SPIRITUAL EXPLORATIONS – 239

WE ARE EXPLORING THE PRACTICE OF HEAVENLINESS

+ Continuing with the 12 styles of the Mandalaprocess, we are exploring the style of Imagination.

+ In strikingly configured yet universal patterns, dreams, symbols, and mandalas speak to us from deep within our subconscious of the new and yet timeless becomings.

-- Cynthia Bourgeault in The Wisdom Way of Knowing

+ My friend Naomi Kelly offered this quote recently when taking the Mandala Spiritual Paths course online. She is a strong advocate of the style of Imagination.  During the course she wrote:

Star Trek, Aslan the Lion in the Chronicles of Narnia, Star Wars, imaginative TV stories, movies, books - fantasy and science fiction, all have teachings to offer, or help me make connections with the spiritual.

Cynthia Bourgeault talks about the Kingdom of Heaven as the imaginal realm - (something from Sufism I think she said) So the trinity is an image of three that dance together to self empty and self fill - an out flowing of love into an acceptance of love. I am a part of that great dance, (when I’m paying attention of course.)

The Celtic Cross is a great image, of the cross encircled by the world - nature encircling this instrument of death that becomes life giving.

Naomi is a Spiritual Director offering inspiration imaginatively at the Weaving Home website & on Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/Weaving-Home-1475482059416104

+ Spirituality & Practice offers Cynthia Bourgeault Book Reviews, Quotes, Interviews, e-courses & more.

  + The 12 styles of Mandala: Creating An Authentic Spiritual Path: An InterSpiritual Process by Edward Bastian are listed in SE206.

+ The 7 steps of InterSpiritual Meditation by Edward Bastian are listed in SE21 and SE213.  They are described fully in his book, InterSpiritual Meditation.

+ To get inspired and illuminated by Ed Bastian, I invite you to set aside some time for these videos:

·         Seven Steps of InterSpiritual Meditation (11 minutes)

·         15 minute introduction to InterSpiritual Meditation and the Mandala Process

·         2 hour lecture & conversation

+ Spirituality & Practice emphasizes the practices of Beauty, Creativity, Imagination & Wonder: The Practice of Beauty | The 12s Gallery on Beauty | The 12s Gallery on Creativity | The Practice of Imagination | The 12s Gallery on Imagination |  The Practice of Wonder | The 12s Gallery on Wonder

+ I would love it if you offered a guest post on this practice or any practice.  And, I have work to do on my Heavenliness page.  Maybe you can help.  Send an email with the subject “Heavenliness” or “Imagination” or “Guest Post” to John@abundancetrek.com.

+ You can always find a link to any of the Spiritual Explorations posts by going to http://abundancetrek.com/sepostsaccess.html