Last Saturday, the Unity Candle and I entered a 12th century sacred space to share in the joy of two people becoming one. St. Michael and All Angels, Knight's Enham is a small Saxon Church on an ancient site in a hamlet on the edge of Andover. In 1008, a Council was held here with King Ethelred and St. Alphege the Archbishop of Canterbury, at which Christian laws were codified for England. In medieval times, the Church was a resting place for knights, close to the crossroads of the two ancient routes from north to south and London to the South West The door in the Unity Candle lantern shows a stained glassed representation of the path up Glastonbury Tor with a quartz crystal representing St Michael's Tower on the summit. I liken the symbolism of the steep physical climb up to the top of the hill to the spiritual journey we are all on and reaching the summit, is a goal we all might have, no matter our beliefs. In alignment with the magnificent stained-glass window, letting in the light of the East through the depiction of St Michael, the flame of the Unity Candle was lit. Closing the little glass door, light shot through the crystal tower on the Tor. This small church, thick with emotions, memories and impressions of the past 800 years of humanity suddenly became illuminated in an oh-so familiar and all-embracing light. Pure love. On this day, witnessing a marriage between two people, the Light shone not only out of the Candle Flame, but from all of those of us there, especially the couple standing before me. Irrespective of our beliefs, sacred space is sacred space. It doesn’t matter who we are, where we came from, what our history and our backgrounds are, I truly believe we are all one in the light; all we need do is to connect with the people and the place we are in, open our hearts and minds, and believe that it is possible, no matter our differences, to come together in love and respect. Regardless of religion, The flame of the Unity Candle helps me to do just that. Blessed Be.
3 Comments
Tracey
17/7/2018 15:39:19
This is wonderful! Strangely enough, I am writing about Sacred Space in the form of my journal. Thank for this x
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17/7/2018 15:59:26
Thank you so much for your comment. it was a very special day for me. It's not often when we fall into that place of Oneness - Grace, if you like - and this day afforded me that experience.
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Tracey
19/7/2018 07:49:15
I have to agree, absolutely. Everything came together on the day in ways I did not expect or would not have dreamed of. When I saw the Candle on the altar under St Michael I gasped, that one moment in time ... so right x Leave a Reply. |
My experiences are as yours - filled with challenges, pain, joy, laughter and love.
The settings of our scenes might be different but along our journey together, we will discover similarities and shared experiences. Adventure with me for a while, for it is in the Journey, we become One. PostsHigh Sierra Winter Solstice
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