Today’s blog
Lynn Murphy Mark
Homegrown mystics
From Richard Rohr’s meditation this morning comes this gem: “Mystical experiences can give people a sense of vitality and lead them to their holy assignments.” Yesterday I was a part of a conversation about the magical nature of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Now I know that I write about Santa Fe with some regularity because I consider it to be a place where holy assignments are frequently handed out. I was the recipient of several of these gifts from the Divine – I am a believer!
My friend that started this topic told us about her decision to go to Santa Fe recently for a few days to gain some clarity. She was dealing with several life events that were pulling her in different directions. She needed to get away from her regular life to be able to understand what the challenges meant. While out in the City of Holy Faith she experienced what she called “a slight turn” of her point of view. Suddenly she could see clearly the changes that she needs to make in order to be true to her soul’s purpose. I don’t even remember why she chose Santa Fe, but it was the exact place she needed to visit to achieve this new outlook. She said that as a result of her visit, she was able to get out of her busy head space and live from her deeper heart space.
After she spoke, there were three of us who affirmed that we, too, had been influenced by that high desert landscape with its brilliant blue sky, and brooding mountain ranges. The similarities between our experiences were astonishing. That we all felt spiritually enriched by being in that environment was evident. My contribution to the conversation had to do with how important it is to bring that richness home to our everyday life. However, I do need to make a pilgrimage to that special place at least once a year. It’s always a renewal trip for me, a visit to that special holy well.
I get the “New Mexico” magazine every month. I sit with it in the early morning hours before sunrise, paging through it and feeling connected to the pictures. It’s always my moment of nostalgia for the place where I was blessed enough to be a resident for six years. I remember the day in late May of 2009 when I drove across the border between Texas and New Mexico and loudly proclaimed to myself that I was home!
There is a Welsh term, Hiraeth, that means a deep nostalgia for a place that exists in one’s imagination. “Hiraeth is a beautiful and complex Welsh word that doesn’t have a single, perfect, English translation. It is usually translated as ‘homesickness’ but it has a greater meaning. It captures a deep, bittersweet feeling of longing and nostalgia that goes beyond simply missing a place or a person.” (www.felinfach.com). That is a perfect description of my Santa Fe state of mind.
Another companion from yesterday listened carefully to what was being said. She was astonished that at least four people spoke about our deep feelings for this place. She said she had been thinking about getting to Santa Fe herself. She felt like the conversation was a message for her to put these thoughts into action. I encouraged her to do so. She might plan an adventure for herself and take an Amtrak to Albuquerque and then drive up the mountain to Santa Fe. The more she talked about it, the more animated she got. I hope she answers her soul’s call.