San Miguel Icons

We are tangible humans having a spiritual experience. Humanity shares a part of God’s image, and the whole of life is moving towards some unknowable end together. As I said in the past newsletters, something more powerful is at work around us; more creative than us, more resilient than us. The teachings of Christ as well as Buddha, Plato and all great thinkers reach towards mending conflict to restore harmony so that all can move towards wholeness. Every aspect of human nature; our minds, our bodies, our virtues, our desires, our sexuality, even our mortality finds its fulfillment in peace. And so every human progressing toward goodness plays a part in the salvation of the
world.

The universe is a pure gift of promise and possibilities and is driven by energy which is continually transforming, moving, unstable and
unpredictable. Try and imagine humanity along these lines; full of promise and possibilities without control. Human energy is self-organizing in an open ended future and knows its highest bliss when we creatively harmonize with universal energy. The planet is teaming with life, just look around. Are you surrounded by what humankind has created?  Take a walk in the woods this season, to reconnect with the wonder of what humankind did not create. For the past 5,000 years our minds have seduced us into thinking and believing we are important. The planet is not an object to be exploited but rather a living being inviting dialogue and participation. Think of the earth as being alive around you and you will feel alive as well.

Most of humanity is beginning to realize we are our own problem, our thinking and behavior. Our contemporary arrogance creates incredible pain and suffering and loss for the planet. Many of us hesitate to recognize God is in control. Something more powerful is at work around us; more creative than us, more resilient than us. God, Universe, Energy, Om, Shanti, Amen.

These images, and thousands like them, embody the wisdom of ancient mystics, they represent an archetypal dynamic around the world. The love motherhood requires is beyond our ability to fully comprehend. Within this relationship is the potential to given and received love, as well as the capacity to release and surrender that same love. Find someone to be tender with… today,
peace be with all of you, think love its the only thing that will sustain us.

In Chinese Philosophy and culture the health of the individual is regarded as a holistic, integral field. Every action we take influences our physical and mental health. Physical and mental health are inextricably linked. Furthermore, the health of each individual is also linked to the health of the family, community, country and world. This core value predates even Confucianism to the culture of the ancient sage-kings Wen and Chou from thousands of years ago. One of the Four Books of Confucianism the “Great Learning” puts it thus:

“The ancients wished to manifest clear virtue throughout the world, by governing their country. Wishing to govern their country, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated themselves. Wishing to cultivate themselves, they first made their minds correct (rectified their minds). Wishing to rectify their minds, they first made their thought sincere. Wishing to make their thought sincere, they first extended their knowledge. Wishing to extend their knowledge, they first investigated things. They investigated things and then their knowledge was extended. Their knowledge extended and then their thought was sincere. Their thought was sincere and then their mind was rectified. Their mind was rectified and then their selves were cultivated. Their selves were cultivated and then their families were regulated. Their families were regulated and then their country was governed. Their country was governed and then the whole world was peaceful.” (Yi Wu 2002, Great Learning Ch. 1, 28, 29)

In the Great Learning we find that there is little distinction between the deepest most personal thoughts and governing the country or harmonizing the world. The connection between the individual and the entire planet is clear. The only way to achieve outer harmony, true health, is to achieve inner harmony. This self-cultivation starts with investigating things. One cannot understand their own nature or the nature of all things without investigating. Through investigation the same source and different paths become clear. Uncovering the metaphysical principle of each thing, shows the unique path of development and distinct characteristics. Understanding the origin, path and characteristics of all things is extending one’s knowledge, extending one’s knowledge to understand the very essence of all things, contemplating all the world around and distinguishing the unique characteristics and functions of each thing. Truly understanding things in this way gives us a sincere connection, a familial feeling with all things. Our thought and concern for all things becomes sincere because of this connection. Superior people wish for all things to flourish in their function and achieve their potential, their Heaven’s destiny. This sincere connection, permeating every thought shows that the mind is truly corrected.

With a rectified mind, superior people, the exemplars of Confucian virtue, cultivate every aspect of their lives to better honor and benefit all things. Superior people use the self to protect and manifest their understanding. Superior people do not live carelessly. They live inspired to benefit all things and to continue the original harmony. They live to nourish their mind and to act to the great benefit of the world. The first training ground for relating to people and sanctuary to nourish the body and mind is the home and family. Maintaining harmony and propriety in one’s family and working to establish a healthy society in which all people can have good family lives, is the root of superior people’s action in the world. Superior people value and cultivate humanity. The family is the place where each of us can learn about the Way of humanity, human relationships and work to the great benefit of others: our siblings, spouses, parents, and children. When all people have good and nourishing families, the country fulfills its function and is well governed. When the country is well governed, it will function as a beacon of peace, radiating health and harmony to the entire world.

14,000,000,000 Big Bang. 14,000,000,000 -300,000 yrs. after the Big Bang, protons and electrons orbiting.

5,000,000,000 Sun forms. 3,000,000,000 Earth cools and life on Earth begins. 70,000,000 Dinosaurs die out.

2,000,000 Australopithecines emerge in Southern Africa. 70,000 Ice age begins.

55,000 First inhabitants of Australia. 15,000 Paleolithic cave paintings.

9,500 Ice age ends, catastrophic worldwide sea level rise (100 meters?). Black Sea floods, thought to be origin of Ancient Near East Flood story.  Plato’s date for the sinking of Atlantis.

8500-6300 Domestication of sheep, cattle, pigs and goats. 6000+ Mother Goddess worshiped in Europe, Near East

5000 Beginning of agriculture in Near East.

Many of us shy away from the word spiritual, thinking it akin to religious righteousness—in reality, nothing could be further than the real truth. Being spiritual or having the ability to see the spirit is more about seeing the true soul and embracing both the commonality and differences within each of us.

In this day and age, where one runs to and fro, seeing nothing but what one must do in the next 30 minutes, hour or day to keep afloat, survive or to fit in with the rest of society, it is rare that someone stop, turn-full-circle and ask: What am I doing? Is this right? Where is my contemplative self and how is my spirit doing today?  Artists like Mary Jane Miller, do just this—they stop, contemplate and bare their soul through art pieces like the Dialogue. It is works of art like this that make each of us ask ourselves: Where is my spirit, my contemplative soul, and what am I nurturing it with?

It is bright spirits like Mary Jane who teach us to view the soul, the spirit and all religions for what they are—true beauty, healing and mysticism. These qualities shine through her icons and especially through the Dialogue, an iconostasis made up of all the great religious leaders of the world. Here they sit side by side in unity, these religious leaders, who speak out to all us and their one most important teaching is “Peace and Love,” showing us that it is not our differences we should focus on, but it is our similarities, love and power within that we should embrace.

Up until now all religions practice righteousnous, focusing on their one true belief, their one true god and their one true way, but what makes one way or god right while the other not? Instead of focusing on the differences, Mary Jane as other great spirits suggest that we should focus on the similarity of all religion—the teaching of benevolence, trust, love and above all peace. Is there something wrong with art that wants to demonstrate the need for love or peace? Some people would say this idea is fanatical, but maybe we need fanatics of this type—the kind that doesn’t preach to persuade us to believe in the one true God, discarding all other beliefs and concepts, but instead persuades us to sit, look, see, be silent and perceive the good, the peaceful and the miracle in all that surrounds us. Come see The Dialogue

Have you felt an urge to change – maybe you’ve started noticing changes occurring around you?

Every 2000 years one cosmic age ends and another begins. The Piscean Age – the Christian era – is now coming to a close, and the Age of Aquarius is currently on the ascendancy. Some have suggested that Jesus Himself foretold the New Age, with this instruction (Luke 22:10 and Mark 14:13) – “A man will meet you, carrying an earthen pitcher of water; follow him into the house where he goes in.” (Aquarius is symbolised by the water-carrier… or, some might say, water-gatherer). Jesus, we understand, is the Alpha and the Omega – the Beginning and the End. His return is expected by many to be during the early stages of the New Age. The Antichrist is also expected to begin marshalling his forces at that time.

The Age of Aquarius has been interpreted as a time when the human microcosm will join in harmony with the divine macrocosm: it has also been seen as a pouring out of the Water of Life – the Holy Spirit (or in Eastern terms, Kundalini) – on humanity. The creation of a noosphere – a sphere of the spirit – has been predicted. The Book of Prophecies of the 11th century Knight John of Jerusalem says that “The millennium that comes after this millennium will change into a light time. People will love and share and dream, and dreams will come true… people will be one big body, of which every person is a tiny part. Together they’ll be the heart, and they’ll speak one language… men will have reached heaven… men will know the spirit of all things… people will receive a second birth and the spirit will come into them.” This, surely, is the beginning of the 1000 years of happiness and perfection spoken of in the 20th chapter of the Book of Revelation.

Buddhists, too, see this as a time of rebirth for humanity – a new beginning. And in Islamic tradition, there is a Qiyamah time – a time of judgment and resurrection – which seems to coincide with the Age of Aquarius. Hindu scriptures speak of an age of truth (Satya Yuga) when the falsehood of the previous age (Kali Yuga – age of darkness and ignorance) will be revealed and will fall away.

A Golden Age is beginning, when religious differences will disappear, and minds will be freed of ignorance and delusion. There will be a spiritual awakening, allowing each individual to begin an inner spiritual journey, seeking after Truth and the eternal Spirit. It will be recognised that individual worth comes from within. People will begin to rely less on money, possessions, fame, power and other people for the answers they seek. The emphasis will be on kindness and understanding, humanity, spirituality, truth and enlightenment. The human race will become visionary and super-conscious. Leo, the polar opposite of Aquarius, will lend its complementary characteristics, encouraging, inspiring and enlightening… facilitating inner growth and universal harmony, peace and love. The sacredness of Life will be recognised. False doctrines will crumble, but many subjects previously regarded with suspicion – UFOs, vegetarianism, alternative medicine, astrology, etc – will become commonplace. Spontaneous spiritual awakening, near-death experiences and extraterrestrial contacts are expected to become commonplace. Shifts in human consciousness will be accompanied by a reawakening of the feminine – both in secular and spiritual contexts. Ancient spiritual and indigenous knowledge, formerly secret, will become increasingly available to the public. And the Internet will facilitate human interconnections on a scale never before seen. Networks and alliances are already beginning to form – in many cases, secretly or underground – to assist with this great Shift of the Ages.

Each cosmic Age is overseen by one of the seven rays of the Holy Spirit. The so-called ‘violet flame’ associated with the Age of Aquarius is sometimes known as ‘the flame of transmutation and freedom’ – it can melt hard hearts, balance karma, heal spiritual hurts and wounds, and transmute negative thinking. The observance of the presence of the violet flame and the raising of the sacred fire of Kundalini, for at least fifteen minutes every day, will increase our reverence for the Divine Mother, creating a sense of wholeness and balance between the masculine and feminine aspects of God and allowing us to integrate with our Higher Selves. We will recognise the Divine in everything and everyone with whom we come into contact, the Flame in us acknowledging the Flame in them. The Flame is the feminine energy, sometimes called the Spiritual (or Divine) Mother, the Holy Spirit, Wisdom, or Kundalini. The Scriptures foretell the coming of this feminine energy – Revelation 12:1 (RSV) it says, “And a great portent appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars”.

The arrival of a New Cosmic Period involves powerful shifts in cosmic energies. The Earth’s energy shifted in 1987 from Tibet (masculine) to Peru (feminine)… in particular, Lake Titicaca, Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas, high in the Andes. This is the portal through which feminine energy is now entering Mother Earth (Pacha Mama). South America has now become the land of spiritual promise.

It is natural that in the presence of a new preponderance of feminine energy pouring into our world, women – more than men – will respond, and welcome the coming of the New Age. But whether male or female, each of us has a masculine and a feminine nature: there is a place in this great adventure for every one of us. All that is necessary is that we acknowledge our feminine side, and its validity. The feminine will be invoked through prayer and meditation. The rise of the ‘new man’ in modern society suggests that already many men are recognising this aspect of their personalities, and the valid demands of the Divine Mother. According to astrology, women are identified with the Moon and Venus: Anael, the Angel of Venus, is due to assume guardianship of the world from AD2188 to AD2497, and not until that time are women expected to finally achieve complete sexual equality. However, we are now entering an age of the ascendancy of women, depicted in the last card of the Tarot – the World – where we see the Sphinx, the mythological beast that combines the features of a woman, a lion, a bull, and an eagle. Woman’s place in the World is now finally to start receiving some recognition. Other than among a small number of mystics, the feminine aspect of God (other than indirectly, through the Virgin) received little recognition during the Christian era. But that which is neglected in one era, comes to the fore in the next.

2012 – the Year of the Dragon – is expected to be an apocalyptic year, and particularly one of great spiritual transformation. Mankind is likely to experience an enormous shift in consciousness. That year an astronomical event will take place that has taken 26,000 years to complete – the plane of our solar system will line up precisely with the plane of our galaxy, the Milky Way. And according to NASA, the sun will reverse its magnetic poles: this may cause solar storms and increases in cosmic rays. It has also been suggested that – according to certain ‘algorithmic codes’, hidden in the Bible – a meteor, asteroid or comet will collide with the Earth that year. It is predicted that this will precipitate various natural disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes and supervolcano eruptions. An oil crisis is also expected, accompanied by permanent blackouts, worldwide. On 13 November a total solar eclipse will be visible from northern Australia and the South Pacific. Finally, at 11.11 (Universal Time) on 21 December (the Winter Solstice), the Mayan calendar (or to give it its full name, the ‘Mesoamerican Long Count Calendar’) will come to the end of its thirteenth (and final) B’ak’tun cycle. This is expected by many to herald a transition from the current Creation world into the next. Cosmic portals are expected to open, at a number of sacred sites around the world, including Peru and Sedona, Arizona. One Hindu tradition predicts the appearance of an Avatar (God in human form) at this time, with superhuman powers. It is also widely believed that alien ‘watchers’ or ‘caretakers’ will return to Earth now, having helped us develop our technology, throughout human civilization, and having waited until this time for us to reach a higher level of advancement. Recently, a fiery object fell from the skies in Peru, creating a 15-foot deep hole, more than 60 feet wide, and filled with boiling water. People approaching it were made ill by the fumes it gave off. The crater has now started shrinking. This – it has been suggested – is the arrival of a UFO, that has now insinuated itself into the Andes mountains, ready for the time when contact will be made. Many more such occurrences are anticipated, as our extraterrestrial ‘brothers’ land in great numbers. “The Kingdom is no longer at hand”, says Aramu-Muru. “The Kingdom is here, and is shortly to be manifest to all men.”

Between now and 2012, it has been predicted, many new spiritual masters will arise. Worldwide, governments will begin to topple, and monetary systems will be scrapped in favour of new currencies. The period leading up to the Apocalypse will also be a time of great personal change for many people, including the ending of relationships, and the beginning of new ones, moves to new locations and residences, job changes and shifts in attitudes, as part of what we came here to experience and learn. Dreaming will become more intense, for many, and the mind and body will become more sensitive. Some say that the actual structure of DNA itself is changing, as a new ‘light body’ is created. Intuitive and healing abilities will come to the fore, and the new generation – the ‘indigo ‘ children – will tend to be telepathic. We are seeing the birth of a new mythology.

How should we respond to all of this? The simple advice is… follow your heart, and let your intuition, not your intellect, be your guide. Resist those who would control, and pursue the path of healing that resonates with you. But recognise that – for many – these changes will represent the end of the world as they know it. Before rushing towards the Light, stop for a moment, to assist those who are frozen in fear, doubt and indecision. As we approach this new world age, we must in love reach out to the rest of humanity, and to Gaia, the Earth Mother. But above all, recognise that the Mayan calendar does not really ‘end’ in 2012 – it merely starts its cycle all over again. What is approaching is not the end, but the beginning!

The serenity prayer  says,  “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change and the courage to change the things I can.” It states we will be given the wisdom to know the difference between the things that are under your control and the things that are beyond your control.

The prayer is asking for the grace to accept the things in our life over which you have no control. The Lilly’s of the field are provided for. To live a spiritual life without an agenda, accept the abundance offered and be at peace with all that surrounds us.

The second part of the prayer encourages us to have the courage to change what we can. We must be available and resilient to a new spirituality which allows change, one lived without fear. We often need courage to storm a new behavior that changes our consciousness and heals us spiritually.

The Serenity prayer helps us to remember our true calm self within and helps to reconnect our piece of mind amid life’s varied chaotic situations. The ocean of conciousness is vast and at time turbulent where we see no assurance of a coast line for security. Prayer is a way of navigating our will towards a higher power, one that is connected to all things. The Serenity prayer is a prayer which is used by all to remember the balance between control and being in  control.

The most beautiful emotion we can experience is the mystical. It is the seed of all true art and science. To know what is impenetrable manifests itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty. This knowledge, this feeling is at the center of all true religion.

New religion continues to express art in the modern world. For many people change from tradition is a complete impossibility, and I can understand why they may think this. Formal religion is driven by narratives that are familiar for many but for some quite lifeless. New religious art has a tendency to remove all meaning and reduce the images to vague symbols. The old religious doctrines are a strait jacket for some contemporary artists.

The importance of the relationship between art and religion is still revealing itself. The church and the artist understand the affiliation between them, and the value of this ongoing dialogue. I believe the religious impulse will not just go away, we are improving our understanding of the divine without confusing it with formal religion. Religious art today has no contemporary origin but rather the same mystical undefinable experience found in the past expressed in the new mind.

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