1. What inspired you to take this course? Were you familiar with Meditations on the Tarot prior to this course?

Reading Carl’s books The Eternal Heart and Unteachable Lessons and listening to some Encountering Silence podcasts led me to semi-join Carl’s Oratory Retreat Tolkien and Lewis online discussion. I say semi-join because I live in New Zealand. International online time slots are not always convenient for me. Fortunately, the NZ time for the MOTT zoom calls is Friday at 1pm, so that is possible when work permits.

I am not familiar with MOTT and would not easily have investigated this book because of the deep nay-saying of my religious background towards ‘divination’. Carl’s approach to this book and my trust in his background and ministry have given me confidence to explore this particular archetypal insight into Mystery, guilt-free.

2. Do you have experience with Centering Prayer, lectio divina, or other forms of contemplative spiritual practice? How have exercises like this been helpful or meaningful for you?

I have a ‘charismatic protestant’ background and have only in recent years been led to contemplative meditative practices. Now I identify, as Carl does, as a ‘Christian who seeks to live as a follower of Jesus in the light of the Christian contemplative and mystical tradition’. I find Celtic Christianity fascinating and inspiring, perhaps because my roots are in the UK. No great rhema so far from my efforts to ‘be still and know, and my mind doesn’t co-operate very well with requests to put thoughts on the back-burner, but I am glad to be ‘on the road’ to a good relationship with silence, stillness and solitude. I dearly want to hear our Beloved’s Still Small Voice more clearly.

3. Is there a particular goal or hope that you bring with you as you participate in this course? What dream do you have for participating in a course like this?

No particular goal. Time, funds, energy and God-willing (life sure is a mystery on an everyday basis!), I just hope I have been Spirit-led here and am able to relate to and understand the material, and stay connected for the duration of the course, even if mainly from the sidelines. I’m grateful to be connected to seekers on a similar heart-path of interfaith and universal Love. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, Unknown Friends, and bless you Carl for your Work ?