Jeanne Lupypciw Blog

A few years ago I went on an unexpected spiritual journey. For 10 days I would travel through Europe visiting Paris, Ruen, Normandie, Milan, Venice, Assisi, Rome, Pompeii, Naples, Scotland & Ireland. What began as a life long desire to connect with the culture, history, art & architecture quickly shifted. In each city magnificent lessons occurred, spiritual awakenings. The one I will focus on for now involves Mont St. Michelle in France.

It was getting dark, yet after seeing the picture of Mont St. Michelle castle, I knew I needed to go.

Upon arrival the castle was dark & vacant. I found myself instinctually running up the stairs, turning down corridors, being drawn forward until I stopped infront of a gothic cross in the cemetary. Who was this, how had I known where to go? I allowed myself to be open to experience what spirit wanted to reveal.

I passed a tree and suddenly an image came to mind of a woman from medieval times protecting the children. I saw a crest of a heart being held beneath by praying hands. There was a cross coming out of the center/top of the heart. I knew I must draw this in the dirt, it was a way to honor the crest, my heritage.

The journey continued till I made it to the abbey on top. There was a dark stairwell, leading to the church. Immense fear came over me as I walked toward the door, I couldn’t take it & ran below. I asked my teacher why I had been so sickened by this area & he shared that this is where the hangings & slayings would have occured. Beneath the castle, the fog rolled in on the water. Drawing in the sand, i imagined the boats from medieval times coming to shore. It was eerie, yet very powerful.

For years the crest image would come to mind. When I was in Scotland I looked to see if this was a family crest, when in the shower I would draw it in the steam. There was something peaceful I connected to with this heart.

I have been going through a new level of transformation in my heart recently. Tonight while in the shower I thought of my heart opening wider, able to love more fully. I imagined angel wings coming out, then the hands holding the heart. I wondered if there was a picture I could find that would represent this (perhaps to use as a logo for who I am becoming). My google search brought me to this
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To my surprise, it represents the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The Sacred Heart of Jesus was loved by Francis de Sales whose writings focus deeply on the Divine Love of God for humanity. Salesian spirituality utilizes the heart aflame as a motif for the love shared between God and all Creation. It is not an image of judgment, but of unconditional love: the unconditional, communal love shared by the Triune God and the unconditional, compassionate love of God for humankind.

Looking back now, I remember being in the Basilique du Sacré Coeur in Paris on the butte Montmartre a few days before my castle experience. As I walked around I thought I had dreamed this place the night before. Sacré Coeur translates to Sacred Heart.

Many people have made pilgrimages through the years to this sacred castle. I am grateful to have experienced this & now years later to continue expanding my heart so that I may have a greater understanding of what the Sacred Heart of Jesus is sharing with me. Unconditional love for humanity. My life is filled with miracles. Spirit is so incredible. Trust the journey, it’s incredible to see how it all unfolds.

Take care,
Jeanne
magicaljeanne.com