He who comprehends
the darkness in himself,
to him the Light is near.
~Carl Jung
(From Elsa Joy Bailey’s Facebook Page)
What a wonderful quote; I have not seen it before. But the Work that I learned from Vernon Howard was about just that. He did not allow us to speak of Light with a capital “L.” He wanted us to clearly see our own darkness and how that was an alchemical act.
Out of tragedy, the gift of writing was handed to me, no questions asked. I did not dream as I sat in Vernon’s classroom listening that I was to carry on his work in a quiet one-woman way. That I would spend hours listening to him on a Walkman, transcribing the words and trying to have them change me. For I wanted to know that Light personally. Little did I know that it never works that way.
Instead I had to give up the world one day at a time and believe me, I was more than ready. I had never fit in or accomplished anything of merit on that level. But a new level was unfolding in me very slowly. This new level was being implanted so deeply that words could not convey it. So I began to enter the silence as often as possible.
My days now are at home in the silence. I have learned how to point myself towards the blank space where the words I am typing arise from. No witness here to pat me on the back. No tribe to enfold me. This, my friends, is a cold and lonely world. And if you believe otherwise, you are not ready for the Great Silence.
When I met Theo Paredes, it only took an hour for him to strip me of the great grief I had been carrying. Oh, I will always have emotional shrapnel coming to the surface, but Theo has shown me the joy in being who I am and asking for what I want and need. I have moved on into a place where the darkness is bearing fruit as Light.
I am going to physical therapy and profiting from it, as body, mind and spirit must work together. I feel the presence of the few that are eager to read my words. Thank you for that. It is a lonely trip we are making into uncharted territory and friends of the spirit do not have to ever congratulate each other on any accomplishment. That stage of life is over and the one has begun. And it speaks only the language of love.
Vicki Woodyard
The Uses of Sorrow
by Mary Oliver
(In my sleep I dreamed this poem)
Someone I loved once gave me
a box full of darkness.
It took me years to understand
that this, too, was a gift.
Dearest Vicki, yes, that is what I see too, active harmonising, to all moments and actions we are in, in all our thoughts in life and work for the love of truth, which is God’s and our Eternal Life, and yes, it is possible just from where we are at right NOW, to develop harmonious betterment, regeneration and health for all, seeing factual, real results occurring.
That is what is love and light in action, being engaged in love and that which is lighter for us, as the foundation of life, fullness, richness, joy and love – just as You offer us exactly THIS, that which You are – by Your Life with all there is and for all at once, sending light and clarity, devotion to what is essential now – for humanity as such – for each and everyone – that is true action and always guides us to new, ever more complete, whole and glorious tasks. Words can hardly offer this sense to the fullest, but I see they point and involve – so much of what You speak is truly helpful, truly building – CREATING our New World – where suffering and pain, death and agony, cease to be.
So much more is obviously possible – a completely other ‘fabric or pulse of Life, and WE ARE IT – brightening our hearts, enliving our hearts into the lively substance it ought to be, present at all times, friendly to all – in all situations drawn to support healing, joy and richness within – for all we meet – away from the stony heart-modus, where we taught, life must be hard, painful and agonisingly imbalanced – and it is not so and we can change or transform what is known today as in the collective consciousness – into shining brightness, clarity and understanding.
By this eliminating the heart of stone, becoming human. Thank You for Your pioneer steps and immense supports. Thank YOU for being with us….openly caring, sharing from Your uniquely powerful sense of love…..Silja