Monday Mornings with Mary - the East Gate

Out of the silence Light is spoken.

We do not hear it or see it until it is spoken.

Now, the Wisdom of God, Sophia, comes forth, 

reaching from 'end to end'mightily.'

She wills to be also the unseen

pivot of all nature,

the center and significance

of all the light that is 

IN all and FOR all.

That which is poorest and humblest ,

that which is most hidden in all things

is nevertheless most obvious in them,

and quite manifest, for it is their own self

that stands before us, naked and without care.

These words are once again from the essay 'Sophia' by Thomas Merton.

I was first introduced to Thomas Merton by Fran Redondowriter's blog
http://redondowriter.typepad.com/sacredordinary/

and ever since I have been reading his writings and poetry non-stop.

His words carry so many layers and he was a man with a vision

of the feminine principle of the Divine and Her peace, mercy

and compassion which this world so lacks.

This shrine is the latest addition to my garden, and as you can

see I could nor stop taking pictures of Mary in the early morning light.
You can also see there is still lots of work to be done
around it.

First thing in the morning I sit outside in my garden, 

looking East and one morning as the light shimmered and danced,

I clearly saw the Light of Mary emanating from that shimmering light.

Instinctively my heart listened and my heart heard :

I Am the Light;

I am the Eastern Gate;

I Am the Dawn;

I am that hidden Love that transforms night into day.

I there and then decided to put up a shrine  in that corner

so that I can fill my eyes' gaze with her in the light

and remember the eternal promise of Love changes all.

It is autumn here and I have the most beautiful hawthorn in my

garden which just appeared one day.  Someone sent me the link

of the symbolic meaning of the hawthorn bush

and I was not surprised to read that this plant

has through the ages always been associated with

the presence and energy of the Blessed Mary.

A wonderful Monday Morning with Mary to you

and please visit Rebecca's offering

at http://corazon.typepad.com/recuerda_mi_corazon/

and other Mornings with Mary sharings

for inspiration with your first cup of the morning.

blessings