The Gentle Way

WINTER IS UPON US. The harvests have been gathered in. In our little community we have passed through a tardy spring and a glorious late-summer. We have worked the land that our mothers have worked for a thousand years before us in almost exactly the same way that they have worked it. In sunshine and in rain, the fruits of the earth have Flourished, and we have worked in harmony with their Creator and ours, according to Her law.

And now the year draws on to its night-time. Yet what a night is this. We shall see the chaste white blanket of the snow upon the land, and bright-cheeked children shall skate on icy ponds. We shall hear their crystal voices cleave the air with songs of a glorious festival; telling us the story of how Dea came to maid that maid might return to Dea. Bright fires shall blaze, old stories shall be told; good wine shall pass, sweet-scented lamps shall burn. These are the darkest days in all the year, and who shall say they are not beautiful?

As these thoughts pass through my mind, I recall how many times I have been taught and have taught others that this world is but a shadow, a valley of dust through which we pass on a brief journey; I remember also how many sacred teachings enjoin us to turn from the sense-pleasures of the world in the single-hearted search for Dea.

The first of these teachings presents no problem, of course, for we know that all the beauties and wonders of this world are but reflections of transcendent Reality. We know that it is the inner recognition (conscious or otherwise) of this reflection that makes us love all beauty.

But is it necessary for us to turn from all the beauty of the world In order to come to God? There can be no doubt that the path of asceticism and pure contemplation is the swiftest and surest way to Her. But for many this way is too hard; we may try, but continually we shall fall.

Dea sees our weakness and has compassion on us; and for this reason She has given us another way: the Gentle Way. “Love the world” She tells us “but love it for that it is an echo of Eternity” . She has given us fasts and joyous festivals; She has given us the traditional crafts and agricultural methods, each one a mirror of the divine Act of Creation, a contemplative path and a deeply absorbing vocation. In short, She has given us the means to make the whole of our lives a Sacrament.

How do we go about this? The answer is very simple — if we cannot follow the Contemplative Life, we can at least live contemplatively. The secret of this is to remember Dea as often as possible: to offer ourselves to Her throughout the day; to make little sacrifices to Her - perhaps getting out of bed a minute earlier than we need to, or doing some irksome task — in order to conquer our lower selves and submit our will to Hers. All the time we are doing this, She will be leading us along the Gentle Way — not stopping us from enjoying the beauties of the world, but showing us how to enjoy them through Her and for their true meaning.

The Gentle Way is the way of childlike love. We who are too little to bring to our Lady the tremendous spiritual gifts of the great saints and helas at least bring Her the little things we have. We gather flowers to decorate Her shrine, perhaps in summer we may rise half an hour earlier each morning to bring a fresh tribute of Her works of art to Her. We chant Her Name and sing to Her, perfecting our music as a perfect gift for Her. Even so do we perfect all that we do, that it may be worthy of our dearest Mistress.

But the gift which She craves more than any other is the gift of ourselves; and so, before all else, we strive to make ourselves a worthy gift to Her. We purify and adorn our souls that they may be clean and beautiful offerings to Her. How can we do this? Again, we have Her own words to guide us: “Speak words of love and innocence,of mildness and of hope, and you shall weave a raiment of peace about your soul and a veil of gentle light” and again: “Let your ways be gentle as the milk-white dove, and graceful as the gliding of the swallow.” For the Gentle Way is also the Way of Gentleness. Let our every action be controlled and graceful. Let our steps fall softly on the earth, nor our voices be raised unless it be in song. Let us banish all unkindness from our thoughts. There is so much for our Lady to forgive us; let us forgive our sisters freely. Let us approach all things joyfully and without complaining, letting energy and diligence for even the humblest tasks cast out idleness. Let “our souls be simple as the running deer, and our hearts as little children, filled with wonder”. If we can give to Dea a soul thus chaste and simple, She will receive it gladly.

I do not mean to pretend that the Gentle Way is easy. It is simple, but it is not easy. We shall be tempted often away from the path of gentleness and simplicity; we shall be tempted away from kindness and purity and assailed by anger, greed, idleness, pride, carnality and the spirit of joylessness and complaining; and sometimes we shall fall. But if we pick ourselves up with meekness and humility and ask Dea to set us back upon the path, all the work of the grumms and darklings in tripping us up will have been for nothing.

The Gentle Way demands discipline and a strong will to overcome the lower self. But it is the way by which we may enjoy all the glories of the world; and the practice of moderation and a little asceticism will only make them the sweeter. As we live upon the world as our Lady’s little child-servants, we begin to learn that there is only one Enjoyer of the world, and that is our Lady Herself. She who is perfect has perfect enjoyment, and therefore to enjoy the world through Her is the best way, and in the end the only way, to enjoy it. That is why She wants us to follow this way — because She loves us even more than we love ourselves.

Mother Iulya