Spectrum of Light is not Forgotten

I am writing a quick note that I have not forgotten about my blog. Here is a quick update of adventures as a Gnostic.

Last week Bishop Stephan Hoeller came to visit our Hagia Sophia. Along with blessing our new space, three more people were confirmed and I was moved up from Exorcist to Acolyte. Acolyte is the last of the minor orders before moving up to the big leagues or majors (for those of you who are into baseball). I will stay at Acolyte for a year or more and reflect upon the last four years of being in he clergy along with attaining new knowledge and experiences as a Gnostic. Moving up to Acolyte coincides with finally graduating with my BA in interdisciplinary arts and sciences at University of Washington in Bothell. I graduate June 14Th, the Sunday after Corpus Christi. My son graduates high school on Corpus Christ. Go figure.

This next year I plan on taking a year off from school to work and delve more into my spiritual path through study, practice and experience. I also hope to put more time into my home working around the house and cultivating my relationship with my family. Needless to say, much goes by the wayside when one is in school. However, I know enough by now that not all works according to our well laid plans. In other words I can plan all I want, but I must live life on life's terms and be flexible and open minded.

I hope in a year I will be entering Seattle University to work on my MA in Pastoral Counseling. When I told one of my classmates that I wanted to go into Pastoral Counseling, she demanded that I explain myself. I simple told her I would like a degree that combined theology and counseling practices. I think she thought I was going to counsel pastors.

That's what I have been up to this last winter and spring. I hope Spectrum of Light nor my other blog Creating Sacred Spaces will not be neglected, but I cannot make any promises, because one never knows what life will bring.

Ramblings of a Very Tired Mind

The last 24 hours I have been in deep contemplation on the spiritual path I have chosen. Or was it chosen for me? I do not consider myself an intellectual, but I enjoy reading and learning. I often mispronounce words while reading the lesson; the classics are when I said parakeet instead of Paraclete and when I pronounced myriads as myraids. My spell checker lets me know that there is no such thing as myraids. These little embarrassments provide comic relief and I am the first one to laugh. However, I do take my spiritual path seriously and these little mistakes may be a way to keep my own ego in check; either that or I need to practice reading the lessons more often. Probably a little of both. Through the last 24 hours the question comes to mind, what sort of person do I want to be on the Gnostic Spiritual Journey? I know what I don't want to be.

I don't want to be:

A gossip. This is something I am working on and I have to constantly keep myself in check and mind my own business.

A knee jerker. By that I mean I don't want to react before thinking my intended actions through and reasoning things out with a trusted friend or counselor.

Resentful. Someone said that resentment was like taking poison and expecting the other person to die. Mother Marsha I think said that.

Obsessive. There are times I obsess and it's difficult to let go.

I could go on with this list, but the hour is getting late. Lately my prayer life is changing. When I find myself in one of the above four behaviors, I find myself pausing and just saying "God I don't want to be like this" and this little simple prayer is enough to get me to stop, laugh at my ridiculous behavior, put my ego in check and move on. There are times I have to say this prayer more than once, but it seems to work every time.

I don't know where this spiritual path will lead me, that's the beauty of this journey. All I need to do is mind my own business, think things through, let go of the past and be in the present. It's the beauty of this exact moment that matters.

In Serenity and Joy
Andrea

Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice is more than waiting for the return of the warmth of light during the long dark cold days. This is a time of quiet contemplation and keeping the spark within nourished in order to flourish when spring time arrives. In a sense we are pregnant with this divine spark as it grows inside of us. And it is up to us, the mothers and fathers, of this infant light to make sure that it is born into a healthy vibrant flame. However, nourishing the divine within is not an easy task. Often we're uncomfortable with anxiety of what it actually means to have something alive within. Ask any mother who has given birth to an infant.

I am on day six of being snowed in and have plenty of time to contemplate what Winter Solstice means to me. When I am stuck at home, I find my anxiety peaks. I think this is due to the fact I am spending so much time with myself and not pushing my feelings down when I am busy with work, school and other obligations. All of my obligations are put on hold due to snow and ice. The only obligation I have for now is to nourish the divine spark within and attend to the running of the household.

It takes great concentration to not to ignore this divine spark within. During this time I find myself watching way too much T.V to find out when we'll get a break from the weather. I spend a lot of time on the Internet checking e-mails and my facebook account. Yesterday I did too much of this. Today I find myself looking within to make sure the spark is still lit and has not gone out. This is the downside of our modern technology. It's easy to waste precious time. However, I will not allow myself guilt or shame over this. Guilt and shame is also a great waste of precious time.

What I need to remember is that this is a time to rest and take care of myself. It was a busy fall with school and work. How rare it is that one has a whole week at home with no schedule or outside obligations. This is a good time to enjoy my home and the divine spark within.

In Serenity and Joy
Andrea

A New Home for Hagia Sophia

I just picked up the key for Hagia Sophia's new home. We move in this Saturday. If anyone would like to help just let me know in the comments. Detail on moving coming soon. Thank you for all of your prayers and good thoughts. The next step is making the rent every month.

In Serenity and Joy
Andrea

One More Step

After almost three years in the clergy, I have moved up to Exorcist. I will write more later, but wanted to share this picture.

In Serenity and Joy
Andrea

Hagia Sophia in Search for a Church Home

Hagia Sophia, a Gnostic congregation in Seattle Washington, is searching for a permanent church home. We celebrate a Gnostic Holy Eucharist which is the traditional Liturgy (Mass) for public worship(from "The Order for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist by Ecclesia Gnostica).

We are looking for a place that is in the Seattle area and is easily accessible by bus, but also has parking. The space needs to have an area for the mass which can seat up to 20 people, a restroom and a social area where we can plug in a microwave, coffee pot and hot plate for social gatherings. We also need storage for vestments, candles and mass books. Since we celebrate a Gnostic Holy Eucharist, we use incense and candles which is essential to our tradition. We are a small congregation with limited funds, so we are looking to pay between $300-$500 a month. If anyone has any idea where we can look, suggestions would be most helpful. Below is pictures of our mass and our priest Sam Osborne+. You are welcome to comment on this blog.

Thank You
Andrea


Our esteemed and wonderful Priest Sam Osborne+

Rambling Thoughts

Spring quarter just ended and I have a week until the summer quarter begins. I start my senior year at University of Washington and hope to graduate this time next year. Many of my classmates graduate today. I decided to take an extra year to graduate at UW. I had been traveling down this road since 1982; I figure that another year won't matter much. I also have the opportunity this September to travel to Highlander in Knoxville Tennessee for one of my classes.

Highlander is an education center for social change started my Myles Horton. Horton began the education center in the 1930's for labor unions. It was one of the first schools to integrate. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks graced Highlander in the 1950's. Needless to say, this is a trip I am looking forward to.

Which brings me to another point, my journey as a Gnostic and a student. This last week I discovered a hidden talent; writing a personal case study. I cannot go into the details, since this is confidential, but I found that I really enjoy the process of interviewing and writing another person's story about a challenge that was faced. I had the opportunity to utilize my creative writing skills in qualitative research. There is yet another road to choose from. I wonder if there is time and energy to take all of these journeys and if these experiences will be compatible with one another.

I suspect that being a Gnostic and social activism go hand in hand. I have always been on the edge of the status qua looking in and have experienced and heard from others the injustices of those entrenched in the Matrix. For me being a Gnostic is not only about head knowledge and talk, but it's about taking action, showing compassion to others and social change. Let's face it, many of our critics accuse us of being elitists and existing in our own bubble of fragile knowledge which can burst at anytime. And I cannot say they are entirely wrong. There are Gnostic's, however, I see working for social change. Gnostic's that work at the food bank, are advocates for the homeless and others who stand up for their convictions on social change. But when our critics see us standing on the outskirts of society discussing and sometimes arguing over what it means to be a Gnostic, we give them more ammunition.

I personally don't care what the critics say about me. I need to know within myself that I am true to my own convictions and that I am living the best life I can. For me that means carefully choosing my path with much prayer and contemplation. And knowing I do not have to do it all at once or even understand it all at once. I just need to go where the direction of where the universe points me to. With that ends my rambling thoughts on this Sunday morning.

In Serenity and Joy
Andrea