Day 27 - September

Blessings to you!

We are Hearthkeepers keeping the focus on the sacred matrix

of life in the form, sacred presence and wholeness of

Holy Mary, Sacred Heart of the World, alive.

We have been participating in a daily ritual

for  nearly thirty days! 
We have witnessed thoughts, feelings and shifts.
We have dug deep and surrendered on many levels.
We have opened up and stepped out in vulnerability.
We were witnessed and received by a supportive community.
The flame of the Sacred Heart is burning high.

Our emotions, feelings and our energetic heart

has the power to alter and transform the electromagnetic field

of our world and to move mountains.

The appearances and manifestations of Mary prove

that the idea of separation between our world and the

Otherworld is but an illusion.  Matter is made up of atoms

and those atoms can be altered by the power of belief.

At sacred sites where the veils of belief have thinned,

thousands of people feel the sacred presence  of the divine.

And this sacred presence transcends all dogma, beliefs

and laws.  It demonstrates to us that we have the power

to alter our collective reality.

The bigger the crowd of believers in the power of love and beauty,

the bigger the collective effect on the perceived and created reality.

I started the first Art Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes in 2012.

Here is an extract of my first post :

To me, the Blessed Mother is not limited to any religion, any dogma or any culture.  

The Soul has its own religion and that is where you will find Her and Her many faces.

She is present for all 

Her Grace enfolds everyone

You only have to become aware of Her.

Wherever I travel in the world, I visit Her sacred shrines.  I have visited Kwan Yin in Ayutthaya in Thailand;

Kali Ma in Her many temples in India;

I have attended the Navaratri and Durga Puja,

 the nine nights of the Goddess in Varanasi;

the holy well and holy fire of Brigit in Kildare;

the Goddess Temple in Glastonbury 

and I have participated in many Goddess Conferences in Glastonbury

hosted by the Temple of Avalon and Her priestesses

and I have facilitated the first 

International Goddess Conference in South Africa in 2008

to name some of my pilgrimages to the Holy Mother

all of these have been numinous experiences

that touched me deeply

and brought great insight and healing to my mind

for our conflicted nature as human beings

but none touched  me so profoundly

as Our Lady of Lourdes, the Immaculate Conception.

I did not have high expectations of my visit to the Grotto and the City of Lourdes.

I had seen many pictures and thought I knew what to expect.

At the grotto I fell in line with the other pilgrims, waiting my turn to touch the walls of the cave and its dripping water.  The atmosphere was light and joyful, although many stood and knelt deep in prayer.  As I approached the statue of Our Lady where She appeared to St Bernadette, I could feel an intensification of the energy, a slight vibration and a humming sound.  The closer I came, the louder the sound became.  The sound was over and above the sound of the rushing waters.

As I put my hand out to touch the dripping water and I raised my eyes, 

a column of light was visible to me,

shimmering and dancing.

My first impression was that it is a giant candle, but then my logical mind

realised that this is not possible.

The only way I can describe it is 'a flame of living organic light' :

Her Divine Presence made manifest in this world,

visible to my eyes.

And overwhelming and immense feelings which I am at a loss to name.

A feeling of such incredible fullness and completeness 

which has stayed with me ever since.

A hundred thousand harps take you

like wings and sweep you up out of silence.

And your primitive wind is blowing

the fragrance of your marvelous power

to every being and to every creature in need.

- Rainer Maria Rilke

That which reminds you of the Sacred in the Ordinary

and opening ourselves to the healing possibilities,

both spiritually and physically, 

that comes through love and acceptance

and opening of the heart

images

collage

poetry

stories

art works

prayer

ritual

mantra

anything

that awakens your heart

and reminds you of the Sacred in everyday living

I visited Lourdes last year as a pilgrim.  There, in front of the cave, I experienced something very special.  I felt a special vibration, a kind of spiritual presence there.  And then in front of the image of the Virgin Mary, I prayed, I expressed my admiration for this holy place that has long been a source of inspiration and strength, that has provided spiritual solace, comfort and healing to millions of people.  And I prayed that this might continue for a long time to come - the Dalai Lama

Prayer for today :

Radiant Mary, shine radiantly upon me.

Bright Lady who illuminates my inner darkness

Yours is the incorruptible fire;

As it is clean, it cleanses; as it is pure, it purifies.

Hail Mary

Om jai mata Mary Ma

jai jai ma

blessings to you

Hettienne