St. Catherine
Reflections for Beltane 2014
Since writing the last Isian News I
have had the wonderful news that I will, Goddess willing, be a grandma around
the time of this next Autumn Equinox. This is my first grandchild so I am still
adjusting with excitement to the new role and life’s wheel turning forward to
the next generation. Through my own study and experience of pregnancy I know
the importance of the supporting matrix to the well being of the new baby. I
want a bumper sticker that says: ‘special person on board; grandmother-to-be in
car’; or another: ‘interconnected web weaver present’. I am, of course by no
means unique, but am enjoying how the experience of this primal and essential
process connects me with women across the world and across time. My small local
12th century church has two principal medieval wall paintings close
to the altar; one is St Catherine (see attached picture) and the other St
Margaret of Antioch. The latter, so the story tells, was swallowed by a dragon
but was able to cut herself out of it’s belly to emerge safely and earn herself
the honour of becoming the patron saint of childbirth.
When I stand close to her image I can
imagine the many women who too have stood at her feet, praying for the safe
delivery into the outside world of the precious new life nurtured within their
own womb. I make my devotions and I then thank the Goddess for modern health
care.
Women in their third trimester find
they are pulled to a more inward focus as they disengage from the outside world
to enter the necessary maternal preoccupation of motherhood. Many consider a
similar period of contemplation, reflection and metaphoric ‘wandering in the
wilderness’ to be necessary to fuel the rebirth and growth we witness at
springtime and other new starts in our lives.
This is how I see this period now,
running up to the FOI’s 40th anniversary at the vernal equinox in
2016. Not by any means fallow in terms of total ‘set aside’ with no fresh seeds
to be planted and tended; but a time to reconnect to what it is you are called
to now in terms of divine service. My
focus when I was originally ordained by Olivia a few years ago, feels very
different to how I feel drawn to serve now. Recent circumstances have of course
shaped the new directions. I am guessing that I am not alone in this; a period
of realignment and rededication perhaps around the quiet more fallow times
could be a useful spiritual deepening and honing. There will be two such
periods, in a sense two winter sabbaticals between now and the 40th
anniversary; the first, the winter months of this year could also be a chance
to revisit our own regular spiritual practice, the backbone of our divine
connection that nourishes and shapes everything else. Perhaps the second winter
can build upon this in terms of how we may serve the divine for a better world.
Please communicate with me what your thoughts are on this.
Broader structures within the FOI are
also going to be ‘spring cleaned’ so we meet the anniversary with fresh energy
and purpose. One of these areas is the basic priesthood training and another
will be the rites of passage liturgies - more of this in the next Isian News.
I was reminded on my recent trip to
Ireland when talking and enjoying time with members of the Circle of Brigid
that the name ‘Fellowship of Isis’ was not a random choice for the three
founders. The dictionary definition of a fellowship emphasises it’s a ‘friendly
association, people who share interests, meeting to pursue a shared aim’...I
have experienced such warmth and support in my new role despite some of the
challenges that are inevitably part of it. We connect through the supporting
matrix of the fellowship so egoic needs of the self can be laid aside in the
knowing that within the warm heart of the Divine One we are all safe.
I leave you with this prayer inspired
by Teresa of Avila:
The Beloved has no body on earth but mine.
The Beloved has no hands on earth but
mine.
Mine are the eyes through which the
Beloved
Streams compassion to the world.
Mine are the hands with which the Beloved
Is to bless all beings.
May I have the grace to know this mystery,
The courage to give myself to it entirely,
And the strength to enact its truth in the
world.
With love and blessings, Cressida.
April 10th 2014, Winchcombe
UK
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