DOCSLIB.ORG

The Stilled Pendulum No.16

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Stilled Pendulum No.16 The Stilled Pendulum No.16 We held two dowsing events recently, both at Trellech, the rain spoiled the first one so we only covered dowsing in the Church, Glan Jones led the proceedings especially about coloured energy lines, we then gave up and retired to the Pub where a very jolly meal was enjoyed under strict Covid rules, we then had a wet drive home, there can be a lot of rain in Wales. Some of us reconvened a couple of weeks later and dowsed Terrett tump, the Harold Stones, the three stones that give the village its name and the Healing Well. The weather was better this time so we could all get outside. I think the 3 stones are part of a circle as I found energy points in a roughly circular shape to make such a circle, I used to think they were part of an Avenue, not so sure now. Glan gave his usual master class in coloured lines, not so many of us this time but it was nice to get out, we also returned to the pub, outside this time and enjoyed another meal together. The main contributors this month are Hilary Boughton and Sue Watts-Cutler Skenfrith We received the following email from Ann Eggleton “Hello Jackie – I’m glad you seem to be better and out of bed! There’s so much to worry about these days . which brings me to the horrible man who coughed in my face at the petrol station on Sunday. I was wending my way round the maze to the pay-desk when I came face to face with him round the end of a display station, and he coughed at me. He wasn’t wearing a mask (I was). I felt the spittle hit my face. So I am in self- isolation until Sunday week – and wouldn’t ask any elderly person to come to the farm, even keeping in the open air, till I know I am free of infection. So I cannot host anything about Skenfrith/Newcastle till the week after next. (I suppose Sunday week might be okay!)” There are some very uncouth/inconsiderate people about sorry you were so treated Ann and hope you will be OK. We will let members know when we can go to Skenfrith, these meetings are good because it keeps us as a group otherwise we will do nothing and slowly fade away as a Club which we wish most heartily not to do, the original idea was a picnic at Ann’s farm after dowsing we will have to check what we are allowed to do when the time comes. It may be necessary to change our name to “The South Herefordshire Dowsing and Grouse Shooting Club” when of course we will be allowed to do what we like, (Honorary President Dominic Cummings). Hilary wrote an article in Pendulum 15 regarding why people can or sometimes cannot dowse, below is Sue Watts-Cutlers reply, please let us have more “disagreements’ or even agreements! That’s great - let’s get a debate going. In response to Hilary’s article on whether ‘belief’ is required for dowsing, here is my own perspective The so-called ‘Low Self’ or subconscious is quite capable of picking up water, information etc without the active participation of the ‘Middle Self’ or conscious waking mind. Basically the latter just needs to keep out of the way and let it get on with it. Hence you have Hilary’s example of complete beginners who intellectually couldn’t get their heads around dowsing working, yet got reactions all the same. This is because the subconscious is an emotionally based level of consciousness and is unaffected by passing intellectual thought However, it becomes a different matter if emotionally based belief patterns are sent down into the subconscious. These ‘ speak the same language' as the subconscious and hence tend to get taken on board and regarded as instructions from above. If these patterns are opposed to dowsing, the subconscious will oblige by messing its dowsing up and/or feeling bad about it. So the example Hilary quotes of religious fundamentalists who have absorbed an emotional belief that dowsing is not something that God approves of will find that subtle shame, fear and/or guilt will effectively scupper their dowsing results and they won’t feel good about doing it The role of introducing a belief that dowsing works is that of counteracting any flickers of conflicting doubt, emotions or over-rational interference which can sneak in occasionally to any dowser. However, the success of this overriding belief being accepted by the Low Self will rely on accompanying this belief with positive emotion, plus repetition. Some dowsers also use small personal rituals with ‘real' physical objects, such as kissing their favourite pendulums or carefully wrapping them in silk cloths. All three of these practices will actively encourage the subconscious/Low Self to take the dominant positive belief on board and not just to ignore it as another intellectual breeze passing over its head, as it were. In the case of a religious fundamentalist who has totally engaged with what they have been told about dowsing being evil, introducing such a positive belief about dowsing would never be easy, as it would mean overturning (or somehow reconciling) a whole body of existing established emotional belief already resident in their subconscious. Sue TATTWA CARDS Tattwa cards originate from an Eastern esoteric tradition and were introduced to Western culture through the Order of the Golden Dawn. You can make these cards yourself by sticking or painting the tattwa symbols onto pieces of white card, no larger than 6 inches by 6 inches. The symbols represent the five elements: Black or indigo egg – Spirit Red equilateral triangle – Fire Blue circle – Air Yellow square – Earth Silver crescent (or purple half circle) – Water In addition to the basic cards, you can superimpose one symbol onto another, larger, symbol. The large symbol on the card represents the core element; the smaller symbol represents the aspect of the element. A small silver moon superimposed onto a larger black egg (effectively contained within the egg) represents the Water of Spirit. A small blue circle on a larger yellow square represents the Air of Water. I prefer to use just one symbol at a time. Leave one side of each card completely blank. Each card can be used as a focal point to trigger an astral projection or travel and to give access to a particular part of the astral plane, in other words to the qualities of the aspect of the specific element. To use a tattwa card, find a quiet place and gaze intently at the card for a minute or two. Turn the card over and gaze at the blank back. You could also move your gaze from the symbol on the card to blank white wall. Due to an optical reflex reaction, you will see the symbol appear on the blank white background. I always see a negative of the original image (as in a photographic negative). So, a red triangle on a white background would appear as a white triangle surrounded by a haze of red colour on the white wall. Close your eyes and envisage the image as seen on the wall or the back of the card. In your mind, try and enlarge this image until it is large enough to act as a portal, or gateway, through which you can walk. Step through this portal that is representative of a door to the astral plane. Your astral body is able to leave your physical body and undertake astral travel in the Otherworlds. If the astral body leaves the physical body but remains on the physical plane, this is usually referred to as ‘astral projection’. In this case, the traveller is sometimes aware of a silver cord that attaches the physical body to the astral body. It is believed that if this cord is broken, death will follow. In astral travel, the astral body – an intermediate body of light that links the mental body and the soul – leaves the physical body and travels in the astral plane. The astral body is claimed by some to be visible as a swirling mass of colours. The astral plane is not normally visible to us, but it is believed to be the true dwelling place of a person’s higher spiritual body. Hilary Boughton .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Treatise on Astral Projection V2
    TREATISE ON ASTRAL PROJECTION V2 by Robert Bruce Copyright © 1999 Contents Part One................................................................................................................................. 1 Part Two................................................................................................................................. 6 Part Three .............................................................................................................................. 12 Part Four ............................................................................................................................... 17 Part Five ................................................................................................................................ 21 Part Six................................................................................................................................... 27 Part Seven .............................................................................................................................. 34 Part Eight............................................................................................................................... 41 Book Release – “Astral Dynamics”....................................................................................... 51 Book Release – “Practical Psychic Self-Defense”................................................................ 52 i Copyright © Robert Bruce 1999 1 Part One This version has been completely rewritten and updated, with thought to all
    [Show full text]
  • The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon the Theosophical Seal a Study for the Student and Non-Student
    The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon The Theosophical Seal A Study for the Student and Non-Student by Arthur M. Coon This book is dedicated to all searchers for wisdom Published in the 1800's Page 1 The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon INTRODUCTION PREFACE BOOK -1- A DIVINE LANGUAGE ALPHA AND OMEGA UNITY BECOMES DUALITY THREE: THE SACRED NUMBER THE SQUARE AND THE NUMBER FOUR THE CROSS BOOK 2-THE TAU THE PHILOSOPHIC CROSS THE MYSTIC CROSS VICTORY THE PATH BOOK -3- THE SWASTIKA ANTIQUITY THE WHIRLING CROSS CREATIVE FIRE BOOK -4- THE SERPENT MYTH AND SACRED SCRIPTURE SYMBOL OF EVIL SATAN, LUCIFER AND THE DEVIL SYMBOL OF THE DIVINE HEALER SYMBOL OF WISDOM THE SERPENT SWALLOWING ITS TAIL BOOK 5 - THE INTERLACED TRIANGLES THE PATTERN THE NUMBER THREE THE MYSTERY OF THE TRIANGLE THE HINDU TRIMURTI Page 2 The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon THE THREEFOLD UNIVERSE THE HOLY TRINITY THE WORK OF THE TRINITY THE DIVINE IMAGE " AS ABOVE, SO BELOW " KING SOLOMON'S SEAL SIXES AND SEVENS BOOK 6 - THE SACRED WORD THE SACRED WORD ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Page 3 The Theosophical Seal by Arthur M. Coon INTRODUCTION I am happy to introduce this present volume, the contents of which originally appeared as a series of articles in The American Theosophist magazine. Mr. Arthur Coon's careful analysis of the Theosophical Seal is highly recommend to the many readers who will find here a rich store of information concerning the meaning of the various components of the seal Symbology is one of the ancient keys unlocking the mysteries of man and Nature.
    [Show full text]
  • ASTRAL PROJECTION WORKBOOK Published in 1990 by Sterlingpublishingco., Inc
    The ASTRAL PROJECTION WORKBOOK Published in 1990 by SterlingPublishingCo., Inc. 387 ParkAvenueSouth NewYork,NewYork10016 Copyright © J. H. Brennan1989 All RightsReserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means,electronic,mechanical,photocopying, recording or otherwise,without the prior permission of SterlingPublishingCo., Inc. ISBN0-8069-7306-4 Firstpublished in the U.K. in 1989 by TheAquarianPress Thiseditionpublished by arrangementwith the ThorsonsPublishingGroup,Wellingborough,England Thiseditionavailable in the UnitedStates,Canada and the PhilippineIslandsonly. Printed in the U.S.A. Library of CongressCataloging-in-PublicationData Brennan, J. H. Theastralprojectionworkbook : how to achieveout-of-body experiences / J. H. Brennan. p. cm. ISBN0-8069-7306-4 1. Astralprojection. 2. Astralprojection—Problems,exercises, etc. I. Title. BF1389.A7B74 1989 133.9—dc2O 89-29668 CI? 1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 Contents Introduction The Two Types ofProjection 7 PARTONE:ETHERICPROJECTION 1. TheLivingGhosts 11 2. WhatHappensWhenYouLeaveYourBody 17 3. The SilverCord 23 4. Dangers of Projection 29 5. WhatHelpsYouLeaveYourBody 37 6. How to Make a Witch’sCradle 45 7. ScientificProjection 50 8. Preparing to Project 56 9. TheBody of Light 62 PARTTWO:ASTRALPLANEPROJECTION 1. Descriptions of an Otherworid 69 2. A Model of the AstralPlane 74 3. Imaginationand its Influence 79 4. IntroducingYourAstralBody 84 5. LucidDreams 90 6. AstralDoorways 98 7. TheAstral I Ching 106 8. Working the QabalisticTree 113 9. GuidedTours 120 PARTTHREE:PROJECTION IN PRACTICE 1. Techniques of Projection 127 2. TheUltimateProjection 134 Appendix:QuestionsandAnswers 139 Index 157 Introduction ‘AstralProjection’ is one of thosetermswhich,thoughwidelyused in esoteric circles,actuallymeansdifferentthings to differentpeople.
    [Show full text]
  • The Metaphysical World of Marie Ogden
    Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 2009-11-24 The Home of Truth: The Metaphysical World of Marie Ogden Stanley J. Thayne Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the History Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Thayne, Stanley J., "The Home of Truth: The Metaphysical World of Marie Ogden" (2009). Theses and Dissertations. 2023. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/2023 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. The Home of Truth: The Metaphysical World of Marie Ogden Stanley James Thayne II A thesis submitted to the faculty of Brigham Young University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Grant Underwood, Chair Brian Q. Cannon J. Spencer Fluhman Eric A. Eliason Department of History Brigham Young University December 2009 Copyright © 2009 Stanley J. Thayne All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT The Home of Truth: The Metaphysical World of Marie Ogden Stanley J. Thayne Department of History Master of Arts Marie Ogden‘s Home of Truth colony—a religious community that was located in southern Utah during the 1930s and 40s—was part of a segment of the American religious landscape that has largely been overlooked. As such, her movement points to a significant gap in the historiography of American religion. In addition to documenting the history of this obscure community, I situate Marie Ogden as part of what I call the early new age of American religion, an underdeveloped part of the broader categories of metaphysical religion or Western esotericism.
    [Show full text]
  • How to Perform Astral Projection 3 Parts: 1
    Oracle Training ® How to Perform Astral Projection 3 Parts: 1. Preparing 2. Moving Your Consciousness from your Body 3. Exploring the Astral Plane Q&A Astral projection refers to an out-of-body-experience (OBE) during which the astral body or consciousness leaves the physical body and travels through the astral plane and other dimensions. People often experience this state during illness or when involved in a near death experience, but it is also possible to practice astral projection at will. These are the instructions on how to get started. Part 1 PREPARING 1. START IN THE MORNING Rather than practicing astral projection at night, right before you go to sleep, start in the early morning hours when you’re still feeling drowsy. Someone says that it’s easier to reach the necessary state of relaxation and heightened awareness around dawn. Yet it is possible to astral travel at any time so there are no hard and fast rules. It is a personal preference or simply astral traveling when we feel empowered to do it. © Christallin Oracle Training by Joy Martina PhD - Roy Martina MD Oracle Training ® 2. CREATE THE RIGHT ATMOSPHERE Astral projection requires a state of deep relaxation, so it should be performed in a part of your home where you’re completely comfortable. Lie on your bed or sofa and relax your mind and body. • It’s easier to perform astral projection alone than it is with someone else in the room. If you usually sleep with a partner, choose a room other than the bedroom to practice astral projection.
    [Show full text]
  • Nothing Better Than Death
    Nothing Better Than Death Insights from Sixty-two Profound Near-Death Experiences By Kevin R. Williams Webmaster of www.near-death.com Nothing Better Than Death: Insights from Sixty-Two Profound Near-Death Experiences Copyright © 2002 by Kevin R. Williams. Library of Congress Card No: 2002092764 ISBN: Hardcover 1-4010-6412-4 Paperback 1-4010-6411-6 E-book yet to file All rights reserved. Feel free to distribute this free ebook as you will. The author requests that the contents not be altered in any way. Printed in the United States of America Edited by Glenn Williams Published by: Xlibris Corporation 436 Walnut St. 11th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19106-9969 www.xlibris.com To order hardcover or paperback copies of this book, visit this website: http://www2.xlibris.com/bookstore/bookdisplay.asp?bookid=15695 Or phone: (888) 795-4274; fax: (215) 923-4685 2 To my beloved Mother, Phyllis Scofield, whose tragic death during the writing of this book, taught me a lesson about life and death that I had never known before. Although death brings overwhelming tears of joy to those who cross over, it also brings overwhelming tears of sorrow to surviving family and friends. This is true even for those who have, at the same time, overwhelming tears of joy knowing that there is nothing better on Earth than being dead. 3 Author’s note: Throughout this book, the near-death experience will be referred to as the “NDE.” 4 Table of Contents Forward Preface Acknowledgments Introduction I. Testimonials 1. May Eulitt 2. David Oakford 3.
    [Show full text]
  • The Light Beyond Death
    The Light Beyond Death COMPILED FROM WRITINGS BY MAX HEINDEL The Rosicrucian Fellowship MT. ECCLESIA OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA, USA COPYRIGHT 2001 BY THE ROSICRUCIAN FELLOWSHIP All rights, including that of translation, reserved. For permission to copy or translate, application should be made to the publisher. THE ROSICRUCIAN FELLOWSHIP INTERNATIONAL HEADQUARTERS 2222 MISSION AVENUE PO BOX 713 OCEANSIDE, CALIFORNIA, 92049-0713, USA Telephone: (760) 757-6600 Fax: (760) 721-3806 [email protected] http://www.rosicrucianfellowship.org COMPILED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA June 2001 Max Heindel, spiritual Initiate and messenger of the Rosicrucian Brotherhood, was born in Denmark on July 23, 1865. He became a shipping engineer and eventually emigrated to the United States. By 1905 he had become seriously interested in the study of metaphysics, and spent the next few years consciously working and searching for spiritual Truths. When he was visiting Germany in 1907, the Elder Brother of the Rose Cross who became his Teacher made contact with him on the inner planes. He was instructed in the etheric Temple of the Rose Cross, receiving the occult Teachings that he eventually incorporated into The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception, published in November 1909. He founded The Rosicrucian Fellowship in August 1909, and spent his remaining years, until January 6, 1919, writing, lecturing, establishing Fellowship Headquarters in Oceanside, California, and generally spreading the Teachings of Esoteric Christianity - the pioneer spiritual Teachings which will prepare all humanity for the New Age of Aquarius, when all nations will join in Universal Brotherhood. ROSICRUCIAN SYMBOLISM “Divine symbols which have been given to mankind from time to time speak to that forum of truth which is within our hearts, and waken our consciousness to divine ideas entirely beyond worlds.” - Max Heindel.
    [Show full text]
  • Are Out-Of-Body Experiences Evidence for Survival?
    Are Out-of-Body Experiences Evidence for Survival? Susan Blackmore Brain and Perception Laboratory University of Bristol Bristol, England ABSTRACT This paper argues that for both theoretical and empirical reasons the out-of-body experience (OBE) cannot provide evidence for survival of death. Definitions of the OBE are discussed and typical features described, including the fact that OBEs often convince people of survival. OBEs can provide survival evidence only if it can be shown that (1) something leaves the body during an OBE, and (2) that that "something" could survive the death of the body. There are serious difficulties in conceiving of anything that could perform the movement, perception, and information transfer required in an OBE. The evidence suggestive of something leaving the body includes (a) perception at a distance during OBEs, (b) the detection of a double or astral body, and (c) near-death experiences. That evidence is reviewed and argued to be inconclusive. A psychological theory of the OBE is presented in which the out-of-body world is seen as constructed by imagination from the cognitive map. It is argued that this theory provides greater hope for understanding mystical and related experiences. It may be rather rash of me to ask whether OBEs are evidence for survival, not because the answer is so obviously "No," nor even because it is "Yes" or "Maybe," but because some of the issues raised are so problematic. Nevertheless I think it is an important question because it forces us to confront the theoretical obstacles involved and the inadequacies of the evidence.
    [Show full text]
  • Life After Death 173 Ings.” the Higher Astral Plane, Or Mental Plane, the Lengthy Earth-Bound Limbo State in the Astral Plane, Ful
    eath is the most fateful experience of each What are the five bodies? CHAPTER 20 In Sanskrit, the bodies of our being are called kosa, which means of our lives. But no Hindu really fears death, “sheath, vessel, container or layer.” They are the sheaths through D nor does he look forward to it. Death for the which the soul functions simultaneously in the various planes of exis- Hindu is merely transition, simultaneously an end and tence. The kosas, in order of increasing subtlety, are as follows: —an- namaya kosa: “Sheath composed of food.” The physical body, coars- a new beginning. Over two thousand years ago Saint est of sheaths. —pranamaya kosa: “sheath composed of prana (vital Tiruvalluvar wrote that “Death is like falling asleep, force).” Also known as the etheric or health body, it coexists within the physical body as its source of life, breath and vitality, and is its and birth is like awakening from that sleep.” In one connection with the astral body. —manomaya kosa: “Mind-formed of the ancient languages of our religion, the physical sheath.” The lower astral body. The instinctive-intellectual sheath of Hindu Metaphysics’ Answers to ordinary thought, desire and emotion. —vijnanamaya kosa: “Sheath body had a name which literally meant “that which of cognition.” The mental or cognitive-intuitive sheath. It is the ve- Universal Questions about the “End of Life” is always dropping off.” When key truths are under- hicle of higher thought, understanding, knowing, direct cognition, stood and accepted about the nature of the soul and wisdom, intuition and creativity.
    [Show full text]
  • The Spiritual Laws
    THE SPIRITUAL LAWS Vicent Guillem Title: The Spiritual Laws Original title in Spanish: Las Leyes Espirituales Author: Vicent Guillem Translated by Stephanie Roberts Timms in collaboration with Gillian Tiffany. Intellectual Propriety Registration No. V-796-2009, Valencia, Spain. Legal Deposit: V-352-2011.Valencia, Spain. The total or partial reproduction of this work is permitted by all currently available means, with the condition that this is not done for lucrative aims or its content is modified. Official web page of the book: http://thespirituallaws.blogspot.com Email: [email protected] 2 INDEX Page FOREWORD 4 PREFACE 5 INTRODUCTION 6 FIRST CONTACT 11 GOD 23 THE SPIRITUAL LAWS 27 1ST LAW: THE LAW OF EVOLUTION 28 The spiritual world 29 Evolutionary scheme 39 Configuration of the human being 47 Human reincarnation and its role in spiritual evolution 50 Communication with the spiritual world 56 The process of becoming incarnate 67 Life in other worlds 74 2ND LAW: THE LAW OF FREE WILL 87 3RD LAW: THE LAW OF SPIRITUAL JUSTICE 94 4TH LAW: THE LAW OF LOVE 111 Love vs. egoism 114 Personal relationships and the law of love 176 Illness seen in the light of the law of love 187 THE MISSION OF JESUS ON EARTH 201 THE FAREWELL 235 3 FOREWORD I am honoured to have had the privilege of translating The Spiritual Laws, making it accessible to the entire English speaking community throughout the world. I would like to thank my friend Gillian Tiffany for her collaboration and support with this translation and also to Lucia Gjaltema for her input in the first part.
    [Show full text]
  • Astral Dynamics
    Astral Dynamics by Robert Bruce Contents 2 Foreword 3 Preface Part Four — Projection Exit and 4 Introduction Technique Part One — Elements of Projection 97 Chapter 18 — Preparations For Projection 101 Chapter 19 — Projection Technique 6 Chapter 1 — Dimensional Theory 109 Chapter 20 — Technique Variations 10 Chapter 2 — The Projectable Double 116 Chapter 21 — Projection Exit problems 16 Chapter 3 — The Incredible Mind-Split 124 Chapter 22 — Overcoming the Mind-Split 29 Chapter 4 — Complications of 135 Chapter 23 — Lucid Dream Backup Consciousness 142 Chapter 24 — Virtual Reality Projection 32 Chapter 5 — Astral Sight 145 Chapter 25 — The Astral Form in Motion 35 Chapter 6 — Waking Paralysis 40 Chapter 7 — OBE and Perception Part Five — The Akashic Connection Part Two — New Energy Ways 153 Chapter 26 — The Astral Planes 167 Chapter 27 — The Silver Cord 44 Chapter 8 — Imagination Versus 170 Chapter 28 — The Etheric Body Visualization 173 Chapter 29 — The Akashic Records 47 Chapter 9 — Mobile Body Awareness 179 Chapter 30 — The Akashic Pulse 49 Chapter 10 — Tactile Imaging 52 Chapter 11 — Supporting Energy Part Six — Strange Astral Phenomena Structures 55 Chapter 12 — Energy Body Stimulation 191 Chapter 31 — OBE and Reality 62 Chapter 13 — Raising Energy Fluctuations 68 Chapter 14 — Stimulating Primary Energy 197 Chapter 32 — Higher Level Projection Centers 203 Chapter 33 — Astral Beings and Wildlife 211 Chapter 34 — Fear and Astral Noises Part Three — Core Skills 222 Chapter 35 — Astral Self-Defense 226 Chapter 36 — A Few Last Words 82 Chapter 15 — Deep Physical Relaxation 85 Chapter 16 — Taming The Mind 227 Glossary 90 Chapter 17 — The Trance State 237 Bibliography 1 Foreword Traveling to other dimensions using one's finer astral body has always intrigued man, as have levitation, invisibility, and time travel.
    [Show full text]
  • 185 Chapter 7 Death, Reincarnation and the End
    185 CHAPTER 7 DEATH, REINCARNATION AND THE END TIMES In this chapter the discussion of Emmet Fox’s religious thought continues against the social and cultural background of Wilber’s four-quadrant model (as in chapter 6). Since the two lower halves of the model, the lower-left and the lower-right, suggest shared experiences, it necessitates a look into one of the most universal phenomena, death and dying. An extremely searching question is why some people seem to have everything in this life, wealth, health, success, happiness and longevity, and others have to suffer poverty, disease, handicaps, undeserved failure or even death immediately after birth? Why should this be, we ask, if God is indeed a God of Love, one who is just and powerful? Emmet Fox assures us that in order to provide meaningful answers to this daunting question one should note that men and women are not born free and equal, but are created free and equal, which is quite a different thing. Because they are not born free and equal, they start this life like horses in a handicap race: ‘no two bearing an equal burden’ (Fox 1979a:234). As a further explanation he suggests that we look into the possibility that this life we are living is not the only life we have had. According to him, we have lived many lives before, and whatever we thought, said or did in those existences, whether good or bad, finds its natural outcome in this life. Whatever we have sown in our previous lives, we are reaping in this present one.
    [Show full text]