Thursday, February 28, 2013

A new place

by Rembrandt


 Every small Ascension requires us to start again from a new place. The giant leaps taken by our Conscious Teachers have provided us with moments of great opportunity to climb higher on the ladder through our own conscious Work, which means surrendering the false will of the machine in faith to whatever unknown future lies ahead.


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Stillness

 
It is easy to forget that every difficulty that one endures
can be offered to God to lighten the burden of mind and body.
In this way acceptance comes and opposites reconcile
allowing the crack of light to enter ones deepest being
leaving the heavier parts behind.

I have a memory of being in Canterbury Cathedral
listening to even song feeling this quality of the soul
being lifted into the infinite spaces
and atmosphere of the sacred surroundings.
The soul is the bridge to reach this quality of "stillness"
and in this place one can go up or in any direction because
stillness has no direction it just is....
When we become stillness our soul is closer to spirit.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Duality

by William Blake


Two people come together and there is attraction.
It is a natural attraction, but that is a duality that attracts a Triad.
Our life is full of dualities that attract triads. 
There is me and my Soul.
Me and my Soul is a duality that can attract the Gods. 
So, a wise man starts to look for Strong Dualities that will attract Something Higher.
Duality attracts Third Force.


Something Hidden

by Luca Giordano   -   Palazzo Medici-Riccardi

Man has the ability to bring down the gods. The Prayer of Union is where God enters the room, but there has to be a courting process between the soul and the body. A sudden huge appearance of the soul can tend to send the machine into shock. Emotional types vibration tend to be closer to that of the soul, and may be able when divided, to tolerate it easier. Every time we think we want to learn about the soul what we end up having are just Is, most of the time. We are like sperm imagining what it is like to be a man. The soul can observe the mind thinking, but we cannot know the soul through centers of gravity, but through something else that enters. It cannot be manufactured. Awakening is not of the mind. Something hidden has to enter – Third Force, Spirit, Life Force.   

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Expectations

by Francis Bernard Dicksee


I've been really feeling and seeing how these expectations come from both expectations of others and ourselves. I see how much identification, negative emotion, inner considering, etc come from expectations. When I slow down the conversations in my head, I see that usually I will state a fact about a situation - "that person just cut me off". And then the negative i's come - "I wouldn't have done that. etc, etc."
What helps me is to cut that i in half and just state what has happened without the judgement or expectation. When I do that, however brief I am able to bear it, there is an uncomfortable restlessness in my machine, like I am suspended, hanging in a moment. My soul then has the opportunity to emerge. It's another dimension that can break through my normal mechanical world.... even if it's for a moment.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Dark Night of the Soul

by Charles de La Fosse



A dark night of the soul is desolate, a lonely place where one feels abandoned, unloved and worthless.  The importance of times of desolation cannot be underestimated, as it reminds us of how small we really are, and helps shear away the layers of vanity, greed, power and other features exposing a beautiful soul, humble, open and ready to serve God and others.  The feeling of being in hell comes in varying degrees of suffering and pain.
Mervyn encouraged us to use the Work to transform the friction for a higher purpose, and urged us to not buffer the pain during desolation.  Through patience and acceptance, we allow our heart and soul to be pierced, for if we do not, we will attract the suffering again and again.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Forgiveness

by Peter Paul Rubens


In my experience I have encountered a word which can "Stop" Supernatural Grace entering the Soul.
It is subtle and if the Student is not aware of it, it will reject most of the efforts of Higher influences to penetrate the Soul.
This word is called "Forgiveness"
We must use the system to look inside ourselves and find our "Sins" while I do not like this word because "Sin" is subjected to lots of subjective opinions as to what it is?
It is the Sins that we hold ourselves accountable for that are the dangerous ones.
It is you yourself who is the Judge on Judgment day.
And I know many condemn themselves afresh and repeatedly because they do not realize that they must "Forgive Themselves".

It is You who must examine yourself, and it is You who must absolve yourself and forgive.
Then it is You who can receive Supernatural Grace or the direct intervention of God.
In a State of Sin you cannot.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

About Love

by Rembrandt

About love, we said that we cannot make it, we have to meet something or someone and love enters.

Love is a cosmos. So it can regenerate itself.

Love between you and your beloved is a prelude to love between you and your God. It is meant to regenerate you – to regenerate the love between you and God, who put you here and gave the gift of loveThe love process is a gift from God to elevate us to Himself.

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Fear

by Edward Burne Jones


Fear can destroy many lives and destroys the potential for a fulfilled life and personal growth, it hinders creativity and its expressions and reverses the expressions often to addictive behaviors and diseases, it puts humans deeper asleep, it puts them under more laws. It is almost like a denying force created by a lower realm to get big souls.


~S

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The Harmonious Whole

by William Blake


Our work is to realise conscious harmony. First
in oneself individually. Then in one's group. Then gradually between
groups and so projected infinitely out into the world. Individually, we
must realise harmony between all our functions, all our interests, all
our duties, all sides of our life, dedicating the harmonious whole to
God and to the Work. This is what our studies are preparing us for.
They have no other purpose. 

Sunday, February 17, 2013

To Love and Serve.....

by Leonardo Da Vinci


 To Love and Serve.....

C: I have verified it becomes like a necessary out flowing once we find this secret and adhere to it is difficult or even dangerous to go back...
once the soul touches the spirit a momentum gathers ....it becomes irresistible
especially giving without agenda.

J: Yes, exactly...If we are attached to an agenda...then the process is lowered
and even in serving the love....and giving it...does not necessarily mean that it will be received with an open heart....that is not in our control....this gets back to giving without an agenda...other than Love itself....and accepting whatever happens and being compassionate for how it is or is not received.

C: Yes all our line of teachers seem to appreciate the more invisible the better.
It certainly makes sense so the machine does not get a hold of being important
yet of course not always possible, there are so many moments in everyday life to be invisible and cultivate kindness.






Saturday, February 16, 2013

Chicago, Monday, February 18, 2013


The Chicago Center of
The Academy of European Arts and Culture

invite you to attend:

Essence

What is it? Why is it important to the awakening process?


Monday, February 18, 2013 ~ 7:30pm

~Free~

Mr. Ouspensky said that to evolve, there must be a certain 
quality in essence, certain acquisitions in personality, 
and a certain kind of circumstances. 
Essence must be receptive; true personality must develop
the capability to learn and to teach, and there must be a 
connection with higher school. 
A mature essence is the result of one’s experiences;
it can become worldly-wise while remaining innocent.
 
Bon Bon, LLC
2333 West North Avenue, Chicago, IL
 
 
Information:

New York City ~ Thursday, February 28, 2013


The Long Island & New York City Centers of 
The Academy of European Arts and Culture,

invite you to attend:



Thursday, February 28, 2013

New York  Open Center
22 East 30th Street

$25



For Early RSVP and Payment:

http://www.academyofeuropeanarts.com/the-pyramid-of-light-ny-open-centre-manhattan-28th-feb/

Friday, February 15, 2013

Complete

by Gustav Klimt


As we go forward and higher, this understanding of triads, of the law of three, becomes ever more obvious and we begin to realise the true meaning of the 'cross', which is three points; positive, negative and reconciling. If we are sincere in this work we can consciously apply the symbology of the cross to our lives. Not by being a 'martyr', this is unnecessary and unwise. But by looking at what we need to do to create unity in our being and harmony in our lives. This is the correct use of objective knowledge.

In relation to our selves, our own souls, we can recognise that we all have a gender in body, that much is obvious, that which separates man from woman. But we are unified in the energy of our souls. That energy is LOVE and it is without gender.

What we are aiming for is to become Complete. Real MEN, Real WOMEN.

It is right work for us to aim for that which we lack mechanically. For men it is to really understand what it is to be a woman, to consider the gentleness of a mother. To be loving, kind and understanding. These are inherent qualities that a woman is born with. And to complete ourselves, if we are male, perhaps we should try and recognise and aim for the feminine within us also? Then we are three points, masculine, feminine and soul.


Courage

by Albrecht Durer


It takes courage to face a threat to happiness;
But greater courage is needed
To face the possibility
Of happiness being assured.

The man who knows what he wants
With his innermost desire,
And puts his desire into words;
Then says those words
To whatever god he knows and believes in
Faces the likelihood
Of his desire being granted.
But no-one does that unless he has courage.


Thursday, February 14, 2013

The Tallow Candle


 

But then it met a little flame, a tinder box. It knew the candle better than the Tallow Candle knew itself. The tinder box had such a clear view – straight through the outer shell – and inside it found so much good. It came closer and there was bright expectation in the candle – it lit and its heart melted.

Out burst the flame, like the triumphant torch of a blissful wedding. Light burst out bright and clear all around, bathing the way forward with light for its surroundings – its true friends – who were now able to seek truth in the glow of the candle. The body too was strong enough to give sustenance to the fiery flame. One drop upon another, like the seeds of a new life, trickled round and chubby down the candle, covering the old grime with their bodies. They were not just the bodily, but also the spiritual issue of the marriage.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Portrait of a Young Man

by Sandro Botticelli

The interpretations I pass on to Students are what my Higher Centres See and Say.

Going on the basis that there was a Conscious School in Florence and that Higher Centres seemed to abound there it would be normal to assume my soul could "See" what the painters where saying.

I "KNOW" "Portrait of a Young Man" is the painting of a man Remembering himself, and now so do you because somebody pointed it out to you.

I also know that the Intellectual Centre could go crazy with "Well who said so?" "How do I know this is right?" etc. But just "Look" at the painting and be present and you will "See" he is looking back at you.
Who cares from one angle if the interpretation is right or not, nobody will ever know, all we ever have is learned Fools giving their interpretations anyway, so why not gamble and "Try on" what the soul sees?
And if your Soul sees it too, then you will be filled with a great urge to pass it on.

We also use paintings as a way to learn how "To Look". They give us the opportunity to "Look" into a moment hundreds of years ago, created by the Artist. What did he see, could you see like him?

Monday, February 11, 2013

The Guide and Reminder


I am not your Spiritual Father from one angle, I am here to Remind you of your Spiritual Father, your heritage and who YOU are. It is for Students to verify who they are and I assure you again, that at every crossroad you encounter you will find me and mine already sitting there, like good guides.


Adventure



To live eternally here? To visit the past again and again, the future, without the original sin of a machine. To converse with the Angelic Orders and penetrate into mountains and onions. Here all matter opens up before us as we swish through its mysteries as a sword would cut through water. Oh, how much have we forgotten and lost???
I melted and soared into a blissful dissolving, and silently disconnected from the machine. High into a silent world of Light where words and descriptions cannot follow. Beyond Paradise to the core of all, I was cradled in the arms of the most indescribable everything and nothing.
On the way back, the earth was observed from a great distance. Majestic in beautiful harmony, no sign of conflict or disease, just the "Wise Silence".
I felt that I was looking into the Ovaries of the Universe and that the Earth was peopled with billions of little Cosmoses called "Man", all waiting to be conceived.
Each "Man" contained everything in him to begin again and again and again and...
But what, how or by whom would his germination come from???

For my Soul there was no end place and my "Teachers" called me a true "Vagabond" of the Universe, leaving the bench to begin the next adventure.
Maybe it will be another "Bench" somewhere, or a cavity in your Heart, or swimming in one of your tears.
Perhaps I will be the "Wise Silent" answer to your next perplexing question, or the cause of your smile.
"Let him with ears Hear"
One thing is sure, keep your eyes and ears peeled, I am out there in the Universe somewhere and You might be part of the next Adventure.



Saturday, February 9, 2013

Notes On Love



It is shy and will resist having to fill a Loveless Place.

It mingles better where it is welcomed as an equal and Friend, rather than a Savior or Physician.

It runs from elevation and sublimation,  respectively.

It wishes to abide with its own kind and will recoil from anything less.
It is expert at unmasking Masks,

And will spot an imposter lurking as other needs.

It respects Friendships, but does not seek or require them,

Because of its being and content Friendship is rendered Redundant.



Vanquish all barriers

by Rembrandt


Flesh and Blood-facade and perplexity
Only in the Spirit-the centre of depth
Only 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.


Thursday, February 7, 2013

Wax Tablets

by Raphael


Three Conditions of Memory

1. If it is too hard, nothing is retained; this is like the seed that falls on the edge of the road, where the earth is too hard-packed and the seeds cannot take root. This leads to forgetting of all but the strongest impressions, and so the gentle impressions of spiritual experience are not retained.

2. If it is too soft, too much is retained; the memory is not sufficiently selective, but instead retains irrelevancies and untested delusions, which blanket the memories we wish to retain. In this case the impressions of spiritual experience are usually obscured; a few may survive, but they will not be remembered often enough to lead to any change in our lives.

3. If the wax is in perfect condition, at a perfect temperature, we retain what we wish to retain.

Monday, February 4, 2013

In You and In Them

by Guido Cagnacci


We meet fellows on the path...
THE MIRROR IS IN YOU AND IN THEM!
The soul wants so dearly to evolve to go forward.
Yet here comes the age old principle discussed
 by Christ and his disciples about "loving one’s enemy" 
The enemy is in all of us and this feeling of reaction
 and non acceptance towards others
 is a test that I have failed dismally many times.
Through this failing something started to grow
 ...very slowly at first but it is growing
and I am grateful maybe I could call it mercy
 ...maybe compassion.

Like our friend Walt Whitman explains
"I do not ask the wounded man how he feels
 I lean on my cane and observe...
I myself become the wounded man"
Taking in this kind of impression
 takes a lot of being no doubt about it,
yet it is time to do this in our Work
OR WE WILL NEVER GET BEYOND