Old friends…

Posted on July 5, 2018 by Sue Vincent

Wednesday was a weird day and a busy one. The internet decided to go on strike for some reason, every time I tried to do anything. The pond pump needed cleaning at my son’s home, and so did the fountain pump and gunged-up pond filter.That took us half the day… but then Nick came back to mine and played with Ani while I cleaned the aquarium’s filters and did a water change… then we tackled the really rough job of the day. We bathed the dog. Attempting the impossible seemed apt for Nick’s re-birthday…

It took two of us. (It also took me a couple of hours solid cleaning to set the bathroom to rights, clear up the splashes, hair and wet tail splats…) And, if that wasn’t enough, we wrestled her into position (several times over), so I could trim her claws.

By the time all was  done, it was after ten o’clock at night and I still hadn’t had breakfast. I hadn’t started writing either. But, luckily, there is something to share that needs no research…

It isn’t often that you meet in stranger circumstances than those in which I met Gary. Continents apart… he in the US and me in the UK, I read an article on his website and, as we were both from the same area of northern England, and both students of the same esoteric school, I left a comment and we exchanged emails.

Then, while Gary was in the process of moving to Europe, I met a young man on one of the forums where I was teaching. He too was in the US. Of all the millions of people I could have met online, it turned out that I had come across Gary’s son, a young man of a similar age to my own sons. That gave us something else in common, and for the past twelve years or so, we have been good friends.

We even published a book together… The Mystical Hexagram, an exploration of a symbol that played a starring role in the recent Silent Eye workshop weekend, The Giant and the Sun.

The internet is a godsend for staying in touch with people across the world, but it is no replacement for being face to face with friends. We have stayed in contact, but in all that time, we only met the once, briefly, and that was five years ago now.

Tomorrow, that will change and, with any luck at all, we will spend the weekend showing Gary a few of the places Stuart and I wrote about in The Initiate ... it will be good to revisit some of the places we haven’t seen in a while and bring a fresh pair of eyes to them.

I may be able to introduce Gary to my son too… he was ‘there’ for us exactly nine years ago, when I emailed him to tell him that Nick had been stabbed and was not expected to live. I knew Gary well enough by then that the ‘brave face’ could slip and I was grateful for that. The care and support we received from so many friends and strangers, was all that carried us through that nightmare.

That’s what friends are for… to ‘be there’ for the rough times, the good times, and the bits in between… but you do usually get to meet them first!

The Mystical Hexagram: The Seven Inner Stars of Power

(Revised Edition)

G. Michael Vasey and Sue Vincent

The Mystical Hexagram is a new and innovative way to work with this ancient symbol. Through personal revelations and exercises, the reader can experience the many layers of this new and insightful work.

The Mystical Hexagram takes a look at the Hexagram as a symbol but perhaps looking at it in a deeper and different way to how many have looked at it in the past.

The Hexagram is a symbol that unifies different occult methods including working with the Tree of Life, alchemy and Elemental Magic. The book explores this idea working in what we hope is some new thought and yet still leaves significant room for self exploration of the symbol.

The book includes a complete set of powerful meditations and visualizations closely related to the Hexagram.

Extract of Amazon review for the first edition.

“…in addition a set of simple and progressive exercises that one can perform to deeper their personal connection and understanding of this symbol that has for many become a representation of the Great Work itself. It is also a template for guide for students as well, in that it is a working example of how to undertake this kind of reflective work for oneself – work essential to progressing on the Path of Return. In this way, The Mystical Hexagram is not only to be read, but studied and even imitated so that its deeper lessens can become one’s own.” Mark Stavish, The Institute for Hermetic Studies.

About Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent was a Yorkshire born writer, esoteric teacher and a Director of The Silent Eye. She was immersed in the Mysteries all her life. Sue maintained a popular blog and is co-author of The Mystical Hexagram with Dr G.M.Vasey. Sue lived in Buckinghamshire, having been stranded there due to an accident with a blindfold, a pin and a map. She had a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion, the hidden country of the heart. Sue  passed into spirit at the end of March 2021.
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58 Responses to Old friends…

  1. Ritu says:
    July 5, 2018 at 06:18

    What a wonderful story of friendship Sue. I love that you are finally meeting this time 😍

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. Victoria Zigler (@VictoriaZigler) says:
    July 5, 2018 at 07:50

    That’s wonderful! I’m sure you’ll enjoy finally getting to meet face to face.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  3. TanGental says:
    July 5, 2018 at 08:01

    Ah the woven web! Such a splendid thing . Hope you have fun

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. jenanita01 says:
    July 5, 2018 at 08:36

    Gary sounds lovely, hope we get to hear all about your day?

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Esther Chilton says:
    July 5, 2018 at 08:39

    That’s a wonderful story, Sue. Have a great time 🙂 x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  7. Darlene says:
    July 5, 2018 at 10:25

    How wonderful that you will be able to meet in person and spend time together. Writing a book together is almost like sharing a home together so I applaud you for doing it successfully from a distance.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. pensitivity101 says:
    July 5, 2018 at 10:49

    Wonderful post Sue, and I hope you enjoy your time together.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  9. willowdot21 says:
    July 5, 2018 at 12:42

    It’s amazing isn’t that you can find so much goodness and support in good friends, and of all places on line. May you spend happy times together this weekend.💜💜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  10. Colline says:
    July 5, 2018 at 12:45

    And now you get to spend some physical time with him. Enjoy every moment.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. Mary Smith says:
    July 5, 2018 at 19:26

    What a wonderful story of friendship. I hope you have/had a great time meeting up.
    And I hope Ani has recovered from her traumatic experience!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life. says:
    July 5, 2018 at 19:46

    Have an amazing time Sue and well done on the chores today… poor Ani… a bath and nails.. will she ever forgive you.. get the cheese out.. hugsxxx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. Jennie says:
    July 5, 2018 at 21:05

    Wonderful Gary story, Sue. Those connections are meant to be. And Ani owes you big time for putting up such a fight. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  17. Widdershins says:
    July 5, 2018 at 23:27

    Do you think Ani’s clean coif will last until she meets Gary? Supposing, that is, she hasn’t already met him. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  18. dgkaye says:
    July 6, 2018 at 01:46

    Serendipity has sure played a part in your friendship with Gary. So glad you guys will get to connect face to face. Have a blast and stay cool! 🙂 xx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. Anne Copeland says:
    July 6, 2018 at 06:39

    Most of the friends I end up connecting with in one way or another end up being friends for life because that is how I view friends. They are treasures, and sometimes we have never met in person. I have one friend who is like a soul sister, and we have known each other since 2005 and have run a small but successful nonprofit together and done many things to help others since that time, yet we have never met in person. She is a paraplegic and lives in Northern California, and I live in Southern California, but such a wealth of experience and learning has come from that friendship. To me, friends are the real wealth in life. I cannot imagine anything more meaningful outside myself than a good friend. It is like having a Kaleidoscope with which to view life in ways I might not be able to all alone. How wonderful that you get to meet up with your friend, and you also have done so many things of great depth and wisdom also without meeting in person, so what a joy!!! And I have to say that I consider my wonderful supervisor, other leaders, and the many wonderful people I have met on here I hope also will always be my friends for this lifetime and perhaps in others later on. Thank you one and all so much.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  21. Bette A. Stevens says:
    July 6, 2018 at 20:39

    Such a wonderful story of finding and renewing friendships thanks to internet connections, Sue! 🙂 Thanks so much for sharing.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  22. tric says:
    July 6, 2018 at 21:07

    What a story. The world can, at times, be a very small place.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  23. Marilyn Armstrong says:
    July 7, 2018 at 02:05

    First, let me salute your determination to bathe your own dog. I cannot do it. Actually, I’m pretty sure Garry and I together couldn’t do anyone except Bonnie and that’s only because she’s mall enough to fit in the kitchen sink — well — two sinks, really.

    I always think I’m doing “just fine” in a crisis until someone looks at me and suggests very quietly that maybe I should sit down. Have something to drink or eat. That’s when I realize I’m not as fine as I thought.

    Those people who can see through your “fine face” are precious and there are so few of them.

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    • Sue Vincent says:
      July 10, 2018 at 18:53

      Dogs and bathtubs are always an adventure…and where Ani is concerned, a battle. This time, we won 🙂 And I have the bruises to prove it.

      Friends who can see through the ‘fine’, and those who don’t expect you to always be fine, they are indeed worth their weight in gold. x

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  24. robbiecheadle says:
    July 7, 2018 at 08:10

    You would have needed all the support you could get during that terrible time, Sue. When we thought Michael had cancer, they found a tumour in his stomach which we eventually found out was benign, I didn’t sleep for about a week. I was so beside myself.

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  25. STWays says:
    July 19, 2018 at 20:21

    Lovely story , I just wrote a blog on how to celebrate friendship-day but your story really is essence of the day . #fab

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