• "Live Earth" a concert aired internationally on 7/7/07 to bring awareness to the climate crisis will be viewed in house parties -community gatherings of friends- encouraged to take action.  This is an effort to encourage group work.  Commitments for house parties have been made by over 6,000 people in 119 countries.  See Al Gore's web site for details.
• On the web site www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/impact/ CNN is empowering people who ask "What can I do?" to impact their world by directing them to a listing of pro-active organizations that are related to their various feature articles and stories.  This is an  altruistic response on the part of news leaders to use their power to reach and influence others.
• "The Return of the Christ Oratorio" created by Michael Robbins and Harold Moses to prepare the field for the New World Religion reflects the Ageless Wisdom philosophy.  It is offered as a gift of service and can be obtained through the University of the Seven Rays by going to their web site.

Take a moment to watch the sun kiss the grass as the grass looks up and grows towards the sun - the lower ever seeking the higher and the higher seeking the lower in a continuous circle of life.  Harmony Center provided the setting for a day of Living with the Four Elements which reminded us that we are affected, supported and nourished by all the elements. (www.harmony-center.org)

A candle was lit to the element of water.  Out of the flame emerged a chalice/vessel which holds the waters of life.  We are the chalice, we are the vessel thru which spirit flows.

Sitting on the banks of Harmony Center's swollen pond/chalice, it was wonderful to observe the analogies between the flow of water and the flow of life.

The water spurted forcefully from the pond - pushing its way forward, churning up grit and slamming into rocks whose shape has been transformed over time by this force.  Losing some speed after carving thru the rocks resistance, the water slows and moves gracefully with a steady purpose.  At this point there seems to be two paths:  one of slow, steady progress which nourishes the surrounding life/vegetation; or one of stagnation, with little apparent growth, waiting for some other impetus to move it further forward.

Most of us have experienced plowing thru life with no sense of direction or purpose, perhaps feeling that force is the only way to create change.  The continual presentation of choices on our path offers us many experiences including stagnation, churning up grit, uncertainty, as well as growth and joy.  Eventually we learn that we can choose to move forward consciously with purpose while nurturing, sustaining and growing (ourselves and others).  If we are in the flow, we can be the vessel for "the waters of life poured forth for thirsty men."  As we walk on this earth, may we be cognizant of our responsibility to spiritualize matter. 

Summer invites us to observe how the waters of life flow thru our lives.  Take time to relax in the water, be it the ocean, pond, or your bathtub.  Sense how the water supports you in so many ways - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  Observe the waters gentleness, or forcefulness, and its ability to adapt to every nook, crevice, hill and valley of your being.  Tune into the flow, turbulence, smoothness, and steady lapping of the divine energies in your life.  Are you treading water, fighting the tide, or moving with the flow?

The Illumined Mind
is gifted with the vision
to see the light in all manifestation

It knows to love wisely
and draws all to itself
as a magnet drawn the light

It brings balance and order
and sets priorities
in line with the Wisdom of the Universe

The throne of the Empress is situated in a fertile garden; the river of life flows through, yielding the bounty and richness of nature. She is depicted as a full figured, relaxed woman, perhaps pregnant, holding an orbed scepter and wearing an ornate crown. Everything about this card is suggestive of the Feminine Principle: life, fertility, nurturance, and motherhood as the creative force in the world of matter. She holds a scepter, symbol of earthly power and wears a crown of the twelve stars of the zodiac showing her to be the Queen of the Heavens. At her feet is a heart-shaped shield with a representation of the symbol of the planet Venus. Traditionally the Empress card is interpreted as the mother card both in relation to how one was mothered and nurtured and also how one manifests the traits associated with motherhood. However, there is much more that can be said about the multi-faceted gifts of the Empress.

In her role as the Queen Mother, of both heaven and earth, she teaches us about union and balance. It is a delicate balance between physical and emotional, serving self or others, giving and receiving, heart and mind, material and spiritual. The task can be considered as treading the razor's edge, finding the balance in serving self and others, discerning whether to lead with the heart or mind. Eventually one comes to the realization that all is spiritual and that these distinctions are but a function of the mind. Matter and spirit are the same only differing in vibratory quality.

But we suspect that the Empress already knows this. Her relaxed posture, reclining in the midst of abundance suggests that she knows how to enjoy the fruits of the earth and is ever aware that these are the gifts of nature to be appreciated and valued. There are no distinctions between serving self and others, giving and receiving, if done in the spirit of right relations and with gratitude and openness. The heart and mind must function as one unit as the heart-mind, so that all actions proceed from a loving wisdom. The message presented here is to "Be in the world, but not of it"; to enjoy the fruits of the universe but not make them the goal of our existence. To learn to appreciate the gifts given to us but cease from clinging attachment, for in the attachment is found suffering as the Buddha instructs us.

The Empress teaches us to live in harmony with each other as we tread the path together realizing that the actions of one have bearing on the whole. Her message, however, goes deeper than to live in harmony with our neighbor; her message includes all the kingdoms of nature. The lower kingdoms, animal, vegetable and mineral, depend in large part on humanity for their evolution. The Empress leads us to understand that all work is spiritual if done with the intention of aiding in the evolution of the planet. To work for peace and freedom, the environment, justice, the right use of resources, to mention a few, all are spiritual endeavors. The Empress as the Earth Mother asks us to give birth to love, goodness, joy, and right relations with all that exists.

Mythologically the Empress is associated with all the pagan mother goddesses and also with the mother of Jesus. Perhaps she has a closer relationship to Demeter, the goddess of nature and the mother of Persephone. According to the myth when Persephone was abducted to Hades, Demeter did all in her power to see that she was rescued and would not rest until her daughter was recovered. The Empress is also associated with the goddess Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty who tempted both gods and men. She is also an archetype of Eve in the Garden representing motherhood and the creative process. We see again the two sides of the Empress.

It seems fitting, then, that the Empress is represented by the planet Venus. This brilliant and radiant planet teaches not just about values and beauty but also about unity and balance, goodness and truth. It is a planet of the 5^th ray and at the highest turn of the spiral it is about the illuminating mind. As such it challenges us to be true to ourselves, to our own truth and being. It shows us how to find the light in all of creation and to honor the true, good and beautiful in everything. Many of us embrace values that are colored by the astral plane. This card calls us to a higher and more profound way of being.

It is interesting that this card is the number III. The number three is associated with self-expression and creativity, with a sense of abundance and joy, a love of life. From an esoteric perspective the number 3 represents the matter principle, the Mother, the Holy Spirit. It is that from which all of creation is born. It is the adaptable and intelligent nature of all creation and it gives all matter a discriminating intelligence to aid in its evolution. The Empress is a fitting representative of this energy.

From the soul's point of view, planets in the twelfth house are not only important but particularly placed. Planets in the twelfth house represent hidden power, and if accessed by the soul would ensure that the purpose of the incarnation would be accomplished. The power represented by twelfth house planets is so significant that it is veiled from the eyes and understanding of the personality, precisely so that it cannot be misused. Yet from soul's perspective, if the personality understood this innate ability or quality as being imperative to the accomplishment of the soul's purpose for the lifetime, then confusion and veiling would fall away. The personality then would live as a more powerful expression of the soul in the world.

How can we say this? The answer lies in the relation of the twelfth and first houses to the Ascendant. In Esoteric Astrology, the ascendant or rising sign portends the soul's purpose for the incarnation. It tells us what the purpose is and how it will seek to accomplish it. Both are revealed in the sign of the ascendant. Therefore, planets on either side of the ascendant (in the twelfth or first house) are particular tools as far as the soul is concerned. It has literally placed them near at hand. We should understand, then, that planets in these two houses express tendencies or abilities that are very familiar, possibly too much so. In fact, we probably tend to live them in an automatic way. Also to the soul's eye, these tendencies or abilities are a very large part of how our persona sees itself (1st house) or has gotten what it wants in past lives (12th). These are skills that have made the sense of self grow strong. The soul therefore has put these skills or tendencies in the twelfth house so that the personality cannot easily access them. (And if they are in the first house, personality may be so enmeshed with the planet's tendencies that eventually one will become consumed, maybe even compulsive in that tendency.)

But let's keep it to the twelfth house for now, since generally there is a veiling and lack of understanding about the twelfth house and anything in it.

Whatever is in the twelfth house is a power. It is a power that the soul wants the personality to learn to use wisely and judiciously. It is a power that more than likely has been misused or abused in the past. The twelfth house is a karmic house.

Truth is we actually know this power. We have used it well in the past. The suggestion is that as long as the ability is used or lived as done in the past, it will have a negative influence in our life. The pain is showing us we have not gained self-awareness in this regard. However, as we become aware of the planet's abilities or tendencies and understand how to live them on a new turn of the spiral, in a more self-aware way, then not only do we begin to free ourselves of the karma and karmic patterns associated with the planet and sign, but we begin to discover whole new powers within both. The discovery leads to right responsibility and joy, instead of blame, misuse, or abuse.

The twelfth house is one of default. We do not usually recognize our default patterns. And we do come to see them we are challenged with changing how ingrained they are. One could suggest that all planets no matter what house they are in have a default tendency; and that would be correct. The default is the personalization and therefore limitation of the full range of a planet or sign by the limited sense of self. As long as our point of view of our self is finite, circumscribed by events, fault-finding, and blame of others instead of clarity with our self, then all planets everywhere in the chart will have their default patterns in our life. However, a primary goal of each lifetime is an increase in self-awareness and a release from old ignorance. Having acknowledged that all factors in the horoscope (chart) can and probably are being lived that way, let's focus on the 12th house.

Just as fish don't think about breathing in the water, we tend not to think about our 12th house tendencies. The 12th house is not considered a 'mental' house; it is considered a 'water' house. Thus seeing things clearly or without distortion might be a challenge. However, the distortion is the persona and the view through personalization. If we can see how personally we are living the qualities or abilities of 12th house planets and signs this would begin to change the default.

It should be said parenthetically that 1st house signs are a particular default as well. Here the personality cannot see itself as separate from the tendencies of the 1st house planets and signs. The difference between the two houses is that the 1st house the person sees the tendency but is prideful about it, sometimes even in a self-destructive way. With the 12th house usually the person does not see the quality at all, how he or she lives it, and therefore how his livingness of the quality brings about the negative results in the life. Instead of pride, the person often grows to feel shame, or minimally discomfort.

The twelfth house is one of sacrifice. We tend to live either of two levels of sacrifice: a) the sacrificial or b) the sacred. The second requires some self-awareness. Most people are living the first level: the usual meaning and experience of sacrifice - loss, negation, pain, suffering, blame, scapegoating, death in all its forms, and abuse.

From soul's perspective what is needed is to let go of (sacrifice) our self-involvement with these abilities or tendencies. It is the same story for planets in the first house. If we are living these planets as the finite personality, there's the problem. As we let go of the personal face that we put on these planets in our chart, then the soul can increasingly use them and the expression of those planets in us would dramatically change.

Also, being a karmic house, the twelfth house requires sacrifice. Continuing to play the game the same way, we only perpetuate our karma; we do little to undo the self-will that created the karmic knot in the first place. Therefore, we must come to a full and radical understanding of the planets in the twelfth house.

What might our life's purpose be? I will not go sign by sign, putting each as the ascendant. Instead, anyone with an interest in astrology can deduce this for himself. According to esoteric astrology, the purpose of a lifetime is revealed in the highest meaning and living demonstration of the sign on the horizon (ascendant).

Planets in the twelfth house, if there are any, might describe how the person is holding himself back through sacrifice or confusion, or holding himself back through fear. And the fear factor might not be something that is obvious. In fact, the quality or tendency that the 12th house planet represents might have been misunderstood or abused so often that the person is afraid to use that quality. He or she might expect a negative response all the time. As a result a calculated-ness is cultivated, specifically around the quality or tendency in question. This powerful quality has had the power taken out of it. Without recognizing it, this is a prime source of the person's confusion or lack of seeing more clearly. And since this is a karmic house, others interact with the karmic energy all around it, thus power plays, validation, and invalidation result.

Our life's purpose is to grow in consciousness. The Ascendant tells us how to do that and what that should look like as we proceed. Planets in the 12th house (if there are any) have been placed there specifically by the soul. The soul chooses when and where to incarnate. Thus the soul would like to use these planets consciously and creatively; and it will not let the personality use them in an old way. Each time the personality does, it gets slammed.

Because the planets in question represent power, and because the soul does not want to increase the negative karma of its personality instrument, the soul will hold us back through limitations unless we see ourselves as more; see ourselves as the soul. Then 12th house pours forth its gifts, as does the rest of the chart.

Donna's second book Astrology Illumined, Revealing Soul Through Astrology, is just published. Copies can be purchased at www.Seeds-of-Light.com

Esoteric Astrology lectures and classes begin in Andover, MA and Westwoods, MA in the fall. Contact Donna for information and to register. donnasol@mindspring.com

At the Unitarian Church that I frequent, it has been commonly understood that as members we are responsible for ministering to each other, and in fact from the perspective of social justice this is extended to the community at large.  This is not such a new concept really, but rather one that may be found in many churches in varying degrees.  It is based after all on the Christian concept of being one's "brother's keeper" and also on an unspoken expectation of membership itself within a church community.

Recently however, this concept of ministering has been taken to the next level at First Parish by fostering more opportunities to share in the work and leadership of the church.  Power in fact, has been moved from the few to the many as various committees have been established to share in decision making, changing from a model where power is vested solely in a board of directors.  The lay ministry program is now thriving and a new formed worship committee will work at developing and participating in the services presented to the congregation.  Of the many committees formed however, the most interesting is in fact named "Committee on Ministry" which gives feedback to the senior and assistant ministers and acts as their sounding board, giving both advice and council.

I have watched this process of power sharing with interest, as the phrase "We are the church", in reference to the congregation, takes on new and real meaning.  The most radical move in this series of changes however happened most recently when the senior minister, Erik, who was being newly installed in the church, had enlarged and opened the ceremony to include the installation of every church member as a minister for First Parish.  During the morning of the installation, as I held Erik and his work in meditation, I was flooded with the awareness of what an act of soul this actually was!  Clearly he is acting (knowingly or not) in concert with the Plan (the conscious evolution of humanity).

His was not only a creative act of soul, devoid of ego, but it affirmed to each individual within the church that they were spiritual beings with a dharma or ministry to act consciously and lovingly in service to each other.  Through this act of installation then, this expectation of ministry was moved off the shoulders of a few "leaders" participating on committees and made it the direct responsibility of all.  A true democracy!  The conferring of ministry on each person is an empowering act aimed to call forth one's highest Self.  The psychology is clearly brilliant since it challenges each person not only to be all that they can be but also affirms that as soul we already are!

How this act will affect the community at First Parish and in turn the wider community is yet to be seen.  But clearly to raise the consciousness of such a large body of people in group formation has the mark of soul, for it is as group that we will take initiation (expansion) in the future.  Coincidently this installation took place on Pentecost Sunday, the day when the mark of spirit was conferred on the followers of Jesus in group formation.  This was the start of their ministry.  How auspicious a start for the ministers of First Parish!

"Our theme is the esoteric consideration of disease and its forms; - and to indicate the general laws with which the healer must work and the six rules - to which he gives obedience, through discipline and understanding." - Esoteric Healing, AAB, pg. 24

Thoughts on EH pg. 37 - 67                                                    

On the bottom of page 37, point #5, the Tibetan makes an interesting statement regarding the chakras. If we put it alongside statements from other of his texts, and/or alongside the intuitions of probably all within this group, the statement does not totally stand. So again, he is making a statement that is correct unto itself but does not disallow other statements regarding the chakras.

"5. The centers determine a man's point of evolution as far as his phenomenal expression is concerned"

The chakras engage the psyche immediately, thus have full psychological import. They are engaged by the spiritual and mundane natures, for good or temporary ill. So, in reading this statement I think the Tibetan is stating what to him is an obvious statement: phenomenonal expression is not a synonym for physical body. It includes the physical but is not specifically that. The chakras 'determine' where the person is beginning from, and where on the path anyone is at any current moment. The state of the chakras, and the subtle bodies as well, are declarative of a person's state of being. The tone, vibration, rate of rotation, degree of unfoldment, working access to higher planes and subplanes all announce the 'man's point of evolution' to the trained inner senses. Add to these signposts a few others: coordination within the chakra system, singularity (primary duality which is different than transference points), triplicity (which is different than triangulation), and whether or not the system is yet capable of triangulation.

The science of the chakra system is vast. It is intricately connected with our karma, individual and collective. A person's chakra system reveals what siddhis he or she will develop most easily or which ones might already be in use.

Uncontrolled and Ill-regulated Emotion

This is a vital section. So much so that it is within the first 50 pages of this book. On pg. 41 he brings us back to basics and the individual causes of disease:

"First, that disease is sometimes the working out into manifestation of undesirable subjective conditions. ... Second, disease is sometimes incident upon and part of the process of the withdrawal of the soul from its habitation. ...There is not sufficient knowledge yet among healers to enable them to deal with wisdom in these matters."

In general, and that is his point, humanity does not have enough wisdom in the matters of subjective influences and subjective states, or have wisdom in the matter of the soul determining when it would leave the incarnation. Subjective states are not just our meditations but include everyday internal processes such as projections onto self and others, worries, keeping the past in the present, ideas about self-sacrifice, creative fervor, limiting visions of reality. These examples are just a few subjective states that most people have as part of every day. These uncontrolled and ill-regulated emotions (Buddhists call them afflictive emotions) are often the source of dis-ease.

His second point is well taken. How many healers exist who truly understand the soul's exiting processes? Thus how many healers can truly assist in that process, if assistance is needed? And furthermore, how much disease is the natural outcome of the soul in some stage in the discarnation process?

To the person with siddhis, the discarnation process is quite clear. Not only does the life thread show a change in quality (and depending on the nearness of death, a change in vitalness of the thread), but there are also other indicators.

-         The consciousness thread reveals either a closer relation to the soul or a decreased, almost cut off, relation to the soul/consciousness. Either one is indicative of the soul's preparation for release.

-         The chakras have begun to turn in a direction opposite to their normal rotation. The soul is literally unwinding its relatedness to the worlds of form.

-         For the person advanced on the Path, that is not the case. The dimensionality and therefore turning increases. The chakras become nebular, conducting space, undoing time, and establishing the person/being in eternal Now-ness. Their discarnation process is nothing more than a deep meditation.

-         The chakra that was the person's polarization point shows much change.

 Depending on the point in evolution various things are possible:

o       Disease will be focused in the glands or area related to this chakra.

o       The area will begin to shut down physically and psychologically. The psychological result will be that the person is increasingly not him/herself. Dementia, Alzheimer's disease, stroke victims are good examples.

o       The light is going out of that chakra and so the livingness and enjoyment lived by the person to things related to that chakra usually goes out too.

Much more could be said. The soul's choice to leave incarnation is significant, just as significant as its choice to incarnate. It takes 9 months plus the first few years of childhood for most souls to be fully incarnated. We should not be surprised that unless the soul has chosen a sudden death that dying is a process. Leaving an incarnation, like coming fully into one takes time.

On pg. 53 the Tibetan says that he gives us "much food for thought" in three points of analysis:

1.      a positive analysis of the personality forces - primarily astral

2.      a negative analysis of those aspects of soul energy which are not present

3.      a synthetic analysis, based on the above and adding a "record of positive soul expression"

Positive means that which is emittive, dynamic, and presenting versus negative which means passive and non-presenting. Therefore, we are to understand a client through how they energetically present - what is showing and what is not. What is not showing is very important, often more so than what is. For example, a person might come to the healer 'showing' pain in the lower back. She does not speak of an injury. She does speak of a disruption in her life; her job is insecure, her primary relationship is in question, and she can't make a decision to move on from her job or move on from the relationship. In point of fact, her back hurts where it does because of second chakra issues and indecision. So the pain is 'showing' what her story is telling.

To deduce the soul energy that is not present is to ask, "Within the spectrum of the ray qualities of the soul, what qualities might be seeking expression but not able to be expressed?" This lack would probably be due to the emittive, dynamic personality.

Synthesis would take into account the 'presenting attributes' of the soul, i.e., those qualities or tendencies that have their basis in the soul ray or are general soul qualities being expressed. These become strengths available to be used by the client.

This is much food for thought for a number of reasons:

a)      To actually hypothesize the rays of a person requires much knowledge and skill.

b)      To assist a client in movement from an emittive personality focus to one that incorporates and invokes the qualities of the soul also requires knowledge and skill.

c)      To help a client build on the positive qualities being expressed without unduly emphasizing or exaggerating the ego is also quite a skill.

On Pg. 56 he sums it up for us:

"The problem of the healer therefore, is twofold: first, he must know whether the difficulty lies above or below the diaphragm. Secondly, he must have a clear grasp of the patient's inner emphasis; this last aids him in the diagnosis of the first."

Generally, it can be said that if the personality is emittive (positive energetically) the difficulty will mostly be below the diaphragm. These chakras are the personal ones; their

functions are primarily to determine what satisfaction is and to make it happen. Self-will and determination (root chakra) are used to ensure the goals of security, comfort, satiety, and thus personal stability (sacral). All of this is involved with one's sense of self: self- worth, self-negation, or self-value.

With Donna Mitchell-Moniak

Lectures

Revealing Soul through Astrology
July 17 @ 7:15pm
Circles of Wisdom - Andover, MA
learn more >>>

Three Turns of the Spiral of Esoteric Astrology
Sept 18 @ 7:15pm
Circles of Wisdom - Andover, MA
learn more >>>

Classes

Beginner Esoteric Astrology
8 sessions/4 weeks - T & TH
Starting Oct 9  7:15pm
Circles of Wisdom - Andover, MA
learn more >>>

Beginner Esoteric Astrology
8 sessions/4 weeks M&W
Starting Oct 15 & 7pm
Center at Westwoods - Westwood, MA
learn more >>>

With Martha Henry MacDonald                 

Classes

Esoteric Healing
Level 1 - Sept 15-16 & Sept 26-30
Level 2 - Nov 10-11 & Dec 1-2
Go to www.centeratwestwoods.comfor more information

Meditation

Open Meditation Circle
Bi-weekly - Medfield, MA
Go to www.harmony-center.org for more information

With Joy Om

Classes      

Fall-dates to be announced
Boulder, CO

Esoteric Astrology
8 wk - An introduction to the divine science of self knowledge

Discover the Self     
Weekend training in the science of the 7 Rays

With Judy Harrison

Bookgroup & Meditation

Women Who Run with Wolves
2nd Tues of the month & 7pm
First Parish - Brewster, MA

Workshops

Fall-dates to be announced

With Cherie Peterson

Meditation

Open meditation
Thursdays @ Noon
Evergreen Conference Center        
Evergreen, CO
Call 303.674.2646 for info