Picture Prayer Meditation

My work was featured as part of a 'Picture Prayer Meditation' for the latest issue of CR REVIEW, which came out on 29th September. The accompanying text (see below) was beautifully written by  Revd Matthew Askey, himself a painter - and also my mentor throughout my residency period:

Sacred Space

 
Light, moment, spirit, encounter; peace. How often have we walked into a special place, a sacred space? Perhaps unknowingly, perhaps we have been in this space many, many times before; and something of us, we discover, belongs here, is most at home here, can be here unencumbered – we find sanctuary. We are environmental creatures, and where we are - the space we inhabit, live, dream and pray in - helps to shape us into the person we are becoming. It is sometimes experienced as a homecoming; recognition of finding something about ourselves that is vital and priceless, the greatest part of what we are, in this space. We find God here most clearly.

Do we take enough time to ‘be’ in one of these sacred spaces? Or are we too concerned about our jobs, about getting ‘important’ things done? There is surely nothing more important than to be close to God, close to Life - to take the time to reacquaint ourselves with ourselves - being open to God in a sacred space. This is access to the wellspring that feeds us and sustains us, heals us and grows us.

The drawing that is helping our meditation on sacred space (opposite) is by Rachelle Allen-Sherwood, artist in residence at the Community of the Resurrection for the whole of October 2012. This is from a series of drawings made in Trinity Chapel which is located at the highest point inside Canterbury Cathedral. The works focus on a lit candle that is placed in the middle of an open space. The candle stays burning 24hrs a day, 365 days a year. It marks the spot where Thomas Becket's shrine stood.

“The space itself holds great power for me. I can feel it. The fact that it is the very same spot where millions of pilgrims focussed all their hopes, dreams, happiness and despair makes for some very powerful feelings. I also feel a great sense of connection to the past when standing there. I don't feel this everywhere, only in certain spaces.” Rachelle Allen-Sherwood.

 

 

Artist: Rachelle Allen-Sherwood

Media: Ink on paper (pen and brush wash)

Date: 2012

Text: Revd Matthew Askey