Michael Harding

Karma is a notion we associate with the east. Art is something that in modernity has liberated itself from religious devotionalism. But here I want to meditate on how all these things are unified. Liberation from Karma, attention devoutly to the great work of art, are unified in that God is a word for that which runs through all things, and all times, and all beings. God is a word we use as a cradle to hold the unnamable mystery of being. And there is no limit to this abundance even when we are exhausted by our own negative energies.It is now the moment of the Equinox. I'm doing last night's podcast, and this today, and perhaps another one or two in the coming days to celebrate this fact. Because I've always been excited by the Equinox, the dramatic transition that we in Ireland experience from the dark brooding world of winter, to the dizzy light of Summer. And here we are, on the edge of lengthening days, long days, and summer days not far away not. Talk to you son. 

I did an episode during the week focusing on the Equinox. And then when I was cleaning out files and arranging all sorts of stuff on hard drives I seem to have deleted the episode. This I discovered at the last minute. And the only thing left in the folder was a podcast from September 22. Now that's the autumn Equinox. And now we're at the Spring Equinox. And I have a lot to say yet, so much to share with you. But I thought it suitable that the only episode I could get my hands on was this. So I'm going to put it out for now, for the weekend and then on Monday I'll be back again with one about the Spring Equinox. We're in the run up to Easter, and then we move towards midsummer. I'm working on a book entitled Midsummer, and I'll post a reading of the first draft also over this weekend. So that will be a new episode on Monday and somewhere in between a reading from my new book. And for now, enjoy this reposting of a mediation which is very personal and reflects on why I practice. Thank you for being here. Listen. Listen.

You're trying to be authentic. But knowing you never will be is not failure. it's ok that you're not authentic. And where will that lead us. Well I begin the podcast today by reading a text, a memory from 18 years go. So let's begin there.Now go listen to that podcast! And thank you for your support. And if you are one of the many folk who are enjoying the podcasts but don't subscribe, I'm really pleading with you, please, go to Patreon.com/hardingmichael and subscribe for about €7 a month. about 70% of followers don't actually subscribe, so if you can manage the monthly subscription you'll be helping me greatly to continue sharing these podcasts with the world. 

Well as promised I've put together a meditation on this extraordinary woman of the 13th century. This is special, so I'm doing no explaining. Just trust yourself and delve right in and keep with it to the end. And enjoy the blessings of life in every minute of the day; or as we say nowadays, have a great weekend.

I'm here at the kitchen table, rather confused about who is here with me. And I"m wondering how do I contextualise this moment. Not as an ordinary or mundane wakening but as radiance. And how do I put that in a modern way. So it kind of dawned on me that there is one basic step, and one basic starting point for everything. And in coming episodes I'll be from time to time coming back to this; The spirituality of Saint Clare. I think it's amazing and easy to get your hands on. But she is from a different age, and her language is sometimes florid. Ok. So there's one place to begin. And it's here, now, in the presence of the divine being. Every spiritual path is complex, with lots of ideas. But only if you miss the first step. It's the access moment. And if you begin here, then all spiritual teachings will make sense.

What links random events. How do we see the cosmos, at the surface or by what is beneath. If there are two hundred and sixty five lakes in Cavan, how many moons are there when the full moon shines. These and other questions will never be answered. But lovely to ponder them and let the silence inside the heart resonate with the wonder of it all. Come to my podcast and subscribe on patreon.com so I can survive and continue doing them. Please. Patreon.com. Michael Harding. Podcast. Do it.