Author Archives: Aerist

Spiritual Development and the Occult

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There have been a few enquiries lately for information about the occult, and on one occasion by someone who sounded very young indeed.  She was interested in finding out about Wicca, and bless her, felt that here was likely to be found  trustworthy information.

The word “occult” simply means what is currently hidden from you, and the process of spiritual development shines a light upon what needs to be revealed. You don’t have to go looking for the occult – in fact, it is best to wait and see what comes to you to be looked at.

For too many, reading, writing and basic mathematics, and the ability to support oneself with food and shelter, are occult, and for those people it is essential that these skills are mastered. We are in these bodies in this place at this time for a reason, after all. For the young, the entire adult world is occult, and adjusting to it and the developing body will require all your skill, strength and resources. Always, whoever and wherever you are, the next step is here before you, now. Look at what needs to be done here and now, and do it as well as you can. These are all steps in spiritual development, as well as material development.

If, after this, you wish to embark on a dedicated process of spiritual development, the way is quite straightforward. But don’t be in too much of a hurry. This world needs to be lived in easily before the next world is tackled.

tripod

 

There are three “legs” and one central principle.

Leg One: Meditation or focused Prayer.

Leg Two: The study of inspired works.

Leg three: Service to humanity.

 

Working on all three legs together brings rapid unfoldment, and stability. A wise man said to me that three legs always give stability on uneven surfaces. Any other number will make the table/chair wobble.

A complete (and free) spiritual development system (incorporating an easy-to-learn meditation) is here(link) , and is a system designed for the non-religious or religious westerner.

The inspired works you choose to study can be from any of the world’s great spiritual traditions, or equally those eclectic works of modern teachers like DC Vision.

 

Service to humanity is best done in secret. The most important service to humanity for those on a path of spiritual development is to work on themselves. “Remove the plank from your own eyes before you attempt to remove the specks from other people” as a certain Master put it. Of course, while you are cleaning yourself up, you can help others whenever it is in your gift to do so.

The overarching principle is this: what you are doing is not for yourself, or your own group, nation or religion, but for all beings. ALL beings. Think carefully on this, because a sectarian favouritism has led very spiritually motivated and developed people (to give just one example,  Adolf Hitler) badly astray – I would expect that they and their followers will be paying for their mistakes for many painful lifetimes to come.

 

Guidebook for Empathic Control

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Several years ago a person on Paltalk, going by the name of “quietcountryhick”, gave instruction to help natural empaths gain some control over the interference that being around others had on their lives.

Here is a quote from his guide:

You ask how can they do this? How can I? I need to learn how to feel much better. And be alone in my own mind. You have to learn and use a couple of simple techniques. They need to be used every day from now on. Not only when you have a problem, but in the morning when you get up, around lunch time, perhaps after work and (again) definitely before going to sleep. It will take under 5 minutes each time. Probably 1-2 minutes each time after you get used to using them.

The complete guide follows (feel free to copy and paste):  Continue reading →

Another Musical Communication

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When I woke up humming this one, I actually wrongly identified it, so it took some time to work out the message. That can happen.

At the time, working as a trainee therapist, it snapped things into perspective.

I remember hearing it on the radio some time later, and the host said that he wondered if there was a dance to it. I remember shouting at the radio “yes there is, and we’re all doing it.”

Now a mask is worn voluntarily, the steps are danced with more intentionality and awareness, as an interface: a sort of Windows XP for the Soul.

Oh yes: The music is the Masquerade Waltz by Aram Khachaturian.

Using Tones as a Meditation Aid

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Beginning regular meditation feels intimidating, threatening. Yet there are technologies which can make the experience much easier in practice.

Two which use audio tones to entrain the brainwaves are of special interest. Try both.

First: Isotones.These require no particular equipment, and do not require stereo headphones.

Download and try the deep meditation tone from Iso-tones.com. It is 30 mins long, and ramps down gradually to a useful frequency: begin 10 minutes in once you are used to it.

I have downloaded a copy (with birdsong) which you can try, or download from here.

Second: Binaural Beats.

These do require stereo headphones, or at the very least decent stereo speakers in a quiet space. This file is a tone at 538 Hz which is said to stimulate the heart, and has a theta wave binaural beat embedded. This file is 30 minutes long. The original is a three hour long Youtube video provided by Eric Bartel, and edited using Audacity.

You can try it below, or download it from here.

 

You will find that using these aids will familiarise your brain with the state required, and it will then be able to reach it without the aid easily, and you will be able to recognise it has done so.

There are many effective free resources which can be downloaded and then used without an internet connection.

Many smartphone apps, such as Insight Timer, have a selection of free meditations with beats embedded.

 

Using Books as a Means of Communication

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Books can also be used as an oracle. The mechanics of this are no different: there is no such thing as a meaningless coincidence for those on the Path. In the West, the Bible has long been the book of choice for this: St.Francis of Assisi used a three verse “reading” when looking for guidance on the rules for his new order. For new agers there are several books which have been produced specifically for this purpose.

The ideal would be a book that covers the full spectrum of human and religious experience, as the Tarot and I Ching do (which makes them ideal for the task). However, there are occasions when it is not appropriate to start shuffling cards or throwing coins. A dictionary, or short encyclopaedia can yield an additional perspective on the difficulties faced in these circumstances.

As always, Oracles are to be used only when the course of action is not clear, and never as a means of escape from duty. Used in either of these circumstances, an oracle can be relied upon to show us the error of our ways! So, take it seriously, and – as with other questions that cannot be answered from a personal perspective – ensure that this is written up in the Spiritual Diary.

Death and Devil in the Tarot

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If you are present when the cards are chosen you might be disturbed and worried if either Death or The Devil come up in response to your question.

All the Tarot cards are symbolic, and have meanings which transcend their surface appearance.

Death in the Tarot usually means the complete end of some situation, usually a period of life. It might signify a complete change of role, as with retirement where one is very attached to one’s occupation, the complete breakdown of a relationship, or other meaning depending on the question asked.

The questioner is usually being encouraged to allow that situation to go in the past, in order to make space for something new to arise in its place. The figure of death holds the scythe, clearing away any remaining stubble from the harvest so that the field can be prepared for re-sowing, that kind of thing.

 

 

 

The Devil in the Tarot is a caricature of the ancient godform Pan, the horned godform of the ancient world. The man and woman chained up are really in fancy dress (or undress), chaining themselves – the chains are always loose enough that if they really wanted to break away, and take their horns off, they could.

Often the meaning is looking at the self-created demons in our own life, and why we are keeping ourselves chained to them. Also, we usually need to have a good laugh at the caricatures we have made of ourselves, and the situations we have got ourselves into – particularly with but not limited to sexual partners! Laughing at ourselves opens up the possibility of freedom from the Devil in the Tarot.

The Devil has an important role in spiritual development more generally: he helps us to find our true spiritual level. By giving in to the temptations he offers, until we can say “No more!” we travel down to the level from which we can start to ascend with a strong foundation in bedrock. Most new students want to start from a much higher place – this is a waste of time, they are like the cartoon character who suddenly discovers he is running on air before plummeting to the ground with a smack!