Podbean podcasting news

Latest 'episode' up. This is the first 'round table' character discussion for this UK based 'Chuck' podcast. Shirley, Adrienne and I [Philippa] discuss the characters of Bryce and Jill.

http://chuckgeekuk.podbean.com/

Next time - Chuck's stable of ho's!

UK 'Chuck' Podcast!!

http://chuckgeekuk.podbean.com/

Darshan with Mother Meera, Bristol

Reflections on my encounter on Wednesday 10th February

I opted for the 10 a.m. Darshan in Bristol. I was planning to do some shopping or see a film afterwards, but the weather had other plans. I deliberately didn't read about Mother Meera beforehand; I wished to go with no pre-conceptions. I'd heard from others that they had found the experience positive.

The venue was a converted church about halfway up Park Street in Bristol. I arrived in good time, had my name checked off the 'guest' list and went in. The church was constructed somewhere around the Georgian era and has a balcony going around three sides of the central worship area. On the East wall is a carved and painted tryptych with Christ in the act of ascending in the middle, bordered by sculpted & painted Corinthian columns, plus two angels in separate bays to each side. The colours are mostly muted shades of brown and red with gold leaf highlighting the halos; so much so that the paintings almost look like marquetry work.

We were directed to sit in silence with footwear removed and placed under the seats. We waited in quiet and almost silence for about 40 minutes or so until 10 a.m. Right on time, we were directed to rise and Mother Meera came in. I heard definite, firm and fairly quick footsteps behind me before she swept past, wearing a glorious red, orange and gold sari. She seated herself on the stage in a chair provided.

The Darshan proceeded with people being asked out in rows. Each row of people knelt on a carpet down the central aisle. Anyone who could not or had difficulty kneeling was allowed to stand until joining their alloted place on stage. Those who could not kneel at this stage could also stand and were provided a chair to sit for the actual Darshan. Anyone who would not be able to get up the stairs would receive Darshan at the end, with Mother Meera coming to them.

So, people knelt or sat in front of Mother Meera in turn, bowing their heads. She gently placed her fingertips on each head, around the temple area. After about seven seconds or so, she withdrew her hands. At this point each person could look up at Mother Meera [and she would look at them]. The gaze was longer than in 'polite conversation' and wordless, about seven seconds yet again. Try it with someone you know; it's longer than it sounds.

After about 45 minutes or so, it was the turn of my row. I went and knelt on the central carpet. By this time, I was calm and fairly peaceful within and just waiting to see what - if anything - happened for me. Mother Meera's touch was gentle and confident, nurturing. As for looking at each other, she saw me. Complete, dispassionate and with loving acceptance. If you've seen 'Avatar', my perception is that the gaze of the Na'avi and their, 'I See You' is intended to be like this.

As I made my way back down the hill after-wards, the snow started! Since snow on the Mendip hills between Bristol and Glastonbury on untreated roads has proved a problem to traffic in the past, I decided that I'd rather get home while I could.

My bad

Apologies. We've had this thing called Christmas and New Year, then a whole heap of cold white stuff decided to fall out of the sky. I will post a proper blog soon, promise!

Coming soon - UK based 'Chuck' podcast! Audio blogging courtesy of Podbean.

Go find some historic audio files of varying quality at [chuckgeekuk] on Podbean.

Now back to your regularly scheduled programming...

Remembrance Sunday

The U.K. remembers:-

My late father was a Squadron Leader in the RAF Regiment and my late mother [amongst other things] was stationed as a WAAF officer at Biggin Hill during the Battle of Britain.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8348225.stm

'Chuck'

Just in case you've been hiding under a rock, here's a television programme to perk up your spirits and make you smile:-

AWESOME tribute to 'Chuck'!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFUA7fOM8bM

http://chucktv.net/

Series 1 has been out on DVD for some time. Series 2 is out NOW in the UK!
Ask Santa to pop a copy in your holiday stocking!

How can you not have awesome with Adam 'the man they call Jayne' Baldwin in anything?!!?

St Margaret's chapel and Magdalene Almshouses, Glastonbury

In the small market town of Glastonbury, there are a surprising number of things to see and visit. One of these is an old Medieval chapel and Tudor almshouses.
The current chapel was built in 1444, though the site appears to pre-date that. Queen Margaret of Scotland set up a number of hospitals in England. Most of them seem to have been dedicated to Mary Magdalene. She is the patron saint of lepers [amongst other things]. It's likely that men coming back from the Crusades with unknown diseases and conditions that were either leprosy or similar would be looked after in places like this one in Glastonbury. The monks from the nearby Abbey looked after 13 ill or destitute men at the Magdalene hospital until the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. After that, the two rows of individual Almshouses were constructed and housed ten men. The site has a Christian foundation, but it is of the sort of spirit which welcomes all.

In 1993, a new ecumenical group of Christians came together to make a Celtic style Community,after the model of places like Iona. The centre point of the day was open and welcoming prayers for about 20 minutes at 12 o'clock. We took on the WWII silent minute which Churchill initiated [inspired by Glastonian Wellesley Tudor Pole, http://wellesleytudorpole.com/] and held a minute's silence for peace at the start of each service. I enjoyed going; because it gave me an oasis of silence and quiet in the middle of the day, got me out of the house, got me away from 'me' and there was fellowship afterwards. I became part of the community formally a little later in 1993.
I learned a lot; how to create and 'hold' sacred space, how to plan services, practised conflict resolution, worked in and with community, learned deep listening, met people of most faiths [and none], heard stories of journeys of faith, worked on improving community relations [with each other and the wider world]. It was - although I didn't realise it at the time! - a perfect nursery preparing me for the Interfaith seminary and ordination.

I still lead prayers as often as I can. Just last week we had the entire first year of a local school through the doors to learn about the history of the site and to get a taste of prayer and especially silence. People from all over the world find this little chapel. Some stay for five minutes, some for longer. They sit, kneel, stand or even lie down in the chapel. Some light a candle or leave a written prayer; some light incense. It is a haven for people to put aside the world and find stillness, however that is for them. I have been privileged and deeply touched to read some of the testimonies of some who write of finding solace, or re-connection with the God of their understanding, or healing [or all three!]. All that we do is provide the space as often as we can. Indeed, volunteers sympathetic to Christianity are always welcome to open the site to the public. I look forward to the future of this site with hope!