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 by Avalon dos Santos
Caroline Myss gave a 3 day workshop at the Findhorn community in Scotland.
Entering the Castle 1
Saturday, 6 October 2007
Today 330 people of whom 67% were first time guests to Findhorn, gathered in the Universal Hall for this Caroline Myss event. Caroline opened by taking us through her awakening with Saint Teresa of Ávila which resulted in her most recent book, Entering the Castle.
With wisdom, depth and her no-nonsense approach, she began with how we descend into a package: a body, a family, a religion etc. The essence of the mystical journey is coming to know God, outside of that package. It takes us out and puts us back with a completely different perspective. This path is always met with fear. Fear of being humiliated, losing our security, becoming poor and being alone. Our greatest fear of all, meeting God and truth, and knowing there is no turning back.
A mystic is someone who has been called to experience the nature of God. How can we surrender to grace? To release the need for approval and the mental reasoning that runs our lives?
Caroline went on to give an overall summary of the Seven Mansions that Teresa of Ávila wrote about in her book The Interior Castle, which work along side the seven chakra systems that Myss explores in Anatomy of the Spirit.
The Seven Mansions of the soul is a process of deep self-examination, which we will commence over the next two days.
And with that, she tucked us in with a prayer and urged us to look at the clear, star-filled sky and remember that amidst all that is, there is only divine intimacy.
Entering the Castle 2
Sunday, 7 October 2007
 Caroline opened the morning emphasising the importance of true prayer in our lives. It's role is to shut down the five senses, enabling us to enter our castle or soul and reach the deep, quiet space within us. She explained that in order to reach our highest soul potential (which we all long for), we have to be willing to dismantle our fear of humiliation or we will never find our treasure.
Caroline went on to lead two group meditations during the day, where we journeyed into the First Mansion. She described it as an excavation of the self where we meet our demons and reptiles. The more truth we see about ourselves, the more truth we see around us and therefore the more perceptive and intuitive we become.
We visited a number of rooms where we were asked thought/heart-provoking questions. We then spilt into small groups to explore and share amongst us.
Caroline discussed various topics such as humility and our fear of being humiliated. To be humble is to be graced, knowing that the things of this world are not how we measure ourselves. She spoke of divine chaos and personal chaos. We examined our addictions to pain and other ways we create chaos in our lives in order to hide from the truth.
 James Finley made a guest appearance in the afternoon. James will be holding a follow-on retreat where he will be delving into the teachings of Saint John of the Cross, based upon the work of this mystic's spiritual companion, Saint Teresa of Avila. Today, however, he read a piece from New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton. With humour and great insight, James explored seven common themes that run through the writings of many mystics. Please visit www.contemplativeway.org for more information.
The day came to a close with a prayer from Saint Teresa of Avila: Let nothing disturb the quiet of this night.
But before the still night settled, the evening unfolded with Mari Hollander giving a presentation on the Findhorn community which was followed by music, circle dancing and laughter.
Entering the Castle 3
Monday, 8 October 2007
 The final day of the workshop focused on the Second and Third Mansions, which we explored in meditations and sharing. Purification leads to illumination and finally union. The first three Mansions deal with Purification. As Caroline puts it, 'in the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Mansion, God comes for you.'
The Second Mansion is about Discernment, judgement and the need for soul companion relationships. She described Discernment as the ability to see both sides clearly and not take a position. Seeing the divine in God's set up. Where as judgement is looking for one's own position and the need to be right. If I am judging, I am being judged. She described a soul companion as someone who can take your burden when it is too much for you to bear and send it grace and unobstructed prayers. We all need this support on our journey.
The Third Mansion is called the Defeat of Reason. Humankind is addicted to finding a reason for everything eg: 'There must be a reason why I am ill, a reason why I met you, a reason why I am wounded etc.' We are stuck in narcissism. In this Mansion we need to ask ourselves why do we want reasons and proof of outcomes before we do anything?
 The journey is not about leaving this world we live in and living in a monastery, it's about changing our position of power in it. Getting to the point where the world doesn't enrage and scare us anymore and we can see it with discernment.
Caroline concluded that we are all much greater and brighter than we could possibly imagine and quoted from Teresa of Ávila, 'Don't be guilty of hoping for too little'.
She received a standing ovation and the seminar ended with a celebratory meal.
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Reprinted from The Findhorn Global Network with permission. Photos by Sverre Koxvold
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November 9 - December 1
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