Glory Hallelujah

After quite a circuitous path, which actually deepened my own wisdom, The Black Madonna Mysterious Soul Companion is ready for release.

I was joking with a friend of mine that the impediments to publishing would be a great country western tragedy ballad, but I had no dog to die, and my Bible wasn't stolen. From fires to evictions, deaths and illnesses, bank account theft and car problems, it seems as if everything that could discourage me from publishing, happened with a ferocity that shocked those around me. At some points, I pondered if I should wear some garlic to ward off evil spirits or something. But my dedication to the message which I feel brings great context for our very turbulent time caused me to go forward.

The reasons I feel this book is important are three fold:

I think we are in an era of unprecedented challenges

There is a feeling of great unease in our transitional times

We are feeling abandoned and confused over the magnitude of evil that is present

The Black Madonna, Mysterious Soul Companion offers insights on how we can understand and meet the challenges of our age. As I have experienced all of the above issues, what has helped me personally was delving into the symbolism of the Black Madonna. My journey with this enigmatic genre brought a deep context and comfort for all the quandaries that face those of us who care for our world and her peoples. I feel my book will help others who are struggling with their faith and hope during these difficult times.

What I also found through my unexpected impediments was that one book could not completely do justice to the Black Madonna. There are several books that will follow this inaugural volume. The next edition will be on the Virgin of Guadalupe, and books on Byzantium, Africa, South America, and the Science of Black and the Cosmos will follow.

I hope you enjoy, and encourage you to help spread the word about The Black Madonna Mysterious Soul Companion to your friends, family and communities. 

There are many options to obtain a copy. There are paperback, Kindle edition, audio and print on demand versions available.

Go to the Book Launch page for a complete presentation 

https://booklaunch.io/blackstefka/black-madonna-mysterious-soul-companion

Books on Demand, through the Espresso Book Machine is an option for those of you living near one of the machines.

http://net.ondemandbooks.com/odb/lsi/9781478721758

This option will allow customers to order on line or in person and receive a book freshly printed in about 20 minutes. Book machines are available throughout the US, Canada, the Philippines, France and Egypt to name a few.

Please write a review on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, if you do, send the link to me and I will send you a thank you gift.

Your support has been vital to me these last few years, and I am asking for your support now. Please purchase The Black Madonna Mysterious Soul Companion, spread the word, link to this post, talk about it on social media. Every little bit helps, and not only will you help me personally, the book will be a lovely truly unique addition to any library of inspirational volumes.

The message of the Black Madonna is a healing balm for the souls of our times. It is up to you to help spread that balm on our very exhausted world. We are truly a beloved community of extraordinary beings, let's connect!

Blessings on your journey!

Black History Month

Cover of the the March 2016 release of Stephanie Georgieff's new book

After what has seemed an eternity, I am finally in the last phases of editing before my book goes to press. Today, I will be pouring over the formatted text to find any last spelling or grammar mistakes, sentence structures and title adjustments. The basic writing actually took me only a couple of weeks to compile. The process of editing, re-writing, and basic updating and expanding the material, well that was quite an undertaking. I joked with my Dad that I felt like I was writing a dissertation, so I should just enroll in a PhD program and hand in the book.

What has been most interesting is that each and every time, which occurred with mind numbing regularity, I encountered some incredible set back (life drama and so forth) postponing publication, I would actually learn something new, something that would lead on another journey of discovery of the deep meaning, the deep message behind this enigmatic ancient art form. Even though I was personally suffering throughout the ordeal, the process actually helped me comprehend the message of the Black Madonna on a deeper level. What also became a realization, is that the story of the Black Madonna as I was experiencing, could not be told in one volume. The story of the Black Madonna is the story of creation, the story of the relationship between humanity and Divinity, of the evolution of the healing Christ impulse in human consciousness, the story of our past, how to transform our present and of our collective future.

Here in the US, we are celebrating Black History month. It seems on many levels to be an inspiration for interesting documentaries, library events and educational forums. Some people do not think it is necessary, others say it is ineffective. As an amateur historian, I enjoy learning the evolution of how something came to be. How did we get here, what happened to get us to this point in history. As a health care practitioner, taking a good history is the key to diagnosis. In the legend of Parsifal, his key question to unlock the healing of the Fisher King was "What ails Thee?"

A casual observation of global events reveals there is much ailing the human race at this time. We have diminished our planet to the brink of disaster. The current crisis in Flint Michigan with their water is but a hint of the fate we all have if we do not deal with our environmental challenges now. The ongoing violence in all sectors of our culture and internationally begs the world to deal collectively and creatively, but we must get over our differences in order to bring all of our gifts to the table.

One of the reasons I delved into the subject matter of the Black Madonna was that I wanted to understand how our human family got to where we are now. The viciousness perpetrated towards certain groups of people, women and people from continents other than Europe baffles those of us who see Divinity in everything we meet. If we can see Divinity pictured in many ways through Art, this may be one way to heal our divisions.

The notion of a Beloved Community is essential to our survival. It was a theme inspiring the advocacy of Justice from Dr. Martin Luther King. For me, the recognition of "Christ in me, Christ in you" is the first step in this process. Picturing Divinity through a Black Madonna is another step in this process, delving into the gifts of Africa is another. 

The Black Madonna of Anjony, France 17th Century

I hope that in some small way, my books will add to the collective dialogue of healing of the rifts in humanity. As we dig into our collective roots and discover the majesty, creativity and wisdom of what is offered from each corner of the world, we will see that the hidden beauty that emanates from Africa and the Black Madonna is essential to our common future.

The Beloved Community

The Wedding at Cana, African Christian Art

In the Christian calendar, we are in the season of Epiphany. There are many meanings for this word, one is "revealing." In the Lectionary readings for this period, it is a time of learning about the true nature of Christ and his ministry. This past Sunday, communities around the world read the story of the Wedding at Cana, where Christ performed his first public miracle. John 2:1-12 The story can at first glimpse seem a bit odd, mainly because Jesus is rather cross with his mother and the miracle is one of ensuring wedding guests of a great last course at the feast.

Fresco of the Wedding at Cana, Church of the Annunciation in Jerusalem, Israel

The symbolism of this act is quite vast. A hidden aspect lies in the group of people involved and the location of the wedding. Up to this time, both globally and especially with the Hebrews, the mysteries of the Spiritual world were only revealed to the Initiates of the community. This meant that there was a class structure in terms of religious participation and understanding when it came to relationship between the Divine and the human. While the Jews were considered the chosen people, the priests and Pharisees were what one could considered the ultimate chosen people as they disseminated the information and context of Divinity to the lesser members of culture.

John August Swanson, Wedding Feast

There were strict rules of engagement in the days of Christ's ministry on earth. One could only marry, and ultimately love and care for members of one's own tribe. To care for anyone outside of one's tribe simply did not happen. Purity of blood was the goal, and mixing blood was strictly forbidden. Cana was a community of people who had mixed blood, meaning, they came from many different tribes and traditions of the day. It is significant that Christ revealed himself to people of mixed blood, mixed tribal origins who were marrying outside of their tribes, as his first miracle.

For me it was very interesting that this was the reading at Church services on the weekend celebrating the life and ministry of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

There are many things to glean from the writings, sermons and actions of Dr. King. Obviously, his inspiration was to confront the injustices of racism in the United States. But what is racism exactly? According to the dictionary, racism is: "the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races." In simplistic terms, racism is only loving and caring for members of one's own tribe. In spiritual terms, racism is putting the value of materialism, (that there is only the physical on earth and to believe and accept only the material as real,) onto human beings. Materialism separates people and puts value on them in terms of their gender, their economic status, their race and nationality. Racism became the norm as humanity started the age of global conquest, and colonization.

In the landmark study 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created by Charles C. Mann, the rise of global materialism is quite well documented. What struck me was that all the environmental destruction and human trafficking commenced in order to satisfy the desire for luxury. Slavery ensued to create the labor force for precious metal extraction in the Americas so that Europeans could have spices, silk and porcelain and the Chinese could have tobacco and silver. Last time I checked, none of these items is necessary for life, but entire empires, economies, trade routes and untold human suffering ensued to satisfy the desire for luxury.

When a person or people deem worth on material possessions, it all makes sense. When a person sees beyond the material to what is really valuable, luxury takes on a new meaning.

Dr. King is often remembered for his "I have a dream" speech. Often, the attention this speech is given is criticized. For some, especially African Americans, the speech sanitizes Dr. King's message, makes the healing of racism seem simple and pleasant. I take the "I have a dream" speech in the broader context of King's legacy. It is of note that when Dr. King started to involve his message of racial harmony into the realms of economics and war, he was assassinated. 

In the last years of his life, Dr. King's sermons and lectures took on a deeply, profoundly counter materialistic tone. He made the connection between an economy that invests in war and a culture that condons racism. In a speech at a convention on New Politics in 1967, Dr. King spoke on the "Three Evils of Society" https://youtu.be/j8d-IYSM-08

In this little known speech, King outlines how war, poverty and racism are all intertwined. I would argue that all of these stains on culture King so eloquently presented are the result of materialism. He says as much, linking war, materialism and militarism as the great moral failures of modern culture.

When Mary was visited by the Archangel Gabriel, her response is known as the Magnificat. Found in Luke 1:46-53

My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,  

and the rich he has sent away empty.

At this time in history, in the Roman Empire, wealth and status were valued. One could argue that the Roman Empire was quite a materialistic, as well as militaristic culture, always seeking new lands for resources, power and slaves. With the announcement of the impending birth of the Christ Child, Mary announces that by this act of coming to Earth, Divinity was essentially shattering earthly power structures.By unifying with humanity, Divinity was proclaiming that from this day forward, all people were equal in the eyes of the Divine. In the moments after his death on the cross, we are told in Matthew 27:51 that "At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split into two" The veil in the Temple was the boundary between Divinity and the masses, at this moment, the tearing of the veil showed that now humanity, all of humanity regardless of earthly status had full access to Divinity. At the beginning and ending of his Incarnation on earth, and by his first miracle, we are shown that all earthly separation, between humans and Divinity, as well as humans with one another is no longer in line with the will of God. We are all equal in the eyes of Divinity.

I have always seen acts of violence and war as humans trying to force the hand of God. We need stuff, or someone or group of people is committing acts that need to stop, God seems to not be listening, so we take actions into our own hands, saying that God is on our side. Racism is the ultimate act of willful blindness to the Divine in our fellow human being because of externals. 

The Beloved Community” is a term that was first coined in the early days of the 20th Century by the philosopher-theologian Josiah Royce, who founded the Fellowship of Reconciliation. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., also a member of the Fellowship of Reconciliation,  popularized the term and invested it with a deeper meaning. The ideal of the Beloved Community has captured the imagination of people all over the world. Dr. King’s Beloved Community is a global vision, in which all people can share in the wealth of the earth. In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger and homelessness will not be tolerated because international standards of human decency will not allow it. An all-inclusive spirit of sisterhood and brotherhood will replace racism and all forms of discrimination, bigotry and prejudice. In the Beloved Community, international disputes will be resolved by peaceful conflict-resolution and reconciliation of adversaries, instead of military power. Love and trust will triumph over fear and hatred. Peace with justice will prevail over war and military conflict. Ultimately, the Beloved Community is the ultimate goal of Christianity, to see the Divine in each person we meet, and treat them accordingly. The Beloved Community is the complete counter to racism in all it's forms. For more information please see

www.thekingcenter.org

www.wearethebelovedcommunity.org

In his first reveal on earth, Christ presided over an event that celebrated love beyond the tribe, love and union between different backgrounds. It is quite profound that his first miracle was performed in the prototype of the Beloved Community, of recognizing the unity of all peoples, that what is on the inside is more real and more valuable than externals. For me, the connection is not lost that the Christian Lectionary had us all read about the Wedding at Cana during Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations. Of course, this correlation was not "planned" but it happened and that is how Spirit works, if one is awake then the connections are endless.

In many ways we have evolved since Dr. King, and in many ways it seems as if nothing has changed or we are regressing. The adversarial spiritual powers do not want humanity to get along. We are at a time of great transition, of the reappearance of the Christ in the Etheric realm, there is a great spiritual quickening happening on earth. One of my teachers remarked when asked why there are so many people on earth at this particular point in history, "I do not know for sure, but obviously something very important is happening and many souls want to be here for this event."

If we are to be worthy vessels to contain the Christ, we have much to overcome and confront. While evil powers want us to be separate, to hate and kill, Christ invites in another way. Dr. King confronted the three evils of society with love, endurance and the imagination that we could see one another beyond our externals. His dream is not a sanitary one, it is actually quite messy, but ultimately it is the invitation of Christ. We are to see one another as members of a Beloved Community, where our common ancestor is our Divine creator. When we can see Divinity in all of humanity and act accordingly, then we will truly be free at last.

Amazing Grace

For the last several years, I have been wandering. Wandering in search of a new life, wandering in study, wandering for a new job, home and community. For many reasons, I was unable to stay in a situation that I had inhabited quite happily, largely and for many years. Politics, economics, injustice and cruelty all colluded to force major changes I never in my life thought I would have to make. I had finally found a temporary situation with some level of normalcy, then while writing this post, I was evacuated due to the fires in Northern California, with only the clothes on my back and my purse. Now, even though the fires have ceased, as the fates would have it, I am actually wandering again in search of a new life, where mundane is my goal.

When one has all familiarity taken away, the freedom is actually quite unnerving. Where to go, what to do, how to live out ones remaining years on this amazing planet are the questions with no real answers. The quest for rhythm in the mundane aspects of life becomes the ultimate luxury.

The current crisis involving the migration of people fleeing war and terror in the Arab lands has been more than upsetting for me.  I know all too well the desperation involved in trying to find a place to simply "be," the longing for normalcy, the anxiety associated with occupying other peoples homes and lives, having one's status erased, trying to be small and not disrupt, but needing to have a place to sit, to lie, to bathe and eat. 

As with the migrants, my situation resulted from decisions made without my consent. I watch on the news the mothers and children walking hundreds of miles in search of a new home, fathers holding screaming children simply wanting to board trains, treated like criminals, caged in like animals, told to behave, be quiet, to stop complaining.

When one has nothing to depend on from the external world, (home, family, money,) one is somewhat forced to focus on the non-material world. There is a closeness to spirit that comes from intense suffering, from being unsettled. There is an awareness that is usually dulled when one has the distraction and illusion of material security. The miracles are more evident when one is wandering into the unknown, because one has the full attention to perceive the natural world, to contemplate meaning and purpose. 

Some time ago I reflected that I had been living on pure grace, that every mouthful, every surface I slept on was pure grace, dependent on the kindness of others, and each day was a surprise. I thought to myself, I am tired of living on grace and would much welcome a home, a regular schedule, a job and place in society. After this insight, I shook my self and thought; but each and every breath we take is actually because of grace, regardless of the situation. The entire cosmos is filled with grace, every day regardless of the situation is in essence grace, I can no more live without grace than I can live with out air. 

My soul has always craved context and meaning. My miracles manifest in how people and insights come to me. Several books fell into my awareness which gave some insight to not only my own ordeal, the that of so many people on the planet at this particular juncture in history.

The cycle is entitled : Universal Spirituality and Human Physicality, Bridging the Divide.

This is a series of lectures given by Rudolf Steiner that have been newly translated into English from German. The lectures are very thought provoking, and often caused me to put down the book and simply say "wow." 

These particular lectures were first presented just two years after World War I. The world had never seen a conflict like that before, the devastation and the mechanization of warfare had entered a truly mind boggling level. Great thinkers of the time were searching for answers as to how the war happened and how to prevent another specter from ever happening again. We are living in a time now of the 100 year anniversary of this most terrible achievement of Humanity, that of a great world war of mechanized arbitrary slaughter and massive human displacement. 

I am also reading Testament of Youth, which talks about how a group of young friends had their lives shattered and youth stolen from "the great war." There were scores of migrant refugees moving about Europe during that time as well. Then as now, scores of people were either forcibly relocated, because of redrawn national borders, or simply because their lives were completely destroyed and they wanted to start anew in different lands away from the turmoil. My own ancestors emigrated to America from the Balkans because of this war. Testament of Youth was written within the same time frame as the lectures presented in  Universal Spirituality and Human Physicality, Bridging the Divide were given.

Refugees from World War I

There are immense goings on in the world that have their origins in spiritual events. There are great forces that are not interested in humans being aware of the Grace that surrounds them. Such forces are working hard to distract our attention from the deeper transformation that is happening, they distract us from the transformation that is actually for our own betterment. These forces do not want humanity to evolve and transform, they want humanity to be stuck, to be fearful and defeated.

One of the recurring themes in the Steiner cycle mentioned above, is how our actions in one life plant seeds for the future. Steiner talks about how the human being is made up of several bodies; physical, etheric, astral and the "I." He also talks about the three aspects of the soul life; thinking, feeling and willing. 

In relationship with the physical, these aspects of soul are respectively: thinking = the head, feeling = the chest or rhythmic system (heart,) and willing=limbs.

Black Madonna of Dorres

What is fascinating to me personally is how so many of the Black Madonna's have such huge hands.

Black Madonna of Marsat

Black Madonna of the Good Death

According to Lois Schroff in her book Color, Its Relationship to Soul and Spirit, she outlines that Black is the color of Cosmic Will transforming into Human Will.

As hands are aspects of the limbs and the soul life of the will, and action/deeds are the manifestation of the will which plants seeds for the future, all the threads seem to be weaving before me.

We are living in times of great transformation. In many ways, the times we are enduring in terms of geo politics and terror, the seeds for the future that were laid in the ashes of World War I. Many of the arbitrary borders set up in the Arab lands by foreign world powers started during the aftermath of this war. The arguments which started the conflict are still raging today, fueling the migration of millions of desperate people, walking hundreds of miles through hostile territory to simply have a normal life.

Many people have met the refugees with dignity, even when their governments shun those fleeing the violence. Stories abound of normal every day people bringing food and clothing to complete strangers at train stations, teaching people to ride bikes and speak the local language. One of the lesser known stories is how many current refugees are being welcomed by Christian communities, and such welcome is causing voluntary conversions to Christianity. There is much adjustment ahead, but in a major way, the refugees from very foreign cultures are being welcomed to the best of the ability of the communities to which they are assigned. In many ways, this really is a first for humanity.

During my refugee status last Summer, it truly felt like we were in a war. Fire was the enemy, firefighters were the soldiers going to battle, and people were streaming out of the areas escaping the violence. The air was acrid and yellow from the smoke, and there really was no where to go to escape the heat and ashes. A great unease blanketed the area as thousands and thousands of acres of beautiful forests were consumed.

In the midst of the evacuation centers, mushroom clouds and nervous people, the church I attend in the valley was laying stones for a labyrinth. The labyrinth had been a large project of the congregation for the last several years, and after great fundraising and design efforts, the stones had finally arrived. The ground consecrated and the construction began right as the fires started to rage. I found refuge in the local library, where I could sit in air conditioning and read. I walked to the church and watched the masons.

It was as if they were in a meditative trance as they tapped away, pouring concrete, laying stone, and measuring. What struck me was the silence which accompanied their work. Usually on construction sites, there is a radio blaring and jovial conversation. Not so with this project. What also struck me was the contrast of the masons activity with the turmoil that surrounded us in terms of sirens, smoke filled air, ashes falling and immense human suffering in evacuation centers just a few miles away.

There was so much loss of human endeavor, businesses, homes, churches, schools, but it seemed no matter what may come, this stone labyrinth would be finished and endure for generations to come as an invitation to develop one's inner strength, as a tool to connect with the Divine.

It struck me that the masons of old who laid the stones for the Cathedrals and labyrinths also completed their work in similar circumstances. No one can say that the Middle Ages were a calm period of history. This era endured climate change with a mini ice age, a plague that devastated almost half the population, endless wars, corruption, violence and displacement. And yet, the Middle Ages produced some of the most sublime art, architecture, music and poetry of all time. Most of the creative impulses of the age were put into the Cathedrals, which were seen as shrines of contemplation, renewal and inspiration. The Cathedrals were seen as the connector, the structure that offered direct access to the Spiritual world. If nothing else, one can see that the Cathedrals were great acts of will, it took immense levels of will and action to erect such structures.

Chartres Cathedral, Chartres France

During my last visit to Chartres in France, I had the luxury of spending several leisurely days in the Notre Dame Cathedral of that town. It is really the only way to experience this or any Cathedral because of the enormity of the structure and volume of art inside. I spent an entire afternoon climbing the North Tower, peering out of every window and looking at all the carvings which adorned every inch of the 113 Meter/371 foot tall structure. I wondered how did they get all this stone up this high back in the 12th and 13th centuries, and especially the tower which was finished in the early 1500's? 

The North Tower, Chartres Cathedral

View of the North Tower, Chartres Cathedral

What were they thinking, why did they do this, who were the people that made this amazing treasure? Nothing is known about the names or lives of the designers and builders of Chartres. Back then, all art was seen as coming from God, which is why we often do not have names associated with works of the period. What is known is that for generations, families of artisans would travel about, creating structures, carvings, sculpture and masonry that produced the amazing structures we have today. It took incredible will and actions to erect these gigantic buildings with rudimentary technology of the day, (mostly men, ropes, pulleys, chisels, hammers and horses.) These works were made with no electricity, no petroleum, no machines or computers. 

I began to see the beautiful Cathedral of Chartres as a pure act of will. I also began to see the cathedral as being built, actually for me and my generation. All the intricate carvings, windows and ornamentation was built for us modern humans. The cathedral was an act of will, planting the seeds of wisdom for the future.

The Knights Templar, a medieval order of Knights, were responsible for bringing many of the Black Madonna's from Palestine to Europe. They also helped to found and fund most of the magnificent cathedrals throughout the Continent. In addition to helping to fund the construction of Chartres in the 12th and 13th centuries, they also founded a mystery school at this cathedral. The Templars had many ideals, one of them was to create a culture that could contain the Christ. The school at Chartres was keenly aware that the age of wisdom was about to pass, that the old instinctive wisdom of the ages, the relationship between the Divine, Nature and Humanity was to change. Humanity was to enter into an age of freedom, where each person had to choose how to have a relationship with the Divine. The Templars knew this, and strove to honor freedom by funding the arts. They thought that the only way to invite people into a loving conscious and free relationship with the Divine was through beauty. The Templars planted such seeds with acts of will through funding artisans to create the art we enjoy today. The Templars put Black Madonna's in their shrines, cathedrals and houses as a part of this invitation into a loving relationship with the Divine. There are three Black Madonna's at Chartres, and the site has been associated with a Dark Goddess since the time of the Druids.

The Labyrinth at Chartres Cathedral

There is a great labyrinth at Chartres. It is the inspiration for the labyrinth at Grace Episcopal Church in St. Helena, nestled in the Napa Valley. Last Summer as I watched the masons silently go about their tasks in the midst of historic fires, massive displacements of wild life and people, I thought of the masons at Chartres, working away in the midst of plagues, political upheaval and a changing climate. 

What an incredible response to turmoil; to create art. To plant seeds of hope, of invitation to connect with the Divine. What an amazing act of Grace to not be distracted from what is good, beautiful and real in the midst of great suffering, great turmoil. I thought of those who graciously helped me through my refugee sojourn, people offering me housing, food, money and prayers. I thought of those who are being displaced by famine, war, terror and climate change drought. I thought of the wisdom of the writings of Steiner in the midst of war, and the response of those I read about in Testament of Youth, (to work for peace and reconciliation between enemies.) 

We are living in a time of great spiritual awakening, we are ascending to co-create in a conscious way with the Divine. The Divine is knocking at our door. The great task is to actually hear the knock with all the screaming and bombs exploding. Such distractions, such "noise" can muffle the sound of the invitation from the Divine.  We are at a great choice point in Human history. Do we allow ourselves to be distracted from goodness and the Divine because of turmoil? What seeds are we planing at this juncture in Human evolution? What do we pay attention to, and how do we act in response?

Some amazing seeds for the future are being planted now by gracious will. Amazing gracious will through hospitality, through charity, through recognizing our global human family and our responsibility to care for one another. 

I heard a moving speech by activists trying to transform hate and fear that terror engenders. A young woman spoke of the need for "revolutionary love." 

This is what the Black Madonna represents to me. With her large hands and dark skin, she invites us to use our will, our action to plant seeds of Divine harmony and revolutionary love to create a culture that can contain the Christ, a Beloved Community for our collective future. In essence, these Black Madonna's and the cathedrals that contain them are not only symbols of Amazing Grace, they are inviting us to create such Grace with our deeds.

Blessings on your journey!