(c) 2015, Cat Charissage

Dear Friends,

We’re moving into late fall, moving into winter — a time of year, especially in the north, where sensible creatures hibernate, or fly south (oh, wouldn’t it be nice!).  We, however, are in our busiest time of year, full of classes and book clubs and appointments and projects.  In an agricultural society, summers were full of the activities of making hay while the sun shined, and winters gave time to read, study, rest, and repair our tools.  Including the tool, the treasure, of ourselves.  In an urban society we’ve inverted that rhythm, for better or worse.  Now, in late October, just as our cars are covered with frost with the promise of ice and snow to come, we scurry to meetings, concerts, fund-raisers.

In this flurry and scurry I remember:

Do not use up the treasure of you.

Tap into the universal cosmos of thoughts and images that are ours, as humans and as wise women.  We ARE the ones we’ve been waiting for, who can express these truths of the black nights of mystery into the language of Spirit that others will understand.  From the smallest DNA strands to the starry night, truth and beauty are unfolding.  You are a part of that.  You are that.

You, too.

Much love,

Cat

Dear Friends,

One of the most persistent paradoxes of my life is that I cannot seem to talk about what my life is all about.  I can find words for almost everything I want to say most of the time, but I have few words whenever I want to talk about that which most people mean when they use the word “God”.  All of me is about seeking to live a “deep and real life”, one in which we drop into the depths of what is possible to be and know as a human.

A few days ago I was watching “The Hero’s Journey”, a movie about the life of Joseph Campbell.  I’ve read much of his work and admire him greatly, and there, in an interview with him, he said something which vibrated within me as deeply true:

“God is a metaphor for a mystery that absolutely transcends all human categories of thought, even the categories of being and non-being.”

Later, in a talk, Campbell talked about soul:

“The seat of the soul is there where the inner and the outer meet.  Where these come together is where we have mythos.”

Yes.

Not too long ago I was asked to write up three points of wisdom that I know, for sure. Here’s how I responded:

1.  There is more here in this life than running to the grocery store, dealing with frustrated drivers, and running around in a fog.  MYSTERY shimmers behind and through every living and natural being and thing, and wants a relationship with us that’s conscious and joyful.
2. One best way to help others is to help them feel that they belong, and help them to create their home here in this space/time —- to create the conditions where they know that they are here, at home, with us.
3. One best way to love is to be a compassionate witness to another’s story and life, and to call out their freedom, beauty, and their own compassion.  This is the way to a “D & R Life”, a “deep and real life”, and the way to know that MYSTERY who shimmers within and through all.

There’s lots more I can say, and will — in time.  In the meantime, what are some of your points of wisdom that you know, for sure?

With much love,

Cat

(c) Cat Charissage 2013

Dear Friends,

Thank you to so many of you for such wonderful greetings to me on my birthday on September 29!  I’m so grateful to have such caring friends, and I so appreciate your kindnesses to me.

There have been many encouraging and soulful activities going on here, with more being planned for the upcoming months.  I’m getting closer to finishing my apprenticeship in Intentional Creativity and my 9 month class on Living the Tree of Life, so it’s just about as busy as I can handle.

At the same time as there has been so much good happening, I’ve also struggled with increased pain and fatigue.  The entire last week has been the worst, though I’m coming out from under it.  Please send good thoughts and prayer in my direction, that I may continue in my work of sharing making meaning and making soul.

I’ll soon send out another post with more content.

With much warmth and love,

Cat