FAITH & the PURSUIT of the Spirit- 1991

Thomas Ralph Spence

ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX: Bernard the industrious was a soul of vision and insight into the astronomical machinations of the starry velvet sky-dome. After long and arduous study, he had reached a point through such inquiry, where the stars themselves could be heard within his inner being, as though they were a multifold choir resounding and permeating the streams of life that flowed on down to Earth.

His holy rapture seized him, and many a time would he give over to these choral arrangements, from the Heavenly bodies that inspired him so.

Dedication to any one particular study, will in good time, reveal the mysteries of the spirit in any one such area of inquiry. Nature is shy and greets man as the virgin approaching from afar. Here is the maiden in the field; and the image of marble who is yet to be imbued with life, from one kiss of a wanting prince.

We must pursue that which we love and long for intensely. The pursuit may take one into twine, bramble and thorn, but once reached, that one kiss and intimate encounter will awaken and return the spirit of that which we seek so fervently. This is the magic held and captured in life and living, the one stipulation that stands in the way of the necessary striving and encounters that fill the main part of the story.

Dedication to a particular study must not falter. If one is to be true to the love of that study they must have courage when failure besets them and efforts appear dashed in the very trying. So many are too easily dissuaded from entering into any crusade, any adventure; unsure of themselves, uncertain of outcome, long-term vision is deflected by the mirror of doubt. To overcome such hindrances to any quest, such as doubt, fear or the very dragons of our lower nature, we must have a faith, a faith pure and strong to carry us on to the very horizon of our visionary pursuits.

Faith is all important to any task attempted. Some would have it that faith is of its own an indication as to the individual holding no real knowledge, and therefore the faith itself has no real basis in reality. But it is quite otherwise, for in order to perceive any given reality one must have the key- the key being the faith, in the first instance. Faith is when the soul of man is telling him of what it knows, that the man may discover it for himself, that the truth might unfold before him, and as a total being he may witness and behold this reality that the soul whispers in hope of discovering.

Faith assists Man with the courage required to go forth into the world and encounter all that travails. Faith is the sword of the spirit that deflects the unwanted obstacles that arise on the path, in deterrence of grand pursuit. Faith is the cup of sustenance that imbues the spirit with the light of fulfillment and strength of determination.

Every man is in pursuit of an inner quest, and if waylaid for a period, an episode of one or one hundred years, the sleeping princess of the spirit shall still await…. until such time when the beloved comes to claim her.

Enviromental Influences 1991

The church is infilled with sprigs and bunches; and for funerals and in sickness it is customary to present flowers. Although flowers do actually assist in just this, and the lines to higher inspiration are conducted, the open bowl of fruit too, brings a marvellous field of influence. 

The fruit in its nature blossoms at the tree to receive the golden etheric rays. Fruit that swells forth with such light in its breast, retains for a time much of that effervescent vitality. Also it desires the influence of the Sun at all times, therefore speaking to our immediate environment of the Sun-filled existence. 

We do of course, attract certain influences into us. It has often been maintained that a man is easily impressed upon by that which he surrounds himself and the company which he keeps. 

Certain men of charity often forego perfect conditions and rise above that which may otherwise soil even their own stable standing in the world, by assisting the less fortunate. If a soul is strong enough to negate the negative influences of corruption and sickness, and thereby help his fellow man to turn it around and extinguish such influences, well and good. However, it can be a task of such magnitude for an aspiring individual to attempt such grace, when they are themselves at a stage of self-help and correction. Exhaustion may be the consequence of such charitable relations. Therefore it is not wise to force oneself or another, on conditions that become as an unbearable pressure to that individual. 

Within a given society that leans towards corruption whereby the burden of the immoral consciousness plagues the majority, this group can in fact bring harm to the whole. Collectively the society continues to do damage to itself continually.

It is therefore small wonder that a certain relief was experienced when a particular family removed themselves from the radius of such a large suburban collective; which unfortunately has the aura of mess and a muddle that would make inspirations of this nature, virtually impossible. In this sense the folk in the Himalayas do have a much easier time of it!

Contrary to this, we do not maintain that all folk must pack bags and remove themselves to the outer countryside. There are experiences in such cities that are irreplaceable to any individual. However, we cannot ignore the fact that conditions surrounding an individual play a very important role in either helping or hindering their development and their sanity.

It is advisable for the elderly to retire to the country in preparation for the higher worlds. They might experience some of the peace and order, and be free to receive inspiration without the constant battle of resisting the quagmire of conflict and mindless debauchery that is a twenty-four hour occurrence in the heavily populated suburbs in which they dwell.

If one is serious about maintaining a spiritual consciousness which is relatively unhindered, they must acknowledge that in order to commute with the higher worlds and participate with higher thought, it is obviously preferable to give oneself the most favorable conditions where this can be effected- to withdraw, to rest, to know silence and experience beauty, setting the way free to contemplation.

Electrotechnology & the Etheric World- 1991

TAR from woods and essences from flowers are lively, life-etherically imbued substances, which are as elixirs to men. The plant kingdom may be drawn from in such a way, as it is uncorrupted and pure by nature.

Primarily the plant kingdom is what it is. It should not be of the same to extract essences from various emissions of animals and expect it to be so. Nor should one wish to indulge in culinary exploits, of an animal that is profoundly aggressive or evil in nature. (Such as snake, shark or any other predator.)

As for the kingdoms above Man, we partake of their essences and emissions daily - throughout the ethers, in water, in air and in fire. The lower realms affect us accordingly through soil and mineral products, whereby the lowest strains of the planetary forces (in gross) also too, have their impulses.

But the plant kingdom does directly nourish this existence with a multitude of symphonic resonant qualities, which may imbue the man engaging with such essences and food.

Generally speaking the world of plants are a happy bunch. Their consciousness is not rooted within the physical existence but rather in the etheric world from which their growth is inspired. They have already achieved the apex of their evolutionary progression for the time being, and are a perfect example of harmonious interaction. They are that part of ourselves which has sought and found perfected expression.

The mineral kingdom has much absorbing, dissolving and evolving to conduct. It of itself has been something of a laggard, cosmically dragging its feet, waylaid by certain interferences along the way. The mineral kingdom has much of the past to absorb and purify, and is in constant conflict, as many of the influences coming through push and strain against one another.

This was not always so. The mineral kingdom is so condensed and restricted today, that the plasticity and flow of the past has withdrawn, and the amassed physical structures are somewhat frozen, held back in physical expression. The kingdom awaits in the bottom of the trough of that hardened condition, in the cycle of materialism that so grips the world. It shall be so until humanity can of itself, assist the flow of cosmic influences and determine their input, for the mineral world to awake from this semi-quiescent period.

The higher ethers rattle on, doing as they know best, unperturbed by the 'catch up' phases and goings on of humanity's earthly scurry. The technological advance over the planet is so irritatingly persuasive, that one's attention is continually called to from this or that gizmo, and taken up solely with the particular magic it performs. All of this activity tends to draw one away from the inner concerns, and fills life and the planet with an interruptive buzz. One tenth of the world play with technology, whilst the rest suffer its consequences. But in time like any fad it will dissolve once the entertainment value has been spent.

We refer of course to electrotechnology. The sciences have many a marvel yet to enter into; would that their studies peered into the etheric realms, rather than devices speaking from substratum emissions and currents.

The overall problem is that the goals set are unclear and unproductive. Man's development has before been beset with confusing interruptions and seductive interludes that speak of glorious encounters with the mundane. Think of all the modern menagerie of device and chip, and ask what for.

Ultimately, when reviewing life after life and the importance of refining oneself, the gimmicks and the gizmos come to mean very little. Some would tell you of the miracles whereby men are held back from the gates of death for a time. This is questionable. If a soul is certain of its timing, no one thing will affect it otherwise; and if an opportunity for the conditions is given and taken up, well and good. 

However, could this have been effected through other means? Yes. And is half of the panic towards the entire situation misunderstood? Yes, for all of the electrotechnology of the world cannot speak to that man of living a better day after the operation- a more productive day where he may learn to fully use those tired organs, and breathe with the breath of God. We are too easily distracted, distracted by adult toys and exploits.

Tools of agriculture do not tell the man how to fairly distribute the produce, and yet this should be of first concern. Secondly, the tools, rather the means and required knowledge, are to be found in Spiritual Science. Most of the modern notions concerning agriculture have to be way off the mark, as the knowledge does not come from the overall view of the nature of the plant, the earth or the elements and the life-forces that permeate.

One cannot turn to the mineral kingdom and ask it for a complete source of reference pertaining to the etheric. It does not understand. One cannot lean on the electro-technological instruments to impart those values which are higher than that field of operation.

Folk presume that one must utilize machinations outside of themselves. The electric beater was to replace the arm. And whilst one cannot swim the same distance that a boat may travel, and a jet does a marvelous job, considering its primitive construction - these modes of transport will one day (sooner than one realizes) be considered clumsy vehicles that sufficed for a time.

The point is that whilst men are caught in the fascination from one aspect that the sciences may prove to them, they are deterred from looking to themselves and deterred from beginning to perceive higher alternatives. Which whilst being even more fascinating, are also more worthy and conducive to Man's world-experience.

Every facet of electrotechnology that is useful to man may be bettered by utilizing etheric-technology. This will be so.

Did You Know?-1991

DID YOU KNOW that life contains a series of heartbeat failures that must be accordingly revived second to second? It is when the heart may no longer achieve the reaction we usually refer to as heart-failure.

It is the dual-nature characteristic of life, which permeates all impulse and successive responses. The cessation of life permits following renewal, without which there would not be the pulsating vitalities which, in order to ebb and flow throughout Creation, may at pausal intervals intervene.

Were all time to halt in an instant and resume at a period given to the future, should we know of the gap in between? Would we know of that flickering between life and death, between every heartbeat, throughout every episode of sleep?

Here is an indication of the world and its heaving breath, with time contained and all things assimilated in this way. 

There are many episodes that are forever shifting, cycles endured and phases uncomprehended, confounding upon themselves; the patterns of extremities, though not of actualities.

Can one hear the silence? How can one hear silence? Does one perceive an eyelid flicker?

There truly is more than meets the eye.