Praying with the Shadow Self, Reflection I on Macbeth

I love October and Halloween. To celebrate, I reread Macbeth and spend some time throughout the month reflecting on its timeless themes. Murder, blood, conspiracy, corrupt power, guilt, hallucinations, prophecy, witches, cauldrons and spells... what's not to love about Shakespeare's gory tragedy that pulls us nose deep into our struggles with our own humanity.

In the Spirit of the approaching holiday from: Macbeth Act IV, Scene 1, William Shakespeare.

SECOND WITCH:
By the pricking of my thumbs,
Something wicked this way comes:(45)
Open, locks,
Whoever knocks!


Enter Macbeth.

MACBETH:

How now, you secret, black, and midnight hags?
What is't you do?

May we come this week and pray that our hearts open their locks to the very human struggles, which we all share, with those parts of ourselves which we keep hidden even from ourselves. For it is only in bringing our secret midnights into the Healing Light of prayer that what it is we do can offer healing true healing for “Whoever knocks!” Amen.

Image credit cantueso.

Tomorrow the Bard

This year’s celebration of Shakespeare’s birthday, on April 23, (recall that the actual identity of the Bard is a topic of hot dispute among scholars) has an added dimension as it is also the 400th anniversary of the publication of his wonderful Sonnets.

“Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.”


May our hearts come to prayer this week seeking love from the Source beyond all time and frail human notions of love’s depth and breadth and power. May we come, seeking to love, thus, all who would come our way, even though they dwell on the edge of doom. Amen.