"To reach a new and unknown land and journey along unknown roads, travelers cannot be guided by their own knowledge; instead, they have doubts about their own knowledge and seek the guidance of others. Obviously they cannot reach new territory or attain this added knowledge if they do not take these new and unknown roads and abandon those familiar ones. Similarly, people learning new details about their art or trade must work in darkness and not with what they already know. If they refuse to lay aside their former knowledge, they will never make any further progress. The soul, too, when it advances, walks in darkness and unknowing.
Since God, as we said, is the master and guide of the soul, this blind one can truly rejoice now that it has come to understand as it has here, and say: in darkness, and secure."
- The Dark Night, St.John of the Cross
How many of us feel secure in the spiritual darkness or in unfamiliar soul territory? We very often use familiarity as a touchstone of "knowing we are on the right road," or perhaps more correctly, "things are unfolding as we think they should." But what happens when there is no knowing, where life is taking outrageous turns, and where there is only danger of the abyss? This darkness, writes John of the Cross, is where the true security is; it is when we are entering into the unknowing of life. This is the first step into the Mystery.
If we are able to relinquish control, or even if we are dragged kicking and screaming, we are brought again and again into this beautiful unknowing. Relationships, our soul journeys, and love itself become ventures into the divine pleasure of the real and eternal now, ever moving, ever growing. In such a way we can move from the unknowing to the unknowable. In the Gospel of Thomas when Jesus asks his disciples to tell him who he is, they answer that he is a messenger or a wise philosopher. Thomas said to him, "Teacher, my mouth is utterly unable to say what you are like." (Gospel of Thomas, Marvin Meyer). Can we say the same, or do we have very definite ideas about the divine pleasure radiating through the human form and human life?
As we traverse through this winter, are we able to connect with the winter of our soul? Are we able to sit in the darkness and say to God, "I am utterly unable to say who you are?" Are we able to say that to our own souls? St.Teresa of Avila was enamoured with her soul, and with all souls, as she recognised the complete and utter mystery that we are. She writes, "I can find nothing to compare with the great beauty of a soul and its infinite capacity...the soul is nothing but a paradise in which God takes delight" (The Interior Castle). Can we take delight in our own darkness, knowing the beauty of our woundedness from our earthly experiences? Can we see the dark and the light as one, as God manifesting in a glorious resurrection through our human bodies and souls?
We are all brought to this earth to realize the true potential of our humanity and our divinity - a journey that never ends. May we have the courage to truly participate in this life that we have been given, and of living into the fulfillment of who we really are. This is what Christ showed us as he walked this earth, through his conscious outpouring of love and truth, even in the pain and outrageous turn of his life and death.
UPCOMING RETREATS AND WORKSHOPS: For more detailed descriptions please go to www.mysticpeace.com
Sunday March 4th - 10.00 a.m. morning talk "Truth and Authenticity"
Afternoon Workshop 12.00 - 2.00 p.m. "Revealing Your Authentic Being"
How can we live and maintain our authenticity in the world? What stops us from living from our authentic being? Looking at Christ walking the earth we will learn how to access the truth that lives within each one of us.
For Registration: 207-893-1233
Sunday March 25th - 10.00 a.m. morning talk "God's Caresses"
Afternoon Workshop "Falling Into the Mystical Love"
We are all lovers of God and at every moment this Universal Love is making love with us. In this workshop we will see how we separate ourselves from this love and make our way toward the great human and divine love affair.
One Light Community, Cape Cod, MA
Sunday May 20th - 10.00 - 4.30 p.m.
"Finding Home on Earth"
We live in this world but not of it. Learn how to find a firm sense of self and place on Earth while remaining true to the inner Spirit that is your true nature.
Leapin' Lizards, Freeport, Maine
July 20-22nd - Weekend Retreat at Omega Institute, Rhinebeck, NY
"Falling Into the Arms of Love"
Intimacy! How are we intimate with ourselves, with God and with others? Releasing outdated paradigms of relationship, we will step into the greater love of sacred companionship.
TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS:
As we move forward on our journey we all need confirmation that we are walking in the right direction. Guided by the Spirit, these sessions support the unfolding of your journey and your own soul's needs. Using meditation, psycho-spiritual integration practices and compassionate listening, Megan facilitates bringing your soul more fully into its own wisdom and love.
Sliding Scale - $65-90 per hour
Personal Consultations, Sound Healing, and Voice Exploration Sessions are available for those in the Maine/Massachussets area or when Megan is traveling in your area.
It is in your power to live and die with this peace
- Teresa of Avila
