Saint Dymphna
So Dr. Weil wants me to "Pay attention to your mental imagery, and make a few notes on the kinds of images that have a strong emotional impact on you. Think about how you might adapt them for healing visualizations."
I've added my Saint Dymphna picture to my altar. Saint Dymphna is a sort joke between my Mother and me. First, she is the patron saint of the mentally ill and second it's not custom for a Witch to "worship" a catholic saint. But I'm not your typical Witch and I find comfort in Saint Dymphna. I believe my (everyone's) physical issues are just manifestations of spiritual or emotional issues.
Saint Dymphna: Patron Saint Of The Mentally Ill
By William Jiang, MLS
Saint Dymphna in popular legend is the daughter of a pagan Celtic chieftain named Damon. Dymphna was Christian. It is thought she died around 650 A.D. She ran from home with her confessor, St. Gerebernus and two companions after the death of her mother so she could escape the incestuous interest of her father.
There are two scenarios to explain why Dymphna's father had this incestuous interest for his daughter. Both scenarios show the king went insane after the death of his wife. The first scenario was that after searching through the whole kingdom for a woman as good and beautiful as his late wife, he realized that this daughter was the only one who could take his late wife's place. The second scenario was that he tried to marry his daughter because he thought it was the best thing to do for political stability in his lands.
Saint Gerebernus, Dymphna, and their two companions fled to Antwerp, and built an oratory at Gheel, near Amsterdam, where they lived as hermits. Dymphna's father found them in a number of months, and his men put the priest and two companions to death, whereas Dymphna was beheaded by her own father because she refused to return with him to his lands. When the bodies of Dymphna and Gerebernus were discovered at Gheel in the 13th century, cures for the insane, and the possessed were reported many in number. Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of those suffering from mental illness. Her relics are reported to cure insanity. When the old church of Saint Dymphna in Gheel was destroyed by fire in 1489 it was replaced by a new church, which was consecrated in 1532.
Under Dymphna's patronage, the inhabitants of Gheel have been known for the care they have given to those with mental illness. By the close of the 13th century, an infirmary was built. Today the town possesses a first class sanitarium, one of the largest and most efficient colonies for the mentally ill in the world. Gheel was one of the first to start a program where the insane inhabitants lead normal and useful lives in the homes of farmers or local residents. The strength of Dymphna's cult is evidenced by this compassionate work of the people of Gheel for the mentally ill at a time when they were universally neglected or treated with hostility. Saint Dymphna's feast day is May 15.
I've added my Saint Dymphna picture to my altar. Saint Dymphna is a sort joke between my Mother and me. First, she is the patron saint of the mentally ill and second it's not custom for a Witch to "worship" a catholic saint. But I'm not your typical Witch and I find comfort in Saint Dymphna. I believe my (everyone's) physical issues are just manifestations of spiritual or emotional issues.
Saint Dymphna: Patron Saint Of The Mentally Ill
By William Jiang, MLS
Saint Dymphna in popular legend is the daughter of a pagan Celtic chieftain named Damon. Dymphna was Christian. It is thought she died around 650 A.D. She ran from home with her confessor, St. Gerebernus and two companions after the death of her mother so she could escape the incestuous interest of her father.
There are two scenarios to explain why Dymphna's father had this incestuous interest for his daughter. Both scenarios show the king went insane after the death of his wife. The first scenario was that after searching through the whole kingdom for a woman as good and beautiful as his late wife, he realized that this daughter was the only one who could take his late wife's place. The second scenario was that he tried to marry his daughter because he thought it was the best thing to do for political stability in his lands.
Saint Gerebernus, Dymphna, and their two companions fled to Antwerp, and built an oratory at Gheel, near Amsterdam, where they lived as hermits. Dymphna's father found them in a number of months, and his men put the priest and two companions to death, whereas Dymphna was beheaded by her own father because she refused to return with him to his lands. When the bodies of Dymphna and Gerebernus were discovered at Gheel in the 13th century, cures for the insane, and the possessed were reported many in number. Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of those suffering from mental illness. Her relics are reported to cure insanity. When the old church of Saint Dymphna in Gheel was destroyed by fire in 1489 it was replaced by a new church, which was consecrated in 1532.
Under Dymphna's patronage, the inhabitants of Gheel have been known for the care they have given to those with mental illness. By the close of the 13th century, an infirmary was built. Today the town possesses a first class sanitarium, one of the largest and most efficient colonies for the mentally ill in the world. Gheel was one of the first to start a program where the insane inhabitants lead normal and useful lives in the homes of farmers or local residents. The strength of Dymphna's cult is evidenced by this compassionate work of the people of Gheel for the mentally ill at a time when they were universally neglected or treated with hostility. Saint Dymphna's feast day is May 15.