Opening the Gate into Mystery

The gate image has served as a symbol throughout history.

In her book The Second Half of Life, by Angeles Arrien, she says:

“Gates are often considered places of initiation or entryways into holy places, sacred grounds, or spiritually significant transitions. Deep archetypal feelings may surface when we are “at the gate”. Instinctively we recognize that we are required to let go of what is familiar, and prepare to enter and open ourselves to the unknown. Our passage through the gate is irreversible. We cannot go back. After we open the gate and stand upon the threshold, we must do the work of transformation”.(p.10)

For me a gate feels different than a door somehow.  Like you should be able to see through a gate, so you can see where it may be taking you. But sometimes that is so not true. The gate maybe huge and solid and blocking the view of the path.

She goes on to say, “Symbollically, there is a marked distinction between a threshold and a gate. A threshold suggests the place or moment where transformational work, learning, or integration occurs. The gate suggests protecting and testing that must occur before we are allowed entry and permitted to do the work at the threshold.”(p.9)

I have an old rusty gate in the middle of my garden. It leads to nowhere, or does it?

Enter through the narrow gate.

For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction,

and many enter through it.

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life,

and only a few find it.

Jesus, Sermon on the Mount, Gospel of Matthew (NIV)

I invite you to open the gate to mystery.