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Coming Home
by Judy Harrison Little bird is birthed; her shell no longer
contains her. “Are you my mother?” she asks
of toad as he goes hopping by. He stops, he
looks, and then sadly toad croaks that he is
not her mother. “Are you my mother?” she
queries again to cow grazing on the hill.
Again a “no”, again and again and still bird
continues. She poses this question to all
she meets along her destined way. As bird
follows the path before her, she is moved by
an inner impulse. This quest underlies her
unspoken need to discover both her true
identity and find her home.
This early preschool story written by P.J.
Eastman always left me with a smile on my
face as I read it to the little ones in my
charge. Later in life I smiled again in
recognition of my own search. It has become
for me a story of the archetypal journey of
soul in pursuit of “group”. While in
lifetimes past I’ve likely begun my journey;
in this incarnation I can trace it back to
the last 30 years.
“Are you my group?” I wondered of the good
people that I worked with. “Are you my
group?” my heart called out to the spiritual
seekers I met along the way. Like little
bird my inquiries fell short of the mark and
still I continued. With each subsequent
contact I inched closer to resonance, still
they did not speak of home.
How does one find group? While the Master DK
describes the qualities of group and the
importance of souls to work in group within
his Ashram, still the way to group is never
made quite clear. After years of studying,
intention and striving combined with grace
and readiness seem to be the ingredients in
the magnetic mixture that attracts us one to
the other. That of course along with an open
heart, a listening ear, trust and divine
indifference.
This combination came together for me
recently in a reunion of light workers, all
disciples of the Tibetan, committed to serve
humanity. We spent the week together in
meditation, study and fellowship. While this
invitation had been previously extended to
me, until now the timing never seemed right.
But this year I knew in every fiber of my
body that I must attend. Trusting my inner
knowing I heeded the call.
I found my identity in the collective. We
found our home absorbed in the Heart.
Together we move forward as group leaving the
singular “I” behind. Clearly we have been
graced. It is a new beginning to many more
lifetimes. We’ve only just begun.
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The Magician
By Grace Cavanaugh Magic abounds
in every drop of rain and pregnant seed, in the infant’s smile and the rhythmic beating of the heart. Magicians all are we As we nurture, protect and encourage. Life is in our hands. We continue our journey of the Tarot with the
Magician. We note the pose of the magician,
one hand reaching heaven and the other
pointing down to the earth, directing the
energy from above to below, “As above, so
below”. In his hand is the magic wand used to
direct energy from above, becoming the bridge
between the world of the spirit and the world
of creation. His physical form is surrounded
by a bright aura suggesting that he is a
fairly evolved individual. Above his head is
the lemniscates a mathematical, philosophical
and alchemical symbol for infinity; infinity
as it is depicted in the unboundedness,
limitlessness, of the universe that is
without constraint. A universe ever ready to
bless its creation with its abundance. The
lemniscates is also the symbol of the
two-lobed ajna, the chakra located on the
brow between the eyes. It functions as the
window for the third eye and is used to view
the physical plane and direct energies. As to
further elaborate on thoughts of infinity, we
find an ouroboros, or infinity snake, around
his waist, a symbol of completeness, the
primordial unity that encloses time and space.
On the altar table are found the primordial
elements as symbolized in alchemy, the
pentacles symbolizing earth, the sword – air,
the cup- water and the wand – fire. The
magician works in time and space using all of
the elements of nature. He has these elements
under his control and must use this power
wisely. The Magician card is edged with red
roses symbolic of the desire nature and white
lilies symbolizing purity and the proper use
of the arcane knowledge. It is fitting, then
that the Magician is sometimes called the
Juggler, since he must ever be mindful of
this subtle balancing act between desire and
intuition, spirit and matter, as he grows in
his ability to control and manipulate events,
things and people. His is the dance on the
razor’s edge.
It is interesting that throughout history the
word ‘magic’ was replaced by word ‘alchemy’
and later by the notion of transformation. It
is the transformation of one substance into
another, from spirit to matter. It is said
that alchemy was revealed to the Egyptian
demigod, Hermes Trismegistus, and in honor of
him the early scientific writings were
attributed to him under the title, The
Hermetic Arts. The statement, “As above, so
below”, is also attributed to Hermes. It is
perhaps for this reason that this card is
associated with the planet Mercury, or
Hermes, to the Greek.
In the Middle Ages alchemy embraced the areas
of philosophy, science and religion and it
dealt with the three worlds of divine, human,
and elemental. Alchemy teaches that God is
in everything and he is manifest through an
infinity of forms. The seed of the spirit
resides in all forms. The art of alchemy is
not making something out of nothing, but in
finding and nourishing the seed in
everything. It is the magician’s
responsibility, therefore, to keep this focus
ever before his eye, finding the divine in
all of creation. It is said that although
many have tried alchemy, only the initiate
succeeded. Unless the greater alchemy,
transformation and transmutation have taken
place in one’s own soul, one cannot perform
the lesser alchemy. This holds true for the
magician in the present day.
If we are not initiates, then, we cannot be
White Magicians. The glamour’s and illusions
of the personality are ever intruding on the
good we aim to do and detracting us from the
purity of intention of our actions. So we
must begin our work as magicians on
ourselves, on the transformation and
transmutation of the form to prepare
ourselves to become co-creators in the
universe. We make choices daily in creating
our own reality. Every thought, word and deed
creates an action and a consequent reaction.
The illusion we have named, personality, is a
creation of our own thougtforms and we daily
reinforce this illusion by our decisions and
actions. We have an effect on our environment
especially in how we use the gifts of nature,
which have been so generously given to us. It
is our responsibility, then, to live in the
awareness of the moment, to bring
illumination and love to our immediate
surroundings, to be master of one’s own life.
In this way we continue the process of our
own transformation in preparation of our
deeper participation as co-creators.
The Magician card has been astrologically
associated with Mercury or Hermes, known as
the Messenger of the gods. Mercury, the god
of wisdom, is associated with the mind and
the illuminating principle. It is only when
the mind is developed that we are able to be
responsible magicians, to be conscious
conduits for spiritual energies. It is,
perhaps, for this reason that the Magician
card has been placed at the beginning of the
deck in order to emphasize the need to
develop one’s intellect and intuition before
one can take one’s place as a co-creator.
Mercury is also associated with the healing
arts and the medical profession uses its
symbol, the caduceus. Healing can viewed on
all levels and the ultimate healing is
transformation of the form into spirit.
In numerology, the Magician card is number
one. The number one is associated with the
urge to create, the inventor and originator.
It is the leader, the one who controls and
directs and uses one’s powers for the common
good. The true magician is aware of these
powers and uses them wisely. Are we aware of
our ability to create; not only in
controlling and directing the forces in our
own lives, but also in how we use these
forces and relate to the rest of creation,
nature and other peoples throughout the world?
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Wrestling with My Soul: Trust and New
Beginnings
By Susan Richardson I had the perfect job. It was my intention to
stay with it until the usual time to retire.
I had wonderful, supportive co-workers,
meaningful work in the Theological Library of
a cutting edge Divinity School only two
blocks from Harvard Square, flexible hours
with Summers off, even my own parking space.
It was stimulating, it gave me pleasure and I
was content. My soul however had other ideas
and arranged for me to awaken to the
possibility that there might be something new
for me to do.
I was working alone at the Circulation Desk
one day. Flipping through the biography of
Edgar Cayce, these words caught my attention,
“there are occasions when comfortable
employment may stand in the way of fulfilling
your destiny.” I sat there, stunned by this
new and threatening possibility. I pushed
the thought away; but a seed had been planted.
There began a journey of exploration,
struggle and discovery. For the next 10
months I wrestled with my soul. I prayed,
meditated, journaled, dreamed and consulted
with trusted friends. I cried. I avoided
thinking about it. I ignored it; but it
persisted. It came up in the most unexpected
places, rarely leaving me alone for long. It
was relentless.
I wanted to stay; but days of assurance
alternated with ambivalence. There were times
when resignation seemed the right choice and
others when I was torn apart with doubt and
grief. At the very least I wanted clarity
about what would be waiting around the
corner . . . even a hint. But that was not
part of
the deal. New beginnings start in the
darkness. For fresh energy to emerge I needed
to be confident, to make a break and step
willingly into the time of “waiting”
I was left with nothing else to do but trust,
put one foot in front of the other, and watch
for the signs.
I made an out of character decision to fly
alone to a conference for Lightworkers in
Arizona. I felt a strong calling to
understand what it meant to be a Lightworker.
While I was there the veil of uncertainty
fell away and was replaced by clarity and
peace. When I returned, I wrote to each of my
co-workers. I resigned.
It had been ten months since I was first
guided to consider another path and almost a
year of germination before my monumental
birthing from the cocoon of security and
comfort.
Now what? I knew I had embarked on a sacred
journey. I felt lighted and directed. I let
go of expectation and found myself abiding in
the place of “in-between.”
Two weeks after sending that fateful letter
of resignation, I was overcome with an
intense feeling of joy and exhilaration and a
deep sense of knowing I had just graduated
from Kindergarten and was now ready to enter
first grade.
Many rich experiences followed. A chance
encounter, exactly a year after this
transition began, led me to the study of the
Ageless Wisdom, the essential teachings of
the Ages and a three-year program in
Consciousness and the sciences of the soul.
And, I know that, yes, in some way, yet to be
understood, I am called to be a bearer of
Light in service to the World.
The seed, planted by the words of Edgar
Cayce, has sprouted and grown and
petal-by-petal, it will open and fulfill its
promise to be a flower in the world.
Following inner guidance has led me to the
place where I no longer struggle with doubt.
Rather, I trust, and know that simply by
attending to the voice of soul, the sacred
plan of my life will unfold with perfect
precision.
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De-programming by a 6th Ray Soul
by Judy Harrison For those of us who have studied the rays
there is a specific lense we use to look at
the world and to help us explain certain
phenomena. For those who don’t know what I
am talking about, briefly: “The seven rays
are embodiments of seven types of force which
demonstrate to us the seven qualities of
Deity. These seven rays are the first
differentiation of the Divine triplicity of
Spirit-Consciousness –Form, and they provide
the entire field of expression for manifested
Deity. We find reference to this in Plato’s
’Seven Spirits before the throne of God.’
These seven streams of force issue from a
central energy vortex. All appearance in life
are expressions of the qualities of these
seven emanations and every human being is a
meeting place for these seven types of
energy.” (Esoteric Psychology I p. 16-20)
At the first pass in this study we come to
understand the more obvious or surface
attributes of the individual rays through the
characteristics that we see in ourselves or
others. While this helps us to get a handle
on their grosser aspects, this grade school
understanding often causes one to dismiss too
quickly the more subtle underpinnings of the
rays in both its positive and shadow side as
it is embedded in dense matter.
Take the 6th ray, whose name is the Lord of
Devotion and Idealism. It took me years to
land on this as the ray of my soul. Why?
Because I could not associate myself with its
devotional aspect, at least not the way my
mind understood devotion. How could I, a
mentally polarized person, have such an
emotionally sounding ray be the energy stream
of my soul? And then there was the
conversation that I overheard by a leader in
the study of rays who said “You couldn’t be a
6th ray you are too intelligent for that”.
Clearly both of these are wrong view.
In trying to embody the most lighted
qualities of the 6th ray I have worked to see
and eliminate the manifestation of its shadow
side. Initially this appeared relatively
easy. There was the judge or critic which I
related to the idealism of the 6th ray and
the martyr for a cause that found its
affiliation in the 6th ray’s devotional
aspect. Of course this was only the most
obvious layer. Seeing beneath that took a
bit more work. The reason for my apparent
blindness lay rooted in the messages that I
internalized growing up. Some examples will
make it quite clear.
As a baby boomer who was raised in a working
class Catholic household, the message overt
rather than subtle was that children were
seen and not heard; and after all “empty
boxes make the most noise”. And so the 6th
ray seeds that questioned self worth and not
being good enough were not only planted but
began to take root. When it came to
discomfort and pain, my mother told me that I
was a member of the “I can take it club”. It
was a badge I wore honorably. And in fact
after reading all those stories regarding the
lives of the saints I saw suffering as quite
noble. Anyway didn’t I recite at every mass
“Lord I am not worthy” as the eucharist was
held high? Again the 6th ray tendency toward
self sacrifice found fertile ground during
impressionable early years. While I
eventually rebelled from these oppressive
views and intellectually understood the
illogic that was being presented, still the
messages were imperceptibly woven more so
because as a 6th ray soul they found
resonance. And so without recognizing it,
these messages were enmeshed in the fabric of
my being.
It was only during a meditative week shared
with co-workers and spiritual teachers that I
was helped to unearth the effect of the more
subtle and even unconscious core beliefs that
I held. With aspiration coming easily, I
began to realize that my meditative striving
was to go beyond my body. As such I
recognized how little attention I paid to the
devic life that actually made up my matters.
This was something that I never thought
about before until I was told that I needed
to “show up for myself”. Then there was the
healing help I was given in order to become
grounded on the physical plane after a very
lighted meditation. This entailed stroking
my feet to help bring the etheric energy back
into my body. Clearly I was not ‘keeping my
feet on the ground”. Additionally the
sciatica I experienced as the week started
made me look in retrospect more closely at
issues around my over all rootedness. This I
realized was sacrificed to my tendency to
give myself over to my ideals. So the
lesson that I couldn’t effectively love
humanity if I couldn’t first love my own
humanness was understood and with humility
received.
Oh the layers! In summary: I understand that
the deprogramming of limiting thought forms
need to looked at but this review must take
place in the light of our ray tendencies. It
is only in this way that we can honor our
wholeness. How can we be the light of the
world if we don’t first lighten our own
matters? And it is only as the “salt of the
earth” that we can celebrate the unique
flavor that we bring to this incarnation.
Lastly, redemption comes through repatterning
and not crucifixation. These understandings
are of course mental. How do we anchor them
in our very being? Some techniques that have
been given to me include meditating on loving
kindness starting with myself, taking in
prana, drinking with in-tension and focusing
on the breath especially as it fills each
cell. In this way I have found joy within
the substance of my being. It was in fact
always there but hidden from view under those
erroneous core beliefs!
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“Esoteric Healing: Part 4”
by Donna Mitchell-Moniak “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 In preparation for the creation of a
comprehensive Esoteric Healing Program, a
number of us are re-reading the text Esoteric
Healing by Alice Bailey. Below is Donna’s
commentary on certain pages. The Esoteric
Healing program is scheduled to begin in the
autumn of 2007. For more information please
contact us at retreats@spiritfire.com
Thoughts on EH pg. 24-32
Pg. 24 begins by telling us our asana with
the Laws and Rules. “ . . . the general laws with
which the healer must work and the six rules
which he must impose upon himself – and to
which he gives obedience, through discipline
and understanding.”
Working with the Laws can only be
commensurate with our understanding of Life
and its Laws. With that, then, we understand
that there is always more to learn.
The Rules are a bit more specific and thus
our asana equally so. We are to “impose them”
upon ourselves through obedience, discipline,
and understanding. Let’s go back to the first
Rule, then.
The healer must seek to link his soul, his
heart, his brain and his hands. Thus he can
pour the vital healing force upon the
patient. This is magnetic work. It cures
disease, or may increase the so-called evil
state, according to the knowledge of the
healer.
The healer must seek to link his soul, his
brain, his heart, and auric emanation. Thus
can his presence feed the soul life of the
patient. This is the work of radiation. The
hands are needed not. The soul displays its
power. The patient’s soul responds through
the response of his aura to the radiation of
the healer’s aura, flooded with soul energy.
First and foremost, we link with the soul.
With this as the starting point, one has to
be careful of the glamour that by linking
with the soul, no damage or harm can be done.
This is not correct. Why? Because often one
might think they are linking with the soul
and are instead linking with parts of the
personality. So we acknowledge this. We also
acknowledge that we will work to the best and
purist of our abilities, in obedience to the
soul. Secondly, in these instructions from
the Rule certain triangulations are given. We
all know that there are various levels to the
triangles and the ability of the healer to
engage them.
We look to Rule Two:
The healer must achieve magnetic purity through purity of life. He must attain that dispelling radiance which shows itself in every man when he has linked the centers in the head. When this magnetic field is established, the radiation too goes forth. This is more of a blind that one might
initially think. The magnetic purity is that
which eventually links the two head centers.
All other thoughts about purity and purity in
the life are preliminary and already being
lived. The way the Rule is written makes it
clear that there is more here than meets the
eye. Purity of life takes on a larger
meaning. It speaks of the purity in the whole
life, a livingness that is spiritually
sourced. This magnetic purity demonstrated in
daily life demonstrates also in the constant
dispelling of glamour and illusion through
the clear light of understanding and wisdom
(dispelling radiance), and is a hallmark of
he who ‘has linked the centers in the head’
(ajna and crown primarily). Thus, the Rule is
telling us, that when the purifying
personality and the purity of the soul are
linked, this creates a magnetic field – a
field that holds the personality in correct
relation, and the radiation of the soul (and
heart) goes forth.
So, what are we to obey in this Rule?
Purity? Linking the head centers? The time-honored processes of soul-infusion
include purification of body, speech, and
mind. This is what is to be obeyed and
cultivated. The ajna automatically increases
its magnetic aura as the personality (related
to ajna) is purified and incrementally
infused. Infusion by the light and essence of
the soul results in an increase in the
magnetic aura of the crown chakra (many other
things happen as well). Thus the linking of
the head centers does not require any focus
on the part of the apprentice; nor should they.
The Tibetan cautions the disciple from
working with average healers or therapists.
He also gives us four general and five
specific points regarding possible
difficulties encountered by the healer:
The Tibetan points move from the most
gross/dense to the most occult. He considers
an assessment of where a person is on the
path a fairly easy thing to deduce, thus
placing it second. And he gives us a clear
statement regarding the last means of
handling disease: telling us that not only
does it require “much knowledge and high
point of spiritual attainment”, but that it
also ‘presupposes the healer’s link with a
Master and the Master’s group, plus the
earned right to call upon that group for
energy on behalf of the patient – a thing as
yet rarely granted.” That would be none of us
or our students! And of course, anyone who
really had a link with a Master knows the
rules of how, why, and when to use the link,
and those times are far less often than those
without the link would suppose.
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“A New Look at an Old Devil”
by Sara Traub There are books that help readers overcome
poverty consciousness and teach the basic
principle of energy follows thought –
that is, that our resources are more
dependent on our thoughts and feelings than
what is going on in the outside world. Our
focus here is to consider how we can do more
with the money that we have and how to invest
our money and resources in a way that
supports life and fulfills our higher
purpose. In a book by Lynn Twist, the Soul
of Money there was a couple of new
concepts that while simple were revelatory:
She asks us to look at our relationship with
money and some of the myths surrounding it.
The first step is to challenge the myth of
scarcity. This myth tells us there is not
enough to go around. We must transform this
concept to one of sufficiency – there is
enough for all. Our entire society
revolves around the endless pursuit of
more, leaving very little time
to appreciate what we do have. If we can let
go of the chase for more, all that energy and
attention can be invested in what we
already have. Lynn tells us “when we
let go of trying to get more of what we don’t
really need it frees up oceans of energy to
make a difference with what we have. And that
then makes a difference with what we have,
and it expands.” Sufficiency is about
treasuring and being wise stewards of what is
in our care. We engage in life from a sense
of our own wholeness rather than in a
desperate longing to be complete. We feel
naturally called to share the resources that
flow through our lives – time, money, wisdom,
energy to service our highest commitments –
and these merge to create a rich, satisfying
and a meaningful life. In doing so, we will
find unimagined wealth of surprising depth
and diversity – so that money and resources
coming into our lives becomes a flood of
nourishment rather than being something that
is constantly escaping our grasp.
Do we really need all the stuff we keep
buying? Is there a point where having more
than we need becomes a burden, where we are
overcompensated, over-stuffed, swimming in
excess looking for satisfaction from more
things? Like eating to excess, many of our
homes and lives are stuffed - there is no
room for more. The law of nature is one of
economy, “just so much and no more”. Growth
ought to be understood as the appreciation of
what we already have as opposed to the
acquisition of more goods.
True abundance flows from sufficiency.
It is a fundamental law of nature. But
abundance is the natural reward of those who
are the mature custodians – those who care
for what they have. “When you make a
difference with what you have, it
expands,” says Twist.
She also tells us “the power of money is
really derived from the intention we
give it and the integrity with which we
direct it into the world.” Money,
she goes on to say, is like water – when it
is flowing it can purify, cleanse, create
growth, and nourish. “It can carry blessed
energy, possibility and intention or it can
carry the energy of desire, control,
domination and guilt.”
Next we must observe our attitude when
handling money; paying for our food,
gasoline, clothes, meals, taxes. Are we
tainting these transactions with feelings of
upset, anger, and resentment or light, love
and gratitude? Let’s look at our transactions
and think them through. We just filled up our
car with gas – how do we feel? – Resentment
at the price, for the oil company, for the
industry? Have we just energized our money
with emotions that truly reflect our
attitudes and values?
So how should we manage this situation? We
need to first take responsibility for the
purchase and the relationship – hopefully we
chose this store, this restaurant, this gas
station because it met our needs or hopefully
reflected our values in some way –
convenience, price, quality, service, people.
If this does not feel completely whole then
ask – does this store truly reflect my values
and, if not, is there somewhere else (perhaps
not as convenient or cheap) that better
reflects my values? Am I being conscious
about my choices around money and resources?
I am voting with my dollars for the kinds of
products, stores and services that I think
are important. What is important to me? Do I
want to support products that come from the
exploitation of children where child labour
is the norm? Do I want to support countries
that deny freedom to their people? Do I want
to support domestically produced products?
These are choices each one of us can make
with our money.
Being a conscious consumer involves making
such decisions and as such we have power. We
can consciously put money in the hands of
projects, programs, companies and vendors we
respect and trust and even approach paying
taxes as a way of expressing our commitment
and investment as citizens. (Everyone gripes
about paying so much tax). We have much more
power than perhaps we realize to direct our
financial resources in ways that support,
empower and express what we believe in. It
takes courage to direct the flow but with
each choice, we invest in the world as we
envision it and remake the world in which we
live. Most of us do this quite unconsciously
all the time.
This leads to the second concept that Lynn
Twist mentions in her book - that of
appreciation. In the chaos and disorder of
our world we must create a moment in time to
express our gratitude and make all
transactions, yes even purchasing gas,
positive and meaningful. Appreciation has
much to do with our relationship with money.
Lynn Twist tells us that what we appreciate
appreciates. What we appreciate
grows and becomes more valuable. This simple
but powerful act expands the freedom,
creativity and ultimately the success we
experience, particularly in our relationship
with money. Attention enlarges and enriches
our experience of whatever is before us. If
our attention is on the capacity we have to
sustain our family and ourselves and
contribute in a meaningful way to the well
being of others, then our experience of what
we have is nourished and it grows. We can use
our appreciation, our conscious attention and
intention to develop some mastery in the
arena of money. With our willingness to work
with these concepts of sufficiency and
appreciation we can transform our lives as
well as the planet into an open space for
growth and freedom.
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Leyden, MA
Check out our website to learn more about
these
programs!
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To learn more about Spirit Fire, the newsletter, or programs we offer, please contact us! Only a change in consciousness can change the world.
Spirit Fire Meditative Retreat Center
email:
e-news@spiritfire.com
phone:
413.624.3955
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