Seven Ray Institute Volume 1, Number 1, Fall 2005 Editorial Articles Article 1 Poems Featured Artist
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The Widening Stream Welcome to the first issue of the on-line version of The Journal of Esoteric Psychology. The original Journal, published in print format between 1985-1999, provided cutting-edge articles on varied topics within the Ageless Wisdom teachings. This new digital format will continue in that tradition, providing an eclectic forum for articles of interest to the esoteric community. Many of the articles will be transcripts from the wealth of talks given over the years at the annual conferences of the Seven Ray Institute and the University of the Seven Rays and will also include audio links, when possible. The SRI/USR has long been one of the pioneering groups in the study of esoteric astrology and we hope to feature an article from this field in each issue. Also, in order to play our part in support of the oft beleaguered United Nations (that great vehicle of human liberation), we will regularly feature articles about its work and activities in order to “strengthen its hands.” Too often people who hold to a spiritual worldview turn away from the news and world events, adopting a more inward-looking focus—as if global problems were none of their concern. But the goal, or the desired objective, of a truly spiritual life is to become fully engaged within the world and its concerns as symbolized by the even-armed cross of discipleship service. Towards that end, we see the Journal as a vehicle to support those individuals, groups, and movements we feel to be in alignment with the unfolding Plan upon our planet. Each issue will therefore include an interview with an individual whose life and work illustrates a commitment to service. The Journal will provide a forum for art and poetry. Your contributions and comments are also welcomed and are the means whereby the Journal can become a more expansive vehicle of service. At this time in our planetary history the primary shift that is occurring is related to the collective appropriation of the energy of the spiritual will. Although it is exceedingly true that we have yet to fully unfold the love aspect of our natures, we are nonetheless called upon to align ourselves simultaneously with this higher and more potent energy that is, as yet, only faintly understood by some members of humanity. This ability is being facilitated by the triangular relationship that has temporarily been established between the three planetary centers of Shamballa, Hierarchy and Humanity. We’re told that because of the extraordinary nature of planetary conditions humanity is, for the first time in its long history, becoming sensitive to impression from Shamballa, “that great center lying beyond,” the center of the peaceful, silent will. Previously, energy from Shamballa had always been “routed” through the Hierarchy but it was felt that because of the rapid advancements undertaken by humanity during the last several hundred years, we were now sufficiently prepared to handle the direct impact of the divine Will. There are, however, dangers involved in this work; we witness them all around us and within us as we all struggle and fight our way into a greater measure of light. So much of the mental illness, the delusional claim-making that plagues the spiritual movement, the rampant sexual excesses and the violence that permeates so many aspects of our lives could, in part, be related to the negative effects of the inflowing will energy as it works out through vehicles that are wholly unprepared to process the stimulation. We are all entering uncharted territory and we must be careful to travel this route with skill and wisdom, lest we find ourselves crippled by the potency of what we encounter. The Tibetan said (when writing of first ray souls but which could perhaps be extended collectively to the worldwide group of conscious servers), “It is a noble task, my brothers, to be channels for the will of God.” (1) If we tread carefully we can collectively rise to the occasion of this noble task and use the group as our protective shield. The will, when misapplied by the individual, becomes the vehicle of destruction whereas when appropriated and consecrated by the group, can prove the means of salvaging the world. This higher application of the energy of the will occurs within the esoteric group of workers as they unite at set days and times within the “secret place.” The will is also working out within the masses of humanity who have been able to bring about amazingly rapid and largely non-violent transfers of power in places such as Georgia, Ukraine, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Togo, Bolivia, Ecuador and Mexico. These demonstrations are surely part of the political house-cleaning that we’re told is one of three pre-requisites that humanity has to implement to help prepare the way for the return of the World Teacher. Another means of aiding in that effort is, as we know, the use of the Great Invocation. If the masses of people could be educated and encouraged to use it, their united invocative appeal could create such a powerful current within the planet that it could do more than perhaps any other activity to draw the Teacher forth. Then, it is the task of the spiritual workers of the world to focus and direct that current so that it can reach out and touch Those Great Lives who hover over our planet. This alignment becomes particularly effective at auspicious moments such as the May and June full moons and the upcoming Festival Week of the New Group of World Servers. (2) "Let the livingness emerge for all to see" becomes the group keynote. This is not an idle dream or fantasy but the reality of the opportunity that stands before us at this time as we unite to form a channel through which Those who stand back of our planetary evolution can pour forth their strength and healing power upon the world. As the Tibetan so eloquently wrote of our task, “Students must seek to meet all the planetary changes and opportunities with corresponding changes in their own lives. They must seek those new attitudes and those new creative approaches which will result not alone in the building of the individual antahkarana, but also in the fusion of the many ‘radiant strands’ which will produce those ‘connecting cables,’ speaking symbolically, which will relate the planetary centres and present the medium along which can pass the fiery will and the predetermined purpose of Deity.” (3)
This material was quoted with the permission of Lucis Trust, which holds copyright.
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