Spiritual Language That Broadens All of Us

1/4/22

Dear friend,

I was in a meeting yesterday with a small group of people who are in discernment about a recurring noticing in the Light House, which is that many members are naming it as a place they consider their spiritual home. We have been meeting for a few months to hold the question of how we're being invited to respond to this.

One thing we're holding in the midst of this discernment is an awareness of language.

For many, spiritual language is both bedrock and fluid, grounded and expanding at one and the same time.

Language is so personal, grounding itself in us before our consciousness can even catch up to its meaning, much less what it will eventually come to mean to us, and this is especially true when it comes to spiritual language. We have the language of our formative years, then the language of the years we adopt something as our own, then all the ways that language continues to change and evolve as we keep changing and evolving through our lives.

How do we find language and vocabulary and practices that include all?

On this point, I found myself deeply touched and affected by something one of our discernment members shared in the conversation yesterday.

She spoke of one of her children for whom the Christian language of their upbringing no longer speaks. What does speak to them now is the solstice.

She spoke of wanting to meet her child with curiosity and an open heart. She also spoke of having great anticipation of the way her own heart would learn and grow and expand because of what that child would share of their spiritual resonances and experiences with her.

In that moment, I saw that we (I) often think of being inclusive in our language and practice in order to make room for others. That, of course, is a deep part of it.

But how often do we also think of ourselves as the recipients of vast gifts brought from that greater expanse? How often do we hold a posture of curiosity and even great anticipation of the ways others' experiences and names and practices and paths can enrich and broaden our own—that the benefit of inclusion and diversity is for every single one of us?

I pray to hold this posture going forward, with thanks to my discerning friend.

Speaking of expanding our spiritual language, vocabulary, and practice and growing all the better for it, this is one last reminder that the Light House community is opening its doors to guests this Friday for our quarterly retreat day, the theme of which is the divine feminine.

Would you like to learn more and perhaps sign up to join us?

Find the details about this Friday's divine feminine retreat here.

Yours in contemplative light,
Christianne