![Mother of the World, by Nicholas Roerich [Roerich Museum, NYC]](https://i0.wp.com/sophias-children.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/goddess-sophia.jpg)
“There is a need for an essential gathering of what we have scattered … When we each become part of this quest, which is nothing less than the remaking of the universe, we embody Sophia here on earth.
This task is the basis of Sophia’s mysteries: not the return to heavenly perfection as envisaged by the revealed religions, but the regeneration and resacralization of the whole universe.
These gracious caretakers, who are the hands and feet of Sophia in our world, have taken upon themselves the task of rebuilding Wisdom’s temple, which in Proverbs 9 is described as having seven pillars.
These seven practical supports are the gifts of the Holy Spirit that meet the needs of our times and shelter all life forms under the arching roof of her compassionate love.”
“They work to turn folly into wisdom, incomprehension into understanding, ignorance into knowledge, meeting helplessness with counsel, weakness with strengthening encouragement; countering spiritual disease with food for a healthy spirit; facing the horrors of desacralization with a respect for life that is compassionate.”
For many in these times, the initiation into Sophia’s Mysteries — a great awakening and reclamation of lost and forgotten Sophia Gifts — sometimes includes what has been called the Dark Night of the Soul.
It is the transformative Via Feminina, in which emptying comes before rejuvenation, regeneration, and refilling, and the activation or remembrance of the Sophian gifts.
For me, though the zodiac sign of Capricorn is said to be ruled by Saturn, my sense is that Saturn stands before Sophia … to get to Wisdom, you have to go through Saturn, Master Magi, Master Teacher.
So my friend Molly Hall’s blog post about Venus and Capricorn, which links to several of my previous Sophia’s Children posts about Sophia Mysteries and gifts, sheds a bit more insight on this pairing of Saturn and Sophia. You’ll find it here.
And, as the name Sophia’s Children hints at, you’ll find a rich store of inspiration here in the Sophia’s Children archives … follow the categories below or on the sidebar, or follow the links to recent posts.
You’ll also find inspiration and Feminina-stirring food in the Feminine Mojo Mystery School, which features unique audio programs, among other things.
Big Love, and Be Well.
Find Caitlin Matthews book, Sophia, here. To learn more of Nicholas Roerich’s profound work, see the Nicholas Roerich Museum, N.Y.
June 8, 2015 at 9:48 am
Hi Jamie … I stumbled upon an oldie-but-goodie here (although 2013 does feel like yesterday!). A couple questions/comments:
1. This “initiation into Sophia’s Mysteries” to reclaim our lost gifts: Can it possibly last 11 years?? (And counting?).
2. Does everyone make it out alive? Or, less melodramatically, are there people who get ‘stuck’ in this Initiation, unable to complete the mission? (Due to physical illness; efforts toward helping constantly being thwarted (by what truly feels like an outside force); lack of love, support and ‘believing mirrors’, etc).
3. I adore the painting you used in this post!!! Love!
4. I also just read a post from 2014 – “Creative Awakening: Your Forgotten Wealth”. Another zinger! In it, you write:
“… contemplative or spiritual practices are exceptionally good for your brain – increasing calm, compassion, empathy, intuitive access, insight, attention; and decreasing limbic-centered fear, anxiety, and stress.”
This is something my brain desperately needs, but I’m in a Catch-22 — long-term Lyme is wreaking some (temporary) havoc on the qualities you list above (eg, calm, intuitive access, insight, attention – and the limbic area, oh dear!!) … while simultaneously negating my brain’s capacity/ability to incorporate the practices it so desperately needs to rise above the fray. (Those little Spirochete parasites are more genius than Einstein. It’s actually kinda fascinating).
5. Finally, regarding #4: Is this something you might be able to help me with, considering the Lyme-related neurological implications?
Thanks for reading this long comment :-o…
Best to you always,
Maureen
P.s. Please Forgive my wordiness; I’ve tried writing you more times than I can count, but I always have stop myself when I notice I’m writing a novel rather than a comment or simple email. This time I must post, regardless!)
June 10, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Greetings, Mo. Welcome back. I’m glad you continue to delve for treasures in the archives here. 🙂
So to your questions, I’ll share responses that arise. You wrote:
“1. This “initiation into Sophia’s Mysteries” to reclaim our lost gifts: Can it possibly last 11 years?? (And counting?).”
Yep, it sure can last 11 years and counting. It’s more, as I and others who’ve shared with me have experienced, a shift catalyst or several that unroll or unfold different cycles.
Sometimes the astrology chart can point to what some of those cycles and archetypes are, and what certain lessons or resources might be.
But as I and one of my teachers recently agreed, the initial ‘lightning bolt’ or shift-catalyst occurred and “it’s been unfolding ever since.”
You wrote/inquired:
“2. Does everyone make it out alive? Or, less melodramatically, are there people who get ‘stuck’ in this Initiation, unable to complete the mission?”
Well, yes, in our culture I’d guess a lot of people get stuck and initiations go awry or get stopped in their tracks for a lot of reasons.
I can’t really say whether there are people who don’t make it out alive, literally, though I’d also guess that the challenges of the dark night, depending on constitution and whether any support at all exists, might be at the heart of some who don’t ‘make it out alive’.
That said, I do hear from and talk to and mentor-coach quite a few who are making their way through, or have made their way out (and arrive at The Return, or the ‘now what?’ phase of the journey!). So there’s hope. 🙂
You wrote:
“3. I adore the painting you used in this post!!! Love!”
I’m glad! Nicholas Roerich’s work is amazing, and he’s one who DID make it through and make it out alive, thankfully, to share his writings, teachings, and art!
You also noted that among the helpful practices were the contemplative, etc. that (we now know) have an effect on the neuropathways, etc., and you asked how this works when one is dealing with chronic health issues like Lyme, etc. that leave one feeling altered, fatigued etc.
And you asked:
5. Finally, regarding #4: Is this something you might be able to help me with, considering the Lyme-related neurological implications?
Well, all I can share is that I, too, had the challenges with chronic wellness issues, fatigue, and so on for some years following the NDE-catalyst that occurred in late August 2000 (and yes, it’s been unfolding ever since!), so what I share comes very often from experience and experimenting and what I found helpful, or not. That said, different things work for different people.
So it could very well be that, given that experience I’ve had, I could be of some help to you, as you navigate the various challenges strewn across your path. We can talk about it ‘off line’ (via direct email) if you’d like.
In the meanwhile, I’m wishing you very well.
Love,
Jamie
June 29, 2015 at 8:24 am
Dear Jamie,
I found it!! Thank you so much for your very thoughtful and helpful responses to my litany of deep inquiries I poured out to you here. I apologize for not finding your comment sooner. My email situation is a fiasco in itself, so if a notification of your comment came in, i still haven’t managed to unbury it!
That said, I appreciate you sharing with me your experiences with the Dark Night + Chronic illness, and how our journeys share a similar vein. (Btw, I read a bit about that Saturn Square thing … I forget the name of it … would Chiron Return be accurate? Anyway, whatever it’s called, I’m definitely smack-dab in the middle of a boiling cauldron full of Saturn/ Square / Chiron stew, that’s for certain. The dates line up perfectly, and the description! I could be the poster child. But I digress)….
Back to your Dark Night + Illness experience ….
Hearing more about your story, and then watching as you manage and navigate through your own Journey with such grace, poise, goodness, wisdom, integrity, and purity of heart — i.e, nothing short of heroic — is deeply inspiring to me. Maybe even a reason to hope.
As for your thoughts regarding those who may not find their way out of the Dark Night due to matters of constitution, and/or an utter lack of support: well… *sigh*. I do have quite a wobbly constitution, along with nonexistent support. (I hope this doesn’t come off as complaining or victimy; I just wanted to explain where I’m at.)
On that note, I will be contacting you soon, via email. I am so full of things I need to share with someone who will understand. Would love to set up some sessions.
Thanks again for taking the time and effort to write me back … on my birthday no less :-).
With love and gratitude, Maureen.
P.s. … (IRIS! … We must talk…).
July 6, 2015 at 2:57 pm
Greetings, Mo! I hope you’re well (pardon the delay in my reply … I’ve been busily moving house and thus offline, and still marginally offline for another week or so!).
I’m very glad that you’ve found my Dark Night Journey sharings (aka Persephone Journey) helpful and encouraging … it’s nice to see those flickering lights along the way, as I know well, so I’m happy to light a few for my fellow travelers. 🙂
As for wobbly constitutions and non-optimal support networks, thank the Holy Divine for Grace and allies in the Unseen! 🙂 That’s something I’ve become more aware of as I see more of my journey in the ‘rearview mirror’ of hindsight. What Frederick Buechner called Holy Crazy Grace. Yes, indeed. 🙂
Yes, by all means send along a direct email about sessions … it does help (something I also know from my own experience!). xoxo for now and I look forward to hearing from you.
Blessings,
Jamie