Perceptions in the Modern World- 14th May 1991

WHEN a child chooses a toy - an object that is concentrated upon and experienced - the form of that object makes an impression upon the expanding consciousness of that child. Frequently the child must come to know the object and grasp it in two hands or between two teeth, and is loathe to let the object be taken from them until the child herself has fully come to absorb every detail into her order of perception.

Children have the ability to perceive colors as brighter and more vivid, almost radiant, as opposed to the adult, in perception and cognition. Tones of color and of their source, whether cold or warm, bright or dull, natural or synthetic: these colors assist in building the fiber, as it were, of the child's subtle bodies. They translate them into the system of assimilation, the digestive processes, and flow back through the senses, through which they first made recognition. 

It is paramount therefore, that a child may be given access to experience the wonders of the natural world, and have a home that is aesthetically pleasing in the sense of good and proper taste. From this one can surmise that the child of the country is blessed with an advantage that the child of the flat-dweller in a large city, has not.

The perceptions of early childhood will mark or enhance the ability for perception, deduction and imagination, for the rest of their days. Deprivation in early childhood leads to an underdeveloped, quite handicapped adult who has not the ability to see through his eyes, hear through his ears, and so forth; as the world becomes almost indistinguishable to the perception- a haze and a muddle, as it were. 

The treatment for such a handicap in later life is to re-establish one's relationship with the outer world, rather than by trying to hide within an introspective consciousness of the world one lives in. The temptation is of course, when one has not the ability to discern true beauty as opposed to fashion or tizzyness, is that the individual tries to surround themselves (often expensively) with the material requisites which unfortunately in reality, come no closer to enhancing their soul perception of the true nature of the world around them. 

It is therefore a wonderful therapy for all to be creative when making an environment, be it garden or house, to be pleasing to the souls of the individuals who encounter it; if done in the proper way. This of itself is not an indulgence, but can be quite an inspiration in finding the ways and means of this artistic endeavor, and can be beneficial to all concerned.

Elemental Man- 14th May 1991

IN past mythology there were many beasts that featured in certain tales: reptilian of the watery element; those with the breath of flame-throwers, of the fiery elements; creatures endowed with feather and wingspan of the air, and heavyset hardened-skull, cave and darkness dwellers of the earth.

Also corresponding to such mythology were the angelic doctrines of the elemental faerie host: those that inhabit and dwell amongst their elements with both higher and lower faculties, from sprite, sylph, nymph, elf, salamander, gnome, dwarf and so forth. Each elemental being had an elemental beast or group of beast-like brothers and powers from the garden of the world, being like representation of their particular element from which they originally sprung.

Alike to parents, the higher realms of the Angelic Host would look on, with visitations and guardianship over their correspondingly significant concerns, moving in either the air, water or fire, but not the earthly realms.

Man in his relation to the Zodiac is placed (in loose terms today) under the influence of one particular element. And the corresponding natures of these elements hold keys to the advantages and disadvantages that might present to the personality during that period in which he comes under their influence.

However, a man may bring with him a temperament that does not fit the present one, under which influence he is currently determined by. In fact this is most often the case, as the former may well help to balance the latter, redistributing attributes and essential qualities, re-establishing a different relationship within the cosmos.

Therefore one might be choleric in temperament and come into the world demanding to be fed, but be born into the watery aspect which in time, will too, have its influence on the building and expression of the future nature and personality of that particular individual.

So it goes also with the sanguine, melancholic and phlegmatic. In regards to health there is a direct relationship between the treatment and effect on an individual, depending on both past and present elemental aspects that dominate their personality characteristics, largely because the organs are stimulated by such aspects, as too the astral body, in which both etherical forces permeate or cosmic qualities are received within. The balance of the temperament plays an essential role in the determining of such wellbeing and harmony within the whole constitution, rather than just one aspect.

The phlegmatic individual might feel compelled to seek a diet, for example, that encourages this disposition. This of itself would better be corrected by a menu which selectively did not promote the nature of the watery element but instead brought the influence of the sanguine or the choleric.

Although the sanguine might enjoy in indulgence of sugars and tea drinking, there may be benefit in the consumption of complementary foods and beverages (although try and make a true sanguine ingest lemon, bitters, salt and spice!)

However, these contrasting foods may assist with health deficiencies, although moreover, the inclinations within a particular temperament and their relation to the perception of the outer world play a far greater role in the general wellbeing of the individual.

That is not to say that one should dismiss the qualities that one is endowed with, however at the bottom of one's lower nature there is a serpent, a slug, a dragon, vulture, and so forth, to be contended with. Similarly too, a John, Luke, Matthew and Mark: representing the qualities of higher elemental persuasion.

(Also, by the bye, one might have a phlegmatic St. Bernard, a choleric German Shepherd, a melancholic Bloodhound, or a sanguine Setter!)

Venus & Nero- 11th May 1991

NERO was not quite as mad as history would teach us. He was in fact largely misunderstood; and much propaganda that was put onto public record shortly after his death accounted for tributes that either never took place, or were never engaged in by his own hand. 

Nero was despised and held in suspicion by his court, relatives and all of the people that served him. There was an occasion where he had given much mercy to his brother's son, who later betrayed his trust and turned on him during a period of frenzied illness.

Nero had little time for people and their ways, he had dreamt in visions that it was possible to commune with the gods. He had dedicated his pursuits with the intent of finding the ways and means of doing just that.

When alone in his chamber all manner of spectres would pay salutations at his bedside. One in particular established a relationship with him, and to this one he gave the name, Venus.

Although his love for this being that came to him might have been inspired from Venus and her rays, he was unhappily deluded as to the reality of the matter. He had withdrawn further and further away from the company of men, to the extent where daily politics had lost all flavour, and his duties were neglected. Titus had full reign over those affairs, and to this default Nero was responsible for the consequences in his name.

The problem of Nero and Venus is a fine example of the problem that those seeking the spiritual roads first encounter.

Empires seldom hinge upon presence of mind of any one individual. However there are always responsibilities to which one is accountable for, and mistakes which at times, must be viewed in reality, and rectified.

Nero became, by his own fixations of purpose, beyond the reach of reality and questioning; but instead accepted into his life what he mistook to be a higher divinity who should do his living for him. At that point one could possibly say, that he had ceased to live - when he sought the radiance of Venus to infill his consciousness, and unhappily gave all affairs over to others to control.

In his last days he was quite overcome with such delusions, and folk maintained that he was unfit, lost his wit and all reason. There was truth to this of course, but no debauchery or violence compelled him, and no such physical encounters seduced him.

Nero had had a full life offered to him but had desired more, and was indeed given it. You might ask, is this the risk that one undertakes when trying to find their way on the inner-path. Yes, this is most certainly the case. Especially when one considers in full belief that they have already reached a certain station in evolution where there is no need to learn further, and elevate themselves, to themselves, beyond their capabilities.

Nero fell into love with what he sought to love; in summation, that which was attracted to him, in like attraction. In this it was small wonder therefore, that he found satisfaction; and for this, gave over his faculties of judgment for the price of such love.

Learning to know and love the qualities of that which is outside of our being challenges and expands the soul, rather than seeking the satisfaction of the mirror-image of that which exists within our own being.

Learning to be vigilant, in being awake, in standing guard over one's consciousness - this strengthens the perception. Rather than trying to give up and give over, submitting one's consciousness.

Learning to deal with all matters that require we should give of our attention, no matter how slight we regard them to be, to give what is called upon us for in our duties - this sets the path for higher duties and responsibilities; rather than denying the work at hand, and giving over to fancy and pleasure at such expense.

This is the lesson of Nero and Venus.

The Tempered Sword- 10th May 1991

THE FIERY home of shakti is in the indwelling cosmos. Just as there are natural mineral elements permeating as vital constituents within the physical structure, so too is fire, flame, spark and radiation, elemental, belonging to the cosmic fires, flames, sparks and radiation. And this is but an echo almost in fraction of the mother element.

In the principles of homeopathy - of dispersement, dilution, coupled with regularity in active formula, and repetition - one can call upon higher qualities of any particular homeopathic substance: any substance that is represented in the physical world. So too, in a similar fashion, can the fiery elements be called into play. However such reactions caused by this employ are dramatically effective in the physical world to say the least.

A rapid and extreme undoing in some instances (eg. nuclear activity) once established, could be viewed as a great ball of thread that has been tossed and unwound, whereupon the pyromaniacal scientist has induced a burst of fiery element to be brought into the surrounding physical substance and unwittingly brought only devastation through failure to utilize and contain such effective force, in calling down showery waves of such fiery element in this way. They have a defined duration and parameter that will not be exceeded. Nor will the consequences become indefinite, as indeed it is occurring in bursts, dependent upon the physical material which called it forth in the first instance.

Cold fusion is quite possible, and variations of this theory shall be brought into practice in the very near future.

Man has practiced many forms of calling fiery elements into and affecting their own physical constitution. It is a wonder that those stimulating the chakras in such a haphazard and violent a way, are protected largely from that sorry condition known as spontaneous combustion! (Although not all have been so lucky!)

Here is a very good example of what naturally occurs as opposed to that which is synthetic. The adept acquires with commensurate development the ability to call into his being and utilize all manner of elements, which ordinarily are latent but inert within the undeveloped faculties of an undeveloped individual. These abilities cannot artificially be reproduced- just as one cannot sprout an extra arm or leg purely from the desire to do so. So when the undeveloped individual is inflicted with all manner of powerful fiery-element ignitions, the undeveloped faculties can only cope for a very short period without reaching a limit; in a certain sense, an overload.

Returning to the principles of homeopathy: In the physical world there is the potential - as should be necessarily - to unlock gateways into the higher substances of any given physical substance. And in dwelling in and around these physical substances one could reckon that the formulas into the higher substances should be happened upon during daily life, in all probability. Whilst this does occur in a way whereby the physical man can encounter and survive these occurrences, it does not impede or interfere with the natural physical laws and capabilities, unless provoked artificially.

An example of provoking and interfering with a physical order of natural occurrence would be in the biodynamic practices of utilizing a homeopathic formula to devastate a certain species within a given radius. Without going into the morality of such a practice we can view the extreme difference between:-

a) The species that in all probability would exist somewhere in the paddock - among the same conditions - and that offers dilutions of that which is required for biodynamics. However, there is little or no physical effect from this on the whole.

b) When man has taken these naturally occurring elements and used them in such a way that interferes and dissipates the natural order; at least of what would have been.

 An interesting point is that in the act of copulation and subsequent conception, rhythm is essential to the very act.

And so we may live in an existence where the fiery elements and their physical brothers coexist, but do not interfere with the physical order - unless called upon to do so. If the student therefore, assumes that because such qualities exist and can be invoked, they must question the benefit of uninformed and undeveloped practices concerning such fiery elements.

Like a child with an abandoned toy that she has tired with, such individuals rarely have the staying power to concentrate on this or any other practice for any length of time- usually because they are trying to master capabilities too quickly with shortcuts, unaware of the limits they intend to artificially exceed.

Of course, even if one could open a bag of tricks and teach them, it would invariably go from one to another. “Next we want to affect time!” they would say. “We want to learn to walk on our heads and recite the meanings of universal law”, and so on! There is no end to such childish demands that are frequently exclaimed. However, it is fortunate that the unattainable is just that, as there would be many sorry students who would be spun into varied states all over the globe, without knowing how to undo the damage caused to themselves and to others. 

Knowledge of occult science is indeed a two edged sword, one with a very sharp blade. . . to be handled carefully!