"Now we have no symbolic life, and we are all badly in need of the symbolic life. Only the symbolic life can express the need of the soul -- the daily need of the soul, mind you! And because people have no such thing, they can never step out of this mill -- this awful grinding, banal life in which they are: "nothing but...."These things go pretty deep, and no wonder people get neurotic. Life is too rational; there is no symbolic existence in which I am fulfilling my role, my role as one of the actors in the divine drama of life." Carl Jung
Dear Friends,
We are called now to both work in the world AND care for our inner prayer life. Saint Teresa of Avila gifts us with the symbols we need now in our global dark night of the soul. She tells us the story of her life with the symbol of a castle. She reveals her soul's journey with God in her breathtaking book, The Interior Castle. As she shares her experiences and the image or symbol of an "interior castle" she invites us to join her to enter an inner imaginal journey with God to the center where the human and the divine meet in ecstatic holy union. God, our beloved friend, is always with us, always already, there wherever we go, whether we are in the dark night of the soul or in the last dwelling place of brilliant light and union as well as all our dwelling places in between. No stiving, climbing, moralism is needed in this intimate friendship and life pilgrimage with God. Just open the door in prayer and reflection she teaches for God's loves for you is vaster than you can possibly imagine. Similarly, our church mantra is, "God loves you and there is nothing you can do about."
This inner journey and spiritual pilgrimage within the castle or soul is like a journey inside a hologram and mandala. This is nothing like exploring a regular building. We journey to the center where the bright light of God is brightest. Our souls have many layers and are enfolded like a flower around this center and it holds millions of rooms, bridges, gardens and labyrinths in seven dwelling places. The book begins, "...I began to think of the soul as if it were a castle made of a single diamond or a very clear crystal, in which there are many rooms." Her reflections lead us to the depths of the center of ourselves beloved by God, "......where my God-given life is attempting to grow." The outer environs of the castle are cold, dark; a landscape crawling with snakes and scarry creatures. As the soul enters the castle the atmosphere gradually changes, and darkness is overcome with light. At the center is the spiritual marriage and holy union with the Holy One. (see photo below of The Ecstasy with Teresa of Avila by Bernini) We are welcomed home by our beloved. God is not out there somewhere but embedded within our own interior souls as well as in our collective souls beyond our bodies in the vast cosmos. We need these God teachings during this global dark night of the soul.
"Teresa is telling us the story of her life of prayer. The journey through the castle is the story of a growing union with God as the soul enters more deeply into prayer. Prayer is the door to the castle and prayer is the activity which allows one to be drawn to God at the center. Tereas relationship to God was alive within her and it grew through times of peace, tensions, fulfillment, emptiness and transition." Father John Welch wrote these words in his proufound book, Spiritual Pilgrims, Carl Jung and Teresa of Avila. John Welch died a few days ago. We give you thanks John for the ways you have created a bridge for us between Carl Jung and Teresa Avila, depth psychology, religion and Christain mysticism. May you rest in eternal peace with God John Welch with the communion of saints with Teresa and John of the Cross. John Welch was a magnificent contemporary writer, teacher and guide.
Teresa of Avila the 16th century Spanish Carmelite nun, Doctor of the Church and mystic is celebrated on her feast day October 15th. We will study and celebrate her this fall in worship, and you are invited to read her book, The Interior Castle as well as John Welch's book, Spiritual Pilgrims Carl Jung and Teresa of Avila with us this fall. John of the Cross who wrote, The Dark Night of the Soul was twenty-seven years older than Teresa. They were partners and fellow Carmelite reformers. We will consider how we are in a collective global dark night and deepen our prayer and contemplative life.
We have created a symbolic Interfaith Secret Prayer Garden around the circumference of the John Cobb Eco Farm and Mary Magdalene Retreat Center with twelve altars on twelve trees for you to come pray and contemplate. At the center is our "manger church" where we envision living in harmony with the human family and the natural world. This is the center of Church for Our Common Home where the divine and us humans meet. Our "manger church" is a symbol like the symbol of a castle. It is a metaphor for home, our common home, God, the center. Reflecting and praying with Teresa of Avila she is here present with us as we read her books, poems, prayers and experince her symbolic gifts us with light in this time of global darkness.
Poem "Soul, you are my room, you are my house, you are my dwelling If, through your distracted ways, I ever find your door tightly closed, do not seek me outside yourself. To find me, it will be enough simply to call me and I will come quickly. Seek me inside yourself."
Prayer "Let nothing disturb you, let nothing upset you. Everything changes. God alone is unchanging. With patience all things are possible, whoever has God lacks nothing. God alone is enough." Teresa of Avila (Below photo, The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa by Bernini)
Sending love from my heart to your,
Rev. Bonnie Tarwater