Saturday, May 20, 2017

Inspiration

There is a deep place within each of us all, from which stems that mysterious force we experience as inspiration. Inspiration seems so fundamental to our being that sometimes I think it is overlooked. There is an impulse that lies at the heart of all Life which drives it ever forward in to activity and evolution. It takes a different form through each creature and being, thus manifesting through the various peculiarities that are unique to each and every type of Life. We see this in the patterns and activities which sustain Life but it is also that which expresses its glory and magnificence.

In animals and plants we see these things emerging in mostly unconscious ways but they are no less inspired by the same fundamental principle of life which appears to precede even the processes of the intellect. This can be clearly seen in the natural artistry of nature and which of course makes its appearance in humanity through our many arts and articulations of our forms. The inspiration which drives the urge to rebirth oneself through the reproductive cycle is also the heart of the inspiration which leads the painter to paint, the musician to sing and the dancer to dance. The energy which starts Life is the same energy which continues through all of its motions and manifests as the infinite array of experiences. It is the dreaming of the dreamer.

Humans have reached a certain degree in their development of self-awareness that they have become able to begin to perceive this process. Not only just on the surface in expression but there are those who dig beneath the surface and begin to trace the original inspired impressions which lead up to the outer expressions. This strange impulse which emerges from the depths of one's being and manifests itself as the arts - music, written word, imagery, construction, dance, etc - it is no wonder that the ancients perceived the idea of spirits such as the Muses which inspired humans towards these fantastic works. Searching for the root of inspiration takes one far in to hidden and odd realms where the places of dreams and waking reality seem to cross over. Many there are that find inspiration from their dreams in particular.

This ability to access a deeper level of creative energy seems innate to human experience and even those of the simpler states of intellect may experience rich inner worlds of experience which they may only scarcely describe. Indeed, it is to the words of poets and mystics that one must look in order to get a sense of what is occurring beneath the guise of waking consciousness and the creative activity that takes place in the dreaming levels of awareness. The creative individual has tapped this natural dreaming ability and is able to perceive it in the mind as a reflection. In dreamstate this perception can be seen as a reality. Some find a veritable magical path through this exploration and still others find the inspiration for the physical life. Supposedly Einstein discovered his theory of relativity by a dream in which he traveled on a light-beam. Dreaming and creativity thus seem to go hand in hand.

When the musician is playing music they are not creating something from nothing. They are tapping in to a resource which is available deep within themselves. They are tapping in to Music as a greater concept than just the sounds that are being made and which exists on its own beyond the musician. Just the same, the painter, even one who replicates a scene, is drawing from that internal resource which connects them to that outer reality of Beauty which is beyond their own individuality and which lies in a collective state of reality where concept and manifestation occur simultaneously. So too does the dancer draw out a natural movement of Beauty from the well of inspiration. This deeper unconscious resource is a reservoir through which the waking reality may be grasped in ways which would appear to counter the common sense. The dreaming mind can be brought in to waking reality through artistry and the boundaries of reality are wavered by the crossing.

The act of creation in any art is an act of destruction of the boundaries of reality. In the destruction of the boundaries of the current state of reality there is a re-arrangement of perception and deeper aspects of reality are able to emerge from beneath the surface appearances. This is why the musician, the poet, the artist and the dancer are all the aids and attendants of the mystic and are the gateway to the Muses which inspire the creative work of magical evolution. This is why since ancient times song and symbol have held an important place in all things sacred, mystical and divine.

There is no further proof needed for the cosmic origins of humankind other than the immense creativity which we are capable of in many varied forms. That there is something deeper than merely the animal brain and its instincts is clearly evidenced in the lofty notions and grasping of the artist, poet, musician, dancer and mystic. Further it is seen in the expression of Love. Creativity often appears where Love is concerned, whether it is honoured or threatened. The basic creativity of survival gave rise to the slew of technologies which we now enjoy and at times abuse. Sometimes we use the creativity of others at the cost of our own. Sometimes the opposite. From this fundamental creativity came all of the motions for civilization and the building of relationships. Without this inspiration at the heart of humanity we would be all but lost to instinct.

It is the creative flame of Life which spurns the heart and mind to reach further in to the mysteries of reality and draw from there the answers to our unending explorations. Learning to be silent and listen to the movement, the urging and yearnings of this flame is the root of all meditative endeavour and to empower and enliven it is the aim of the magician. Together, these intentions can form a state of self-awareness which would seem unlimited and yet which is held in delicate balance.

Once the door to the infinite creative self is opened there is the responsibility that comes with the knowledge of self. Once you have seen you cannot un-see and you must honour your creative vision. To do otherwise is to invite Death. To let your creative impulses die is worse than Death for then you diminish your Life and can hardly be said to be alive or dead. It is by allowing the inspiration that wells up inside you to flow that is the key to self-realization. So long as you hold yourself back you keep yourself at arms length from your own self. To embrace all that you are is to embrace all you are capable of and to do that is to begin to tap your own potential. Be not afraid of great works but instead let your passion and inspiration drive your will forward.

Life is inspired. The will to live is the inspiration at the heart of Life, Grasp this will and live to the fullest self that you are able. There is no simpler path of magic than art to attempt to embody that which you are - infinity reflecting upon itself.

IP

Tuesday, May 2, 2017

Suffering and Happiness

There is no life that is without suffering. This is one of the universal commonalities to all forms of physical being. It is the unfortunate consequence of a dimension removed from archetypal perfection and the result of a randomization of experience. This experience is not entirely hollow in and of itself, however, for it is the fertile soil in which the roots of the spirit begin to grow from the seed planted at birth. The seed is the self which you are. Life begins with a traumatic burst in to a new world and nurturing begins immediately. The roots of the spiritual desires - to understand and have wisdom of the self and thus the universe - are grown deep in the dark places of suffering.

It is to be misinterpreted by some that this means that one must focus on suffering. I think there is no need necessary and one can safely allow suffering to arise at its own pace, likely slower than with one's urging. Rather, suffering needs to be digested and distilled and the experience within it wrought to golden splendor. This is, of course, much more difficult in practice than in principle. To find wisdom, understanding and compassion in one's experience means a change in one's perspective. It takes a shifting of one's position in to that of others. In this we begin to touch an idea of spiritual knowledge which is to attempt to get to know one's essence, where one's perspective is situated.

Suffering does not always yield this lofty accentuation of spiritual desire and there is often a movement in the very opposite direction, towards helplessness and powerlessness. This even tends to happen in those who are aware that they are seeking a deeper sense of knowing themselves, others and the universe. All the more so in those who are unconsciously battered by the storm of catalyst that presses upon each individual, often remaining unaware of those possibilities of so-called 'enlightenment' contained within their own experiences of suffering. The magical view is ever more difficult to view than the mundane.

The philosopher, the religious, the mystical and the magical all attempt to deal with this 'base matter' of raw experience through different ways but each is aspiring to that high object of the 'spiritualization', that is, the refinement of the experience itself in to something which is desirable to the 'alchemist'. Taking the emotional, mental and physical content and thereby distilling it so as to extract from it meaningful guidance towards the fulfillment of those spiritual desires - to understand, to be wise, to know compassion and wholeness. There is not, in this one's humble opinion, anything spiritual about the desire for powers, abilities or manifestation. Although these are not evil desires in and of themselves, they can be used to such an end. Evil is that which willingly induces suffering and which thrives on it. Good is that which attempts to resolve suffering so that other elements of life can take place. These are simplistic views but they are vivid and that can serve to make stark the concept of one's own actions towards others.

There are those who use the arts of spirit for little more than manipulation and self gain and of these I have little to say other than to be aware and wary of those who would casually allow or willingly induce suffering in others. There are those who call themselves by spiritual names and walk in spiritual places and yet evil is their intent and so they cannot touch the spirit of unity fully. They instead seek to grasp and control the lives of others in a mockery of the compassion with which unity is fundamentally inspired. I do not cast judgement on these individuals, but rather try to be aware of the possible pitfalls on the path, for I too am imperfect. The growth of spiritual desires lies not in the perpetuation or induction of suffering but rather in the proper treatment of it as it arises of its own accord and thereby refined through a balanced process.

To pursue suffering is folly, but to seek to understand your own suffering is one of the steps towards self-knowledge.

Spirit, a word and concept which goes back to the idea of breath and breathing, is unified and whole. There is no separation in it. It appears that each has an individual spirit but I believe in truth there is but one spirit which 'rushes through the universe' and gives, indeed IS, the life to all. Matter which is the apparent 'condensation' of spirit appears to be separate because it is a manifestation of the opposite principle inherent within spirit, which is unity. Thus, the two ends of the same device which functions as one unique whole. A trinity, the two in the one and the one in the two.

As such, the lofty goals of wisdom, understanding, compassion, perhaps bliss, are all grown and potentiated in the condensed world of separated matter solidified or coagulated in and by unity. The world of matter is an expression of the search for these things, at least in appearance.  We do not, ultimately, seek these things in and of themselves but rather that which they signify in reality. A unified, concentrated, universal presence which is both intelligence and intelligent. We are that unity seeking a return to itself. In seeking these concepts we reach towards the unity which exceeds the separation of the senses and the body and it is actually only 'by accident' that one may chance upon this rare experience of the 'philosopher's stone' and yet to reach that point takes absolute focus and dedication, as well as knowledge. It seems folly, perhaps, to spend years building a house of tools, only to realize the goal is to discard the tools, but nothing is truly lost, only transmuted to another level or plane of functioning. One must have faith that their efforts will yield the desired result.

This is the role of suffering as well. In its base form it is wretched, horrible and unpleasant. However, boiled and purified it begins to show glimmers of wisdom whereby the interactions between others can be the most vivid of lessons. The mind which works the breath, the spirit and the forms as a conductor conducts the orchestra works upon the emotions and the emotions work upon the mind in turn. The mind cools the emotions. The emotions heat the mind. Overheat the emotions and you overheat the mind. Cool the mind too much and the emotion freezes or overcompensates. The balance is in the middle. Mind and emotions together work upon the catalyst of suffering in order to produce a higher perspective and which is the transmutation of the initial experience of suffering in to one of understanding.

The suffering does not become bright and golden right away. It starts of in rough tones and dark colours. It goes through sadness, grief and despair before giving way to neutrality and indifference. If this can be moved only then does it begin to brighten and to become inspiration, motivation and eventually joy. This takes a fair degree of will and effort towards arranging one's internal structures to achieve this end but there is a transformation that takes place if one holds to the ideal. The perspective broadens and the ability to see the perspective of others increases and with it a gradually greater experience of inter-connectivity with others and the environment around oneself is revealed. This is 'matter becoming spirit' in the sense of a state of self being situated in a perspective of separation moving in to a state of awareness of the unity underlying all things and all phenomenon, thereby shifting the perspective to that of unity.

Thus is the Great Work and the work of many lifetimes, for unity is infinite and infinity is unity.

IP

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Questions Without Answers

Every journey begins with a burning question. This may be the simple curiosity of discovery which seeks a new horizon to explore or it may take a more specific form. In some cases the question is so profound that it forces one to take on the journey. This is the kind of journey and experience that happens to many people when they begin to ask themselves who they are and where they have come from. For some people they look back on the experiences of their life and they find it sufficient to explain the way they see themselves. Others seek areas of self which seem to transcend the life as it is currently known, to pursue the unknown within and without themselves.

To those who look and see the answers to their questions I have but little to offer. In my case the experience I have to offer is that of burning questions unanswered and which seem exhaustive in the effort to pursue. It is these questions which drive me ever onward.

What is the true nature of my own self?

What existence is my own existence based on?

What is beneath the self?

Who am I?

Eventually the answers become as exhaustive as the questions, seemingly without end. There is a continuous looping process whereby with each degree of realization of the self that I am aware of there is a new self that I have yet to know. In that the engine of questions is fed by the fuel of answers.

Yet, as the same questions burn and eat more answers, the direction of the question becomes more apparent. The question of self becomes refined. There is no longer an answer of identity, but of qualities. The self no longer identified by a question but instead becomes an answer.

I am that I am.

This statement both answers the question and is the question. The quality of being is the foundation of the self. This is presence, existence in its rawest form. It is the truth that IS. This statement is an ideological seed which describes the root of self-awareness within the mind. It is from this that the self-identified Nous is projected. This fundamental being can be likened to a great potential. It is the wound spring which is at the heart of all life. This truth transcends the statement.

Once you begin to realize that you are not the limited qualities which make up your personality nor the details of the mind and intellect you are pressed to further explore in to the recesses of your consciousness. In this you begin to wade through all of the facets of the self which make up the inner and outer appearance which act as a garment for the pure, unfiltered self within. The pure presence of being.

That being which is at the center of your existence is slowly de-cluttered and the contents of the mind expand, growing space between them. As more space opens the pure state of being is seen in the mind, always present as a background to the great galaxies of thought. Slowly it is seen that the self which was before full of so many qualities is in truth empty and thus limitless in its potentials. The self which was before seen as individualistic and narrow is now collective and universal. The qualities are no longer seen as possessed but rather held in potential, to be spurned by the right stimulation from the self.

As the self expands and becomes empty, indeed seemingly as no longer a self at all but merely a pulsating presence which permeates all things, there is a peace which begins to settle. This arises from an awareness of the continuity of the self and the temporal nature of the personality and its qualities. No longer is there a need to maintain a particular sense of self. No longer is identity striven for but instead it is allowed to arise naturally in whatever form it takes.

The Will becomes alive then. It is no longer a force behind life but rather it is known to be Life itself. The Will is no longer seen to be something which is spurned by the individual existence but rather the individual existence is spurned by the Will. The Will is the activity that is sparked from the being. It is being in action. Potential becoming kinetic. Being and Will are two parts of one flame.

To grow the heat of Will without tapping the potential of Being is to invite immolation. To tap the potential of Being without growing the heat of the Will is to invite stagnation.

The Will is not the same as desire. Desire calls to the Will. It is an element of the personality and the mind and emotions. Desire is part of the content which clutters the Being and dilutes the Will. Desire is that which needs to be organized in order for the Being to enact its Will for it describes the pathway that Will takes in the enactment of Being.

Thus, the journey begins with a question and in every question is a desire. To desire temporal things, simple comforts and pleasures, will see your Being enacted through a Will which will always seek further answers in the same places. The personality is a structure of desires. To refine that desire, to desire those lofty ideals of the eternal soul which are represented by decency, compassion and peace is to begin to refine the question of the self towards an ongoing elevation in answer. Eventually, the question and the answer become the same thing. That which you are and that which you do become One. The question of self becomes its own answer. The act of living becomes the answer to the question of the purpose of life. There is no greater purpose in living than to be alive but this in and of itself is the greatest purpose there is.

The Will of Life is to enact its Being through desire. The Being which desires to know itself comes to know the Will of Life. The Being which knows the Will of Life desires for the Will of Life to be enacted. That which is becomes that which it is.

Turn ye the personality towards the knowing of the true self and the Will of the Being of Life that you ARE will gradually become sensed and known. Know thyself and begin to know Life itself, for ye are One.

אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה

IP

Friday, January 6, 2017

A Light On The Mountain

There comes a time in the life of some individuals where they realize that they have some purpose to fulfill, a destiny to reach out towards or perhaps simply a deep burning desire that they feel compelled to follow to whatever end of the Earth it might take them. This manifests itself in many ways and often results in the life's work of the individual, although that is not always what becomes famous in future times. Sometimes the greatest work that an individual has accomplished may be completely unknown to the others around them besides a few. It can be lonely work but the rewards are rich for those who see themselves in it. Usually what is lauded is the outward changes of appearances that have taken place and these are only scant evidence of the transformations taking place within the individual. For others, they may appear unchanging and yet are continuously refining a subtle quality about them. The work is different for each - the Great Work is done by all fast or slow. For most it takes a great many lives and for some they discover a path whereby they might accomplish this work of refinement and elevation of their very being.

This online journal has been created to share my own work, my own journey towards the great heights and vistas, as well as the deep valleys, towards the shining Light before me. This Light appears to me as though it is at a great distance yet full of brilliance, like a lighthouse high up on a cliff, shining its guidance out in all directions. I am not near it yet it seems, but I see it. Although, some part of me does feel it is ever near.

I have some valleys and hills to traverse before I reach the foot of the mountain, as well as some preparation for the journey, but I am confident in the seriousness of my intent and the virtue of the path I seek to follow. I know with some certainty that I am headed towards a light on the mountain, but whither shall this path take me? The path towards one's own being is riddled with mystery.

I strive now with my preparations through which I start to balance my vehicles, body, mind and spirit together so that there is strength enough in my being to complete the journey. I have chosen a more public avenue of sharing for a number of reasons but most important being that I believe and feel it is an example of my work as well as a part of my work. I do not believe I am here merely to deliver a product created, that is not the point or purpose of the Great Work, but rather to assist in demonstrating the process as it occurs from the ground up and continuously.

Since I am already of some slight age and have encountered many ideas it will naturally be somewhat impossible to be completely 'fresh' of mind in my considerations. However, I will do my best to engage the principles I profess entirely on their own merits. The purpose here is not to explain or exemplify a system or to attempt to express the entirety of my purposes therein, but rather simply to relate my own experiences with the Work of Life and to offer it as a demonstration for those who may find some benefit or interest in their own Work. As such, this is an opinionated journal and is not intended as authoritative or representative in any way of either the practices I am examining or of the systems I am exploring. As such all my words should be considered as my own personal slant and which will more often than not tend to be expressive of my own philosophy rather than those of the influences I am exposed to.

May the Light reach you and illuminate the deepest parts of yourself. Amun.

IP