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Craig 1/11/2017 5:13:39 PM edit upload | At this time of year in many traditions we welcome the return of light metaphorically into this world symbolizing the birth of truth, light and love through the power of forgiveness. May we all have this experience together. Peace mighty companions! Here's your Daily Poem from the Poetry Chaikhana We awaken in Christ's body By Symeon the New Theologian (949 - 1032) English version by Stephen Mitchell We awaken in Christ's body as Christ awakens our bodies, and my poor hand is Christ, He enters my foot, and is infinitely me. I move my hand, and wonderfully my hand becomes Christ, becomes all of Him (for God is indivisibly whole, seamless in His Godhood). I move my foot, and at once He appears like a flash of lightning. Do my words seem blasphemous? -- Then open your heart to Him and let yourself receive the one who is opening to you so deeply. For if we genuinely love Him, we wake up inside Christ's body where all our body, all over, every most hidden part of it, is realized in joy as Him, and He makes us, utterly, real, and everything that is hurt, everything that seemed to us dark, harsh, shameful, maimed, ugly, irreparably damaged, is in Him transformed and recognized as whole, as lovely, and radiant in His light he awakens as the Beloved in every last part of our body. -- from The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry, by Stephen Mitchell Thought for the Day: by Ivan M. Granger Right action heals in ways that even "success" cannot match. Since it is the Solstice and we are coming into the Christmas season, I thought I would take the opportunity to share one of my favorite poems by Symeon the New Theologian. Symeon doesn't urge us to merely honor or love the Beloved (Christ within the Christian tradition) from a distance. We melt into the Divine, become one with the Divine, share the same body. I move my hand, and wonderfully my hand becomes Christ, becomes all of Him Some of these lines remind me of the poem attributed to Teresa of Avila, You Are Christ's Hands with it's lines-- "Christ has no body now on earth but yours, / no hands but yours..." This poem by Symeon is one I just want to drink in -- it feels so deeply healing and generous to the soul. and everything that is hurt, everything that seemed to us dark, harsh, shameful, maimed, ugly, irreparably damaged, is in Him transformed and recognized as whole, as lovely, and radiant in His light he awakens as the Beloved in every last part of our body. Thinking of Christmas, I have always felt a particular love for manger scenes, ceramic, porcelain, or carved wooden figurines of the Christ Child laid in a bed of straw, Mary knelt over her new child, Joseph with his lamp, the Three Magi holding their gifts, a shepherd with a few sheep, an ox and an ass at rest. Often the scene has a hut-like manger as background, the roof covered with moss -- with the announcing angel and the Christmas star shining above. That iconic scene has always felt magical and alive to me, rich with unspoken meaning. And it is. We can read the gospel stories of the birth of Christ as simply describing events, or we can read it more deeply as being imbued with spiritual meaning. In the Nativity, we discover the pure spark of light that is the Christ child -- also represented by the star -- surrounded by the emptiness of the night. The Nativity is an image of light in the darkness. A small child, vulnerable, humble, poor, a tiny point of existence, surrounded by the immensity of the night... but with the promise that the light will increase until it floods the world with its light. (It is no accident that Christmas occurs near the Winter Solstice, when the world is plunged in darkness and awaits the rebirth of the sun.) Looking at Mary and Joseph, one way to understand Mary in the Nativity story is that she represents the heart or the soul, while Joseph represents the intellect. From this perspective, the gospel story of the virgin birth takes on ever deeper dimensions. In the mystical tradition, the soul must first stop attempting to take false lovers through every outer experience, and yearn so deeply for the true Beloved within that she (the soul) becomes restored to her natural "untouched" state (Mary's virginity). That is, the soul must become purified, inward focused, unattached, "untouched" by the experiences of the outer world. Mary's virginity is a virginity of awareness. When this happens deeply enough, the divine touch comes, and a new life (the Christ child in Christian tradition) is formed within the individual. The overwhelming sense of joy and spiritual bliss that is felt becomes a new presence in the body and mind. But the father of this new life is not Joseph. The heart does not conceive by the intellect, but through direct communion with the Eternal. At this stage, the intellect has a choice: Retreat into cold denial, proclaiming, 'I do not know that child' and reject the heart and the life it carries; or it can recognize that something deeply sacred is taking place, something not of its own making, and then take responsibility and provide for the growth and maturation of that inner illumination. In this way, the Christian gospel drama is played out in you and me and in all devout mystics. This isn't something experienced only by Christians; here, we are simply using Christian language to describe a universal mystical experience... In the traditional iconography, we see the infant Christ on a bed of straw in a manger surrounded by animals. In the gospel tale, two animals are mentioned specifically: an ox and an ass. Why those two animals? Esoteric Christian teachings sometimes explain it this way: the ox (an ancient symbol of Venus), represents sensuality and passion; the ass can be seen as embodying either the ego or reason. What are they doing in this image of divine birth? Notice that they are not suppressed; the ox and ass are not chained or slaughtered. No, they rest, they are at peace, tamed by the presence of spiritual light. More than that, they are actually protecting the infant, giving him their strength. As one 20th century Christian teacher phrased it, "They are warming the Christ child with their breath." Viewed this way, the nativity gives us an image not of suppression, but of integration of the energies of life in support of the awakening soul. There is, of course, much more to explore. The cave or manger of the birth. The three Magian wise men from the east. But I hope I have suggested some good ideas to contemplate and inspire a bit more spiritual connection this Christmas. he awakens as the Beloved in every last part of our body. Wishing each and every one of you a beautiful Christmas, Hanukkah, and Solstice. May this time when the light renews itself amidst the darkness also bring a renewal of the light and life within you and everyone your life touches. Ivan |
Craig 12/20/2016 9:21:13 PM | Oops, forgot the link: https://www.therawfoodworld.com/ |
Craig 12/20/2016 9:19:27 PM | SALE SALE SALE ! Raw Food World is having their best discounted sale of the year until Dec. 31, 2016. 17.5% off and it includes both December and January specials! For anyone wanting to try one of the best raw organic cacao powders, nibs or butter, now is the time. This is where I purchase the powder for Deanna's Almond Butter Fudge and the Avocado Pudding. Also use it in protein shakes. A 1 lb bag after the discount (Holiday18) is a little more than $10 if purchasing 3 bags. A fantastic price for such a high quality source. And if your lucky you just might win a trip to the retreat. Also good prices on high quality nuts like Brazil and Cashews. Well, mighty companions, we have been out of contact, but will hopefully soon catch up with our intrepid sojourners on their climb to the summit of Mount Wellness, Wholeness and Freedom. The Light has come. Joyous solstice and welcome to the returning light. What a beautiful metaphor for the Light of Truth, the Light of Christ, that entered this seeming world to help awaken us from this dream of separation. May this Light awaken in all our hearts and glow with the warmth of Love and Forgiveness we share with everyone and everything. And may peace abide now and forever in all our minds, undisturbed by this passing world. |
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