Life Lessons From a Woebegone Cathedral in Paris

Astonishing things happen on an inner adventure

“Looking outwards has got to be turned into looking into oneself. Discovering yourself provides you with all you are, were meant to be, and all you are living from and for.” Carl Jung.

I sat beside Archangel Michael, hoping for solace. What I got was kids doing what kids do — running, scuffling, making noise. But then it suddenly morphed into something else. Something with great meaning. Cool stuff happens when you do inner work.

Inner work?

People typically derive meaning in their lives from group values rather than from within. Jung tells us that this makes individuation impossible, as the self is never developed, let alone expressed and lived. For individual imagination to become alive and functional, we need to be able to step away from the group. Kenneth Smith, author.

Inner work helps you to explore yourself. By sliding out of the conscious mind, you move into a whole new playing field with valuable insights. Valuable might mean cast-off pieces of self, pivotal, forgotten memories, and/or intuitive guidance.

After a couple of decades of doing this and helping others on their inner journeys, I know how incredible it is. But you may need to hear it from someone else too. Carl Jung is the man for the job and will be joining us on our journey.

You can do inner work at home and I often do. But going on an ‘inner work adventure’ to cathedrals, stone circles, and the like, ups the ante. My inward searching is easier to do and surprises happen more often.

Now you may be thinking — “what a crock DL.” I understand. It does sound otherworldly or even whoo-whoo. Keep an open mind like Carl.

“I shall not commit the fashionable stupidity of regarding everything I cannot explain as a fraud.” Carl Jung.

Bit testy, Carl, but true.

What I uncover is usually concrete, actionable, and unforeseen. If it gets results, I’m OK with weirdness. Come along, I’ll show you how you can do it too.

As Parisian cathedrals go, Saint Nicolas des Champs was a strange starting point. Plunked down in an unattractive area in Paris (Yes, they exist.), it had no notable art, stained glass windows, relics, or reputation. So why Saint Nicks? Ah, tip number one.

Tip 1 — How to pick a place for an inner adventure? Follow the signs. (Carl would call this synchronicity.)

Jung defined synchronicity as a “meaningful coincidence of two or more events where something other than the probability of chance is involved.” When you do inner work, it happens often.

It is the uncanny occurrence of the meeting of needs, of the encountering of people, or of things coming together perfectly, making it seem that the stars have aligned to help the pilgrim on their journey. asacredjourney.net

On an inner world adventure, things often line up or unrelated pieces point the same way. If it doesn’t happen, you’re probably out of synch with your journey. Jung stated once, “synchronicity is an ever-present reality for those who have eyes to see.” I’d say it’s a shame more people don’t use it.

I knew zip about archangels before moving to France. But I’d had a POW experience at Mont Saint Michel, named after said archangel. I was curious if it could be repeated elsewhere. A search for “Cathedral Paris Archangel Michael” produced only a couple of contenders, Saint Nick’s among them.

I’d recently heard about Padre Pio, an Italian monk famous for healing and being on the outs with the church. I’m rather fond of people who manage to get in the face of authority and do good at the same time. So time for another search.

Up came St, Nick with a Padre Pio healing circle and healing mass! The website listed their miraculous results. Incredible. Not many churches offer this much less tout it.

Two unrelated searches pointing to Saint Nicolas de Champs. Good enough for me. The most I would lose was 4 metro tickets and an afternoon. So, on a cold, spitting rain day, I set off.

Paris in the springtime. Ain’t it fine. Pffft.

The sheer size of St. Nicks took me aback. It spread over an entire square block. But then in its youth, it would have sat in a field, not an asphalt grid. Being impressed stopped there. It's low, squatting structure lacked the soaring skyward ascent of most Gothic cathedrals. It’s listed as flamboyant Gothic, but it struck me as more of a wannabe.

Tip 2 — It’s never what you think. Keep going.

Less than inspired, I pushed open the heavy wooden door and went in. At least I would be out of the chilled damp. It’s the small things that count, no? Inside was drier, but not encouraging. With no sun and few lights turned on, the cathedral was dank and somber.

Tacky chairs filled the center of the church, some made of wood and most plastic. This added the gritty sensation of being in the Department of Motor Vehicles. But signs had led me here, I’d made the effort to come, so time to find a place to sit.

The large freestanding altar dominating the cathedral’s center seemed attractive. Turns out that it dates from the 17th century. It’s the only altar of its kind that escaped the revolution. The uprisers liked to break or carry off whatever they could. Jolly bunch.

Tip 3 — To explore a cathedral or anything, anywhere, follow your inner feeling.

But once in front of the altar, my inner feeling said, “Seek elsewhere.” I knew this came from a wiser part of me. Damn. I was so cozy in my chair.

I circled the church’s perimeter to feel the vibe. As usual, small, open chapels lined the cathedral’s walls. Many had simple straw baskets filled with pencils and squares of paper. Seemed that people could write down requests for healing and leave them in a basket. I’d never seen that before. Ten points for Saint Nick’s.

Along the northern wall, I found the chapels dedicated to Archangel Michael and Padre Pio. I decided to stay near the archangel and sat down on some stone steps. The good thing about meditating in churches is that people rarely bother you.

Tip 4 — To do inner work, relax and wait.

You must have a room, or a certain hour or so a day, where you don’t know what was in the newspapers that morning, you don’t know who your friends are, you don’t know what you owe anybody, you don’t know what anybody owes you. This is a place where you can simply experience and bring forth what you are and what you might be. This is the place of creative incubation. At first, you may find that nothing happens there. But is you have a scared place and use it, something eventually will happen. Joseph Campbell

Once I’d eased into a peaceful state, a hum of energy started. It soothed my heart. Life had been tense for a while. I’d been mulling over what to do with all my projects and handling P’s health condition was wearing me down. This ease was most welcome.

Then the reason to avoid the central seats arrived, a sizable group of school children. I’d seen a few escapees whiz by before starting. I could feel my inner voice say, “Aren’t you glad you listened?”

Yes, I was. The kids shouldn’t be a problem from afar. Everyone’s supposed to be quiet in a church, right?

Ha.

Tip 5 — Accept what happens. It will teach you something.

They started to sing, annoying me to no end.

“Calm down, DL,” I told myself, “you know how to do this.” I often meditated in NYC’s Museum of Art, so I can tune out a crowd. But somehow, I felt I shouldn’t do that here.

I relaxed and started to hear a fainter voice that harmonized with the children. Very ethereal, it sounded like it came from above. When the children came to the end of their singing, the ‘other’ voice carried on another moment as if to say — “I’m truly here.”

It didn’t jar me. I’d heard similar voices before and I don’t try to figure it out. To me, it means I’m in the groove.

Tip 6 — If none of this seems logical, you’re right, it isn’t. Logic has little sway over a voyage into the inner worlds.

“We must remember that the rationalistic attitude of the West is not the only possible one and is not all-embracing, but is in many ways a prejudice and a bias that ought perhaps to be corrected.” ― C.G. Jung, Synchronicity

It’s crucial not to judge what comes to you during an inner work adventure. Editing or analyzing brings the conscious mind back into the corral. You don’t want it there. All it will do is kick up dust, tell you you’re crazy or this means this or that or it’s time to scratch your nose, all sorts of nonsense.

I waited calmly and suddenly I got it.

Unexpected gifts come when you stop resisting the moment as it is.

Within seconds, all the children flew down the wide, stone corridor in front of me, heading towards the back exit and freedom. Their sparks of pure elation more than abolished the noise of their stampede.

Aha. Another lesson. Tolerance. It Appeared when they started to sing and now a second time. Or maybe this was the third time. The church had not impressed me at first.

One final teaching arose.

“Drop your resistance to what is. Allow and open to small daily wonders. Soften. Soften, Soften.”

These were the messages I’d come for. I never know what will happen in advance. Better that way. Otherwise, I’d limit myself by bringing in preconceived ideas.

I stayed a little longer, coaxing my heart to lighten even more. I felt some old knots falling away. I smiled and imagined Archangel Michael working to free me with his sword.

Merci.

I took in a deep breath, my signal that my inner work is complete. I thanked all who had participated in my experience, real and imaginary. Then back I went into the rain with a much lighter soul.

Who needs the sun?

Tip 7 — Have your own experience.

We need to walk to know sacred places, those around us, and those within. We need to walk to remember the songs. Joseph Bruchac author

You can go on an inner world adventure anywhere. See what piques your curiosity or seems to draw you in. Research old sites or base it on your interests.

There are many ways to pick up the messages. You may see scenes or images in your imagination, hear sounds or words, ‘know’ it in a flash of insight or feel it in your body.

People usually have one or two intuitive reactions that are most natural to them. You’ll discover and develop yours as you do inner work. I have an article about it.

If you find it hard, don’t worry. It gets easier with practice. Your experience will depend on what you need/are open to/request that day. There is no wrong way to do this and no bad outcomes.

Anthropologists have often described what happens to a primitive society when its spiritual values are exposed to the impact of modern civilization. Its people lose the meaning of their lives. Their social organization disintegrates, and they themselves morally decay. We are now in the same condition. But we have never really understood what we have lost, for our spiritual leaders unfortunately were more interested in protecting their institutions than in understanding the mystery that symbol present. Carl Jung

Has a way with words, doesn’t he? All to say, this is an essential tool.

Here are all my tips in a neat column. Very unlike me.

Tip 1 — To pick a place for your inner world adventure, follow the signs. Tip 2 — It’s never what you think. Keep an open mind. Tip 3 — To explore a cathedral or any place, follow your inner knowing. Tip 4 — To do inner work, relax and wait for the message or feeling. Tip 5 — Accept what happens. It’s part of the learning. Tip 6 — Logic is not useful during a voyage into the inner worlds. Let it go. Tip 7 — Have your own experience.

Try things out. Take what works for you and let the rest go. Questions? Want to share something? Drop me a line at [email protected]

Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside dreams; who looks inside, awakes. Carl Jung

If you happen to be in Paris and want to visit St. Nicks -.

254 Rue Saint Martin 3rd arrondissement Paris

St. Nicks was built over another church originally constructed in 1119. I just love the dates here. Almost 1000 years ago! Construction of the current “new” church began in 1402 and finished in 1587. They took their time in those days.