The Subtlety Club- 1991

Subtle is a good word- if you can spell it. The whisper of the spirit is subtle, discernment, good judgment, is often subtle. The forces we describe are subtle (in a restrained way); the gentle love for humanity is subtle. Development must be gradual, therefore subtle. 

"Subtle difference" is the relevant phrase - and though we do not hold the perfect word to describe our aspect, subtle is preferred. Realizing also, that it is in the context of the perceiver one sees the need for humility. 

Under the lens of a microscope is a window into the subtle difference between this or that organism of the microbic world, so indistinct to the unaided eye that the perceiver would not reckon on there being any difference at all . . . 

Love and caring, benevolence must be subtle- the image of the tiny bird recovered from the nest, held with tiny beating heart, beware not to grasp too hard lest the faint flutterings of life be squeezed out entirely in an effort of kindness.

Humans are tuned and are fragile. A noisy world will not assist the soul: veritable sea-sickness on a wave of thought. Becalm the waters, bestill the emotion/motion - perilously deep the sea! High winds and powerful undercurrents are conducive to courage but tax the survival. 

Beauty is subtle. Take a recipe, a set of conditions; set to task perceiving the ingredients, the timing and the outcome - and then, the ability to know when you have got it right - this is the subtle difference. Because if one key factor has been measured incorrectly, namely, the ingredient, the timing or the outcome has been misjudged, then the creation, the conception, the organization, or the cake, will not be as it should be, and will not carry with it the enduring vitality to retain life and perpetuate itself for longer than the life instilled can carry it. All important is this subtle difference to know one ingredient from another, one minute from the hour, the creation from the failure. 

The progress has been stupendous, when it comes to men's concepts and their spiritual in-roads. Links are all over, and it is quite mistaken to believe that those founders and their offspring societies, have in any way failed to bring the vital connections into the worldliness of people. All are bridge builders of their time. And if the consequence was not entirely as intended by their founders, the seeds were cast and the work was taken up by others. Names are immaterial.

There is always merit in projects which are started afresh. But arguably, the times at present may warrant speedy application: individual and mass remedies in the world of thought, not confined to any particular branch representative - they are all present and accounted for! Sterling task-masters and their worthy workers are all a part of the unfolding and vital administration of the spiritual work ahead. 

Manoeuvres have been attempted in the past, and the attempt was the accomplishment in itself. One cannot cling to a particular society, for the very closed circle, just by name, infers exclusion to the rest of humanity. One may identify with the Father, with the tender hand of our (pardon the expression) Big Brother, and with the family of Man. Pompous titles do restore certain dignity to those who require it, but offer little in the service of the Holies.

Perhaps if one was to begin yet another organization, it would be better known as a club of supernal interests. If the articles of association require tea and biscuits, then there will be little argument as to success or failure of such a group! Expectation of conformity because of a group's name or statutes is not enough to bend the wills of its followers, or change them into that which they cannot be - nor would you wish to create such a monster.

Not to remain idle or discouraged. Dogmatism and dead thought has not the power to reach and inspire the slumbering individual. With pure intent, enthusiasm, community, and so forth, an outpouring of spiritual ideas needs to flow on from one to another, inspiring earnest study in those who would help the cause; and so to be reasonably free from judgments concerning particular societies and their members, and future societies and their members, and be free of the stranglehold of mistaken identity. If the concepts are pertinent and resound with an element of pure teaching, they will be taken up and assimilated when cast into the world with open blessing.

Firsthand Experience- 1991

The wolves of Diana doth bay at their silvery beatitude. We have awaited your greetings too long; fear the night!

 Bemingled spores of passing minuscule time nodes- so much passes us by - trifle on!

THE SENSES and their perceptions are in constant fluctuation ever shifting in response to a world that cannot be comprehended nor interpreted in full. Each flash from nerve to vital body is a corruption of responses, and certainty is ascertained from a suspension of time- an interval of perceptive assimilation that corresponds, correlates and capitulates the given information.

Many maintain that they believe in only that which they can directly experience. When consideration is given to the statement above, one must question experience itself as a mode of worldly understanding and interpretation. 

Surely there comes a sense of deja vu when the observant individual has consciously realized the lapse of time from one heartbeat to another.

Point in fact, is the selective interpretation that must ensure sanity within the individual who cannot begin to encompass the activity of life around the consciousness, the whorl surrounding the soul. Imagine the screech of the plant bursting forth bud, and the heave from the ground, the perception of the very planet moving underneath; and the Cosmic radiation blasting in heaving breath through and without. 

All the activity, birth and death of the perpetual moment, cannot be comprehended even in part by the obstinate consciousness that maintains adamantly that it is to decipher the universe alone. Oh happy delirium!

And so we look to those who may describe some of the marvels to be explored, would that we had capabilities to enter the vision into the real world.

Consideration for all species, with affectionate interest, is a healthy beginning to science, even science of the extreme- to some, the implausible.

Firsthand experience is not desirable for every detail of the adventure.We may translate.

Superimposed experience does not transmit well without breaking the vessel that tries to receive the unintended information.

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.