As we seek to discover our inner divinity, we begin to unveil new ways to know, perceive, and intuit. As insights prompt us from within, our value system changes. Now we embrace our personal spiritual quest.

Sophia from Hagia Sophia, Istanbul preserves the wisdom teachings regarding the Divine Feminine - Sophia - as the mother of humanity. In this early Christian icon Sophia holds the Christ Within in her care.

Religions, mystery traditions, and yoga have proven their capacity to birth saints, sages, wise ones, and wisdom keepers. Disciplines of each approach recommend the addition of certain ingredients to the life of the devotee, as well as asking each to surrender his or her worldly values. Personality, will, and goals are adjusted to align to our new perceptions.

Various dynamic processes for reshaping consciousness must be tailored to the candidate's culture and ideology. Perennial wisdom chiefly combines noetic sciences and devotional practices to bring expansion of consciousness to daily lifestyle.

Touched by the sacred presence,
A life now opens to new ways of being.

Called by whatever name, this holy embrace brings a deepening ability to love and to know. This alignment to the Source allows an all-encompassing, all-knowing nature to evolve. From deep within comes the realization of Oneness that relates to the whole of life; a new sensitivity and an ever-deepening inner knowing bloom.

Familiar with Christ as Love but less familiar with the consciousness it brings, Christianity today struggles to integrate the gnosis aspect. Long ago Logos, Koinonia, and Metanoia, all Greek words, became acceptable to Christianity. Now Sophia, or gnosis, is dawning for many who are experiencing this deeper inner knowing.

ChristoSophia - a term new to many - may seem unusual to Western Christianity which has focused more on the person of Jesus than the consciousness of the Christ. Understanding Christ as Logos, the Word, and Sophia as the Wisdom behind the Word, our goal is to merge the two. The feminine aspect, the Soul, births the Christ Within, thus we have the term, Mother of God, known as Theotakos in Eastern Christianity and the early church.

The challenge Christianity faces is that of maturity.

No longer a new religion, but a deepening perception of the true wisdom, the Christian tradition is transforming. Religions evolve, just as individuals do. In an era of empowerment of the feminine and new discoveries about the early church, we revitalize the importance of the Good News to free individuals of dogmas and doctrines entrenched in cultural laws and limitations of the past. Christianity is developing a deeper realization of the mysteries it has embraced all along.

"In Christ there is no East or West" has been sung historically; "...no male or female" is affirmed biblically. ChristoSophia steps forth to affirm the power of love-wisdom and the wholeness conveyed in the statement made in the image and likeness of the Creator—for both men and women of Christianity.

Traditionally Christian people have been guided by theologians and students of holy thought who have focused on its outer form. As more revelations of a faith emerge, denominations gradually integrate new depths of understanding. We gradually discover a greater understanding of the mysteries our faith contains.

This process has existed since the earliest study
of Bible, church history, and oral tradition.

New discernment of the recordings of the early church, along with the sharing of information and the comprehension of cultural impact provides access to wisdom valued by the diversity of our Christian faith.

Sophia—the gnosis of those who would know God—has always been appreciated in Eastern Christianity. Friars, monks, priests, and popes have claimed inner knowing of Sophia. Most founders of denominations experienced revelations that prompted fresh inspiration. Many others have connected with higher will in things great and small.

"Just knowing" gains authenticity
as life validates the knowing.

Individual lives of the people of the Christ witness the power of ChristoSophia. When the challenge to love is fulfilled, Sophia emerges in powerful ways at the edge of mind—our grasp of God's will. "Just knowing" gains authenticity as life validates the knowing.

Copyright © Carol E. Parrish

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