Teddy Kennedy, R.I.P.

"People will have to learn through the idea of karma that they may not repudiate their earlier deeds with their later deeds. A certain consequentiality in life, a readiness to take on the consequences of what one has done, will have to emerge in human evolution. When one looks more closely, one sees how far removed from this people still are. Although it is well known that personal development depends on the deeds one does, once the consequence of a deed is no longer apparent, people still do what they would in fact only be allowed to do if they had not done the first deed. A greater feeling of responsibility for one's actions, a greater awareness of karma, that is what a study of this sort might yield."--Rudolf Steiner, from a lecture given May 30, 1912

A Meditative Verse for 9/11

When Darkness Enshrouds Us

We look outward
With our world-engendered eyes,
And what we see thus binds us
To world delight and world despair.
It binds us unto all
That springs to life there, but not less
To all that plunges there
Into the dark abyss.

But we also behold
With our spirit-entrusted eye.
What we thus behold binds us
To spirit hope and spirit’s upholding power.
It binds us unto all
That roots within eternity
And bears within eternity its fruits.

Yet we can only then behold
When we feel the inner eye
Itself as God-given spirit organ,
Which at the focus of the soul,
Within the temple of our body,
Fulfills the deed of gods.

Humankind is in forgetfulness
Of the Godhead’s innermost.
We, though, will raise it and take it
Into our consciousness, flood it with light
And then bear it over dust and ashes—
The divine flame in the human heart.

So may the lightning shatter into dust
Our sense-built houses.
We will erect instead soul houses
Built on knowledge,
Upon its iron-firm, light-woven web.
And downfall of the outer
Shall become uprise
Of the soul’s own innermost.

For pain passes upon us
From powers of material force,
But hope illumines
Even when darkness enshrouds us,
And it will one day
Emerge within our memory
When at length, after the darkness,
We may live again in light.
We do not want this clear illumining
To be in future brightnesses denied us
Because we have not now,
In pain, implanted it within our souls.

—Rudolf Steiner

Verse for the Esoteric School, by Rudolf Steiner

I bear within me peace;
Within myself I bear forces to make me strong.
With the warmth of these forces I shall be imbued.
With the power of my will I shall be filled.
And then I shall feel
How peacefulness pours through all my being
As I strengthen myself
To find peace as strength within myself
Through steadfast inner striving.

Grace before meals, by Rudolf Steiner

Substance of Earth
Essence of Light
Grace of Heaven
In us unite.

13 ways of looking at my guru: #8. Uncle Ernie

A man is complaining to a friend about Uncle Ernie, who has just moved into a spare room in his house as a member of the family: "He's absolutely insane. He thinks he's a chicken. I'm not kidding: he really does fully believe that he's an actual chicken!"

"Well then why live with such an insane person? Why not simply kick him out of your house?"

"We would, but we need the eggs."

Be Here Now

Meditative verse given by Rudolf Steiner to Ita Wegman on December 21, 1920


The human being is a bridge
between the past and the future.
The present is a moment—
moment as bridge.
Spirit grown to soul
in matter's husk
comes from the past:
soul growing to spirit
as seed encased
journeys toward the future.
Grasp future things
through past ones:
hope for evolving things
through what has evolved.
So grasp existence
in evolving growth:
so grasp what will be
in what exists.

blowing in the wind

It's the Fourth of July: Kiss the Sky!

Michael Jackson, R.I.P.

The "Post New York Post" (1984)

13 ways of looking at my guru: #2. O Gottesgeist, erfülle mich

Guru Purnima Prayer

O Spirit of God—fill my I,
Fill my I within my soul,
On my soul bestow a strengthening force,
Strengthening force too for my heart,
For my heart that seeks union with you,
Seeks union with deepest longing,
Deepest longing for good health,
For good health and strong courage,
Strong courage that streams through my body,
Streams as precious divine gift,
Divine gift from you, O Spirit of God,
O Spirit of God—fill my I.

—Rudolf Steiner



O Gottesgeist, erfülle mich,
Erfülle mich in meiner Seele,
Meiner Seele schenke Stärkekraft,
Stärkekraft auch meinem Herzen,
Meinem Herzen das dich sucht,
Sucht durch tiefe Sehnsucht,
Tiefe Sehnsucht nach Gesundheit,
Nach Gesundheit und Starkmut,
Starkmut der durch meine Glieder strömt,
Strömt wie edles Gottgeschenk,
Gottheschenk von dir, O Gottesgeist,
O Gottesgeist, erfülle mich.

Knuckleheads

Richard and I have rejoiced and been glad together for the past 14 years as fellow residents at the Delectable Mountains Institute of Yoga Science and Philosophy (motto: "Where the Inmates Run the Show"). He views most of us as knuckleheads. This morning he was talking about the two female residents who had been his immediate work supervisors for many years: "They're the two most hard-headed, stubborn, intractable people I know: it took them three full years before they finally realized that I was never going to do anything they told me to do. Three full years!"

Intuitive health report from the School of Metaphysics

June 15, 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 plateau that this one has reached in the consciousness in the way that this one views the self and views life. We see that this one is attempting to evaluate and to discern the truth of the life, the truth of what this one has lived for, the truth of who this one is. There is difficulty in this one accomplishing this because there are expectations that this one holds, preconceived beliefs that this one holds, concerning how this should be done or what should come from it. This causes there to be interference in the ability of the conscious mind to reason clearly and the ability of the inner mind to become pronounced. Would suggest to this one that the main interference is an emotional one that centers upon regret. There are choices that this one has made—some were a long time ago—that this one has regretted for some time, that this one has often reviewed or thought about, and wished that different choices had been made. We see that this interferes with the capability of this one being able to see clearly in the present and to be able to evaluate more fully and with gratitude what the choices that have been made have given the self. There is some attachment emotionally to being wrong or lacking awareness and therefore there are judgments that are placed upon the self regarding that. These tend to be out of the present moment and, inasmuch, they confuse the thinking rather than order it. Would suggest to this one to enumerate—to actually physically write down—the major forks in the road that this one has taken in the life and from this to create a kind of map or a kind of visual image of where this one started from and how this one has arrived to the present. By actually taking the time to physically bring this information into the brain and into the physical world this one will be able to more clearly identify the nature of the choices that were made, to review more honestly the purposes for which they were made, and to recognize that in most cases the purposes have been fulfilled. This is a point of fulfillment for this one that needs to be acknowledged and received, that this one continually pushes away from the self because this one is discontented with the way that things have turned out in some parts of the life. Continuing to regret the choices in certain areas will not change this discontent; what will is the understanding of the choices that were made at the time and where they led this one. This process will also ease some of the emotional attachment that has been described that is impeding this one’s thinking. It would be helpful also for this one to focus in prayer and meditation upon appreciation for a period of time that is set aside each day for that purpose. Also making time to write letters of gratitude would be helpful in causing the consciousness to evolve.

In the physical system these attitudes are affecting the circulatory system and heart in that there is some cholesterol that has built in the arteries and we see that there is a need for this to be cleansed. Would suggest chelation therapy would be helpful. Would also suggest the use of radishes, beets, rhubarb. Blackstrap molasses—a tablespoon in water in the morning every day—would be helpful and soothing to the body. Moving the arms in circular motions would be helpful. A lessening of oils—including foods that are oily, such as nuts, avocados, things of this nature. There is some congestion that tends to build in the lungs. Most of this is actually from sinus drippage. Would suggest that acupressure along the sides of the nose and around the eye socket would be helpful in releasing some of the buildup and pressure in this area. It would also be helpful for this one to massage the ears—to pull on the ears, to massage the ears, to flap the ears—stimulation of the ears would be very helpful to the head, to the body as a whole, to the brain, and to the circulatory system and nervous systems. There is a need for this one to have more physical activity; the body can withstand more physical activity and it would be helpful for this one to pursue this. Swimming would be excellent; walking at a brisk pace would be helpful. Working outdoors would be health-producing for the body as well. Rotation of the joint areas clockwise and counterclockwise would be beneficial in causing there to be more of an alignment in the electrical and nervous system in the body; it would also aid in the chi flow. Would suggest ginseng, American ginseng, be used as a tea. Hawthorn berry, Co-Q10 enzymes, turmeric, all vitamin B’s, lecithin, and spirulina would all be healthful for the body. Would suggest that the application topically of magnesium in a lotion or oil form would be healthful to the skin and to the body itself. Chiropractic adjustment would aid, particularly in the cervical and upper thoracic region; there is some curvature beginning to occur here that is also affecting the lower portion of the spine. This is all.

Would that of Tai Chi be of benefit to learn and practice each day?

Yes it would.

Would that of Chi Gong be of benefit?

It could help, yes.

Would that of pranayama be of benefit?

There is already some exercises in that regard. It would aid for this one to have a deeper understanding of what pranayama is and what it produces in the consciousness, in the mind.

This one says "How can I help?"

The suggestions given in the appreciation will be insightful in that regard for this one. The capacity for this one to recognize more completely who this one is and what he has to offer will aid this one in knowing how to make choices that can contribute.

This one says “What is the cause of the pain and debility in the area of my left shoulder?"

This is in regards to degeneration of bone tissue. The suggestions that have been given can all benefit this area. The utilization of magnesium lotion particularly in this area could be helpful. The utilization of rotating the shoulder twenty-one times forward, seventeen times backward every four hours when this one is awake until there is a change experienced.

Would calcium lactate be of benefit?

It would help some of the discomfort.

Any further suggestions—mentally, emotionally, or physically—concerning this area?

This is related to trauma and an injury that was sustained some time ago. It is relevant in terms of mental attitude to the regret and the conflicts that this one has about the choices that were made in the past. Suggestions have been given that will aid in clarifying that.

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

No.

Is this all?

This is all.

Very well; relax.

"God's Grandeur" by Gerard Manley Hopkins

THE WORLD is charged with the grandeur of God.
It will flame out, like shining from shook foil;
It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil
Crushed. Why do men then now not reck his rod?
Generations have trod, have trod, have trod;
And all is seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil;
And wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell: the soil
Is bare now, nor can foot feel, being shod.

And for all this, nature is never spent;
There lives the dearest freshness deep down things;
And though the last lights off the black West went
Oh, morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs—
Because the Holy Ghost over the bent
World broods with warm breast and with ah! bright wings.

"Pied Beauty" by Gerard Manley Hopkins

GLORY be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
Praise him.

Jump! (male version)

The Message of Katrina, August 2005

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.


--Revelation 3:14-22

Mealtime Grace, by Rudolf Steiner

As the roots of plants quicken in the night of the Earth,
so our soul quickens in the shrine of the heart.

As the leaves of plants unfold in the might of the air,
so our spirit unfolds in the light of the world.

As the fruits of plants ripen through the power of the Sun,
so our human strength ripens in the glory of God.

Amen

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

"Plus elle disparait, plus elle apparait."




(Thanks to troutpie--again)

Nowadays

From a lecture by Rudolf Steiner given July 18, 1923:

"It takes inner work to really penetrate into the spiritual world, and for this kind of work the contemporary, educated world is too lazy.... People believe that these things have to be given to them outwardly, not that they have to work and conquer them inwardly. This indeed is in keeping with what people nowadays want--they want everything to be ready-made for them. As I have mentioned to you already, human beings these days want to put everything on film. They want to make a film of everything so that they can look at everything from the outside. If we want to make progress--real progress, spiritually--we must make sure that no matter what we take up from the world, we will work it through. Therefore, in the future, people will penetrate most deeply into the spiritual world who will as much as possible avoid having everything on film for their comfort. Rather they should choose to think everything through for themselves, to think along, so that when people tell them things about the world they will be participants in the thinking."


Police Slog Through 40,000 Insipid Party Pics To Find Cause Of Dorm Fire


Isaiah 6

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.

And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.

And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.

Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,

And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.

But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.

13 ways of looking at my guru: #7. Rama

The 10 Avatars of Lord Vishnu: #7. Rama

"Rama is the great dharma king, the foremost prince of the solar dynasty, and the representative of the cosmic order of dharma on Earth and in society. His rule, Rama Rajya, is the rule of truth and the divine light. His association with the Sun is, therefore, quite apt. Rama can even be a name for the Sun.

Worshipping Rama helps us increase the solar light in our lives as a power of truth, righteousness, and compassion, and helps us to transform and uplift our solar energies."

--David Frawley, Ayurvedic Astrology, p. 146