Hello lovely readers,

I have been thinking of telling this story for several years, but kept moving in other directions. This seems like as good a time as any. There has been a new development which led me to regather some photos and get this piece published.

So, let’s begin …..

My path towards Quakerism is a fine example of grace, fate, and opportunity. There are a few themes in my life that still surprise me, because they seem so ” not me “.  This is definitely one of those themes.

I searched my memory to figure out when the first breadcrumb appeared. I believe it was in early 1992, when transiting Saturn conjoined my Ascendant. I do not think this transit was relevant to this path, but it is related to the event. Our work group went on an day retreat to Pendle Hill in Wallingford Pa. I still remember who drove us and who led the retreat. I had never heard of Pendle Hill , but was excited to go on a retreat. I liked the place immediately. Honestly it was great just to do something different. I was beginning to become ambitious about my career for the first time. I wanted to take on more responsibility and perhaps be a leader. This is indicative of this important Saturn transit. I knew very little about the Quaker faith , other than its ties to Pennsylvania. I had no inkling how important Pendle Hill would become to me about 12 years later.

 

 

 

My ambition resulted in being given an opportunity to be sponsored for a graduate degree in Social Work so I could possibly become a Social Work Supervisor, I was lucky to be admitted to Bryn Mawr College and be part of a program that paid for my tuition and books for the second year. Both years I was paid full time while I went to school full time and worked a couple days a week at an internship. Bryn Mawr was a wonderful experience and my time there brought me many blessings. It is an institution with Quaker origins. Slowly but surely this path was gaining momentum. On my very first day I befriended a woman in my class. She and I would remain connected after graduation. Her family practiced Quakerism. I do not think I ever met a Quaker up until this point.  My second year I became friendly with another woman. We even shared the same internship setting for awhile and later became colleagues in a private practice. She went to the George School and was also raised Quaker.

A few years alter we moved office buildings at work. On the days I drove in, I parked my car and walked a few blocks. On those frequent walks I passed  by the Friends Center.

This is where I first saw the phrase :

There is no way to peace; peace is the way.

 

 

 

Around 2000 or so I learned that one of my Bryn Mawr friends died tragically. She was only 36 years old. One of my city colleagues knew her family and she went to her funeral. It was a Quaker service and I  was quite curious about this synchronicity.  Around the same time ( maybe a year before ) a colleague in the cube in front of mine served as a mentor. She was very wise and savvy, but rather private. However she was very proud of her son and would talk about him often. He went to a Quaker School in her neighborhood. I recall she shared information with me about the school. Later she left for another job and I was assigned to do a site visit there. I met with her and  this agency was located by a Quaker Meetinghouse and another Quaker School. I was at this point inundated with so many breadcrumbs that I could almost taste the bread being baked. I had become very curious about this mysterious faith.

Around the same time, changes were afoot in my personal life. My longtime Astrology Group, the Philadelphia Astrological Society, was folding, No one was interested in replacing the exiting president. This saddened me greatly. One of my  Astro friends was Quaker and went to a Meeting in Delaware County. She knew a woman who worshipped at the Meeting in my community. I think she sparked the idea of me visiting the Meeting. this was a big step. I was averse to organized religion and was unaccustomed to attending a church or synagogue. I was unclear.

Then life got real. Real intense, that is.  About 24 years ago, in the fall of 2001, I began seeing a man at work. I have written about him a few times. This romance was unexpected and complicated. Transiting Pluto  was conjoining my Venus. This was a powerfully intense  time. Of course he was Plutonian, like me. In fact we are both Scorpios and share the same birthday. Astrology works, in case you may have any doubts. ( BTW Happy Birthday to both of us, lol! )

By the Summer of 2002, this relationship imploded in a painful and very public way. I was broken and exhausted, So much so, that I became reluctant about future entanglements. This breakup was devastating and humiliating. I learned so much, but that took some time to heal. One warm summer day I decided to to take a drive to Skippack Village. I needed to get away from my routine for a few hours. I do not recall exactly how, but someone gave me a quick psychic reading. She told me that my life would change very soon and things would work out well. I wanted to believe her but I was doubtful. A few weeks later I learned that Chestnut Hill Meeting would have a booth at the local Fall Festival. I went to the booth and learned that there would be a visitors event in October. The location was just  a few minutes from my home. I felt ambivalent but decided to go. My friend knew someone there and seemed sure I would like it. It was very unlike me but I ventured out to a place where I knew no one .  I went alone and had no frame of reference, just a desire to to immerse myself in something fresh and new.

While this initial visit was challenging, I was greeted with kindness and love. People wanted to get to know me and I met the woman that my Astro Friend was acquainted with. She became very important in my life. In fact, she was instrumental for setting the stage for me to meet James.  She did have Divine help, of which I am sure! Another fun fact : she began blogging at WordPress and I was intrigued because she is a writer and I was a fan. I even contributed to a couple of the Quaker Journals she had authored. Her involvement here at WP sparked my interest blogging myself. See how this all comes full circle.

Which brings us back to 2025. A couple of weeks ago I made the brave trek to Gwynedd PA to worship at the Sunday Service. I had not visited a meetinghouse in at least ten years, perhaps longer. I wanted to see if it would be a more natural fit than my time revisiting Judaism. I knew the building well, but never worshipped there. I only knew one person who  was part of the community. I currently live rather close to the meetinghouse and have been feeling rather isolated. So I woke up early and walked in. I was struck by how easy it was. People came up to me. One woman kept introducing me to people. The fact that I still hold a Quaker membership paved the way perhaps. I saw the person I knew and her family. That was awkward, but yet familiar. She is an architect and designed the renovation of the building. Sitting in the worship area, I could see her artistry firsthand. From my vantage point, the light flooded in the windows, showcasing the trees. The yellow and gold leaves sparkled. I felt the peace within the spacious room. The structure was simple, timeless. and filled with the Divine Spark. It was peace. Peace is the way.

The woman who forecasted my life change was correct. So many tiny nudges led me here. Subtle but cumulatively significant. They were like signposts along a very winding, elongated journey.  Those first years at Chestnut Hill Meeting was magical. I threw myself into the mix because I felt connected. Unlike my time at the synagogue. this was seamless. It was almost as if everyone was waiting for me. While many of my friends from that timeline moved away from Philadelphia , the ripples still are with me today. I don’t know how my time at Gwynedd will progress, but I am not worried about it. I long for more chances to be led towards the Light. That is my road to peace.

 

You can read related posts about Quakerism and Pendle Hill on my blog to learn more.