Embracing the Resurgence of Celtic Christianity: Exploring Modern Practices

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For some reason, I am intuitively drawn toward the Celtic expression of Christianity. My Mother’s family came originally from England but there was no apparent root to anything Celtic. She was a fundamentalist Baptist and so my religious and spiritual upbringing was in the Baptist tradition. It was very strict and the bible was the final authority on everything. It was at an early age I developed a relationship with Jesus, and though I left it in early adulthood I returned in mid-life but with a completely different perspective. In researching Celtic Christianity and the resurgence of Celtic beliefs I think I can explain why. With the advent of quantum mechanics, I think it can be reasonably argued that the material world and the spiritual world are just poles of the same thing, and with that thought Celtic Christianity makes sense to me.

Amid a rapidly changing world, where technology often dominates our daily lives and traditional belief systems face challenges, there's been a quiet yet profound resurgence of interest in ancient spiritual practices. One such revival is that of Celtic Christianity, a rich tapestry of faith that intertwines the wisdom of the natural world with the teachings of Christ.

Rooted in the lands of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and other Celtic regions, Celtic Christianity flourished from the 5th to the 12th centuries. It was a time when monks roamed the windswept landscapes, seeking solitude in remote monasteries, and illuminated manuscripts illuminated the hearts of believers with intricate designs and sacred texts. However, as political, and religious changes swept across Europe, the influence of Celtic Christianity waned, giving way to more centralized forms of worship.

Yet, in recent years, there has been a palpable revival of interest in Celtic spirituality. What is it about this ancient tradition that resonates so deeply with modern seekers? And what are the key practices that define Celtic Christianity today?

At its core, Celtic Christianity is characterized by a deep reverence for nature and a profound sense of interconnectedness with all creation. Unlike some other branches of Christianity that emphasize a strict separation between the sacred and the secular, Celtic spirituality sees the divine presence infused in every aspect of life. The hills, the rivers, the trees—all are seen as manifestations of God's presence, inviting believers to cultivate a sense of wonder and awe in their daily lives.

One of the most striking features of Celtic Christianity is its emphasis on the thinness of the veil between the earthly realm and the spiritual realm. For the ancient Celts, the boundaries between this world and the next were porous, and encounters with angels, saints, and otherworldly beings were not uncommon. This belief in the permeability of the spiritual realm continues to inform modern Celtic practices, which often incorporate elements of prayer, meditation, and ritual designed to cultivate a sense of openness to the divine.

Central to Celtic spirituality is the concept of "thin places"—locations where the veil between the earthly and the divine is particularly translucent. These thin places can be found in natural landscapes such as rugged coastlines, ancient forests, and sacred wells, as well as in man-made structures like churches, monasteries, and pilgrimage sites. For modern Celtic Christians, visiting these thin places is a way of connecting with the sacred energies that suffuse the world around them, and of drawing closer to the presence of God.

Another hallmark of Celtic Christianity is its celebration of the rhythms of the natural world. Unlike the linear conception of time found in many Western cultures, the Celts saw time as cyclical, marked by the changing seasons and the movements of the sun, moon, and stars. This cyclical understanding of time is reflected in the liturgical calendar of the Celtic Church, which is closely tied to the agricultural calendar and the cycles of nature.

Key festivals such as Imbolc, Beltane, Lughnasadh, and Samhain were originally pagan celebrations that were later Christianized by the Celtic Church, and they continue to be observed by modern Celtic Christians today. These festivals are occasions for prayer, feasting, and community gatherings, and they serve as reminders of the sacredness of the natural world and the importance of living in harmony with the rhythms of creation.

In addition to their reverence for nature, Celtic Christians also have a deep appreciation for the power of storytelling and myth. The ancient Celts passed down their spiritual teachings through oral tradition, weaving together myths, legends, and parables that conveyed profound truths about the nature of the universe and the human soul. Today, modern Celtic Christians continue this tradition of storytelling, drawing inspiration from the rich tapestry of Celtic mythology and folklore to deepen their understanding of the divine.

One of the most famous examples of Celtic storytelling is the legend of the Holy Grail, which has its roots in Celtic mythology and was later incorporated into Christian tradition. According to Celtic legend, the Grail is a sacred vessel that possesses miraculous powers of healing and transformation, and it is sought after by knights and heroes who embark on quests to find it. For modern Celtic Christians, the quest for the Holy Grail is a metaphor for the spiritual journey, a quest for wholeness and enlightenment that leads them ever closer to the heart of God.

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the wisdom and beauty of Celtic spirituality, both within the Christian tradition and beyond. Many people are drawn to its holistic vision of the world, its reverence for nature, and its deep sense of connection to the divine. As the pace of modern life continues to accelerate and people search for meaning and purpose in an increasingly fragmented world, the timeless wisdom of Celtic Christianity offers a beacon of hope and a reminder of the sacredness of all creation.

The Principle of Polarity in Our Lives

In the realm of esoteric teachings, few texts have captivated the minds of seekers and mystics like "The Kybalion." This enigmatic work, purportedly authored by the Three Initiates, delves into the depths of Hermetic philosophy, offering profound insights into the nature of reality. Among its many profound principles, one of the most intriguing is the concept of polarity. In this blog post, we embark on a journey to unravel the mysteries of polarity as elucidated in The Kybalion.

Before diving into the depths of polarity, it's essential to understand the origins of The Kybalion. Although its precise origins remain shrouded in mystery, the text itself claims to be a distillation of ancient Hermetic wisdom passed down through the ages. Drawing from sources like the Emerald Tablet and the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus, The Kybalion presents a framework for understanding the fundamental principles governing the universe.

At the heart of The Kybalion lies the concept of polarity, which asserts that everything in the universe is dual in nature, manifesting as opposite and complementary forces. These polarities are not mere abstract concepts but fundamental aspects of existence, permeating all levels of reality. Whether it be hot and cold, light and darkness, or love and hate, polarity is the underlying dynamic driving the cosmic dance.

Central to the understanding of polarity is the Hermetic Principle of Correspondence, encapsulated in the famous axiom: "As above, so below; as below, so above." This principle suggests that there is a correspondence between the macrocosm (the universe) and the microcosm (the individual), implying that the same principles and patterns that govern the cosmos also operate within each of us. Thus, just as polarity is evident in the celestial realms, it is also reflected in the inner landscape of the human psyche.

In the Kybalion, polarity is not seen as a static binary opposition but rather as a dynamic interplay between opposing forces. These forces are not in conflict but instead complement and balance each other, forming a harmonious whole. For example, the interplay between the forces of expansion and contraction gives rise to the rhythmic cycles observed in nature, from the ebb and flow of the tides to the inhalation and exhalation of the breath.

Throughout The Kybalion, numerous examples are provided to illustrate the operation of the Law of Polarity in various aspects of existence. One such example is the concept of gender polarity, which asserts that everything possesses both masculine and feminine aspects. This gender duality is not limited to biological sex but extends to all phenomena, with the masculine representing the active, assertive principle and the feminine symbolizing the receptive, nurturing aspect.

The Hermetic tradition has long been associated with the practice of alchemy, the ancient art of transformation. In The Kybalion, alchemy is portrayed as the process of transmuting base substances into their higher, more refined forms, both materially and spiritually. At its core, alchemy embodies the principle of polarity, as it involves the reconciliation and harmonization of opposing forces to achieve unity and wholeness.

In our journey through life, we are constantly confronted with the interplay of polarities, both within ourselves and in the world around us. The Kybalion teaches that true wisdom lies in seeking balance and harmony amidst these opposing forces. Rather than succumbing to extremes, we are called to navigate the middle path, embracing the paradoxical nature of existence and integrating the polarities within us.

To wrap it up, in The Kybalion, the understanding of polarity offers profound insights into the nature of reality and the human experience. Through the recognition of the dynamic interplay of opposing forces, we come to appreciate the inherent harmony and balance that permeate the cosmos. As we strive to embody the principles of polarity in our lives, may we find ourselves aligned with the cosmic rhythms and attuned to the greater mysteries of existence.

 

Accurately Defining the Christ

The term Christ came from the Greek word Christos. The meaning of that word was anointing or the rubbing on of oil or ointment. The Hebrew word for Messiah, mashiyach was translated into Greek as Christos. The word messiah was associated with the King of Israel or the anointed one. So, when Jesus asked in Matthew 16:13-20, who do people say I am, Peter’s answer was you are the Messiah the Son of God. The same question can be found in Mark 8:27-29, and Luke 9:18-20.

However, I believe that orthodox dogma has erroneously conflated these passages in the synoptic gospels with “the Christ” as it was developed in John’s gospel, and the writings of the Apostle Paul. The writings of John and Paul greatly expanded the term Christ and connected it with the Logos or the Word. There is not a one-to-one correlation between Jesus of Nazareth and the Logos/word. This is where the term Christ comes into play.

When one is anointed with oil, the oil soaks into the skin. One could say that the oil indwells the skin. It becomes part of the skin. Therefore, the Christ as it was used in early Christian literature described the indwelling of the Logos. The Logos is the creative consciousness aspect of the divine parent. The Logos is the creative power that thinks and speaks reality into existence. Jesus knew that he was indwelt by the Logos and was therefore the son of God. However, he went on to teach that we too are indwelt by the Logos and are children of God.

Being created in the image of God is being created with the indwelling Logos. It is safe to say that the Logos and consciousness are synonymous. The word Logos is Greek and it means word or reason. It is a spoken word or a thought, in essence it is consciousness. The Greek philosophers especially the stoics saw the Logos as the creative source of the universe. However, it was the Jewish Hellenistic philosopher Philo of Alexandria that expanded on the word.

Philo was born between 15 and 10 BCE and died between 45 and 50 CE. He was contemporary with Jesus of Nazareth. He wrote that the Logos was the creator and the firstborn son of God. Since he was dead before the writing of John’s gospel, and he wrote in his work, “The Confusion of Tongues” that the Logos was a mediator between God and humanity and that the Logos was the “firstborn” son of God. It is important to note that the concept was not in any way unique to the gospel of John.

What is unique about John’s gospel is that it states that Jesus was indwelt by the Logos or in other words the Logos incarnate. However, Jesus went on to teach according to both John and Paul that we are also indwelt by the Logos. John stated that as Jesus was in the world that is true of humanity as well. Jesus said that he was in the Father and the Father was in him and both were in humanity.

The point of this is that to correctly speak of the Christ, one must understand that it is the Christ of the Logos or the anointing of the Logos. This makes the trinity then, the Father/Parent, the Logos, and humanity. All three are aspects of the divine. This is more clearly stated in some of the Gnostic texts found in the Nag Hammadi Library, but we know that Orthodoxy squashed Gnosticism in the late second and third centuries. However, the canon was not settled until late in the fourth century. One of the early Gnostic gospels was the Valentinian “Gospel of Truth.” It was from no later than the middle of the second century. The Valentinians are thought to be followers of Paul and the gospel of truth teaches that we forgot our divinity upon our incarnation into this world. In other words, we forgot that we were indwelt by the Logos, or had the Christ of the Logos. We were anointed with the Logos and did not realize it. Helping us remember who we really were was the mission and ministry of Jesus.

Sin is missing the mark and the mark missed was remembering our divinity. You can see this in John 1:1-14. In John 1:10 we’re told that the Logos was in the world but not recognized or known. It says that some knew the Logos, but most did not. The ones who recognized the Logos knew that they were the sons and daughters of God. It is finally in verse 14 that we are told that the Logos became flesh. The Logos was in the world before Jesus was born.

You may be asking who were the ones who received the Logos? The answer is the mystics and prophets and anyone who realized they were divine. Jesus then explained that humanity was anointed, indwelt by divinity. That should have been understood from Genesis. That was a fact from creation. Humanity was image bearers, and that meant they were indwelt with consciousness.

In the wrap up it is important to realize that the term Christ is anointing, and as it is used it is the anointing or the indwelling of the Logos. Therefore when we speak of or refer to the Christ, to be precise it should be the “Christ of the Logos.”

How I Know My Wife and I Are Soul Mates

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Many people are confident that they know their soul mate or that they and their partner are soul mates. For the most part they know it intuitively. I can say the same thing for my wife and I. However, I believe that there are other signifiers that make it more certain.

First, if you look at the ten synchronicities that are common among soul mates, we meet eight of the ten. These ten criteria were found on Chat GPT.

Meeting at the Right Time: Soul mates often seem to meet each other at just the right moment in their lives, when they are both ready to embark on a meaningful relationship.

Shared Interests and Passions: They may discover that they have numerous shared interests, hobbies, or passions, which can create a strong initial bond.

Similar Life Experiences: They may have gone through similar life experiences or challenges, which allows them to understand and support each other on a deeper level.

Mirroring Each Other: They may notice that they have complementary strengths and weaknesses, or that they mirror each other's personalities in certain ways.

Repeated Encounters: Before officially meeting, they may have encountered each other multiple times in different places or contexts, as if the universe was nudging them towards each other.

Dreams and Visions: They may have dreams or visions about each other before they meet in person, or they may feel a strong sense of déjà vu when they finally do meet.

Signs and Symbols: They may notice recurring symbols or signs in their lives that seem to point them towards each other, such as seeing the same numbers or animals.

Intuitive Knowing: They may have a strong intuitive sense that they are meant to be together, even before they have concrete evidence or reasons to support this feeling.

Divine Timing: They may find that certain events or circumstances align perfectly to bring them together, reinforcing their belief in the idea of divine timing.

Feeling of Home: Being with each other feels like coming home, providing a sense of comfort, familiarity, and belonging that they may not have experienced with anyone else.

We met at the right time, we shared interests and passions, similar life experiences, we mirror each other, there were signs and symbols, intuitive knowledge, divine timing, and we always felt at home together.

We had similar life experiences. We were both born into fundamental evangelical families and mirrored each other by complementary strengths and weaknesses. While we were both cerebral and intuitive, I was more cerebral wanting facts and knowledge, and she was far more intuitive with a knowing at the spiritual level. This is an example of the masculine and feminine energies. It is in this way that we complete each other. The synchronicity was that we both rejected the toxic aspects of evangelical dogma at an early age. But, because of life experiences we both came back to evangelicalism.

Upon our return, I was led to study theology and church history and find logical reasons for rejecting evangelical dogma. She on the other hand rejected it because of intuition and what you could call spiritual revelation. Ultimately it took the combination of the two of us to allow a comfort in rejecting evangelical dogma out of hand. I provided the intellectual study, and she provided the intuitive revelation. Here again, we both had both the intellectual and intuitive nature working within us, but the strength of her intuition and the extent of my intellectual study made it a match made in heaven.

We met at just the right time. I was born in Michigan years before her, and she was born in New York. Interestingly we both moved to the San Francisco Bay area in the same year. However, we did not meet until eleven years later. During that time, we lived in the same neighborhood without meeting but were in proximity within blocks. During this eleven-year period, I was teaching theology, studying and growing certain that evangelical dogma was incorrect. She was facing some struggles and through intuition realizing that evangelical dogma was off the mark and was receiving alternate meanings to scripture that were apropos and timely. Had we met before that our synergy would not likely have been in sync.

Our shared interest and passion was that we both had a relationship with Jesus and we both knew that the doctrine we were taught was in gross error. It was in this way that our meeting took place. I was teaching theology at a small church in Oakland CA, and two of her close friends came and were impressed with my teaching and insight. Subsequently they brought her along with them and the rest is history, however the connection was not immediate except for the theological understandings. I was able to give biblical validation to what she was intuitively receiving through personal revelation.

When we finally got together romantically as well we embarked on a life long journey of questions, answers and growth. We both gradually moved from solely Christianity to an eclectic spirituality. She was drawn to Yoga and was reading Eckhart Tolle’s work. I was exploring Hermetics, the Tao, and frontline science in consciousness. Through out this entire journey we have complimented one another and have formed a complete entity where the two have become one flesh.

 

The Divine Parent

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Lao Tzu said that the ineffable Tao was the mother of all created things. Jesus of Nazareth taught that the creator God was a loving father. Hermetic teaching, especially from the Kybalion states that gender is in everything. So, let’s take a look at the divine parent who is both feminine and masculine. I think the most accurate way to describe it is the universal parenthood of the unified field of divine consciousness.

For the sake of brevity, I will call it the “Divine Parent.” This is a statement that is not gender specific but is meant to be gender inclusive. I am basing this hermetic principle of gender on the principle of correspondence as found in the Kybalion. The principle states “as above so below, and as below so above.”  The idea behind it is that here in the material plane, we can extrapolate the mental and spiritual plane based on what we see here. While we cannot know for certain the above, we can surmise the above by observing the nature of the below, or the material plane. In the Kybalion it is called the physical plane. Whether material plane or physical plane it is simply two names for the same plane.

The principle of correspondence is not just found in the Kybalion. It is in the Emerald Tablet as well and therefore is more ancient than the 1908 Kybalion. While the seven hermetic principles are not explicitly mentioned in the Corpus Hermeticum, they are implied. Finally, the seven hermetic principles as presented in the Kybalion resonate with my intuitive self. In fact, I would go so far as to say that the Kybalion is one of the most accurate mystical or sacred text that has been written. It was likely written by William Walker Atkinson who was a prolific esoteric writer at the end of the 19^th century and the beginning of the 20th century.

I think that the principle of correspondence can be used effectively to show that the creative source, God, is love, and a loving parent. It likewise can be used to show that goodness is the overarching goal of material existence on the physical plane. It also shows the likelihood of reincarnation and that the world is indeed founded in mentation.

Again, the phrase “as above so below, and as below so above” is the surest way to extrapolate the nature of the mental and spiritual planes. To begin with parenthood is replete within the animal kingdom and reaches its zenith with humanity. Implicit in parenthood is gender as well. Creative generation is the result of the interaction of the male and female gender. This is true even among life forms that have both within them. So if the above is the same as the below, it is only reasonable that the creative source contains both the masculine and the feminine attributes. Therefore, one can safely assume that the creative source is a divine parent. This in and of itself demands a trinity. There is the father, the mother, and the offspring.

Within the unified field of divine consciousness, there is the masculine and feminine that is the genesis of individual conscious agents. This is a spiritual realm that creates through the mental realm and projects the creation in the physical realm. This is indeed the divine parent. When the author of the book of Genesis in the bible states that humanity was created in the image of God it must be a conscious being. There is no need to anthropomorphize the creative source. Anthropological beings are the creation, but the essence of these beings is consciousness. So, it is consciousness that makes us children of God. However, if consciousness is foundational to all reality, then, the entire physical universe is the progeny of creative consciousness or the divine parent.

The Divine Parent is Love

Once again using the principle of correspondence one can reason that the divine parent is love. Using the idea of “as below so above” we can see that among most of humanity, the preferred state is love over hate, If on the physical plane love is preferred over hate, how much more would that be the case on the spiritual plane with the divine parent. Let me remind you that the divine parent is the universal parent of the unified field of creative consciousness.

Love, joy, peace, and goodness are the default state of the unified field of divine consciousness. I put the divine in the description because the unified field of consciousness is the creative source, and it is what has historically been thought of as God or some kind of deity. We are all moving toward those traits. However, it is likewise necessary to experience the polarity of those states of being. That is the reason for the principle of polarity. Without experience the polarity of these various states of being one could never truly appreciate the goodness of the positive poles.

It should be mentioned that we, the offspring of creative consciousness, are individual conscious agents and eternal. The law of conservation of energy is a physical law that states energy cannot be created or destroyed but may be changed from one form to another. The changing from one form to another can be found in the reincarnation cycle. One can extrapolate the likelihood of reincarnation by the principle of correspondence. It can be reasoned from the as below so above standpoint. In our natural universe that comprises the physical plane one can see cycles everywhere. There are cycles of days and years. There is the water cycle. There is the cycle of birth death and renewal in plants and animals, and it is therefore necessary from the viewpoint of correspondence that there are mental and spiritual cycles as well.

This necessitates that the conscious energy of an individual conscious agent is eternal and while it can change it cannot be destroyed. Therefore, if we as individual conscious agents, previously referred to as souls, are eternal then the only eternal impact that any one incarnation has on the individual is experience and the growth of experiential knowledge. That is the purpose of the physical plane and how the three great planes interact in the expansion of experiential knowledge. The great spiritual plane is potential knowledge. The great mental plane is creative potential, and the great physical plane is the experience of the potential knowledge which results in the infinite expansion of the universe.

The principle of correspondence can provide even more insight into the divine parent and its relationship to individual conscious agents or souls. This again is approaching it from the as below so above aspect of the principle of correspondence. The divine parent being the creative source of conscious offspring corresponds to the idea of families here in the physical plane. It is where we can get glimpses of the cosmic spiritual family that we are a part of.

It is important to look at the overall trends in the development of the family and not specific cases that deviate from the trend. They are simply examples of polarity meant to show the benefit of the majority of cases. First it can be understood by example that most parents love and protect their children. Of course, this has been progressive, mostly on an upward spiral over history.

Since loving and protecting offspring is preferred over not doing so, it is easy to theorize that at the level of the Great Spiritual Plane, love and protection is preferred and the goal of our experience on the physical plane. The goal is to grow in an upward spiral toward love and protection.

We can also see in the material family, the trend for siblings to love and protect one another, and like the parent offspring relationship there are exceptions providing polarity. This too is to provide the understanding of what is preferred, and one can then accurately theorize that the same is true on the Great Spiritual plane. The goal is for individual conscious agents, souls, to progress on an upward spiral toward love and protection of each other.

Finally, one can see in the physical family that each individual can petition the parents or the siblings for help when needed. I need not fail to mention that the overall trend is for parents and siblings to offer help to those requests and the exceptions are simply an example of polarity to establish that help is preferred. It can then be theorized that at the Great Spiritual Plane offering help for petitions is the general order.

In each one of these examples, the participants, the individual conscious agents, souls, are eternal and the outcome of any one incarnation does not have eternal implications outside of experiences gained and lessons learned. This makes room for the exceptions that present polarity to the experience.

To sum it up, one can be sure that the creative source parent is love, and that joy, peace, patience, and goodness are the highest qualities and the evolutionary goal of all conscious agents, souls, as they traverse the many incarnations of experience. We can meditate and pray, we can expect supernatural help in many cases. We can truly believe that in the long run all things do work toward the good, toward the upward advancement of the physical plane. We can likewise be assured that there is an egalitarian outcome for all conscious agents or souls. This eliminates the idea of punishment and emphasizes the idea of growth.