The soul (psyche) and the spirit (pneuma) are born of water and of fire.
It is with water, fire and light that the son of the bridal chamber
comes into being, the fire is then an anointing,
the fire is then a light – Gospel of Philip
Today is Day Eight of the thirty days of Walking with Mary
and it is also the first day of the second week.
This week is dedicated to
The Sacred Heart of Mary and the archetype of
Mary as Bride in the Sacred Marriage
The new week brings a new energy and another
rebirth for us. To welcome the new energies in, we
clean and refresh our altars and our space.
The new week brings a new energy and another
rebirth for us. To welcome the new energies in, we
clean and refresh our altars and our space.
You are invited to add fresh flowers and a red candle if you
should so choose.
should so choose.
The colours we will work with for the week are red and white
and the element is fire.
In this second week of the spiritual practise, the
focus is on the second suit of the Mysteries of Mary
tarot deck, the Suit of the Holy Rood. (traditionally Wands)
which is based on the principles of Beauty and transformation.
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| Cards from the Suit of the Holy Rood |
Today I add a new prayer to the Immaculate Practise and
we will expand the mantra in preparation of a puja
in devotion to Mary. (More on this later)
we will expand the mantra in preparation of a puja
in devotion to Mary. (More on this later)
You can work with this prayer in any way that you choose.
Eventually the practise will become your own
and it will reflect your energy and personal
relationship with the Divine and with Mary.
During this week I will guide you through a puja
ceremony – a puja is a ritual or ceremony
of devotion.
During this week I will guide you through a puja
ceremony – a puja is a ritual or ceremony
of devotion.
During this week I will also share with you how to receive the
Diksha of the Sacred Heart of Mary.
This will be followed up
with the Sacred Heart of Mary meditation
which strengthens the power of the Diksha in your energetic body.
The Suit of the Holy Rood is the suit of the Mysteries of the
Bridal Chamber.
The Holy Rood is seen in the sacred rood that flowers,
the living holy tree, the tree of life and the flaming sacred
heart of Mary.
The tree and its branches, similarly to the flaming heart,
represent the kundalini fire of life, shakty or the Holy Spirit.
It follows the meaning of the Bride and Bridegroom and
the mystical marriage as well as the sacred
Bridal chamber mysteries.
Sacred Heart shrine of Mary with
sacred hawthorn berries (in my Mary garden)
The tree of the Holy Rood is the Hawthorn tree, also referred
to as the May tree for its flowering in May, the month of Mary
and the ancient May Queen.
The Immaculate Practise for week 2
The sacred oil blend for the Sacred Heart of Mary
3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil and 7 drops of rose oil
(the better the quality of oil, the higher the vibration; this is
a very powerful blend and have been used in mystery schools
for years)
The sacred oil blend for the Sacred Heart of Mary
3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil and 7 drops of rose oil
(the better the quality of oil, the higher the vibration; this is
a very powerful blend and have been used in mystery schools
for years)
A new daily Prayer
You can continue with the previous daily prayer or you can
use the new one. or you can alternate between all the
prayers that I will share with you this month.
prayers that I will share with you this month.
Hail Mary, Goddess full of Grace
God is with you
Blessed are you among women
and blessed is the fruit of the creativity
that spirals forth from your womb.
Through your art and rituals of beauty,
we find our forgiveness and healing.
Holy Goddess, Mother of Earth,
work the mystery for your children
Mantra
The Sanskrit word ‘mantra’ means protection of the mind.
Om Jai Mata Mary Ma
Jai Jai Ma
(Hail triumphant Creatrix Divine Mother Mary
Victorious Mother)
Please note that the mantra has now been expanded
in preparation for the puja.
Victorious Mother)
Please note that the mantra has now been expanded
in preparation for the puja.
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| Queen of Holy Rood – Mary as the Bride of the Sacred Chamber |
Draw a card for the week and place next to your first card
on your altar.
If you have not done so yet, contemplate on how
the card of the previous week manifested in your life.
Keep the first card on the altar and at the end we
will read all four cards together as a story.
Day 8 of the Art Novena of Our Lady of Lourdes
Fire and Light
Fire and light are both powerful symbols and alchemical agents
of transformation and they play an important role in myth,
fairy tale and religious stories and rites.
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| a vestal virgin in Rome |
‘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 kneeled 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
This is an extract of my very first blog post about my first visit to Lourdes.
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| A shrine of Bernadette Soubirous with the candles of Lourdes |
Fire is of great importance to us. We use it to cook our food and to keep warm in winter.
The hearth and its fire has always been a symbol of the divine presence of the Deity who
provides and supplies us with what we need. The candle is also seen as the flame of the Soul.
Those with mystical sight can see the flame that is alit on the crown of the awakened ones.
One can see the halo of a burning flame with the naked eye
and holy ones and awakened ones are often drawn with similar halos.
Even though we understand how fire is created, it remains
a mystical ocurrence with miraculous abilities.
Similarly, as prana is ignited in the body (spontaneously
or through spiritual practice) and involuntary and
unexpected changes take place in both the mind, the body
and the heart, it is a wondrous mystical occurrence.
As inner sight develops and extra sensory perception
and a vast peace eventually settles in your being,
one feels drawn to make these events manifest in ritual
and practise.
Since ancient days a candle was kept alit in the temples and cities
as an offering to the heavens and as a sign of the unwavering spirit.
This is still the practise at Lourdes and also at Kildare where
the Brigidine nuns keep the flame lit.
Novena for Day Six
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.
Sit quietly for a few minutes, just allowing yourself absorb
the energy you have invoked.
Enjoy it …… feel the presence of the Sacred embracing you,
Enjoy it …… feel the presence of the Sacred embracing you,
flowing all around you.
We rejoice in our physical nature, appreciating this
We rejoice in our physical nature, appreciating this
time to pause and remember the holy
purpose of our lives. We feel gratitude for those
purpose of our lives. We feel gratitude for those
travelling with us on this path of love
and freedom.
blessings
Hettienne
and freedom.
blessings
Hettienne
