Teilhard de Chardin (Jesuit 20^th c.) This is what I have learnt from my contact with the earth… the diaphany of the divine at the heart of a glowing universe, the divine radiating from the depths of matter aflame.

Vincent Van Gogh’s painting “Starry Night” with an image of the Universe from the James Webb telescope superimposed

Last week I Invited you to consider the dreams you hold for your life as we look together at the unfolding of the Universe through the ten powers described by Cosmologist Brian Swimme.

We saw that the path of the mystics of many faith traditions reveal a surprising harmony with the scientific discoveries made in our time about the evolution of the Universe itself. Like the mystics, the Universe moves through a process that leads towards radiance.

This is our process as well, our story, and our most urgent call of this, our time on the planet.

Through the dark weeks of Samhain, we’ll make a journey into radiance guided by Brian Swimme’s DVD series: “Powers of the Universe.” Like his mentor, Thomas Berry, Brian was inspired by the vision of Teilhard de Chardin. For these weekly reflections, I will be drawing on Jean Houston’s teachings as well as the writings of poets and mystics such as John O’Donohue, Etty Hillesum, Caryll Houselander, Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich and Angela of Foligno.

We’ll begin by looking more closely at Seamlessness, Centration, Allurement and Emergence.

Seamlessness:The universe is bound together in communion, each thing with all the rest. The gravitational bond unites all the galaxies; the electromagnetic interaction binds all the molecules; the genetic information connects all the generations of the ancestral tree of life. (Brian Swimme)

Jean Houston expands onSwimme’s description: All the powers of the universe are seamlessly one, trying to bring forth radiance. These powers can be understood mystically as within ourselves waiting to assist us to bring forth a world that works for everyone.

To illustrate seamlessness, Jean turns to an ancient story from India: A great ruler named Indra asked aritificers to create for him a magnificent web as large as the Universe itself. At every crossing in this web there is a jewel. As each jewel shines its light is reflected in every other jewel. Thus Indra’s Net symbolizes the interconnectedness of all that exists.

Alan Watts offers an image from nature to illustrate the concept of Indra’s Net:“Imagine a multidimensional spider’s web in the early morning covered with dew drops. And every dew drop contains the reflection of all the other dew drops. And, in each reflected dew drop, the reflections of all the other dew drops…. And so ad infinitum. That is the Buddhist conception of the universe in an image.” 

Centration: We are the gathered-in-ness of 13.8 billion years. Brian Swimme teaches that we are the Universe conscious of itself, self-aware of WHO we really are and of all that we are.

Margaret Brennan teaches: Mystics are people who come in touch with the sacred source of who they really are and are able to realize and experience that in their lives. When we have come in touch with the deep centre of ourselves/our lives we realize that we are more than what we seem to be, that there’s something deeper in ourselves than meets the eye.

John O’Donohue writes: For millions of years, before you arrived here, the dream of your individuality was carefully prepared. You were sent to a shape of destiny in which you would be able to express the special gift you bring to the world. Sometimes this gift may involve suffering and pain that can neither be accounted for nor explained. There is a unique destiny for each person. Each one of us has something to do here that can be done by no one else. If someone else could fulfill your destiny, then they would be in your place, and you would not be here.

Allurement: As the mystics did, we draw unto ourselves, are lured towards, the love that holds the Universe together; we allure all we require to grow in that love, within the calling, the shape of destiny that is uniquely ours; we ourselves can be principles of allurement.

Jean Houston advises us to have leaky margins, to be able to fall in love with everything. If fears and worries are blocking allurement, bring in an inner guide to care for them, to set you free… be aware of the negative quality of allurement: notice what you draw to yourself.

It is in the depths of your life that you will discover the invisible necessity that has brought you here. When you begin to decipher this, your gift and giftedness come alive. (O’Donohue)

Emergence: the Universe flares forth out of darkness Our lives begin to blossom with gifts that grow through our co-creative love relationship with the Holy; we begin to see what is possible as we open to joy.

Jean Houston teaches: We can learn how to work with the Universe in what is trying to emerge within us. Set up a schedule. Show up at the page, or in the listening or prayer place regularly to signal our intent to be open. We can create internal structures that are ready to receive what wants to emerge in us. Then we drop in an idea that puts us in touch with essence, creates in us a cosmic womb so the universal power can work in us, so that, like Hildegard we become a flowering for the possible, attracting the people and resources that we need.

Your heart quickens and the urgency of living rekindles your creativity. (O’Donohue)

To be continued on November 27, 2023: Part Three: Our Journey towards Radiance