Today, I complete my class on Practical Mysticism at New Vision Center for Spiritual Living. It has been a deeply transformative experience. Using Caroline Myss' wonderful book, Entering the Castle, as a guide, we explored the inner depths of our souls, owned our weaknesses, released our grudges and committed deeply to our new lives as mystics without monastaries. Of course, this was just the very beginning of the journey. Each of the class members has expressed, in one way or another, the feeling that we have so much more work to do. I think this is the sort of work that you return to year after year, delving a bit deeper with each reading.
Caroline is a firm task master. She's nothing if not tough. Her interpretation of Saint Teresa of Avila's seminal writings are both inspired and daunting. You can just forget it if you are doing this work to be admired or loved, to be appreciated or to feel special. "Get real!," she's fond of saying. But she will also steer you directly onto a path of self-discovery that leaves you, ultimately, prepared to act as a beneficial Presence in the world.
"As a contemporary mystic, you are measured by the quality of attitude you bring to all your tasks, by your capacity to be a model of generosity, and by challenging the fear that there is not enough to go around in this world -- whether that is money, love, food, fame, power, attention, success, or social position. Mystical service means modeling calm in chaos, kindness amid anger, forgiveness at all times, personal integrity -- to live, in other words, mindful that every second offers a choice either to channel grace or withhold it."
This class, this book, required a lot of work. Real, substantive, hard work. But I think, truly, that you have to walk through the fire to be purified. You have to face your demons to be free of them. You have to admit you are holding on to that grudge to be able to let it go.
"Your soul is a masterpiece of divinity in miniature. Its power is connected to the whole of creation. But it is not enough for you to read that and acknowledge it, and think, Oh, I know that. It's just incredible but I can see that. But really you can't "hear" that truth and "get it." You have to walk deliberately into the Castle (of your soul) and look into this truth, one facet at a time."
~ all quotes from Entering the Castle, Caroline MyssLabels: Carolyn Myss, class, Entering the Castle, Lezli Goodwin, mystic, New Vision, Practical Mysticism, religious science, science of mind, Teresa of Avila
