Day 19 - September

Today is the nineteenth day of this journey with ourselves, meditation

and Mary in all her aspects.

Diving deep into our own shadows always takes us out of our comfort

zones and into seemingly dangerous places.  We are all of a sudden

confronted with unspoken beliefs;  memories that had been deep down

never to be seen again (that was the idea) and an alchemical process

starts.  

Alchemy is not only something that takes place in a laboratory.

Alchemy takes place in the kitchen, when the yeast meets the flour

and rises;  when the bread is put into the oven and it bakes to a beautiful

golden brown.  Alchemy takes place when we pick up the needle and thread

and sew two pieces of fabric together and we have a garment.

Alchemy takes place in the heart when we allow the fears and hurts

to float to the surface, to be seen, to be embraced, to be accepted

and to be viewed with compassion.

For today and this stage of our journey I offer to you

IX of Distaff, Our Lady Untier of Knots

I say that we are wound with mercy round and round as if with air;

the same Mary ... World-mother air, air wild, wound with thee, 

in thee isled, fold home, fast fold thy child - Gerard Manly Hopkins

Our Lady Untier of Knots symbolises the absolute power of the divine

to untie the knots of the personal self.

Yoga teaches that knots or 'granthis' exist in the sublte energetic meridians

(nadi) of the body.  These knots restrict the flow of prana or chi or the life force

and emotional discomfort and physical disease is the result

When we accept that we are 'wound with mercy round and round'

then it is a small step to accept that the Divine is as close as your next breath.

The Holy Protection of the Mother of God

Mother of Mercy

if I stay awake all night,

vigilant and grateful,

will you drop your protective veil

over my vulnerable heart?

I cannot control the world around me,

I can only be faithful to my own deepest truth.

Wrap me in your pure white cloak of devotion, Mary,

so that I can remember that my sole task

is to praise the God of Love.

Cover me in your burial shroud

as I die to my false self,

to be reborn

as a living example of peace on earth.

Infuse me with the tincture of your tears

so that I may face every challenge

with a tender and courageous spirit

- Mirabai Starr from Mother of God, similar to fire

blessings

Hettienne