Tag Archives: consciousness

Dark Mother

Embracing the Darkness of the Cailleach

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Dolores Whelan http://doloreswhelan.ie teaches us that it is no small task to integrate the divine energy of the sacred feminine within oneself. We only do one piece of the work but each piece joined together with the others creates a quantum shift.

Dolores said that the crime is to believe that we have no power. We need to ask, “What choices do I have here?” If we say, “there’s nothing I can do,” Dolores responds, “OH YES THERE IS!”

In her article, “Brigid: Cailleach and Midwife to a New World”, Dolores how Brigid assists us in this great work which is our great work.

Reflecting on the turmoil present in the world today it is clear to all but those steeped in denial, that all is not well. It seems that something ails us humans; something that causes us to live in ways that disrespect our mother, the living earth, and all our relatives. We ask what is it in us humans that creates such a restless world where there is little sense of belonging, nurture or home and which causes so many of the species with which we share this planet to suffer?

The exclusion of the Feminine energy in our naming and understanding of the Divine is reflected in a corresponding absence and devaluing of feminine energy in all aspects of life in western society. The devaluing and exclusion of the feminine energy over the past centuries has created a distorted story about life which has resulted in a world whose shape and vibration creates disharmony.

So how do we find our way back to a more harmonious way of life? If we know what is missing and what ails us, it may be possible for us to make the journey back towards wholeness and health.

At this time many people are becoming aware of the wisdom of the feminine. As this happens, the absence of genuine feminine energy present in most institutions, both religious and secular, throughout western culture, becomes obvious. To include the presence of the divine feminine energy in creating a world whose shape is more wholesome requires a fundamental reclaiming of the essential role of the feminine in all aspects of life. In order to create change within the physical world and in our society it is necessary to change the dreams and stories held within the imagination of a society.

Reconnecting with and remembering the spirit and archetypal energy of Brigid, in both her Goddess and saint manifestations, is an essential task of this renaissance. Brigid, although normally associated with the maiden and mother aspects of feminine energy, is also expressed in the cailleach form, as indicated in the prayer “Molamid Brid an mhaighean; Molamid Brid an mhathair; Molamid Brid an cailleach” (Praise to Brigid, the maiden, the mother, and the crone).

What then is the energy associated with the hag, crone, or cailleach aspect of the divine feminine? The cailleach is the embodiment of the tough mother-love that challenges its children to stop acting in destructive ways. It is the energy that refuses to indulge in inappropriate personal or societal dreams. It is the energy that will bring death to those dreams and fantasies that are not aligned with our highest good. Yet, this cailleach energy also will support the emergence and manifestation in the world of the highest and deepest within us. It will hold us safely as we embrace the darkness within ourselves and our society. It is an energy that insists that we stand still, open our hearts, and feel our own pain and the pain of the earth. This is the energy that teaches us how to stay with the process when things are difficult. This energy will not allow us to run away! Her way of being is a slow, inwardly focused way, with minimum outward activity: a way that values times of active waiting that pays attention and allows life to unfold.

The Cailleach’s way of being is a slow, inwardly focused way, with minimum outward activity: a way that values times of active waiting that pays attention and allows life to unfold.

An essential part of the journey that all the great heroes and heroines in world mythologies undertake includes facing and embracing the energy of surrender, darkness, and death. The hero or heroine learns the next step required in their outer world journey only by submitting to and being initiated into the dark world of the cailleach.

Through this initiation the mature masculine power can emerge and lead each one to find their true path. When this happens the action that follows will be in the service of the true feminine and bring forth wisdom and compassion creating new life, vitality, and sustainability.

Because western society is currently dominated by the young masculine energy, present in both men and women, characterized by its “can do” attitude, there is an urgent need for each of us to make this heroic journey with the cailleach, so that we will become agents for the transformation of our society.

To Dolores Whelan’s wisdom about Samhain, I add here the morning prayer from “Singing the Dawn.” Elspeth, the Cailleach of the novel, recites this prayer to honour Sophia in the darkness of dawn:

In the darkness, life stirs,

In the dawning, we rise.

In our bodies we give thanks.

In our hearts, joy awakens

Drawing in love, Sending it forth,

We breathe with the Holy, Blessing all life…

Though empty ourselves, We draw in Her fullness.

Filled with Her love, We overflow JOY.

“Singing the Dawn” Anne Kathleen McLaughlin. Borealis Press, Ottawa, Canada, 2022)

http://borealispress.com

Sophia as Archetype of Spiritual Wisdom

Awakening to Sophia

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The new is giving birth to the old… the task is to give birth to the old in a new time—to the primordial ancient in a world that is new. (Peter Kingsley)

On a golden October day in 2014, I began this weekly blog dedicated to giving new birth to the ancient knowing of the feminine principle of the Sacred whom some cultures have known by the name “Sophia.” Inspired by a growing sense of a Sacred Feminine Presence both within and around me, I chose the title, “Sophia Wakens.”

In May of that year on a sacred journey led by Jean Houston, I had visited Greece. Paintings and icons of Sophia adorned many of the churches. Our guide Calliope (Kapi) told us that Greek Christians have a deep reverence for the presence of Sophia, Wisdom.

“How do they see her in relation to Athena, the Greek Goddess of Wisdom?” I asked.

“They see her as a Continuation,” Kapi responded.

Later, as we stood at the site of the Eleusinian mysteries of Demeter and Persephone, about twenty kilometers from Athens, Kapi pointed to a small white church atop a hill. “That is a Church dedicated to Mary,” she said. “We find that a Church built to honour Mary almost always indicates that there is an ancient temple to the goddess below.”

In the ten years since that day, I have been slowly awakening to Sophia’s Presence in my life. I’ve found a kindred spirit in the writings of Thomas Merton (see Christopher Pramuk Sophia: The Hidden Christ of Thomas Merton, Liturgical Press, Collegeville Minnesota, USA 2009) Yet, for the most part, it has been a lonely journey. In my desire to know Sophia I have come to see her in other guises, as a presence in ancient fairy tales, in the goddess Brigid in Ireland, in Mary, Mother of Jesus, whom I have loved since I was twelve years old.

The one who has been seeking me has exercised infinite patience over these years…..until a few weeks ago when I attended a Symposium on Zoom: “Awakening to Humanity’s Sacred Mission”.

Inspired and sponsored by Ervin Laszlo, the experience was put together with the support of several earth-wide organizations dedicated to responding to the urgent needs of our planet at this time. With funding from “Project Earth”, the eight sessions over four days on ZOOM were offered free of cost to anyone who registered.

There were over 2400 registrants from 86 countries who either attended on screen or watched the recordings afterwards. Listening to the presenters, some of whom I knew, like Jude Currivan, author of the Story of Gaia, I felt a deep breath of “at homeness” fill me. In small break-out groups, as I listened to others speak of their personal missions, I recognized ”kindred spirits”. Comments spoken and posted by participants referenced their sense of belonging, of hope, of gratitude for this unprecedented experience of unanimity… and in a deep moment of guided meditation , it was the voice of Sophia that I heard, reminding me of my dedication to Her, asking simply, “Let me love you.”

Among the presenters were Indigenous leaders who brought their ancient wisdom of respect for the Earth, some bringing messages like the recent one received by the Kogi people, of the Amazon Rain forest. The Sacred Mother has spoken to them of the urgent need to act now to save the planet, warning that two years is the time limit for a turn-around of human behaviors that are destroying the living systems of the earth.

Chief Dwayne Perry, Inspirational Leader of the Ramapugh Nation, said, “we are the caretakers of the Earth and all who dwell therein…our Sacred Mission has already begun.”

Here is a sampling of the words of wisdom spoken during the Symposium:

“Something new is emerging and it starts with each one of us… this is the end of the beginning….Let’s dance with the planet and dance with each other…I have great hope in human nature….human nature is nature in the human form.” (Ervin Laszlo)

Madonna of Combermere

“We’ve done the Mystic thing,” said Canadian songwriter, Tatiana Speed, before singing, “Awake my ancient memory, let me remember who I am.”

Jarvis Smith, environmental activist in England, through years of deep listening, has received messages from the Earth Mother: “Wake up to living in gratitude for all I have given you….”What you call a crisis, I see as a way to bring people together. I can transform this.”

A renowned spiritual leader in India counselled: “It’s time to come down from the mountain, get up from your prayer cushion and your yoga mat.”

During a silent meditation, led by a gentle wise woman who invited us to ask, “What is my sacred mission?”, the clear response rose in me: “Embody Sophia (the Sacred Feminine)”. Later, we were invited to walk an imaginal labyrinth, to listen deeply, in the Quaker tradition, to share aloud, if what arises seems meant for the whole group. I, who love words, heard nothing. I felt the warmth of a loving embrace which I knew was from Sophia. Only then did I hear words, “Let me love you.” I waited, wondered, then understood this message was for the entire group, so I spoke it.

A week later on Sunday February 18th, Ervin Laszlo appeared on the ZOOM screen, his eyes alight with joy, purpose, enthusiasm: “Where do we go from here?” he asked, inviting “all those engaged and those who formed this (to) join together in a semi-formal alliance.” He added “I pledge my own full allegiance to this….I can offer copies of my new book to each member of the Alliance….I’m very keen on continuing this Alliance.” He encouraged us to “keep in touch….create a program… on Internet (focused on) the evolution of our species on this planet.

“We are one with each other and the world around us. There is no distinction between personal mission and Humanity’s mission: to advance life on this planet, to advance consciousness….What is good for the planet is good for us.

“Transformation needs to happen….the sense of mission expressed here….beings endowed with consciousness can bring a higher level… Humanity will continue.”

Facilitator Jon Ramer was visibly moved: “I’ve never seen something like this before…. I presume, Ervin, this invitation is to all humanity.”

These words are now written in my heart:

Absolute Trust in a Conscious Loving Universe.

Human, come home.

Wake up to Living in Gratitude.

While institutions fail us, we have to look to one another. We are the superpower on the planet.