A day in the life of an interfaith minister... Interfaith ministry isn't just about about being a celebrant. These posts aim to paint a picture of how my ministry permeates all of my life...
For the people who've learnt to meditate with me I offer a 'Motivated to Meditate Club'... perhaps for those who've had a regular practice but have fallen out of it and wish to put more focus on meditation knowing the benefits it brings... or perhaps for those who learnt years ago, but never managed a regular practice... or perhaps for those who've just learnt and are keen to get into a regular practice... It's a nudge towards a daily meditation practice as well as regular group meditations throughout the month.
So, this morning started with a group meditation. I run them at various times of day and on different days of the week and having experimented with lots of different times the (perhaps suprisingly!) most popular time is 6,15am! So after two weeks of not setting the alarm... this morning's 6am alarm call was a bit of a shock to the system! I hate to think there are people out there I've taught effortless meditation to (the effortless tribe!) who want to meditate and know it brings benefits but are not doing the practice and need a nudge to get back into it. If that's you, please get in touch... and I'll do what I can to nudge you into a regular practice.
As I knew I'd be up early I also scheduled in a pre-work conversation with a friend and sister minister to talk about a ceremony we're holding together at Beltaine. This is the third of our Celtic Wheel of the Year Ceremonies... honouring the eight celebrations of Imbolc, Ostara (Spring Equinox), Beltaine, Litha (Summer Solstice), Lughnasadh, Mabon (Autumn Equinox), Samhain and Yule (Winter Solstice). I love the rhythm that being aware of these seasonal festivals is bringing to my life... the year divided into 3 weekly phases... the build towards the festival and the letting go... the ebb and flow... like the tides. In times past the womenfolk would have communally lived to this rhythm. A couple of years ago I envisaged a retreat schedule following the Celtic Wheel of the Year... perhaps that will come fully into fruition and be part of my ministry next year... Watch this space!
I've also been working with another friend and sister minister on 'A Ceremony for the Love of the Earth'. This and the Celtic Wheel of the Year ceremonies feel like healing ceremonies... for us... for the earth... A Ceremony for the Love of the Earth will take the form of a ceremonial workshop and be part of Skye's Climate Feis... a climate festival with the intention of inspiring positive change and action ahead of COP26 the UN Conference on Climate Change happening in Glasgow later this year. So if you're local to Skye... look out for that being advertised as part of the Skye's Climate Feis programme... we'd love you to join us to honour the earth... nature... ourselves as part of nature... and our reciprocal relationship with all that is.
And finally (on ceremony at least)... I've made a start on writing a book (this isn't the first time, but I'm hoping this one will be completed as well as started!). The 'book' (currently just over 6,000 words) is about my journey with ceremony and how I now come to be offering ceremony... my avoidance of and struggle with it, my realisations in seeing how ceremony can be be helpful, the potential and power of ceremony in our lives and not just to mark the big transitions... But more about that in later blogs...
So, now... to continue with my Wednesday... which is, as usual, working as a Women's Support Worker for Women's Aid. This has been such a big part of my ministry for the past two years. Walking alongside women experiencing or recovering from domestic abuse and providing practical and emotional support. I love the variety of it and have learnt SO much, not just about domestic abuse, but about the legal system and housing, social work and the mental health service about the feminist movement and about myself. What a privilege it is to do this work.
It feels that all of the ministry I write of today is about healing and honouring... the feminine and the earth. The ways our society has abused the feminine are the ways our society has abused the earth. If we heal and honour the feminine (not females... the feminine in men and women) in our society we will no longer treat the earth as we have... as a 'resource'... as something for us to 'use'.
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