TESTS ALONG THE PATH

In relating this short discourse, I am sticking to the dictum of using the masculine gender for both personalities to save the tiresome repetition of constantly writing his/hers, she/he, him/her, man/woman etc.

Some have asked why, when walking a metaphysical Path, that life seems to become a series of frustrations instead of being full of “love and light” as others proclaim. This depends purely on where one is situated on the ladder of evolution and the level of spiritual maturity that one has attained.

An aspirant’s advance is determined by how rapidly he can meet and conquer the forces of his own nature and by the speed with which he may be tested by the destructive elemental forces of the planet. If he manages to pass and conquer the first onset of these forces, he progresses rapidly. If, however, he does not manage to completely conquer the problem, he is tested again and again through the years until he feels he is beset by troubles and frustrations, as indeed he is. He is tested until he overcomes the problem. It is similar to passing a test at school to see if you are fit enough to go up to the next grade.

The greatest test on the Path is usually one of doubt. If doubt can be cast aside as he strides forward, he will find the reality of the Path, and his resolve will be strengthened. He does not fight because there is no need to fight; he sees beyond the physical. But if he is overcome by doubt, then faith flies out the window, and his struggle can become quite intense as he searches for meaning in his life.

The next greatest test is personal love. Love must become purely unconditional. This is one of the hardest tests along the Path. When a man turns his face to the solitary Path of Discipleship, and he does not do that unless he had heard the call, he must leave behind the mortal ties that bind him to Earth. This does not mean to say that he must leave those he loves but that he must cease to lean upon them or to rely on them. So it becomes that he walks with his loved ones, assisting them through the earth plane phase of their journey, instead of dominating or trying to posses them.

His focus of interest must change, and the one dominating purpose of life, the fulfillment of Universal Law, must order his thought. As he continues to practice unconditional love in all his earthly affairs, he will naturally become more unselfish as he gives all and seeks nothing in return. This naturally changes his point of view. No longer does he feel that he has the right to posses; indeed, he feels it a privilege to love and to serve. This is the spiritual meaning of the vow of poverty. It does not mean giving away all your earthly goods; it means not having an attachment to them because they are only transient. They are not the things you can take when you pass through the veil.

Another test on the Path is that of anger or hatred. The disciple must learn to receive betrayal or injustice without anger or hatred; to do so merely causes an imbalance in his energies. It should not be his concern what others may do to him for the Law has its own way of working out and will bring justice to all concerned. What matters most of all is whether attacks by destructive forces through human vehicles can stir destructive forces within him. It matters not about the attitude of others towards him; it is his attitude to others that determines his progress. You only have to look at the great Ones to see how they handled their lives.

THE MYSTICAL MARRIAGE

This is a poem I wrote that tries to explain what happens to the energies in the body when a true mystical marriage occurs.

It wasn’t the syllables

That rolled off your tongue

That brought our hearts together;

It was the energy projected through your eyes

That touched the secret places within my soul

And lifted us up to heaven.

Angel’s wings seemed to beat in time

With our own hearts as we drifted

Through gardens filled with fragrant blooms.

The spirit of Love walked with us

Overshadowing us beneath his giant wings

Arrows sheathed, as there was no need for their use.

My love, the magic in your eyes melted my heart

And I found myself dissolving into your presence.

Then two hearts began to beat as one

Creating the eternal triple flame

To burn in both hearts forever.

So that, when we’re apart

I’ll be with you;

When you feel sadness,

I’ll be your hope.

When you feel doubt

I’ll fill you with faith.

And when you feel you’ve done wrong,

I’ll bring the Spirit of Forgiveness.

If you experience hatred,

I’ll extinguish it with love.

Should you walk in the shadows,

I’ll be your guiding light.

The Elohim stand by and watch

Two hearts burning as one;

They kindle the twin trinities in the pineal

To form the star tetrahedron.

The star ignites and expands to embrace

The triple flame in the heart.

Superluminal light explodes forth

Activating the seven seals.

They watch a son and daughter of man

United as one through the

Mystical Marriage of God.

WHY KEEP A JOURNAL?

Keeping a journal of your meditative experiences is an excellent reference to track your progress, especially if you are involved in exercises to develop certain faculties. Your memory can play tricks on you over time, but if you have the written note of your experiences, you have it in black and white. I remember having an extremely vivid dream about 30 years ago, and I knew I would never forget this particular dream as it contained deep esoteric symbology. I was quite surprised one day while flicking through my old journal, that I had some of the sequences back to front; but there it was and I could not dispute the written word. So, if you have not already, start a journal and write in it immediately after each meditation session while your memory is still fresh.

THE BEST TIME TO MEDITATE

Many people have asked me about the best time to meditate. In my personal experience I have found early morning when I am fresh, a good time. As the day goes on and the chores of a workday take over, it is sometimes more difficult to move into an altered state of consciousness. Many people, because of the pressures of work, become overstimulated by coffee or certain types of tea. This makes it more difficult to take a few minutes to relax enough to move down into the alpha level to experience a deep meditative period. Some also worry about the further chores that have to be attended to. This, of course, is enough to bring you immediately back to the normal conscious level. Many people become tired after a day's work, and so tend to fall asleep in the middle of meditation. Once this pattern is established, it is often hard to break. Sometimes, getting up and washing your face to wake you up might work, but if you have a tendency to fall asleep again, it would be better to get up a half hour earlier in the morning and use that time as your meditation period.

LEARN TO LISTEN TO THE INNER VOICE

Intuition is a natural inbuilt process that anyone can tap into so that you can begin various changes as you become more open to your inner guidance. Basically, you just have to trust what impressions you are receiving. You will inherently know what is true and what is not, simply by asking the question; “Is this coming from my Higher Self?” The Higher Self is always steady, patient and will get you to your correct answer. If the information is coming from the emotional level, it may appear to be either hesitant or unsure or give you the information too quickly and then peter out. Because you are a projection of it, the Higher Self will always be there, trying to impress your conscious mind with the correct answer. However, if you would like to develop this natural ability even further, you will find some tips below.

1. Remain in a positive state of mind

When you can free yourself from the stresses of everyday living, you will find that your intuitive ability flows so much better. By remaining in a positive state of mind, you will attract positive streams of energy making it so much easier to intuit events. Do not create stumbling blocks for yourself by dwelling on past circumstances. Make every day a “fresh day - a new day.”

2. Meditation

There are various meditation techniques available today; it is just a matter of finding one that suits your temperament. When you are relaxed and the mind is quiet, it is easier for intuitive impressions to impact upon your consciousness. Remember, intuitive impressions are for guidance, but make sure they are coming from a higher source and not from your own mind.

3. Learn to listen to the inner voice

If you are on the brink of making an important decision, release, relax and let go, tune in and listen to the still, small voice within you; that voice is always there – but it won’t be apparent until you still your mind and emotions. You can only see the bottom of a lake if there is no disturbance in the lake. When the lake is still, it is able to reflect an undistorted image; so too with the mind. If your mind is racing all over the place, any message coming through will be distorted. Your mind will be able to receive clear messages only when it is peaceful and still.

MERLIN, MORGAN LE FAE, NIMUE AND ARTHUR

The romantic history of the Celts indicates one of several cultural groups that are steeped in the fairy tradition. The beneficial power of the gnomes, elven folk and fairies, of course, is to be as an aid for the growth of animals and plants. These beings emanate from the group soul and the fairy presence encourages vitality because you can equate them with being the energy parents of the flora and fauna. Fairies can also be instrumental in assisting humanity in many different ways, either on a large scale as in the instance of the Findhorn group, or on a more personal level.

Fairies also take an interest in the domestic life of humans; yes, there are such things as house fairies. They will prod your mind to help you keep your house clean and free of dust. They do not like iron, so if you have iron pots they will not come into your kitchen; stainless steel, however, seems fine.

The beings of the four elements, including the fairy folk can still be contacted in our own times, and sensitive individuals still do so. Their presence in forested areas and places of power can be felt quite easily even by those who may not actively be seeking them. Some will say that a certain area of the forest “feels strange” when they pass through it. Some are even lucky enough to perceive the various wood maidens who inhabit such places. Some can hear the fairy music that will hold a human being entranced if not careful. Camping out at night, you might perceive the nature spirits in the trees as tiny lights flickering on and off.

If you happen to be invited into their kingdom, this will usually be via a portal. It is probably better to sit at the portal gate and communicate with them in that way. Portal gates to the Fairy realm usually appear surrounded by a bluish light. Unless you are experienced, do not venture through the portal.

To study the Arthurian Tales means in our own time, to study the changes of consciousness of man and his journey to find the Holy Grail. The various characters portray the archetypes that represent the blessings and pitfalls encountered on the Grail Quest. The Grail Quest in our modern times is represented by the Path of Return to the Source.

THE SECRET TO MEDITATING

Contact with the Divine is a phenomenon natural to all human beings who attune with its energy. There are subtle faculties of the mind just beyond the surface awaiting your positive command. They respond to natural law and benefit all who learn to use them.

To be able to access these subtle abilities means that you have to clear your mind of the everyday clutter that constantly demands attention and move to a slightly altered state of consciousness where peace and serenity are natural states. If you imagine looking into a pond that has been disturbed by small fish jumping in and out, or creatures crawling along the bottom disturbing the mud, the reflection on top of the pond will be somewhat distorted. However, if you look at that same pond when it is perfectly still, you will clearly see the reflections of the trees growing alongside and either a perfect image of the sun or the moon if you are viewing it of an evening. You will see almost a mirror image.

This is the state you want your mind to be in when you meditate and make connection with your Higher Self. Your Higher Self will then be able to put down a perfect image into your mind for your consideration. However, if your mind is similar to the first example when the waters are disturbed, what sort of reflection are you liable to tune into? This is why some meditators bring through distorted information. The secret is to make sure your body is perfectly relaxed and at ease, your emotional body is in a balanced state and your mind is quiet and peaceful, so that you can allow an undistorted image to be passed to you from your Higher self.