The Academy of European Arts and Culture

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Invited...

by Leonardo da Vinci

As we sat in the clear brightness of the morning, listening to the birdsong another door opened.
How incredible to not have to explain with the weight of words..... and so we sat together ...
in love....
Being in love.
I cannot imagine another way of life, to be invited to share and invite other new souls to this gift.
The road opens up before us straight and clear, how wonderful to be free,

truly free to just love.

The Temple of Love

by Edward Burne-Jones

On one level we share the same sex energy

with pigs and chickens.

As humans with a mind and emotions,

we have Cupid who will test us,

and who we must defeat in order to enter into the highest Love,

beautifully shown in this painting entitled,

“The Temple of Love.”

Here we must enter naked, present and in a state of grace.

(No I’s)

The ability of the Soul to enter the temple

is bestowed on it by the Angel.

One cannot enter these regions by the power of one’s loins etc.

It is a gift.

Did you really think you could enter this temple willy nilly?

It is the reward for becoming free of nature, of creatures and their worlds,it is entering the world of the Soul.

However, a word of warning.

One must then “Serve” this Love or it will turn against you

and be taken away.

~Mervyn J Brady

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Intervals

by Gustave Doré

In the Academy we are taught to recognize Intervals as those periods when the Higher Energies suddenly leave us, and we feel empty, deserted, alone. Indeed, it is during these periods, when we face the harshness of life without the sweetness of higher energies to cushion us, that we can face some of the strongest tests in our Work.

However, these intervals are in actuality hugely beneficial to the soul, for this is when our buffers and defenses are broken down. It is a time when our hearts are bared to the Gods, when we may be pierced, and space created for the soul to grow. This is when the most change occurs, at the deepest levels of our being.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Beyond Time

by George Frederic Watts

Apollo: I will tell thee. Beyond time, where alone exists the Nameless, all is a miracle-wholly and forever miracle. Time, like a moving curtain, hides miracle from men-lest they be destroyed before they long for it. But time's not seamless. And from age to distant age, when the cycles which thou hast seen pause in their perpetuity, a crack may appear in time. Its very motion brings the fault within it's fabric. And though this fault divine, this chink, the eternal miracle shines though to men, descends to earth-infinity incarnate, eternity in time.

Voices of the gods:

Rejoice for a fault in time!

Rejoice that men now may climb!

Rejoice that hell's pains can end!

Rejoice that the gods decend!

Rejoice that by Nameless grace

God yet may show his face,

And through a fault in time

The light divine

May shine

Shine...

~from Hellas by Rodney Collin

Monday, November 26, 2012

The Three Witches

by Henry Fuseli

Here are three witches or Centers,

the Intellectual, Emotional, and the Moving-Instinctive.

All pointing directions to the confused Soul

and each one bent on having it’s version heard.

We have been brought up to see man and his incredible brain

as something much higher than it is.

A serious student of the Way would be careful listening to

the directions of these three hags

and begin to suspect a new meaning for Jesus’ words,

“A man’s enemies are those within his own Household”

Remember this painting when you are next present

and watch them vying with each other to

“Tell” you the Way.

~ Mervyn Brady

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Great Neck, Long Island ~ Saturday, December 1, 2012

Personal Alchemy
and the Transmutation and Growth of the Soul

Alchemists have been searching for the Elixir of Eternal Life,

or the Philosopher's Stone, for millennia.

The ability to turn lead into gold has been coveted by men, yet the true magician seeks to transmute the coarse energies of the human ego into Light and into Higher Being. Alchemy is essentially the process of transforming a base creature into a Living Soul.

And there is more...

Many people are not aware that each of us is born with a personal Alchemy. This personal Alchemy determines how the impressions that we take in with our five senses are perceived and digested. It can color one's appearance, tastes, and preferences in the outer world.

Please join us as we discover our own personal Alchemies (the Alchemy of the body) and delve into the ages-old Mystical Alchemy ~ the process of the Transmutation and Growth of the Soul.

Saturday, December 1st

4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

$15

For More Information and Location in

Great Neck, Long Island:

1-866-312-7922 Ext. 5

The Apostle Bartholomew

by Rembrandt

The Apostle Bartholomew is seen here holding a knife indicating his impending martyrdom. Conscious of his fate, the exterior man, looking away, expresses concern. The interior man, hidden in the shadows of the left side of Bartholomew's face is revealed, looks directly at the viewer. At this point we can see how, if we turn aside our exterior world, something eternal and unchanging can shine through. At the same time, if we are open, we may have the opportunity to see what is hidden in our fellow travelers around us.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Beatrice

by Dante Gabriel Rossetti

The gaze of Beatrice is an inward gaze. She is in a state of repose detached from her body. The Scene is divided by a small wall, in which there is a sundial. Maybe this represents that her heart has become like the sun, eternally blazing with a powerful, mystical love, as she turns her palms upwards offering her life and her love to God's grace. There is a bird flying toward her invisible offering. A red bird, the color of passion and love. He is coming to take her soul into the eternal Spirit of God. In the far background is the bridge crossing the River Arno where Dante clutched his own heart at the sight of her. Another figure holds fire in his hand, as Dante walks towards her.

All these images were only symbols of her life leading her to this mystical union. The message of this painting is that heaven is within our own hearts when we finally die in love.

academyofeuropeanarts

Friday, November 23, 2012

Perhaps...

by William Blake

Saw you not even now a blessed troop
Invite me to a banquet, whose bright faces
Cast thousand beams upon me like the sun?
They promised me eternal happiness
And brought me garlands, Griffith, which I feel
I am not worthy yet to wear; I shall assuredly.

~William Shakespeare

Sometimes one finds oneself in surroundings one knows-the sights and scenes and people are all just the same as always, but suddenly something from a different world seems to show through them. Each detail is not only familiar in itself, but all at once a symbol of something else much more important as well. Perhaps really the world is always like this but only occasionally we see it so.

~Rodney Collin

Thursday, November 22, 2012

The Soul Attains

by Edward Burne-Jones

The lover has no talent or skill
which earns him the girl.

She just simply loves him.

It is their hearts which will overcome
all obstacles and differences ...
and thus the heart must abandon itself
to the soul,
like a lover.

~Mervyn Brady

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

The Godhead Fires

by Edward Burne-Jones

Flesh and Blood - facade and perplexity

Only in the Spirit - the center of depth

Only in selfless deed will conquer doubt

Only in sacrifice - the mercy of silence.

All will pass and all will return anew

And communion with the Spirit will become Blood

The Creative Word will not cease

Love will vanquish all barriers.

~P.D. Ouspensky

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The Hand Refrains

by Edward Burne-Jones

Sometimes, by 'letting go' we allow some 'grace' to enter by another channel, which all our mental efforts have hitherto kept out. Stillness is a quality of the heart. We must not expect to find it among the doubts of the mind-

~ Rodney Collin

Monday, November 19, 2012

The Heart Desires

by Edward Burne-Jones

Reign in desire, do not desire----better sunshine, more food
and turn your Eros to the Soul. The Greeks said that Eros gives
wings to Psyche (the Soul). I say desire and its realigning is a
most potent weapon in the arsenal of the true Philosopher.

It is interesting to sit down and really ask, "What am I doing
with my Eros?" Christian morality messed with this one and
connected Eros and Desire with the outlawed sexual functions.
William Blake makes many references to Desire, of its proper uses.
Do not just say the words and expect something to happen. Tomorrow
morning your machine will wake up again--- what do you desire??
Desire to change. See what happens.

This is the secret…

Using the energy of Desire,

to be present.

~ Mervyn Brady

Friday, November 16, 2012

Presence...

"When will the west wind blow?

When it shall choose, my good man, or when it shall please AEolus*; for God has not made you the manager of the winds, but AEolus.

What then?

We must make the best use that we can of the things which are in our power, and use the rest according to their nature.

What is their nature then?

As God may please. "

~ Epictetus, The Discourses, Book One
*Aeolus is the ruler of the winds in Greek Mythology

Epictetus often reminds his students that a man can only have control over himself, and can not control anything else in the Universe.

The nature of everything that is outside of one's self is determined by God.

So a man must observe and let everything be as it is... must not wish anything in the outer world to be different... and only strive to do the Work to strengthen his own Inner World, virtue and character.

This John Waterhouse painting reminds me that I can divide my attention and allow the world to be as it is around me. My task is to work toward inner stillness, acceptance and Presence.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

The Greatest Mystery

The Greatest Mystery...

I can open materials and peer

into their depths and construction.

I can see what they were before, and how time

will transform them again.

Sound and music reveal their secrets…

Cascading into heavenly movements in my soul.

…And love…

The greatest mystery…
crescendos in loving all the creation…

Because I love me…

And I am all creation…

Because I bear the stamp…of the creator.

~ Mervyn J Brady

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Be out of sync with your times

for just one day,

and you will see how much eternity

you contain within you.

~ Rainer Maria Rilke

Monday, November 12, 2012

As the Heart Opens

As the Heart Opens...

As the heart opens, I feel you close.
I hear your patient beckoning.
Join me, I will take you to a place
Where there is no mystery.
Where the stars are born

and the whispers of millenniums merge.
In the quiet chambers of your heart, open the doors.
Let the light illuminate and pour love into your heart.
Fill up your heart so that you may serve.

There are many who left maps of their journeys
You too shall follow.
Be patient and have faith.
Create the space for this sacred communion.
For this meditative conversation.
Stay a while.
I am with you.

~AC

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Into the Light

Into the Light...

Love is not just a word

or a temporary fleeting emotion

or the fire of passion.

It is a state

ignited by the winds of the Gods

and kept aflame

by the humble surrender

of one's being

into the light.

The Pyramid of Life ~ Eternity~Creation~Love

The San Diego Center of

The Academy of European Arts and Culture

Invites you to attend this special evening with

international speaker on mysticism and consciousness

Charles Oliver

Thursday, November 15, 2012 ~ 7:30pm

Have you ever wondered why pyramids are surrounded by

such mystery and magic in our modern lives?

What is it inside us that recognizes that there must

be some kind of ‘secret’ or hidden key?

This lecture hopes to give a greater insight

into the symbolism of the pyramid

and how it relates to our eternal quest for

enlightenment and universal love.

ArtLab Gallery
3536 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA

RSVP:

866.312.7922 ext.8

The Pyramid of Life ~ Eternity~Creation~Love

The Los Angeles Center of

The Academy of European Arts and Culture

Invites you to attend this special evening with

international speaker on mysticism and consciousness

Charles Oliver

Tuesday, November 13, 2012 ~ 8:00pm

Have you ever wondered why pyramids are surrounded by

such mystery and magic in our modern lives?

What is it inside us that recognizes that there must

be some kind of ‘secret’ or hidden key?

This lecture hopes to give a greater insight

into the symbolism of the pyramid

and how it relates to our eternal quest for

enlightenment and universal love.

Shanti Shala Yoga
3507 Effie Street
Los Angeles, CA 90026

RSVP:

866.312.7922 ext. 6

Saturday, November 10, 2012

The Higher

The Higher...

The Higher enters one's prison, passes the guards and awakens the Student. Every one of you has experienced this moment. Will you wake up, acknowledge (it) and leave the prison with it? Or will you insist on reading his credentials, asking can you trust him? Don't ask questions at this point. Slowly rise, take the hand that is extended to you and Quietly slip pass the guards. They are asleep and won’t even notice.

~Mervyn Brady

When We Join Together

When We Join Together...

When we join together we keep the links of the chain well soldered and strong. We awaken and remember ourselves and foster the self-remembering of our fellow students. We keep the light in and dispel the darkness. If darkness enters, we can help each other to hold on and see the glimpse of ourselves mirrored in one another even though we think we can’t see the light. As one; to ride out the storms, to share our plays, to be together on the journey.

~MS