in the bathroom this morning, and i was struck with the sense of having woken up and the life i'd been leading for the past seven years wasn't there. all of a sudden, i was single, scruffy, and living in a tiny studio... weird. my beard grows too fast.

we are going quiet

Major Arcana - the Hermit
(Labyrinth Tarot) Luis Royo

i take up my bell.
“Make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue cloth, with an opening for the head in its center. There shall be a woven edge like a collar around this opening, so that it will not tear. Make pomegranates of blue, purple and scarlet yarn around the hem of the robe, with gold bells between them. The gold bells and the pomegranates are to alternate around the hem of the robe. Aaron must wear it when he ministers. The sound of the bells will be heard when he enters the Holy Place before the LORD and when he comes out, so that he will not die."
Exodus 28: 31- 35

i take up my lamp.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. I have suffered much; preserve my life, LORD, according to your word. Accept, LORD, the willing praise of my mouth, and teach me your laws. Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law. The wicked have set a snare for me, but I have not strayed from your precepts. Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end.
Psalm 119: 105- 112

i take up my staff.
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23: 1- 4

i head into the dark.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of GOD, have mercy on me, a sinner.

on Watchfulness and Holiness 10

Much water makes up the sea. But extreme watchfulness and the Prayer of Jesus Christ, undistracted by thoughts, are the necessary basis for inner vigilance and unfathomable stillness of soul, for the deeps of secret and singular contemplation, for the humility that knows and assesses, for rectitude and love. This watchfulness and this prayer must be intense, concentrated, and unremitting.

St Hesychios the Priest, On Watchfulness and Holiness, Vol. 1 pg. 164

Minor Arcana: Jack of Cups (Labyrinth Tarot)

Luis Royo

how difficult it is to do this without thinking. there are so many things that come to mind as i do my devotion. are the boys ok? did i set the dishwasher? is there laundry to be folded? does deb want some company? or, more seriously, am i sincere in this? why do i feel like i'm talking to a brick wall? do i sound silly?
questions and worries plague me. i must find the answer to still my self.

the Prayer of Jesus Christ is so simple and so full.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of GOD, have mercy on me, a sinner.

on Watchfulness and Holiness 09

If you are an adept, initiated into the mysteries and standing before God at dawn (cf. Ps. 5: 3 - In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.), you will divine the meaning of my words. Otherwise be watchful and you will discover it.

St Hesychios the Priest, On Watchfulness and Holiness, Vol. 1 pg. 164

Major Arcana: High Priestess (Labyrinth Tarot)

Luis Royo

 well, i am certainly no adept. so i must watch and pray, and discover the meaning of the words of St Hesychios.

a repost from elsewhere 04 - the Oriental Orthodox Order in the West

Equanimity

Mindfulness practice provides the foundation for love to become a true spiritual path. The ability to concentrate allows us to focus our minds even in times of emotional stress, and equanimity refines our ability to remain a friendly audience to any and all experiences. Equanimity can itself be known as love because it is the matter-of-fact, gentle acceptance of things just as they are. I often teach that relational love equals equanimity plus knowledge of the beloved. Equanimity allows us to relax and keep open, and concentration refines our ability to pay attention to our beloved's words, needs, feelings and gestures, and to remember them. Together, equanimity and concentration are the necessary supports for any communication or listening skills we attempt to bring to conflict resolution; without mindfulness our skills fall apart when we are triggered into habitual reactive patterns.

~Polly Young-Eisendrath

the Works of Dionysius the Areopagite - On Divine Names - Chapter 01 - Section 8

8. Moreover, the sacred writers proclaim not only such titles as these (titles drawn from universal or from particular providences or providential activities), but sometimes they have gained their images from certain heavenly visions (which in the holy precincts or elsewhere have illuminated the Initiates or the Prophets), and, ascribing to the super-luminous nameless Goodness titles drawn from all manner of acts and functions, have clothed It in human (fiery or amber) shapes or forms, and have spoken of Its Eyes, and Ears, and Hair, and Face, and Hands, and Wings, and Feathers, and Arms, and Back Parts, and Feet; and fashioned such mystical conceptions as its Crown, and Throne, and Cup, and Mixing Bowl, etc., concerning which things we will attempt to speak when we treat of Symbolical Divinity. At present, collecting from the Scriptures what concerns the matter in hand, and employing as our canon the rule we have described, and guiding our search thereby, let us proceed to an exposition of God’s Intelligible Names; and as the Hierarchical Law directs us in all study of Divinity, let us approach these godlike contemplations (for such indeed they are) with our hearts predisposed unto the vision of God, and let us bring holy ears to the exposition of God’s holy Names, implanting holy Truths in holy instruments according to the Divine command, and withholding these things from the mockery and laughter of the uninitiate, or, rather, seeking to redeem those wicked men (if any such there be) from their enmity towards God. Thou, therefore, O good Timothy, must guard these truths according to the holy Ordinance, nor must thou utter or divulge the heavenly mysteries unto the uninitiate. And for myself I pray God grant me worthily to declare the beneficent and manifold Names of the Unutterable and Nameless Godhead, and that He do not take away the word of Truth out of my mouth.

Dionysius the Areopagite: On the Divine Names and the Mystical Theology. by C.E. Rolt Christian Classics Ethereal Library

the Works of Dionysius the Areopagite - On Divine Names - Chapter 01 - Section 7

7. Thus, then, the Universal and Transcendent Cause must both be nameless and also possess the names of all things in order that It may truly be an universal Dominion, the Centre of creation on which all things depend, as on their Cause and Origin and Goal; and that, according to the Scriptures, It may be all in all, and may be truly called the Creator of the world, originating and perfecting and maintaining all things; their Defence and Dwelling, and the Attractive Force that draws them: and all this in one single, ceaseless, and transcendent act. For the Nameless Goodness is not only the cause of cohesion or life or perfection in such wise as to derive Its Name from this or that providential activity alone; nay, rather does It contain all things beforehand within Itself, after a simple and uncircumscribed manner through the perfect excellence of Its one and all-creative Providence, and thus we draw from the whole creation Its appropriate praises and Its Names.

Dionysius the Areopagite: On the Divine Names and the Mystical Theology. by C.E. Rolt Christian Classics Ethereal Library

the Works of Dionysius the Areopagite - On Divine Names - Chapter 01 - Section 6

6. For instance, they call It Nameless when they say that the Supreme Godhead Itself, in one of the mystical visions whereby It was symbolically manifested, rebuked him who said: “What is thy name?” and, as though bidding him not seek by any means of any Name to acquire a knowledge of God, made the answer: “Why askest thou thus after My Name seeing it is secret?” Now is not the secret Name precisely that which is above all names and nameless, and is fixed beyond every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come? On the other hand, they attribute many names to It when, for instance, they speak of It as declaring: “I am that I am,” or “I am the Life,” or “the Light,” or “God,” or “the Truth,” and when the Inspired Writers themselves celebrate the Universal Cause with many titles drawn from the whole created universe, such as “Good,” and “Fair,” and “Wise,” as “Beloved,” as “God of Gods” and “Lord of Lords”, and “Holy of Holies,” as “Eternal,” as “Existent” and as “Creator of Ages,” as “Giver of Life,” as “Wisdom,” as “Mind,” as “Word,” as “Knower,” as “possessing beforehand all the treasures of knowledge,” as “Power,” as “Ruler,” as “King of kings,” as “Ancient of Days;” and as “Him that is the same and whose years shall not fail,” as “Salvation,” as “Righteousness,” as “Sanctification,” as “Redemption,” as “Surpassing all things in greatness,” and yet as being in “the still small breeze.” Moreover, they say that He dwells within our minds, and in our souls and bodies, and in heaven and in earth, and that, while remaining Himself, He is at one and the same time within the world around it and above it (yea, above the sky and above existence); and they call Him a Sun, a Star, and a Fire, and Water, a Wind or Spirit, a Dew, a Cloud, an Archetypal Stone, and a Rock, and All Creation, Who yet (they declare) is no created thing.

Dionysius the Areopagite: On the Divine Names and the Mystical Theology. by C.E. Rolt Christian Classics Ethereal Library

on Watchfulness and Holiness 08

When the mind, taking refuge in Christ and calling upon Him, stands firm and repels its unseen enemies, like a wild beast facing a pack of hounds from a good position of defence, then it inwardly anticipates their inner ambuscades (ambushes) well in advance. Through continually invoking Jesus the peacemaker against them, it remains invulnerable.

St Hesychios the Priest, On Watchfulness and Holiness, Vol. 1 pg. 162 & 163

New ICEL Translation of the Missal

• Kyrie ("Lord Have Mercy") ENGLISH

from Corpus Christi Watershed on Vimeo.

new books!!

dashed outside, just after the postie left, to find my latest amazon order had arrived :)...

Evelyn Underhill's "Mysticism - a Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness" & "Practical Mysticism"
"Pseudo-Dionysius - the Complete Works" & "John Climacus - the Ladder of Divine Ascent", both from Classics of Western Spirituality.

very excited... Carl McColman did and excellent write-up for Evelyn Underhill's book "Mysticism - a Study in the Nature and Development of Spiritual Consciousness"on his site, Anamchara.com. i'm sure it won't have gotten my expectations too high.

on Watchfulness and Holiness 07

In one who is attempting to dam up the source of evil thoughts and actions, continuity of watchful attention in the intellect is produced by fear of hell and fear of God, by God's withdrawals from the soul, and by the advent of trials which chasten and instruct. For these withdrawals and unexpected trials help us to correct our life, especially when, having once experienced the tranquility of watchfulness, we neglect it. Continuity of attention produces inner stability; inner stability produces a natural intensification of watchfulness; and this intensification gradually and in due measure gives contemplative insight into spiritual warfare. This in its turn is succeeded by persistence in the Jesus Prayer and by the state that Jesus confers, in which the intellect, free from all images, enjoys complete quietude.

St Hesychios the Priest, On Watchfulness and Holiness, Vol. 1 pg. 162

Major Arcana: Wheel of Fortune (Labyrinth Tarot)

Luis Royo

let your thoughts move away from their focus, and all sorts of things start moving against you. set your attention in motion. let GOD's wind help turn the wheel. remove the sail and the Wind isn't there to help you; in fact, it may turn against you...trials come, tearing away at your sail, tearing at the stability you'd built, bringing you back to where you'd begun, perhaps even deeper than you'd gone before.

raise the sail, set your attention, and pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of GOD, have mercy on me, a sinner.

from the Jacobite Liturgy of St. Dionysius

Prayers Ancient and Modern
Mary Wilder Tileston

O GOD our Father, Good beyond all that is good, Fair beyond all that is fair, in whom is calmness and peace; do Thou make up the dissensions which divide us from each other and bring us back into an unity of love, which may bear some likeness to Thy sublime nature. Grant that we may be spiritually one, as well in ourselves as in each other, through that peace of Thine which maketh all things peaceful, and through the grace, mercy, and tenderness of Thine only Son - Amen

the Works of Dionysius the Areopagite - On Divine Names - Chapter 01 - Section 5

5. But if It is greater than all Reason and all knowledge, and hath Its firm abode altogether beyond Mind and Being, and circumscribes, compacts, embraces and anticipates all things while Itself is altogether beyond the grasp of them all, and cannot be reached by any perception, imagination, conjecture, name, discourse, apprehension, or understanding, how then is our Discourse concerning the Divine Names to be accomplished, since we see that the Super-Essential Godhead is unutterable and nameless? Now, as we said when setting forth our Outlines of Divinity, the One, the Unknowable, the Super-Essential, the Absolute Good (I mean the Trinal Unity of Persons possessing the same Deity and Goodness), ‘tis impossible to describe or to conceive in Its ultimate Nature; nay, even the angelical communions of the heavenly Powers Therewith which we describe as either Impulsions or Derivations from the Unknowable and blinding Goodness are themselves beyond utterance and knowledge, and belong to none but those angels who, in a manner beyond angelic knowledge, have been counted worthy thereof. And godlike Minds, angelically entering (according to their powers) unto such states of union and being deified and united, through the ceasing of their natural activities, unto the Light Which surpasseth Deity, can find no more fitting method to celebrate its praises than to deny It every manner of Attribute. For by a true and supernatural illumination from their blessed union Therewith, they learn that It is the Cause of all things and yet Itself is nothing, because It super-essentially transcends them all. Thus, as for the Super-Essence of the Supreme Godhead (if we would define the Transcendence of its Transcendent Goodness) it is not lawful to any lover of that Truth which is above all truth to celebrate It as Reason or Power or Mind or Life or Being, but rather as most utterly surpassing all condition, movement, life, imagination, conjecture, name, discourse, thought, conception, being, rest, dwelling, union, limit, infinity, everything that exists. And yet since, as the Subsistence of goodness, It, by the very fact of Its existence, is the Cause of all things, in celebrating the bountiful Providence of the Supreme Godhead we must draw upon the whole creation. For It is both the central Force of all things, and also their final Purpose, and is Itself before them all, and they all subsist in It; and through the fact of Its existence the world is brought into being and maintained; and It is that which all things desire—those which have intuitive or discursive Reason seeking It through knowledge, the next rank of beings through perception, and the rest through vital movement, or the property of mere existence belonging to their state. Conscious of this, the Sacred Writers celebrate It by every Name while yet they call It Nameless.

Dionysius the Areopagite: On the Divine Names and the Mystical Theology. by C.E. Rolt Christian Classics Ethereal Library

Extreme Pilgrim - Ascetic Christianity

noted and understood

Spirit of Pride - John Dowson

the vile spirit of pride has a throne in my soul, and laughs there all day. i want so much to tear it down, but i think i may be rebuilding it each time i start. perhaps there is no tearing down, but it is simply strengthened by me fooling myself,  by a false humility, which is pride...

how do i clear my mind?

how do i humble myself?

how do i tear down thrones and towers?

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of GOD, have mercy on me, a sinner.

America - Horse with No Name

On the first part of the journey - I was looking at all the life - There were plants and birds and rocks and things - There was sand and hills and rings - The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz - And the sky with no clouds - The heat was hot and the ground was dry - But the air was full of sound

I've been through the desert on a horse with no name - It felt good to be out of the rain - In the desert you can remember your name - 'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain - La, la ...

After two days in the desert sun - My skin began to turn red - After three days in the desert fun - I was looking at a river bed - And the story it told of a river that flowed - Made me sad to think it was dead

You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name - It felt good to be out of the rain - In the desert you can remember your name - 'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain - La, la ...

After nine days I let the horse run free - 'Cause the desert had turned to sea - There were plants and birds and rocks and things - there was sand and hills and rings - The ocean is a desert with it's life  - underground - And a perfect disguise above - Under the cities lies a heart made of ground - But the humans will give no love

You see I've been through the desert on a horse with no name - It felt good to be out of the rain - In the desert you can remember your name - 'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain - La, la ...

the Works of Dionysius the Areopagite - On Divine Names - Chapter 01 - Section 4

4. These mysteries we learn from the Divine Scriptures, and thou wilt find that in well-nigh all the utterances of the Sacred Writers the Divine Names refer in a Symbolical Revelation to Its beneficent Emanations Wherefore, in almost all consideration of Divine things we see the Supreme Godhead celebrated with holy praises as One and an Unity, through the simplicity and unity of Its supernatural indivisibility, from whence (as from an unifying power) we attain to unity, and through the supernal conjunction of our diverse and separate qualities are knit together each into a Godlike Oneness, and all together into a mutual Godly union And It is called the Trinity because Its supernatural fecundity is revealed in a Threefold Personality, wherefrom all Fatherhood in heaven and on earth exists and draws Its name. And It is called the Universal Cause since all things came into being through Its bounty, whence all being springs; and It is called Wise and Fair because all things which keep their own nature uncorrupted are full of all Divine harmony and holy Beauty; and especially It is called Benevolent because, in one of Its Persons, It verily and wholly shared in our human lot, calling unto Itself and uplifting the low estate of man, wherefrom, in an ineffable manner, the simple Being of Jesus assumed a compound state, and the Eternal hath taken a temporal existence, and He who supernaturally transcends all the order of all the natural world was born in our Human Nature without any change or confusion of His ultimate properties. And in all the other Divine enlightenments which the occult Tradition of our inspired teachers hath, by mystic Interpretation, accordant with the Scriptures, bestowed upon us, we also have been initiated: apprehending these things in the present life (according to our powers), through the sacred veils of that loving kindness which in the Scriptures and the Hierarchical Traditions, enwrappeth spiritual truths in terms drawn from the world of sense, and super-essential truths in terms drawn from Being, clothing with shapes and forms things which are shapeless and formless, and by a variety of separable symbols, fashioning manifold attributes of the imageless and supernatural Simplicity. But hereafter, when we are corruptible and immortal and attain the blessed lot of being like unto Christ, then (as the Scripture saith), we shall be for ever with the Lord, fulfilled with His visible Theophany in holy contemplations, the which shall shine about us with radiant beams of glory (even as once of old it shone around the Disciples at the Divine Transfiguration); and so shall we, with our mind made passionless and spiritual, participate in a spiritual illumination from Him, and in an union transcending our mental faculties, and there, amidst the blinding blissful impulsions of His dazzling rays, we shall, in a diviner manner than at present, be like unto the heavenly Intelligences. For, as the infallible Scripture saith, we shall be equal to the angels and shall be the Sons of God, being Sons of the Resurrection. But at present we employ (so far as in us lies), appropriate symbols for things Divine; and then from these we press on upwards according to our powers to behold in simple unity the Truth perceived by spiritual contemplations, and leaving behind us all human notions of godlike things, we still the activities of our minds, and reach (so far as this may be) into the Super-Essential Ray, wherein all kinds of knowledge so have their pre-existent limits (in a transcendently inexpressible manner), that we cannot conceive nor utter It, nor in any wise contemplate the same, seeing that It surpasseth all things, and wholly exceeds our knowledge, and super-essentially contains beforehand (all conjoined within Itself) the bounds of all natural sciences and forces (while yet Its force is not circumscribed by any), and so possesses, beyond the celestial Intelligences, Its firmly fixed abode. For if all the branches of knowledge belong to things that have being, and if their limits have reference to the existing world, then that which is beyond all Being must also be transcendent above all knowledge.

Dionysius the Areopagite: On the Divine Names and the Mystical Theology. by C.E. Rolt Christian Classics Ethereal Library 

it's in the dictionary

look for 'glorious evening' in the dictionary and you will get a picture of us enjoying the first grill (bbq) of the year. blue sky, no clouds, warm weather, grilled chicken, delicious salad, and naturally a bottle of wine. tonight, we enjoyed a bottle of the Steffisburger Regent Rosé 2010!! delicious. soo fruity...

noted and understood

Spirit of Lust - John Dowson

the vile spirit of lust in me is jealous of the love i have for my wife. it flings its images, thoughts, and desires at me.
i note this presence in my life.
i watch for signs of its coming.
i stand ready to stave off its onslaught.
i pray for strength and willpower.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of GOD, have mercy on me, a sinner.

on Watchfulness and Holiness 06

Watchfulness is a continual fixing and halting of thought at the entrance to the heart. In this way predatory and murderous thoughts are marked down as they approach and what they say and do is noted; and we can see in what specious and delusive form the demons are trying to deceive the intellect. If we are conscientious in this, we gain much experience and knowledge of spiritual warfare.

St Hesychios the Priest, On Watchfulness and Holiness, Vol. 1 pg. 162

Major Arcana: Realization (Labyrinth Tarot)

Luis Royo

i have the tools, but i don't know how to use them. i like to stand, prepared, with my tools, but i don't know how to use them. i know the predatory thoughts as they come. i can see them bearing down, but the tools they sit useless on the table in front of me.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of GOD, have mercy on me, a sinner.

the Works of Dionysius the Areopagite - On Divine Names - Chapter 01 - Section 3

3. In obedience to these divine behests which guide all the holy dispositions of the heavenly hosts, we worship with reverent silence the unutterable Truths and, with the unfathomable and holy veneration of our mind, approach that Mystery of Godhead which exceeds all Mind and Being. And we press upwards to those beams which in the Holy Scripture shine upon us; wherefrom we gain the light which leads us unto the Divine praises being supernaturally enlightened by them and conformed unto that sacred hymnody, even so as to behold the Divine enlightenments the which through them are given in such wise as fits our powers, and so as to praise the bounteous Origin of all holy illumination in accordance with that Doctrine, as concerning Itself, wherewith It hath instructed us in the Holy Scriptures. Thus do we learn that It is the Cause and Origin and Being and Life of all creation. And It is unto them that fall away from It a Voice that doth recall them and a Power by which they rise; and to them that have stumbled into a corruption of the Divine image within them, It is a Power of Renewal and Reform; and It is a sacred Grounding to them that feel the shock of unholy assault, and a Security to them that stand: an upward Guidance to them that are being drawn unto It, and a Principle of Illumination to them that are being enlightened: a Principle of Perfection to them that are being perfected; a principle of Deity to them that are being deified; and of Simplicity to them that are being brought unto simplicity; and of Unity to them that are being brought unto unity. Yea, in a super-essential manner, above the category of origin, It is the Origin of all origin, and the good and bounteous Communication (so far as such may be) of hidden mysteries; and, in a word, It is the life of all things that live and the Being of all that are, the Origin and Cause of all life and being through Its bounty which both brings them into existence and maintains them.

Dionysius the Areopagite: On the Divine Names and the Mystical Theology. by C.E. Rolt Christian Classics Ethereal Library

personal meditative devotion

so, i'm thinking of putting a whole bunch of things together, and pulling out a daily meditation. things i've been considering working with include:

the Holy Gnostic Rosary
the Liturgy of St Dionysius the Areopagite
the Ladder of Divine Ascent
the Cloud of Unknowing
the Jesus Prayer
the Lord's Prayer
selection from the Gospels according John, Mary Magdalene, and Philip

its all up in the air at the moment, but i'm sure you can tell its a very personal selection. and quite a small one, i'm sure...

The Holy Gnostic Rosary

Gnosis.org - the Holy Gnostic Rosary

Garnet and Gold rosary

made by the Sisters of Carmel, CO.

The Sign of the Cross

In the name of the Unknown Father, in Truth, Mother of all, in union and redemption and sharing of the powers, peace to all on whom this name reposes.

The Gnostic`s Creed

I acknowledge one great invisible God, unrevealable, unmarked, ageless and unproclaimable ; the unknown Father, the Aeon of the aeons, who brought forth in the silence with his providence : the Father, the Mother, and the Son.

I acknowledge the Christos, the self-begotten living son, the glory of the Father and the virtue of the Mother, who given birth from the virginal and ineffable mother was made incarnate, the Perfect one. Who in the word of the Great Invisible God, came down from above to annul the emptiness of this age and restore the fullness to the Aeon.

I acknowledge the Holy Spirit, the Bride of the Christos, the Mother of the Aeons, the great virginal and ineffable Mother who proceeded from herself a gift of Herself out of the silence of the Unknown God.

I acknowledge the Light of the one church in every place: Interior, Invisible, Secret and Universal, the foundation of the lights of the great living God. I seek liberation of my perfection from the corruptions of the world and look to the gathering of the sparks of Light from the sea of forgetfulness. 

Amen.

The Gnostic`s Prayer

Almighty God, whose footstool is the highest firmament : Great Ruler of Heaven, and all the powers therein : Hear the prayers of Thy Servants, who put their trust in Thee. We pray Thee, supply our needs from day to day : command Thy heavenly host to comfort and succor us : That it may be to Thy glory and unto the good of man. Forgive us our transgressions as we forgive our brothers and sisters : be present with us: strenghten and sustain us : For we are but instruments in Thy hands. Let us not fall into temptation : defend us from all danger and evil : Let Thy mighty power ever guard and protect us. Thou great fount of knowledge and Wisdom : Instruct Thy servants by Thy holy presence : Guide and support us, now and forever.

Amen.

Hail Sophia

Hail Sophia, full of light, the Christ is with thee, blessed art thou among all the aeons, and blessed is the liberator of thy light, Jesus. Holy Sophia, Mother of all gods, pray to the Light for us thy children, now and in the hour of our death.

Amen.

Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, unto the aeons of aeons.

Amen.

**
the Order of the Recitation of the Holy Gnostic Rosary.

01. The sign of the Cross and the Gnostic`s Creed
02. The Gnostic`s prayer
03. Hail Sophia three times.
04. Gloria Patri
05. Announce the First Mystery: then say The Gnostic`s Prayer.

The First Gnostic Mystery: The Assumption of Sophia.

Hail to the Great Savior, for He has lifted the Soul and the Heart of the Heavens out of the prisonhouse of matter and raised Her up into the Pleroma.

06. Hail Sophia ten times, while meditating on the Mystery.
07. Gloria Patri.
08. Announce the Second Mystery : then say the Gnostic`s Prayer.

The Second Gnostic Mystery: The Coronation of Sophia.

And the Lord gave unto Sophia a crown with twelve stars which are the lights of redemption and the Throne of Manifestation for Her seat, and He also gave unto Her the Cross of Mystery as a scepter by which she shall rule the Aeons.

09. Hail Sophia ten times, while meditating on the Mystery.
10. Gloria Patri.
11. Announce the third Mystery: then say the Gnostic`s Prayer.

The Third Gnostic Mystery: The Renunciation.

And the Lord laid the Kingdom at Her feet, and renounced all sovereignty and rule unto Her Throne. The sword that he brought he received at her hands, to redeem and to conquer for the reception of the Light.

12. Hail Sophia ten times, while meditating on the Mystery.
13. Gloria Patri.
14. Announce the fourth Mystery: then say the Gnostic`s Prayer.

The Fourth Gnostic Mystery: The Bride Chamber.

"My Soul doth magnify the Lord, for a lowly handmaid hath been found perfected in Sophia and the King is come. Be it done according to thy Word". 

The King answered and said, "Arise, O Daughter of the Light, and enter into thy rest."

15. Hail Sophia ten times, while meditating on the Mystery.
16. Gloria Patri.
17. Announce the fifth Mystery: then say the Gnostic`s Prayer.

The Fifth Gnostic Mystery: The Descent of the New Jerusalem.

Behold, a small star from the Heavens descends to the Earth, With Light more brilliant than the Sun. It comes to dwell in the Hearts of the children of men, and these hearts are the foundation upon which is built the Eternal City, New Jerusalem.

18. Hail Sophia ten times, while meditating on the Mystery.
19. Closing prayer.

Closing Prayer

O Gentle, O Kind, O Blessed Sophia, Thy children on earth call unto Thee. We pray Thee, Beloved Mother, to cast forth thy net of woven starlight. Fling it wide across the ocean of the universe to gather us home to the realms of Light. Amen.

the Works of Dionysius the Areopagite - On Divine Names - Chapter 01 - Section 2

2. Now concerning this hidden Super-Essential Godhead we must not dare, as I have said, to speak, or even to form any conception Thereof, except those things which are divinely revealed to us from the Holy Scriptures. For as It hath lovingly taught us in the Scriptures concerning Itself the understanding and contemplation of Its actual nature is not accessible to any being; for such knowledge is superessentially exalted above them all. And many of the Sacred Writers thou wilt find who have declared that It is not only invisible and incomprehensible, but also unsearchable and past finding out, since there is no trace of any that have penetrated the hidden depths of Its infinitude. Not that the Good is wholly incommunicable to anything; nay, rather, while dwelling alone by Itself, and having there firmly fixed Its super-essential Ray, It lovingly reveals Itself by illuminations corresponding to each separate creature’s powers, and thus draws upwards holy minds into such contemplation, participation and resemblance of Itself as they can attain—even them that holily and duly strive thereafter and do not seek with impotent presumption the Mystery beyond that heavenly revelation which is so granted as to fit their powers, nor yet through their lower propensity slip down the steep descent, but with unwavering constancy press onwards toward the ray that casts its light upon them and, through the love responsive to these gracious illuminations, speed their temperate and holy flight on the wings of a godly reverence.

Dionysius the Areopagite: On the Divine Names and the Mystical Theology. by C.E. Rolt Christian Classics Ethereal Library

what's in my pockets?

in my pockets, i carry my pipe tool and a lighter, my keys (house, letterbox, bike, and two others i don't remember what they are), a packet of tissues,  a used half-tissue from wiping the boys' noses, and today's shopping list (there'll be another one tomorrow).

On Watchfulness and Holiness 05

Attentiveness is the heart's stillness, unbroken by any thought. In this stillness, the heart breathes and invokes, endlessly and without ceasing, only Jesus Christ who is the Son of God and Himself God. It confesses Him who alone has power to forgive our sins, and with His aid it courageously faces its enemies. Through this invocation enfolded continually in Christ, who secretly divines all hearts, the soul does everything it can to keep its sweetness and its inner struggle hidden from men, so that the devil, coming upon it surreptitiously, does not lead it into evil and destroy its precious work.

St Hesychios the Priest, On Watchfulness and Holiness, Vol. 1 pg. 162

Minor Arcana: King of Cups (Labyrinth Tarot)

Luis Royo

the Works of Dionysius the Areopagite - On Divine Names - Chapter 01 - Section I

St Dionysius the Areopagite

Dionysius the Presbyter, to his fellow-Presbyter Timothy. What is the purpose of the discourse, and what the tradition concerning the Divine Names. 

1. NOW, Blessed Timothy, the Outlines of Divinity being ended, I will proceed, so far as in me lies, to an Exposition of the Divine Names. And here also let us set before our minds the scriptural rule that in speaking about God we should declare the Truth, not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the power which the Spirit stirred up in the Sacred Writers, whereby, in a manner surpassing speech and knowledge, we embrace those truths which, in like manner, surpass them, in that Union which exceeds our faculty, and exercise of discursive, and of intuitive reason. We must not then dare to speak, or indeed to form any conception, of the hidden super-essential Godhead, except those things that are revealed to us from the Holy Scriptures. For a super-essential understanding of It is proper to Unknowing, which lieth in the Super-Essence Thereof surpassing Discourse, Intuition and Being; acknowledging which truth let us lift up our eyes towards the steep height, so far as the effluent light of the Divine Scriptures grants its aid, and, as we strive to ascend unto those Supernal Rays, let us gird ourselves for the task with holiness and the reverent fear of God. For, if we may safely trust the wise and infallible Scriptures, Divine things are revealed unto each created spirit in proportion to its powers, and in this measure is perception granted through the workings of the Divine goodness, the which in just care for our preservation divinely tempereth unto finite measure the infinitude of things which pass man’s understanding. For even as things which are intellectually discerned cannot be comprehended or perceived by means of those things which belong to the senses, nor simple and imageless things by means of types and images, nor the formless and intangible essence of unembodied things by means of those which have bodily form, by the same law of truth the boundless Super-Essence surpasses Essences, the Super-Intellectual Unity surpasses Intelligences, the One which is beyond thought surpasses the apprehension of thought, and the Good which is beyond utterance surpasses the reach of words. Yea, it is an Unity which is the unifying Source of all unity and a Super-Essential Essence, a Mind beyond the reach of mind and a Word beyond utterance, eluding Discourse, Intuition, Name, and every kind of being. It is the Universal Cause of existence while Itself existing not, for It is beyond all Being and such that It alone could give, with proper understanding thereof, a revelation of Itself.

Dionysius the Areopagite: On the Divine Names and the Mystical Theology. by C.E. Rolt 

Christian Classics Ethereal Library

a new booklist :)

this is my blog about my life, and if i want to change my booklist, so be it. i reign from my little deskchair, and i control the bookshelf!!

'Practicing Resurrection' is still there, but its really getting hard to want to finish this book. i agree with the idea that Cris Rogers has, but his energy makes me suspicious, and this is definitely a shallow reading level. i'm a snob.

Magician
Raymond E Feist

i couldn't finish 'the Curious Incident...', raced through 'the Girl Who chased the Moon', and haven't chosen a fun book to get onto next. i know the latest book in the Kingkiller series, by Patrick Rothfuss, is out, but the bookstore only had a large paperback. i want a smaller one to match the first book. so, maybe i'll just reread Raymond Feist's 'Magician'. its the first fantasy book that really gave me an interest. 'the Lord of the Rings' hadn't gotten me yet as i was perhaps a little young... or, i may not.

the Works of
Dionysius the Areopagite

i'll trade 'Dwelling in the Household of God' for 'the Works of Dionysius the Areopagite'. i have the Forgotten Books edition, translated by John Parker, but its a heavy, heavy slog. does anyone know of an easier translation? i have also enjoyed the little i've read of the ccel.org translation by Clarence Rolt, free online.
the 'Corpus Hermeticum' is still in there, but it'll move down the list.
and, i'll trade Margaret Barker's 'the Older Testament' for her 'Creation'.

whooo!!

ooo, an opinion 01

so, the other day i listened to the latest Elemental Castings episode, "PANTHEACON PANEL - Hindu-Pagan Dialogue"... as alway the discussion Thorn Coyle comes with was very interesting and gave me something to think about. this was no different, but i was quite disturbed by the end of it. the panelists had quite a lot to say about the christians in america and, i will assume american, missionaries overseas. the problem, for me, was how it came across. i don't know ANY christians like the way the panelists (two Hindus and two Pagans) were describing. i ended up feeling quite defensive about the whole deal. very much: where are they getting these christians from? do they really consider people like that christians?... i rarely feel defensive about christianity, so it was an odd feeling...

now, i suppose there must be people out there that are like the panelists were describing, but do they have no other contact with nice christians? are american christians so fundy and small-minded? i wouldn't think so, but its scary to think that there are things going on in america like the stories that were being told...
boiling down the panel, the whole thing quickly became a 'polytheists unite' talk, which was quite interesting. as it was pointed out, a lot of interfaith get togethers seem to deal with the monotheists, so it was fun to hear another side. not so fun that it was mostly negative, but there you go...

my opinion: live and let live. i want to talk about everything, and if i change my mind about my beliefs, or you change your mind about your beliefs, there it is.

another opinion: go and listen to the podcast, and subscribe to Elemental Castings. Thorn Coyle is a great host, and i've enjoyed the discussion on most of the episodes, even if i didn't personally agree with what was being said.

William Butler Yeats - the Second Coming

Turning and turning in the widening gyre

The falcon cannot hear the falconer;

Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere

The ceremony of innocence is drowned;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst

Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand;

Surely the Second Coming is at hand.

The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out

When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi

Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert

A shape with lion body and the head of a man,

A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,

Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it

Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds.

The darkness drops again; but now I know

That twenty centuries of stony sleep

Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle,

And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,

Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?

On Watchfulness and Holiness 04

Just as a man blind from birth does not see the sun's light, so one who fails to pursue watchfulness does not see the rich radiance of divine grace. He cannot free himself from evil thoughts, words and actions, and because of these thoughts and actions he will not be able freely to pass the lords of hell when he dies.

St Hesychios the Priest, On Watchfulness and Holiness, Vol. 1 pg. 162

Major Arcana: The Tower (Labyrinth Tarot)

Luis Royo

i am blind. my face is turned from the sun, and i see only shadows. the shadows show me that there is light. i see reflections of light, little mirrors, flashes of brilliance, in the people i know. i see the direction i want to go. i can't see my way in the dark.

Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.

Surely some revelation is at hand; Surely the Second Coming is at hand. The Second Coming! Hardly are those words out When a vast image out of Spiritus Mundi Troubles my sight: somewhere in sands of the desert A shape with lion body and the head of a man, A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun, Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it Reel shadows of the indignant desert birds. The darkness drops again; but now I know That twenty centuries of stony sleep Were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, And what rough beast, its hour come round at last, Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born? 

- the Second Coming - William Butler Yeats

truth

Before rending any veils on the spiritual realm, I need to rend the veils I erected around myself first. How can I expect to be allowed to see and speak the truth on a higher plane, if I don't have what it takes to the speak out the simple truths in everyday life? 

Frater Acher

how can i tell people about Jesus, if i'm not totally sure about it myself? 
Matthew 18:6 - But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.

a repost from elsewhere 03 - Word from the Desert

Word from the Desert

the Ladder of Divine Ascent
St John Climacus

The insensitive man is a foolish philosopher, an exegete condemned by his own words, a scholar who contradicts himself, a blind man teaching sight to others. He talks about healing a wound and does not stop making it worse. He complains about what has happened and does not stop eating what is harmful. He prays against it but carries on as before, doing it and being angry with himself. And the wretched man is in no way shamed by his own words. „I‚m doing wrong,‰ he cries, and zealously continues to do so. His lips pray against it and his body struggles for it. He talks profoundly about death and acts as if he will never die. He groans over the separation of soul and body, and yet lives in a state of waking slumber as if he were eternal. He has plenty to say about self control and fights for a gourmet life. He reads about the judgment and begins to smile, about vainglory and is vainglorious while he is reading. He recites what he has learnt about keeping vigil, and at once drops off to sleep. Prayer he extols, and runs from it as if from a plague. Blessings he showers on obedience, and is the first to disobey. Detachment he praises, and he shamelessly fights over a rag. When he is angry he gets bitter, and then his bitterness makes him angry, so that having suffered one defeat he fails to notice that he has suffered another. He gorges himself, is sorry, and little later is at it again. He blesses silence and cannot stop talking about it. He teaches meekness and frequently gets angry while he is teaching it. Having come to his senses, he sighs and shaking his head embraces his passion once more. He denounces laughter, and while lecturing on mourning he is all smiles. In front of others, he criticizes himself for being vainglorious, and in making the admission he is looking for glory. He looks people in the eye with passion and talks about chastity. Out in the world he is full of praise for the solitary life and cannot see how much he is disgracing himself. He glorifies almsgivers and despises the poor. In everything he shows himself up for what he is, and does not come to his senses, though I would not say he was incapable of doing so.

St. John Climacus, The Ladder of Divine Ascent, 18

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of GOD, have mercy on me, a sinner.

the handyman

deb and i are being all about the decorating these days. outside, inside, we're there. we've been wanting to get some stuff done for years, and we're finally getting around to it. i'll post some pics at some point, but i'll give a rundown of what we've been up to.

dining room:
large picture in dining room - a tasteful selection of tibetan panoramas :). we had a wall-long poster of a forest up, but it wasn't what we wanted originally, and this is closer...
also, bought a crucifix at the flea market last saturday. this, i'm hoping, will be able to go up in the dining room, give it more of a communal/ monastic feel. taking Jesus down off the cross was a strange experience... and now, i have lots of little crucifix bits all over my table...

hallway:
repurposed window frames for the hallway - yes, i chose, brought home, washed these down all by myself. not only that, but i've actually been to a hardware shop and bought hangy thingies. we're watching the progress of an oiled board to see whether we want to stain the frames or not. also, we may be re-gluing (there must be a proper term for this) the glass in place. the fun will be hanging these quite heavy windows. we don't have any plans to do anything with them, except to put a couple of mirrors behind some of the panes...
deb's been making a set of hooks for the boys to hang their coats on, which is fun, and it'll be great to see levi being able to get his own jacket and beanie :)...

study:
an old plank plus some nice attachers (i know my lingo :) equals a lovely bookshelf - this is the oiled board. deb found it down in the woodpile, and i cleaned it up, let it dry, and oiled it today. tomorrow we shall see how it's turned out, and whether we want to oil it again or put it on the wall. we have study furniture that it needs to match, so...
also, i'm wanting to finally hang some lamps. i bought these years ago, but our current little burst of home making means i may actually get around to it. i was able to find these at an antique/ second-hand shop and bought three lamps, two of which have lights, and a third which we can use for a pot plant...
finally, also bought a ceiling hook. don't know what we'll do with it, but it'll cover the hole in the ceiling where the current light source is, as we're wanting to hook up the lamps...

hmm, i think that's everything. it's taking time, of course, but today i'm off to tape up the window panes, so i can oil the frames. the board turned out well, and after preparing some support i'll be ready to hang up the bookshelf.
busy, busy...

the booklist moves on

The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night-time
Mark Haddon

well, i think i'll move on from 'the Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time'. it started out quite interesting, and i was hoping it'd move into "enjoyable", but more than half way through, it hasn't, and i have more books to read that i think are "interesting without needing to be enjoyable", so bye-bye to this one...









so, what "enjoyable" book takes its place?

YAY!!!

Deb and i have been enjoying Ms Addison's books for a few years now, since Ida started us off with 'Garden Spells'. 'the Sugar Queen' was also a fun read, and now we're on to 'the Girl who chased the Moon'. Deb raced through it, and i hope to do the same :)...

a repost from elsewhere 02 - the Weary Pilgrim

via thewearypilgrim.typepad.com

a repost from elsewhere 01 - Christ is in our midst

Christ is in our midst

Blessed Father Thadeus

(Tadej Strbulovic)

1) Our life depends on the kind of thoughts we nurture. If our thoughts are peaceful, calm, meek, and kind, then that is what our life is like. If our attention is turned to the circumstances in which we live, we are drawn into a whirlpool of thoughts and can have neither peace nor tranquility.

Chapter One: On Thoughts~ Elder Thadeus of Vitovnica

hesychasm

"Hesychast" Oleg Korolev
Oil, Canvas 130x90cm 2007

Catholic Encyclopedia -

Hesychasts (hesychastes — quietist) were people, nearly all monks, who defended the theory that it is possible by an elaborate system ofasceticism, detachment from earthly cares, submission to an approved master, prayer, especially perfect repose of body and will, to see amystic light; which is none other than the uncreated light of God. The contemplation of this light is the highest end of man on earth; in this way is a man most intimately united with God. The light seen by Hesychasts is the same as appeared at Christ's Transfiguration. This was no merecreated phenomenon, but the eternal light of God Himself. It is not the Divine essence; no man can see God face to face in this world (John i, 18), but it is the Divine action or operation. For in God action (energeia, actus, operatio) is really distinct from essence (ousia). There was a regular process for seeing the uncreated light; the body was to be held immovable for a long time, the chin pressed against the breast, the breath held, the eyes turned in, and so on. Then in due time the monk began to see the wonderful light. The likeness of this process of auto-suggestion to that of fakirs, Sunnyasis, and such people all over the East is obvious.

Orthodox Wiki -

Hesychasm is a mystical tradition of experiential prayer in the Orthodox Church. It is described in great detail in the Philokalia, a compilation of what various saints wrote about prayer and the spiritual life. 

In practice, the Hesychastic prayer bears some superficial resemblance to mystical prayer or meditation in Eastern religions (e.g., Buddhism and Hinduism, especially Yoga), although this similarity is often overly emphasized in popular accounts.

For example, it may involve specific body postures and be accompanied by very deliberate breathing patterns. It involves acquiring an inner stillness, ignoring the physical senses. The hesychasts interpreted Christ's injunction in the Gospel of Matthew to "go into your closet to pray" to mean that they should ignore sensory input and withdraw inwards to pray. It often includes many repetitions of the Jesus Prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me[, a sinner].". While some might compare it with a mantra, to use the Jesus Prayer in such a fashion is to violate its purpose. One is never to treat it as a string of syllables for which the "surface" meaning is secondary. Likewise, hollow repetition is considered to be worthless (or even spiritually damaging) in the hesychast tradition.

Hesychasm was defended theologically by Gregory Palamas at about three separate Hesychast Synods in Constantinople from 1341 to 1351; he was asked to by his fellow monks on Mt. Athos to defend it from the attacks of Barlaam of Calabria, who advocated a more intellectualist approach to prayer.

Hesychasm.ru

There is a teaching and practice in the Orthodox Christian tradition intended for our self-comprehension and for uniting us with God. It is called Hesychasm. 

Hesychasm (from Greek word "hesychia" – silence, peace, quietness) – teaching and practice aimed for the acquisition of the Holy Spirit and deification of human soul and body. The ultimate goal of hesychasm is human transfiguration and theosis after the likeness of the risen Christ. 

Hesychasm brings a powerful inspiration for human creativity and grants it deep and prophetic meaning. The masterpieces of the Christian art such as the Divine Hymns of St. Symeon New Theologian, the Icon of the Trinity by St. Andrey Rublev, and many others, were a result of partaking in the Divine Life through a practice of hesychasm. 

Unfolded in time and space, hesychasm has a rich history reflecting a meta-historical process of the formation of the Church.

A VII-th century Orthodox saint and mystic St. Isaak of Syria said that Silence is a mystery of the age to come. Hesychasm is opened to the eternity and even in this age it allows us to partake in the sacrament of the Divine Silence.

Wikipedia -

Hesychastic practice involves acquiring an inner focus and blocking of the physical senses. In this, hesychasm shows its roots in Evagrius Pontikos and even in the Greek tradition of asceticism going back to Plato. The Hesychast interprets Christ's injunction in the Gospel of Matthew to "go into your closet to pray" to mean that one should ignore the senses and withdraw inward. Saint John of Sinai writes: "Hesychasm is the enclosing of the bodiless primary Cognitive faculty of the soul (Orthodoxy teaches of two cognitive faculties, the nous and logos) in the bodily house of the body." (Ladder, Step 27, 5, (Step 27, 6 in the Holy Transfiguration edition).)