The Strange Unknown

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

From Marian apparitions to alien visitations, saying this has been a strange couple of weeks would be an understatement. And these, while dramatic enough, are nothing compared to the things we are witnessing in our world.

  • The old world continues in its death spiral.
  • The new world is continuing to find its way in.
  • Timelines are shifting.

In the midst of all this, we find ourselves staring into the face of the strange unknown.

  • Who are we?
  • Where are we?
  • How do we make sense of …….this and this and this…
  • In what direction are we meant to turn?
  • What is the path?
  • Where is the path?
  • What does it all mean?

At this point, all bets are off and anything is possible. Just as likely, nothing is possible.

Really, nothing is possible. What I mean by this is that until the Universe gets its timelines straight, (ie: its shit together) and makes a final decision about where this is all heading, there is nothing we can do.

  • There is no path to embark upon.
  • No action to take.
  • No mission to state or goals to be set.

All we can do is wait, be present to what is in this moment, and wait some more. The only action we can take is that which is placed before us which says, “Do this.” Everything, anything else will be an intrusion on the natural unfolding of the universe and will prove to be a stumbling block to our intended place in the death of the old and the birth of the new.

For me, this time of the strange unknown has been defined by two part-time “real world” jobs – neither of which seem to truly know where or how I fit or what is needed from me. I do what I’m told, following tasks to their completion – all the while trying not to get too attached to anything.  I’m holding it all loosely. In the midst of the “real world” stuff, my soul work keeps showing up via invitations to be a source of support for clients/friends/family/acquaintances who are in need of my strange and indefinable gifts. All of this is taking place while the world is busy dying, the new is trying to come in (or remind us of its presence), and every possible timeline is fighting to be decided.

These are strange days indeed, and there is no guarantee of how this will all end. And yet, in the midst of the growing ridiculousness, there continues to be glimmers of hope and reminders of the true potential of humanity. One thing that has been providing me with reminders is my current read: The Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church. Another, perhaps more accessible was the deep wisdom and vision provided through the speeches of Michelle and Barack Obama in celebration of the grand opening of the Obama Presidential Center – a repository of American history and a beacon of hope for a humanity which often seems to have lost their way.

Where are you finding hope and comfort in this time of the strange unknown?

Juggling Timelines

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / 2 Comments

Just when I think I know and understand where things are going and what path I am following in my life, the Universe tosses in a banana peel. I see the peel as it tumbles to the ground before me, step aside to avoid it, just as the Universe reveals an unexpected turn in the path, a change in direction, or even, a complete and total dead end. 

The same can be said of meaning. For years, I was driven to find meaning in anything and everything – dreams, animal appearances, the shape of clouds, a pain in my knee, a tarot card. I have since learned that we are the meaning makers – meaning we determine what meaning to give to what we see and experience.  Sometimes the meaning we assign proves correct (or is it only correct because we have programmed ourselves to interpret the outcome based on the meaning we gave it), but more often than not, life has a good laugh at us as the meaning changes over time or ends up being altogether wrong.

Whereas we may be tempted to assign meaning and define our paths, life doesn’t really work that way. Instead, we are invited to acknowledge that life simply is, and to be present to what is allowing it to unfold in the way it needs to without our intrusion or interference.

One way to think of this is that the Universe has an intention and a destination, we are a part of that unfolding, and what is unfolding is in our highest good – even/especially when it doesn’t look or feel like it is. Assigning meaning or thinking we understand the path, provides us with a moment of satisfaction, but ultimately does us harm.  The better, more beneficial response is to do nothing – cease from assigning meaning, stop getting attached to hoped-for outcomes, and just ride the wave of the unfolding.

Recently, the invitation to ride the wave of unfolding came up and hit me right between the eyes. As I said to a friend just the other day:

It’s super weird working two jobs while
simultaneously holding space for 87 potential timelines.

As I’m navigating two part-time jobs, I am watching timelines rise and fall, meaning show itself then disappear, outcomes emerge and just as quickly collapse. All of this is happening at the very same time humanity is navigating a similar journey- a possibility shows itself then disintegrates, hope emerges and is just as quickly dashed, at the moment we think we know what is happening, the Universe pulls away another veil and we are left confounded, confused, and disoriented once again. It feels like the Universe is trying to figure out its own shit while leaving us to be the victims of its indecision.

Or maybe the Universe knows exactly what its doing and all of this is for our highest good – whether we want to believe that or not. Regardless, the lesson is the same:

Be present to what is.

Allow things to unfold on their own.

Refrain from assigning meaning or defining outcomes.

Trust that all of this is in our highest good – whether we believe that or not.

Mind the Gap

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

Emblazoned in danger yellow, “mind the gap,” is an apropos British saying. To the British, the “gap” is the space between the train platform and the train – a tripping and falling hazard, hence the warning. Collectively, the gap is any time of waiting, likewise a dangerous time. Here we’re apt to make rash decisions, push outcomes, begin or end things prematurely – all in an attempt to remain in control and to quell the anxiety that lives in that place of the unknown. Here we are reminded:

“in all things God works for the good for those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

God has a plan. God knows the way. God knows the timing that is in the highest good and God is working it out.  All we have to do is wait, watch, have patience and trust. God is working it out and our intrusion (attempts to control) will only mess it up.  Don’t be your own source of sabotage.

In all things, mind the gap!

Finding Patience in the Waiting

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / 4 Comments

Humanity currently finds itself at the crossroads created by the consequences of their own actions (and inactions). Here, totalitarianism and fascism intersect with the opportunity for benevolence and the common good. The outcome wholly depends on humanity’s actions. Will we continue to allow the totalitarianism designed by the billionaire class and the puppets they have employed to determine the fate of our planet and the fate of humanity, or will we take responsibility for the ways in which we have allowed ourselves to be duped by the promises of capitalism and the “American Dream.”

We have no one to blame but ourselves for where we find ourselves today. Lured by promises of abundance, liberty, and freedom, we have allowed ourselves to become divided. Believing the lies that hard work leads to wealth, and that all are given the same opportunities for advancement, we have turned our faces in judgment from the truth that under capitalism, there are no equal opportunities. This judgment has then caused us to divide humanity into classifications – rich and poor, hard-working and lazy, intelligent and ignorant, good and bad, further dividing those classifications based on gender, race, nationality, orientation, religion, citizenship, etc.  In all of this, we have succumbed to the manipulations of the ruling classes who continue to build monuments to themselves, gaining wealth and prestige while the rest of the world suffers.

As we stand at this crossroads, we watch in horror as fascism and totalitarianism reveals the depths of its true nature. Weak, fearful men, grasping after wealth, power, and control. Every day, the actions of their so-called leaders become increasingly desperate and ridiculous. (In what world is it appropriate for the President of the United States to host a cage-match on the front lawn of “the people’s house” or personally profit from the policies he puts in place?)

The revelations of the ruling class’s evil, which began as a trickle, has now become a tsunami. No longer can we look away, denying what is happening right before our eyes. And yet, some are working very hard to ignore the realities of corruption, and how their own lives are being made more difficult by the current system. Burying their heads in the sand will only work for so long. Eventually, the corruption will reach so deeply into their own pockets that they will have to wake up – or die trying to remain asleep.

Remaining asleep no longer serves. As the actions of the ruling class become more desperate, more and more are waking up – even those we thought would never be able to see. In this, the foundations of the current system are beginning to collapse upon themselves as the oppressed patiently (or not so patiently) wait to step in and take their place.

“Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation,
and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” – Jesus

This is the moment for which we are waiting. The moment when the dying system heaves its final breath and we can utter a sigh of relief that all the horror has finally come to an end. In this, we must not lose hope. Whereas all might look hopeless, everywhere there are signs of the good trying to make its way known. From MTG suddenly breaking ranks to Peter Thiel’s flight to Argentina, to Pope Leo’s most recent encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, there are examples of people waking up, showing their true nature, or providing comfort and inspiration for a better humanity.

Magnifica Humanitas, in particular, presents the support we need to make the best choice at this crossroads moment, along with the foundations that will be required if we wish to build a new world. The choice, as Pope Leo XIV so eloquently states is between individualism and the common good. Will we continue along the trajectory of “every man for himself” or come together in collaboration and cooperation for the sake of the common good. As he wisely observes, it is only in choosing the latter that humanity can ever hope to survive. Further, it is the example set forth by Jesus and to what he has called us.

Cooperation and collaboration in support of the common good, however, cannot happen without dramatic inner transformation.  This is the kind of transformation about which I have been speaking, writing, and teaching. Before humanity can achieve unity, we have to find that unity within ourselves. In transcending and healing the wound of division, compassion becomes our driving force and we are compelled, not longer by our own selfishness, but by the desire that all of humanity may be free. Freedom here, is not political, instead, it is the embodiment of our true nature where we know peace, fulfillment, and contentment in simply being and where we are all contributing (in our own unique way) to the common good.

This is the vision to which I cling, giving me hope in a seemingly hopeless world, and patience in the face of a dying system that on some days I think cannot die soon enough. This vision also provides me with inspiration I need to continue to do this work of inner transformation for myself, while supporting those who feel similarly called.

How are you finding patience and/or comfort at this crossroads time?

Foundational Resources for Inner Transformation:

What Life Wants

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / 2 Comments

As I am preparing to embark upon a new professional path – an opportunity that came out of nowhere and which I never would have imagined or planned for myself – I am reminded that Life tells us what it wants for and from us – not the other way around. Our choice in the matter is not about what or how we choose but is instead about how we accept what is presented or how stubbornly we resist it.

No matter how the new age and prosperity gospel folks argue otherwise, we are NOT the masters of our destiny. Our thoughts do not dictate our reality. While the Universe gives us what we need (what is in our highest good), it rarely gives us what we think we want or desire.

“Want” and “Desire” both arise out of fear and are manifestations of resistance.

Case in point, since 1994, I have placed my professional attention and energy into a very specific mission. For the learning and all the experiences I gained, I am forever grateful. During these thirty-two years, I have experienced moments of pure grace, fulfillment, and joy. I have also experienced great struggle. During this time I have known abundance, I have also known lack. I do not, however, regret a single minute of any of it because:

It was right for me at the time. Through these experiences I have learned and grown.
I also believe many have benefitted from the gifts and resources I have shared.

The time for all of this, however, seems to have come to an end. All the attempts to revive this mission and keep it alive have failed. It is time to accept that the horse is dead and soon needs to be buried (more on that later). As St. Paul once said, “I have fought the good fight…I have kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)” 

Life, it seems, has other plans for me. It is no longer my job to save the world (hah!). Neither, it seems, am I called to be a visible voice for the Magdalene. Instead, and ironically, I’ll be serving in a capacity reflective of the degree I earned in my undergraduate studies, while using the gifts I originally set out to share when I first embarked on my professional career in 1987.  I know this path will encompass more than just this, but it sure feels like a kind of full-circle moment to me.

Only now, I’m older and wiser. I’ve had nearly forty years to hone the skills I will be using. Technologies have changed and become more collaborative. I’m a different person than I was in 1987. And I have abilities outside of the ones I will be using that will undoubtedly be called upon.

This is a new path. A new adventure. I’m excited. And terrified. But when the Universe randomly and out of nowhere puts an opportunity in your path, and you say “no” to it three times, but it still comes back, it is likely best to accept what Life is giving you and be ready for the possibility that it might be “something amazing….I guess.”

Mary Magdalene: Scholarship vs. Fantasy

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

We are living through an exciting (and sometimes terrifying) time of revelation. Truths that have long been hidden are now coming to light – the consequences of which are nothing short of earth-shattering. From the Epstein files to staged assassinations, to alien disclosure – every day we are faced with some new veil being torn away along with the shock that arises for some and the “I told you so” that arises from others as together we process new levels of apocalyptic knowledge. To say we are moving through unprecedented times would be an understatement.


Preceding these recent revelations were the discovery of thousands of years old sacred texts which described stories about Jesus and his followers that shed a whole new light on the development of the Jesus movement and the beliefs of first through third century Christians. Among these lost (hidden) documents are several providing unknown details about the person, Mary, called Magdalene – her relationship with Jesus and her role in the unfolding of the early Church. Central among these documents is a gospel written in her name – The Gospel of Mary (Magdalene).


As these previously unknown texts made it into the hands of scholars, who then translated, and later published these texts, they found their way into the hands of the general public, resulting in an explosion of renewed interest in Mary, called Magdalene. This eventually brought forth a cacophony of theories about Mary – some based in scholarship, some based in legend, and others based solely on imagination. Whereas all interpretations of Mary Magdalene may provide insights that inspire and nourish us in our spiritual journeys, in our search for the authentic Magdalene, it is important to separate fiction from fact.

In our search for the authentic Magdalene,
it is important to separate fiction from fact.

As it relates to happenings of the first century of this common era, especially as it relates to the Jesus story, there is nothing that we can truly call fact. Yes, we have the scriptures. Additionally, we have a few reports from historians of the time that suggest there was a man named Jesus (Yeshua) who was crucified by the Romans in the early part of the first century. Archaeological evidence has surfaced that may or may not be related to Jesus and his kin. As much as it all may have happened, it is just as likely that none of it happened. As such, when I speak of “fact” here, I’m referring strictly to what has been presented in source materials (ancient texts), what can be surmised through historical documents, and what has persisted in cultural legend and oral traditions – knowing full-well that all of these can be, and have been disputed. There are enough consistencies among these sources, however, to credit them more than what I will otherwise refer to as fantasy.

Fantasy is something humans have simply made up. Whether it be attributed to channeling, creative imagination, or wishful thinking, fantasy has no basis in scholarship. There exist no historical documentation or archaeological findings to support it. That is not to say, however, that the insights provided through fantasy do not speak a kind of truth to us. These may ignite motivation, self-awareness, or even awakening in us. That doesn’t however mean they are true in a verifiable sense.

As it relates to the Magdalene, for example, there is absolutely nothing of scholarship to support the idea that she was a temple prostitute, a sacred sex worker, or involved in rites of Hiero-Gamos. While these ideas may speak to women and men working to transform sexual shame into sexual liberation, I find these ideas antithetical to the efforts being made to correct 1400 years of Mary Magdalene being incorrectly associated with sexual “sin.” Additionally disturbing are the attempts made to create Mary and Jesus into some kind of royal couple with a sacred lineage that later defined European aristocracy. Whereas the writer of the gospel attributed to Matthew, speaking to a strictly Jewish audience, had a specific agenda of proving that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah of the House of David, nowhere else is this prevalent. Instead, the overwhelming message and actions of Jesus were to overturn hierarchy and privilege in favor of an egalitarian world in which all are in service to each other – the exact opposite of proclaiming or lauding his so-called “royal privilege.” By association, I believe we can say the same of the Magdalene.

In my own work with and study of the Magdalene, I find myself increasingly frustrated by the fantastical ideas put forth regarding her. Well-intentioned, or not, I find these fantasies diminish the true power of the Magdalene – a power that must be reclaimed if humanity ever hopes to survive in this tragically failing world. Mary, called Magdalene, was not Jesus’ side-piece. Neither was she the sinful woman. She would not have claimed any royal status – even if she had some. If she bore a child with Jesus, which could have happened, this child would not be any more special than any other child born out of love.

Instead, supported by scholarship, we can say the following about Mary:

• Mary was a disciple of Jesus and more than most, understood the true depths of his teaching.
• Mary received teachings from Jesus that he did not share with others.
• Magdalene is not a surname. Neither was it a place name. Instead, it seems to have been a title imparted upon her in recognition of her learning and commission.
• Mary was “cured of seven demons,” which was more likely a process of initiation/liberation that she completed under Jesus’ tutelage, than an accusation of her “sinful nature.”
• Mary was with Jesus at the foot of the cross.
• Mary assisted with his entombment.
• Mary was the first witness to the resurrection and was sent by the resurrected Christ to tell the disciples he had been raised from the dead.
• Mary delivered the news to the disciples and was immediately rejected.
• Mary experienced post-resurrection encounters of and teachings from Christ.
• Mary was later invited to share with the disciples what Jesus had taught her in secret – some accepted her teachings and some did not.
• By the Eastern and Western Churches alike, Mary was given the title “Apostle to the Apostles” in recognition of the unique commission given to her by Christ.
• At some point, Mary separated from the Jerusalem community and took her understanding of Jesus’s teachings elsewhere where she likely shared them with others. Some legends suggest Alexandria, Egypt and others Provence, France. The Greek Orthodox Church reports her as teaching in Rome, and eventually Ephesus. The Catholic Church loosely supports the legend of Mary in Provence.
• There exists a long-standing tradition that Mary was highly regarded as a teacher and a healer, in her own right, imparting deeply transformational knowledge to those who would hear her.

As it relates to all other things suggested of the Magdalene, (including my own personal theories and fantasies) I treat them with proper discernment – immediately discarding the ridiculous, while holding the possibility that within the theory might reside some seed of truth. For as anthropologist, Ron Wetherington once said,

“All stories are true. Some of them actually happened.”

Lauri Ann Lumby is the creator, facilitator, and spiritual director of the first, and only, Mary Magdalene training that is rooted in true scholarship, academic research, canonical and non-canonical scripture, and the deeply held traditions of Judeo/Christian contemplative practice. The goal and measurable outcome of this in-depth training is the embodiment of Universal Love and the knowledge of self such that one is led to a rich and meaningful life of service to the betterment of the world through their own unique gifts.

Learn more here

Humanity’s Only Hope

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

As humanity approaches the brink of its own extinction, my thoughts have turned to a single question: What if anything will save them? The answer is simple but is likely not something humanity wants to hear or do because the answer lies, not outside of them, but within.

Along with casting blame outside of them, humanity also loves projecting solutions. They’re waiting for a messiah, a savior, the Second Coming – really anyone other than themselves to fix what is wrong and make everything right again.

The problem is that humanity did this to themselves by forgetting who they are while denying the inherent power they have within. Instead, they have attributed this power to gods, kings, priests, and popes. In this grand forfeiture, humanity created a hierarchy assigning value according to one’s place within the hierarchy, leaving most human beings out of the equation – thereby reducing themselves to slaves.

Humanity has become enslaved to the very people they gave their power to. The only way out of this imprisonment is for humanity to take their own power back, by remembering who they are. (Change NEVER comes from those who benefit from keeping humanity small.)

Remembering who we are, however, is easier said than done. It’s not something you can purchase from the latest new age teacher or shaman, neither is it something that can be completed in a weekend workshop or retreat. Instead, true remembrance can only be accomplished through a many-years long practice requiring discipline, persistence, diligence, and radical personal accountability.

Remembering who we are is a slow and patient process of identifying and stripping away the layers of who we are not in order to uncover the treasure of who we are. Then we have to practice what we are remembering until it is no longer just a practice, but becomes fully integrated within us.

Remembering who we are leads us to answering the following questions:

  • Who am I?
  • Whose am I?
  • What are my unique gifts and how am I called to engage in them for my own fulfillment and then share them for the betterment of the world?

In a nutshell, remembering who we are is about identifying our gifts and then healing the infinite number of layers of woundedness, trauma, betrayal, rejection, and societal conditioning that has told us we aren’t gifted and our gifts don’t matter (have no value).

Remembering our gifts requires radical accountability, humility, and the willingness to be vulnerable. In this search, we become aware of the defense mechanisms we have honed so that we might have the illusion of being safe in an unsafe world. Those defense mechanisms might include: jealousy, self-righteousness, prejudice, racism (conscious or unconscious), sexism, a compulsion toward revenge, pride, manipulation, and more. We are also invited to explore our own place within the hierarchy and the privilege we gain from that, along with how we might use that privilege to elevate ourselves while repressing others.

Remembering who we are is the true hero’s journey. It takes courage, determination (often to the point of being stubborn), and the willingness to learn from our failures.  Because, fail we will. Remembering and Being/Living are two different things.

Failure is predictable. When we gain a glimpse of remembrance, all our resistance to change rises up to challenge us. More than death, humanity fears change. As such, we cling to our defense mechanisms, we hang on to the status quo, we are terrified at the prospect of losing who and what we know.

Loss is integral to the journey of remembrance. More specifically – letting go. In order to live more and more fully as our true selves, we must let go of all that which hinders that remembrance.  This includes friends, jobs, relationships, places of perceived belonging, perceived status, etc. While we may find some measure of comfort in the familiar, there is no liberation or freedom there.

If humanity truly wants to be free, it must remember itself because at the heart of this remembrance is LOVE. Love, more than anything, is who we are. When we remember the Love that we are, it changes everything – how we move in the world, how we treat fellow human beings, how we come together in cooperation as a species, and how we treat our world.

Love is humanity’s only hope and is the key for each individually to find contentment in this life regardless of what is happening “out there.”

Being Who You Are

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / 2 Comments

As we move through this powerfully transformative time, under this new moon with seven celestial bodies stacked up in Aries, we are invited to examine our SELF – WHO we truly are. This is not about titles (ie: witch, priestess, mother, healer, poet, writer, counselor) it is about our truest nature – who we are at our core, something that has been part of us our entire lives, something we cannot help but be. This is not about what we do, but who we are BEING because our true nature is not a noun, it is a verb. As you reflect on this, for yourself, I share with you how I arrived at the answer for myself:

For my entire life I have been able to see. Specifically, I am able to see the truth beyond appearances – the truth beyond the veil – the truth behind the masks people present to the world. I’ve been able to see the severe mental illness that drove the abusive actions of two grade school teachers. I saw the lie behind “terminal diagnosis” of a family “friend.” I’ve seen the truth behind lies that have been told to my face. Less dramatic than this, I see the unhealed wounds, insecurities, and pain behind the façade many present to the world.

For me, it’s easy to see the sorrow, anger, pain, deception, betrayal, etc. behind which all humans hide, but equally so, I see the potential waiting to be liberated from behind these unhealed wounds. For those who have the willingness and courage, I have been a resource for healing and moving beyond these wounds. For those with nothing to hide, being seen provides a gift of affirmation along with an expression of love.

I am grateful for this gift of seeing, but the reality is not everyone wants to be seen. Even fewer want to do the work of healing those areas of imprisonment within them. As such, this ability to see has often felt like more of a curse than a gift. Teachers who made me their enemy through no fault of my own. Classmates who hated me for no apparent reason. Strangers and acquaintances who shy away from my presence because there is something in them that becomes unconsciously aware of being seen – and they do not want to be seen.

People’s inner demons run from me. At times, I can hear them hissing. At other times, their demons come at me filled with projections, accusations, excuses, insults, etc. Recently, I challenged a long-time acquaintance for their prejudice against the working poor (saying if they just applied belief and effort they wouldn’t be poor). They came back at me with aggression and insults. Their demon of unconscious shame, hiding behind white male privilegem was not happy about being seen.

I can’t help that I see. It’s part of who I am. I see the good, and the bad. The holy and the unholy. Most often, I’m not really doing anything with this seeing, I just see. And some become extremely uncomfortable in my presence because they don’t want to be seen. For most of my life, I have taken the other person’s negative reactions personally. It’s my fault they feel uncomfortable. Now I’m a target for their wrath or a projection for their shame. I’ve been rejected, avoided, ignored, condemned, harassed, abused, and punished for simply seeing.

But this week, under this crazy Aries New Moon pile-up, with seven celestial bodies in Aries, a hugely transformational awareness has surfaced.  At the heart of this awareness is the invitation to completely and fully own WHO I AM  – specifically that for which I have been rejected and condemned, which has then caused me to shy away from or hide my gift.

This week, I was provided with a visceral experience that demonstrated to me the impact my seeing has on someone who does not want to be seen, along with the unconscious reaction that arose in them upon being seen. I literally felt the individual attempt to put up an energetic wall between us, and I could hear/feel their (we’ll call it) shame hissing at me. At the same time, I became aware of my own unconscious (at the time) reaction to their “rejection.” I felt my energy turn in on itself, packing itself away in a quiet place to hide. I felt myself attempting to become invisible.

I used this startling experience for deep reflection. What was happening? Why did I react that way? Why did THEY react that way. I don’t yet have the full answer to my quandary about how to use this awareness for my own healing and growth but in this moment it feels a little like this:

I AM Seeing. For those wanting to be truly seen, it is a gift. For those who do not, their conscious or (more commonly) unconscious reaction is not a rejection of me, it is a rejection of themselves. And that demon who is hissing at me as it defends its host, has zero power over me because when I SEE the demon, it no longer has power over me.

What is the BEING you are invited to more fully embrace and no longer hide from the world (or yourself)?

Not Sure Who You Are?

Learn more HERE

The Order of the Magdalene Training provides the resources and tools to answer and live the answers to the following questions:

Who am I?

Whose am I?

What are my gifts and how am I being invited to share those gifts for the sake of my own fulfillment and in service to the betterment of the world.

Preparing for Splashdown

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

As I write this, I am coming off a morning of relentless “spiritual 911” calls. Those who have my private number, checking in with the same set of “symptoms,” and wondering if the cause of the symptoms is their own, or relating to the world. And wondering, what, if anything, they can do about it.

The short answer: it is most definitely the world.

The longer answer: a certain someone can step on their own d*ck only so many times before toppling over onto their own house of cards. This Sunday’s actions herald the beginning or perhaps the end) of the end. Whether by Congress, or the Supreme Court, or by some other yet to be revealed source, the pressure cooker in which we’ve been living is coming to an end.

The anxiety that so many are currently feeling is at once, the natural trepidation over what all will be destroyed as the end draws near, and the very real knowledge of the conflicting cavalcade of emotions roiling about in preparation for what is soon to be.

The what will be is two-fold: a complete and total meltdown of a system that has imprisoned humanity for thousands of years and the simultaneous splashdown of a whole new world and way of living together as human beings.

That is…..if “he” doesn’t destroy us all first.

The if, what, and how of the meltdown/splashdown is not ours to know. It is not something for which we can plan. The only thing we can do is be with what is as it is unfolding. As we are being with the unfolding, we are invited to be sources of healing and support for ourselves and others. The “what is” and “what will be” is not personal. It is simply the throes of a system  facing its own death. As sensitive human beings, however, we will be feeling it:  anxiety, pressure, headaches, body pain, restlessness, impatient, sorrowful, angry, even depressed. That which arises in us is a bit of our own fear, but more likely it is the feelings of the collective. Whether it is ours or belongs to someone else, we are not powerless.  Instead, this is our invitation to become empowered.

Here are some practices I have found to be helpful as the world is working out its own shit:

  1. Witness: I have learned that these energies are ours to fix or heal. Instead, they simply want to be seen and acknowledged. When feeling the rise of anxiety or pressure, close your eyes, envision the fear, anxiety, grief, etc. in your minds eye…..and just look at it. No judgement – just witnessing and acknowledging. As we bear it witness, it eventually dissipates and we are restored to peace.
  2. Nothing is Personal: These discordant energies, for the most part, are not our own. These are the manifestation of collective consciousness (what some might call demons)  – the energies that have arisen out of 5000 years of human enslavement which are losing their power over us. These energies have become “living things” intent on their own survival – they don’t give up easily. And yet, Love is winning, and these energies are losing their power. As they are preparing for their departure, they are making themselves known. Think of these “demons” you are feeling as asking you to see them as they say goodbye. (Don’t let the screen door hit you on the ass as you leave little demons!  Bye!)
  3. It’s just a movie: I don’t mean this to be dismissive of the very real feelings we are having as the world around us implodes. But when we allow ourselves to cultivate detachment, we are able to distance ourselves a bit from the intensity. I find it helpful to think of it like watching a movie. I mean, seriously, art has been showing us all along where we are going and life itself has become more ridiculous than art. I did not have a war between POTUS and Pope on my 2026 bingo card! It’s actually kind of hilarious. I just wonder, is it a Divine Comedy or a Comedy of Errors. Maybe both! 
  4. You are not alone: Check in with your team/tribe/support system. If you are feeling off, overwhelmed, terrified as the system burns itself to the ground, seek support. It may be as simply as texting a close friend, “Hey, are you feeling this too or am I losing my mind?”  Most likely, it’s the former. And if your trusted friend circle isn’t enough, reach out to a professional you trust.
  5. Prepare for Splashdown: As the old world continues its dying, the new world is coming into form. At this point, we have no idea what this new world will look like, or what our roles will be in that world. We can, however, be attentive in our own lives to what is asking to leave so that room can be made for the new. We are also invited to pay attention, specifically to what feeds us and gives us joy – and be more of that. Every decision we make, not out of fear, but out of love, joy, and compassion, becomes a seed from which the new will take root and come into being.
  6. More than anything – BE LOVE. Be love to yourself. Be love to your loved ones. And most difficult of all – be LOVE to your (perceived) enemies. We may find ourselves surprised at who people become on the other side of this collapse and the love that they might need. Even the AntiChrist longs to know Love.

To Be, Not to Seem

/ Lauri Ann Lumby / Leave a comment

Esse quam videri

To be, not to seem.

From the roots of the ancients.

Fire at my finger tips.

A burning in my soul.

Older than memory.

Anchored in DNA.

Long before religion.

More timeless than language.

A knowing beyond explanation.

Comprehended by few.

It cannot be put-on.

Only lived.

Recognizing our brethren

By the authenticity in their soul.

We know,

so we are.

Where all falsehoods fall away –

unable to stand.

Mirrors for remembrance

and for seeing what is true,

and where all that seems to be

disappears from view.