“Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.)”
 
It has been said of me, more than once, that nothing about me is small.
Not my body, not my mind, not my love, not the breadth and depth of my spiritual seeking, learning, and teaching.
I dance with joy among the traditions I have been taught. I honor my teachers. I keep my initiations silent while sharing the colors and gifts of Mystery.
I walk through gardens others have planted and tended—Roman Catholic, Wiccan, Quaker, Episcopalian, Santerian, Unitarian Universalist, Reform Jewish, and others whose tendrils and leaves fuzzy and smooth touch me as I walk along the paths between the flowers. As I walk through, I find my own plot, my own space of cultivation and celebration.
The work of the garden demands that my life blossom and swell into fruit, beauty and nourishment.
What have those flowers and fruits been? What may they be here on the Way of the River? What do you need them to be?
Ritual—writing, collaborating, dancing-singing-Aspecting-exhorting, magic
Pastoral care—listening, counseling, be-ing
Spiritual coaching/mentorship/direction—accompanying, questioning, offering
Teaching—curricula, workshops, classes, prayer, discernment, offering and sacrifice, sacred body-mind-spirit connection, sexuality
Writing—blogs, sermons, podcasts
Music—chants and songs, the music of adoration and devotion
Activism—Health at Every Size, reproductive justice, queer identity, seeking Beloved Community through the two-sided coin of justice and love
These are some of the things I have done. And some things I want to learn to do.
What do you think, dear ones? What do you think?
What do you need from me? What does the world need?
Will you help me midwife this ministry being born?
5 Responses
All that you have mentioned are true, and valid and important points. But, to me, having known you, you have missed the most single point.
Your voice. Its size and scope-sung, spoken, and written…and when you mention song, you mention only song of devotion and adoration.
The message you have carried to me, over and over, is the message of celebration. No matter how deep the catacombs that held and pulled your Persephone-soul, always you reach unfailingly for light.
These are dark and weary times for all. But you embrace joyousness, embody it, and ensoul it. Despair tugs and pulls down the entire mass of you, but it can not hold you. Remember that this is a rare gift, and a treasure for all who can be reached by it…teach us to celebrate.
“teach the free man how to praise…”
Thank you, Pamela.
Joy was one identified to me as my “Soul Gift.”
I am a peach, a weeper, often sad, often despairing.
But I think you’re right. Thank you for the reminder of the reaching, stretching toward the upperworlds even when in great darkness.
This post sounds like the bones of a website Catharine
Yes!
You are always reaching into new and fantastic horizons, and I’m so happy to be a witness 🙂 Yeah! Brava!