Seven Swords of Mary
The hardships and wonder behind a woman of faith, hope and love and why faith is a blessing and a curse to a girl raised in the Catholic Chruch.
We are going to do something a little bit different here for Season 4, Episode 2. We are going to honor a human. One who didn’t have any magickal powers but had all the power in the universe on her side. We are honoring the Virgin Mary.
Blessed Virgin Mary is synonymous with the New Year. Her name evokes new beginnings and journeys ahead and her spirit is one that evokes terror in the heart of evil.
Simply put, the Virgin Mary was no ordinary human and now that she’s a spirit she can lift you up to your greatest potential and tear you down to your greatest sorrow - if that makes sense.
You would think being pierced by the “Seven Dolors” or swords would kill her in an instant, but not the Virgin Mary. Her faith in God and of universal love was so strong that not even her Son’s greatest suffering (e.g. the crucifixion) could damage her soul and turn her into a bitter old woman.
The Virgin Mary is a Catholic Saint and deity who is known as the Queen of Heaven and Earth. However, her spirit crosses religious divides as, ultimately, she is devoted to helping those with loving intent.
I likened the Virgin Mary to Kwan Yin, the Chinese goddess of mercy because she is suited to help primarily those just beginning their spiritual journey.
It began with her conception of Emmanuel, or Jesus, and it has yet to end. She was there when Jesus lost his way, and she was there when he died. Each year, on January 1st, Christians flock to churches to honor Saint Mary knowing that a fresh start can be both a blessing and a curse.
For Mary, the start of her life as a young teen when she answered the call of God, was the beginning of a life of rumors, hardships, and suffering - and glory. Her faith is what saved her in the end.
I often wonder how and why Mary had so much faith. She had placed every ounce of her love into her family and her God even though she knew, by the prophecy of a Jewish oracle, that she was destined to a life of pain and suffering.
I’m not sure how I would react to knowing that seven swords would pierce my heart until the end of imperfection on Earth - I do know, however, that my faith hasn’t and never will be perfect.
It is worth noting that growing up in the strictest of Catholic families, I was often the one questioning the decisions made by God. I grew angry when certain things didn’t go my way - not because I didn’t get the answer I was hoping for when I prayed but more because I felt the sting of suffering regardless of prayer.
Being an adult now, I’ve realized that faith truly is blind - but it is also spiritual not religious. It’s the kind of thing you have when you want to focus on the positive in times of sorrow. When my father was in the trauma center and we didn’t know if he was going to make it, staying positive helped immensely.
Faith is the kind of thing you have when you believe in spirits and ancestors. Faith is the kind of thing you have when you know that the one you love may have passed on, but they are SO NOT gone.
Faith is blinded and like love and hope; it sees no bounds. So, the bigger question Mary may have asked herself in her time of great sorrow; can faith fail us?
I’m not the one to answer this question. But Mary is and she can. This is one of the reasons why, despite my aversion for some Catholic teachings, I still love Mary.
She may not be one of my primary spirits to call on when I’m in trouble - part of this is because of PTSD suffered when learning about her through Catholic means. But I recognize that she still holds a place in my heart and in my (confirmation) name.
I don’t hate being raised with Catholic ideals. But I’ve learned over the years that everyone finds God differently. No two souls, no matter how perfect or imperfect, are alike - therefore God won’t be the same to everyone. It’s a factor I believe organized religion (not just Christianity or Catholism) overlooks.
For me, God is the figure of destiny. The one we want to reach when it’s all said and done. You may call it Camelot, Heaven, or Paradise - but, I believe, God is the higher ideal we try to live up to everyday and when we can’t we know that it’s going to be okay. He is there all around us and just like the gods, goddesses, and spirits, he will be there when we need him.
God is that one being that all of us both in this plane and in the next, can be our ultimate destination and for some like the Virgin Mary, the ultimate destiny.
So, when invoking the Virgin Mary on the start of any journey, pray that the journey isn’t anything like Jesus’ and if it is than pray for strength for, she is the ultimate leader in strength. (Seriously, she’s got seven swords piercing her heart and she’s still up in Heaven living her best life!)
I hope you have a great start to the New Year and your journey takes you to your paradise (metaphorically, of course)!
Blessed Be,
Magickal Michelle :)