Interpreting the Scriptures: The Way of Simplicity

 The whole basis for Cerva Madriana stems from one particular scripture passage, from the Teachings of the Daughter; The Way of Simplicity. This passage starts off:

Unless your souls be simple as the running deer, My children, and your hearts as little children filled with wonder, how shall you attain liberation?

With such simple words, a whole pattern of contemplation and devotion is set up. Indeed, it may be a simple sentence, but with profound implications. At first glance, one would think that it is most easy to worship as a Madrian; but as most things, just because they appear simple does not mean the process to them is simple.

This scripture speaks repeatedly of the harmony of all things, and one's place within. It speaks of the 'music of the spheres', of the natural order of life and nature, and keeping one's place within it.

Honor in all things the times and the seasons, keeping fast in times of fast with diligence and care; rejoicing in times of feast with generous outpouring. No tree may blossom out of season, nor any flower greet springtime with austerity, but a maid lacking inward control is broken from the rhythm.

There is a dance of balance throughout all of nature and one's life; there is feast and famine, plenty and dearth; we are a part of nature and to be in balance with the changing seasons and patterns of our life is our part of this cosmic dance that we wend as we live our lives. To live more fully means to be more present to these ebbs and flows.

However, I note that others have likely continued reading the passage and possibly furrowed a brow at some of the phrasing.

Thamelic life is danced within the music of Eternity, and the pattern of the dance is Wholeness. But without control shall the dance  be destroyed; without discipline is the rhythm  shattered in a host of discordant fragments.

The perfect maid has perfect chastity of mind, of body, and of soul;  and she who is ready to follow Me upon the mountain shall aspire to this perfection.

Thamelic here refers to thamë, the original framing of harmony by the Madrians in that it is a cosmic harmony of God Herself and as such encompasses nature, humanity, and beyond.  As such, it is a perfectly balanced life that one should strive for.

 I can absolutely see why the word 'chastity' may be a conundrum for some, and I'd like to share my interpretation. The original Madrians were keen on etymology of words, and I studied this to get behind the meaning of what was being conveyed.

At first glance, you'd think it is the implied chastity of being pure in terms of sexuality. However, studying back to the root of the word you will find a link to the latin, castitas which did mean pure, but also derived from castus, which meant cut off, separated. 

As I ruminated on this, I was reminded internally of a Greek virtue and term, sophrosyne.

Sophrosyne was a high virtue, and meant one who was of sound mind, self controlled, and prudent; I could then begin to see what was being connoted here by the scriptures. Someone who cut off what was interrupting or impeding being a balanced, whole individual.

To be chaste in an original sense would be one who is self controlled, and aware of the harmony inherent in the divine order of the world; 

Without chastity of mind and soul is the bodily observance barren; yet to suffer temptation is not to fall, and to transcend it is an act of creation.

For whatever is the nature of her innermost self, that shall a maid become. Therefore, the value of an act is not its outward form, but its inward quality; and the maid who will become one with the rhythm of Eternity shall first become the mistress of her thoughts. For thought is the creator of the body and the sculptor of the soul...

Chastity is a call to keeping one pure, not in a merely sexual term, but in a form of sophrosyne; a balanced state of not allowing passions to overwhelm one, to keep a harmonious state of being and stay 'in tune' with the music of Eternity, the sweet song of God Herself and the order of the cosmos. 

As I stated earlier, a statement of simplicity at face value but in praxis of being as 'a running deer, like a child', that is not as easy to achieve. This would be why the 'path up the mountain' is not always an easy trek; life has a continuous way of giving us 'feasts and famines', both good times and bad. It is up to ourselves to learn composure, temperance, and balance as we move through our lives.

The passage goes on to entreat us further as to how this can enable ourselves to live fuller lives, but this shall be a separate post. For now, I would rather recommend a post on the etymology of sophrosyne and further introspection, and a good reading or two of The Heart of Water scripture passage. 

This passage is truly what Cerva Madriana aspires to; living a life fully, but in mindful temperance to uplift oneself and all beings.