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May 08, 2008
Aha! Norwich cuts the mystic mustard!
I just wanted to remember Julian of Norwich today - the greatest English mystic, and apart from Alan 'Aha' Partridge and mustard, Norwich's finest export.
It's her day in the church calendar - remembered as the 14th century anchoress who gave the world that most famous of lines,'All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.'
She is famous for her '16 revelations of Divine love' - the first book written by a woman in the English language. It's a book of visions, which she had in bed, which is terribly British. We're not told if there was also a cup of tea to hand, and a digestive - but surely there was?
She's good company, being a happy and optimstic soul. And if you could be happy and optimistic amid the social nightmare that was 14th century England, then really, you could be so anywhere. And such a relief from the depression, whining, stress, psychobabble and negativity of today. Whatever she had found, we have lost.
I like her because she doesn't tell me how to do it; or that I should fit my spirituality into someone else's mould. There is a nice space around her writing - space in which i can happily move and explore.
She is one of those special people who helped me see that not only all shall be well - but that all is well.
Thank you, Norwich.
Posted by Mr Bojangles at May 8, 2008 08:41 AM
Comments
I like the sound of Julian's book, Simon, but can't find it anywhere including Amazon - do you know where I could get a copy?? Also, I hope your Enneagram book is going to be out on schedule as I'm looking forward to reading that too.
Posted by: Kate at May 27, 2008 08:08 PM