The Ovary - a seminary blog

"The Ovary"  - a seedling invitation into the Seminary

27 January 2010

Shall I/ dare I suggest this as a name for a Seminary  blog? Smiling, and with thoughts of yes and no, for better or worse, this will be the starting point. As the sap rises and Imbolc beckons me forth, no matter its name, the impulse to write from within our/your Seminary is calling....

Bodies - inner and outer

This morning, Wednesday 27 January, the faculty had our two-weekly conference call. I remain right now in the tide of ‘upholding', synergy, bounty, humour and wisdom that grew in the time that we listened to and with each other.

In different ways we spoke about the body:

• those that we live in (and the travels, colds,  and haircuts they include);
• the great body of humanity that we are part of (and the trauma in Haiti, and the grace-filled joy in holding a funeral that we respond to); 
• the great earth body that we live upon (and its bounty and cycles and upheaving);
• and the expanse of the body of the cosmos (and the subtle realms, and our position as human beings to open to and offer compassion within  it all).

I noticed how suddenly embarrassed I felt at the end of my own sharing this morning - one that expressed a lot about the discomfort of feeling full of illness in the past days; the intertwined journey of being present and absent to this past London 2^nd year weekend; and an overall sense of my relationship to my work-life undergoing a parallel wintertime of silence and falling away. Also the relief and gratitude for the subtle emergence of spring returning inside me, yet with a new cycle being called for, and fresh fruit wanting to be born...

And the shyness was compounded by not seeing the outer cues from my dear colleagues - no compassionate faces to be seen with my literal eyes. And so, another invitation to ask instead for an inner cue. And although very softly heard its clarity was immediate: "You are loved. Yes you are loved by these friends.

But/ and you are loved beyond and before ... "

The invitation to you and the intention

In weeks to come this blog might be expressed by different members of the faculty and seminary. It seems timely to form a place where you, our minister community who are the great surrounding arms of our hothouse, can touch into the life of the Seminary. I discovered only recently that one of the original meanings of ‘seminary' is ‘hothouse for seedlings'. In some ways a beautifully accurate image for this particular seedling.

This blog intends also to open the space where our greater community can come into reflection and conversation with the Seminary. So please feel welcomed to bring your self here to write and to read. Pour yourself a good cup of something steaming and share your comments, questions and impressions! In the title of a favourite book (by John Heron), welcome to a space of "participatory spirituality"!

Deeply recommended for Spring awakening

I celebrate these two gifts below and and am glad to bring them to our shared attention.

1. Source Foundation International is a charity which like ours holds the space for healing and awakening. Binnie Dansby is the inspirational teacher within this, which follows a very subtle process including gentle breathwork and psycho-spiritual inquiry. I've been connected to this for several years and have found that it deeply complements our own Seminary training, bringing radical healing to issues of separation, connection, birth, death and choice. Binnie is starting a new 6 -month training in Kent in February (the January start was deferred.) The first weekend includes Conception and Pre-natal Development, and its profound influence on our thinking and choosing. The monthly weekends can be taken on their own or as a series. See "Events" within http://www.sourcebreath.com/ or email Rozanne White  at joyfulrozanne@googlemail.com

2. The Findhorn Foundation (FF) in Scotland and the Lorians in Seattle USA have co-created a 3 -month training (1 week at Findhorn followed by online community) to start in March called Living Whole: Shaping a Future or Grace, Beauty and Sustainability.  David Spangler, who pioneered aspects of Findhorn in the late 60's, co-initiated the Lorians and has continued his teaching since then. David, together with experienced faculty from within both centres, will hold what promises to be a magnificent journey. Adele Napier, one of our own ministers, is the FF face in co-ordinating  this programme.    http://www.findhorn.org/ or adele.napier@findhorn.org

I'm so glad to have taken the step to have written today. The impulse has been long-stirring. And your own on-line seedling thoughts are deeply invited! I'll close with a treasured prayer/ poem from the great Mary Oliver, and with my love.

Nicola x

Nicola Coombe

Seminary Leader

Praying

It doesn't have to be

The blue iris, it could be

Weeds in a vacant lot, or a few

Small stones; just

Pay attention, then patch

A few words together and don't try

To make them elaborate, this isn't

A contest but the doorway

Into thanks, and a silence in which

Another voice may speak.