Español
December 22, 2024
by Mary Jane Miller
On the bus, in a taxi, by the checkout counter in small tiendas, and in church, of course, Mary is everywhere you look in San Miguel, all year-round.
Tiled, painted and sculpted, Mary, the Virgin of Guadalupe is standing guard on houses everywhere, often without our even noticing. Mexican culture reveres her as the guardian.
Sometimes I see her looking back at me. I smile thinking she witnesses all of us walking by, knowing our hearts and minds. But what if my imagination is not so silly? Perhaps but Mary and her Christ creation do see us.
The image of Mary as Mother is central to sacred art around the world. And Christmas is universally a time for reflection. We all spend plenty of time thinking about our mothers. The Christian church began in the womb of Mary. She represents a much-needed image of love. She houses the full revelation and miraculous mysteries brought forth in the baby Jesus, who is the energetic concept of Christ.
When I mention Christ, please envision a voice that transcends words, embodying the energy or vibration of love. Christmas is a story about birth, providing new purpose for a broken world. The concept of love is not exclusive to Christianity; it serves as a guiding principle for a new approach for all of Creation. Each of us receives love, we nurture the love we create, and we have the power to release that love into the world.
How many times this year have I turned away from lending a helping hand, turning my orientation towards what I want rather than the other's need? The Christmas spirit is a time to reflect, slow down, and notice how often we skip the idea of service or generosity. The story of Mary is a great example of life being interrupted. She had to pause and look inward with awe and wonder. She waited quietly on the Spirit of God within, and might have found participating with others a challenge.
For the past few Christmas seasons the idea of sacred stillness found in "Oh Holy Night" has been lost in the bustle of marketing, shopping, and celebration. I wonder why it is so hard to find a moment of peace. Longing for a better world full of holiness is not too much to ask — Mary must have had an innate knowledge that what was created in her was created by God and for God. I ask, who can celebrate such a concept with me?
Spiritual teachings and quantum physics are in agreement: we are what we love, we affect what we focus on, and we are all connected as one vibration. Maybe that is not exactly orthodox thinking but that is the way I see it.
Iconography has taught me a lot about the Christ story. I can testify that there is a lot more to glean than just the unborn baby, much more for us to comprehend. Live this Christmas season differently, stay awake, and look to the brilliance of the stars.
Peace on Earth. Goodwill to Humankind.
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Icon Painting Workshop
January 20-24, Monday-Friday
No experience is necessary. This workshop is a step by step process filled with great conversations and interesting insights. We will be painting the image of Mary. Contact me, Mary Jane Miller: millericons@gmail.com.
www.millericons.com/workshops
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Mary Jane Miller born in New York and living in Mexico full time, is a self-taught Byzantine style iconographer with over 28 years of experience. Her collections of sacred art are contemporary, with a proficient command of egg tempera. The work is extraordinarily rich in style and has been exhibited in museums and churches in both the United States and Mexico. As an author, Miller blends historical content and personal insights to arrive at contemporary conclusions about faith. Her ten self-published books include Mediation and Iconography, Icon Painting Revealed, Mary in Iconography, In Light of Women, Life in Christ and The Stations. Miller has been published online and in publications such as Divine Temple, Russian Orthodox Journal, Faith and Forum Magazine, Liturgy Today and Profiles of Catholicism. The past decade she has devoted her work to the voices of women and care for the Earth. She teaches four courses annually, 5-day immersion workshops throughout the US and Mexico.
Iconography - www.sanmiguelicons.com
Contemporary Icon Books - www.millericons.com/books
Workshops - www.sacrediconretreat.com
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