Adventing Christ Consciousness – Part Two

This advent season, we are not waiting for Christ’s birth 2000 years ago. We are adventing Christ today through owning our own birthing journey as a rite of passage into our divine participation.

Giving birth is a feminine process, though it is not limited only to females or those physically capable. It is a mystical process we are all capable of in our spiritual womb. To do so, we embrace the Great Mother and receive our own impregnation with new life.

In this mystical journey, the new life growing is our own divine becoming—Christ Consciousness within and among us—expressed in many forms.

In the Christian tradition, the divine has often been associated with the masculine. Cultural and patriarchal systems perpetuated this division by limiting the priesthood to men only and not allowing women to preach until recently in many Protestant denominations (and still not allowed in some). Mary’s divinity as the mother of God is not widely accepted and remains a major division theologically. Of course, this is really only an issue if your theology keeps the divine separate from all other humans, only contained in Jesus (and perhaps Mary, too).

Rather, we believe we are all called into this divine participation. And the divine life we hold within is not limited to men only—far from it!

Because God was nearly always depicted in male form, and we are still emerging from centuries of patriarchy, we may carry some baggage and unconscious associations within us. Though Jesus was male, Christ Consciousness is not masculine.

Rather, the color of this gender reveal is gold.

“As long as Christians speak of Christ only in masculine terminology, Christ’s humanness will remain hidden under maleness.”

— Jann Aldredge-Clanton

The divine Christ embodies in all human form. And beyond! In nature. In the earth. The air. The sea. The rocks. Water. Like quantum energy, she permeates in and through all materiality, even nonlocally across the cosmos. We’ll delve into this aspect more next week.

While Jesus held and integrated much of the feminine, it will also be helpful for us to highlight the ways and forms of Christ that go beyond Jesus—especially in feminine form. This will give us a more holistic picture of the Christ Consciousness we are gestating within, forming and shaping into integrated understanding and expression. For without the conscious and direct incorporation of the feminine in our God image and experience, we will be left with an incomplete and imbalanced divine, as much of Christianity has had, causing great harm.

To do this, we’ll seek out Christ Sophia. And she dances in many forms among us.

Searching for Christ Sophia

“Sophia is the feminine personification of the divine (not merely the feminine aspect of divinity) … Sophia pitches Her tent and makes Her dwelling place with human beings. She incarnates in Jesus of Nazareth. The one title attributed to Jesus that scholars believe most likely to have originated with him is the child of Wisdom.”
– Bruce Sanguin

“Sophia” is the Greek word for “wisdom” used throughout the Christian scriptures and linked to Christ in the early church. This drew upon the long tradition of Wisdom in Hebrew scriptures (Hokmah), linked to creativity, redemption, and healing power—and was a female symbol of the divine.

The apostle Paul referred to this image several times as the “power of God and the Wisdom (Sophia) of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24) and states that Christ “became for us Wisdom (Sophia) from God” (1 Corinthians 1:30). In the first centuries of Christianity, identification with Jesus and Sophia was widespread, though over time the Christology gradually shifted more to Logos and then replaced with the more masculine “Son of God.”

(If you’re interested in learning more of the historical and theological background, In Search of Christ-Sophia by Jann Aldredge-Clanton is a great resource).

For our adventing purposes, we seek to encounter Christ Sophia as she comes to us in the world today. We can welcome her in a variety of personal forms, meeting her in the shape that speaks to our soul. She will come to us in the way that we need now, ready to help us bear and bring forth the divine today, just as she does.

Irrepressible Sophia
(Wisdom of Solomon 7: 22-30)

We open to the Spirit of Sophia, Sacred Wisdom,
She who pervades all living things with radiance,
intelligence, beauty and a spirit of kindness.

Gather us in, Sophia,
prepare a feast for our whole human family and for all creation,
that we may know we are one,
and that you fill every living thing with your grace.

Our foolishness has led us astray,
as we choose to eat the bread that does not satisfy
and drink from the cup that entraps us in our isolation.

Breathe upon us your powerful Spirit and renew us,
that we may be your people.
Amen.

Meeting the Divine Feminine

When I more consciously and intentionally invited the divine feminine into my life, she came in the form of Danu, a Celtic goddess. Her presence, guidance, and transforming relationship has brought about a profound and integrative shift far beyond conceptual understanding—though that is helpful to have, too.

Being open and free to the idea of experiencing God in feminine ways is crucial. This can allow us to then encounter her directly in personal form, which opens up avenues of transformation that most naturally and effectively come about in the context of relationship. For our birthing journey, she may even come as a wise and gentle doula to guide us along the way.

At ICN, we especially emphasize the personal face of God-Beside-Us. In part, this is a counter-balance in its own right, as many of the prominent forms of progressive and evolving spirituality in the Christian tradition tend to be lacking in this area. While the contemplative tradition has much to offer, if it is held apart and divorced from the relational mysticism so prevalent through the Christian mystical tradition, it leaves another hole in our spiritual lives.

In strongly emphasizing one side of things, we run the risk of over-correcting and losing the necessary whole in the process. This has happened in one direction to some extent with Centering Prayer, and we don’t want to fall into a tug-of-war here—either with form and formlessness or the masculine and feminine. Rather than seeking supremacy of one over the other, we hold them together in integration.

As we seek to bear and become Christ Consciousness, God-Being-Us in our own embodied form (personal and collective), we draw upon the developed and fully formed shapes of God-Beside-Us to help show the way. As most of us have been imbalanced with the masculine forms of God, we draw upon the feminine, especially for this divine bearing and birthing rite of passage.

Who can help us with this? Who knows the way and is ready to guide us on this journey?

The Mother

“God is a Father. More than that, God is a mother.” – Pope John Paul I

Most naturally, we can welcome the presence of the Mother, who we considered some last week.

Jesus connected with God as “Abba,” which is nearly always translated as “Father.” Though in the culture of his time, this term connoted both father and mother (see Is It Okay To Call God Mother by Paul Smith).

Many have trouble connecting with God, as seen in fatherly form (including myself). The motherly presence of God can be a different way of encounter that frees us or opens up new qualities in our experience of God.

For many, this comes through the presence of Mary, the mother of Jesus—though that doesn’t have to be her form. She can come as an energetic presence, less physical in appearance and form, or wearing any appearance she chooses.

Depending on your religious background, especially if you grew up Catholic or in certain forms of Protestantism, you may have a strong connection with Mary or a strong aversion. If Mary resonates or is alluring to you, you might ask for her presence to come to you. Despite the sometimes-sensationalized miraculous appearances of Mary, she isn’t so scarce. She can come to you now if you’re open to her. Actually, she may already be with you if you just open up your awareness to welcome and sense her presence.

Or you may find yourself in the presence of the Great Mother. This great archetypal principle reflects a dynamic of the divine feminine appearing to us in mystical reality through living spirit-imbuing forms. She can very often take the shape of a goddess, but also a garden or tree, the hovering sky, or a sacred enclosure.

She may come with a name or simply a presence. You can invite her to come to you in prayer and meditation—or anytime she chooses. She may appear to you in whatever shape is most accessible and healing for you.

If you are ready, welcome her now.

Goddesses

As we’ve mentioned goddesses a few times now, let me say a few words about these forms. When Danu came to me, and I learned who she was (thanks to my wife and Google), I was initially a little taken aback.

I didn’t know if it was ok to have a goddess in my life. After all, I was raised in conservative Christianity, and this seemed to be bordering on idolatry. I guess I still needed to deconstruct some of my god images and open up my understanding of the divine, who is not a singular (male) form set apart from creation.

I later came to appreciate greatly a non-Christian form, which I needed at the time. Something and someone free from all of the past baggage and associations that were still in conflict within me in many ways.

There are many goddess forms that she can take. These are not “false gods” or competing deities we must worship instead of Yahweh. Rather, they are expressions of the divine coming into feminine form. There is quite a bit of Christian tradition and theology to support this, but that is not our focus here (see David Bentley Hart’s fantastic book, You Are Gods, if you’re interested).

In Christianity, we are mostly lacking in these forms—especially if we have a hard time connecting with Mary. Though we have women mystics and saints throughout the ages, we may need a stronger divine principle within the form of God-Beside-Us who appears. Hindu and other goddesses have a long history and deep cosmic grooves that bring out particular qualities and personalities for us to engage with in substantive ways.

For me, Danu was the primary form, and she brings a presence of fierceness, an energy of immense vitality and flow, and an intense passion for life, among other qualities. I came to know her partly through reading about her, which was helpful, and through my direct experience. Having both of these avenues helped bring her to life more fully for me.

If you’re open to it, you can welcome the presence of a goddess in your life to powerfully presence the divine feminine.

Feasts of the Saints

Speaking of saints and mystics, we may also be met on our journey by other bearers of divine life. While this can really be anyone, including living companions, this season of the year opens up particular channels of connection with some specific spirit guides and saints. Just as Mary went to meet Elizabeth, we may find the divine life leap within us when we meet another who is or has carried.

While we can connect with our guides at any time, the liturgical calendar of the traditional Christian church can also offer us days of focused and channeled availability. These spiritual grooves have been deepened by centuries of energetic engagement and can provide an avenue for personal connection, if we would feel drawn to any of these forms.

December 12th is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and many will make pilgrimages to her basilica in Mexico City. While especially relevant to Mexican and indigenous culture in North America, Guadalupe is an expression of the Black Madonna, who has appeared in many forms and places. If you feel drawn you might meet her in this form, or as she appears.

The Blessing of Guadalupe

Have you forgotten?
I am your mother.

You are not alone.
You are under my protection.
Anything you need,
Ask me.

Do not worry about anything,
Am I not here-
I who am your mother?
Have you forgotten?

I love you, and
You are under my protection.

December 13th is St. Lucia Day, observed most in Swedish and Italian culture, and celebrates Lucia of Syracuse, a 4th-century Christian martyr. You may be familiar with her wreath crown with lit candles atop, often worn by young girls in white dresses. She symbolizes the bringing of the light of Christ, of Christ-Sophia, into the darkness of winter.

Or you can connect with any other form or figure of the divine feminine who resonates with you, someone who has embodied Christ Sophia and given her shape in this world. There are many! You can also welcome her through any of the saints throughout Christian history, like Mary Magdalene, Brigid, Hildegard, Theresa, Julian, or any other you feel drawn to. Often, their writings can be an avenue to connecting with them or finding who you are attracted to meeting. Or you can invite their presence to come to you, even if you don’t know anything about them!

Peace On Earth

Christ Sophia comes to us today to bring the peace of God within and among us. This is not just a nice phrase or a calm feeling, but the irrepressible goodness of creation that runs deeper than any conflict or disturbance. She lives and dwells deeper than the turmoil, present in the darkness and in the midst of the suffering.

She comes to form in many figures, dancing through saints and simple folk, alive and flowing in the least of these and, at times, in splendor. We can meet her all sorts of dances, as a partner in the great songs of life—both the dirges and the carols.

And we can meet her in ourselves. We can welcome Christ Sophia alive in us. We can merge with her in spirit, permeating our divine bearing with her grace and her wisdom. She can hold us as a midwife beside or within us, serving to bring forth the divine life in a new form in us.

We work together with her to bring and become divine peace on earth.

Walking with Wisdom
(Proverbs 8: 31)

O Holy One, we come in humility and awe,
waiting on Wisdom, Holy Sophia, to reveal to us Her way

She, incarnate in Jesus, embodied in cells and centipedes,
woos us with a wink into an unknown and unknowable future:
except that it shall be delightful, for She is delighted by creation;
and it shall be beautiful, for beauty is the path She walks;
and it shall be good, for She is the irrepressible goodness of creation;
and it shall be just, for She is outraged by the oppression of all Her children,
human and other-than-human

O Holy One, we turn now from our foolish ways
to walk the path of Wisdom – lightly, lovingly –
upon us and as this beautiful green planet.
Amen.

Sophia prayers from If Darwin Prayed by Bruce Sanguin

Christ Sophia Dances in Her Many Forms