Journeying Into Grace

by Norma Gentile

I have been thinking about Grace. I wrote to a friend over the American Thanksgiving weekend, and referred to it as "Dias de Gracias". Then I realized that there is this obvious connection between the time of reflection we have during the shorter days of winter, and the movement of Grace in our lives.

What is Grace? Here is my list so far:

Grace is an act that appears out of stillness.

Grace is a kindness provided, but not expected.

Grace happens when the heart asks, rather than the mind

Grace is more gentle than a feather, more potent than the most powerful elixir, and simpler than a child's coloring book.

Grace is our ability to bless each other.

Did you know the word 'grace' in English comes from the Latin words 'thank you' and gratitude'? Think of the Italian, 'grazie', or Spanish word 'gracias'. Both reflect a sense of thanksgiving and gratitude. Both are connected to the English word, ''grace'.

I love how languages tell us about the origins of ideas and cultural concepts. In English the words 'grace' and gratitude' retain enough similarity that you can understand how they are related. But 'thank you' appears to be derived more from our Germanic roots (danke), and so can easily be overlooked as being related to the word 'grace'.

Grace is our ability to bless each other. In giving a blessing to another, the very act implies your gratitude for that person. You are in a state of Grace because of your feelings of gratitude for someone. As you bless them, you are 'thanks-giving' to them. Grace is also our ability to feel gratitude towards others.

There are moments when I feel connected to all that is around me. It is as if the waves of energy lying between the atoms dance in my awareness. I am in a state of Gratitude. I see the spark of Life within people's eyes, under their stern or hurried gaze. I know that the grey stems of flowers caught in the cold northern wind contain within them the greening life of springtime. The promise of that Springtime to me is an act of Grace. We do not need to earn or work for Springtime, for the season will come to us. Likewise, we need not work in order to receive Grace. We are the children of Grace.

In the dancing waves of Life between the atoms lies the promise of Grace. The shared unconsciousness, the field of awareness which binds all form to other form, contains the blueprint for Grace. Inside each of us lies this blueprint. We open ourselves to experiencing it through gratitude and thanks giving.

Our hearts are the doorway.

Silence of mind, the means to open the door.

Stillness in time, our ability to know Grace.

Peace, as we are embraced into her arms.

May Peace, Grace, and Love be with you in this time of reflection

Norma
(with a little help from Mary)

Journey into Grace — A Sound Healing Recording

Audio Recording MP3 (5 Mb)

Audio Recording WMA (5 Mb)

Note from Norma:

Before I began this recording session, I asked my Hathor guide, Atamira, to sing through me, and express the quality of Grace most suited to this time of January, 2008. When I asked why the song seemed to not start at the quality of Grace, but did end within that quality, a pulsation of energy came over my body. As I sat quietly, I had an understanding come to me. The words I can find that best fit that understanding are "This song is a journey, because if you don't know the way, how can you arrive there?"

My deepest appreciation to all who listen, and hear.

Norma

Copywrite 2007 Norma Gentile. www.healingchants.com

About Norma Gentile

Sound Shaman Norma Gentile stands on the precipice between the worlds of professional music making and energy healing. Holding a master's in voice and years of study with esoteric teachers, Norma channels both in written words and through music. She maintains a private healing practice, and writes regularly for The Sedona Journal and Spirit of Ma'at. She has four albums of sacred healing chants available, including her newest, SONGS of SPIRIT, now at the Ma'at Shop.

Her formal training in music (BM, MM, University of Michigan, Voice Performance) combined with her studies in esoteric healing have helped Norma understand how sound affects our ability to heal, and influenced her exploration of chant as a modality of healing. Norma's website www.healingchants.com offers free sound clips of her albums, podcasts, articles, and a free subscription to her monthly e-newsletter.