In the big scheme
nothing good ever happens
without descent.
What fecundity would there be
What mischief would ensue
without the cyclical journeys of Persphone or Erishkegal
descents marking the Shabbos of the surface of the earth?
In human development
the first task is ascent
the second is descent.
Leaving one’s ego to fend for itself
The soul-making work goes on
deep in the belly of the whale
without trappings or sun.
In the big scheme
nothing good ever happens
without descent.
Ascent, only possible after descent. Collage done in May 2009
Submitted for One Single Impression prompt: descent. Thanks to my friend Sue of Sunflower Roots for hosting this week’s prompt. Visit OSI for a smorgasbord of impressions about each week’s prompt…this one about descent.
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About Beth Patterson
The Virtual Tea House website became 'word-ripe' when, over a cup of jasmine green, I realized that the web has an expanding part to play in the communal aspects of spiritual growth.
With a master's degree in religion, my career spans 30 years in end of life care and child abuse intervention and advocacy.
Here in beautiful Central Oregon, my spiritual homes of the high desert and the mountains are both in proximity. And for good measure, four hours away is Grandmother Ocean and the stunning Oregon Coast.
I'm making decent progress on the goal set by my mother early on: she taught us that the goal of humanity should be to become ever-more eccentric, i.e. more fully human.
Entering the 'forest-dweller' phase of life, I am honored to host the Virtual Tea House for all who wish to explore how our lives are enriched and made new a thousand times each day by the spirituality we embody. Exploring this engagement together is the purpose of the Virtual Tea House.
Welcome! Let's have a cup of virtual tea together and share what brings us joy, what we are being taught by life, how we are leaning into the Big Questions posed to us each day in sometimes 'distressing disguises'.
Follow me on Twitter, if you must
http://twitter.com/MyraB