Sancta Sophia Celebrates 26 Years,
Looks to the Future
by Rev. Carol E. Parrish-Harra, Ph.D.
The program at Sancta Sophia Seminary is excellent. Numerous times, we have measured and selected quality over quantity, following inner guidance at each vital decision. The school truly is dedicated to enhance spirituality in all who come, seeking higher consciousness.
In celebrating the seminary’s 26th anniversary, we give thanks for so many extraordinary people who have helped this mystery school emerge. Beloved advisors, office staff, and faculty have served the school so wonderfully; they often comment on the privilege they feel at facilitating the advancement of the ageless wisdom teachings.
The bold folks who crossed half of the U.S. to “unknown territory” truly found solid ground upon which to foster this community and school. We would not have been able to start or continue without the people across the U.S. and the world that sustain and subsidize us in manifold ways-from dollars to prayers, and on the physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual levels.
The friends, mentors, and coworkers who have blessed the village and seminary cannot be counted. Some have stayed and some have gone, and it will always be that way, for these are training grounds. Sincere thanks to our many benefactors. You are truly chalking up some great karma!
As a modern mystery school, Sancta Sophia offers tools to focus on the Creator, the creation, and the divine mystery hidden deep within each of us. Only through such work can we realize our inner goals and our part in the Plan.
As bridge people, we are to facilitate society's transformation. In the current era, we will move from the worship of materiality to a new comprehension of the true meaning of life. Being trained in spiritual techniques, and comprehending the significant role religion has played in the evolution of humanity, provides a foundation for soul growth and the spirituality that flows as consciousness expands.
Most of us realize every field of human endeavor is in a change process called the Aquarian age or 2151 century awareness. This rapidly moving roller coaster requires a willingness to hold on, change, adjust, and allow, fortifying ourselves for the wonder of a new world.
The old world is dying, but out of humanity itself come the seeds of the future. Your thought forms and mine-all thought forms—create a mandala, or blueprint, for generations to come. Knowing this, what are we to do?
My assignment was to anchor this seminary's work. Now I look for those who are to carry it forward. They will pay a price, as have all significant movers and shakers. We call it “sacrificial service.” Sacrifice is to “make sacred.” By dedication, will, and holding the vision, personalities are transformed and made sacred.
Sanctified by the cleansing fires of heart, higher will, and mind, we evolve. Most of us have uttered my will to thy will. When guidance came to leave Sarasota and come to Oklahoma, to create here a campus and a village of people committed to support spiritual work, how surprised I was that such a seemingly radical move would be asked of Charles and me. Nor did I realize the grief I would experience at leaving my known world for the unknown and how painful the anger projected by those who did not understand.
Now I am grateful for this opportunity, and I struggle to pass the torch to the next generation of workers. I want them to love us as we are and to be eager to build upon this foundation.
New workers will have to be bold, courageous, and highly competent. Good practical skills are needed, for a religious educational institute must command respect in a world dominated by rational thinkers, rigid standards, tax issues, and materialistic and artificial values.
Yet, I would anchor hope. Guided by the divine Mother nursing a starved, soul-sick world, change is emerging. Freedom is demanded in this time of abuse of rules and boundaries, freedom to outgrow the right-wrong consciousness of the past and to realize our poser of choice. How recklessly we invite pain as readily as joy, just to experience. Bouncing between pain and ecstasy, humanity has little discrimination our awareness of the soul and its nature.
The need is great, the harvest white. Workers are to be prepared, loved, and supported-mentored until ready to move into places they will design and from which they will move outward. We believe we offer the finest preparatory program in this country and perhaps in the world, both for personal growth and world service.
Sancta Sophia could easily handle 200 preparatory students instead of 100, 100 graduate students instead of 25. A skilled faculty stands ready to greet those who are to be a part of a wave of individuals ready to respond to needs witnessed every day by those who cry out in spiritual distress. We must set the captives free, but many know not where to turn.
Our quest for accreditation is not to conform to the standards of bureaucracy but too command respect. Our world begs for people trained to lead others across the bridge to spirituality. If you are being called, we invite your response. Join the camaraderie of like-minded peers co-working for a bounteous future.
Blessings,
Carol
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