21st Century Doc

Warning: The thoughts below may be perceived as unorthodox and controversial by some people. These thoughts are solely mine and do not reflect opinions and positions of other members of our team. Please, treat them as such and forgive me, if I accidentally offend anyone’s feelings. I meant no offense. I just described my very personal experience. Dr. Irina

Yes, of course, God lives in our hearts, and you do not have to travel far away to find Him. You can talk to God any time you want since He is ever-present in your life.

And yet, for most of us conversations with God happen only in certain circumstances, and if we REALLY need to talk and connect to God (which usually happens when we are in trouble and need help) we go to a place where this connection can be facilitated in the fastest and easiest way possible. We go to a CHURCH.

Being Russian, I had a privilege to be introduced to the rich culture of Orthodox Christian church early in life. I saw and admired many magnificent church buildings and participated in a few traditional very impressive (and very long) religious ceremonies, which, in full honesty, never made much sense to me. Yet I did it anyway, just in case… still wondering, why would people bother to go to a church, if they can talk to God and/or worship Him any time they want and anywhere they want?

Well, I am not wondering any more. Two weeks ago I experienced first-hand what it feels like to be in a perfect church. I visited La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain.

Now, churches are very special places. They are traditionally built and maintained in a way that the entire energetic structure of a building is very coherent, very harmonious, and hence, very healing for your soul. Just what we need in our stress-ful life.

I knew that, of course, and often had that indescribable feeling of internal peace, awe, and gratitude penetrating my very core in many churches all over the world (if a church building is done right, you will get this feeling no matter what official religion they belong to). But nothing in my previous life prepared me to the phenomenon of La Sagrada Familia (or The Holy Family in Catalan language).

I was not planning on having a religious experience of my life on June 3, 2010. We just got off the ship in Barcelona after 14 days of Transatlantic cruise and were doing our tourist duty on a hot sunny day on a hop-on-hop-off bus carrying us through the labyrinth of busy Barcelona streets full of hidden architectural treasures.

As you may have heard, Barcelona, being a home city of one of the most original architects ever lived Antonio Gaudi (1852-1926), is an architectural Mecca. The beauty of buildings throughout this 2-million people city is jaw-dropping. Yet everyone we talked to would inevitably point us to La Sagrada Familia as a “must see” attraction. So off we went.

When our bus turned a corner allowing the first look at the Gaudi’s (of course!) last creation all we could say was, “Holy …!!!” Holy indeed… La Sagrada Familia is 170 meters (!!!) tall giant Catholic temple with 18 towers and the most bizarre design you can imagine. It has three facades, all of which look totally different. On the pictures: the Nativity facade (to the West), and the newer Passion facade (to the East). The third and the largest, the Glory facade, is yet to be built.

The Passion facade

The Nativity facade

The Temple is under permanent construction. In fact, it is under construction since 1882. No, this is not a typo. The temple was never finished – and will not be until at least 2026.

The temple is the Gaudi’s life work, and when someone would ask, why the construction takes so long, he’d say, “My client is not in a hurry”.

Gaudi knew that his creation is not going to be finished in his lifetime; in fact, he envisioned it will take about three hundred years to complete (at the speed of construction of the end of the 19th century). He did not care though. Antonio Gaudi was building the PERFECT church.

The temple is only 1 meter less tall than the tallest mountain around Barcelona – and the reason why it is less tall is because Gaudi, a very religious man, did not want a creation of a man be higher than a creation of God.

The temple reflects Gaudi’s unique architectural style – a combination of elements borrowed from nature with designs of human imagination. Just look at these pictures: the unbelievable beauty, elegance, and harmony of lines, materials, and light.

If all this sounds interesting, tourist booklets and Wikipedia can tell you more about La Sagrada Familia. That is not why I am writing this post. The revelation for me was not the unique history, or the unique beauty, or the unbelievable futuristic architectural design. Nothing that your MIND can analyze and comprehend. It was the FEELING I’ve got while inside, which I wanted to share with you. I will try to describe it the best I can.

I do not know how being in a church affects you, but for me the above mentioned feeling of internal peace and joy usually comes along with a humble realization of God’s greatness and power over us, His children. The overpowering richness of Orthodox churches (as well as Catholic ones, from what I’ve seen so far) very much supports, stresses, and almost programs that in you. I am down here, God’s little lamb, – and my almighty God is up there, in his perfect and all-forgiving love watching over me, protecting me, and supporting me (unless I’ve been naughty ).

No question, it is comforting and much needed for our hurting souls to feel loved, forgiven, and supported. What else can you ask for in our tough world? Right, I thought so too. It never occurred to me that my relationship with God could be any different. Until I entered the Gaudi’s Perfect Church.

The temple was full of tourists talking to each other in all languages under the sun; an audio guide was duly delivering information to my ears; construction workers were operating their very loud machinery, laughing and yelling something to each other in Catalan; a thick construction dust was hanging in the air – overall, the environment was NOT conducive to any kind of spiritual experience. It was not meant to: at this point in time La Sagrada Familia is not an active church, it is just a tourist attraction (for somewhat 2,4 million people a year).

And yet… all the above didn’t matter. NOTHING mattered. Like there was nobody else there, just I – and the church. The building just took me in and made me a part of it. The huge columns that looked like giant flower stems were my arms; I was swimming in the rainbow of light coming from the coloured glass windows. At the same time I stayed strongly connected to the Mother Earth through my firm foundation, and from my high towers I could see far, far away.

The building was the Universe – indescribably beautiful, harmonious, and eternal. And as a part of it, I was eternal as well. I felt I am loved, I am safe, and I am needed. I am a vital part of God’s plan with an important role to play – and as such, I can rest assured the Universe will support me in my mission with all its endless resources.

And how it can be any different? If I am a part of the Universe’s “body”, it is in its best interests to take care of me and make sure I am healthy and happy and do what I suppose to do, right? Like you would take care of your beloved heart, brain, or even your little finger to make sure it functions well and lets you live a happy life.

This simple realization was like an epiphany to me. I am A PART of God! I am not separated from Him at all! This separation that makes me feel small and humble exists only in my mind and most likely is a game my Ego plays to keep me fearful and, hence, easy to control. But seeing the game sets me FREE and gives me security and strength beyond my imagination. With the Universe unconditionally at my side, ANYTHING becomes possible.

In contrast to any other church I’ve been to before, La Sagrada Familia made me feel CONNECTED to everything that exists; it made me feel BIG and powerful, a free Creator of reality responsible for the good, the bad, and the ugly in my life – and that was so overwhelmingly liberating and joyful… The Gaudi’s perfect church did not separate me from God; it let me see God in Me.

When I was studying psychology, my teachers would say that most of people’s psychological issues can be narrowed down to four basic definitive words: “helpless hopeless worthless victim” (in any combination of the above). These are also four roots of unhappiness and plain misery. If you feel you can apply any of these words to yourself, La Sagrada Familia may be just the right Healing Temple for you.

When you feel one with God, there is no place for fear, misery, and self-pity. An exciting world of infinite possibilities opens up for you, and the Law of Attraction starts working just as it should. Imagine – and enjoy

Dr. Irina