Cate Reid

We have arrived in this new year of 2022 with many social activities postponed or cancelled for the second year.  In my case this situation gave me more time to reflect, but sadly not the enthusiasm to transfer these reflections to paper !

However at last, as we are now in mid January, here I am with ‘pen to paper’.

Under open sky’s (both night and day) I have from time to time walked and reflected on the passing of the past year.

This, of course, brought up the subject of the covid pandemic, which led inevitably to the subject of love and loss.

As I held these thoughts at this time of the new year, my mind travelled back just over 100 years to 1918-1920 and the Spanish Flu epidemic.

My own mother lost her mother at this time and at a very young age.  Some years ago as my own Mama approached the end of her life we talked of this event in 1918 when she was only 11 years old, her mothers’ only child, and the impact it had on her life, both positive and negative.

This series of blogs is entitled “Life is a life long Lesson”.  Sometimes perhaps this may apply not only within our own lives, but within the lives of those who have gone before, and what they may have learned from their life’s journey.  Sometimes perhaps the lessons we need to learn come from not only our own inner voice, but to listening now (and possibly even again! )to the voices of those who love and care about us ….. both past and present. 

With love and all best wishes to you all for this year of 2022.

Sarah Jane 

We are now in the first week of December with all the excitement, noise and chaos that  this time of year brings.

Last weekend my family joined me here at home, just for 24 hours.  We do this every year at this time as we have so many family birthdays.   So we make the most of it, reconnecting, chatting, eating/drinking, and the grandchildren put up my Christmas tree.  Much laughter, noise, and each year the children perform or talk about something that is new or important to them.   This time the youngest has taken up the violin,  precious times and memories.

This year Covid infection meant that one of the families were isolating and couldn’t make it but we were still eight bodies and three dogs ! …. so this involved dog walking in the snowy woods….. magic !However as part of our ‘Life is a Life Long Lesson’ series I invite you over the next few weeks to each and every day stop for a few minutes to connect with your Personal Centre.Take a few deep breaths and go to that peaceful place that is there inside each of us to access at will. Know that those few valuable minutes for yourself will help centre the precious memories being created with all those around you.Know that for each and everyone of us there is love, peace, and light just waiting for us……all we have to do is take time to access it.

I would like to sign off 2021 wishing you all a very happy, peaceful light filled holiday season.

With love,  

Sarah Jane

5th December 2021

This year, (and this morning) the glory of the autumn colours has given me pause to think about the cycle of the seasons, and why some years are more spectacular than others.

Is this due to circumstance of bad weather or blight throughout the year, or on other occasions does the nourishment of the sunshine and the refreshing rain encourage and result in this glory?

Or is it a combination of the two, and is this echoed in our human cycle?

Sometimes we require to be buffeted by illness, incident and/or the unpredictability of human relationships in order to come to full bloom and glory. Other times it is the love and support of those around us that nourishes us and brings about the same result.

However it comes about, regardless of our journey, at this time and as we approach winter, it gives much reassurance that the journey is as it should be, and that all roads lead home.

With love, Sarah Jane.

 November 2021

The Cistercian Abbey of Sancta Maria and historical Nunraw Abbey Guest house are located in the Lammermuir Hills of East Lothian, Scotland. The community of Monks live a contemplative life of prayer, simple manual labour and works of charity, living harmoniously with one another. 

From the outside, the abbey at Nunraw looks remarkable ~ a large grey utilitarian building, perched on a hillside in a clearing in some pine trees.  

I spend a couple of days at the adjoining guest house which provides accommodation for pilgrims and others with a passing curiosity, such as myself.   The guesthouse is a place of meditation and peace and I enjoyed taking time out of my busy schedule to quieten my mind through, stillness, prayer and meditation.

During my stay I had the privilege of having a coffee with Fr Mark (Abbot), despite his busy schedule we chatted for about 45 mins, he was engaging and funny and worldly wise. I was encouraged to use the public area of the Church for quiet prayer, or take time to sit still and reflect on my life and what is happening for me and those whom I love.

I also had a wee blether with Helen (Brown) who volunteers in the shop, and Shirley and Heather who are the housekeepers for the guesthouse. It was a pleasure to hear about history and the day-to-day life at the abbey and also about the wider community of Garvald.

While the Abbey remains a place of meditation and peace, it also continues to evolve. The current plans are to build of a new “Reception and Welcome Centre” at the front of the monastery. This will include a new tearoom, shop, public toilets, office space and a new entrance to the Church. 

I strongly suggest you have a look the Secret Paradise of Sancta Maria Abbey video, which I stumbled across YouTube, and I hope you enjoy browsing the website and perhaps visit Sancta Maria Abbey one day!

Best regards,

Cate x

Is this what we call “life experience ?”   …. or ….. “learning by experience ?”

I have been asked to write a few words as a Blog – my response was “ what is a blog?”

I am still not sure what the answer is to either question, so please bear with me while I ponder a while.

Today as I mull this over, it becomes clear that ALL of life is learning, and the experience is what we do with the learning.  Or maybe the learning is what we have from the experience ?

Should I put that last sentence in my blog ?

I hope, maybe, that you would like to join me from time to time as I explore some of these questions.

This week is the beginning of October 2021.  This is Monday morning, and after a few weeks of glorious weather, today it is cold, wet, and miserable (in Scotland we call that dreicht!)

This is a perfect day to start a new project, a series of new experiences, and I hope that you will join me for “The Blog Ride!”

Who knows what we might all learn.

Sarah Jane

 Oct 2021

We are live with our new website!

This last year has seen lots of changes within our community. We have rebranded and yes, we have a new name the Open Sanctuary, as well as a new logo. We struggled for a long time with the name, The Community of Mystic Healers which came from Rev Jude Will’s book, Jude is one of our co-founders.

We have a new name, new logo and new website, but our core beliefs and values remain the same.

We strive to be our best selves each day, we actively chose love not fear, but sometimes we fail, we are after all only human.

We begin each day in our morning office at 8am, setting our individual intentions for the day, you are more than welcome to join us in our zoom room, please contact us for the link.

We remind each other to pause often and to listen to the voice of our inner divine, which guides us to truly serve with love as we journey home to source.

Our one to one courses continue, as well as our group courses.

We are very excited to announce the Ordination of Rev Cate Reid, and welcome her as she steps into her ministry within the community.

We would like to thank Michael Hannah and Richard Scarborough for their help and support in creating our new logo and website.

Our social media platforms will develop next. Please give us a like and a follow.

With love,

Angela.