I am not a biblical scholar and have, frankly, never been a fan of the Bible. But I have recently discovered the writings of Aramaic scholar Neil Douglas-Klotz. Writings that have given me new appreciation for the scriptures. To date, my only encounters with the Bible have been the King James version which was written for…well, King James. An English translation completed in 1611, centuries after the first Catholic monks arrived in Ireland. 

Douglas-Klotz takes us back to the original language of Jesus and, based on the depth and complexity of meaning in the Aramaic language, offers new interpretations for familiar scriptures. Interpretations that hold profound insights for these times. Interpretations that were likely brought to Ireland by those early monks. Interpretations that would have resonated with ancient Irish spiritual doctrine. 

Love your enemies (Luke 6:27,35, King James Version), is a passage many of us are grappling with. But consider this interpretation and explanation by Douglas-Klotz.

From a hidden place,
unite with your enemies from the inside,
fill the inner void that makes them swell outwardly and fall
out of rhythm: instead of progressing, step by step,
they stop and start harshly,
out of time with you.

Bring yourself back into rhythm within.
Find the movement that mates with theirs – 
like two lovers creating life from dust.
Do this work in secret, so they don’t know.
This kind of love creates, it doesn’t emote.

And he goes on to say in his textual notes: “In this simple statement, Jesus presents the mystical law of relationships. To get along with other people, find the rhythm that harmonizes with their own and then bring them into harmony. Find within yourself that which fills their inner void and address that in them. The statement does not say anything about being ‘nice’ to an enemy or letting that one walk over you.”

There is a mysticism here that speaks to my soul. There is an approach here that speaks to my warrior. Wisdom, rooted in ancient truth, for these times. For all times.

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

With appreciation for this sculpture, Love, by Ukranian artist Alexander Milov.

So, how did the Catholic Church get such a strangle hold on the Irish people? It’s an important question, one we explore at some length in our Sacred Ireland journeys. For it wasn’t always this way. From his research, Jack suggests it was the Druids that first invited and welcomed the monks to Ireland. And while, when viewed through the lens of our current knowing of the church, this may seem surprising, it makes sense.

At that time the church was more closely aligned with it’s Coptic and mystic heritage. The first monks to make their way to Ireland were preaching the teachings of St. John – that the divine is present in everyone and all things, and that we can each have a personal relationship with the sacred. This resonated with the spiritual teachings and traditions of the Irish people and so there was a harmonic weaving of sacred doctrines. 

In this beginning, the Catholic Church in Ireland was rooted in the belief that the Earth is sacred. In this beginning, there was an honoring of all life. And in this beginning are the roots of wisdom for these times.

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

It’s a grim story. It doesn’t begin well, it doesn’t go well, it doesn’t end well. Written in 1918, The Valley of the Squinting Windows was a contemporary view of an Irish village. A village where the people were consumed with guilt, fear, anger, and jealousy that played out in their actions and interactions. A village in the tyrannical grip of the Catholic Church. The name of the book comes from the habit of villagers peeking from behind the safety of their cottage curtains to watch, judge and criticize their neighbors. 

It was this book I was reading as Dennis and I watched the election returns. A grim book and a grim future unfolding on the tv screen. When I rang Jack, who had recommended this book, the next day he laughed and added that the hope of the book is that Ireland was able to shake off that tyranny. At the time I didn’t find this very encouraging. It took Ireland decades to emerge from those times. It’s still a work in progress.

Yes, the future is daunting. But squinting windows will not serve us. For when we squint, tyranny wins. When I look back past the dark times of church domination in Ireland’s history to the beginning of the Catholic influence, there is another story entirely. A story of hope and possibility that offers wisdom for our dark times.

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com

Exploring myths past and present, looking for wisdom for this time, I could quote from The Lord of the Rings endlessly. There is so much wisdom there. So much treasure. Frodo was the one chosen. And although at first reluctant, he would find the courage. He would stand in his power. As we can. As we must.

Some believe it is only great power
that can hold evil in check,
but that is not what I have found.
I found it is the small everyday deeds of 
ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay…
small acts of kindness and love.

Gandalf

Beannacht,
Judith – judith@stonefires.com