Gratitude

"Gratitude is the vessel that we lift to the Gods that they may fill it with their wonder-gifts. If in all earnestness we foster the feeling of thankfulness, then gratitude, living devotion, must be there to the invisible spiritual givers of life; and it is the most beautiful way to be led from one's personality to the supersensible if this guidance goes through gratitude. Gratitude ultimately brings us to veneration and love of the life-bestowing spirit of man. It gives birth to love, and love makes the heart open for the spirit-powers pervading life. If after every meditation we arouse in ourselves the feeling of gratefulness and reverence--a feeling that we can call a mood of prayer--and be aware in what grace we are taking part, we shall realize that we are on the right path for spiritual worlds to approach us."

--Rudolf Steiner, Guidance in Esoteric Training

"Suffering is a side effect of higher development"

"Suffering is a side effect of higher development. We cannot avoid it in attaining insight. Human beings will one day say to themselves: 'I am grateful for the joy the world gives me, but if I had to face the choice of keeping my joys or my sufferings, I would want to keep my sufferings for the sake of gaining insight.' Every suffering presents itself after a certain time as something we cannot do without, because we have to grasp it as part of the development contained within evolution. There is no development without suffering, just as there is no triangle without angles. When unison with Christ is attained, we will see that all the preceding sufferings were necessary preconditions for this unison. In order for the union with Christ to be, suffering must be; it is an absolute factor in development.

By overcoming egotism, human beings get over the mood of depression and feeling lamed or paralyzed. In this phenomenon we can see something that is good: strength out of insufficiency or inadequacy. Thank God that I am encouraged by an inadequate deed--that is, by its failure--to further action! Human striving is not a vague matter of luck. Only those whose free will turns away from the destiny of the human being remain unredeemed. In the synthesis of the world process, suffering is a factor."

--Rudolf Steiner, April 21, 1909. In The Spiritual Hierarchies and the Physical World, 2008 edition, p.147

"The eternal feminine draws us ever onward and upward"--Goethe

A description of Mary Magdalene from Edgar Cayce's psychic reading #295-8:
"This is well drawn by da Vinci, "The Magdalene." A body five feet four inches in height; weight, a hundred and twenty-one pounds--in the general. Hair almost red. The eyes were blue...."















"Mary Magdalene: Edgar Cayce's Da Vinci Painting Found"
By John Van Auken. Posted July 18, 2008


Ann Jaffin, a longtime A.R.E. member, writer, area-team helper, and personal friend, sent me this fascinating news about Cayce's reading on the image of Mary Magdalene and a newly discovered portrait that Cayce mentioned. Most people believed that Da Vinci never painted a picture of Mary Magdalene, but Cayce's readings claimed he did, and that it was a good representation of her. Cayce also tells a very different story of Mary Magdalene than The Da Vinci Code book and movie.

"Our study group recently found another hit for Cayce related to Mary Magdalene. Since Cayce said Da Vinci painted her and a report in the A.R.E. file says that the National Gallery of Art said there was no such painting, someone Googled and found a BBC report from last October that two unknown Da Vinci paintings had turned up in a private Swiss collection. One of them was a painting of Mary Magdalene!"

Ann also sent the web site link to this newly discovered painting that Cayce mentioned: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4344512.stm.

Robert B. Parker, R.I.P.

The tough-guy novelist and his son David, a choreographer

Goodness

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/01/face-of-the-day-5.html

"The Tyger" by William Blake

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare sieze the fire?

And what shoulder, and what art,
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand? and what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? what dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears,
And watered heaven with their tears,
Did he smile his work to see?
Did he who made the Lamb make thee?

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

On the function, purpose, and nature of suffering, or pain

Hebrews 12

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:

For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.

Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;

Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,

And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:

(For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:

And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,

To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.

Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

For our God is a consuming fire.

On the function, purpose, and nature of suffering, or pain

Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774 - 1824), German nun, stigmatic, and clairvoyant

"Michol, Ozias's daughter, had been paralyzed from her early years, and it was a special grace that she had for so long a time been unable to move. She had been chained down by sickness during the most perilous years of her childhood, years full of danger to innocence; and in consequence of the same, her parents had an opportunity for the exercise of charity and patience. Had she been well from infancy, what would perhaps have become of both her and her parents? Had the latter not sighed after Jesus, Michol never would have been so blessed. Had they not believed in Him, their daughter would never have been cured and anointed, which anointing had imparted wonderful strength and energy both to body and soul. Her sickness was a trial, a consequence of inherited sinfulness, but at the same time a loving discipline, a means of spiritual progress for Michol's soul, as well as for her parents. The patience and resignation of the parents resulted from their cooperation with grace. It brought to them the crown, the recompense of the struggle decreed for them by God, namely, the cure through Jesus of soul and body. What a grace! To be bound down by sufferings, and yet to have the spirit free for good until the Lord comes to deliver both body and soul!"
--from Anne Catherine Emmerich, The Life of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, vol. 3, pp. 157-58


"...they inquired how it could be that things could go so well with the bad while the good had to suffer so much. Jesus then explained to them that they who enjoy on Earth have to render an account hereafter, and that this life is one of penance."--p. 538

Goodness

Good Grief

My intuitive health report from the School of Metaphysics:


December 28, 2009. You will search for the essence of the entity referred to as Lawrence Michael Clark, C-L-A-R-K. You will search for the essence of the entity referred to as Lawrence Michael Clark. The essence of this entity may be found at 952 Bethany Turnpike in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

We have this.

You will examine the essence of this entity throughout, from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet. You will relate all disorders as seen, whether mental, emotional, or physical, and you will also relate those things necessary for the correction of any disorder.

There is a longing within this one to be able to assess and to join with others. We see that this one has attempted to move the life in a way that would be of help to other people, and we see that there is a period of time now where this one is reflecting upon this one's effectiveness concerning this. We see that this one is having a tendency to find the self wanting, find that this one has not accomplished those things that this one desired or has in some cases accomplished something that was not expected. We see that this has caused some disruption in the thinking. It has caused this one to reflect and to hold on to certain past situations. It has caused others to arise that this one had buried or had denied, and we see that this is a reflective time for this one. Would suggest that this one cooperate with the self in this endeavor and not fight it; however, to develop an attitude, a mental posture, that would enable this one to more freely examine the content of the consciousness and the ability for this one to become whole and complete in his understanding. We see that this reflection is productive when it is designed or followed in this manner. Would suggest therefore that this one concentrate and focus the attention upon the recall without judgment; to merely allow it to surface in the thinking so that this one can once again relive it in essence and from this different vantage point of time and space; then begin to reflect upon its meaning and asset to the self. This process, over and over, with different thoughts, feelings, emotions, people, situations, events, would be most insightful during this period of time.

The ability for this one to still the emotions is difficult, for we see that this one has practiced avoidance rather than facing the emotion and being able to understand it. We see that the reflective process now does afford the opportunity for emotion to be stimulated. Would suggest that this one not shy away from this or deny it, but to become still and embrace it, for this one to understand the power of the mind. It is the emotion that does cause the attachment to the particular situations that are arising in this one's mind that causes him grief. Therefore the freedom that is being sought is in the emotions; it will not be found elsewhere. This one has had some attitudes of disdain for the emotions and denial of them, feeling that they are less than this one wants to be; and to the degree that this one has held this opinion, idea, or mental stance, this one has strengthened that which this one does not want. Therefore it is in the openness and the embracing of the emotion that this one will find the peace that he seeks.

We see within the physical system that there is some degeneration occurring within the skeletal system, the digestive tract, and some difficulty with the circulation. We see that most of this is due to a kind of need for returning energy. Chakra work would be helpful that would aid this one in being able to utilize the energies more effectively. It would also aid this one to be more attentive to the movement of energy between the self and others, to be more awake about the giving and receiving flow as well as the exchange of energies. It would be helpful for this one to practice some form of energetic movement. This could be yoga; it could be tai chi; it could be a visualized movement of the body. Acupuncture would be helpful in stimulating a regeneration of the body. It would also free energy so that there would be a greater vitality to this one. Rubbing the abdomen in a counterclockwise motion with the right hand, and the lower belly in an opposite movement with the left, would stimulate a generation of energy flow as well that would aid in the balancing of the emotions; it would also aid in centering this one. The ingestion of fish would be helpful--at least twice a week--and the eating of an egg at least three times a week would be helpful in balancing the system. There is a need particularly for the sulfur content of the egg in the body; this would ease the joints and some of the inflammation that is beginning to arise in the body. Vitamin C, D-2, B-12, E, selenium, manganese are all needed in greater quantities by the body. More vigorous movement would be helpful; brisk walking or swimming could  be most stimulating to the circulatory system and the lungs. Turnips, lotus root, and seaweed would be nourishing to the body. This is all.

This one asks "How can I help?"

The greatest assistance can be in the reflection that has been spoken of--the coming to terms with those images that are arising in the mind. For as this occurs then this one will have a clearer vision in interaction with other people.

Any further suggestions for this entity’s soul growth and spiritual development?

No.

Any further suggestions for fulfilling this one's assignment for this lifetime?

This would be in understanding the function, purpose, and nature of suffering, or pain.

Is this all?

This is all.

Very well; relax.

Prayer of Saint Francis

"I pray my life so blessed may be
That every suffering pleaseth me."













Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Amen

Communion

In Earth-activity draws near to me,
Given to me in substance-imaged form,
The heavenly being of the stars.
In willing I see them transformed with love.

In watery life stream into me,
Forming me through with power of substance-force,
The heavenly deeds of the stars.
In feeling I see them transformed with wisdom.




--The conclusion of Rudolf Steiner's lecture given the evening of December 31, 1922 at the first Goetheanum, which was in the process of burning to the ground as this mantric verse was being spoken.



Kommunion

Es nahet mir im Erdenwirken,
In Stoffes Abbild mir gegeben,
Der Sterne Himmelswesen:
Ich seh' im Wollen sie sich liebend wandeln.

Es dringen in mich im Wasserleben,
In Stoffes Kraftgewalt mich bildend,
Der Sterne Himmelstaten:
Ich seh' im Fühlen sie sich weise wandeln.