Bože!

Siobhan’s newest book, the product of her Phd work, is of interest to “Indie-philes” as it is a historical exploration of the links between Western esoteric Christianity and the Independent Catholic movement.

Priests, Gnostics & Magicians traces two particular streams of esoteric links in the indie movement, first the link with French Gnostic movements, Martinism in particular, and second, the link between Theosophy, and the emergence of the Liberal Catholic tradition.

It’s worth noting that “esoteric” ideas and movements are not particular to the indie community but pre-existed us in both the Roman Catholic, and Protestant traditions. One of the earliest attempts at deciphering Heiroglyphs, for example, was heavily influenced by esoteric ideas. John Dee, Elizabeth I’s astrologer & diviner (curious at a time when religion, in particular the “Christian” religion was a political hot button issue in England and in Europe generally) as well as Newton were of a heavy esoteric bent.

You can grab a copy of Siobhan’s book at Amazon by clicking here. A link will also appear on our kiosk page very soon.

For much of yesterday (Sunday) we pottered about in the garden. Thinning the leaf cover on the pond, watering, planting, picking, tidying. I spent the day intermitantly considering the connection between gardening and spirituality/devotion. Early reflections on Mary – for example, relied heavily on the image of the “enclosed garden” or Paradise. This was not merely a reflection on her virginity (Paradise being un-tilled, un-cultivated but naturally beautiful), it was also a statement about spirituality and transcendance. Virgins were constantly reminded not to allow anyone to lay waste to their garden (see for example Athanasius’ First Letter to the Virgins of Alexandria) – to trod on the delicate flowers, or pick the fruit – attaining spiritual progress, demands that one not allow distractions to enter the garden, as they destroy the flowering plants.

A garden – one’s own personal Paradise – is not just a metaphore. Gardens, big and small are places of beauty, serenity, inspiration, and thanksgiving. Praxis is all about “cultivating” inner beauty, serenity (clarity of mind), and thanksgiving – with inspriation as a natural by-product of the three.

A garden is a place to commune – just as Adam and Eve communed with God before that unplesant business with the snake, we commune with nature, with one another, and in the quiet beauty of our little Paradise, with God himself.

If perhaps you are reading this thinking: Ha! I live in a flat, or a city, and have no space nor time for “gardening” allow me to attempt to pursuade you otherwise.

A window box, an old file box lined, filled with compost and placed on your balcony, or in front of a big window. A Potted fig with some small flowers around the edges, what about a strawberry pot? how are these not also mini-Paradises? The possibilities are endless, and only limited by your creative use of what’s available.

Below – for example – we’ve used an old grill to grow lettuce in. It’s pretty, it’s utilitarian, and it is extremely low maintenance.

Do you have a window in your bathroom? Why not get a couple of orchids and either stand them on the window sill, or hang them from the ceiling – many smell amazing, all of them produce beautiful long lasting flowers, and benefit from the steam of your shower.

Your own little Paradise, is about joy, beauty, and refreshment – just as our practice of Christianity is. And just as there is no set form for the practce of our faith – there is also no set form for establishing your own quiet point in space for prayer, reflection, communion, and beauty.

You may have already noticed that we’ve made some changes to our Kiosk page. As part of our ongoing campaign to highlight creative indie folk we’ve added a few things – including two, yes 2 – lines of T-Shirt designers.

First our own. Occasionally we make a graphic for something and really like it (and hope you do to). We thought that it might be fun, that if people enjoyed that particular graphic – they ought to be able to enjoy it in a different context. Thus, we offer you our T-Shirt Factory (which also does bags and buttons). Thus far we’ve experimented with a few items – but we’ve got a few more planned. For American visitors we’re working to keep the prices down because we know that the Pound/Dollar exchnage rate is . . . well . . . a little high – sorry about that. We are looking into some other options for you.

One of those options however, is our friend Huw (another indie creative type) he’s got a neat kiosk of Eastern Rite designs called Doxos Swag (pretty cool name huh?) and we have included a link to his project on our kiosk page.

For the record – the goal of the exercise is not to make money but to highlight, and to encourage the wide spectrum of scholarship and creativity within the indie community. We’ve got the talent – we (all of us) ought to flaunt it (grin)!

I’m listening to the newest edition of the ISM Network, a project of Mother Cait in Pennsylvania – another example of neat projects by indie folk – very cool. Over the past two weeks I’ve been listening snips of various episodes – the variety of topics and the thoughfulness of the participants has really been a joy.

If I’m reading the specs correctly – Mo. Cait puts out an edition once a week at 11pm Eastern Time – if you are out of that time zone, or not a night owl, each episode is archived so you can listen at your convenience.

Rummaging around PBS’ Religion & Ethics Newsweekly this morning I fell into this report from this past November exploring religion on-line that I had not previously seen. The report is interesting because it looks at a number of real-time examples of how more than 1 in 4 adults are now using the internet solely or in part for their spiritual needs.

A group in one congregation lived according to the rules of Leviticus for a month, and journaled their experiences on Facebook. A group of friends – through the process of mourning for one of their number – slowly came to appreciate the spirituality, and exploration of theology – in a a safe environment provided by their conversations online (I think they too were using Facebook).

I’ve been banging on now for over two years about how new tech, like the internet, can be a powerful tool for OC/IC communities, writers, and explorers. This well done report might inspire, it may even lead you to ask more questions about the how to, and the affects it might have on existing projects in your community.

This Christmas I got a loom . . . to go with my spinning wheel of course (one has to have a means of doing “something” with all of that spinning.

Anyway – I’m still getting the hang of it all – but having spun some flax, died it (using natural dyes), and stared at it for two weeks, I decided to experiment – and weave  . . . . well something. Previous adventures in weaving have left me with a scarf, a luxurious blanket, and now – I give you – a home-spun stole!

The pic sucks – in my impatience I used the camera on my lap-top rather than the “real” one. But you get the idea. I’ve not done any of the finishing work yet (it only came off of the loom this afternoon)- embroidery, fringey bits etc.

There is something very rythmic about weaving – which makes me think of the rythm of the liturgical year, of chant during a vespers, and the other liturgies. It also makes me more aware of how the disruption of that sense of rythm can be disorientating.

Huw, another OC/IC Easterner has created this wonderful compilation of Paschal Troparia – sit down, relax, and have a good giggle over it.

This is one of my quick “sketches” in preparation for something more patiently done, or as in this case, exploring a new technique or tool. Sometimes, words are . . . . not quite right – I’m all for images!

The “usefulness” of craft and spirituality is sometimes lost in the appreciation of the end product. We are so used to seeing icons in museums that we marvel at the technique, the creativity, and (in some cases) the survivability of the piece, but because of where it is situated (a museum) the practical, spiritual/devotional “use” of the object has to be consciously drawn to the fore of our thinking.

Prayer ropes (or chotki) are hand made. I’m not aware of any that are produced by machine. Though I suspect this is not so much due to the inablity of machines to manage the knot, as it is that such an enterprise would not be profitable. I admit, I’m happy that they are not (usually – just in case I’m wrong) machine made. There is prayer, reflection, and “spirit” that goes into the making of a prayer rope. When you get one, you know it was produced as much as a part of the spiritual life of the maker, as it will become part of your own.

Whereas icons have become an industrially produced devotional item (not necessarily a bad thing in itself) chotki making remains (or so it seems) a cottage industry. The link between the spirituality of the maker, and that of the reciever remains concrete, palpable.

Just as I was inspired to learn how to paint icons – I wanted to learn the “how” of chotki. For a number of years I kept my eye out for a book or a video that I could learn from. A year or so ago I found it, studied it, book marked it, and waited for the opportune moment to use it.

This year, I learned how to spin wool. A number of friends have asked: “Now that you can spin wool, what do you intend to do with the ball of yarn once you’re done?” A reasonable question to be sure.

For starters, I’m finally going to make my own chotki! If I’m reasonably happy with the end result, I’ll do with this what I’ve done with my icons – share them (either giving them away, or selling them – thereby funding other creative projects). Through the act of sharing something made in prayer, that will be used in prayer, a product of a personal spiritual practice, my own prayer, will intertwine itself with the prayer of another in a very tactile fashion.

Last week, I think it was, I posted about encouraging other OC/IC ISM scholars and talented others to publish more – to make our voices available and heard not only within our community, but also within a wider audience.

I’d like to take this moment to draw your attention to the work of a close friend of mine – Rev. Siobhan Houston – she’s published one book on Magdalene spirituality, and has another on the history of western esotericism on the way (to be published by Apocraphyle Press). Jordan Stratford has written two (I think that’s right) books focussing on Gnostic ideas and spirituality. Until not long ago – he also kept a great blog of the same bent.

More information on their work, is at their sites, and I believe that both of their works are available on Amazon; and in select (or shall I say selective) book stores.

I’ve said this to my friend John Plummer – one thing that I find very curious is that it is the Gnostics within the wider community who appear to be the most engaged – the most creative. While I find this stimulating (and sometimes very challenging given that I normally disagree with 90% of their theological starting points), I have a huge amount of respect for their voice, and what they contribute.