Walking A Sacred Path
Rediscovering the Labyrinth as a Spiritual Path
by The Rev. Dr. Lauren Artress
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The Great-grandmother's Thread, pg. 18
Lights-on mysticism is explicit, conscious experiences of Divine presence. These experiences awaken us, encourage us, and sustain us when our daily lives seems dry and uneventful. They help us discover that we are loved.
Lights-on mysticism is devoid of direct, conscious contact with the Divine. Instead we are sustained through faith, the teachings of the church, and Scripture. I find this a helpful distinction. Karen Armstrong had a lights-off experience that was not enough to sustain her over a long period of time. Her experience resonates with many of us today. Our need is too great, and the reward too subtle, to settle for what seems like going through the motions without even a glimpse of the presence of the mystery of God.
I have watched members of the clergy and seekers in the church over the years. And I have come to the conclusion that if we choose a spiritual path not enclosed in a monastic setting, we'd better have some personal experience of the Sacred. Otherwise we are like a therapist who has never had therapy. If we have never had the experience, how can we help others understand what they are living through? Or we're like a painter who has never painted a picture. We have an image somewhere inside us, but neither we nor the world will ever benefit from it.
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Excerpts from Walking A Sacred Path ©1995 by Dr. Lauren Artress used with permission from the author. To purchase a copy of Walking a Sacred Path, visit the non-profit bookstore Sacred Path Books & Art. This link is provided as a service to explorefaith.org visitors and registered users.
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