Time to Listen to the Spirit

I have a friend who is searching for healing. I invited her over to take part in a meditation for healing. I would also participate. I prepared the space on the table, covered with plastic cloth. I had purchased 5 pounds of clay to work with. We each had about 1 pound and there was plenty if more was needed. She was hesitant as she had "never worked with clay." I reassured Mary that this is not a "project" but a way to concretize feelings and images that might arise from the unconscious, the Spirit within.

I put a Celtic harp CD on the player, softly so that it would block the noise of the day and yet be not intrusive on images that might come to mind.

We read from Mark's Gospel: the healing of the woman with hemorrhage of 12 years. My friend, I will call her Mary, has also been seeking healing. I led the meditation of meeting Jesus on the road, seeing the woman being healed, speaking with Jesus and listening to him respond. Then it was 30 minutes of silently working with the clay.

I will tell you of my piece. I had just begun to work with pastels, had done 3 pieces when my brother died in February 1991. The snow was deep in Michigan at his funeral and when I returned to Blacksburg, a purple crocus had opened up amidst a bank of melting snow in my flower bed. I thought, "A sign of resurrection." I knew I needed to paint this sign, to release me from my grief. I have never done it. I had done clay meditations before but not to really "create an image from memory." So I asked for healing and began to work the clay. It turned out perfect for me. I was amazed. "The crocus is open in the snow within a crevasse of melted water." New life from the frozen earth of winter death. Joe is alive in eternity at peace and I believe continuing to learn the lessons God intends.

After our meditation time was complete, I took both of us back to Jesus and let us speak to him. I saw Jesus laughing and holding both Mary and myself as young girls. I know I will create again.

Mary also had a good meditation and created three different images that had arisen from her silent reflection time, recognizable and filled with meaning for her. Mary wanted to meet again, but my day will be too busy tomorrow. She did take the clay home with her and I encouraged her to work with it if she desired. Mary can also dialogue with any image asking, "Who are you? what do you want from me? what do you bring me?" or any other question to open up the particular meaning of the image for her.

Both of us listened to the spirit and were blessed with meaningful images for our spiritual growth and healing. The ministry of priesthood, it is enough.