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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Shopping in the spiritual supermarket plays in the hands of the Trickster Self!




There are many stories and myths telling us that the jewel that we have searched for all of our lives, are buried in our own backyard.  This of course, is applicable to many levels of interpretation and to many areas of our lives.

I have shared many posts with my readers on http://shaman-shewhoknows.blogspot.com about how far and wide my search has taken me to find the healing for myself and others who were born and raised in the Western culture and Judeo-Christian traditions.

My seeking took me to more than one teacher in the East and training in  spiritual paths of the Hindu traditions.  In his book Cutting through Spiritual Materialism, Chogyam Trungpa writes about how Westerners adopt Eastern traditions without understanding them.  Other Buddhist teachers have also spoken out against the Western 'supermarket mentality', referring to our need for quick and easy solutions.

When I started working with a Guru in the Hindu tradition, I was dismayed at his lack of understanding of our Western psyche;  of the wounding that women and men carry from such a patriarchal society and the soul wounding due to the materialism in our society and worldview.

 My emphasis has always been on a psycho-spiritual approach, believing that the application of spiritual practises will not alleviate nor heal personal wounding and pathology.  In Many of the Eastern traditions there are no psycho-spiritual approach.  In my own personal experience, I was instructed to forget about all things of the mind and that all pathology will disappear when spiritual practise is faithfully applied. In many of the Hindu traditions there are no terminology for the diseases of the soul that exist in the Western world and the path to enlightenment is seen as a path without any reference to the process or how to process or integrate the changes that the practices of the spiritual path will incur.  I witnessed many Westerners trying to stay afloat in this mindset and being washed ashore with a deep sense of inadequacy and 'not being good enough' to be acceptable to the Divine.

 Many Westerners seek out spiritual traditions in order to find a solution to their psychological pathology and wounding.  Some  of them have never developed a strong personal self-identity and ego.  In the spiritual world, the ego is seen as the Devil itself, but one needs a strong sense of self and therefore a strong ego with good boundaries, before the process of surrender to Spirit can start.

When there is no self-identity and strong sense of self in the world, then the seeker is vulnerable to self-destruction, being taken advantage of and to other forms of abuse at the hand of those self-same spiritual Gurus and teachers.  Many have served Gurus and spiritual and religious leaders slavishly, because self-sacrifice and service to others have been idealised as spiritual idols.  One who is suffering from the pathology of low self-esteem very easily becomes enslaved to victim-consciousness in this scenario, as the Shadow Self is covered over by the veneer of spirituality.

'Spiritual' solutions can often be applied as a form of self-denial and escapism.  It is often evident how we can distort and change the true meaning of spiritual or religious doctrine to justify our own pathology and neurosis. The human mind has an incredible capacity for self-deception and it takes a mature and brave heart to see the self-deception and inner darkness (Shadow) with awareness, to accept self-responsibility in humility and in compassion for the self and to surrender to the transformation process and to stay in Wisdom  of the True Self, through all of the above!!

In my post    http://shaman-shewhoknows.blogspot.com/2010/07/how-many-seeds-of-sacred-pomegranate.html  I say that :      In order to know our authentic selves, it is necessary to spend a certain amount of time in darkness in our own underworld. During these times of trial and difficulty, we will be taken into a deep sleep-like state, such as told in the stories of Psyche and Sleeping Beauty. Those for whom the task has been too gruelling, may lose heart or fall into despair and self-blame during these dark times. Learning from personal experience is often painful, self-revelatory and embarassing; it may initially feel like an admission of failure to face the reality of a relationship founded upon projection or to discover that what you thought was one of your personal attributes was in fact non-existent. These are just some of the many masks worn by the inner daimon.

The inner daimon is indeed the Angel of the Dark Self or the Shadow.  This unwanted, much feared and despised dark aspect of the self, is indeed an angel in disguise.  It challenges you and tempts you and as you dare to be honest with yourself and you face your darkest self, you pass through the flames of initiation.  In my piece on Maria, the Alchemist, at  http://shaman-shewhoknows.blogspot.com/2011/05/soul-story-alchemical-journey.htm  I state that denial will appear very tempting and so will escapism, but it is to stay focused and aware, without self-rejection and self-blame or punishment. It is to dig deep into your heart and allow yourself to find the memories of where this pain originated from. It is the time to use the darkness to kindle the fire of burning off the shadows within.

The sense of identity in the West is very different from that in the East. This does not mean that these paths and traditions are exclusive to certain traditions and cultures only, but it does mean that one has to deeply entrench yourself into a spiritual tradtion and path in order to truly understand its nuances and the context of the ego-identity that it serves.

Through all my travels and travails, Mary the Blessed Mother, has stayed a constant in my life.  She whom is mother, sister, lover and Beloved, She who receives the Shekinah,  conceives from the Holy Spirit (the Sophia), and who births the Self-begotten One (the Radiant Sun), She who is the divine human and the blueprint of the individuated self .  

She guides the Western mind through the process of Alchemy and extracting the golden elixer from matter;  Her iconography and metaphor, the original and full version, not the censored and abbreviated version, supports and guides the wounded self through the maze of the Trickster, the Sacred Prostitute, the Saviour Self and the ascension into a wider understanding and Wisdom.

Hail Mary!

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The Temple of Mary

Blessings to you!



Many are speaking of really feeling the changes in and around them and veils are opening.  Always always surrender to the process and to the love of the Divine Mother and keep a watch on that internal dialogue.  It is such a small step, but it has such great effects in your life.  When the critical mind is switched off, you can get a glimpse of the peace which is you and your true nature!

It has been a time of great opening in my own life.  I have written many articles on the significance of the dove in my life on my other blogs, particularly on http://pathofdivinelove.blogspot.com.  The past two months the Dove (Shekinah, Holy Spirit) has made herself known in many extraordinary ways.  In the one case, a beautiful red-colored dove landed on my head (in my garden) and there she sat.

It was rather strange and funny and incredibly powerful at the same time!!  I had tears streaming down my face while my daughter stared at me and the dove in amazement.  And she would not leave.  My daughter took a very poor photograph of it on her camera and I will post it soon.  A few weeks later, a dove flew into my art studio - this in itself is not strange, but what happened next, is.  The dove chased my cat out!

I took all of these signs very seriously and decided that She wants me to move out of my haitus and bring Her and Her energy into the world so that many can drink from Her eternal waters of Love and Compassion.

So, The Temple of Mary is starting a 'new' year of initiations and training into the path of Bridal Mysticism and Bhakty Yoga.  I am in the process of putting up a new website :  http://www.shekinahdove.org.  Have a look and check back regularly for updates.


Here you will find an outline of the trainings and events and also links to blogs, bibliography and more. If you are in the Cape Town area (South Africa) and you would like to become an initiate of The Temple of Mary, please read the articles on this blog, The Book of Mary and especially the Messages received from Mary as these form the foundation of the teachings.

It is very important to be familiar with the Silent Heart and Sacred Heart meditations.  If you follow this link http://bookofmarysacredheart.blogspot.com/2011/09/blue-cloak-of-protection-from-divine.html you can read how to receive the Blue Cloak of Protection directly from Her.

Here is the link on how to receive the Silent Heart Diksha http://bookofmarysacredheart.blogspot.com/2011/09/silent-heart-diksha.html.  Follow up every day with the Silent Heart meditation and from there you can move to the Sacred heart meditation.  All of these will be expanded on and followed up with other blessings such as the Christ Consciousness Diksha, the Mother Flame blessing (Shaktypat) during retreats.

Apply this every day and experience the difference for yourself.  We do not learn through reading and watching :  we BECOME through application and practise.



The Temple of Mary will also be hosting Sacred Feminine Conference and Festivals and a Goddess Festival in October 2012 and 2013.  To stay updated with these, follow my blog http://goddessfestivalsa.blogspot.com and Like Us on Facebook!  That way you will stay in touch.

If you would like more information, please send me an email on hettiennema@gmail.com

Hail Mary!

Monday, May 7, 2012

An adapted Mary Rosary



Litany of the Blessed Mother Mary [Adapted] 

http://www.northernway.org/school/odm/prayers.html#creed

This has been adapted to include Mary Magdalene, the forgotten Feminine, as well as balance the role of the Masculine with the role of the Feminine in the litany. In a communal ritual, the presiding minister would say the un-italicized words, while the whole group would say the italicized words.


Lord have mercy. Yeshua have mercy.

Lady Magdala have mercy.

Yeshua, hear us.

Miriam, graciously hear us.

El, the Father of Heaven, grant peace to us.

Asherah, the Mother of Heaven, grant peace to us.

Yeshua the Son, Incarnate Word, grant peace to us.

Miriam the Daughter, Incarnate Spirit, grant peace to us.

Holy Quaternity, One Godhead, grant peace to us.

Holy Mary, intercede for us.

Holy Mother of God, intercede for us.

Holy Mother of mothers, intercede for us.

Mother of the Krist, intercede for us.

Mother of the Church, intercede for us.

Mother of Divine Grace, intercede for us.

Mother most holy, intercede for us.

Mother most loving, intercede for us.

Mother most amiable, intercede for us.

Mother most admirable, intercede for us.

Mother of good counsel, intercede for us.

Mother our Creator, intercede for us.

Mother our Savior, intercede for us.

Lady most prudent, intercede for us.

Lady most venerable, intercede for us.

Lady most renowned, intercede for us.

Lady most powerful, intercede for us.

Lady most merciful, intercede for us.

Lady most faithful, intercede for us.

Mirror of Justice, intercede for us.

Cause of our joy, intercede for us.

Health of the sick, intercede for us.

Comforter of the afflicted, intercede for us.

Help of Kristians, intercede for us.

Queen of Angels, intercede for us.

Queen of Patriarchs, intercede for us.

Queen of Prophets, intercede for us.

Queen of Apostles, intercede for us.

Queen of Martyrs, intercede for us.

Queen of Virgins, intercede for us.

Queen of All Saints, intercede for us.

Queen assumed into Heaven, intercede for us.

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, intercede for us.

Queen of Peace, intercede for us.

Queen of the Church, intercede for us

Lord have mercy. Yeshua have mercy.
Lady Magdala have mercy.
Yeshua, hear us.
Miriam, graciously hear us.
El, the Father of Heaven, grant peace to us.
Asherah, the Mother of Heaven, grant peace to us.
Yeshua the Son, Incarnate Word, grant peace to us.
Miriam the Daughter, Incarnate Spirit, grant peace to us.
Holy Quaternity, One Godhead, grant peace to us.
Holy Mary, intercede for us.
Holy Mother of God, intercede for us.
Holy Mother of mothers, intercede for us.
Mother of the Krist, intercede for us.
Mother of the Church, intercede for us.
Mother of Divine Grace, intercede for us.
Mother most holy, intercede for us.
Mother most loving, intercede for us.
Mother most amiable, intercede for us.
Mother most admirable, intercede for us.
Mother of good counsel, intercede for us.
Mother our Creator, intercede for us.
Mother our Savior, intercede for us.
Lady most prudent, intercede for us.
Lady most venerable, intercede for us.
Lady most renowned, intercede for us.
Lady most powerful, intercede for us.
Lady most merciful, intercede for us.
Lady most faithful, intercede for us.
Mirror of Justice, intercede for us.
Cause of our joy, intercede for us.
Health of the sick, intercede for us.
Comforter of the afflicted, intercede for us.
Help of Kristians, intercede for us.
Queen of Angels, intercede for us.
Queen of Patriarchs, intercede for us.
Queen of Prophets, intercede for us.
Queen of Apostles, intercede for us.
Queen of Martyrs, intercede for us.
Queen of Virgins, intercede for us.
Queen of All Saints, intercede for us.
Queen assumed into Heaven, intercede for us.
Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, intercede for us.
Queen of Peace, intercede for us.
Queen of the Church, intercede for us.