Jim Cogley – Reflections: Tues 10 Sept – Mon 16 Sept 2024

After the close of a busy but fruitful pilgrimage season last night, it’s now time for recuperation, to come apart and rest awhile. It was lovely to meet lots of people I have never met before and find that they are receiving these reflections from somewhere. What began in such a small way at the beginning of Covid is really bearing fruit thanks to your involvement…Thank you for sending them on as they seem to be so meaningful for so many. Kind regards, Jim C

Tue 10^th Sept – Energies

My first experience of energies was at a time when I was quite young. It was through a family story I had often heard while growing up that was always told with great sadness and curiosity. My maternal grandfather, who would be my most significant ancestor, was a very troubled and angry man, seemingly for most of his life. I later discovered that he had been the victim of a serious injustice. My grandmother, who loved him dearly, desperately wanted to alleviate his suffering in any way she could. This was by praying that whatever he was carrying, it would be transferred to her. Apparently, her wish was granted, for within a year she became mysteriously and seriously ill and died. What brought her to an early grave then seemed to return to her husband who carried it to his grave. It was a childhood story that lodged in my memory, and I now realise the grave danger of carrying something from another that is not ours to carry. It can give rise to sickness and even death.

Wed 11^th Sept – The Knot that is not mine

It’s an occupational hazard in counselling to pick up on energies that belong to another, and many therapists are so sensitive that they have an arsenal of protection prayers and rituals that are only partially effective. The same is true for so many when a friend unburdens their heart and he or she goes away feeling relieved while the other feels drained and exhausted. A way of approaching this issue might be to consider the piece shown of the knot. Someone presents with something that needs to be unravelled. In the encounter the piece is held by the other in a manner that helps the owner to become objective and explore possible ways for the knot can be unravelled. The problem arises if the listener fails to fully hand back the issue to the one to whom it belongs. Should he or she fail to do so, they are unintentionally disempowering the owner from dealing with what is rightfully theirs. In effect they are trespassing on someone else’s territory. In the words of the song ‘I Walk the Line’ from Johnny Cash and learning ‘to know what is and isn’t mine’ is so important.’

Thurs 12^th Sept – ‘Nailing’ it down

When it comes to picking up on energies there are some who are like Velcro, super sensitive, and pick up everything, while others are more like Teflon where nothing seems to stick. It’s always an issue of personal vulnerability and boundaries. The reality is that to place a picture on a wall, a nail or hook is necessary. There must be something in our psyche upon which external issues can cling to. In my early years it always seemed to be grief from others that I carried until I addressed the issue of my own unresolved grief. There have been many times since when I have not felt ‘right’ as in being heavy and oppressed after an encounter, and each time it was a matter of discovering the ‘nail’ in myself. At this stage, having removed quite a lot of nails over the years, I still occasionally pick up something that is oppressive. When it does happen, I find it important to recognise it as quickly as possible and seek help before it becomes compounded by other issues.

Fri 13^th Sept – Symptoms of Contamination

I have found it very useful to quickly recognise the symptoms that are associated with having picked up on something that is ‘foreign’. Such energies may not have come from another person but from a place that was psychically contaminated. It is not always wise for sensitive souls to visit even toxic sites of historical interest. For such people to let down their guard as in becoming intoxicated is dangerous, and even being put under an anaesthetic carries a certain risk. Some of the symptoms associated with negative psychic energy are: A sense of being ‘out of sorts’ and ‘no longer myself’. Feeling burdened and oppressed, sometimes blurred vision, having lost the zest for living and losing hope, restlessness, no appetite for meditation and disturbed sleep. There are so many more. However, a useful analogy is to think of being like a balloon that while earthbound can bounce freely around. When someone or something contaminates our space, the balloon feels like deadweight and has lost its bounce.

Sat 14^th Sept – Use of Ritual

As a priest I have often been asked to bless places where ‘things have been happening’, places that have been known to be psychically contaminated. There are two approaches that I have found helpful in doing so. First, is to ensure that I go in with authority and no fear whatsoever, as any fear would leave a door open to receiving an unwelcome backlash. The second is to use a prayer ritual for protection. Whether that be a prayer to Archangel Michael or of some other kind, I’m not sure if it really matters. The ritual serves to reinforce a commitment and deciding that I am going into this uneasy environment to clear what I need to clear, and that I will be coming out as light and free as when I went in. It is the decision that I am not going to be affected that seems all-important. Like saying a prayer for protection while driving. The prayer heightens my sense of awareness and so being more alert leaves me less likely to have an accident.

Sun 15^th Aug – Who do people say I am?

The question posed by Jesus to his disciples was one that surrounded him always, even from his birth people were already asking who this child is and what is he going to turn out to be. In a way he is the last person who needs the answer to the question because of all people he knew exactly who he was and what his life was about. As a man in public ministry, he was someone whose impact touched everyone, someone who caused a strong reaction wherever he went, both favourable and unfavourable. At the time there were all kinds of rumours and ideas going around about him. Why is he saying the things he is saying and why is he doing the things he does? Why does he always seem to be on the side of the underdogs, the sick the poor and the oppressed?

So, he himself poses the question everyone is asking. ‘Who do the crowds say I am?’ It’s an easy one for the disciples to answer, ‘Some say you’re John the Baptist and others say Elijah or one of the ancient prophets come back to life.’ It would appear that they had some belief in reincarnation in those days. Then comes the bigger question, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ It is only Peter who answers that one by saying, ‘You are the Christ the son of the living God.’ The word Christ is not a surname like Murphy or Kehoe, but it means the Anointed One of God here on earth to fulfil a divine mission.

Applying those questions to ourselves is something we always need to do whenever the scriptures are read. Who do people say that Christ is? Having grown up in a Christian family in a Christian culture it’s relatively easy to answer with what we learned about him as we grew up. That he was born of Mary; that he grew up in Nazareth; that he worked miracles, that he died on the cross. But then the question goes much deeper. Who do I say that Christ is? In other words, who and what is he to me. Is he just a historical figure like Moses, Buddha or Mohammad or is he the resurrected Lord of my life? Do I have a personal relationship with him? Is he real to me?

For me it wasn’t until I lost my faith in the Church that I found personal faith in Jesus Christ. That may sound a bit strong but as a young man I did more or less lose faith in everything, including the church as institution. Looking back, it was a necessary part of my journey towards a mature faith. Having grown up as a Catholic I knew what that was but now I was forced to ask what it means to be a Christian. At its core I found that Christianity is not just about a religious practice but a lot more about having a personal relationship with Christ where I can say He is my Lord and Saviour. That’s a far cry from having admiration for him as a remote historical figure. For me it meant trying to unpack the gift of baptism and confirmation to see what they meant and to face the challenge of whether I was prepared to hand over my life to him. I can look back on a point in my life where that did happen and while up to that I had practiced my religion now my faith became real and something I was experiencing. For a long time, I had an overwhelming sense of being loved and that my life had meaning and purpose. To come from religious practice to faith experience is a huge step that each of us is called to. In life each of us surrenders to something so why not to Christ?

With all that’s going on at present we may find ourselves a bit lost or confused in relation to our faith and if so, what can we do about it? Personally, I think that it deserves something more from us than going to Mass once a week. If we only sat down to eat once a week, we wouldn’t be looking very healthy. Here in the Island, we have wonderful opportunities that are quite unique. People come here lost and confused all the time and they come in order to deepen their faith. As locals we are not exempt from this need either and I would encourage everyone to avail of everything that is on offer. The daily Masses are times of spiritual nourishment and if you decide to come it’s certainly not about just getting Mass.

We might decide to make it part of our spiritual practice to walk regularly around the Island and allow our hearts to be touched by the God of Nature. Here we have one of the most delightful pieces of landscape to be found anywhere and its right on our doorstep yet so many take it so much for granted that they seldom avail of it. Whatever it takes to improve the quality of our inner life we should go for it because without that all we can expect is not a life but only an existence. If it so happens that our stable diet is only Mass on Sunday, then the chances are high that we are suffering from spiritual malnutrition and slowly dying while at the same time we may not even know that we are hungry.

Mon 16^th Sept – Hooks for Psychic Contamination

A good working hypothesis is that whenever something foreign is being carried in terms of negative energies there is always a hook, and so each time it happens it provides an opportunity for more personal awareness. As mentioned earlier, unresolved grief can leave us vulnerable. It may be unresolved issues from childhood, especially where boundaries were infringed, that have left an open door. Having low self-esteem where I am inclined to be self-critical and beating up on myself, can be another factor. Being oversensitive is probably the most common hook. However, with being this way we need to ask the question, why is this so? Often, the answer lies in the womb with a loss of another or others at an early stage that even our mother knew nothing about. Medical research says that one in eight at two months were part of a twin or multiple, and in the next two months losses are common with only one chance in five of the mother having any indications. To understand acute sensitivity, womb issues are very important to consider, especially if all my life I have carried an underlying sadness and sense of loss…