Page 1 - 2019 October Listen - 13-4.pdf

A SEEKER’S
RESOURCE
FOR Listen
SPIRITUAL
DIRECTION

OCTOBER 2019 VOLUME 13 ISSUE 4

METAMORPHOSIS AND SPIRITUAL COMPANIONSHIP

Spiritual growth is most often grounded in trau- As the caterpillar turns into a butterfly, its insides
ma, suffering, longing and misadventure. It seems literally turn into a pulp as it digests itself, leaving
like our instincts to actually reach for and touch only “imaginal” disks or cells guiding its evolution
God, the Beyond, or however you might refer to the into a butterfly. In the chrysalis, this pulp combusts
ground of all being, are only activated when we have and composts the original caterpillar.
lost much (or have much to lose). And those loss-
es paradoxically both destroy our older selves, but Similarly, while our grief and sorrow eat away at us
also give our new manifestations wings to reach for and threaten our very extinction, they also reveal
previously unexplored and apparently unavailable the imaginal disks of our holy selves, the architec-
plateaus. ture of God for our arising.

But before we can fly, our traumas and wounds need All of our growth is steeped in paradox and regret,
to be composted and assimilated, as they weigh with yearning and longing ideally resolving into
us down and prevent our ascents. It’s hard to soar acceptance, insight and understanding.
with that much baggage. So, we need to experience
a kind of metamorphosis, like the caterpillar to the Although a few have done so, it is very hard to take
butterfly. this journey alone. Most of us need the warm and
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