How did THIS happen? I've become very drawn to Our Lady of Guadalupe. The Holy Mother. The Virgin who appeared in Mexico on a December morning and caused roses to bloom in December. Occasionally, I read in the newspaper that she's been spotted in a tortilla. Now that's actually kind of cool.
Yep, that one.
I'm not now and have never been Catholic. My Protestant upbringing didn't put a whole lot of emphasis on Mary. Once a year she got some play, but I certainly never gave her a second thought, and actually found it a little odd that people prayed to her. Eventually, I gave it more of a "Yeah right, a virgin. Is that really necessary?" I abandoned that whole view of the world a long time ago.
Give me the powerful demon killer, mother bear Durga!
Give me the irrepressibly beautiful earth mother Bhuvaneshvari.
Give me the cosmic lover Parvati.
But . . . Our Lady? ANYBODY but HER!
A funny thing happened on the way to the Feminine Divine.
I now see it--not just in the many-armed Goddesses of my yoga pantheon comfort zone, not just in the faces and hearts of the extraordinary women I call family, friends, or the one's who so sweetly come to my class.
One day, against all odds.
One day, Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared . . . in my mind's eye (you know, the 3rd one) . . . and my heart melted.
In her turquoise and gold robe, and surrounded by a golden aura, she suddenly came to life, and stepped in line with the others, empowered and beautiful.
She just seemed kind . . . even though she only has two arms.
Isn't she pretty?
