Development Challenges

[qos]

I've been reading "New Monasticism: An Interspiritual Manifesto for Contemplative Living," by Rory McEntee and Adam Bucko. It's been frustrating in many ways because even though it aspires to "interspirituality" it is squarely centered in monotheistic theology and worldview -- which means that as a polytheist there is a lot which does not align with my own theology, worldview and practices. They also spend a lot of time explaining and justifying interspirituality and their form of monasticism, and I don't need to be convinced. I almost abandoned it, but instead I've been skimming for useful nuggets because mature writing about monasticism which is not centered in a specific tradition is rare -- and even though I'm not their target audience I have a great deal of respect for their work.

This morning I stumbled on the following passage and it hit me squarely between the eyes:

 

Every movement of human growth precipitates a crisis appropriate to the level of physical, emotional, or spiritual development at which we find ourselves. Each major crisis of growth requires letting go of the physical or spiritual food which has been nourishing us up to then and moving into more mature relationships.

In such a crisis we tend to seek the feeling of security. It is characteristic of reptilian and typhonic consciousness to react to frustration by choosing the line of least resistance, or whatever seems to be the easiest security blanket in which to wrap themselves. The capacity to go forward into personal responsibility is constantly challenged by the temptation to revert to lower levels of consciousness and behavior. 

(- Father Thomas Keating in "An Invitation to Love")

I feel like this is what I have been wrestling with in the months since my shamanic healing. I know I am in a better place mentally and emotionally, but it's been very hard to give up the coping habits of depression. I've been ascribing it to "habit" -- but this passage has made me look deeper. Some part of me is scared to death of moving forward and taking on the responsibilities and challenges I have set myself.

Or, to use the language of occultism: the Watcher at the Threshold has been turning me aside again and again and I haven't had the presence of mind to recognize what was going on. 

And if I am fully honest with myself, I see that this is a challenge of not just the past few months but my entire adult life. I get up to edges of growth, of taking on more responsibility, and I skitter backward instead of stepping forward. This does not happen 100% of the time, but it happens often enough to be noticeable. My only comfort is that the passage above indicates that this is a common pattern in humanity as a whole, not a weakness specific to me. 

My first reaction is that this is something I need to "think about" -- which is always my first reflex. But I think the actual answer is to stride forward and act, recognizing the Watcher is not the overt fear but the sneaky avoidance tactics I retreat to.

Comments

[oakmouse]

A lot of people spend multiple lifetimes running from the Watcher, so you're not alone. But you've also made the key realization, so you have the tools to begin to stop running and face it. Which is good, because you can't run from the Watcher; it's always with you.

[blackstone_hermitage]

Thanks for articulating that bit about the New Monasticism book. I remember skimming that book a few years ago and feeling exactly the same hesitations you mention, though I never wrote anything about it. If it meets with your approval, I'd like to quote this in a future piece of my own:

"I've been reading "New Monasticism: An Interspiritual Manifesto for Contemplative Living," by Rory McEntee and Adam Bucko. It's been frustrating in many ways because even though it aspires to "interspirituality" it is squarely centered in monotheistic theology and worldview -- which means that as a polytheist there is a lot which does not align with my own theology, worldview and practices. They also spend a lot of time explaining and justifying interspirituality and their form of monasticism, and I don't need to be convinced. I almost abandoned it, but instead I've been skimming for useful nuggets because mature writing about monasticism which is not centered in a specific tradition is rare -- and even though I'm not their target audience I have a great deal of respect for their work."

Yes. I respect these attempts too, yet at the same time it's an ongoing frustration for me that there are so few theologically appropriate resources for polytheist-animist monastics (or even for Heathens/Norse polytheists in general). We can't just "graft" additional deities onto monotheist worldviews and expect this approach to apply to polytheists.

I think mature writings about polytheist monasticism will need to come from the current generation of practitioners - the "second wave" or whatever you want to call us. (As I've mentioned to you before, I think of the "first wave" of polytheist monastics as the Matreum of Cybele and the Church of Asphodel, both of whom were doing this work in the early 2000s. I'm not sure if "wave" is the appropriate word there, but for the life of me I can't think of a better one! Generation? Cohort?)

Anyway...few of these writings currently exist in book form, and it's often the case that the people who identify a major gap in the extant literature are the ones who must take up the burden of filling it.

[qos]

Thanks for the affirmations. And yes, you can quote me. Please use my JM name if you do.

I'm wondering if I should propose an anthology of writings on polytheistic monasticism. I know that several people have been working on books, including you -- but writing an entire book is a huge job, and perhaps there are people willing to write essays about their own practices, theology, challenges, and etc. What do you think?

[qos]

* hug

[blackstone_hermitage]

Great - thanks. I'll be sure to use your JM name for this, and I'll keep you updated about potential publication.

I would love to read an anthology of writings on polytheist monasticism, especially if it were edited by you! If you finished it before I finish my own manuscript, then I could cite it. But I suppose I'm getting ahead of myself, eh?

If you do propose an anthology, one person I'd recommend who could contribute excellent work is Kimberly Kirner. Do you know her? If not, I'm sure you'll get to know her once we launch the web forum, and I'd be happy to introduce you in the meantime. She's a professor of anthropology and a Druid monastic, and she's planning an ethnographic project on polytheist monasticism within the next couple of years. She'll be interviewing members of the FB group for that project. I think she's already got an academic publisher interested, too. She's been a member of the FB group since its inception, and always has interesting things to contribute. I finally met her in person a few weeks ago, too! She was in Portland for a conference and I invited her to visit my Hermitage. We had a lovely chat.

Perhaps Raven Kaldera and his partner Joshua would contribute to your potential anthology? And someone from the Maetreum of Cybele? And hopefully someone from the Gnostic Celtic Church? Their "Manual and Book of Liturgy" by John Michael Greer is my favorite book to recommend to would-be polytheist monastics, and as far as I know it's the only book of its kind.

(Pardon my over-reach here…I'm just so excited at the thought that there could be an anthology like this in the world! It is very much needed.)

You mention that there are several people working on books. Are there others I haven't mentioned? If so, I'd greatly appreciate it if you'd point me to their work.

I can't remember if I mentioned this during our in-person visit or not, but last December I interviewed Patricia Sue Christmas of Harvest Home Hermitage in depth, and that interview will appear on the new monastic forum when it launches. There's also an interview that I did for a college student's final project last November. My own book project was originally conceived as a collection of interviews with polytheist monastic religious orders and hermits, but now it's grown in scope…so I think I'll probably just quote short sections from the interviews I've done, and/or add the full interviews as an appendix.

And yes, writing a book is a huge job…but so is editing an anthology. In fact, editing an anthology might be an even bigger job…

[blackstone_hermitage]

Oops - somehow I accidentally deleted the sentence in which I mentioned Roger, aka Weeping Crow, who is co-founder of the soon-to-launch web forum. I'd definitely recommend that you contact him if you do propose an anthology!

[oakmouse]

Back atcha, sweetie!

[qos]

These are all great ideas, and you are *not* over-reaching!
Let’s discuss more in email...