Love in the Time of Apocalypse

Depending on your geographic location, it can be the beginning of week 2 and up of quarantine. Where I am at present, Southern California, Spring has gloriously descended upon us, oblivious to the drama that is unfolding throughout the world. Years ago, I was attending a Waldorf Conference in Los Angeles, where author and Vorstand member Virginia Sease was the keynote speaker. During the question and answer session following her talk, someone asked about the numbers of souls created in the beginnings of humanity. Sease responded that she had no answer regarding if there were a finite number of souls or souls being created continuously, but that the global population explosion was a sign that something very important was happening on Earth, and many souls wanted to be present for the event. Obviously, this statement stayed with me these many years as I wonder what the heck is going on, and why am I here. I half heartedly joke that I would like a copy of my karma meeting notes, because I really do not think I agreed to this, and would like either a refund or a chance at some different karma. Such is the response of a true hedonist, but hey, that is who I am on a deep level.

In my latest book on The Virgin of Guadalupe, I explore at length the Apocalypse and the ages ahead leading up to the union of humanity with the Mystic Lamb, the Christ. If we accept that there is a way to go ( in terms of time as well as consciousness and preparation,) before this event articulated in the Book of Revelation. The word Apocalypse means “lifting the veil.” It is significant to me that the virus that is causing all of humanity to “go to their rooms,”  is essentially “coming in the clouds.” By coming in the clouds, I mean through the air. Yes, humans through their activities such as coughing and spreading of droplets and such are adept at spreading, but in reality, it is through the atmosphere the contagion widens. 

Each and every hour, new numbers are broadcast through the media. Here in California, Orange County in particular, the population has settled into a new normal. Grocery stores all have uniform hours and sanitation practices. People are saying home, working in their gardens and cleaning out those closets so long ignored, many are working at their jobs through video conferences and email. I wonder as I walk to the grocery store, and to the skilled nursing facility where I can wave at my mother through her window, how long this relative calm will continue. As I walk the neighborhood to the local open space near the house I am staying, I am practicing what I call “The Pandemic Wave.” Where each encounter with an oncoming human is greeted with a hand up to wave and a swerve of six feet to either the left or right. Is this the end of the world? Is this the Apocalypse that was foretold nearly 2000 years ago on Patmos?

What are we supposed to do during the Apocalypse? For now, I keep up with floor exercises, walking and basic household chores. I cook as much as my host will allow me, and have for the most part refrained from binge eating with which I so desperately want to indulge. At present, access to hand sanitizer and toilet paper seem to be vexing the population. As the economy screeches to a standstill, jobless and infection rates soar, it is anyones guess as to what will happen regarding mortgages and rent. I have never understood what exactly banks were loaning specifically, because it seems to me it is basically computer entries of numbers and zeros, nothing really tangible, say like stacks of cash or bags of coins. I am blessed that my current housing is not dependent on rent, but this situation is temporary, what ever temporary means at this point in human evolution.

What is it we humans are supposed to be wanting to be present for that we flocked to incarnate at such high numbers? During a recent conversation with Nancy Jewel Poer, author, educator and all around amazing human, we pondered this question aloud. In Anthroposophical Cosmology, the planet earth is the “planet of love.” This notion seems at first glance rather insane. How could a planet inhabited by such violent and cruel history be a planet of love? The practices of humans throughout the ages, particularly under the guise of “religion” is the main reason for atheism. Randomness is taught at the basis of the natural world, and if there is a god, he or she is quite cruel and arbitrary to allow such suffering to exist. Anthroposophical Cosmology tells us that we are part of the great transition of a cosmos of wisdom transforming into a cosmos of love. Humanity was created to be a catalyst for this transition, and gifted freedom as our part to help co-create the new cosmos. Freedom is our gift and our task, freedom is the path to love.

To have love, one must be free. Love is a choice. Love is the one thing no person can make another feel or act upon. To be free, there must be a choice present. We have been given the great choice between love and evil. While we in my part of the world wait with bated breath, the very action with which the virus harms, we wait for the onslaught, while we witness the rising tide of infection across the states, the arrival of the Mercy Ship in Los Angeles Harbors equipped with hospital beds and professionals to help our health system cope with the impending crisis, powerless to stem it’s spread through anything other than sitting at home, social distancing, hand washing and sanitizer, while we wait the one choice we can freely exercise is to love. On the sidewalk leading to the grocery store, I read the chalk drawings that remind me of this deep truth, “there is no fear, only love.”

As my choice, I am offering to anyone who wishes, my labor of love during this time of trial in which nearly 8 billion souls incarnated to witness. This is a time of Apocalypse, we are having the veil lifted. Our consciousness is being awakened as never before, on a level that has caught the attention of every human on earth. If you would like an electronic or PDF copy of my Apocalypse Activity Workbook, please go to the Google Form link:

https://forms.gle/w4yYsFsSTPEhzVARA 

All I need is a name and email, and you will be sent a link to Dropbox. All I ask in return is that you make a donation to your favorite Church or faith group, to a local charity or medical support initiative, join in a daily prayer or meditation, reach out to someone you love. In a very profound way we are being forced to sit still and reflect, to give the planet a break for a while in terms of polluting the atmosphere, to recognize how deeply we are capable of loving both the stranger and the closest companion. 

I will not be sending out updates as frequently as before, so please make sure to subscribe to my blog, youtube channel, Facebook and Twitter to keep abreast of my work. 

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It is an easy choice to love you and to be grateful for the beauty that you contribute with your goodness. Blessings on your journey!

Stephanie Georgieff

Our Lady of Einsiedeln

Enjoy, and if you would like more information on this and other famous Black Madonnas, please read my book on the subject, The Black Madonna, Mysterious Soul Companion

For more information and ordering The Black Madonna Mysterious Soul Companion please visit the book launch page at 

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Blessings to you all! Stay well!

Stephanie

An Update during Trying Times

What a year it has been this week! I often have melodies running through my head which I consider “theme-songs” for whatever I am experiencing at the time. When I was in India, I kept hearing “Stranger in Paradise,” when I was in the Austrian Alps, I heard “Climb Every Mountain.” The Beatles famous song “Yesterday” has been my current companion these days, and quite poignant theme music (I would say,) for what we are all currently enduring. I have the pleasure of knowing and loving people in many countries and many states in the USA. It feels unique at this time in our collective evolution, knowing each and every person in my very wide circle is experiencing the same level of  collateral damage from this virus, the same uncertainty and tragedy that I personally am also enduring. I have loved ones diagnosed and in hospitals with the virus, stranded across the globe,  quarantined, on the front lines as Federal disaster responders and health care providers, displaced, newly unemployed, furloughed, home from university, cancelled vacations, meetings, events and so on. No one across the globe is having a “novel” experience as everyone, everyone is affected by this global challenge in the same way.

During times of great crisis, the role of the arts and culture is crucial to the survival of the human spirit. I am always moved by human creativity, particular in times of great trial. I marvel to the point of tears how music, poetry, drawing and story telling are methods by which people cope and maintain their humanity when everything around them is the most bleak. 

The Black Madonna has been a companion of challenged communities throughout the ages. These unique images of the Madonna have often been the symbol of solidarity, endurance and healing during the darkest days of human history. I will be doing my best to post more frequently on my Heart of the Black Madonna Facebook page, inspiring works of art that have sustained countless souls through the centuries of oppression, upheaval and plagues. The legends that surround these images I have always found significant, because they model grace under extreme pressure, endurance in the face of everything one can imagine - fire, floods, revolutions, war and disease. I will also be posting more content regarding these images on my Heart of the Black Madonna Youtube channel, and posting content on this Blog, so please make sure to subscribe or check out all of these sites during our shared confinement. The research and writing helps me to cope, and I also hope my discoveries and sharing can offer you all some respite from this difficult, unprecedented time.

The Heart of the Black Madonna Youtube Channel

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I gained a love for history, music and ancient Christian spirituality from my father and grandfather, both from the Byzantine Balkan tradition. The major quality of the people and culture from this region and tradition is resiliency, resiliency in the face of overwhelming challenges. The Christians from this region maintained culture under extreme oppression for over 500 years, first by the Ottomans and then by stifling post WW 1 and WW 2 regimes.  Many Black Madonnas come from this Byzantine tradition, and are symbols for us all on the triumph of human spirit during great trial. I hope you find my reflections, my explorations and research useful, and know I am thinking of you. 

Please take care of yourselves, your loved ones and your communities. You are not alone, reach out if you need anything, we are all in this together and everyone wants to do something to help. Ours is a time of great trial, and for the most part what I am witnessing, the everyday person is rising to the occasion with grace, dignity and charity, because as we know, the greatest of all things on this Earth is charity.

With love and gratitude for your goodness,

Stephanie Georgieff 

Our Lady of Einsiedeln

Prague was my staging point from which I traveled to see the Black Madonna Shrine visit in Einsiedeln. This historic Swiss hamlet is in the mountains near Zurich.  From Zurich, I took a special train to Einsiedeln, home of the famous Black Madonna of the Germanic peoples. Through out Switzerland, Germany and Austria she is a devoted symbol of the Divine, but the Black Madonna of Einsiedeln is not as well known internationally as the other Black Madonnas I had visited. I had seen pictures, but had no orientation of her other than my first studies in 2005. Again, I had to take a special funicular up the mountains to reach my destination. There are no cars allowed in Einsiedeln, and it seems that all that goes on in the town, are events and tourism in the church where the Black Madonna resides. She is called Our Lady of the Hermitage in Einsiedeln. When I exited the funicular, I felt like I was in a picture perfect Swiss village. It was an easy walk to the pensione.  

The next day, I walked about the picturesque town, went to the visitors information center, then on to the shrine. It is a magnificent Baroque Cathedral that features numerous frescos and period statues. The main sanctuary was light, white, pink and airy compared to the Gothic Cathedrals in other parts of the world. The tourist bureau representative told me not to miss the 4:30 pm rendition of Salvae Regina at the shrine. I dutifully went to the Black Madonna Lady Chapel in the nave of the Church at the appointed time and watched a choir of black robed priests file into the small structure. There is only room for about 20 people in the marble chapel housing Our Lady of Einsiedeln. Pilgrims are ushered out before the rendition so as to make room for the monks. The black robed brothers sang their hearts out to the small statue. In the following days, each time I went to hear this performance, the monks sang with equal enthusiasm at every service. It never seemed wrote to them. I was touched by their devotion to this image of the Black Madonna.

After enjoying the music, I wandered off to one of the many hiking trails around the shrine. What I found particularly interesting was that we were close to the place where the famous Renaissance alchemist and chemist Paracelsus was born. I expected Heidi from the stories of my childhood to frolic onto the path along the lush, mountain walkways. The farms and gardens were being prepared for the winter; the soil in the overturned gardens was almost black. I was literally at the top of this tier of Alps, and the view was spectacular as I was seeing a large valley with numerous lakes below. Such natural beauty, it fills the soul. No wonder the shrines are placed in such environments.

The legends that surround the Einsiedeln Shrine involve the ninth century St. Meinrad. The Abbess Hildegard of Zurich gave him a miracle-working statue of Mary. We do not know where the original statue came from other than from the Abbess. This statue apparently became black due to the exposure of candle smoke. St. Meinrad was known for his kindness and good works, and for some unknown reason, thieves murdered him. He actually had a premonition of how he would die. After his death, the statue was then placed in a chapel where it started to draw pilgrims. Scholars say that the statue on display now in the Lady Chapel in the nave of the Cathedral was probably carved in the fifteenth century. It was restored in the eighteenth century after the monks hid her from the invading Napoleonic soldiers. When the statue was restored and cleaned, the locals demanded that she be returned to her black color. The blackened Madonna had become precious to her devotees, and the restoration artists acquiesced. Now we see a very Black Madonna adorned with an elaborate dress, nestled in a floating cloud of gold. 

The main miracle associated with this Black Madonna is that when the original church was to be consecrated by the local bishop, apparently Christ himself appeared to consecrate the building before the bishop had arrived. Those who witnessed it saw Christ descend in the clouds filling the church with light. When the bishop came to consecrate the church, he heard a voice that told him the sacred deed had already been done. 

Adorning the walls of the shrine there are many pictures of the Black Madonna revealing herself to numerous people, always with golden clouds surrounding her. There is a magnificent gilt statue in front of the Shrine, of a Madonna standing on a crescent moon, with stars as her crown.  In the Baroque Cathedral of the shrine, the most precious jewel of the whole collection of art in the interior is still the Gnadenkapelle, the chapel where the little wooden statue of the Black Madonna, Our Lady of Einsiedeln, is venerated. This is where the monks sing Salve Regina daily. The Basilica was consecrated on May 3, 1735. The monastery was completed in 1770.

Einsiedeln is on The Camino de Santiago de Compostela. In Switzerland this route is called Jakobsweg or Via Jacobi. Starting in the ninth and tenth centuries, pilgrims coming from northern and Eastern Europe would cross into Switzerland at Lake Constance and journey through the spectacular Swiss countryside. Einsiedeln Abbey was one of the three traditional pilgrimage places on the Swiss leg of Jacobsweg. In the Middle Ages, the custom quickly grew of making the shrine of Einsiedeln the starting-point for pilgrimages to the Holy Land. Pilgrims would then return to the shrine afterwards to thank the Blessed Virgin for the graces and protection obtained during the journey. It’s fame was well documented at the time, receiving Papal recognition proclaimed in a letter by Pope Leo VIII in the year 948. Pope Leo’s letter states, “Our Lord Jesus Christ has raised up and consecrated a throne of grace for His Blessed Mother in the monastery in the forest. In this way Our Lord has given us to understand His desire to honor that corner of the world with the same dignity as the Holy Places in which He dwelt with his Blessed Mother. He has given us to understand, accordingly, that a pilgrimage to the Shrine in that dark forest is of the same value as the pilgrimages that are made to the Holy Land. In His Name I announce today a plenary indulgence for all debts due for the sins of pilgrims.”

Today, pilgrims can walk this leg of the Camino that leads them to the wondrous sights of the Alps. Since this aspect of the Camino is in Switzerland, the signs and mileages are well posted throughout the route with shelters along the way.  As I said before, what I found interesting was that this area of the world boasted the birthplace of the famed Renaissance Alchemist Paracelsus. Unfortunately all that one can see when you go to the supposed birth site is a patch of land. As I had been practicing Homeopathy for years, it was a bit of a vocational pilgrim discovery of my own in addition to the Black Madonna. Currently, The Einsiedeln Abby shrine boasts an annual pilgrimage census of over 200, 000 devotees.

It was truly a delightful stay, and the hiking around the shrine through the Alps seemed to add to the magic of the experience.

Our Lady of Montserrat

During the economic melt down of 2008, I decided if the world were actually coming to an end, I would rather be in a beautiful shrine. This video talks a bit about my adventures during those tense times

For more information and ordering The Black Madonna Mysterious Soul Companion please visit the book launch page at 

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For more information and ordering my newest book The Virgin of Guadalupe, Mysterious Messenger of Destiny, please visit the book launch page at

https://booklaunch.io/blackstefka/5e4ae69645c5d36f3dd2f92d

The Miraculous Eyes of Guadalupe

For more information and ordering The Virgin of Guadalupe, Mysterious Messenger of Destiny, please visit the book launch page at

https://booklaunch.io/blackstefka/5e4ae69645c5d36f3dd2f92d

For more information and ordering The Black Madonna Mysterious Soul Companion please visit the book launch page at 

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

To become a Patreon Supporter please visit 

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Be Well, this current crisis will pass, it will get worse before it gets better, and our hope is that we will come through it and be a better culture, more loving, more harmonious with nature and one another

Our Lady of Montserrat

In the Autumn of 2008, I had the privilege of visiting Montserrat. It was in the middle of the last economic meltdown.

After spending a lovely night in Barcelona, I took a special train to Monistrol, the town at the foot of the Montserrat Mountain range. I arrived at the funicular station, and stepped into the very large passenger car. The car whisked us up to the shrine on a single cable. I marveled at how much the landscape looked like the Southern Californian San Bernardino Mountains. So this was the land of our conquerors, of St. John of the Cross? The campus of the shrine was nestled in the Saw Toothed Mountains, or as the locals call them, Montserrat. What unnerved me was I could not see the cable in front of the car. My very first pilgrim experience with the Black Madonna was an exercise of trust that I would actually be able to get up the mountain. 

After the funicular docked at the top, I made my way into the hostel and got my room key. The room was open and airy, with a window that opened out to a breathtaking view of the mountains. Beneath my window was the main plaza leading into the cathedral. Tour busses filled with children came and went, leaving their giggling restless passengers to fill the air with noise. I was exhausted by my travels, took a shower and fell fast asleep. The next day I awoke early so I could attend mass.

The shrine housing the Black Madonna is a Romanesque church, with many ornate Gothic style carvings and paintings throughout the main sanctuary. The Black Madonna statue sits at the top of the apse of the cathedral above the main altar.  Large windowed chapels are on each side of the sanctuary. After services, I went through the walkway to get a closer look at the Lady of Montserrat; you could barely see her from the pews. To go through the walk way and ascend the many stairs, pilgrims have to enter an elaborately decorated stairwell. The walk way becomes progressively smaller, until one is able to proceed to a final stair case leading up to the silver paneled chamber of the Madonna. She was seated behind a glass shield, except for her right hand holding an orb, which protrudes through the protective barrier. Her hand pokes through the rounded glass shield, so you can touch or kiss it. I marveled how people walked silently in single file, touching the orb and then crossing themselves. I did the same, I then descended on the other side through a series of staircases and corridors, which led outside where I lit several candles and said prayers for my family, my nation and myself.

The Black Virgin of Montserrat was so little, a cheerful Black Madonna compared to some of the others, but I expected something at least life sized. Amazing, an entire Cathedral with her as its focus, and she did not look more than two and a half feet tall. What does she think about all day, how many thousand, million people have passed by this tiny statue that inspired a nation? Each evening I was there, I sat through evensong, where a choir of young boys chanted the office. In the mornings, I walked the paved road, which is part of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, to the different shrines where the original churches were, and where the statue was first discovered in 9^th Century.  Barefoot pilgrims walked past me, as did people crawling on their knees. Could it be that simple, to change your life, change the course of history, simply walk barefoot to a shrine, kiss a hand and be on your way?

The Shrine of Montserrat is near Barcelona in the Catalonian region of Spain. The history of the origins of this statue varies. Legend places her genesis at the hands of St. Luke the Evangelist and has her carried to the European continent by St. Peter. Art historians claim the statue is from the eleventh century. Other accounts tell us that the statue was a native of Jerusalem, and given to St. Etereo, who was a disciple of St. James. St. James is the martyr that inspired the formation of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. His bones are entombed in a great cathedral in the coastal city of Santiago de Compostela. St. Entero is thought to have brought the statue to Barcelona in the first Christian century. Some accounts place the statue as being placed in a cave the heart of Montserrat in 718, as the locals feared for her safety during the Saracen invasion at the time. The image seemed to disappear from the history books, but not from the imagination of the locals.

The next part of the narrative states that some time in the decades of the 800’s, a miracle occurred. Some sources say it happened in 808, others 888 and still others say 890. The legend states that a group of shepherds from the village of Monistrol were tending their flock at night in the foothills of Montserrat. The shepherds saw lights and heard singing coming from the mountains. This was witnessed for several nights in a row, prompting the shepherds to alert a local priest, who joined them on the following nights. He witnessed the same lights and sounds and reported the phenomena to the bishop of Barcelona, who later witnessed the miracle in person. A search party was launched, which found the statue of Our Lady of Montserrat in a cave on the side of the mountain.

The statue currently on view for the public may have been introduced in the twelfth or thirteenth century, and it’s Romanesque style is consistent with this theory. Some historians think this statue is of Byzantine origins, but the shrine and her faithful proclaim the St. Luke/St. Entero version

One interpretation of the statue is that she and the child are black due to the candle smoke from centuries of pilgrim devotion. If this were so, why is the color so even, and the rest of the statue, which is mostly covered with gilt, not darkened as well? I personally think the artists intent for the color was black, and there are no citations that I could find that said she was painted on a regular basis to get the current color. My favorite theory from scholars is that “perhaps the image was created black to represent some esoteric religious symbolism.” Ean Begg in The Cult of the Black Virgin states that Montserrat is among the top three best candidates (along with Montsegur, and Glastonbury) for the former sanctuaries for the Holy Grail.

What cannot be theorized in any way is the level of devotion this shine engenders. It is the site of a famous school of music that contributes to the daily offices and masses with uplifting choir performances. The vistas and trails are magnificent, and offer delights to all of the senses. A deep peace surrounds the entire complex with numerous chapels and locations for quiet reflection. While obviously catering to tourists, the managing Benedictines have created a place presenting fine Catalonian hospitality mixed in with ample opportunity for the nurturance of the soul. The shrine is an absolute epitome of simplicity and elegance nestled with a harmonious partnership with the natural world.

I was brimming with questions. What about the Grail Castle? There were so many threads weaving about my mind, the Grail, the Cult of Mary, the ages of Anael to Raphael, to Samael, how do they all relate, especially here at 4000 feet, literally on the razors edge of the “saw mountain?” As with the enigma of the Black Madonna, and the conflicting stories of origin, the mystery only seemed to deepen. Montserrat was the Madonna I was contemplating in 2005 during  a weekend retreat. She said to me then, “I am what I am, stop making me into something I am not.” Then whom are you dear Lady, where do you come from and what are you saying?

Excerpt form The Black Madonna, Mysterious Soul Companion by Stephanie Georgieff

Available through Barnes and Noble,  Amazon and Audible 

For ordering information please visit the Booklaunch Page 

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Confessions of a Late Nite Covid 19 Observer

Italians Making Music to Soothe One Another During Pandemic Quarantine

The first time I ever heard the Chinese Blessing "May you live in interesting times." I thought, the only people who would think that was a blessing are bored rich people. Apparently we are quite blessed, as the major adjective we could use to describe these days would be "interesting." Each and every time there is some sort of crisis, I wonder, what exactly is the spiritual world trying to convey to us? What is the deeper message?

When I watched the second plane crash into the World Trade Center Tower, my immediate thought was, wow, all the centers of American imperialistic power and materialism have been challenged; the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. It seems I was right in the message, which was inflicted by a terrorist group, to "send a message" to America to stop the oppression of the military and economic injustice. Unfortunately, on a large scale the message was not understood, there was no self reflection as to how such a tragedy happened, and we really did not learn anything of substance. We were told to go shopping and that others hated our "way of life." 

Years ago, my priest at the time and I were discussing the state of the world. She remarked that we were really mimicking the Roman Empire. In the hey day of Rome, which lead to the downfall of the mighty empire, the practice was "bread and circus." The emperors thought if you entertained people through circus and spectacle, and made sure their bellies were full, you could get the population to go along with just about anything. In times of great crisis, the emperors hosted elaborate pageantry and feasting. In our age of endless internet access to entertainment and junk food, it seems the technique is still in practice. Entertain people, fill their bellies with cheap fast food and snacks and it really does not matter what the government is doing. So successful was this technique, that a mesmerized nation elected a taco bowl eating game show host to lead the oldest and most powerful democracy on earth. The "leader" essentially entertains while our institutions, civil rights and environment are being destroyed. No problem really, he continually entertains, distracts while our bellies are full, the stock market is booming, people have jobs to buy entertainment and junk food, all is well. Those suffering unspeakable horrors at the hands of this regime are simply either fake or irrelevant. 

Founder of Rudolf Steiner College in California and Christian Community Priest Carl Stegmann wrote a seminal book The Other America, outlining the deep mystical purpose of the United States of America in human evolution. His less known, but in my opinion most important work The Third Call explores the deep responsibility to live up to our purpose as Americans. Stegmann states that we have had two calls to step up, and if the next call is ignored, the purpose of this grand social experiment may not be fulfilled.

The three values that define the United States of America are Freedom, Equality and Community (formerly known as fraternity.) How can we be a community of free and equal people? Through deep, universal compassion, kindness and agape (universal love that Christ implores us to exhibit.) The United States values for the first time since the Christ Impulse in Palestine, were working to institute human dignity to all people regardless of ethnicity, religion, economic status and later race and gender

Since the 1960's there have been emerging movements in this particular aspect of human evolution, civil rights, women's rights and the rights of nature. Stegmann says that one of the greatest challenges to America is her focus on materialism. In fact, the spiritual task of the Americas is to transform matter, to recognize the spirit behind matter. Not only is America to do this, but the Nation and her people  are to serve as a model for all of human civilization as to the nature of the true community, of free and equal members of a human family, and to put the proper value on the material world. We need the material world, but to elevate it's riches in value at the expense of our neighbor and the health and well being of the earth is not the proper relationship to instill in this arena.

For decades we have had opportunities, calls to live up to the purpose of our times. We have had prophets such as Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr, Rachel Carson and others sounding the alarm, speaking up, leading entire movements mainly to guide humanity to live in a more equitable, just and harmonious with the planet way of life. But the adversarial powers are quite adept, mainly through bread and circus, to lull humanity into complacency as well as denial of the dignity of the other as well as our dependency on nature for our survival. How can we live without petroleum or pesticides? What about the jobs? My question is always, (which never gets answered) there is no economy or jobs without the environment.

I participated in a United Methodist Conference where there was a petition to add the phrase "explore more environmentally sound grounds keeping at churches." This was simply a suggestion to churches to see if there were less toxic ways to fertilize the grass and control weeds around church properties.  The purpose behind this initiative was to model responsible stewardship of the planet. We are Christians, we need to set examples of responsible harmonious living. I stood up and told of the dangers of pesticides, of how properly applied pesticides were killing farmworkers children, causing birth defects and polluting ground water. I ended my pitch with a statement from Sr Miriam Threse McGillis of Genesis Farm, how can we teach our children about God if we baptize them with polluted water? An elderly gentleman got up and said, "In a perfect world this business of environmentally sound lawn care is great, but if we start doing that then we will all pay $8 for a bottle of ketchup." Apparently being a Christian and loving one's neighbor was eclipsed by expensive condiments. As infuriating as his comments were, he was really embodying the deep value system of materialistic culture. The death and maiming of others is all ok as long as prices go down and those doing the destruction have jobs.

The current virus pandemic is interesting on several levels. The fact that it affects the lungs for me as a practitioner of Asian medicine, is particularly meaningful. Lungs in this paradigm are the house of the Coporeal Spirit. The Corporeal spirit refers to the the body, so it is the spirit of the body. The fact that the virus has been spread through the air, globally is also interesting. The emotion of the lungs is grief. While the world rages to make the economy, there is I feel a deep underlying grief that we are killing our planet. Our children are crying out to us to stop it, and we make fun of them or ignoring them because they apparently do not understand the realities of life. Our youth are full of grief for their uncertain futures and the loss of their innocence. All wars going on the planet at present have their basis on power over petroleum.

In all times of crisis, the time is also one of opportunity.

For years we have been begging governments to do something about dependence on petroleum. Climate change is a reality, and yet those in power work hard to distract from and undermine information and solutions to the problem. The petroleum causes the pollution in the air, the damage is affecting our atmosphere. There are no borders when it comes  to atmosphere, it is something we share with everyone from every nation, religion, gender. Since the outbreak of this virus and the global response, factories which pollute have been shut down, air travel is down, and air quality has improved. 

Everything about the current rush towards nationalism, separation and tribalism has been challenged by this virus. The virus is inspiring nations to work together, for people to care for one another, for  governments to look at how economic policies affect the most vulnerable amongst us.

Our dependence on technology to communicate has caused great isolation. Now, families will have to sit home together, talk to one another. We may need to read to one another, and enjoy tech free books to pass the time in isolation. We may have to cook and eat at home since usual fast food options may not be available.

The virus is illustrating the deep grief that is associated with destroying the planet and separating us from other nations, classes, religions, our family and those who are different.

There is a reason Christ spread his message through healing. When one is sick and in pain, one pays attention. We are physical beings, we experience life through our physical bodies. When we are in pain and heal, the opportunity is for deep life lessons.

The virus is affecting us in our bodies, sickening us in our bodies and will need to be healed in our bodies. The virus is harming our bodies to make us pay attention. The body is material, but also has a spiritual component.  One is not completely healed if the body without the spirit being healed. One can not heal in isolation, one is truly healed in context of the whole, body, mind, spirit and community.

No matter how we try, we can not separate ourselves from either the planet or one another. We are completely interdependent, we actually need one another.  We can only heal our bodies fully if we heal the planet and make sure our neighbor is well. We are actually our brother and sisters keeper. We are the planet's keeper. It is my hope that this opportunity that the planet has offered us, through this tiny virus affecting our atmosphere and lungs, that is crashing an economy that harms the vulnerable and the environment, that we look at ways to create harmonious ways to coexist with one another as well as with the planet. 

Be still and know I am God, I will be exalted in the Earth  Psalms 46:10

Divinity is aimed at Humanity 

                                                            Hildegard of Bingen

We have to sit still, we can not be entertained now, movies, sports, theme parks and talk shows have been cancelled. We can not go anywhere, we must be still and know there is something deeper to our lives, more powerful in the universe and that we are all connected. There is no bread and circus for the coming weeks. There is only now, only one another, only our thoughts and reflections. The virus is our opportunity to choose to live, the way we are living now is not conducive to life. The panic we witness is evidence that we do wish to live, and we can only live if we pay attention, if we love one another and we are responsible and caring for the planet.

Divinity thought enough of Humanity to create a universe for us to inhabit, Divinity is exalted on the Earth. How do we recognize this? By our deeds.

As I witness Italians singing to one another from their balconies to soothe one another during the crisis, I feel there is a deeper calling to the better nature of Humanity, that we recognize the Divinity in all of creation, and in everyone whom we meet, and act accordingly.

22 Days Left For the March Special

Dear Friends,

I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and happy these days. I wanted to remind you that there are 22 days left to take advantage of the March Special. If you order a copy of The Virgin of Guadalupe, Mysterious Messenger of Destiny from Barnes and Noble by April 1st, I will send you a not yet released audio copy of the book as a token of my gratitude. Not only will you receive basically a two for the price of one benefit, you will be helping me to reach my goal of 500 copies sold so I can qualify for shelf space and author events at North American Barnes and Noble stores. 

All you have to do to receive this benefit is to email your receipt, or a pix of your receipt if you purchase in store to blackstefka@gmail.com

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-virgin-of-guadalupe-mysterious-messenger-of-destiny-stephanie-georgieff/1136412347

Here is the Book Launch Page if you would like further information 

https://booklaunch.io/blackstefka/5e4ae69645c5d36f3dd2f92d

You are most welcomed to spread the word to your friends and relatives, and thanks for your continued prayers, they are most appreciated!

Please take extra care of yourselves these days and know you are valued !

Sincerely,

Stephanie Georgieff

Our Lady of Jasna Gora AKA Czestochowa

I have read that when we look at something, the action actually alters the molecular activity of the object.  If this is true, what sort of transformation has occurred with this image, which has sustained so many people during extremely difficult times? And, how did this mysterious Black Madonna relate to the others? There did not seem to be a Templar or Grail connection anywhere with this Madonna. What was she about anyway?

Our Lady of Czestochowa in the Jasna Gora Shrine has a similar narrative to many of the other well-known Black Madonnas. While science and history say this picture probably dates to the fifth or sixth century AD because of it’s Byzantine style, legend attributes St. Luke as the artist. He is thought to have painted the Virgin as she sat for her portrait, on the very table she and the Holy Family ate upon for meals. In the year 326, St. Helen the mother of Constantine, located the Icon in Jerusalem and brought it back to Constantinople. It remained for centuries in the possession of the Emperor’s home. Bestowed to the Princess of Ruthenia, (an ancient kingdom located in what is now Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine and Belarus,) the Icon was brought to Poland in 1382 through the efforts of St. Ladislaus of Opole. The Saint had discovered it in a castle at Belz. Since then, there have been many miracles associated with the image.

As with all legends, the symbolism of the Black Madonna of Czestochowa is very deep. Deciphering the reality of the history of the image, anything is possible. I personally like to believe the more amazing legends. One of the more popular narrative states that in 1430, several renegade Hussites stole and vandalized the image, breaking it into three pieces. One of the vandals drew a sword to slash the Lady’s face. He successfully inflicted two gashes. After the third attempt, he fell to the ground writhing in pain and died. Legend states that the painting miraculously repaired itself from the broken pieces, but the facial scars remained. The legend goes on to say all attempts to cover the scars have been unsuccessful. After painting over the scar, the gashes miraculously reappear the next day. Scholars state that the image was painted anew in 1434 after the damage, and the restoration artists tried to restore it as closely as the original had been, including the slashes on her cheek.

This Madonna repels invaders, apparently scaring away besieging Saracens during her tenure in Constantinople. In 1655, a small group of Polish defenders was able to drive off a much larger army of Swedish invaders from the sanctuary with the help of Our Lady of Czestochowa. She was also instrumental in repelling Russian invaders through an apparition at the River Vistula in 1920. Her shrine is decorated with numerous crutches and canes of those who came to her seeking healing, and she is also a favorite Icon to appeal to for those who are trying to get pregnant.

The real miracle power of Our Lady of Czestochowa is that she has given spiritual strength and comfort to millions of her devoted pilgrims, in and outside of Poland for nearly 800 years. As this image has the title of official protectorate of the Polish nation, Pope John Paul II, as well as Lech Walesa of the Solidarity Movement have both venerated her. On the feast day of the Assumption of the Virgin, which occurs yearly on August 15, all of Poland goes on a pilgrimage to the shrine. During the desperate last years of the Soviet empire, the Solidarity Movement used her as a symbol of hope and endurance. Walesa had a vision of her during one of his prison stays, and dedicated the movement to her honor. He wore her medal over her heart, unless giving interviews to the western press, when he would remove the image. I am not sure why Walesa did this, but otherwise, he dedicated his life and his actions to her.

I was struck by the Poles’ fervent desire to worship during the dark days of Communism, and how the Solidarity Movement dedicated itself to complete openness. Members posted their meetings and contact information on local bulletin boards. They did not feel they had anything to hide, and refused to live their lives in fear or secrecy. As I saw pictures of the crowds during those heady days, I felt the world could learn so much from these people who endured the brunt of two world wars, the horrors of the Holocaust, decades under communist rule, and yet maintained their dignity and courage. Was it this Black Madonna, with her seeming connection to the vast cosmos, her scarred face, and her endurance that gave the people their strength?

This is an excerpt from The Black Madonna, Mysterious Soul Companion by Stephanie Georgieff, if you would like to read more about The Black Madonna, please visit the Book Launch Page and learn more about how to get a copy for yourself!

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