Dame Julian of Norwich....in a nutshell; May 8
Julian of Norwich lived a life that was both interactive and solitary, priviledged and humble. She was a mystic, lived in a hermitage and had influence on so many people, one can hardly count. Born in 1342 she had some privelege and probably had some schooling at the local Benedictine convent. While she referred to herself as 'unlettered' she wrote with wisdom and an other earthly knowledge that she said was imparted to her while she was gravely ill age age 30. When she recovered she wrote of her experiences/revelations (which she called 'showings'). Mysitcal experiences have a profound effect - on you and those around you!
Mystics are funny people indeed. They live within their bodies, but often outside of them. They have visions, insight, particular gifts. Many of them were misunderstood in their own lifetimes, while others had the respect of princes and paupers alike.
Some time after the revelations she received, she chose the life of an anchoress...... she was anchored in one place. A fairly modest 'cell' built on the side of a church. There was a window into the church through which she could receive communion and another window on the other side where people could could call to her and seek her counsel and comfort.
The Trinity was revealed to her as Maker, Keeper and Lover...... pretty progressive, eh?
From Julian herself:
"And in thie [the Lord] showed me something small, no bigger than a hazelnut, lying in the palm of my hand, as it seemed to me, at itwas as round as a ball. I looked at it with the eye of my understanding and thought: What can this be?..........In this little thing I was three properties. The first is that God made it, the second is that God loves it, the third God preserves it. But what did I see in it? God is the Creator and the protector and the lover." from Showings.
Look into the mystics, look into the infinite within the smallest thing. "Google" Julian (sometimes called Dame Julian) of Norwich. You may never be able to judge a book by its cover again!
Mystics are funny people indeed. They live within their bodies, but often outside of them. They have visions, insight, particular gifts. Many of them were misunderstood in their own lifetimes, while others had the respect of princes and paupers alike.
Some time after the revelations she received, she chose the life of an anchoress...... she was anchored in one place. A fairly modest 'cell' built on the side of a church. There was a window into the church through which she could receive communion and another window on the other side where people could could call to her and seek her counsel and comfort.
The Trinity was revealed to her as Maker, Keeper and Lover...... pretty progressive, eh?
From Julian herself:
"And in thie [the Lord] showed me something small, no bigger than a hazelnut, lying in the palm of my hand, as it seemed to me, at itwas as round as a ball. I looked at it with the eye of my understanding and thought: What can this be?..........In this little thing I was three properties. The first is that God made it, the second is that God loves it, the third God preserves it. But what did I see in it? God is the Creator and the protector and the lover." from Showings.
Look into the mystics, look into the infinite within the smallest thing. "Google" Julian (sometimes called Dame Julian) of Norwich. You may never be able to judge a book by its cover again!
posted by Joanna Depue | 10:39 PM
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