seek her protection when storms threaten their personal safety and their homes.
Mary Comforter of the Sick is invoked by those who seek healing and courage in the dark hours of pain and fear; and by nurses and doctors who seek Mary’s intercession knowing that the Divine is the ultimate healer.
Imagery Exercise, Live Mary’s Attributes Thru Your Name
Close your eyes and breathe out three times. See, feel, sense and know how an attribute of Mary lives within you. Listen to the sound of your name including this attribute. Breathe out one time keeping your eyes closed. See, feel, sense and know how this name attracts people you can assist. Understand how you answer their need. Breathe out one time and open your eyes.
Click Here And Listen To The Imagery, Live Mary’s Attributes Thru Your Name
________________________________________________________________
Gateways to Wisdom Sophia/Mary
Valentin Tomberg, author of Meditations on the Tarot, teaches that a gateway to Wisdom Sophia is through the spiritual senses of mysticism, gnosis and sacred magic. These spiritual senses work through our hearts, minds and wills and are a foundation of the Hermetic tradition. We’ll discuss how to develop these senses in the next blog.
Colette Aboulker-Muscat, creator of the Imagery technique in these blogs, calls Imagery The Language of the Heart. In Imagery the heart and mind communicate with us through an image, a sound, an emotion a physical response or a combination of these. The influx of wisdom is in the is-ness of the image, which we protect by limiting the time spent in an image to approximately 15 seconds. We engage our will when we take action on the revealed wisdom, moving it into the world. Dr. Gerald Epstein, the leading proponent of Colette’s work and author of numerous books on Western Spiritual Medicine, tells us that the image is a hologram in which a part represents the whole.
I find that both the Hermetic Way and Imagery open the gates to Wisdom Sophia. It’s a personal preference we discover for ourselves.
The Divine Feminine Expands Our Feelings
Those who open their hearts, minds and wills to the influx of the Divine Feminine experience an expansion and deepening of their feelings for the physical world, seeing all creation through a spiritual lens. An increased awareness of themselves as spiritual beings guides their actions as they seek clarity on the journey of their souls, willing to meet that challenge with courage and humility.
Blessings, Barbarah
P.S. Our next Divine Feminine blog will be published around June 15th. In the meantime, watch for a blog on the meaning of Pentacost before the end of May.
COMMENTS, please in the comment section at the end of this blog or by e-mailing me at <www.fedzie@ptd.net>
E-Subscribe and you’ll receive notification of a blog.
Barbara Fedoroff
Tools for Spiritual Living: Barbarah's Blog 