The

Esoteric Parenting

The Rationale of Prayer

The Pilgrim Initiate and The Tree of Life

SPRING EQUINOX 2019 VOLUME 39 NUMBER 1

Established by Dion Fortune in 1922 1 There is a saying falsely ascribed to a Chinese sage, rules? He would say not, and it is with regret that I “may you live in interesting times” in fact we do not feel I must agree with him. know who originated this ironic statement but it does seem very apt as a description for the current Robinson and Fletcher offer us a hope for the future times. In some ways the macrocosm of the nation is rather than a description of the present, and this echoed in the microcosm of my life with this journal. should not be news to the esotericist. In esoteric Who knows what will come next – will I get articles? science we are clearly told the purpose of the Great Will I be able to fill the pages? Uncertainty is the Work, and that is the regeneration and perfection over-riding principle of the current age. We are of the human being, firstly in our own person and uncertain about nearly everything, from politics to secondly in the form of humanity as whole, extending the best way to live, from health care to what career in widening circles. For no individual can be held path to follow, even down to what type of coffee to responsible for the development of the whole have. of humanity. We can but take responsibility for nurturing our own Inner Light, that we may allow it We have entered a world where for most of us the to shine and become a beacon for others. range of choices we face are so great that we are unable to act. We are paralysed by choice. In the So in the face of the paralysing multitude of choice it 1960s Joseph Fletcher and JAT Robinson developed is the role of the initiate of the Mysteries to become an ethical system known as situation ethics. In this an example. To face each paralysing choice with a they argued that the process of moral decision calm confidence, and the desire to see beneath the making needed to move away from rules and legalism surface, to what lies beneath. I was fortunate enough and instead be driven by concern for the outcome. to see a recent performance by David Bramwell They argued that every ethical situation should be of his fascinating exploration The Cult of Water, in considered in its own context, and the possible which he talked about his thalassophobia, the fear of consequences assessed, the moral agent should then what lay beneath the surface. As I reflect on it and act in a way that maximises love. They argued that the words above I am reminded how we all fear the there was no fixed idea of good and bad, and that unknown to some degree. As we face the guardian the only constant, reliable, guide was love. By this on the threshold our fear is reflected back to us, they meant, not the conditioned love found in human our failure to be confident and take the opportunity relationships, but the unconditional love of God for before us. When we pass the guardian we see not a humanity demonstrated in the Bible and known as monster but an angel and suddenly wonder why we agape. were afraid at all. It is by these moments of initiation and growth that we take the path of condensed This approach seems very idealistic, and indeed, evolution and we become “man come of age.” Our Robinson said in his book “A New Christian role then is to find the inner balance needed to Morality” that it was a morality “for a man come of discern a way ahead, and bring stability to those age”. Yet as William Barclay rightly contested, have around us, overcoming the Kings of Edom. we really come of age? Are we ready to accept the challenge presented to us by the removal of guiding Christian

2 Esoteric Parenting By Kate Heath

Wars are waged by people who were someone’s child. Crimes are committed by people who were parented by someone. Brutality is inflicted by people who were mothered by someone. Nations are led by people who were fathered by someone. Hope, help, and healing are all shared by people who were brought up by someone. We, the parents of today, are that someone for our children, and our children may one day be that someone for their children. We may not be able to eliminate all war, crime and brutality, but sowing kindness, compassion, ‘The Path of the Hearth-Fire’ has a dubious and empathy into our children is the single most reputation. “Ah, that old chestnut!”, people say, powerful way we can each be someone who changes usually women. It is considered second prize to the the world for the better. We can visualise this as a Path of Initiation, or just somehow lesser, just as a ripple effect caused by throwing a stone in a pond; stay-at-home mother is not regarded as a ‘working our actions or 'metta' spread out further than we mum’. All mothers are working mothers. This article might think. This is true sympathetic magic; the work hopes to give different perspective. of an Initiate.

Dion Fortune devotes a whole chapter to the “The biggest challenge we face is shifting human subject in ‘The Training & Work of an Initiate’ and consciousness, not saving the planet.” insinuates that a humdrum life is due to karmic debt Xiuhtezcatl Martinez or the soul not being ready for ‘the Path’. With this in mind, why would an initiate choose to desert the Temple for a time and pour his or her heart and soul It is said that the human brain and heart that are into the raising of a child? I believe there is more to met primarily with empathy in the critical early this worthy Path than creating a serene, clean and years cannot and will not grow to choose a violent beautiful home. In the ‘Work and Aims’ of the SIL, it or selfish life. That is the way we change human states correctly that ‘those who serve through the consciousness, by parenting with kindness. Path of the Hearth Fire are indeed giving service.” It is explained that this is a ‘path of service essential to This is true the race’. sympathetic magic; the “There is no single effort more radical in its potential work of an Initiate. for saving the world than a transformation of the way we raise our children.” Marianne Williamson Attachment Attachment Parenting has become more common It would take just one generation choosing peaceful, in recent years and is commonly criticised in respectful parenting to change the brain of the next the mainstream press and by more authoritarian generation, and therefore their future, and with that, parents. However, this is not a new trend, but more the world, for all future generations. As L. R. Knost a ‘remembering’ of ancient or tribal practices like says, “This is our time. Our chance is now. Let’s natural term breastfeeding, baby-wearing and co- change the world, one little heart at a time.” sleeping/bed-sharing. The science behind it is well established, yet largely ignored by modern parenting

3 should be supported to care for their own children in the family environment, if they wish. Instead, children are shipped off for early indoctrination and mothers pay someone else to do the job they themselves could do so much better, whilst simultaneously working for someone else and paying taxes...whom does this system benefit?

“Children are NOT a distraction from more important work. They are THE MOST important work.” C. S. Lewis

Being a parent or a teacher is service, and it is the highest order of service. We are serving our society by nurturing our babies and children so that they in turn will be prepared to best serve our society. gurus who advocate such harmful things as ‘cry-it- When I hear a baby cry, I imagine the reality of their out’. John Bowlby first coined the term Attachment brain development with nurture, and the alternate Theory in the late 60s as a result of his studies reality without it. Who would they be without involving the developmental psychology of children reliably nurturing responses to their communication? from various backgrounds. It states that a strong Who would they be without acceptance of all of emotional and physical attachment to at least one their emotions? Who would they be if they slept primary caregiver is critical to personal development. alone? What if they were left to cry alone in the night? Who would they be if they not allowed to Indeed, “the more the child feels attached to the feed on cue? Who would they be if we ignored mother (or significant other), the more secure he is their need to be close? Every loving choice leaves in his acceptance of himself and the rest of the world. a strong connection in the brain shaping who our The more love he gets, the more he is capable of babies become; their mental, emotional and physical giving. Attachment is as central to the developing health and their success. We will never be perfect, child as eating and breathing.” – Robert Shaw, MD we can never respond immediately 100% of the time - but we can do our best as much as possible - our However, as Kathii Valeii states, “We are so far children’s brains are shaped by it. detached from instinctual parenting, that those of us who use primal practices are ridiculed.” In our Every loving choice culture, cots in a separate room, pushchairs with the child facing away from the mother, formula-feeding, leaves a strong and many devices to ‘hold’ the baby separate from connection the mother are the norm. The bonds between mother and child are systematically destroyed by This obsession with children being independent governments and multinational companies alike, from babyhood is an unrealistic, damaging concept. from the aggressive marketing of formula milk, lack In the early months and years our children need of support for natural/home birth, breastfeeding and response. It’s as simple as that. When they cry they post-natal care to the pitiful amount of maternity need a cuddle and/or a breastfeed. As they get older leave or tax relief for couples where one parent they will need someone to take the time to listen to works within the home. them. Independence does not need to be rushed or forced through separation, sleep ‘training’ and being Children in the modern world are increasingly apart from us. It comes naturally when their needs becoming institutionalised as a result of interference are met in the early years. in their primal attachment needs due to state implementation of universal childcare. Parents

4 Esoteric Parenting

one of the four main ways to prevent cancer, along with healthy diet, increasing physical activity and reducing alcohol consumption. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the NHS both recommend breastfeeding children to age two as a minimum, setting no upper age limit. In December (2018), WHO highlighted the importance of safeguarding breastfeeding and ending inappropriate marketing and distribution of breast milk substitutes for children up to three years of age. Yet health professionals receive a scanty amount of information regarding this most important of subjects during their training, most of which will be taught under the heading ‘Infant Feeding’ by a Nestle representative. Again, it’s all about money in the hands of multinational companies and governments within a society which is still, even in the 21st century, patriarchal and sexually perverse when it comes to the sanctity and power of the feminine.

Addiction “Don’t stand unmoving outside the door of a crying The opposite of connection or attachment, is baby whose only desire is to touch you. Go to your addiction. The effects of this are plain to see; not baby. Go to your baby a million times.” just alcohol and drug abuse, but addictions to sugar, Peggy O’Mara food in general, sex, shopping, TV, computer games and social media. By the time the average child in a Almost all of the world’s population sleep with developed country turns eight years old, they’ve had their babies and children, and there are only very more sugar in their lives than the average person few cultures in which babies sleeping alone is even did in their entire lifetime just one century ago. In thought to be acceptable or desirable. The vast the UK, this is currently five years old. Sugar kills; it majority of scientific studies on infant behaviour decimates our gut microbiome and contributes to and development suggest that the question should the autoimmune and chronic disease now endemic in not be “Is it safe to sleep with my baby?” but rather, global health. “Is it safe not to?” One reason for this is that while close to the mother, the child can increase antibody “Our culture has bred consumers and addicts. We productions and their body temperature to fight eat too much, buy too much, and want to much. We off illnesses. This is partially why children become set ourselves on the fruitless mission of filling the ‘clingy’ when they get sick. I believe the reasons gaping hole within us with material things. Blindly we that bed-sharing is so demonised in our culture is consume more and more, believing we are hungry for inter-related: breastfeeding and therefore bonding is more food, status, or money, yet really we are hungry far more likely to be successful and sustained if the for connection.” nursing dyad sleep together. However, bed-sharing is Vironika Tugaleva only safe if breastfeeding continues, and since rates are so low in the UK, health professionals cannot According to ‘The Times’, one in six people were advise it, especially since they could then be liable in prescribed antidepressants in 2017. Of these, 70,000 the event of SIDS. were children. This mental health crisis we are seeing today is a direct result of the unresponsive Breastfeeding offers children and mothers unrivalled parenting of yesterday; how these adults were health benefits. As outlined in the 2016 Lancet treated as they were growing up. You don’t have to Series on breastfeeding, 823 000 child deaths be an abuser to cause trauma to a child. We who and 20 000 maternal deaths each year could be have babies or small children in our care can create prevented by scaling up breastfeeding. The World ‘addictive’ people, or people whose brain is capable Cancer Research Fund identified breast feeding as

5 own egos and anger aside, we really could change the world.

One in three girls and one in six boys will be the victim of child sexual abuse before they turn 18. So, teach consent and bodily autonomy from birth. Respect their ‘NO’ when they are little. It will be essential for their wellbeing when they are older. It isn't a 'mark of respect' for a child to hug or kiss an adult they don't wish to have physical contact with. It is forcing a child to do something with their body against their will. Why should children show respect to adults when adults rarely show them respect in return? If you want your child to grow up with the confidence to say "no", or "stop", you have to show them the same courtesy from a very early age. of producing natural opiates as nature intended. Children don't belong to us, just like other family members are not our possessions. If we would not Violence dream of touching an adult without their permission, “Violence tells the story of our childhood. No human or forcing them to touch us, we should apply the was born to kill; our spirit was killed first. Unless there same courtesy to children. is healing, we act out as was first acted out upon us. Is anyone listening? Child development science has A hurting human is not been shouting this from rooftops the world over, for decades.” a healthy human, and Robin Grille a hurting humanity The primary cause of violence is deprivation of cannot create a healthy, pleasurable touch during infancy, childhood and adolescence. We must break this cycle. Hurt peaceful world. children grow into broken adults who believe that children must be hurt to grow into responsible I would like to write about the impact of violent adults. A hurting human is not a healthy human, and TV, desensitisation and the advantages of bringing a hurting humanity cannot create a healthy, peaceful up children screen-free- indeed remaining tv-free as world.” L. R. Knost adults- but perhaps that is another article!

So many times, we hear, “well I was spanked as a ‘The Real World’ kid and it didn’t do me any harm”, and the reply is As a parent I’m supposed to prepare my child for always, “actually if you think it’s fine to hit children, ‘the real world’. Apparently, she needs to be ‘shown you didn’t turn out ok”. For as long as adults persist who's boss.’ Letting her sleep with me and going to in yelling, hitting, shaming and punishing children, her when she cries is ‘making a rod for my own back’. bullying and abuse will exist in adult relationships, However, will she be prepared for adult life? But it and society as a whole. Smacking certainly does isn’t our job to raise hardened, cynical, pessimistic, teach children a lesson; it teaches them that their detached people just so they can get along in our bodies are someone else’s property, that some harsh society. I’d rather work to change an unjust problems are only solved with violence and that it’s world than to mould my child to fit into it. Do ok for the bigger and stronger to violate the smaller ‘they’ ever stop to think why the ‘real world’ is the and weaker. It puts them in fight or flight mode so way it is? Could it be because of the authoritative, they actually cannot listen to you or use logic or disrespectful way that we raise our children? Perhaps reasoning and it changes their brains with stress. we are the ones creating this unkind world in the The brains of well-loved children are primed for first place. understanding and empathy. If we could only put our

6 Esoteric Parenting

their life. Other significant stages are up to three years, and seven years. The teenage years are also one of massive brain development, just like the toddler years.

It’s not too late if mistakes have been made; brains can make new connections, build new synapses, repair and heal. We can help our children feel loved and not scared anymore. We can model penitence and honesty and apologise. Never ‘shush’ a child or tell them to ‘stop crying’, their feelings matter...they matter. When they know this, they don’t grow up feeling insignificant. Let’s raise children who won’t have to recover from their childhoods.

“Telling a child that something that matters to them isn’t important doesn’t convince them it doesn’t matter. It just convinces them that it doesn’t matter to you and often makes them feel like they don’t matter, either. Remember, caring about the little things that matter to little people creates big connections.” L. R. Knost

Tell them it’s ok to be sad/angry/upset/frustrated, because everyone feels like that sometimes. Name those feelings often and don’t be ashamed when you demonstrate them to your child, especially if you Put more succinctly... “The goal of parenting shouldn’t model how best to deal with them. We are teaching be to prepare children to withstand the world, but to how to live as little humans, not miniature Ascended grow children who will change the world.” Masters. L. R. Knost Try not to sigh and point out every time they make As Leila Schott said, “Perhaps if tearful little boys a mistake. As Bridgett Miller says, “We must make were comforted instead of shamed there wouldn’t sure that our words and actions are conveying be so many angry men struggling to express the message ‘you are enough as you are’, far more and empathise with emotions.” “Being hard on frequently and clearly than our impatience ever children does not make them stronger. People are conveys, ‘I’ve had enough of you’.” Don’t let them strengthened through compassion and understanding. feel ashamed of what they can’t help. Children think No matter their gender or age.” that the way you treat them is the way they deserve to be treated: “What you say about me is what I am” “It is easier to build strong children than to repair is a literal truth to your child, consequently, when broken men.” children are treated with respect, they conclude Frederick Douglas that they deserve respect and hence develop self- respect. I remember getting cross and not letting my So, what to do? daughter having something she wanted because she’d The first 1000 days, starting with pregnancy through broken a few things recently. Later she introduced to the child’s second birthday are now accepted herself by saying, “I’m Izzy and I break stuff”. Later, to be the most significant in a child’s development. she broke a toy deliberately, and when asked why, she Leading child health experts worldwide agree that re-iterated, “because you said I break stuff”. care given during the first 1,000 days has more influence on a child’s future than any other time in

7 “When the milk is splattered all over the floor, and have to carry it. This involves the work of the First those little eyes are looking at you for your reaction, Degree taken to the Nth. If we shrink from this remember what really matters. It takes five minutes inner work, the outer work will come to nothing. to clean up spilled milk. It takes much longer to clean Again, the key is that Delphic maxim, ‘Know Thyself’; up a broken spirit.” the more we do, the more patience we have for what Rebecca Eanes. we see in others. Even a spiritual wanderer knows the answer to this is likely to be meditation. Indeed, the research on ‘mindfulness’, or a watered-down The eyes of the future version of Vipassana, proves these techniques literally are watching the re-shape the brain. Certain yoga techniques can also be used under the guidance of an experienced actions of the present teacher to literally release old trauma. Rest and true self-care are important; you cannot serve “The way to fix the world is through parental from an empty vessel. The classic book ‘The Body evolution. Keeps the Score’ by Bessel Van Der Kolk is useful in To zone in on the Parent-Child dynamic is to heal the investigating other techniques, although some of the planet." case-studies included should have a trigger warning. Dr Shefali Tsabari “You have to be suffering a lot to be angry at a child.” ‘Little Eyes’ Byron Katie The best way to bring up a nice child is to be a nice adult. Little eyes are watching us from the “Instead of beating yourself up when you make the moment they are born. They may not do what we same old mistakes again and again, break promises to say, but they will do what we do. Our example is yourself, or fall into destructive habits, close your eyes everything. Are we worthy of imitation? Children in and silently whisper through time into your past, “I’m our care copy with great accuracy, our behaviours, here. I’m listening. What do you need? Where does it prejudices and attitudes, our words and expressions hurt? How can I help?” Then listen for echoes of pain and the way we handle our relationships and our and loss and fear and unmet needs. Let yourself feel bad days. That ought to scare anyone in contact and experience these emotions as they surface. And with small children. In Rudolf Steiner schools, the then treat yourself as tenderly as you would a sad and teachers in kindergarten are trained to the degree scared child. Healing old hurts can only begin when that old-time temple priestesses were trained, with the children we once were feel safe enough to speak exceptionally high standards set for their demeanour their hearts to the adults we are now.” and behaviour. L. R. Knost

“The eyes of the future are watching the actions of "Start again..." the present. Let’s show them what greatness truly S. N. Goenka looks like: Hope. Compassion. Generosity. Kindness. Goodness. Acceptance. Friendship. Honesty. Anger Courage. Love. It is how we live, not how we demand Our children press our buttons, but they are not others live, that has the most impact on the world. responsible for the buttons or triggers that are there. Let’s live in peace to create a peaceful world for our Triggers can be fascinating insights into our deepest children. Their future depends on it.” selves. L. R. Knost “Inflamed or Informed? We are inflamed when we Healing the Child Within blame the kids: “You make me so angry. How many In order to help create a less ‘child-ist’, more child times have I told you?” The safe way to deal with our friendly world, we must support ourselves and buttons being pressed is to breathe, find the gap, and other adults who have been broken by disrespect then deal with your upset respectfully and without themselves. We must be prepared to break the cycle blame. and unpack our own baggage so our children won’t

8 Esoteric Parenting

We are informed when we realise the button has “When a parent habitually removes affection or done us a favour. It has alerted us to ‘stuff’ we are acceptance from a child as a means of coercing holding, stuff we haven’t dealt with- and that’s why compliance, the child is forced into co-dependency or we went off in anger. Our buttons are a reliable rebellion. The child has to work for attachment, and guide to what we need to deal with in our journey to forfeit authenticity, or fight for authenticity and forfeit wholeness.” –Pennie Brownlee, Dance with me in the attachment. No child should ever have to choose Heart. between love and self-love, or belonging and self- acceptance. To inspire healthy interdependence and Parenting is all about behaviour, but ours, not our sincere cooperation, parent’s affection and acceptance children’s. The journey of becoming a mother of their children needs to be unconditional. We can doesn’t end with birth, it’s just beginning. Birth is correct behaviours without coercion, and cultivate simply the initiation. “What could take a hermit cooperation through conscious connection and 25 years being silent in a cave to achieve is felt compassionate communication. That means loving by a mother in labour in a matter of minutes.’ and accepting your child through all ages, stages and Said this wise, wise woman and as she said emotions. Set clear boundaries and model empathic it, my heart raced a little because I knew it.” behaviour as you lead by example. This isn’t easy, but (Source:Tellmeagoodbirthstory) it’s the best way to foster mentally healthy individuals and relationships.” Our task is to become a whole, mature, wise adult, Leila Schott, Synergy: gentle parenting resources ruled by love, wisdom and compassion, not anger or fear of the judgement of others. Indeed, “Anger is an A peaceful response acid that can do more harm to the vessel in which it is stored than to anything on which it is poured.” comes from a peaceful (Mark Twain) As, John Holt says, “be wary of saying or heart doing anything to a child that you would not do to another adult, whose good opinion and affection you valued.” Peace Inner peace begins the moment you choose not When we raise our voices to children, because to allow another person or event to control your the young brain is so impressionable, the effects of emotion. It is the result of training your mind harsh verbal discipline can last their whole lives. In to process life as it is, rather than as you think it fact, research shows the results can be worse than should be. This is the root of Vipassana, which I’ve spanking. Courtney Joseph said, "Yelling at a bud mentioned above and written about in a previous won’t make it bloom. Speak gently to your children.” article. Let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin We should also consider what we are modelling with me. Let us be more mindful and less 'mind to our children; if we don’t wish them to shout, hit full’. Learn to be present and enjoy the moment. or have meltdowns, perhaps we ought to behave Remember that your child’s agenda is just as like adults and practise self-control, patience and important to your child as yours is to you. model grace instead of just demanding it. It’s also worthwhile to note that being ignored causes a “A peaceful response comes from a peaceful heart; child the same chemical reaction in the brain as so before you respond to the child in front of you, pay experiencing a physical injury. ‘Time-outs’ are a attention to the child within you. Consistently calm, common remedy suggested by parenting gurus, yet intentional, compassionate parenting is only possible from what we know about attachment, it’s obvious when the hurts of the child you once were are healed that ‘time-ins’ are more effectual in the long term. by the adult you are now.” Like smacking, threats and ‘time-outs’ may get instant L. R. Knost results, but we’ll be living with the side-effects for a long time. One can either spend time investing We must also consider what our other relationships in and enriching our relationships, or spend time look like to our children, since they will copy those repairing them. Either way, we spend time. too. “If our parents didn’t love and understand one

9 another, how are we to know what love looks like? ... programmes those within earshot to our perhaps The most precious inheritance that parents can give resentful, distorted view of reality. their children is their own happiness. Our parents Love may be able to leave us money, houses, and land, but Too much love won’t result in 'spoiled' children. they may not be happy people. If we have happy Fruit spoils, children, don't. Kindness, safety and parents, we have received the richest inheritance of respect don’t invite undesirable behaviour. This is all.” Thich Nhat Hanh. old-fashioned, backwards thinking which has caused us to be harsh for too long. Generations of children, Joy long ‘grown up’ are still searching and longing for What else can we do? unconditional love. If anything, 'spoiling' children is caused by too many presents and not enough of “Less TV, more reading our presence. Every day give children a conscious Less shopping, more outdoors understanding of how powerful and important and Less clutter, more space valuable and perfect they are. Instead of asking, Less rush, more slowness “How do I deal with tantrums”, or “How do I deal Less consuming, more creating with this sleep problem”, ask, “How can I help this Less junk, more real food precious little person whom I love? Less busywork, more walking Less noise, more solitude The answer is always to listen, either with your ears Less focus on the future, or your heart. It’s said that being heard is so close More on the present to being loved that for the average person, they are Less work, more play almost indistinguishable. Listen earnestly to anything Less worry, more smiles.” your children want to tell you, no matter what. If Leo Babauta you don’t listen eagerly to the little things when they are small, they won’t tell you the big things when “When you see a dandelion do you see a wish or a they are older, because to them, all of it has always weed? When you hear a child cry do you hear a need been big stuff. They will remember the moments you or a demand? When you wash a sticky face do you make them feel loved, more than the times you said, feel blessed or burdened? As parents, our perspective “I love you”. determines our response, and our response determines our children’s reality. So let’s wish wishes, “Listen instead of lecture. Communicate instead of meet needs and count blessings to make childhood a command. Relate instead of retaliate. Be flexible magical, peaceful, joy-filled reality for both our children instead of being fixated on getting your own way. and ourselves.” Seek to be part of the solution instead of part of L. R. Knost. the problem. In short, behave the way you want your children to behave.” “The ultimate gift we can Happiness is a learned behaviour. Happy people do give the world is to grow our tiny humans into adult not judge, complain and criticise relentlessly about humans who are independent thinkers, compassionate every action or non-action of their children and doers, conscious questioners, radical innovators, and partners. They 'frame the world' positively. This passionate peacemakers. Our world doesn’t need doesn't mean they overlook that which needs to be more adults who blindly serve the powerful because dealt with. "Come on sweetheart, we need to get they’ve been trained to obey authority without this kitchen tidied up before we go to bed" sounds question. Our world needs more adults who question and feels a lot different from, "Typical! Maybe they and challenge and hold the powerful accountable.” think the fairies will clean up after dinner! What L. R. Knost did their last slave die of?!" Each little soliloquy Happiness is a learned behaviour

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“Go and love someone exactly as they are. And by their behaviour. Another mantra should be, “All then watch how quickly they transform into the behaviour is Communication”. This applies as equally greatest, truest version of themselves. When one to husbands as to children! feels appreciated in their own essence, one is instantly empowered.” The greatest personal alchemy is continually Wes Angelozzi becoming aware of our own nonsense. One can spend hours in meditation, thousands of pounds on As a mother deep in the trenches (!!), I’ve focused healing retreats and supplements, but if we aren’t on the relationship between a parent and child, but constantly realising and redeeming the depth of of course we all have that child within, so it’s equally selfishness, ignorance and ugliness within our own about all our relationships, with others and with nature, then all is for naught. “The world is changed ourselves. This article isn’t just for young mothers, by our example, not our opinion.” (Paulo Coelho) it’s for us all, just as important for grand- parents, or We might not do this for enlightenment, or for our someone with no children. We are all One. own regeneration, but we’d better make sure we do it for our children. It is our little ones that are often “Through my love for you, I want to express my love best equipped to guide us with clarity, not the other for the whole cosmos, the whole of humanity, and all way around. Let us treat children with respect and beings. change the world. Parenting is social change. By living with you, I want to learn to love everyone and all species. “Speak to your children as if they are the wisest, If I succeed in loving you, I will be able to love kindest, most beautiful and magical beings on earth, everyone and all species on Earth... for what they believe is what they will become.” This is the real message of love.” Brooke Hampton Thich Nhat Hanh's "Teachings on Love"

The greatest personal alchemy is continually becoming aware of our own nonsense

Conclusion Having a child, especially one under seven years of age, is like having a mirror held up to yourself all the time. They copy us; reflect what we do, just as our view of the world is a reflection of who we are. I’ve learned that when we feel most judged, it’s often when we ourselves are being our most judgemental. I have also noticed, as a gentle mum, that the times when I make parenting choices that I’ll later regret, are usually when I feel pressured or judged by other people. For example, I may be a shade harsher than usual, for fear of appearing too soft.

So, this judgement this is pretty much the root of all evil for mums and therefore for all society. The pitiful rate of breastfeeding in the UK is a prime example because apparently most mums stop because of what people think. We are most likely to smack our children in public when we are embarrassed

11 The Rationale of Prayer By Dion Fortune

Great Unmanifest, the source of all existence, and the Solar Logos, the Creator and Sustainer of our universe. This is a fundamental concept of esoteric metaphysics, and was for long one of the guarded secrets of the Mysteries. Concerning the invocation of the Great Unmanifest, the esotericist would be in entire agreement with the sceptic. Of the essential nature of the Great Unmanifest we know nothing, we can only deduce that nature from the manifested Cosmos which It has brought into being. One thing, however, do we know for certain that the fundamental law of Its nature must be Harmony, In gaining a philosophical concept of God, must otherwise friction would destroy the Cosmos. This we necessarily lose our belief in the power of knowledge is enough to furnish us with a basis for prayer? Sceptics point out that the naïve concept all our philosophy. If the fundamental law of the of prayer, which informs God and implores God, is Cosmos is harmony, then the ultimate goal of our incompatible with any scientific concept of a Great nature must also be harmony, and any deviation First Cause, the origin and sustainer of all existence. therefrom is a breach of the Cosmic Law. Such a Creator, whose intrinsic nature forms the natural laws of our universe, cannot possibly be Where is the influenced by our supplications to do otherwise than it is Its nature to do. So says the sceptic in inharmony? his study. But what says the intuition of men and women, faced with the great problems of life? They If our lives have departed from this Cosmic harmony, turn instinctively to prayer in their extremity, and will an invocation of the Great Unmanifest help in experience shows that there are many times when any way to restore that harmony? they do not turn in vain. Against these instances the sceptic may advance the many times when prayer This brings us to another vital question which must receives no answer, but in doing so he is guilty of be answered before we can proceed any further false logic. A single instance of an answer to prayer with the elucidation of the problem of prayer. indicates the existence of a hitherto unexplored Where is the inharmony? In the Great Unmanifest, aspect of experience, and we should not try to or in ourselves? We have already declared it to explain it away, but rather to extend our knowledge be axiomatic that the Great Unmanifest must in of the causes thus set in motion, for nothing can be Its nature be harmonious in order to sustain a beyond the domain of natural law. Prayer, if it is ever prolonged existence; the inharmony must therefore effective, must have its laws and its rationale just as be in ourselves; it is we who have erred and strayed any other phenomenon. from the way, and our inharmony is caused by our deviation from the rule of the Cosmic Law. Our The uncertainty of the efficacy of prayer does not task, therefore, must be to bring ourselves back into negative its value, it merely shows that we do not line with that law, and our inharmony will cease. We fully understand the laws governing its operation. should not try to pull the Great Unmanifest into line 'Ye ask and receive not because ye ask amiss.' In with our wandering course, but rather to straighten order to understand the nature of prayer we must out our course by reference to the standard of first try to understand something of the nature of Absolute Right which is the Cosmic Law. God. The esotericist distinguishes between the

12 The rationale of prayer

esoteric science, they are 'on their contacts'.

The strongest testimony in favour of the efficacy of prayer lies in the universal agreement of mystics of all faiths concerning this vitalisation which comes as the result of prayer. in the face of actual experience, arguments concerning the absurdity of prayer are negligible.

It must be noted, however, that those who are experienced in the spiritual life, who are accustomed to pray and to obtain results from their prayer, and who therefore may be presumed to have some understanding of the conditions which govern is use, Now comes the practical difficulty. We may be so are exceedingly circumspect in their petitions. They involved in the tangle of our own errors that we pray for understanding, for purification, for strength cannot straighten our course without assistance. It to be faithful, and above all, for union with God. is this assistance which prayer seeks to evoke. If How different is such a prayer from that of the panic- there be no such assistance forthcoming from some stricken soul who cries desperately to be relieved Power outside ourselves, then are we indeed of all from its suffering; who demands of God the recovery men most miserable. The ethicist, who tries to of one who is sick, or that a financial enterprise may follow his unenlightened judgement by the aid of turn out well. Perhaps it is because we try to apply a his unaided will, is like a man trying to raise himself spiritual force to material things that we are so often in the air by hauling on his braces. Rational as the disappointed in the result. position of the ethicist maybe, we have only to try the process in times of stress to discover its futility. The ancient Greek philosopher declared that if he Prayer operates upon could get a fulcrum for his lever, he could lift the the spiritual plane Earth. It is a fulcrum for our lever that we seek in prayer; it is a quest for something outside ourselves setting in motion on which we can at least get a purchase; it is the spiritual forces; attempt to bring into operation an additional force which shall enable us to overcome the resistances Is there, then, no help for the soul that cries in its that have proved too much for our unaided strength. needed to God as a loving father? We have every These are the motives which cause men and women reason to believe that not only is there help, but that to pray in their extremity, even when prayer forms in prayer there is a source of energy unbounded in no part of their ordinary lives. its extent though but little understood. Prayer is a very real source of power to the soul; our difficulties There is, however, another aspect of prayer which lie in the fact that we have misunderstood its nature is discovered by those who by experienced and and misapplied it. steady application have advanced into the higher aspects of the spiritual life. To them prayer is not merely an invocation for help in times of trouble, but a source of inner energy and joy. They go to prayer as men go to food. For them it is indeed the food of the Inner life, renewing its strength from day to day, and without it they would languish. These souls of advanced spiritual experience may or may not receive answers to their prayers when they pray for specific mundane things, but they know full well the sudden inner vitalisation which takes place when their prayer is ' heard' or, when, in the language of

13 rights itself. This is the basis of all healing by right thinking. The change really takes place in our own consciousness, and is independent of any direct or specialised action on the part of God. This is the real law according to which such changes are brought about, and it is because the New Thought and kindred movements understand this so much better than orthodox religion that they obtain such better results in answer to their prayers.

We have thus advanced a stage further in our endeavour to understand the rationale of prayer. We find that we can only change mundane conditions by changing subtle disharmonies of consciousness. This, In this problem, as in so many others, the esoteric however, does not solve our problem. We have only teaching concerning the different planes of shifted the sphere of the action of the invocatory existence enables us to elucidate what is confused form of prayer from the plane of matter to the plane and contradictory if we conceive of the universe of mind. We have not yet solved the problem as to as consisting of a single form of existence only. whether we can indeed, in our extremity, invoke any Prayer operates upon the spiritual plane setting in source of power outside the unsuspected resources motion spiritual forces; these forces influence the of our own nature, which can be set in motion mental plane, and the mental plane influences the by Couéism as well as Christianity. There can be astral plane, and finally the force, if its energy be no doubt about it that these sources of energy in maintained, manifests on the material plane where the subconscious mind, when energised, add very our senses can take cognizance of it. materially to our powers, and that if the inhibitions arising from conflict in the subconscious mind can It follows, therefore, that when we pray, we ought to be lifted, a great weight rolls from our shoulders. use the spiritual force to produce spiritual reactions, These operations, however, concern psychology, not and leave all mundane things alone. In due course, prayer, and we have not yet arrived at the crux of the if we succeed in setting spiritual causes in motion, matter. Is it possible, by invocation, to call to our aid they will work their own way down the planes and an external power, even if the action of that power manifest in dense matter. Our difficulty however, be to stimulate to activity our own unsuspected lies in this, that when we desire to produce some resources and to resolve the inner conflicts which specific effect on the physical plane, such as relief prevent us from making use of our strength? from poverty or disease, it requires considerable knowledge in order to know what spiritual forces to Experience points to the fact that the answer to this set in motion in order to bring about precisely this is in the affirmative. effect. Let us once again consider the nature of God. It Our suffering, of whatever nature, has its roots in was once said to the writer by an esotericist of deep some deviation from the Cosmic Law, which, if kept, knowledge and experience, one who might justly infallibly produces harmony. This cause may be be reckoned an adept. “If you want to know what deep-seated and hidden. It may lie in some attitude God is, I can tell you in one word. God is pressure”. of the mind to which we are so habituated that we Now this was a strange saying, but if its implications take it as a matter of course and can imagine no are carefully thought out, it throws much light in other way of thinking. In order to effect a change dark places. Supposing we think of God under the in our mundane condition, we shall have to trace metaphor of pressure, realising meanwhile that God this error to its root and put it right. No amount of is the source of all existence, we shall arrive at the prayer and invocation is going to alter the material concept of a constant pressure of life striving for condition unless this is done, but as soon as the fuller and fuller manifestation. It is as if life were a fundamental source of the inharmony on the inner gas under pressure, expanding and diffusing through planes is straightened out, the mundane plane soon every possible channel. If this concept be true, and it

14 The rationale of prayer

has the advantage of being at least logically thinkable, too Gott or Dieu, so long as we raise consciousness not contradicted by anything we already know, and to that which is for us the Source of All Existence. rendering comprehensible many natural processes The moment the soul opens, the power flows In and with whose workings we are familiar, it will give us fills it. a clear justification for the use of invocatory prayer. If God Is made manifest as pressure, and we open a channel in our consciousness, will not the God- force immediately flow into it? This, experience would indicate, is exactly what happens. Our natural Our natural powers powers undergo a sudden augmentation as the undergo a sudden result of successful prayer. 'God is ever more ready to give than we are to receive'. The God-force is augmentation as the under pressure, it is we who exclude it by sealing result of successful our consciousness against it. Make consciousness receptive to this force, and it will immediately flow prayer. in. 'Father, I know that Thou hearest me always'. It matters little whether we cry out to Allah or Christ,

Repose of Sleep

O God of life, darken not to me Thy light, O God of life, close not to me Thy joy, O God of life, shut not to me Thy door, O God of life, refuse not to me Thy mercy, O God of life, quench Thou to me Thy wrath, And O God of life, crown Thou to me Thy gladness, O God of life, crown Thou to me Thy gladness.

Anon

15 More on Planetary Elixirs Part 2: Some results and conclusions by A Budding Alchemist

a difference? Or snow, as I write this? Considering a simple decision like this starts off a cascade of symbols and ideas that have to be considered; the clarity of water in its liquid state as compared to the whiteness of snow or the solidity of ice. On the one hand, water is water, but in the other, in the realm of imagination, there are all the things that water in its varied forms may represent. And I have come to realise that despite all the practical aspects and complications, this whole endeavour has, in essence, been taking place in the imaginal world.

At the same time, I am still learning. Having found that in the first cycle of the work I had seriously underestimated the amount of plant material needed for the process, I won't make that mistake again! And I head straight for the coffee grinder with the more solid plant material, rather than spending ages with a mortar and pestle, although I appreciate the imagery The processes outlined in the previous article are of that simpler tool and still use it on occasion. There still ongoing, gentle reader, and having described the is a constanta refinement of the method going on, aims and methods in brief, it might be of interest to and although it sounds really pretentious to say I am set down how things are progressing. And the first refining myself too, something along those lines is thing you may be wondering is, if you've already done going on albeit very slowly. this once, are you really going to repeat it six more times? Can you not buy these elixirs online? What is And that is because of a kind of fusion that can take the point, really? And yes, these queries have crossed place when you are totally absorbed in a physical my mind. task that frees the mind, changing the quality of consciousness. Ideas arise in the mind in a different Not about buying them online, I haven't looked. You probably could, if you needed them quickly for spagyric or medicinal reasons, but I needed to explore the process as well as obtaining the results.

Like all experiments I needed to repeat the process more than once. Not particularly to conform to modern scientific method, as I am not trying to prove anything to anyone else. This was to be the outward manifestation of an inner process (or was it the other way around?) and the results would be intensely personal. Repeating the basic work has helped to correct mistakes and is in itself a refining activity. For example, if there was no dewfall on the right day for working, would using rainwater make

16 More on planetary elixirs

in the linear diagrams and descriptions of hierarchical systems that litter the literature of alchemy and of magic in general. It is not that these are not “true” in themselves, they do speak volumes in their own way. But in reality, and perhaps I should say 'in imaginal reality' the lines are blurred, things are in motion, changing shape and form, in a harmony which defies logic but expresses a searing clarity. And this is a mystery which has to be experienced individually, there is absolutely no point in saying any more about it. Repeating the basic work has helped to way than, say, in meditation. An analogy would be correct mistakes when images arise in front of your closed eyes in those moments between waking and sleep. No, it is not in me, I am in it. I have not achieved enlightenment and have not become in any way This fusion, however, may happen while fully alert, more than we all already are. I still get knocked back and result in what I can only describe as active and get things wrong. I am not like the saintly among imagination in the form of an inner dialogue. In this us who experience greater realities while washing state things come to make sense, one becomes more up or chopping wood, although I have known a few aware of one's place in the world, in nature and “at people like that. And they no longer need to do one with all that is”. It's hard to put into words, but magic, they just are. Oddly perhaps, I have been led you become part of the process on a deep level, not towards this path by a long series of random life just the alchemical process you are working on, but events, coincidences, unlikely meetings and boundless within the rhythms and cycles of the Universe. curiosity, so that over the year’s life has become very interesting. Long may it and the Great Work For me, it has taken the form of realisation of the continue. fullness that is hidden (and perhaps misrepresented)

The greatest joy of a thinking man is to have searched the explored and to quietly revere the unexplored Goethe

17 The Pilgrim Initiate and the Tree of Life By JF

enabled some much needed introspection into my own internal and spiritual nature while developing and renewing my Christian faith. I was able to internalise the whole experience on many levels and am still doing so now. Writing this article has helped Earth the process. Much of the regional landscape is unchanged since biblical times A pilgrimage in the Holy Land allows one to follow in the footsteps of Our Lord Jesus and contemplate His incarnation on the physical plane. I was fortunate enough to be able to take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee; be baptised again in the River Jordan; retake my wedding vows in Cana and pray in the Garden of Gethsemane and at Calvary. Much of the regional landscape is unchanged since biblical times and I was able to combine my outer physical sight and my inner visual imagination with the I recently had the good fortune to undertake a meditation and concentration techniques learned pilgrimage to the Holy Land and while I was there and studied as a student in service to the Mysteries. found myself carrying out a very useful exercise on the Tree of Life. I thought it might be interesting Since discovering the Tree of Life and learning more to share this experience and in so doing encourage and more about the wonderful paths and spheres others to use this mode of operating within the of influence I have found it to be a fascinating, context of their own lives and for their own inspirational and extremely useful kind of template. personal reasons. You may not agree with all, many, I find myself using it for analysis and to gain greater a few or even none of my realisations - but that is insight and understanding in all sorts of questions fine. Each of us is making his or her own personal pilgrimage and each travels by way of their own path.

To give a brief insight into my journey - it might be enough to say that I am a practising Catholic and a would-be initiate in an esoteric school of the Mysteries. I undertook this pilgrimage because it offered me a wonderful opportunity to not only visit an interesting and historical part of the world but to participate in a unique set of religious experiences with other like-minded people. It

18 The pilgrim initiate and the tree of life

and experiences in life. For example, I learned into different spheres of influence. I thought about an awful lot about myself when we were given an His epic life-journey as being akin to our quest on exercise of placing our birth chart on the Tree - the path - by way of the cross. It was an interesting Sun/Tiphareth in Capricorn, Moon/Yesod in Libra, exercise and one I thought might be a good idea to Mars/Geburah in Scorpio etc etc. Again, I used share as well as helping me consolidate and Earth this modus operandi when analysing the Lord’s the process. I am sure many readers are already Prayer - which incidentally appends and closes with using the Tree and are familiar with this method a Kabbalist prayer to the Kingdom, the Power and and so I invite them and others to read through the Glory. I use the Tree and its attributes when my ideas and to add, change or adapt the concepts turning the tarot cards or working out character and experiences for themselves. I look forward to traits or asking questions. There are no hard and receiving any feedback. fast rules as far as I can see - the Tree is evolving, growing and expanding with human-kind. The design I started in Malkuth and placed here the physical itself is an archetypal and fundamental Reality of birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, where the Divine manifestation - an eternal Truth. But also, and maybe becomes matter in the Element of Earth. The Adam more importantly for us, it is available as a tool to of the Old Testament I thought about the Nativity aid our evolution and regeneration in Earth. This is stories of the New Testament and their links with the something anyone with a fairly basic knowledge of the sephirotic patterns, spheres and paths, the four worlds and three pillars can use as an exercise in study, examination and discovery. Kabbalah opens the mind to a myriad of possibilities.

So there I was - travelling the Holy Land as a Christian pilgrim where I found myself looking at the different locations and thinking about biblical events and associations within the light of the Tree of Life. I started to place these events and places from the relatively short life of Jesus Christ

19 older religion. I pondered the humble beginnings Hod for me is the sephirah to place the first miracle of the Incarnation of the Christ. I placed here the at Cana. It is where Mary the mother of Jesus visit of the Shepherds - a smelly and outcast group appealed to Him to turn water into wine for the of people who lived in the fields with their sheep guests when the wine ran dry at the wedding feast. and would not have been made welcome in more Mary is the idealisation of form and she recognised salubrious surroundings - such as in the regal palaces His masculine power of force and it is here in Cana of kings. I meditated on transmutation between that Jesus accepted her heartfelt request to enact birth and death and on Malkuth being the sphere of the first miracle. In Hod - the magical sphere the first sacrifice - it being the starting point from where the mental application of form is married or whence our Innerworld journey begins. I added ensouled by the emotional energy of force we learn Magdala, a place linked with Mary Magdalene - the to adapt, to change, to evolve and take care of our so-called fallen woman and another outcast who mental well-being which is so important for survival. recognised and accepted Jesus without question. I I believe that most miracles can be placed in the put here the Annunciation in Nazareth and Mary’s mercurial Air of Hod - multiplying the loaves and acceptance of her impeding motherhood as the fishes at Bethsaida, Jesus calming the storm over the Handmaid of the Lord. An acceptance of God’s Will, waters and His casting out demons in the Gerasene not my will be done. Here I am Lord, I come to do territory, also curing the blind man in Jericho. Jesus’s your Will in earth. ministry of healing the sick and lame around the towns and villages of Galilee are an expression of the In Yesod I placed the formative years of Jesus - his Splendour or Glory of Hod. growing up along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. The element of Water being an important feature Jesus’ sermons on the plains around Galilee leading of the landscape - particularly potent when viewed to the Sermon on the Mount in the South Golan as sun goes down and seen later in the subdued Heights became for me the sphere of Netzach. light of the moon. We travelled to Jordan where I The Fiery nature of the Beatitudes exemplify the placed His baptism in the River Jordan in Yesod. I emotional and passionate appeal of the teachings of thought about His growing discipleship amongst Jesus around compassion and love. They indicate the fisherman and ordinary folk of Capernaum the Victory of Jesus seen in His working through his and Tabgha. Here began the foundations of the Higher Self or on another level. They show us the Living word, a growing intuition of the Temple of necessity to look at things differently. Here we seek God within and a foothold of His life-work. Here to express the vital power within ourselves through the foundations of a growing movement and the the art and literature. I placed here all the beautiful rock upon which he built ‘His church’. Here the paintings, statues and music we saw and heard on paradoxical teachings and parables we struggle the pilgrimage. The light of Tiphareth shines over to understand and here the illusions and mis- this sphere just as the light of Christ shines through understanding that prevail. the teachings and works of Jesus. I Am the Way, the Truth and the Light, come follow me.

20 The pilgrim initiate and the tree of life

Tiphareth is for me the place of transfiguration - sphere of fear and retribution. Jerusalem has been Mount Tabor - where Jesus joined by Moses and divided, fought over and shrouded in conflict from Elijah is exalted in the dazzling light of the Sun behind biblical times until the present day. the sun. The transfiguration for me is the second sacrifice and a point of transmutation where Jesus They show us the becomes at-One with the Christ Force. An event or experience in which we can all participate in necessity to look at special moments of joy and elation. Being in touch things differently with our central, motivating Higher Self is the Inner Light we all need and crave. I thought deeply about crucifixion and resurrection and the sons of God in The benevolent sphere of Chesed or Gedulah Earth. Paradoxically, I placed the Way of the Cross tempers the severity of Martian Geburah. Each here in the sphere of Tiphareth and as we walked needs the balance of the other and at first, I found it the Via Dolorosa and experienced the suffering difficult to link any particular area or specific event of Christ through the Stations of the Cross, I was to this sphere. In a more general way, I could put reminded that darkness and sorrow comes before Jesus’s teaching on mercy and goodness in Chesed light and resurrection in our own lives. Acceptance or His advice on the effective power of prayer such of sacrifice on the cross is necessary before Calvary, as the Lord’s Prayer from the Gospel of Matthew. I death and rebirth can occur and it was here Jesus contemplated on another biblical adage to ‘ask and it accepted his destiny in Cenaculum - the Room of the will be given to you; search and you will find; knock Last Supper. and the door will be opened unto you’ and thought that and similar sentiments could be assigned to the We travelled through the Jordan valley and Jericho kindness of Chesed. Again ‘to love one another as I towards Jerusalem. On the way we visited the have loved you’ and ‘Peace, my peace I give you’ are barren desert area of the Essenes around Qumran all relevant sayings of Christ I placed in Chesed. In and bathed in the Dead Sea. Then arriving in the the end I assigned the western hills, Mount Zion hustle and bustle of the old city of Jerusalem I was and the Mount of Olives and areas just outside the reminded of the strength of anger invoked in Jesus old city walls of Jerusalem to this sphere. The New and His expulsion of the traders in the precincts Jerusalem of faith, hope, courage and Love. of the Temple. His rage was also directed towards the pharisees and scribes and at the injustices As we climbed the Mount of Olives with the Garden he witnessed. The winding alleyways, traditional of Gethsemane and the Kidron Valley below I was markets and local sights from Old Jerusalem and reminded of Daath. It was here that Jesus spent inside the city walls I assigned to Geburah - the His last hours on earth before stepping into the

21 Abyss. I saw this as the third and final sacrifice of and the apex of the middle pillar. A place of faith. transmutation. The Mystery of Daath could be said The Oneness. The Alpha and the Omega. No-thing. to be seen in Peter’s denial of Christ. So too in the The point of expression of the Ain Soph. empty tomb and the lost chord. This enigmatic non- Sephirah known as Daath is concerned with Holy Mystery, its hidden wisdom reveals depths we cannot fathom - until we cross the rainbow bridge from ignorance to knowledge.

Binah I linked to the appearance of Christ or apparition on the road to Emmaus and later his ghost-like appearance to the apostles - barely manifest in physical form. Believing Jesus to have been interred and buried in earth it is through Binah that we can begin to understand the story of Thomas doubting what or whom he sees. He cannot believe his eyes at the sight of his risen Lord - as the form of Binah is rarely perceptible on the physical plane. Here it is still an idea emanating from the world of Atziluth - the beginning and ending of form. It is here that we believe in Him without having walked with him as a physical person. Blessed are those who seek the Real Jesus in the living Christ.

Chokmah I assigned to Christ’s Ascension on the outskirts of Bethany. Here it was He gave His last instruction on repentance and the forgiveness of sin before being assumed into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father. Happy are those who believe for theirs shall be the Kingdom of Heaven.

Kether for me became the mystery of the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The top of the Tree

22 Ritual and religious experience Part 3 By CRF Seymour

Before considering in detail the relation of 'ritual' to example, in the Anglican Church, first, second, and religious experiences, it may help the student to get sixth ways are strongly developed. In the Church a clearer idea of the result of the use, the abuse, and of Rome, the fifth way is even more cultivated than the neglect of ritual, the attached diagram be studied. it is in Quakerism. But the mysticism of the Roman Catholic is subordinated to his Catholicism; and In studying this diagram of the Seven Ways by which the fifth way is subordinated in its teaching to the a religion may develop as a whole or in part, it first way. For the Quaker, however, Quakerism is must be remembered that no church and no sect mysticism; it is " the" way, not one of the ways. travels completely or entirely by one way only. For

23 authority " the church". The authority in true Protestantism (a very difficult thing to find) is in the mind: It is usually called (rather mistakenly!) the individual's own conscience. Protestantism in England, Northern Europe and North America, is dominated by the idea of Reason (so called!) as the ultimate authority on religion. It tends towards nationalism in religion, and intellectualism, as well as towards individualism and independence of thought. It is the religion of the virile independent northern races living in cool climates. Its great defect is its excessive tendency towards rationalism, and towards loss of touch with the numinous. As a religion, it is phenomenal rather than noumenal, and it is ethical rather than religious. As a result of its sceptical and materialistic philosophy, it has almost completely lost all its ritual powers - powers which it has long despised, partly because it does not understand religious psychology, and partly because it fears to use that which it cannot rationalize, measure, and more or less explain in terms of matter. In terms These Seven Ways must therefore be considered as of the numinous we may say that Protestantism seven tendencies, all of which will show themselves functions chiefly on the concrete mental plane and to to a greater or lesser degree in all religions, and a lesser degree on the astral plane; for as a religion, in all subdivisions of any religion. This diagram its emotional aspects are usually dominated by its will therefore apply equally to Buddhism and concrete-mindedness. Even when emotionalism Mohammedanism, though here only Christian breaks loose, as it sometimes does in 'revivalism', its terminology has been used for the sake of effect seldom last. The outburst may be violent, the convenience and brevity. results may sometimes be deplorable, but sooner or later reason returns to rule, and the uncontrolled The Seventh Way is the ideal one, and its expression of repressed emotional tendencies is a characteristic is balance. Everything is in due thing of the past. proportion and nothing is in excess. It is unnecessary to emphasize very strongly the fact that Even when no religion and no sect is fully on this way - as yet. But also, necessary to emphasize strongly the fact emotionalism breaks that almost every religion and every sect thinks that it, and usually it alone, is this seventh way. loose, as it sometimes does in 'revivalism', its This Seventh Way is really a "Middle Way" to borrow a phrase from Buddhism. It is the pure white light effect seldom last of Divine truth in its religious aspect. On either side of this middle way are the two ways of Catholicism Revivalism is disliked and distrusted - only too often and of Protestantism. And it is worth noting that in with good reason - by the clergy. But it is usually some form or other the basic principles for which welcomed by the laity, and as a nice emotional Catholicism and Protestantism stand are common outbreak which is not banned by the law of the to all religions. The Hinnayama and the Mahayana, herd, it often gives relief to many repressions. For speaking generally, are but the Protestant and the Roman Catholic, a restrained and trained and Catholic forms of Buddhism. Fundamentally the continuous flow of emotion is encouraged by the two ways part company on the idea of authority. ritual, the majesty and beauty of the Roman mass. Catholicism usually acknowledges as it's only Here you have a trained and regulated emotion deliberately allowed to run its ordered course and

24 Ritual experience

Commentary By Christian Gilson

Looking at the simple diagram of the seven ways that Seymour has developed, it is interesting to see the different ways that he perceived that the revelatory materials of the founder could be approached. The first apparent claim at the centre, that the founder has taught “truth” must be initially questioned. Firstly, the teachings that are central to any given religion may not derive from a founder, for example the teachings of Buddhism were not committed to paper until five hundred years after Siddhartha to over-rule 'reason', and speaking generally, for the Gautama was thought to have delivered them. The Roman Catholic, beauty and the higher emotions teachings of Jesus were written by followers who guide reason in religious matters. The authority had not necessarily had first-hand experience of this is the Church, and the latter’s chief instrument of teaching. Indeed, modern Biblical scholarship argues power over the faithful is its ritual. that this material was written and edited by a range of different contributors. Whilst Mohammed claimed Here, ritual may lead to a very definite religious to be illiterate and received the Qur’an directly from experience. Often the Catholic knows by God by holy revelation. What ever the case may be experience that which the Protestant can only this is not the focus of the point, but rather the need reason about - usually somewhat illogically. to change the centre to the “teachings and doctrines On the whole it may be said that, unlike specific to the faith” in order to be more accurate. Protestantism, Catholicism leads to internationalism, or rather to universalism, also that the 'church' comes before the 'individual'. Also Roman the unification of force Catholicism uses meditation much more thoroughly than even the Quakers do; and it is this combination and form, it is at root a of meditation and ritual which gives the Church of polarity working. Rome the tremendous hold it has over the souls of its adherents. They will accept certain very evident The seven ways are well thought out especially drawbacks and failings for the sake of the practical the concept that the best approach is a balance of religious experience which they can enjoy. We may the other six. That is to say, ideally religion should also say that Roman Catholicism appeals especially inspire devotion based on credulity, but not a blind to emotional people and the Latin races of the faith, rather a faith in which the believer is asked to south of Europe, who have been far less touched engage rationally. However, merely to use reason by Protestantism than have the races of northern and devotion is to have a religion devoid of the Europe. potential of religious experience. The individual surely needs to feel that contact with the Divine is Ritualistic experience mellowed by devotional meditation may then be said to be the chief source of the spiritual strength as well as the worldly success of Roman Catholicism as a religion. It satisfies the devout Roman Catholic, who can often say from personal experience," I know", whereas an equally devout Protestant, who neglects both ritual and meditation, can seldom get beyond: “I believe”.

25 in all. The development of charismatic forms of worship have certainly re-introduced the emotional into protestant worship. But here I avoid the term ritual, because the new forms of Protestantism have abandoned ritual for a non-liturgical form of worship, where music dominates the majority of the service. Indeed, those attending for the first time may be forgiven for thinking that they are at a pop concert. This move certainly returns the emotional aspect but rejects any form of ritualism, so moving from one extreme to the other. possible, and that meaning can be revealed to them I think it would be more helpful for us to move through intuition and supernaturalism. Finally, all away from the examples used by Seymour and look religious believers flourish when they are able to use instead to those ideas that underpin this article. That ritual and object as a focussing point, what Seymour is the importance of an emotional aspect to any form calls superstition. The diagram breaks down the of ritual. approach to religion in a clear and very effective way and the examples given help the reader to Ritual can take two forms, liturgical, and non- understand the point. liturgical, to use the theological terms. The liturgical form is in effect scripted, following a set pattern However, there is a need in the present day to with words and forms that are used for every ritual, replace the example of Catholicism from the with some variation in regard to the central theme. path of devotion and use instead Orthodoxy. It would be easy to consider this to be potentially Simply because of the changes that the Catholic boring, and lacking spontaneity, and it is why some Church has undergone in the last fifty years. Also, groups / denominations prefer non-liturgical worship. what is interesting is his placing of the tendency This ritual form has no script, simply using a theme to pantheism, which is clearly given a negative and allowing the ritual to evolve as it progresses. placement. Certainly, many pantheists would not This latter form is incredibly difficult to manage call their faith a mixture of supernaturalism and effectively and often ends in being just a simple superstition. Whilst this may be true of early pagan gathering of like-minded people. religions this idea has evolved with time. Many neo- pagans would be more comfortable with the idea of ritual is like an arrow panentheism, that there is one source approached through many aspects, it would be interesting to shot at something consider where he would have placed this concept. The power of the liturgical form of ritual is that The rich and definite distinction that Seymour it gives the ritual form from the outset. However, draws between the Roman Catholic and Protestant this is also its downfall. The liturgical ritual is like a denominations here is interesting for what he is play in which each participant has their role to play. telling us about the importance of emotion within Following this metaphor of a play, we can see that if ritual practice. However, it would be interesting the actors merely read their lines when on stage the to see how this would stand up today. The ritual audience are going to be very dissatisfied. As a result, practice of the Roman Catholic mass having been the reviews will be terrible and the play will soon dramatically altered since his time. One could ask close. Rather the actors are called on to fill the role if it was the use of latin that attracted him, or the they have been given and give their part an emotional almost obsessional focus on devotion to the saints. charge. They must make their character believable, The modern Catholic Church has worked to move so that the audiences’ imagination is captured and itself away from such expressions. they are transported into the world of the play. This is the unification of force and form, it is at root a However, his analysis of Protestantism as a religion polarity working. of the mind still holds strong in some part, but not Transposing these ideas from the stage to the ritual

26 Ritual experience

space there is little or no difference. If the words back both the force and form to the material plane of the ritual are said but no emotional force is and manifest it. This takes a very high degree of brought to bear then they are dead words. The form discipline and concentration. A state which is rarely is empty and lifeless. The ritual then is pointless, found in exoteric worship of any kind, and so the failing to appeal to the minds, both conscious and resultant worship becomes little more than a party subconscious, and spirits of the participants. It that leaves everyone happy. therefore goes without saying, such a ritual will not attract the attention of the Inner Planes, and will not It is argued that liturgical ritual is repetitive and as function on anything more than the material plane, a result it loses its meaning, becoming something which is what Seymour accuses the Protestants of that the participants simply pay lip service too. This his time of doing. For ritual to be effective it must is true if there is no emotional connection, if there involve all aspects of the incarnatory personality, is no force given to the form by the participants. speaking to all forms of the mind, drawing on the Malidoma Patrice Somé says of ritual: “No ritual can physical, mental, emotional, and imaginative aspects of be repeated the same way twice (in my village there every participant. are seasonal rituals that are repeated – but never exactly!). There are structures, however, that stay the There is also another aspect to this, for a person same.” (Ritual: Power, healing, and community 1993). who attends a ritual without the intention to be He goes on to explain that every participant brings emotionally engaged will also fail to engage with and something new and different to the ritual every time, be moved by that ritual regardless of how much if they are truly engaged with it. He also points out force flows through the other participants. It is not that it is essential that every participant comes to enough to merely turn up, it is essential to tune in ritual with a purpose. To fail to do so, to attempt and actively participate, even if that participation is to be a disengaged observer, will result in greater to listen. This is the error that many who attend problems for that person. He writes “Elders say that any form of worship/ritual make, it is not the task ritual is like an arrow shot at something. When the of the ritual itself to transform you, and make you intended target is not there, the arrow invents one.” transcend the ordinary, it is your task to engage with That is to say the participant who fails to engage it and so allow it to activate those aspects of yourself purposefully with ritual giving it the force and form that will enable you to transcend and transform required may find themselves receiving the gifts of yourself. Actors often talk about the importance of that ritual in unexpected and often unwanted ways. feeding from the energy of an audience, a disengaged audience often results in a poor performance, ritual It is for these reasons that the initiate is carefully is no different. trained in the disciplines necessary for ritual to be The ritualist then, needs to bring to liturgical effective, and for the spiritual life to be enrichening. / scripted forms of ritual a willingness to be Seymour is showing us that ritual is not merely a emotionally engaged. The words of the ritual then one way activity, it is a process by which we raise act as a channel for that force and by creating a the material to meet with the spiritual and so enable balance of force and form enable the possibility Divine Union, the true religious experience as of connection with the spiritual realms, creating expressed by mystics in every religion. the possibility for religious experience. Which as Seymour implies is the secret of any good ritual. The non-liturgical or unscripted ritual is much harder because there is little for the participants to grasp onto. The channels of form are no longer proscribed, all that is given is an idea, and the participants must focus on this idea and develop an emotional response to it. Then through the altered state of consciousness achieved they must look for each other, and find both a connection to each other and the form of the ritual on the astral, reaching beyond the material. However, if they achieve this then to make the ritual effective they must be able to bring

27 The Sun in a Personal Horoscope By Kathleen

represents the vitality and the source of the power and will of the individual. The quality of vitality and the power and will of the person can be determined to some extent by knowing one’s birth sign. This you will recognise to be associated with the popular sun, or star signs we can read about newspapers and magazines. While you might recognise yourself to be either a typical or non-typical stereotype of your particular sun sign, from the personal horoscope point of view. The sun and the sign in which it resides represents very subtle type of energy pattern radiated by the real sun in the sky at the particular moment you were born. Therefore, a sun sign indicates what particular energy vibrations are contained within you and shows the root you need to take order to develop a healthy ego sense of individuality. However, it does not necessarily make you behave according to that particular sun sign, so that all Ariens are not dynamic, egocentric The sun is our nearest star and is of vital importance and impulsive, although might incline you in that to our continuing biological, logical and evolutionary particular direction. In essence the sun sign is a cycles. when you consider that the Earth is symbol of what needs to be consciously striven for hurtling round the sun like 70000 miles per hour and achieved not just that which comes instinctively. it makes you wonder how does the human race Concentration on sun signs to the exclusion of the and other species on this planet exist! And that is other planets might be popular but they are a world not all for were the solar radiation to change buy away from true astrology. Whether you use those only a fraction, then life as we know It would be energy patterns to their fullest potential or not is up Impossible - in effect we would either freeze or burn. to you what we call of the free will of the individual Significantly the ice ages of Earth's past are thought to choose his or her path in life. A belief in astrology to have been due to very slight changes in the sun's does not indicate a belief in fate. Each one of us output of energy the last one occurring about eight has a choice to instinctively go with the flow of the thousand years ago. Hopefully we are not due for energy pattern, whether it be positive or negative or another one just yet so our sun is considered to be a very stable star in its emission of energy, which is fortunate for us. a sun sign indicates what particular energy vibrations are contained within you

On a personal horoscope which is a map of the heavens as they were at the time of birth the sun

28 The sun in a personal horoscope

Occasionally we have likewise, to do battles with dragons or monsters (symbolic) which hold us back and obstruct our unfoldment, just as St George (a solar hero) slew the Dragon. We can intuit the relevance of the sun through consideration of the solar gods of mythology such as the Egyptian Ra and the Greek Apollo. They were heroes seeking their own identity and to do so they had to slay the serpent or the python each night - in other words, the light of the sun prevails over the darkness which was ruled by the moon which was not the moon we have today but the other sun.

at times it becomes necessary to think before we act The sun in a horoscope for those who are able to by exercising our creative self-will. read birth charts represents and gives information on such things as health, vitality, the father, authority The sun on the birth chart therefore is where figures, the masculine side of the character, or the we are trying to take personal responsibility on type of male a female might be seeking in relationship the biological, psychological and spiritual level of matters. Father or animus issues often show up experience. As such it relates to our capacity for in the sun's house. It is the yin side of everything choice, creating our image, our sense of identity, whereas the yang side comes under the dominion of who we are what we do. Therefore, the sun is the the moon in a birth chart. It is the connections that channel for the expression of active, creative energy. the sun makes i.e. the sign, plus house position and The symbol for the sun is a circle with a dot in the the aspects to the other planets in the birth chart centre. The circle, which has no beginning or end, which help to reveal the true potentialities of the stands for unboundedness and Infinity, which is our person. Thus, you can see knowing one’s birth sign is evolutionary goal. The dot represents the individual only the beginning of astrology. as a separate entity yet is a part of the greater whole. By its sign, house position and its connections to the knowing one’s birth planets in the horoscope it indicates how we radiate our influence, shine forth and so gain a greater sense sign is only the of our personal power, purpose and direction in life. beginning of astrology We forge a clearer sense of selfhood and sometimes life can be a struggle in the area of life designated by the house of the sun. The sun embodies the archetypal father just as the moon embodies the archetypal mother. Sol is Latin for sun which means " alone" although there was a time in Earth's history when we had two suns in the sky and one of them had to go which led to the capture of our present moon. The myths of the sun are all to do with having to assume the solar hero bit by doing battle with dragons or sea creatures or other monsters such as the Marduk and Tiamat story. Once the hero has been called and responds he usually acquires a helper or receives assistance from some earthly or divine source, such as Jason when he flees Colchis is aided by Medea. Also, when Theseus sets out to slay the minotaur it is Ariadne who gives him the ball of thread which enables him to find his way out of the Labyrinth.

29 Bringing Order out of Chaos by Laurence Main

Since 1884 the Greenwich Meridian has been the Old Straight Track (1925) doesn't mention dowsing. Prime Meridian, zero degrees longitude, for all Paul Broadhurst and Hamish Miller's book The countries (although the French didn't accept this Sun and the Serpent (1989) is based on a dowsing until 1914). As such it has the function of bringing exploration of the Michael line ley spanning the Order out of Chaos. The establishment of the Royal width of Britain between Cornwall and Norfolk. Observatory in Greenwich was ordered by Charles As well as this ley, they dowsed Michael and Mary 11 in 1675, with the Reverend John Flamsteed serpents coiling around the straight line. appointed as the first Astronomer Royal. So far so The Michael line passes the Royston Cave with its irrelevant to Dion Fortune. famous (Templar) carvings in Hertfordshire. Alarm bells ring when it is observed that the GM crosses Then, as 2016 dawned, came forth a new book by it just one mile to the East of Royston Cave. There's Earth Mysteries researchers Paul Broadhurst and much, much more. The grave of King Harold in Gabriele Trso entitled Axis of Heaven. Old Violet Waltham Abbey is a few feet from the GM. Royalty would have loved this! The book reveals how the and leys are associated. A ruler is both a king and Greenwich Meridian was an ancient secret. It is the polar axis reflecting the cosmic sacred centre around which the life of this earth revolves. An exploration of the Greenwich Meridian (GM) showed how it has attracted historic sites to do with kings, queens, Templars, Freemasons and the likes of John Dee.

So we have a straight line (actually curving with the earth) connecting ancient sacred sites. Is the GM a ley? Of world importance! Dion Fortune knew about 'lines of force between the power centres'. Alfred Watkins would have counted the GM as a ley by consulting O.S. maps, let alone by line of sight. The

30 Bringing order out of chaos

Realising that July and August 2018 came with an uninterrupted series of four eclipses, I determined to complete this backpacking trip, walking every step of the way, before 13th July 2018.

Graham and Hilda Heap are ramblers, not mystics or ley hunters, but they have written a practical walking guide in four parts to the Greenwich Meridian Trail. (www.greenwichmeridiantrail.co.uk) This waymarked route is an excellent walk of nearly 300 miles. (I used O.S. Explorer maps to stray from their route in places), done in 24 days. I enjoyed glorious sunshine and blue skies on every step of my path.

On the penultimate day of my Pilgrimage, I visited the Royal Meridian Marker at Sunk Island, east of a straight edge. Above ground, yards from the Hull in Yorkshire. This was Monday, 2nd July 2018. A subterranean cave, is the Roy Stone. big bird flew overhead, as if leading the way along the track beside the Winestead Drain, at grid reference Axis of Heaven provides a wealth of proof for the TA329190 on O.S. Explorer 292. I thought, 'If only GM being a ley. Historians can enjoy the connecting you'd have grey feathers, you'd be a heron and a big string with surprising revelations. The ancient one at that.' The bird was white. I soon saw more mounds and castle of historic Lewes obviously white birds, Egrets, which were much smaller. It present themselves, but it's the obscure little places never occurred to me that the big white bird could that amaze. The country home of Birch Grove in be a crane. I thought they didn't live in England now, Sussex is on the GM. It was the family home of except for a small colony recently introduced to Harold Macmillan and while he was prime minister Somerset. The crane is my bird, as Rhiannon is my the world's statesmen beat a path to this door. goddess. I'm used to making do with herons. On Charles de Gaulle, Dwight Eisenhower, Nikita Tuesday, 17th July the ‘i' Newspaper contained a Krushchev, Jawahalal Nehru and John F. Kennedy all picture of a crane and said that 270 cranes were came to stay here. Did they meet to bring Order now established in eastern England, having been out of Chaos? Discussing little things like controlling settled since 1979. The big white bird was a crane. nuclear tests! Thank you, oh goddess.

The antiquity of this ley is suggested by the Crowhurst Yew in the churchyard of St. George's, Surrey. My dowsing said that this was 3700 years old in 2018. Approaching London from the south, the GM visits Wickham Court, West Wickham. This is only the spot where Henry V111 courted and proposed to Anne Boleyn. Consider the consequences.

The publication of Axis of Heaven came not long before the election of Donald Trump as U.S. President. The world was in trouble. How do we bring Order out of Chaos? The answer seems obvious to me; walk a Pilgrimage along the GM. In doing so I would dowse the ley (I did, and found Bridget and Lugh serpents coiling around it).

31 Dog Rose by Betty

Botanical name: Rosa canina Family: Rosaceae

There are several other names for the Dog Rose perennial shrub grows widespread in woods, waste such as wild briar, wild rose and hip tree. In the places and hedges, producing the sweetest smelling Language of Flowers, Dog Rose means maidenly flower of summer. It can grow up and beyond beauty. You are as fair and as innocent as this flower. three metres with large arching stems, with strongly hooked prickles. The feather like leaves have two The dog rose of the English hedgerows and the or three pairs of toothed leaflets with a terminal ancestor of the garden roses is the herb about which leaflet. The large(4-5cm) five petaled flowers vary the 16th century herbalist wrote, "most principle in colour from pale pink to white. The numerous place among all flowers whatsoever should be stamens form a vivid yellow centre and are visited by called 'Dog', suggesting of no worth." One possible many insects for pollen. These flowers bloom during explanation could be that the ancient Greeks called June and July while the abundance of bright red rose the wild rose 'Dog Rose' because they believed that hips appear from late August. The name 'hip' came it's roots could cure a man bitten by a mad dog. It down from the Anglo-Saxon 'biope', described as was affirmed that knowledge of its powers came flask shaped. This is what botanists term a false fruit from a dream. The Romans adopted the name 'Rosa as it is really the stalk end that forms it and grows Canina' which was then translated into English. up round the central carpals, enclosing them in a Another explanation for the name was that it was case. The real fruits, each containing one seed are called 'Dag Rose' - dag being a dagger which likened the little hairy objects within them. As soon as a to the sharp thorns. Afterwards it was changed flower has been fertilised the receptacle round the to dog rose by people who didn't understand the immature fruit grows gradually luscious and red, and allusion. so forms the hip, which acts as bait for birds who distribute the seeds. At first the hips are very hard The wild rose of the countryside, the most charming but become softer and fleshier later in the autumn. of all roses is a native of Europe. This wild climbing

32 Dog rose

gently detoxifying helping to neutralize and remove waste products, and have a mild laxative effect. The fresh or dried flowers maybe used to prepare an infusion which fortifies the heart and the brain. Catarrh, female ailments and stomach disorders will be helped with the herb. The vitamin C in the rose hips is also a help for poor appetite, fatigue, susceptibility to infection and failure of wounds and fractures to heal. Broken bones have been shown to heal more easily and rapidly when rosehip syrup is taken.

The seeds, dried in the sun and reduced to a Although Dog Roses are found wild and cultivated powder are an old remedy for gravel, kidney stones normally as hybrids, they can be grown from and renal colic. Put 3 grams of powder in a small cuttings taken in early spring. I have personally glass of white wine and infuse for 7 to 8 hours, take found this method very successful. It's best to this half an hour before retiring, stirring well and plant in rich, well-drained soil in the sun, preferably taken on alternative days preferably during a waning against a trellis or fence. The petals can be collected moon. It is best when preparing medicines or in the summer, and the hips after the first frost. food not to bring the hips into contact any form of metal except stainless steel as this can rob them of In the 1930s scientists discovered that the hips of colours and vitamins. the Dog Rose contain more vitamin C than any other fruit or vegetable. A cup of rosehip pulp Sauce Eglantine, a syrup made of wild rose hips provides more vitamin C than forty fresh oranges. was one of Queen Victoria's favourite dessert When the sea blockade of the Second World War sauces. The recipe for this sauce is as follows: Wash cut off supplies of citrus fruits, Britain provided its and scrape the seeds carefully from the insides young children with vitamin C almost exclusively of one cup of hips, puree the hips in a blender, from rosehip syrup. The petals are just as useful as sweeten with three quarters of a cup of sugar, add a wild food. However, harvesting too many petals 2 teaspoons of lemon juice and one cup of water, may prevent the formation of the hips and so it's bring slowly to the boil, preferably in the top of best to only gather a few from each bush in June. In a double boiler. Separately mix 2 teaspoons of former times when garden fruit was scarce, hips we cornstarch with one tablespoon of cold water. Stir used for dessert. Gerard said that" the fruit when it into the hot eglantine sauce, and serve hot or cold is ripe, maketh the most pleasante meats blanketing over deserts or ice cream. dishes, as tarts and such like" - " the making whereof he commands to the cunning cooke and teethe to Rosehip tea can be drunk as a straightforward eate them in the riche man's mouth". substitute for ordinary tea. Rose hips have a pleasant, slightly acidic sweet flavour. For rose petal Another old writer says “children with great delight jam: Chop and put in a blender; a cup of petals with eat the berries thereof when are they are ripe and three quarters of a cup of water, and the juice of make chains and other pretty geegaws of the fruit, a lemon. Add 2 ½ cups of sugar and stir well until cooks and gentlewomen make tarts and such like dishes for pleasure."

The dog Rose is useful in many different ways. Culpepper was one among many of the early herbalists who recognise the mysterious power of rose to combat infection and haemorrhage - a power directly attributed to the presence of from ten to one hundred times as much ascorbic acid in rose hips as there are in most other fruit. Rose hips are cooling and have traditionally been used 33 as a ‘refrigerant’. The fruit acids in rose hips are the boil for 1 minute, while stirring. Pour into the rose sugar mixture, still staring thoroughly. Put this into jars immediately, it will set in about 6 hours and we'll keep for at least one month.

The hips will also make an excellent wine, very similar to dry sherry. A perfectly good rose water can be made by filling small jam jars with fallen petals and topping them up with tap water and leaving in the sun. This may be used in food recipes, also to perfume baths and anoint hands. Rose petals, when dried, form the basis of potpourri. The petals are also pleasant strewn around the area of work and for matters of love. dissolved. Stir a small package of pectin substitute into three quarters of a cup of water and bring to

From the Editor, Some of you may have been surprised by the article in the Inner Light by Roy Snelling, entitled “The Jewish – Hebrew Enigma”, which appeared in the last edition. I would like to take the opportunity to apologise to any of you who may have been offended by this article.

Please can I assure you that the views cited in this article are not shared by the Fraternity of the Inner Light, as clearly stated in our disclaimer. Even my own editorials cannot be said to represent the views of the Fraternity. In fact, the articles within the journal are rarely penned by members of the Fraternity.

That aside, you are right to ask why I decided to print such a disturbing article. I did spend quite some time thinking about doing so and I also discussed it with a range of other people. I came to the conclusion to do so for two reasons. On the one hand it could be considered inappropriate to censor the views of a person who is pursuing a personal path, however non- conformist that path may be, unless those views are an affront to public decency. Clearly this article was on the borderline, and perhaps in the view of some readers it had stepped over it.

The second and my main reason was to elicit a response, hopefully in the form of an article. Perhaps one that challenged the ideas in this article, and the wider public perception of the esoteric world. An article that would offer a considered response, and demonstrate the amazing contribution of Jewish scholars to esoteric study. Sadly, none has been forthcoming as yet.

34 The Last Time From the moment you hold your baby in your arms, you will never be the same. You might long for the person you were before, When you have freedom and time, And nothing in particular to worry about. You will know tiredness like you never knew it before, And days will run into days that are exactly the same, Full of feedings and burping, Nappy changes and crying, Whining and fighting, Naps or a lack of naps, It might seem like a never-ending cycle. But don’t forget … There is a last time for everything. There will come a time when you will feed your baby for the very last time. They will fall asleep on you after a long day And it will be the last time you ever hold your sleeping child. One day you will carry them on your hip then set them down, And never pick them up that way again. You will scrub their hair in the bath one night And from that day on they will want to bathe alone. They will hold your hand to cross the road, Then never reach for it again. They will creep into your room at midnight for cuddles, And it will be the last night you ever wake to this. One afternoon you will sing “the wheels on the bus” and do all the actions, Then never sing them that song again. They will kiss you goodbye at the school gate, The next day they will ask to walk to the gate alone. You will read a final bedtime story and wipe your last dirty face. They will run to you with arms raised for the very last time. The thing is, you won’t even know it’s the last time Until there are no more times. And even then, it will take you a while to realize. So while you are living in these times, remember there are only so many of them and when they are gone, you will yearn for just one more day of them. For one last time.

-Author Unknown-

35 The Templar Door by Alan Richardson

Self-published on Create Space and available on Amazon

Mr. Richardson was kind enough to send a pdf review copy which I read and almost immediately lost. My laptop eats files like some people's washing machines eat socks, and it no longer seems to exist in cyberspace, so I bought the actual book. Which was well worth it, because like all the best writing I shall be reading it again. And again.

This is a treat; Alan Richardson more or less ignores what we think we know about the Templars, and takes us on a ramble around the area of Wiltshire he knows and loves. And beyond. The journey takes us down byways that might often be ignored, but which lead to the real stuff of magic. He takes us off to places we would have been unlikely to come across, and to meetings with some remarkable people, and it is fun! To read it is like going for a walk with a friend and meeting with some remarkable people and places, and feeling something of their subtle magic.

The great thing about Mr. Richardson's books is that they are drawn from personal experience and never a rehash of other people's work. His point of view is always refreshing, sometimes challenging, and above all real. Anyone who has really explored their own locality, looked and listened for the spirits of place will know that this is how the magic happens, though random meetings and what seems like happenstance. We are prone to miss the subtle by setting out with fixed ideas and goals already in mind, but here, led on by the author, and with his partner guarding us from behind so to speak, we are free to wander, gaze and ponder.

Margaret is a major force in this book, and it is so often her presence, almost but really not in the background, that acts as a catalyst for further exploration and discovery. They make quite a team! There is great joy to be had in following some labyrinthine digressions, and there is so much we can learn from this book. It is not thrust upon the reader, there are, thankfully, no pathworkings or dogma. Just a glorious exploration around a place and a theme, interesting ideas and with the sense that we are engaged in mild bantering conversation with the author as we see where he is leading us. I loved it!

Don't miss the Appendices!

Needless to say, highly recommended.

36 A Complete Guide to the Soul by Patrick Harpur

ISBN 9781846041860 Publisher: Rider

The Philosopher's Secret Fire by Patrick Harpur

ISBN 978 0 9802865 2 6 Publisher: Blue Angel Gallery Australia

Having come late to the work of Patrick Harpur, I am so pleased to discover these books, which are both thought-provoking and very readable. The author wears his erudition lightly, and explores the nature of the Soul, following a quicksilver thread that leads us through time and across many cultures in search of meaning.

The subtitle, “Who am I? What is my life's purpose? Where am I going when I die?” is a little misleading, this is not a Spiritualist type of book. Mr Harpur is asking us to consider these questions rather than answering them for us! This is a brave book by a writer who suggests that Soul is central to who we are, but that we may have become bound by a materialist outlook, a literalism that leaves us floundering when asking these questions. The outlook of so-called primitive people, poets and visionaries goes beyond the literal with dou- ble vision, seeing through, seeing both the literal and the metaphorical meaning of things at the same time. There is so much more in this book and its companion volume, The Philosopher's Secret Fire which acts in counterpoint with 'A Complete Guide to the Soul', each book illuminating the other.

If the first book looks at ideas around the Soul from an imaginative viewpoint where imagination is seen as creative force, the second book, while covering some of the same ground, explores that imagination with the eyes of the soul. Both books reveal the antithesis of the sterile rationalism we have been fed in the guise of 'reality'; the universe itself is not literal and we are not literal beings by nature. We are capable of seeing meaning on any number of levels simultaneously, but many of us have lost the knack. We are given insights into the history of the creation in the same way as the first book gives us insights into the history of the soul.

All these books are worth reading and re-reading not least because they deal with the re-enchantment of the world in their different ways. Sometimes one may miss a lot by being borne along by the sheer joy of reading a book which excites and stimulates. There is so much to take in, so much to ponder on in these books. Highly recommended.

37 Books by Dion Fortune

Secrets Of Doctor Taverner [Paperback] £14.99

Twelve brisk paced stories about an esoteric teacher and healer who uses his skills to save patients. As he does he battles a whole range beings from vampires to body-snatchers. Dion uses these carefully constructed stories to introduce the reader to magical practices and many arcane principles of occult law. A must-read for serious students, and a delightful introduction to many aspects of the Western Mystery Tradition.

Publisher: Weiser Books; Reprint edition (28 July 2011) ISBN-10: 1578633370 ISBN-13: 978-1578633371

Also currently in print:

The Mystical Qabalah [Paperback] £8.99 Aziloth Books (12 Jan 2012) ISBN-10: 1908388609 Glastonbury Avalon of the Heart £12.99 Red Wheel/Weiser (1 Aug 2003) ISBN-10: 1578631572 Psychic Self-Defence £14.99 Weiser Books (18 Aug 2011) ISBN-10: 1578635098 Sea Priestess £12.99 Red Wheel/Weiser; (1 July 2003) ISBN-10: 1578632900 Demon Lover [Paperback] £12.99 Weiser Books (1 Nov 2010) ISBN-10: 157863492X Moon Magic [Paperback] £15.99 Red Wheel/Weiser (1 July 2003) ISBN-10: 1578632897 Cosmic Doctrine [Paperback] £14.99 Red Wheel/Weiser (1 Aug 2003) ISBN-10: 1578631602

Check out Skylight Press, and Thoth Publications for these and other publications. Magazine Exchange

Quest is a small magazine, regularly published in March, June, September and December, since 1970. It covers many practical aspects of the Western Mystery Traditions, folklore, and Magical philosophy, as well as personal esoteric experiences, reviews and stories. Since 1968 Quest has organised an annual Conference each March, runs workshops and occasional day courses. The Editor, Marian Green, is the author of 18 books and regularly lectures in the UK and Europe. Annual subscription £10 in UK, starting from latest issue, sample £2, pay QUEST. Write to 80 Bishopsworth Road, Bristol BS13 7JS, UK

Mandrake Speaks This is a regular online newsletter with articles and reviews from the Oxford based publisher and bookseller, Mandrake. It is free of charge and you can sign up by going to: https://mandrakespeaks.wordpress. com/

Greenmantle A pagan journal filled with news, reviews and articles on a wide range of magical practices and experiences. http://www.greenmantle.org.uk If you would like to buy an edition of the magazine or pay for an annual subscription by means other than PayPal then please e-mail the editor. Single issue 3.75 GBP / Annual Subscription (2 Issues) 6.00 GBP

The Newsletter of the Network of Ley Hunters A quarterly magazine that explores Earth Myster- ies and living within the Sacred Landscape. £15 per year (UK), available from Laurence Main, 9 Mawddwy Cottages, Minllyn, Dinas Mawddwy, Machynlleth, SY20 9LW Wales

If you run or know of any other magazines that you think would like to be listed here please contact us at [email protected]

Design by WEB DESIGN & ANIMATION Essex www.jonsamuels.co.uk 38 We take spiritual initiation when we become conscious of the Divine within us, and thereby contact the Divine without us.

Dion Fortune