A Date with Sophia

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
A Date with Sophia
9
Sat, 04-23-2005 - 6:06pm

I just returned from an all day seminar:  A Date with Sophia.  Having been raised in Calvinist Protestanism, I had a decidedly male focus to god.  This was being presented by a Unity minister and held in the Dominican Center.  (That's another post in itself.  I have a whole new understanding and respect for this order of nuns!)


The day started with a history of Sophia and the many feminine deities throughout human history.  There were lots of books that I cannot tell you the names of, except for the one I bought:  A Woman's Journey to God, by Joan Borysenko.  (Her book Fire in the Soul is one of my all-time favorites!)  We did a lot of journaling, meditation, and listening.  I went with low expectations and returned with excitement for the journey I am taking. 


I have to admit I could not relate to most of the women in the group, but my journey is one of solitude anyway, and I came out of it feeling very affirmed.  I'm not there yet, but I hope to find joy in bringing my higher self/feminine deity into focus, and expect that I will reap great joy in return.   


We were asked to bring a spiritual object with us.  My favorite meditative object is a photo I bought right after I filed for divorce in 1993.  I posted a picture of the picture below for you to see.  It symbolizes the journey.  We can see the road ahead for just a short way.  It will turn from our view, and our future path is shrouded.   We need not be concerned about what is hidden from our view, for as we walk the path, we are always in clear sight of the step before us. 


Bink


Edit:  if you can't see the photo on-screen, see the post below with it as an attachment.





Edited 4/23/2005 9:32 pm ET ET by cl-binkeebee


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-20-2000
Sat, 04-23-2005 - 6:17pm
I don't know what to say, sounds like quite a day. And thank you - that photo and your editorial about it will give me comfort when I'm uncertain...


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-18-2007
Sat, 04-23-2005 - 7:59pm

Joan Borysenko herself has had an amazing journey -- from a Ph.D. scientist to a counselor and spiritual leader.

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/ladybug987/Signatures/springbutterflybarb.jpg>

CL-ladybug987

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Sat, 04-23-2005 - 9:31pm
I had the same thing happen..


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2003
Sun, 04-24-2005 - 8:57pm
That's a very deep picture and I love your analogy of it.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Sun, 04-24-2005 - 9:17pm

Most of the other women didn't share much of anything during the discussions.


iVillage Member
Registered: 12-31-2003
Sun, 04-24-2005 - 11:13pm

Perhaps they were also hesitant to open up in front of their co-horts.

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2004
Thu, 04-28-2005 - 1:33am

When I saw your picture, to me it looked like the sun is coming up and the fog is going to lift. The further the distance the foggier it looks, I imagine it would be the same looking back except you would recognize where you've been. I hope you don't mind that I saved your picture, I named it theroadtosomewhere. Hopefully the turn in the road leads to somewhere great!

Diane

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-22-2003
Thu, 04-28-2005 - 9:43am

Hi, Diane.


iVillage Member
Registered: 09-27-2003
Sun, 05-01-2005 - 5:54pm
Cool!

 

 

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