detail from “Why not become fire?” acrylic on canvas, (c) Cat Charissage, 2015
While we need to be as responsible as possible with our words and actions, we do not know what or where our influence might be. It can reach far farther into the wilds than we imagine.
I’m now back from my yearly pilgrimage to Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ Mysterium training for helping professionals. Her teaching, as usual, was inspiring, thought provoking, and mind expanding (perhaps a little mind-blowing, too!). This year’s event was also highly emotional, because it’s the end of the five years of the Mysterium. While the topics changed each year, and many new people came each time, Dr. E. designed the five years of the training to cover a particular curriculum regarding psychoanalytic techniques and cross-cultural understandings of the psyche that is based heavily on her training to become a Jungian analyst. Although there is no degree or particular certification that has come out of this education, the knowledge base, combined with my own study, has been a huge treasure, the privilege of a lifetime.
Out of about 100 participants, there were 18 of us who had been able to attend all five years, another 20 or so attended four of the years, and another 20 or so three of the years. Although I do not particularly keep in touch with “my people” throughout the year, it’s always been a blessed reunion when I catch up with those whom I’ve studied with in previous years.
Which brings me to my deeper realization of how our individual influence reaches out in ways we do not know and cannot foresee. Person after person made comments about how something I’d said last year, or a couple of years ago, had made them reconsider some big decision in their life. Or that even though they never left any comments, they read my blog every time I posted and was so inspired by my paintings that it was a reminder that situations can change in a person’s life, no matter our age or years of doing one thing rather than another. Another person commented on how she used the photo of one of my paintings to get her through a difficult time. I had no idea that my comments or art had had any of those effects. It was only the electrified atmosphere of the once a year deep meeting of souls that allowed me to know that at all. (Of course, we can also do incredible harm and not know it. So many of us are healing from unintentional or truly ignorant woundings. Unintended or not, the pain is still deep. That is why we need to live our lives as clearly and as lovingly as we can —- this is how we can be responsible, as far as humanly possible, that our influence is at least not harmful.)
Dr. E. unknowingly reinforced this learning for me. She exhorted each of us, repeatedly, to do our work; that if we put it out into the world it will find its audience, the “lone soul” who needs that particular encouragement or idea. Truly, we cannot measure our effectiveness when what we want to do is to encourage soul life; we cannot judge the quality of our work by the immediate or visible response to it. Our work is to do the work, to do that which we are pulled to do, and to do it in as disciplined, whole-hearted, and responsible a way as we can.
To be a freelance lover of all the world, to nurture liberty in the hearts and minds of those with whom I interact, this is my life and work. I know my intent and my effort; I will never know all the effect. We do not know what we do.
Mysteries Unfolding with Cat Charissage 
What a wonderful experience, too have studied with Dr Estes 5 years! & how poignant to have that come to completion, and yet, there’s the Intentional Creativity to focus on …
I love that piece of the painting, why not?? \¡/
Thanks so much for reading and commenting on my blog, Nadya. A work of love.
Speaking of LIBERTY~ how is your son doing? I LOVE that you got to complete 5 years with Dr. Estes. Your head must be swimming and you must feel high as a kite! Thank you! Thank you!! for sharing. If you ever take time to go over your notes. Please pick one and share it with me. Okay?
Liberty has his ups and downs, but is basically happier. Doesn’t hurt that after Thursday he has 2 months holiday from classes. He’s still finding his way.
My head IS swimming with so many ideas. Here’s one of the questions from the Lifescripting stream (based on transactional analysis) “What would you want said about you on your tombstone? (if you were going to have a tombstone. . . .; it’s just getting at what you think your life is about ) A couple more: “What do you think you will die from, and at what age?” Your own answers to these questions tell you a little about the stories that may be running in you underneath your waking consciousness, stories that were usually “gifted” to you by others in your early life for better or worse. Do those stories fit with your own self-concept? If not, go over the stories, ask where they came from, accept what parts may be true or not, reject the “other person’s” story, come up with a clear new story by which you want to live. Rinse and repeat. And repeat. It often takes many reminders that you’re letting go of the old story before it doesn’t automatically run you. (And here’s where I think the Intentional creativity can shift the story well.)
Thanks for commenting dear Flamingo Gypsy!
Questions to ponder…
You KNOW I love this DEAR! Cat.
Thank you Carol, I always appreciate your kind words.
I love your blog, Cat. It is inspiring to me. I pray for Liberty and you daily.
Thank you, Nury — we so appreciate your prayers; Liberty is doing well now.
it was wonderful seeing you! great spot on post….i am off to do the work!
Thanks for commenting, Enee!
Oh, Thank You. What a wonderful blog! Lots of hugs,
Hugs back, Rachel Anne!
Cat, it sounds like a wonderful gathering and I am truly blessed to have the privilege to learn so much from you. I love your painting!!