“He’s helping me without knowing it,” I explained to a friend. I was talking about a priest I know.
As I’ve mentioned, I’ve got a really horrible problem at this time. I think it may be the worst thing I’ve ever faced in my entire life, which is saying something. This burden (Saturn) is hidden (12th house) from almost everyone I know. It just has to be that way. I’m not sure for how long.
I went to a priest for help. Priests can be counted on, not to gossip. They keep your secrets. They have to.
The priest was incredibly helpful. He gave me good advice. He’s done a few other things in secret, meant to help me. He also told me I could send him a email if I needed to vent. I took advantage of his offer a few times and then…
Then I decided I should not burden him. Yes, I know that priests are there to be burdened, but this priest has a lot to do at this time.
Further, I thought it might help me to not burden him. It would strengthen me, see? If I don’t lean on him, might I get stronger?
I have gotten stronger and I need to get stronger, still. But here’s the deal…
Besides using the priest’s energy by not using his energy, I have written him numerous times. I have written him in great detail but before sending the mail, I ask myself. “Do I really need to put this weight on him?”
Since I started asking, the answer has been, “no”.
I need to be more like this priest. He has to deal with whatever is put on him and he does it. If he can do it, why can’t I?
If you need help with Saturn in the 12th house, or any other Saturn/Neptune exchange, here it is: Staying Together As Things Fall Apart.
{{{{{Elsa}}}}}}} ???
There’s a lot of wisdom in this post. It says a lot about the role of the priesthood, and also about what you learned simply from the fact that he set an example with his presence and his actions.
He reminds me of, Henry. He’s a very tall, thin, traveling, mountain climber.
I don’t agree. What is put on him is not his. He can put it down. It is like you giving him a huge rock. It is unburdening you because you feel like you HAVE to carry it, but when you hand it to him, he can put it down.
I agree. But he had to take the time to read a long, detailed email, on the chance I might mention something in it to him at some point.
Speaking as someone who has got A LOT of email (due to this blog), for seventeen years, this IS a burden. And I can use the delete key a lot faster than he can.
I just ask myself if I need to send it, or if I am okay, not sending it. So far, the answer is no.
There is some history here. The first time I met this priest, I was HYSTERICAL. He couldn’t tell if I was crazy or what. I was completely unhinged.
Two years later, he’s discovered what put me in that condition. My point is, I may very well show up at his door like that again some day. I’d just as soon he be refreshed.
Times are also coming when I will need to communicate very serious things. I really don’t want my email to pop up on his phone for no reason. This is a matter of respect, and reminds me I have a pretty serious, reliable backbone myself.
Times are also coming when I will need to communicate very serious things. I really don’t want my email to pop up on his phone for no reason. This is a matter of respect, and reminds me I have a pretty serious, reliable backbone myself.
Well, that’s sensible. But speaking as someone who had this transit, keeping absolutely silent about ye olde horror is almost worse than the actual problem and is pretty damaging. Its one thing to avoid overburdening him and another to not tell anybody. That just compounds the problem.
max
[‘Priests also make confession.’]
I am not silent. 🙂
I don’t talk to a lot of people because I don’t want to suffer…anything more.
I am helped by helping others. Everyone ought to know this by now. It’s been seventeen years on this blog!
But seriously, I gots things to do…many, many things. The end is not in sight and when it is, it will be worse. So the best advice I’ve heard is this – “It’s going to get worse.”
This is most definitely true, save a miracle from God (which is not happening). Hence, I see the need to strengthen myself on every level and I do mean, EVERY level.
This is most definitely true, save a miracle from God (which is not happening). Hence, I see the need to strengthen myself on every level and I do mean, EVERY level.
Been there, done that. So that’s perfectly sensible.
I don’t talk to a lot of people because I don’t want to suffer…anything more.
Sure. Hey, I had a drunk man shove a gun in my face and tell me if I got him in trouble he’d bail out of jail and kill me and my mother. Still, if you got somebody to talk to, talk to them.
The end is not in sight and when it is, it will be worse. So the best advice I’ve heard is this – “It’s going to get worse.”
We shall devoutly hope for the best then.
max
[‘And prepare for the worst.’]
A priest I spoke with once told me that he was going to apply… he called it a lightning rod technique: without mentioning names or specific details, he was going to ask a religious community he visited regularly to include my concern in their prayers. That spreads it out, he explained, and, more people praying for that intention.