 DEAR FRIENDS, PLEASE JOIN ME THIS SUNDAY - LIVE AT THE CHURCH OR ONLINE VIA ZOOM! When and Where: Sunday, March 26th, 10:30AM Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine 86 Court Street, Castine, Maine 04421 Or Online Via Zoom. "Mystic, Mystery, Mysticism; It’s For Us All" Rev. Maya Massar, Worship Leader Colleen Fitzgerald, Musician Click HERE to download an order of service. “Most of us are familiar with renowned Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist, Carl G Jung, as the founder of analytic psychology, introvert and extrovert personality archetypes and the concept of the collective unconscious. But what many do not know about Jung is that he was also something of a mystic. . .” Is Ecstatic Mysticism only for a chosen few? . . a thing of the past? How far “off our rockers” do we need to be to embrace truly mystical experiences - and how might they be useful to us now? Join us for an exploration of Mysticism and it’s potential relevance in our lives today. Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81325690149?pwd=V2pMOXVmckNReklWQTZFaU9qSDlWZz09 Meeting ID: 813 2569 0149 Passcode: 226744 One tap mobile +13126266799,,81325690149#,,,,*226744# US (Chicago) +16469313860,,81325690149#,,,,*226744# US Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 813 2569 0149 Passcode: 226744  The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine, Maine, welcomes EVERYONE. Regardless of your religious affiliation, regardless of your sexual preference or identification, of your age or ancestry, your financial or political status: YOU ARE ALWAYS INVITED. No specific belief is required, other than that you be open and kind to others, whatever their path may be. For my religious friends, you may find a sermon and discussions at a UU Church lacking in God-talk. For others, you may find there is too much of it. But know this: WHATEVER is true for you, whatever you hold most sacred, or if you are questioning your beliefs, you are still and always WELCOME. I hope to see you there, in body or virtually! Much Love, Maya And if you are curious to learn a bit more. . . There are jokes about Unitarian Universalists not knowing what they believe, some of which may offer a giggle . . . but contrary to not knowing, most UU's, while having individual experiences of their faith, have a deep commitment to their faith. You might be curious to take a look at what we call THE 7 PRINCIPLES. Here, for those who might be curious, are the 7 Principals at the center of Unitarian Universalism:
Where many churches' source of spiritual guidance may be the Bible alone, UU's access spirituality from many sources. Here are the SIX SOURCES UU congregations affirm and promote:
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Today, I share this wise and lovely poem by Grace Butcher, LEARNING FROM TREES. It is published in the author's book: Child, house, world You can support the poet and buy the book here: https://a.co/d/5GSFjWq  Learning from Trees By Grace Butcher If we could, like the trees, practice dying, do it every year just as something we do-- like going on vacation or celebrating birthdays, it would become as easy a part of us as our hair or clothing. Someone would show us how to lie down and fade away as if in deepest meditation, and we would learn about the fine dark emptiness, both knowing it and not knowing it, and coming back would be irrelevant. Whatever it is the trees know when they stand undone, surprisingly intricate, we need to know also so we can allow that last thing to happen to us as if it were only any ordinary thing, Leaves and lives falling away, the spirit, complex, waiting in the fine darkness to learn which way it will go.  But, you may say, it is spring, and we are just now turned towards the light, and growth and newness in the world - why would I practice DEATH?? And what if I told you that the most ALIVE people I know are those who have befriended - or at least thought deeply and openly about - their own deaths? What if it is the very fear and abhorrence of death we walk with that keeps us from true presence in the moments of our lives? What if - as I have seen it do - practicing death opened a doorway through which some of the anxiety we carry might flow downstream, away from our tired, battered bodies, hearts and minds, and a new light or sprout or hope could grow where the battering winds of fear have been stilled? I invite you to consider, that is all. Consider your relationship to what awaits us - every one of us. Shall you face it covering your eyes and ears? Or might you find the courage to peer into the leaves that fall, even now, whatever stage of living or dying you are at, off of your own tree-body? Because I would almost promise that the green that grows within your heart will blossom on the other side of fear, like the magnificent blessing it is; and become a vibrant gratitude for the precious moments you still have, and an ever-growing peace around grief, loss, and the friend you once feared; your dear, impending death. With Love and a wish for presence in all your moments, Maya  Book: The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying By Sogyal Rinpochet Movie: Griefwalker And more, on the RESOURCES page.  P.S. COMING SOON. . . I will be starting up my in-person, open monthly gathering: Dancing with Death; Befriending Death and Dying as a Path to Living Life Fully Grieving and Loss, Logistics of Dying; Art and Movement based Activities; Neuroscience of Fear and Helpful Somatic Healing Techniques; Open Conversation - Share Your Thoughts in Safety; Each Month, a Peaceful Practice for Dying Exercise.  Wishing Everyone a Blessed Spring Equinox. As the season turns ever so gently away from winter's chill in our Northern hemisphere, we find our faces lifting toward the warmth of sunshine, and as we drink it in, and let our hearts fill with the newly brightening light, we WELCOME SPRING! Hello hope of grass and buds. Hello baby animals, welcome back, birdsong and the scent of moist earth. . . hold on, friends, it is all unfolding, ever so silently, ever so secretly perhaps, but the season is opening its heart to us. . . patience, patience, patience. . . Much Love, Maya   |
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