Kayleen Asbo, Ph.D
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Dear Pilgrims,
 
I am so delighted that you will be joining us as we  journey  in the footsteps of  the mystics in the Hebrides Islands.
 
During our time together, we will be sharing in story, image and spiritual practices that I hope will enable you to feel as if you are transported across time and space to  the sacred sites of Scotland  that were places that have inspired  amazing works of art, music and poetry.  It is my deepest hope that our class together will help us nurture  the seeds of creativity within us as we create a global virtual community.
 
The rhythm of our time together will follow an ancient pattern that is designed to open us to the depths of these teachings.
 
Prelude (done individually at home):
Please allow yourself at least 20 minutes before class begins to settle your mind. Celtic music would be particularly appropriate as a prelude to our class, or Felix Mendelssohn' s lush Scottish Symphony, inspired by his journey from Edinburgh to Iona.
 
Opening Circle ( 11:00 am PDT)
We will being with a ceremony of lighting of candles, followed by a reading of poetry,  music sung by Robin O'Brien, an opening meditation and a setting of intentions for the day. 
 
Lesson  and Reflections (11:30-1 pm )
We will explore a story and theme each day through a  a series of  lectures by Kayleen and other guest teachers woven with a plethora of images that evoke the beauty and grandeur of Scotland. Each day, a creative or spiritual practice will be introduced, followed by a closing circle of sharing.
 
Integration (done individually)
IOn our first session , Katherine Witteman will introduce the practice of  keep a Blessing Book- a form of art journaling that we encourage you to do  as we travel  together. .Your experience will become all the richer if you  print out pictures to download and collage into your journal, or if you sketch, paint or otherwise “illuminate” your pages. We will  invite you to share your pictures, writing and responses  in our sharing circles on the last day. This is a marvelous way  to  spark one another’s creativity. On o
 
 Enrichment and Immersion
Of course, nothing can replace the experience of actually being in Scotland but a few of these suggestions will deepen and enrich your experience.
 
1) Ritual: Try to establish a morning routine that can support and deepen your experience.  Spend a half hour before class  taking a walk, sitting in the garden, meditating, or doing yoga, chi gong or tai chi. These  are all things that can help center yourself  and open your body to receive.
 
2) Sensorial experience: To bring the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of  these sacred sights to you,  you might want to try one of these traditional Scottish recipes and   ha e a box of Scottish Breakfast tea on hand.  You may wish to seek out films set in the locations for viewing in the evening
 
3) Walking: If we were doing this in person, we would be spending a few hours each day walking after our morning lectures while we were on site. This is a wonderful way to process the information—even if you are only retracing the same old familiar paths in your own neighborhood.  Solvitur Ambulando was a favored motto of the Middle Ages: It is solved by walking.  Strap on some earphones and listen to Medieval pilgrim songs.
 
4) Creating Community: start a “watch party” with your friends  or fellow students to watch one of the movies on the recommended movie list and then discuss how they mirror the topics of each day and share your own revelations.

Recommended films for  the Pilgrimage to Provence:

Mary Magdalene- the 2017 film stars Rooney Mara as a Mary Magdalene who mirrors the woman we will discover in the Gospel of Mary: courageous, compassionate, the faithful witness who best understands Jesus's message

My Mother's Castle and My Father's Glory are both sweet and poignant French classics that were filmed in the Var region of Provence, very close to the sites we will be sharing

Rivers and Tides is a documentary of  Scottish land artist Andy Goldworthy creating archetypal forms in nature . Many of the large stone cairn "eggs"  were created in on the Trail of Time, a medieval pilgrim path to La Baume that is found the Haute Provence. Use this as inspiration for your own creativity.
 
Into the Great Silence is a documentary about a year in the Grand Chartreuse monastery in France. The visuals are stunning and  the film offers an insightful glimpse into the most austere form of male monasticism that traces its contemplative roots to La Baume.

 
 
5) Dive into reading and studying
The Gospel of Mary, with commentary by Jean Yves Leloup is available on kindle as well as in paperback. It will be the backbone of our study this week


The Soul of a Pilgrim  and The Soul's Slow RIpening, both by Christine Vaulters Paintner  are excellent orientation guides to the practices of the  "Blessing Thread" we will be following through the coming year.


The Gospel of the Beloved Companion is another text which has emerged in the past few years. Translator Jehanne de Quillan asserts that this is the original Gospel used by the first centuries of Provencal Christians. It is a work that is largely parallel to the Gospel of John, but includes additional material that also appears in the Gospel of Thomas and Gospel of Mary. You may also wish to click here to watch a one hour video of my lecture on this fascinating and very controversial text.
​
 This weekend, it will be my great joy to bring you to Provence in  a journey that I hope will ignite your imagination, kindle your courage and open your heart.
 
I so look forward with great anticipation to sharing this adventure with you,
 
Kayleen 
Contact Kayleen Asbo: mythicamuse@gmail.com
  • Home
  • Calendar
  • Magdalene
    • Magdalene Conference
    • Forty Days with Mary Magdalene
    • Rose Sangha
    • Passion of Mary Magdalene
    • Magdalene in Provence
  • Pilgrimages
    • Provence: In the Footsteps of Mary Magdalene
    • Provence: Mary Magdalene and The Black Madonna
    • Scotland
  • Music
    • Van Gogh
  • Poetry
  • About