Our own FAR sister, Elizabeth Cunningham has written her marvelous memoir which came out yesterday. It is titled My Life as a Prayer with the subtitle, A Multifaith Memoir. For those of you who may not know Elizabeth, she wrote regularly for FAR for many years. She is the author the The Wild Mother and the award-winning Maeve Chronicles. Her Chronicles envision the Celtic Mary Magdalen named Maeve. Throughout the four books of the Chronicles, Maeve is filled with vivacious energy and her own life of spirit. The books are Magdalen Rising, The Passion of Mary Magdalen, Bright Dark Madonna and Red-Robed Priestess (which in full disclosure is one of my favorite series of all time.)
In My Life as a Prayer, Elizabeth’s writing is lush and poetic, clever and clarifying, multilayered and depthful. I hope I can convey all those elements in this short blogpost?
This book is the story is Elizabeth’s journey-ark from her childhood as the daughter of an Episcopal minister, to discovering her own brand of spirituality with a mix of goddess priestesshood, Quaker practices, nature meditations, mystic musings, and abundant creativity all wrapped up in her identity as a writer. She takes us along as she explores all these avenues and more.
As she opens her book, she writes,
If a singer is one who sings, and a writer is one who writes, the follows that a prayer is one who prays which means…
I am a prayer.
Throughout the book she goes on to expand her thoughts about prayer in many alluring ways. One in particular has stuck with me.
Seeking help is a prayer, Railing from the ashpit, howling inside a yurt are prayers. Listening from the voice from the whirlwind, from the silence amid the gentle buzzing of wasps are prayers. Anything that breaks our isolation is prayer. Connection, reconnection is prayer.
As Elizabeth takes us along with her on her spiritual journeys and her imaginative musings, we get an insider’s view of her creative mind. For example, I couldn’t love it more that even as a young child, she identified her stuffed animals as non-binary.
Elizabeth’s rich fantasy life led her to break out of the patterns and constrictions of her childhood. Throughout her life, this has brought both gifts and challenges.
One of the gifts she describes is her enchanted childhood explorations behind a gap in the stone wall near a church. Even though a hanging sign warned “No Trespassing,” it was irresistible to the young Elizabeth. Her mission was to look for fairies. And she found signs that they existed in moss and cobwebs. Just magical! As she writes, To this day I am exploring a new trail in unknown territory.
But there were significant challenges of such a questioning, questing mind. She was known as a rebel in her family and community, a “problem child.” She questioned everything and defied expectations at all corners. Even as I write this, I think to myself, well of course, how else to account for the brilliancy of her writing. I’m thinking especially of her Maeve Chronicles. It takes a true rebel to so imagine a story that has been known for centuries, no millennia, and make it fresh, new and find fascinating new angles. And in the process, to make it relatable and believable.
Elizabeth describes her creative process. She was already talking to a character of hers in her mind and her prayers. Her fantasy-friend was Madge. In these conversations she struggled with the concepts she would soon write about, that was to make Madge the main character in the traditional Jesus story. I felt joy along with Elizabeth when she came to understand how discussions with Madge opened up the pathway to writing her opus. She writes:
In the midst of my exhilaration, I knew I had set myself a daunting task, not to mention an undeniably heretical one. I was already in the habit of talking to Madge (soon to become Maeve). It occurred to me that, out of courtesy, I should give Jesus a heads-up. That may have been the first of many conversations that continue to this day.
‘Jesus?’ I began, without liturgical preliminaries. ‘I’m going to write a novel about this wild Celtic witch, who turns out to be Mary Magdalen. And, um, and you’re going to be in the story. Is there anything you’d like to say?’
There was. The answer was prompt and succinct.
‘Please don’t make me a prig.’
I did my best to honor his request.
My Life as a Prayer is primarily a story about personal questing. Elizabeth describes harrowing life traumas as she grew up, She doesn’t dwell on them which is a blessing because this is a story of healing, and using imagination to go beyond the pain. As she describes them, those experiences have propelled her life-journey, they are not the focus of it.
And so we journey with her through her rage, desperate searching, questioning, asking for help, even crying out for help at times. She doesn’t sugar coat. It is honest and she speaks with a voice that we can all relate to as she walks these healing pathways.
Now, 50 years later she describes the experiences in this way, These are unremembered memories I could only heal through writing novels, surely a form of prayer for myself and for those other who did not make it back to safety.
As I was reading, I couldn’t help but think how timeless this creative process is. I consider what is happening in the world today and all the children who are being traumatized by war and other violence. My prayer is they make it out to safety too and when they do, that Elizabeth’s template of healing can be a guide.
This is a book that is worth a read, maybe even several reads to capture all the woven elements.
Here are Elizabeth’s own words to close this post:
O singing radiance
hallowed be thy names
sing to us, sing in us
Let us see, let us hear
as you do . . . .
To learn more about Elizabeth’s work and to purchase her books visit her website /elizabethcunninghamwrites.com/
Discover more from Feminism and Religion
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Feminism and Religion 
Oh what a beautiful tribute to a truly remarkable woman and writer – how I used to look forward to Elizabeth’s comments – “the words the singer is one who sings…I am a prayer” Oh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like she was channeling Mary Magdalene. What happens when we can not sing, we lose our voice, I am a prayer and that we are! I love that. Thanks to Elizabeth, many women are re-membering Mary Magdelene, indeed this is the time of honoring, Mary Magdelene. Brilliant!
LikeLiked by 1 person
PS Beautiful job Janet!
LikeLike
Thank you, Sara. I miss Elizabeth here on FAR too, but it is a treat to read her books.
LikeLike
Your life sounds so interesting Janet, for sure, life is the quest. Now, we get to raise Mary Magdelene, what a glorious time women have entered, heaven on earth.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Catherine
LikeLike
Thank you so much, dear Janet, for this beautiful review. It means a lot coming from a writer and human being I admire so much! Love to all my FAR sisters. I am still a faithful reader. I am hoping this comment will post! Sara, sending well wishes. Your weekly posts touch me deeply.
LikeLiked by 2 people
What are FAR sisters, I have never heard this expression before, would someone let me know, thanks, Cate
LikeLiked by 1 person
The community of FAR woman and other allies.
LikeLike
Janet, What are FAR women, this is new for me, what does FAR mean? Cate
LikeLike
FAR is this site: /feminismandreligion.com/
LikeLike
Thanks for letting me know Janet, warmly, Cate
LikeLike
Not only a pleasure, Elizabeth, but consider this an invitation to write anytime.
LikeLike
I heard that after Jesus was murdered Mary Magdalen and their children high tailed it up to France, for her own safety and the safety of their children and, her teachings continued in France. Can anyone elaborate on this, I would love to hear more and plan on buying and reading all of Elizabeth’s books now, very exciting! Cate
LikeLike
we miss you!
LikeLike
I am new to the FAR family and already feel like I’ve discovered a treasure grove of creative minds and hearts. Thank you Janet for introducing me to Elizabeth. What a brilliant inspiring (hilarious) rebel. I guffawed at Jesus asking her not to make him a prig. Beautiful review Janet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Welcome Terry, I am glad I could introduce you to Elizabeth. Of course she did all the work!
LikeLike
I second that, what a delightful treasure trove of brilliant minds, FAR. I thought it was hilarious to hear Jesus say, as long as you don’t refer to me as a prig, what a sense of humor!
LikeLike
Thanks for this beautiful tribute to Elizabeth’s memoir. She is such an amazing, deep, poetic, and wonderful writer. Her words have inspired images to spring forth for me. I have loved everything I have read of hers and look forward to reading her memoir.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I couldn’t agree more Judith. Thank you
LikeLike
I think of life as a poem, a song, a story but what a joy to add a prayer to that list. It’s a book I will definitely be reading. Thank you Janet for the review and to Elizabeth for her writing. Incidentally, I think Mary Magdalene is a Goddess for our time. There is a small Chapel in Glastonbury England called St. Margaret’s which is also now dedicated to Mary Magdalene. This is a small sanctuary, full of Presence. The Rose is definitely blooming over here Elizabeth, and I agree with Cate that many women are beginning to find her.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you again, Janet for your review and thank you all so much for your responses. I continue to have difficulty posting. Many thanks to Janet for making sure the comments get through. All best to all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful review, Janet. I like the way you’ve put the quotes from the book in red type face. Kind of reminds me of the New Testament!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh Sally, I have to laugh. Ironically, I am something of a luddite and I couldn’t make the quote feature of WordPress work, so I had to find a work around to make sure that Elizabeth’s quotes were clearly noted as hers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! The phrase, “I am prayer,” is both a sibling of your review, Janet, and an absolute blessing of Word Made Flesh. En-fleshed. Three words in the crucible of your review and this day, I am as if re-Word-ed.
Sawbonna,
Margot/Raven Speaks.
LikeLike
I have read this marvelous book! Elizabeth takes us with her on her lifetime quest to reconfigure Christianity in such a way, that she can participate in the rituals she loves and create new gates into, and pathways through the spiritual gardens that she loves and loves to re-envision.
I am especially delighted with her concept of Imaginary Best Friends Forever, because I happen to have one in the White Monkey, aka Hanuman, who I plucked from the Ramayana and re-storied. I never had a designation for him, but now I do –IBFF. Picture me smiling, big time.
LikeLiked by 1 person