adorned in flowers of the field. 32
One could be forgiven for wondering whether amongst the waving golden grain in every farm and field it is still possible to catch sight of an ancient goddess. She who brings dignity to women, who, for thousands of years, have labored and sacrificed to provide for their families, and not infrequently, the families of others!
Thus it is that day after day we journey out into the world about us and at every moment we are surrounded by a world premiere of images. Some of the images are concrete and visible, some are invisible but no less real, some images leave us intrigued and questioning while the vast majority, after assembling before us, disappear into the passage of time.
We may not have the time or the inclination to explore the images that come our way, yet this is the portal through which we engage and are engaged by the world in which we live, as well as the world that lives within us. Everything that enters our awareness does so through this portal. All knowledge and every idea that comes to us is clothed as an image. Even our most abstract thoughts are couched in images.
Some images are rooted in the practical, every day, concrete realities of earning a living, raising children and managing relationships. Some images suddenly accost us and send us off trying to understand the message. Sometimes it’s because a particular image has the power to make us stop and think, such as the sight of an automobile accident which reminds us of our vulnerability and that of our loved ones. Sometimes the image has the ability to encourage us to recall something in our past which still waits impatiently for resolution. Some images speak to us of loss, or of hope or of fear. Some images reignite our curiosity and reestablish a sense of wonder. Some draw us back into our childhood and a time of magic or of tragedy.
Sometimes we take the image home with us and as soon as we can, we explore it in greater depth. At other times we invoke the gods of illusion and avoid exploring the image because we fear its power, yet it returns to us in moments of reflection. Sometimes in our dreams, it finds a voice. Many images leave us questioning, often about ourselves and who we have become.
We may be too busy to stop and see and engage the world through which we are passing, never the less all images exert a powerful attraction to our being. But, as in the brainstorming exercise, images demand a willingness from us to set aside our usual, careless dismissal. These imaginal visitors are frequently forerunners to a conversation with the Soul, but everything depends on the eyes and the understanding with which we view life!
The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews gets to my point when he warns: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Despite the extravagant works of romantic painters which depict angels as sensual females dressed in wings, feathers and the latest accessories from Victoria’s Secret, the ancient world thought of angels as quintessentially the bearers of messages. Angels might or might not originate from beyond the grave but their role was clearly that of an emissary. They brought news and therefore they changed the lives of those to whom they were sent.
The images with which we are surrounded have the same mystical power to change our lives, for they too come bearing messages. Of course seeing images as strange visitors, emissaries that prepare us to engage in a conversation with the Soul, demands a leap of faith only made possible by surrendering to the mysterious, illuminating influence of the Soul!
That leap starts by recognizing that images come in many settings . Philosophers frequently remind us that the map is not the territory but without a map we cannot speak of the territory nor understand its secrets.
Everything in our world is a part of a system which interrelates with everything else but our ability to grasp
One could be forgiven for wondering whether amongst the waving golden grain in every farm and field it is still possible to catch sight of an ancient goddess. She who brings dignity to women, who, for thousands of years, have labored and sacrificed to provide for their families, and not infrequently, the families of others!
Thus it is that day after day we journey out into the world about us and at every moment we are surrounded by a world premiere of images. Some of the images are concrete and visible, some are invisible but no less real, some images leave us intrigued and questioning while the vast majority, after assembling before us, disappear into the passage of time.
We may not have the time or the inclination to explore the images that come our way, yet this is the portal through which we engage and are engaged by the world in which we live, as well as the world that lives within us. Everything that enters our awareness does so through this portal. All knowledge and every idea that comes to us is clothed as an image. Even our most abstract thoughts are couched in images.
Some images are rooted in the practical, every day, concrete realities of earning a living, raising children and managing relationships. Some images suddenly accost us and send us off trying to understand the message. Sometimes it’s because a particular image has the power to make us stop and think, such as the sight of an automobile accident which reminds us of our vulnerability and that of our loved ones. Sometimes the image has the ability to encourage us to recall something in our past which still waits impatiently for resolution. Some images speak to us of loss, or of hope or of fear. Some images reignite our curiosity and reestablish a sense of wonder. Some draw us back into our childhood and a time of magic or of tragedy.
Sometimes we take the image home with us and as soon as we can, we explore it in greater depth. At other times we invoke the gods of illusion and avoid exploring the image because we fear its power, yet it returns to us in moments of reflection. Sometimes in our dreams, it finds a voice. Many images leave us questioning, often about ourselves and who we have become.
We may be too busy to stop and see and engage the world through which we are passing, never the less all images exert a powerful attraction to our being. But, as in the brainstorming exercise, images demand a willingness from us to set aside our usual, careless dismissal. These imaginal visitors are frequently forerunners to a conversation with the Soul, but everything depends on the eyes and the understanding with which we view life!
The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews gets to my point when he warns: Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Despite the extravagant works of romantic painters which depict angels as sensual females dressed in wings, feathers and the latest accessories from Victoria’s Secret, the ancient world thought of angels as quintessentially the bearers of messages. Angels might or might not originate from beyond the grave but their role was clearly that of an emissary. They brought news and therefore they changed the lives of those to whom they were sent.
The images with which we are surrounded have the same mystical power to change our lives, for they too come bearing messages. Of course seeing images as strange visitors, emissaries that prepare us to engage in a conversation with the Soul, demands a leap of faith only made possible by surrendering to the mysterious, illuminating influence of the Soul!
That leap starts by recognizing that images come in many settings . Philosophers frequently remind us that the map is not the territory but without a map we cannot speak of the territory nor understand its secrets.
Everything in our world is a part of a system which interrelates with everything else but our ability to grasp
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