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| Post photo, I was chased clear to the car by a very scary goose! |
This weekend I attended the UFO & ET Congress which is held semi-annually at a modest venue in Bordentown, New Jersey. The featured speaker was Travis Walton, the Arizona logger taken aboard an alien space craft November 5, 1975 and held for five harrowing days while a massive search was organized below.Walton's ordeal was dramatized in the 1993 movie "Fire in the Sky" which was based on Walton's own book, "The Walton Experience" (1978). The book was republished in 1997 in an expanded format under the title of "Fire in the Sky: The Walton Experience" and is available on Amazon, as well as through Walton's website.
The Walton case is notable among abduction reports insofar as the saucer shaped alien craft reported to have taken Walton was clearly seen by six of Walton's coworkers. According to all reports, a beam of blue-green energy emanated from the craft and struck Walton as the ship was apparently powering up for take off. Believing Walton to be dead, the loggers left the scene in the hope of getting help or weapons. When they returned, Walton and the craft were gone.
In his presentation, Walton expressed the belief that he was essentially struck by accident during the powering up process. In the years since the incident, he stated that he had come to believe that he was taken aboard the craft because he was in need of medical attention. In response to questioning about the intent of ship's crew, Walton referred to the incident as an "ambulance call."
Walton corrected discrepancies between the film and the actual events of the case. Red herrings shown in the film, such as a UFO magazine on the seat of the logging truck and Walton's coworkers agreeing to "stick to the story" prior to meeting with law enforcement were dramatic devices intended to increase suspense. During the presentation, Walton was careful to set the record state on the actions of his fellow loggers who quite understandably felt themselves in no position to engage the alien spaceship unarmed.
While Walton may have been unconscious or sedated during much of the time he spent aboard the craft, the events he did recall and share were detailed and convincing and he was able to provide artist's renderings of the alien crew. More info may be available as well in Walton's book which is high on my reading list.
Overall, I found Walton's presentation to be a credible and articulate account of a truly amazing experience. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to hear him!
You can learn more about Walton, his experience and subsequent investigations in his book Fire in the Sky: The Walton Experience or through his website at Travis-Walton.com.
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| "Miranda: The Tempest" John William Waterhouse 1916 (enlarged for detail) |
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| A Reluctant Attendee Examines a Great Selection of Spiritual Books! |
 A Variety of Spiritual Items.  |
| An Example of One of the Beautiful Vendor Tables at the Expo. |
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Free Samples of Delicious Organic Teas. Check back tomorrow and Friday for pics of artists, readers & spiritual modalities! |
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| Lovely picture taken by a friend. Posted to remind myself not to waste what we are given. |
Looking for a diversion, I switched on the TV, and surfed the channels until I stopped at a public access TV program featuring Eckhart Tolle. I had never heard him.
I was, I think, quite possibly the only person in the entire US who had not. Surprising perhaps because spirituality was always such an important part of my life. I was never particularly attracted to 'New Age' however and that made Tolle new news to me that night.
I had an religious affiliation but it wasn't really working. I had decided that maybe I should just give up on spirituality altogether - that it just might not be for me. But I was wrong and in that moment, hearing Tolle talk, I knew I was wrong.
My curiosity, the great saving grace of my life to date, was sparked. I wanted to know more. I felt a new cycle starting and the promise of new things on the horizon. I wanted to explore again and it seemed that it might be helpful to me, on a personal level, to keep track of what I found.
My curiosity, the great saving grace of my life to date, was sparked. I wanted to know more. I felt a new cycle starting and the promise of new things on the horizon. I wanted to explore again and it seemed that it might be helpful to me, on a personal level, to keep track of what I found.
My track history with journals is rarely good and I have always had problems with consistency across the board of my life experience. So it occurred to me that a commitment to share what I was learning with others through blogging might keep me on track. And so it has. I have covered a lot ground over the last year and taken some interesting turns. Best of all, I find my passion for what I am learning is growing rather than waning.
Have I progressed in spiritually since that sleepless night which seems so long ago? I'm not sure. My belief system has expanded but I have a long way to go, however, in terms of establishing a consistent spiritual practice. I have learned a thing or two, yes. But I am also acutely conscious of how much more there is to discover. And that's a good thing.
I am so looking forward to year two. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you, dear reader, for being there to share it!
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| The Susquehanna River August 13th, 2011 6:23 AM |
I got to the river just before the sun crested, compass in hand to observe the southeast sky but saw no sign of the Dog Star. According to various internet sources Sirius was due to return to Northern skies today. Ancient people were very precise in their observations of the heavens. The internet, it seems, is not. But that was alright. Seeing the sun rise over the mountains was worth getting up for.
There is a resonant energy to the world just before dawn and there was a time when I used to get up at five o'clock in the morning just to feel the hum. On the way home from the river today, I remembered that time. I remembered how I used to sit in the kitchen and drink black coffee and write straight through until sunrise. I lived in the city then but I could see the better part of eastern sky above the vacant lot outside my back door. I got early up to write and see the sun come up almost every morning. In many ways, that place was my first real home and I made the most of it.
There is a resonant energy to the world just before dawn and there was a time when I used to get up at five o'clock in the morning just to feel the hum. On the way home from the river today, I remembered that time. I remembered how I used to sit in the kitchen and drink black coffee and write straight through until sunrise. I lived in the city then but I could see the better part of eastern sky above the vacant lot outside my back door. I got early up to write and see the sun come up almost every morning. In many ways, that place was my first real home and I made the most of it.
On the way back from the river this morning, I thought that I could do that here, too, if I wanted. The old turn of the century houses are close together in my neighborhood but ours is on a small hill and I have full view of the sky over the roof tops and mountains from my east facing bedroom slash office. Rearranging the furniture was relatively easy and my desk now faces that window. I am going to get up early tomorrow and write. Maybe I will catch sunrise by the river another day. Sirius is back after all. And if I get the timing right, I should be able to catch it any morning I choose.
Update: Here in the new house, I have an office. And it came equipped with a big east facing window <3
Update: Here in the new house, I have an office. And it came equipped with a big east facing window <3
In ancient Egypt however things were very different. The return of Sirius there, and then, occurred at the time of the summer solstice. This was the time when the star broke free of the glare of sun (as it is just about to do here in North America) to once again become visible or return to the skies of ancient Egypt.
Also called The Nile Star or Star of Isis, Sirius was considered to be so astronomically significant to the ancient Egyptian's that the mighty sphinx itself was oriented to face the point at which Sirius rose from the horizon for its dramatic return at the dawn of the summer solstice. In those days, the return of this brilliant star marked not only the solstice, but the start of the ancient Egyptian New Year playing a pivotal role in Egypt agriculture by warning those living along the Nile of impending flood.
At the temple of Isis-Hathor at Denderah a jewel was placed at the forehead of the statue of Isis. When the light from the returning Star of the Nile fell upon the gem for the first time each year, the priests would announce the start of the New Year. On the walls of the Denderah temple an inscription reads: "Her majesty Isis shines into the temple on New Year’s Day, and she mingles her light with that of her father Ra on the horizon."
Sirius is a bright white star with a hint of blue. When the air is unsteady, or when the star itself is low to the horizon as it is now, it appears to radiate an entire spectrum of color. In mid-northern latitudes Sirius may be seen tomorrow morning, August 13th, just before sunrise in the southeasterly sky. And I will be there to greet it.
Reminder: Tomorrow night is the full moon. Coupled with the date (the 13th) and the return of Sirius this is wonderful time to set out crystals or other items in need of clearing. Do consider spending some time outside this weekend to take advantage of this very special energy!
According to Rabbi and scholar Ayreh Kaplan, in his intro to the English translation of The Sefer Yetzirah, Kabbalah may divided into three categories: theoretical, meditative and magical. Theoretical Kabbalah, which is based largely on the Zohar, is concerned with the dynamics of the spiritual domain (worlds, souls and angels). Meditative Kabbalah, as found in the Sefer (sefer means book) Yetzirah and several other unpublished texts, employs the use of divine names and other methods to reach higher states of consciousness. Magical Kabbalah can be found to a certain extent (per Rabbi Kaplan) in the Sefer Yetzirah as well as The Book of Raziel and other as of yet untranslated texts.
Wonderful translations of many of these primary texts are available through Amazon and elsewhere, including The Bahir and Sefer Yetzirah as translated by Aryeh Kaplan, and The Zohar in the beautiful multi-volume Pritzker edition translated by Daniel Matt. Are these good places to start however? That depends. An understanding any of these texts, is best approached, in my opinion, in conjuncture with a certain amount of left brain understanding of Judaism and the Bible and a good deal of right brain reflection and meditation. It is my personal preference to treat all Kabbalah as essentially meditative, to select a short passage to read and reflect upon and not necessarily struggle for a structured assimilation of information.
If you are looking for a more comprehensive understanding of Kabbalistic concepts than this approach provides, the best place to start may be with modern commentary. The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism by Daniel Matt as well as another of Matt's books, God and the Big Bang, are fantastic first reads on Kabbalah. The Thirteen Petalled Rose by Adin Steinsaltz (reviewed in this publication here) is a great choice as well especially for those interested in increasing their metaphysical understanding of alternate dimensions.
The Essential Kabbalah is a wonderful reflective and mystical text which addresses many of the important concepts of Kabbalah in short, understandable and extremely well-written essays. God and the Big Bang which I hope to reread and review soon, is one of my favorite books. In it, Matt does a truly amazing and sometimes poetic job of discussing the cosmos, the Zohar and many of the fundamentals of Judaism.
The following passage from The Essential Kabbalah describes the ten sefirot in Matt's mystical yet very accessible style:
"Better yet, imagine a ray of sunlight shining through a stained-glass window of ten different colors. The sunlight possesses no color at all but appears to change hue as it passes through the different colors of glass. Colored light radiates through the window. The light has not essentially changed, though so it seems to the viewer. Just so with the sefirot. The light that clothes itself in the vessels of the sefirot is the essence, like the ray of sunlight. That essence does not change color at all, neither judgment nor compassion, neither right nor left, yet by emanating through the sefirot - the variegated stained glass - judgement or compassion prevails."
Dr. Amit Goswami speaking on quantum physics as it relates to spirituality. Read my review of the documentary film "The Quantum Activist" which features Dr. Goswami and his work in my previous post "Mysticism Meets Quantum Science." If you find the film challenging, as I did, or even if you don't, there is what looks like it could be a great free workbook available for download at the website QuantumActivist.com (QuantumActivist.com/workbook). I'm really looking forward to working with it!
Mysticism Meets Quantum Science: A Review of "The Quantum Activist" A Very Important Documentary Film Featuring Dr. Amit Goswami!
August 1, 2011
Goswami is at this point in his career quite well known, a sought after
speaker world-wide, as well as the author of numerous books including the
quantum mechanics textbook of choice for many universities:
Quantum Mechanics, The Self-Aware Universe, God is not Not Dead, How Quantum Activism Can Save Civilisation,
The Visionary Window: A Quantum Physicist's Guide to Enlightenment
and
Physics of the Soul
(which is winging its way to me as I write:). His message may be
as important as any other scientific advancement realized to date.
How can I make such an outrageous claim?
Dr. Goswami expresses ideas about non-local consciousness that have
widespread, perhaps even worldwide, transformative potential and what he says
makes sense. Or as much sense as anything said about quantum physics can
make at this point in our development.
He speaks against scientific materialism. The idea, as he defines it,
that cause rises, that matter is the force behind all subtle experience.
He maintains that it is impossible to explain all internal phenomena in terms
of the movement of molecules. He calls the attempt to do so upward
causation, the method of building upon our understanding from the bottom up,
from particle, to atom, to molecule, to the ultimate creation and existence of
all that is.
Religions, Goswami maintains,while apparently diverse share a common view of
what can be conceived of as God. That is, a force outside of the
material, a downward causation, a subtle body or world aside from the
observable. Goswami considers this principal the essence of
spirituality.
So what does any of this have to do with quantum physics?
Quantum physics describes the nature of tiny particles. Its application is responsible for many of the great advances of our modern age: satellites, computers, nuclear power, advanced medicine. Additionally and most notably however, it appears to follow a very different set of rules than those observable in the macro world - as defined by scientists such as Newton. Quantum physics poses certain problems such as quantum non-locality, in which two particles share information across vast distances, and suggests (as in the well-known double slit experience) that observation at the quantum realm effects matter, literally changing the manifestation of light from a wave to a particle.
It should be noted that like most groundbreaking scientific data, these
results have been interpreted in a number of ways and that it is likely that
the most comprehensive explanation is still evolving. Regardless of the
interpretation however, no one can say that this phenomena is not remarkable
and most will agree that it has the potential to revolutionize our
understanding of the very nature of reality.
Amit Goswami interprets this phenomena, as do many, in terms of
consciousness. He explains that when consciousness looks - waves
collapse and become objects of conscious experience. In that respect, he
considers physics a science of possibilities meaning, as I understand it, that
all waves have the possibility of being transformed into objects of conscious
experience. He goes on to address the Quantum Measurement Paradox in
terms of philosophical logic and this is where he begins to depart from the
majority of physicists.
He asks: If consciousness, as quantum physics suggests, chooses actuality from
material possibilities how can we conceptualize this without paradox? If
we have a possible elementary particle, creating a possible atom, creating a
possible neuron, creating a possible brain, creating a possible consciousness,
how can we couple possibility to actuality - or consciousness to matter?
Pointing out the circularity and paradox of that line of reasoning, Goswami
then introduces what he terms a radical thought. This is quite simply
put, an idea consistent with the experience of the mystic, the idea that
consciousness is the ground of all being.
As breathtaking as this is, however, there is more. Goswami goes on to
speak quite clearly on the topic of manifestation, maintaining that the level
of consciousness which possesses the ability to choose actuality is an altered
(as opposed to egoic) state which can only operate in the realm of the
subtle. This state and this realm may be thought of as cosmic or
interconnected consciousness. Separateness in this context is ultimately
illusionary and this is what is truly radical about Goswami's science.
Goswami goes on to speak of non-local communication, the Tibetan Book of the
Dead, the discontinuous leap of creativity and the morphogenetic field with
such beauty and precision that it would be a mistake I think for me to attempt
to paraphrase here. Suffice it to say that he believes that non-local or
cosmic consciousness is at once God, and ourselves, the object, and
subject. For Goswami, as for me, consciousness does indeed precede all.
On a global scale, the ramifications of such a realization are
staggering. Operating from the subtle body, and the heart chakra
specifically, Goswami suggests that we have the ability to recognize this
interconnectness and proposes an approach to the resolution of conflict which
acknowledges that we are all part of the whole. He speaks of taking a
step beyond even the Bodhisattva. In the old days Goswami explains, we
were concerned only for ourselves. 'If I achieve heaven,' we may have
said, 'I don't care about you.' As we evolve however in we recognize
that this is incorrect. And ideally we realize it to the degree that we
now say, 'If you don't go, I don't go either.'
Toward the end of the film, we realize that Dr. Goswami is not
naive. He is an experienced and educated man, well aware of the dangers
posed by our treatment of the environment (a product of separatism and
material thinking) and each other. He sees progress however in an
evolutionary sense that is both individual and collective. He considers
this progress demonstrated by the success of leaders such
Mahatma Gandhi,
Nelson Mandela and
Martin Luther King. He
points out that these movements toppled the great institutions of British
colonization, apartheid and racism by completely nonviolent means and that
this could not have happened 100 or 200 years ago. And in spite of my
continued concern and anxiety about the state of the world, I have to
agree. It is possible. We may indeed be progressing and while
nothing is guaranteed, I see great hope.
The absolute perfection of this documentary, of course, is that it is soundly
based in in scientific theory, lending validity to the subjective and
credibility to the unseen. In this regard it is therefore accessible to
very wide audience.
A friend sent me this video this evening which was interesting as I was reading Plato's account of Atlantis earlier in the day. This is not Atlantis of course but it follows a very similar time-line which I find compelling. I am absolutely fascinated by the mystery of the past. Somehow it all comes together in ways mainstream archaeology is just beginning to consider. I must do a review on Fingerprints of the Gods (the author of the book, Graham Hancock, is interviewed midway through this clip).
The History Channel does seem to get a bit off track in this presentation but some good points are made as well. I've included some background from the Smithsonian Magazine below, including additional photos:
"Six miles from Urfa, an ancient city in southeastern Turkey, Klaus Schmidt has made one of the most startling archaeological discoveries of our time: massive carved stones about 11,000 years old, crafted and arranged by prehistoric people who had not yet developed metal tools or even pottery. The megaliths predate Stonehenge by some 6,000 years. The place is called Gobekli Tepe, and Schmidt, a German archaeologist who has been working here more than a decade, is convinced it's the site of the world's oldest temple."
The History Channel does seem to get a bit off track in this presentation but some good points are made as well. I've included some background from the Smithsonian Magazine below, including additional photos:
"Six miles from Urfa, an ancient city in southeastern Turkey, Klaus Schmidt has made one of the most startling archaeological discoveries of our time: massive carved stones about 11,000 years old, crafted and arranged by prehistoric people who had not yet developed metal tools or even pottery. The megaliths predate Stonehenge by some 6,000 years. The place is called Gobekli Tepe, and Schmidt, a German archaeologist who has been working here more than a decade, is convinced it's the site of the world's oldest temple."
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| Sammy napping. |
While I don't necessarily believe that there are no coincidences, I do believe that there are a lot less of them than most of us suppose. I think that many of the events we write off as coincidences are in actuality synchronicities between the spiritual and the physical, connecting points if you will between conventional reality and what's beyond. Because of this belief, I feel that the messages synchronicities give are always significant.
To put the spiritual 'evidence' synchronicities represent into perspective, however, I want to first mention other sorts of evidence. These are occurrences that many of us, even most of us, accept without ever really analyzing. Relatively common events such as paranormal experience for example occur at least occasionally to a great many people but somehow become part of the world view of only a relative few. Faced with solidity of our visible world it is all too easy to dismiss an event that 'couldn't' be real. People may even say, 'I couldn't believe my eyes' and mean it!
Case in point: I heard my first ghost when I was sixteen years old. It was not my first experience with spirit but my earlier experiences were either heart centered (felt) or 'heard' in the form of interior dialogue. This experience was different.
I was sitting in the kitchen of an old farmhouse when I clearly (really) heard people talking outside, though the words were muffled. It was objectively obvious to me that they walking around on the old wooden porch preparing to come in. I wasn't alarmed because people were expected. "Here they are," I thought. The old screen door squeaked. Then nothing. Perplexed, I got up to see what the problem was, opened the door and - you guessed it - found nobody there.
This experience should have convinced me of something I already half knew. The reality of spirit should have become a cornerstone of my belief system. Instead I set this experience, as well as a series of disturbing dreams and a second event that occurred in the same location, aside and did not revisit the memory for several years.
I was sitting in the kitchen of an old farmhouse when I clearly (really) heard people talking outside, though the words were muffled. It was objectively obvious to me that they walking around on the old wooden porch preparing to come in. I wasn't alarmed because people were expected. "Here they are," I thought. The old screen door squeaked. Then nothing. Perplexed, I got up to see what the problem was, opened the door and - you guessed it - found nobody there.
This experience should have convinced me of something I already half knew. The reality of spirit should have become a cornerstone of my belief system. Instead I set this experience, as well as a series of disturbing dreams and a second event that occurred in the same location, aside and did not revisit the memory for several years.
Experiences such as these should lead each of us to question the apparent nature of reality (one very positive reason for the phenomena of ghost energy in my opinion) but the truth is they frequently don't or, as in my case, a couple of replays and few really blockbuster events (which occurred elsewhere) are required to really get the ball rolling. Examined or not, however, displays of paranormal activity are not only evidence of spirit, they are evidence of an invisible reality and as such should pose important questions about spirit, space and the universality of physical laws. Questions that far too few people ask.
So where do synchronicities fit in? If visions and auditory phenomena are true 'eye witness' accounts, synchronicities are admittedly merely circumstantial evidence. This does not mean that we should discount them. Quite the contrary, in my opinion; we should actively look for them. They may be easy to miss but they are very important. In a court of law, circumstantial evidence lends credibility to evidence which may seem extraordinary, making the layering of circumstance an important part of building a case. The more circumstance there is, the more believable a given scenario becomes. Small things take on significance.
And this is true of synchronicity as well. Once a person learns to pay attention, it is my experience that they will notice that synchronicities happen a lot. Far too often, in my opinion, and too exactly to be written off as random.
And this is true of synchronicity as well. Once a person learns to pay attention, it is my experience that they will notice that synchronicities happen a lot. Far too often, in my opinion, and too exactly to be written off as random.
My most recent synchronicity concerned my dog, Samson who has been sick these last four years with what has become a very severe case of kidney disease. Three years ago I was told he had a had few weeks to live. We have been on borrowed time so to speak for a while now and that time is running out. What he means to me is beyond the scope of this article and perhaps beyond words altogether. I will say that he is best friend in the world and leave it at that.
My goal at this point in his treatment, which is both extensive and costly, is that he will have a good summer and I have prayed about this a lot. Last week he took a sudden turn for the worse. It seemed hopeless but after a visit to our wonderful vet and a lot interaction with spirit, I decided to admit him to the animal hospital for a transfusion. The proposed treatment may see us til the end of the summer in the emergency vet's opinion, then again it might not.
The cost of the transfusion was $1086 which was far more than I expected. I had 570 dollars in hand and a three hundred dollar check from my oldest son. My middle boy who had accompanied me had exactly 216 dollars in his wallet. Between the three of us we paid for Sammy's care without a dollar left over. As my son took his worldly wealth out of his wallet, he said "I guess it's meant to be." An offhand comment from a very committed spiritual skeptic but perhaps it is a start.
Events like this are easy to dismiss and we do dismiss them more frequently than we are even aware of. It is far better in my opinion to look for their occurrence, far better to be open and to reflect on the messages they share: Life is not easy. Suffering is everywhere. But compassion is just as available and it is accessible to all of us. And of course, most importantly, beyond the visible a mysterious and wonderful reality awaits.
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| Ani, led by the god Horus. |
I needed my copy ofThe Egyptian Book of the Dead
for research purposes recently and couldn’t find it - which is what happens
sometimes when you have too many books for your bookshelves! I went
through a few books in the attic and a few more in other spots, got frustrated
and decided it would be easier to order another copy.
I picked a Faulkner translation out on Amazon and then, on impulse, decided to pay a few more dollars for an illustrated edition.
When the book arrived a few days later I was disappointed to see that it was very over-sized. “Great,” I thought. “It won’t even fit on the shelf.” My disappointment evaporated however the minute I opened the book. This edition, created by James Wasserman, is breathtaking. My review of this amazing edition with some general background on The Book of the Dead follows.
I picked a Faulkner translation out on Amazon and then, on impulse, decided to pay a few more dollars for an illustrated edition.
When the book arrived a few days later I was disappointed to see that it was very over-sized. “Great,” I thought. “It won’t even fit on the shelf.” My disappointment evaporated however the minute I opened the book. This edition, created by James Wasserman, is breathtaking. My review of this amazing edition with some general background on The Book of the Dead follows.
The title The Book of the Dead refers to
several distinct but similar ancient texts which were traditionally included
in the tombs of wealthy Egyptians. These texts are not so much about death
however as they are the afterlife and were originally, and more poetically,
called "The Book of Going Forth by Day."
One of the best examples of these amazing texts, the Papyrus of Ani, chronicles the journey of the deceased Ani, a royal scribe of Thebes, through the underworld and into the world beyond in a series of painted vignettes accompanied by hieroglyphic text. It may be viewed in a wonderful fully illustrated edition produced by James Wasserman with translation by the noted scholar Dr. Raymond Faulkner and additional translation by Dr. Ogden Goelet, Jr. The book is in itself a story, having been the realization of a life long dream on the part of Wasserman who first became acquainted with The Papyrus of Ani when working at Samuel Weiser’s bookstore in New York City in the early 1970s.
One of the best examples of these amazing texts, the Papyrus of Ani, chronicles the journey of the deceased Ani, a royal scribe of Thebes, through the underworld and into the world beyond in a series of painted vignettes accompanied by hieroglyphic text. It may be viewed in a wonderful fully illustrated edition produced by James Wasserman with translation by the noted scholar Dr. Raymond Faulkner and additional translation by Dr. Ogden Goelet, Jr. The book is in itself a story, having been the realization of a life long dream on the part of Wasserman who first became acquainted with The Papyrus of Ani when working at Samuel Weiser’s bookstore in New York City in the early 1970s.
At that time The Papyrus of Ani could be read in translation in one book while viewing the reproduction of the actual scroll in a second book (the British>Museum’s 1890 facsimile edition). Fascinated by the images of the scroll, Wasserman purchased the facsimile from Donald Weiser in 1979. “Soon after,” he tells us in the forward to his edition of The Egyptian Book of the Dead, “I found myself literally “watching” a vision of the book you are now holding in your hands taking shape – that is the exquisite papyrus in full color running along the top of the page, with a readable uncluttered English translation below.”
Wasserman’s book is indeed a work of art, reproducing the 3300 year old, 78
foot long scroll in full with complete translation directly beneath the images
it describes. This beautiful edition allows us to not only read the
incredible story but to view and understand the artwork in the context in
which it was created. A display volume worth displaying, this
edition is perfect for anyone with an interest in ancient Egypt, ancient
religion, mythology or any sort of art.
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| My Lovely Newly Gifted Hanson-Roberts Tarot |
I consider myself so lucky to have such a dear and thoughtful friend. Everything about this gift was perfect from the lovely gypsy graphic with the tiny purple third eye sequin to the gift of a deck I have long admired. It's rare to find such a giving and supportive person, let alone one who is so alike in spirit and has such wonderful energy! Actually the only person besides myself, I allow to handle my cards. I will always treasure this deck!
Tarot cards have the ability to speak to us in so many different voices. They can be emotive, spiritual, or symbolic. They can be read in terms of numbers or colors, elements or history, or through the images themselves. Their interpretation is frequently dynamic, shifting according to the relative proximity of the cards to one another or per their placement in a predetermined spread. For those who read reversals, even the orientation of individual cards tells a story.
Many readers have multiple interpretations for every card. This is part of what makes reading Tarot an intuitive process and can add considerable depth to the messages we receive. There are times however, in my own experience, that knowing too much about a card has added a layer of fuzziness to a reading. That is why I find it helpful to look at the cards as individuals not only in terms of the nature of their associations but in regard to number.
I consider most Tarot cards expansive. I feel that I can explain some of them at relative length. Apply them to different situations. Make intuitive or deliberate choices about the way I will interpret them. Their meaning morphs according many of the factors I discussed at the beginning of this article. While this is, in itself, an evolutionary process I think that I have a sense of the complexity of certain cards even when my knowledge base is incomplete.
There are other cards however that I consider constant. They speak to me very directly and there is no expanding upon them, no over thinking them. There meanings are fixed and they say the same thing over and over whatever the reading. And while it would be limiting , in my opinion, to read the entire deck this way I find that having a few very focused cards allows me to be, if not predictive, at least a better conduit for spirit.
Here are some examples:
Two of Swords = stop, nothing else on this for now.
Three of Cups = yes or go for it.
The Ace of Swords = write on this.
The Wheel of Fortune = on your path.
Eight of Pentacles = apply yourself.
Very curious to hear what others' focus cards might be!
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| My Grandparent's farmhouse in NE PA. Very pleasantly haunted! |
Today I listened to a fascinating lecture by Dr. Richard Gerber, MD called Exploring Vibrational Medicine 
and intend to order at least one of his books when funds allow. It was truly amazing to hear a physician talk about things like chakras and the etheric body and Dr. Gerber is very much a physician in this lecture. He moves quickly and covers a lot of ground. In the first half hour alone I took several pages of notes finding, surprisingly, that I actually remembered my old college shorthand.
Dr. Gerber defines vibrational medicine is a form of medicine based on the concept of diagnosis and treatment of illness based on energy. He discusses various models of medicine and reality, and what he refers to as multidimensional human anatomy such as the chakras. He also discusses vibrational medicine healing techniques, including psychic healing, flower essences and crystals.
and intend to order at least one of his books when funds allow. It was truly amazing to hear a physician talk about things like chakras and the etheric body and Dr. Gerber is very much a physician in this lecture. He moves quickly and covers a lot of ground. In the first half hour alone I took several pages of notes finding, surprisingly, that I actually remembered my old college shorthand.Dr. Gerber defines vibrational medicine is a form of medicine based on the concept of diagnosis and treatment of illness based on energy. He discusses various models of medicine and reality, and what he refers to as multidimensional human anatomy such as the chakras. He also discusses vibrational medicine healing techniques, including psychic healing, flower essences and crystals.
As it is impossible to do a presentation like this justice in a single relatively short blog entry I want to devote this entry to the scientific theory behind vibrational medicine as presented by Dr. Gerber. A key point in understanding this theory is the contrast Dr. Gerber made between two very different scientific models as reflected in the practice of modern medicine. The first is referred to as the the Newtonian model, the second Einsteinian.
The Newtonian model, based on the work of Sir Isaac Newton, describes a largely mechanical reality. According to this model, which is reflected in Dr. Gerber's view in the training of most physicians, the heart may be conceptualized primarily as a pump, the lungs as a bellows, the kidneys as filters, the muscles as pulleys, etc. This view lends itself to problem solving that is largely mechanical in nature - the replacing parts with surgery, for example, or the utilization of targeted medication that creates specific chemical outcomes.
Do these measures save lives? Absolutely and Dr. Gerber is quick to point out the benefits of such Newtonian type advances in medicine such vaccines, chemotherapy, declotting agents, antihypertensive medication, organ transplant and cardiac surgery. He is also quite aware of the downside in terms of antibiotic resistance, side effects and surgical complications. In his estimation an energetic approach can provide effective modalities often overlooked or underestimated by mainstream medicine.
The energetic approach to medicine is, according to Dr. Gerber, also the Einsteinian or vibrational model which describes the universe as a series of interpenetrating energy fields. This is the realm of modern or quantum physics where matter as we perceive it does not strictly exist. Dr. Gerber explains this quite understandably, saying that Einstein's famous equation e=mc² (where e is energy, m is matter and c is the speed of light) shows that energy and matter are interconvertible and thereby two expressions of the same thing. High energy particle physics experiments bear this out, showing that at a micro microscopic or quantum level all matter exists as a form of frozen energy.
This is where, Dr. Gerber says, the Einsteinian model begins to predict a faster than light view of etheric energy. By plugging in a velocity greater than the speed of light to the e=mc² equation, physicists such as William Tiller of Stanford University, have postulated the concept of negative entropy, a state counter to traditional or positive entropy. Positive entropy may be loosely defined as a system's gradual decline into disorder which make negative entropy especially interesting.
Tiller's work showed that energy which travels faster than the speed of light demonstrates the unusual property of negative entropy or the tendency to become progressively more ordered or organized. According to Dr. Gerber this runs counter to the known laws of thermodynamics. It also has fascinating ramifications for those of us seeking a common ground between science and spirituality. May we consider negative entropy a force in an ordered universe?
Dr. Gerber goes on to discuss multiple scientific sources including Nobel prize winning physician Björn E W Nordenström, Albert Szant-Györgyi (discoverer of vitamin C), and Russian medical researcher Alexander Gurvich whose 1920s experiments with onion roots proposed the existence of the biophoton or endogenous light - a form of light emitted by an organism and able to pass through quartz (though not glass) to communicate with another like organism.
Dr Gerber discussed subsequent experiments by German biophysicist Fritz Popp which systematically proves the existence of biophotons. This experiment involved cultures placed in adjacent Petri dishes and was conducted with both glass and quartz (crystal dishes). Popp was able to prove a communication between cultures placed in the quartz dishes which did not occur between those placed in glass.
As it is known that ultraviolet light passes through quartz this indicates that cells were emitting photons of light in the ultraviolet spectrum. According to Dr. Gerber this research and others demonstrates that the body does not consist only of mechanical chemical and electrical systems but of light energy systems as well. And this is fundamental for an understanding not only of Dr. Gerber's work but for many alternative treatment modalities such as light and color therapy, as well more traditional applications such as acupuncture.
One thing I love about Tarot is the way my understanding of it evolves in parallel to my own spiritual development. I started reading Tarot 40 years ago this summer at the age of 13. Transported from an urban area to a small rural town, I was the only person I knew with a Tarot deck - leaving me pretty much on my own with the little white book that came with the cards.
My initial understanding of Tarot came from that little booklet, courtesy of Arthur Waite and US Games and I dutifully committed all of the definitions to memory. Of Judgement the little white book says: "20. The Last Judgment.- Change of position renewal, outcome. Reversed: Weakness pusillanimity [timid or cowardly], simplicity; also deliberation, decision, sentence." So when I read for people, that was what I would say.
For me, however, that interpretation never felt quite right. It seemed too general and very inconsistent with the picture displayed on the card which seemed, in spite of my completely secular upbringing, to be obviously religious. Going by the picture was a problem for me as well as I had very little understanding of what the booklet called (but did not explain) "The Last Judgement."
So I began to read the card somewhat vaguely as commentary on taking responsibility for ones actions and an awareness of karma which was as close I could come to the tenets of mainstream religion.
So I began to read the card somewhat vaguely as commentary on taking responsibility for ones actions and an awareness of karma which was as close I could come to the tenets of mainstream religion.
As time passed however I found myself revising again, interpreting the card generally as an awakening or new awareness of whatever circumstances were predominate in the reading at hand and I continued to read it that way for several years. In the late 90s however my spiritual frame of reference began to change and as I became increasingly fascinated with angels I began to read every winged card in the deck as an indication of their presence. In some respects I still do that.
My understanding of the Judgement card has continued to expand however. I still see the presence of the archangel Gabriel and all the wonderful qualities of this compassionate being when I look at the Judgement card but I see the promise of spiritual awakening and ultimate transformation, as well. When this card falls in a reading it may still speak of a new awareness of circumstance but in such a way as to afford us the opportunity to advance, a soul level lesson, an opportunity for a revision of our understanding of the divine.
My understanding of the Judgement card has continued to expand however. I still see the presence of the archangel Gabriel and all the wonderful qualities of this compassionate being when I look at the Judgement card but I see the promise of spiritual awakening and ultimate transformation, as well. When this card falls in a reading it may still speak of a new awareness of circumstance but in such a way as to afford us the opportunity to advance, a soul level lesson, an opportunity for a revision of our understanding of the divine.
While not a believer in the traditional Christian concept of the Rapture, I do read this card as a call to a higher reality, seeing in it both the mystery of the upper worlds of Kabbalah and the spark that can be activated in any one of us at any time.
I'm currently reading The Complete Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui because, even though I am not crazy about labeling myself an idiot, I have found that the small sample of Idiot books I've read offered a comprehensive, user friendly and reasonably well written introduction to their respective subjects.
The people hired to write the Idiot books seem to know their stuff too. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Kabbalah was written by Rav Michael Laitman, for example, and the three The Idiot's Guide to Feng Shui authors, Elizabeth Moran Master Joseph Yu and Master Val Biktashev, are well educated and well known Feng Shui practitioners. They are also quick to point out that you will be getting traditional Asian Feng Shui instruction in their book, not the dumbed down Western self-help version of the topic. This appeals to me.
The book covers a lot of ground and at 68 pages into it, I have to say (in a completely noncritical way) that aside from the introductory material I have not learned an enormous amount about Feng Shui. I have learned about Chinese history, religion and philosophy, however, including great explanations of Yin and Yang, Taoism and Qi. The authors talk about the human brain, the difference between the Asian and Western psyche, energy and physics as well, and quote some very interesting Western scientists (Bohm,Sheldrake, and Newberg), whom I hope to be blogging on at some future point, in the process.
The book also quotes Fritjof Capra (author of The Tao of Physics which I absolutely must read). In it, he says: "Like the quantum field, qi is conceived as a tenuous and imperceptible form of matter which is present throughout space and can condense into solid material objects. The field, or qi, is not only the underlying essence of all material objects, but also carries their mutual interactions in the form of waves."
In their own words, the authors say: "Qi is the stuff of and behind it all. It's the stuff that breathes life into plants, animals, the mountains, oceans and us. It's the stuff of dreams, intuition, fate and luck. It's the stuff at the core of non-living matter such as airplanes, building and the chair on which you sit. It's the stuff acupuncturists stimulate with their needles. It's the stuff martial artists conjure up to split solid objects. And it's the stuff Feng Shui practitioners harness to improve the health, wealth and relationships of their clients."
The book goes on to liken Qi to Ki (Japan), Prana (India), Pneuma (Greece), Ankh (Egypt), Ruach (Hebrews), Tane (Hawaii), Arunquiiltha (Aborigines) and Orenda (Iroquois).
Interesting stuff and as I am not an especially linear thinker, I'm enjoying the ride. A linear person could certainly skip ahead and would probably find that the format lends itself to skipping ahead. Feng Shui was suggested to me in a channeling session, so I'm curious to see what effect it will have on my living space also where the pursuit of some of the other concepts introduced by the book will lead me. I will write more as the journey progresses!
I have received the King of Swords recently in a number of Tarot readings and, while I have never felt that I had a special relationship with this particular card, I have found myself drawn to it as of late.
Although suit of swords is not a cheery suit many decks, I appreciate the energy of this suit. This is mostly because of the traditional association with swords and the element of air. Air relates to intellect and cognition and I like this association. What intrigues me the most however is the relationship between air and spirit.
In Hebrew the word for wind is ruach and while much can be said on this topic, I will only note here that Ruach Ha-Kodesh (רוח הקודש), the holy spirit is considered, in Judaism, one of the divine names of God, and wind has held this association for me on an intuitive level since childhood.
This is why the suit of Swords, and most recently its King, is of great personal importance to me. I did not, however, associate this particular King with the angelic realms until that connection was made for me by my friend, and fellow Tarot card reader, Tara Miller.
Reading for me earlier this week, Tara pulled the King of Swords and told me that this card represents the Archangel Michael's presence in my life and it is quite accurate that my relationship with Michael (or as I say, Mikha'el with inclusion of the guttural Hebrew chet), though always strong has grown closer recently. In Hebrew the name Michael means "Who is like God?" In the great Kabbalistic text, the Zohar, Michael accompanies the souls of the departed, helping them to enter the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem.
Michael is one of only two angels mentioned by name in the entire Hebrew bible and in the book of Daniel, it is Michael who comes to the aide of the archangel Gabriel to overcome the angel of Persia. Michael is in many ways a paradox: a being of light and love with a propensity for violence. Perhaps the reason the King of Swords never resonated to me as Michael before is because my own experience of him is as a figure of absolute compassion. And yet the many medieval Christian depictions of Michael doing battle are quite correctly based on scripture.
It is my opinion that Michael is correctly associated with medieval knights because, in their highest form, these warriors acted with chivalry and loyalty - often subjugating their true nature for honor (which is not unrelated to love). I believe that we can consider Michael's role as a warrior in this context. He is first and foremost a being of love, and this is what defines his role as guardian and protector.
It my belief that we can all have a relationship with this courageous and beautiful angel if we choose to do so. If you are unable to sense him, try again! It is my experience that Michael's primary intention is to freely share divine light. He is, in my understanding, a guardian to all those who would protect others and all those in need of protection themselves.
This song is commonly sung as a round in school music classes and choirs. It is a very old folk song however and to me it has always seemed both hopeful and sad. I sang it last night and today to a dear friend as he was failing. I share it here so that others might have something to sing as well.
If you view this video full screen you will get a glimpse (at 0:48 on counter) of the archangel Michael / King of Swords card from this non-existent made for HBO Tarot deck. Too bad this deck cannot be bought. Still, what a really cool intro for the show and a wonderful concept for this card!
The Thirteen Petalled Rose by Adin Steinsaltz: Concerning the Nature of Angels and the Four Worlds of Kabbalah
March 11, 2011
. Steinsaltz is a Talmudic scholar with a real knack for rendering complex Kabbalistic concepts understandable. Although I have really just begun this study, I recommend his work, among with that of others such as Daniel Matt, to anyone with an interest in Kabbalah.The Thirteen Petalled Rose
is a relatively short book of just under 200 pages. It's content is divided into ten sections: Worlds, Divine Manifestation, The Soul Man, Holiness, Torah, The Way of Choice, The Human Image, Repentance, The Search for Oneself, and Mitzvot (commandments). It is the author's presentation of the so-called four worlds of Kabbalah or spiritual and non-spiritual worlds and the nature of the beings which inhabit them that I want to address in this post.
Traditional Kabbalistic sources describe four known spiritual realms called, from higher to lower, Atzilut (emanation), Beriah (creation), Yetzirah (formation) and Assiyah (action). Steinsaltz expands on these traditional divisions quite clearly noting that there are many levels within each of the known spiritual realms as well as other lower realms not thought of as part of the four worlds as listed above.
Steinsaltz begins with our world, the world of action, explaining that this observed world is a part of a vast array of worlds, most of which are spiritual. He points out that these worlds do not exist somewhere else but in another dimension and describes a dynamic relationship between worlds with a very real exchange of influence occurring. A point he makes quite clearly is that occurrences in our world impact on other worlds and can affect significant change in the spiritual realms. This is an important point for anyone concerned with the state of our current reality in my opinion.
The terms higher and lower worlds are explained in terms of nearer and farther or degrees of transparency to the divine light. According to Steinsaltz, as one descends through the worlds materiality becomes greater and with it a sense of independence is felt with an increasing intensity. This blocks the divine light and obscures, per the author, the unchanging essence that lurks beneath the personality.
In the world of emanation (Atzilut or the uppermost world) Steinsaltz describes a condition of absolute clarity and transparency where no concealment is possible. There are no separate selves in this world. Unity with divinity is complete. This is what Steinsaltz and others call the Godhead and is ultimately indescribable. Time, space and the soul do not exist in this world in the same way that they exist in our world or subsequent worlds if they can exist at all in the face of the eternal.
The second world, Beriah or the world of creation, is called by the author, the world of pure mind, though I think in this case the use of the word mind can be misleading. The mind is here defined here as creator as well as that which registers and absorbs the knowledge. It is also a world of feeling and emotion though not human emotion. This is the abode of the higher angels or seraphs and the realm of Ezekiel's vision. There is a separation of souls in this world but not in the sense of the lower worlds. Time is an abstraction. Space is not place (as it is in our world) and I wonder if this makes it possible for spiritual beings to appear in multiple places simultaneously.
The third world is called Yetzirah or the world of formation. Time remains abstract in this world and there is a greater distinction between beings. This is the domain of angels and the author does a wonderful job of describing these divine beings saying that the fundamental quality of an angel is not spatial separation but an impulse or drive such as an inclination toward love or pity, what I would term a quality. There are many divisions of these qualities as expressed by a multitude of angelic beings but each angel individually possesses only one quality implying a sort of single-mindedness, if you will, not found in humans.
While existing as whole integral spiritual beings, says Saltzman, an angel is a total manifestation of a single emotion. He explains the difference between men and angels, not as a physical difference but as a spiritual one - on the level of the soul. An angel as defined by author and per my own experience is a pure, undivided being of light (though angels of darkness exist as well) while man is complex and diverse, possessing both a divine spark, the ability to distinguish between good and evil and the ability to both backslide and rise to great heights.
According to Steinsaltz, an angel may be revealed both to a person on the highest level (a seer, prophet or holy man) or to an ordinary person privileged to receive an isolated act of apprehension. He also relates that an angel may appear in an ordinary form manifesting as normal phenomena subject to the laws of this world or operating in a sort of vacuum between the worlds.
It is Steinsaltz's explanation of the fourth world, our world, Assiyah, the world of action that is perhaps most interesting. The author contends that this world contains not only a physical world but a large number of spiritual worlds. He describes domains of spirit that issue from wisdom and creativity (such as philosophy, mathematics or art) as well as domains with "a certain gnostic significance" and different value system having the potential for a positive or negative spirituality. Space is defined here in terms of place and time is essentially movement which is not the case in the higher realms.
When discussing the worlds the author also discusses mitzvot (commandments of God) at length. There are many mitzvot listed in the Hebrew bible bible in addition to the ten well known commandments, including not only acts of charity but sacred study and prayer. The act of performing a mitzvah, per Steinsaltz, extends beyond this world and influences the world above creating primary and significant transformation. He here explains the peculiarly Kabbalaist concept of angels as a by-product of human actions which is something which is not quite understandable to me personally.
The author goes on to say that just as there is the potential for physical and spirit functioning which raises man and the world to higher levels there is also the potential for descent and he describes these lower realms not only as evil but as fundamentally inward and spiritual, saying that they can be revealed by way of vision. These worlds are the realm of subversive angels.
I find Steinsaltz's understanding of divinity, angels, humans and the reality we inhabit fascinating. I imagine a reality of not four but almost innumerable levels with good deeds and sacred actions radiating upward and outward, expanding and elevating, and ultimately touching the divinity to which we are all connected. I also feel that I have come away from this reading with a clearer understanding of the nature of spiritual beings and the very fundamental differences between angels and man. Additionally I found the text validating on a personal level as it is my deep-seated belief that there are many largely imperceptible dimensions beyond our own limited understanding of what is. To a degree I believe that some of this may someday be confirmed in a scientific sense but we are not there yet in my opinion.
I hope I have done a fair summary here of this small part of Steinsaltz's book and would encourage anyone interested in this topic to read The Thirteen Petalled Rose (afiliate link) as well. I hope to address other sections of the book at some point in the future.
I hope I have done a fair summary here of this small part of Steinsaltz's book and would encourage anyone interested in this topic to read The Thirteen Petalled Rose
(afiliate link) as well. I hope to address other sections of the book at some point in the future. UPDATE: I no longer study Kabbalah but I still like Rabbi Steinsaltz's book.
Spotlight on the 4 of Cups: The Connection Between this 4, Kabbalah and the Sefirah Chesed
March 9, 2011
The Four of Cups has always been a special card to me. It is also, in my readings, quite straightforward. While many cards in Tarot have multiple meanings or layers of meaning, the Four of Cups is, in my interpretation, a pure and relatively simple card with a very consistent message. That does not mean however that it does not have spiritual depth. Indeed this card is to me quite deep.
I was reminded of this in last night's ongoing Tarot teleconference given by Paul Nagy of Tarot Hermeneutics.* The course works from two texts - Tarot Wisdom by Rachel Pollack and Alejandro Jodorowsky's The Way of Tarot. During this class we utilized Pollack's book, focusing on the author's section on the minor arcana which includes information on history of Tarot, the elements and numerology.
For every class Johanna Gargiulo-Sherman, creator of the Sacred Rose Tarot, draws cards for that night's study using her wonderful layout, The Elemental Power Spread.* Participants in the conference analyze this array and reflect on the relationship between the texts and the cards. In last night's class some very interesting correlations between Pollack's numerology - specifically her section on Kabbalah - were made.
What interested me most about the layout was the placement of the Four of Cups in the position of fire and Pollack's comparison (as pointed out by Paul) between that four and the Kabbalistic fourth Sefirah Chesed. The ten Sefirot (pleural) are contained in the Tree of Life can be thought of as emanations of divine light. The Sefirah, Chesed, commonly interpreted as mercy, or loving-kindness and loving-kindness is known as one of the thirteen attributes of God.
Pollack goes on to liken Chesed to a benevolent outpouring or a great emotional generosity. An interesting observation, I thought, as the four of cups has a strong association with both benevolence and generosity.
I had never made the association between the two fours prior not only because I have historically treated Kabbalah and Tarot as non-overlapping but because even though Chesed is the fourth Sefirah, I am more likely to associate it with Jewish numerology, than I am Pythagorean. In Jewish numerology, or Gematria, the value of Chesed is 72, as in the 72 names of God. For me, this last association leads back to the Four of Cups, as well.
The Four of Cups, in this context, has a strong connection to divinity. It is the hand of spirit reaching out to someone whether they are aware of it or not but not only reaching out. In the extended hand of spirit is a fourth cup which the figure appears to ignore. It is significant to me that the three cups which do command his attention rest upon the ground.
Earth, as representative of our physical world, the Kabbalistic world of action, commands his attention. These three cups on the ground of ordinary reality are all he sees.
Earth, as representative of our physical world, the Kabbalistic world of action, commands his attention. These three cups on the ground of ordinary reality are all he sees.
This makes perfect sense of course. If the offer of spirit is compared to the Sefirah Chesed through the common denominator of the number four, why should this human earthbound man perceive it? The hand and the cup are not of this dimension, this world of action. And yet there is an opening if we can only comprehend it.
To draw this card is to be reminded that divinity does indeed reach out to us. We are encouraged to be both vigilant and receptive to this most important opportunity.
I kicked off this blog a little more than six months ago with a blog entry on Ekhart Tolle.
I had first heard of Tolle earlier that same day when I caught a special on him on Public Access Television. I was surprised at my own interest as I am not or was not generally a "New Age person" but I went ahead and bought his book "A New Earth" anyway and read it.
It resonated with me. I went on to buy some of his audio books. I did not become a devotee but it made sense to me. It led me back to other areas of interest - varied but all spiritual or metaphysical in scope. That began this blog.
I still listen to Tolle from time to time and I was listening to him today in my car or rather relistening to Tolle's A New Earth. In the beginning pages of this volume, Tolle speaks about a spiritual flowering of humanity and he draws a connection between things that at first seem unrelated: flowers, crystals and birds. Each time I hear or read this passage I am struck by how significant this message is.
Any life-form in any realm - mineral, vegetable, animal or human - can be said to undergo "enlightenment." It is, however, an extremely rare occurrence since in its development, a leap to an entirely different level of Being and, most important, a lessening of materiality. What could be heavier and more impenetrable than a rock, the densest of all forms? And yet some rocks undergo a change in their molecular structure, turn into crystals, and so become transparent to the light. Some carbons, under inconceivable heat and pressure turn into diamonds, and some heavy minerals into other precious stones.
Most crawling reptilians, the most earthbound of creatures have remain unchanged for millions of years. Some, however grew feather and wings and turned into birds, thus defying the force of gravity that had held them for so long. They didn't become better at crawling or walking, but transcended crawling and walking entirely.
Since time immemorial, flowers, crystals, precious stones, and birds have held special significance for the human spirit. Like all life-forms, they are, of course, temporary manifestations of the underlying one Life, one Consciousness. Their special significance and the reason why humans feel such fascination for and affinity with them can be attributed to their ethereal quality...
In the case of a flower, a crystal, precious stone or bird, however, even someone with little or no Presence can occasionally sense that there is more than the mere physical existence of that form, without knowing that this is the reason why he or she is drawn toward it, feels an affinity with it. Because of its ethereal nature, its form obscures the indwelling spirit at a lesser degree than is the case with other life-forms. The exception to this are all newborn life-forms...
So when you are alert and contemplate a flower, crystal or bird without naming it mentally, it becomes a window for you into the formless. There is an inner opening however slight into the realm of spirit. This why these three "en-lightened' life-forms have played such an important part in the evolution of human consciousness since ancient times; why for example, the jewel in the lotus flower is central symbol of Buddhism and a white, the dove signifies the Holy Spirit in Christianity. They have been preparing the ground for a more profound shift in planetary consciousness that is destined to take place in the human species. This is the spiritual awakening that we are beginning to witness now.
What seems to me suddenly significant about this understanding of enlightenment or transformation is the implication that these events, though exceedingly rare, are natural phenomena. This is not to say that there is not a "super"-natural component to these states of being but it is my contention that this is always the case. In my conceptualization of reality, multiple dimensions exist and this is not magic or make believe but natural though largely unobserved phenomena. We consider it "supernatural" only because it is beyond the realm of the five "natural' senses which most people rely upon exclusively.
The question is - is this transformation of which Tolle and others speak, an evolutionary process which will expand our sensory perceptions and therefore our ability to sample to reality? How interesting it would be to all of humanity expand their sensory perceptions into a universal sixth sense. An ability, if you will, to directly sample spiritual energy and the divine.
Recommended reading: Tolle's A New Earth available in print, ebook and audio.
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