THE SANCTUARY

WELCOME & DEDICATION

Enter the Garden, ye fools and Saints...

PAIRIDAĒZA SUITE

The Logos hath risen...

ON THE NATURE OF WILDFLOWERS

It was a bountiful harvest, and a beautiful sight...

THE POET & THE SAGE

A journey beyond the distant hills...

OUR HOME ON THE SAND

A thin parchment is all that separates high from low...

THE MYSTIC

I, too, am thick, and scattered, and tricky...

THE BOOK OF PROPHECY

A genuine plea for sanity and wisdom in the midst of a dark night.

THE LADDERS TO GOD

Come ye seekers, come ye squires, hear with me these heavenly choirs...

THE SANCTUARY

ACADEMY FOR THE HUMANITIES

To the distant hills we go, with philosophy by our side...

LEARN MORE

TO THOSE I SERVE

A Covenantal Prayer

Once, when my mind was dull, and my body was weak, and my senses lacking, and my spark faint, I had it not in me to speak of Wisdom, nor of things Divine, nor of Truth, and even less of Beauty. 

But, my friends, I have happened upon a path, as have ye, and we call this path many, for it leads in four directions, even Virtue, Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding.

At the centre of the Garden, at the peak of the Holy Mountain, there grows a Golden Tree, whose roots descend deep into the Well of Eternal Knowledge, and whose branches reach high above us into the Big Amazing, as my friend and teacher Sharon Lebell would say. 

From the seed of this Tree has grown seven branches, even the Deep, the Root, the Seed, the Branch, the Wind, the Heights, and the ALL. 

As above, so below. 

Lo, there is a place where the river meets the sky,
And there but for the grace of God go I,
And if it would be right for me to prophesy, 
It’s surely there where we all shall die. 

So now, let us speak of Wisdom, for it is She who will guide us safely o’er the distant and unknown horizons. Yay, it is She who will calm the storm-tossed seas, and even She who has carefully stitched together the upper and the lower fabrics on God’s garment, and She who now paves the Golden Way before us all. 

Lo, it is the humanities that will teach us Wisdom, for they will show us the many ways to return to our Father when we are lost, to rescue the damsel when She is in despair, and to become the Light when darkness surrounds.

Those who have sought communion with the Muses and Daemons of our past will have Knowledge, for the Kingdom is theirs, and the bountiful harvest for their storehouse. 

Those who commune with the Muses and Daemons of our past will join the Angels who now plough their Golden Fields in the Heavenly realms, and sweet remembrance will be theirs of their unity with the seven realms they have travelled, and this they will come to know as Understanding. 

And all this will be a revelation, made possible by the very face that the Angels discovered, for in the mirror and face of the Cosmos, we see ourselves, and our selves see us, for it is by the light that burns within each of us that our selves are made to see. 

When a soul has seen, it desires not to return to the realms it once wandered, for not only is such an awakening so great that it radiates in the being of the beholder with prolonged intensity, but also because to do so would be to commit a kind of spiritual suicide.  

At such a time, the True Seeker becomes the Finder, and the Finder the Sage, and the Sage the fool, and the fool the King, and the King the tyrant, and the tyrant the beggar, and the beggar the rich man, and the rich man the poor, and the poor the receivers, and the receivers the robbed. 

And so, my Friend, let us walk together, talk together, learn together, grow together, worship what is beautiful together, plant seeds together, and harvest what we have planted together. 

AMEN

RISE

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A PRAYER OF ASCENT

I. Enter on this path, all ye who would ascend to the peak of God’s Holy Mountain. Yay, walk with me, and let us speak Wisdom to each other on our way, even The Way.

II. This is the Way of God, delivered to me through my pen, even that I might share The Way with all who would listen and hear, and do. 

III. Decide that thou wouldst seek the peak of the mountain.

IV. Seekest thou a path.

V. Seek knowledge of the commonalities between the various paths that lead up the mountain.

VI. Know what would lead thee down.

VII. Know the difference between following a path down the mountain and following a path that must go down in order to go up.

VIII. Take time to reflect on the view at each point of your ascent.

IX. If thou shouldst pass fellow travellers along thy way, greet them with the joy of a fool, and the discernment of a wise man, for then shall there be no strife between thee. And make no fuss whether thy fellow travellers ascend or descend the Mountain. Simply follow The Way. 

X. If a seeker should wish to ascend with thee, welcome them with open arms—if they be true—, for it is good to be strengthened by the community of a kindred soul.

XI. If a fellow traveller should wish to turn back, or to follow a path that appears counter to The Way, discern well, and then walk in the way that thou hath discerned appropriate. 

XII. Saying farewell to a once-loved travelling partner is a pain to the heart, but remember that there is joy also in solitude.

XIII. When thou seeth a peak but arrive to find another, thou art near indeed to God’s dwelling place.

XIV. When thy vision is clear, and when thou seeth far and wide o’er the Garden of Life, thou wilt know that it is God who led thee here to thy Home.

XV. Here, ye shall commune with Him, having nothing left unsaid between thee, and nothing undisclosed between God and thee.

XVI. Here, thou shalt commit thyself to follow God’s way—The Way—in all thy days, never looking back, and never seeking to know more than is required.

XVII. Here, thou wilt be Aligned.

XVIII. Here, thou wilt be Whole. 

Amen

THE SANCTUARY

WELCOME

I. Welcome to the Sanctuary,
Ye seekers and squires,
Come, hear with me
These heavenly choirs.

II. Welcome to the Sanctuary,
Ye mockers and fools,
The birds are now waking;
Let’s break all the rules.

III. Welcome to the Sanctuary,
Ye rulers and kings,
Open thine hearts
As the whole forest sings.

IV. Welcome to the Sanctuary,
Ye Sages and Saints,
This fountain is sacred,
And lifts all constraints.

V. Welcome to the Sanctuary,
Ye gods among men,
These flowers are thine
To nurture. Amen.

Play Video

The musician, like the poet,
looks within and without,
and tells the story of what he sees.

The musician, like the seer,
reveals unto the masses
the secrets which were once hidden.

The musician, like the philosopher,
discovers the commonalities which flow
through all things, and sees to it
that these commonalities are not lost.

The musician, like the explorer,
journeys beyond the safety of the garden walls,
later to return with bounty to share
with those who inhabit the garden.

The musician, like the prophet,
hears the rhythm of all things,
and reveals this rhythm
to those who would hear.

The musician, like the rugged mountain wildflower,
bursts forth in a vivid display of delicate beauty,
reflecting the glory of the Sun above
while being nurtured by the Earth below.

The musician, like the ancient fig tree,
spreads his roots deep into the dark world below
and reaches his branches
high up into the infinite plains of eternity,
being guided by the Logos of the Whole.

The musician, like the songbird of the canopy,
sings the song of his heart,
which is the song of all things.

The musician hears a pairidaēza suite.

Let him now sing,
even that we may know ourselves,
and even that we may know
the way of THE ONE.

On the Nature of

Wildflowers

FEATURE

THE HARDCOVER

1. When you hold in your hand
A hardcover book,
As you sit by the side
Of a quaint mountain brook,

2. When the world is revealed
Within each sacred page,
When great secrets are told
Of the spirit of our age,

3. When the Logos hath risen
And the Way is revealed,
When Alignment is found
And the Soul has been healed,

4. You’ll be glad that you read
This strange book of our time,
And you’ll cherish these words
That brought Wisdom, sublime. 

OUR HOME ON THE SAND

I. I am the eye that looks
out on THE ONE. 

II. I am the mother who loves.
I am the child who is loved.

III. I am the father who protects.
I am they who are protected.

IV. I am the sun that rises
and the stars and moon
that take its place
once the night has come.

V. I am the cloud that drifts.
I am the destination it drifts to,
and the path which it has
previously wandered.

VI. A thin parchment is all
that separates high from low.

VII. Upon this parchment
the Word is written.

VIII. People travel many miles
to sit upon the few feet
of sand that separate
land and sea. 

VIX. They take the driftwood
that comes from far lands,
and upon the sand
they build their castles.

X. They know that their castles
will soon be swept away
by the evening tide.
They have always known.

XI. But a home is a home.
This is their home. 
Our home.

XII. Each day we rebuild.
Each day we await
the judgement of night.

XIII. Until then, we sing,
we write, we speak,
we dream, we dance,
we play, we love,
we are loved.

VIV. We cry, we are heartbroken,
we are lonely,
we are betrayed, we betray, 
and we are dragged into
the depths by the waves that grasp.

XV. This is our home on the sand.
We like it here. 

Play Video

The Mystic

1. The energy is thick today;
It does not know what it wants. 

2. And the sea is violent and choppy,
And it does not know where the wind is pushing it. 

3. And the clouds are scattered and confused,
For they do not know what they want to be. 

4. And a storm gathers from the west,
And the mountains across the channel now fade
Behind a blueish-grey vale of heavy rain. 

5. The Sun may have given a glorious show on another day,
But today it sinks slowly into oblivion
Behind the thick storm clouds. 

6. A jet plane flies above,
Leaving a straight, thick, white trail behind it 
That quickly fades. 

7. And the dune grass shivers,
And the wind offers no rest,
And the clouds are died pink,
Though they still know not who they are,
Or where the wind will take them,
Nor why it will take them there.

8. And there’s a feeling of calm and rightness in all this thick energy—
like young love is just around the corner,
or like a mischievous adventure is about to begin.

9. And the caretaker ploughs
A golden field in the celestial
Realms above, and the southern
Skies now wear a purple blush. 

10. I remember the three pelicans that glided
with synchronicity upon the strong easterly winds,
and I remember how simple and elegant they were.

11. The moon grins at me sheepishly,
and the local Osprey soars above,
looking for an evening mouse.

12. And the energy is still thick,
and strange, and scattered, and tricky,
and I need to pee, but the poem isn’t finished!

13. And the ocean is still violent,
And the sound of the angry waves,
and the wind and the sound of the shivering dune grass
enters my soul.

14. The sounds and sights, and the thick, confusing energy, and the storms that gather, and the confused clouds, and the elements of the scene which have been emitted from my view all inform me, and I wonder how I relate to them, and how they relate to me.

15. I learn that I, too, am thick, and scattered, and tricky, and confused, and angry, and tossed about, and violent.

16. And I learn that I, too, glide on the wind, and I plough my golden fields, and I leave a trail soon to be dissolved, and I cover mountains with my rain, and I search for an evening mouse, and I smile sheepishly, and I am died pink from the sun that sets, and I travel along on my mischievous adventures, finding young love wherever I go.

AS ABOVE, SO BELOW

THE BOOK OF PROPHECY

I. I’ve been searching high and low
For a God that I might know,
And I’ve often heard a whispered word;
My God’s been good to me.

II. There’s a rhythm in my heart;
It’s been with me from the start.
And this rhythm tells of heav’n and hell,
My God’s been good to me.

III. There’s a choir in my Soul
Singing secrets of the Whole,
And I hear them sing in everything.
My God’s been good to me.

IV. There’s a Garden in my Mind;
Founts and fig trees do I find,
And I’ve never seen a field so green,
My God’s been good to me. 

Play Video

Ladders to God

The Poetic Mandalas

Part I.

Catch this, spoke my soul.

Sing the song which thou hearest in thine own heart.

Know the dragon which lives within thy being.
Glide through the canopy of eternity with culture by thy side.

Heed the call of adventure. Thine ancestors have built thee a Walled Garden. It’s not without weeds, but the vines that grow in this orchard provide a lifetime supply of wisdom to help thee thrive. This Garden is well-watered. All thou must to do is drink.

Ask thy Father. Will he not answer? Seek wisdom. Will ye not find?

Practice discernment. There’s a right way to do things, and thou knowest it deep within thy being, if thou wouldst be willing to dive deep enough.

One minute it’s here, the next it’s gone—the eternal law of the universe.

When the masses are deprived of beauty, the wise among them return to those things which were once beheld with great delight.

When the masses lack in sophisticated understanding, they build false idols to worship.

Ships without aim often run aground. An undiscerning archer rarely hits the target. Such is the lot of those who worship idols, for they are guided by a false impression of firm footing, and yet this foundation collapses beneath their feet just when they have begun to feel safe.

When the floor begins to collapse, the wise among the masses build ladders to God, and they trust that he will bear the weight of their dying culture.

Part II.

Hush, whispered by soul.

Love thy Mother with all thine heart. Will she not love thee in return? Does a hen desert her chicks? 

Look. 

Will not things be shown unto you which are now hidden?

Listen. 

Will not sounds present themselves which were once silent?

Take in a breath from thy nostrils. Will ye not be presented with scents which were once dormant?

Feel, and know who you are.

Reach out thine hand. Will I not take it in mine? Will thy Father leave thee without a guide?

Therefore, honour thy Father, who giveth freely to those who ask in a spirit of humility and good faith.

Care for thy Mother, for she giveth as freely as she taketh.

Listen to the Logos, for it is thy Sage, who speaketh to all who wish to commune.

When the masses hear not the words of the Sage, the wise among them build arks upon his word, for whence can a citizen find shelter when the floodgates of immorality have been compromised?

Shine the light of thine highest aspirations upon the masses, for as a mirror reflects the golden rays of the Sun, so too will many reflect thine own virtue and honourable conduct.

Part III.

Come ye, all who tarry. Hear the wise council of Thoth, our great Ibis who seeth all and giveth the wisest of counsel, singeth the Lord of Hosts.

Power be to Maat, who bringeth truth and harmony into being.

Give us wisdom, great Thoth, that we may discern the correct path to eternity.

Give us truth and goodness, great goddess Maat, counsellor to the gods, even that we may plant our feet firmly on the ground before us, and that we may free ourselves from the ravaging of our Mother Nature.

When the masses are not guided by truth and wisdom, they fall prey to the highest bidder. The wise among them choose not to be sold.

When the artists paint not truth, the masses see no truth.

When the musicians sing and play no truth, the masses hear no truth.

When poets write not their sonnets, how will the masses know of love?

When the philosophers lead not by the word of truth, how may the masses find their way?

When prophets shine not the light of revelation upon the grim fate off man, how are the masses to know their lot? And how will they be awoken, that they may prepare themselves for the great floods which are destined to befall them?

All ye who would know the secrets of God, and all ye who would guide the masses, be thyselves guided by the highest good, even the straight and narrow path, lest ye lead the masses closer to a perilous fate. Once the guide has fallen off the edge, those who are guided follow promptly.

All ye who would be awoken from thy dreaming, let thy souls die and be burned in a great fire of Logos, and let thy souls be reborn out of the ashes of thine flaming baptism. Rise, and be thou guided by a higher truth, given to thee by thy Mother, who shareth her secrets with those who fear her blows. Be thou also guided by a deeper wisdom, given to thee by thy Father, who answereth all those who ask in faith.

Part IV.

All ye who would listen, hear, and all ye who would hear, tell.

All ye who would look, see, and all ye who would see, know.

All ye who would be shined upon, reflect the light of truth upon all those who would receive thee.

All ye who would be guided out of darkness and into the light, hear my word, which is the true vine, and which twists and bends through the branches of eternity.

When the masses are led astray by those who do not know, the wise among them seek to know. Not all who say they know know, but all who seek will find, and all who find will know.

When those who know lead not the masses, those who do not know believe that they know, for they gain in popularity among the multitudes, and they are deceived by their pride.

Those who believe they know will not receive correction, for they are guided not by truth, but by vain desires. Therefore, it is better that they who know should stand in the town square and sing the song of the cosmos, even that the truth which is hidden may be revealed unto the masses.

When they who know speak not to the masses who dream, the great Tiamat awakens from her slumber and rises from the depths. She devours all those who lag in the rear, and terrorises those who have not offered sufficient sacrifice. Therefore, be thou guided by they who know, and when thou can see the true path, guide others in this way, lest they fall victim to the great and powerful jaws of their Mother.

All ye who would know, let thy mind be nourished by the clear waters of Abzu, who replenished the rivers of eden, and who now lays dormant, waiting to be resurrected in spirit.

All ye who know, be thou as Shepards and guide those who would be guided. To those who would not be guided, offer to them a solemn warning, that in the day when the great serpent of the underworld bursts forth from the depths, they will be found wanting, and will be as a rotted branch upon the Universal Tree, even one which will be broken from the Tree and thrown into Nature’s great kiln.

Honour be given unto Heraclitus, who giveth a name to the Logos—the Great Sage of eternity who guides those who would be guided. Let our souls rise to the greatest heights, even that we may be guided by the deepest wisdom of the cosmos, even that which comes through and of the Logos.

Part V.

There’s a rhythm in my heart, incredible.

There’s an endless stream of impressions. They are my connection to the consciousness of the whole.

There’s a divine spark within my soul. It ignites a blazing inferno within my very being and transforms me from one moment to the next.

There’s a dream, though I would not know it if I knew it.

There’s a root, a seed, a germ. The masses see only the bark of the trunk, but know not of what lies beneath.

There’s a vast canopy which spreads its branches high into the great expanse of eternity. The masses see not the grandeur of eternity, for they do not look high enough.

There’s an infinite plane upon which battles are fought between giants and men, and all who dream live here. When giants seep, the masses of men bring about great storms. When the giants awaken, the masses of men are subdued.

There is a dragon who lurks within the dark and unexplored cave of my soul. I pray that I may have the courage to dive into the darkness and to face this great behemoth, even that I may join forces with her, rather than be devoured.

There is a vision of paradise before my eyes. May I have the wisdom to confront this potential and to bring it into being, at least as far as fate allows.

There’s a faint whisper which reveals the song of the universe. I pray that I may garner the curiosity to bend an ear.

There’s a knowing that cannot be known, and yet which cannot be unknown. The masses believe they know, and the wise among them know that they do not. Both are right, but the latter is closer to God.

Listen to the rhythm which flows through all things, and ye will know of the common thread which guides all that is toward eternity. See that this thread flows even through thee, and know that thou belongeth to the whole. When the masses believe themselves to be separate from the whole, they seek belonging in tribes. When the masses organise in tribes, war is inevitable. The wise among the masses retreat within, even that they may drink from the wellspring of Universal Wisdom, and even that they may know that they belong. Then, they fight, lest the calm waters of the Cosmos be contaminated by the deeds of ignorant men.

Part VI.

Great is the name of Lao Tzu, the wise Sage of the east, for he did tend well to his garden, the fruits of which have brought many into harmony with the Universal Way.

A Sage has spoken. Who will hear?

A Seer has seen. Who will be shown?

A fool is he who plays at all times, but dead is he who is rigid in his step. Better to be a fool, for he is closer to God. Better yet that a fool build a wall around the garden in which he plays, for in doing so he brings himself into Alignment with the Universal Way.

The conscious being explores the gardens which he sees, and when he has reached the limits of his exploration, he journeys to the distant hills of his own soul, even that he may explore the gardens which he does not see.

The Sage tends to the gardens of his own soul before all else, and in doing so he tends to the Universal Tree, whose roots reach deep into the infinite abyss, and whose branches rise high into the canopy of eternity.

Wise is he who nurtures the seeds which are scattered throughout his being, for they will become as towering fig trees, and he will eat of the fruits which they provide, and he will be nourished in return.

When the masses tend not to their own gardens, they become burdened greatly by weeds which spread from one conscious being to another by way of the birds who fly throughout the Universal Garden. But birds carry good seed also. The wise among the masses turn to sound discernment, and in doing so they become skilled in the identification and removal of weeds which grow in their souls. All the while they become skilled also at the nourishment of those seeds which would bear good fruit.

When a famine comes upon the Universal Garden, the masses look and find that they have only weeds to eat. The wise among the masses eat the fruit which they had nourished in times of plenty. The Sage eats that which he had nourished, and still has much to share with those who would eat.

Cleave then, sayeth the skilled caretaker of the Universal Garden, unto the Great Sage, all ye who would be nourished in the day of the famine, for he has skilfully and lovingly tended to his own garden, and though his words will be few, much will be revealed, and upon that which has been revealed may ye feast.

In such a time as ye should eat of the fruit of the Garden, even that which is given unto thee by the Great Sage, the masses shall laugh and point, though they themselves still hunger for nourishment.

Be not led by shame from thy seat at thy Father’s table where thou eateth, even as the masses curse and mock thee, for it is Nature’s way that there should be some who feast on the fruits of the vine while others eat only the weeds. Nay, it is not just that they who see and they who eat should be led astray, even that they should be blind, and even that they should become hungry, and perish. Therefore, the wise among the masses tend not to those who are dead, but to those who are alive and nourished by the fruits which grow upon the vines of the Universal Garden.

Part VII.

Honour belongeth to the name of Simon Magus, the father of Gnosis, who watered the Universal Tree and climbed upon its branches.

When the messengers of God are led astray, and when they speak truth no more, and when they feel not what they speak, the masses are deprived of their path to God.

When the masses have been alienated from God, the wise among them look within.

There is a seed that promises good fruit and a bountiful harvest. Will ye plant it?

There is a root that twists and bends deep into the darkest depths of the cosmos, where it is nourished by the fresh waters which lie below. Will ye take thy shovel and dig deep, even that ye may also drink, and even that ye may be nourished?

There is a trunk that towers high into the canopy of the Universal Garden. Will ye guide this trunk, even that it may grow yet higher, and even that it may remain on the straight and narrow path into eternity?

There are branches that spread far into the infinite abyss of eternity. Will ye climb upon these branches, even that ye may look out upon the Universal Garden, and even that ye may touch the hand of God?

There is a fruit given to thee by the Great Tree. Will ye pick it, even that ye may eat? Will thy soul be nourished by this fruit which giveth knowledge of good and evil to all who partake?

When the Great Tree has been blown wayward by the winds of the garden, the masses take an axe to the trunk. The wise among them put down their axes and instead tie the Tree to a firm and straight pillar which they have driven into the ground beneath their feet. In doing so, they guide the Tree back toward the true path of eternity. They have learned to do this by way of the Great Sage, who is the Master Caretaker of the Universal Garden, and who teacheth the way to all who would listen.

Therefore, take thee heed of the Master Caretaker, even he who cares for all, and be thou guided from out of thy darkness and into the light.

When the masses see no way, they believe that all ways are good. When the masses go in all ways, the Great Tree is forced by the strengthening pressure of the masses to become wayward and weak. When the Great Tree has become weak, and when, by the pressure of the masses, it has grown wayward, the wise Sages in the land put their trust in that which is immovable, and in that which cannot grow wayward.

When the structures of being are shifting, and when the floodgates of immorality are bursting open, the Great Sage exercises faith in those things which cannot shift, and he builds walls around his garden, even that he may preserve that which is cherished against the terrible blows of fate.

Part VIII.

When the masses make much noise, the wise among them tread softly. The Sage treads very softly.

When the masses look down, the wise among them look up, in order that they may maintain the universal harmony. The Sage looks ahead, so as to lead the masses back to the straight path.

When the masses look up, the wise among them look down, in order that they may maintain the universal harmony. The Sage looks ahead, so as to guide the masses onward by the middle way.

When the masses look straight ahead, the wise among them maintain order. The Sage looks above and below, in order that he may know what is to come, and even that he may see how he may redirect his judgement.

When the masses feast, the wise among them fast, even that they may preserve what is in the storehouse. The Sage giveth the bread of life to those who fast.

When the masses are lost, the wise among them searcheth for the way. The Sage giveth the way, for he shines a light in the darkness.

When the masses pursue that which is unholy, the wise among them plant flowers. The Sage giveth seed.

When the masses are overcome by evil, the wise among them pursue that which is good. The Sage sees beyond good and evil.

When the masses pursue that which is good, the wise among them study all that is evil. The Sage studies the direction of the masses.

When there is chaos among the masses, the wise among them seek order. The Sage seeks that which cannot be corrupted by chaos or order.

When the tyrant has subdued the masses, the wise among them seek chaos. The Sage seeks correct balance.

So it is that when a mighty tree has been burned, and when its core has been hollowed out, the outer layer becomes the main route for nutrients to flow to the branches above.

Part IX.

When a mighty tree has fallen, young growth races to the sky, and so death gives way to life.

When a tree has been cut at the base, new branches emerge from the stump. So the tree finds a path to eternity.

When the masses have corrupted the youth, the wise among them encourage the youth who are uncorrupted to strive for great heights. The Sage has striven, and now shines a light from above.

When the masses have lost the Way, the wise among them return to the rituals of their ancestors. The Sage finds the diamonds among the stones.

When the masses believe that they know, they will not be corrected. When the masses die by their pride, the wise among them seek counsel from the Sage, who guideth all who would return to the straight path.

When the masses do more, the wise among them do less, so as to maintain the universal harmony. The Sage does what is necessary, and that is why he is a Sage.

When the masses do less, the wise among them do more, so as to maintain the straight path of eternity. The Sage does what is required, and in such a manner he embodies the Universal Logos.

When the masses curse God, the wise among them search for Him. When the masses praise God, the wise among them question him. Everything done by the Sage is a praise and a prayer to God.

When the masses eat cake, the wise among them eat bread. When the masses have only bread to eat, the wise among them eat crumbs. The Sage eats only what is needed for nourishment, and for him there is always enough.

Not all philosophers are Sages, yet all Sages are philosophers.

The masses pursue that which is here today and gone tomorrow. The wise among them pursue that which is common among all things perceived. The Sage seeks those things which are common among that which is perceived and that which is not yet perceived. By seeking such things, the Sage comes into alignment with the Universal Way.

Give thine attention to the wise words of Seneca, the great philosopher who guided many generations with his moral letters. A great caretaker was he, for while the masses slaughtered their own in the games of Rome, he shone the light of truth for all to see after him.

Part X.

Life dances to the tune of the cosmos. Do you hear it? Will you dance?

The masses are poor dancers, for they perceive not the tune. The wise among the masses hear the tune and learn the dance. The Sage knows that all are dancing in perfect harmony, whether they know it or not, which they do—deep within their being.

Everything in the cosmos has a time and season. All creation sings the same tune, though humans have been blinded by their awareness, and they perceive that they do not sing.

The masses are guided by the rhythm of a year. The wise among them are guided by the rhythm of a day. The Sage is guided by the rhythm of a moment, for he is privy to the deepest wisdom of the cosmos, and he knows that seconds dance to the same rhythm as days, years and eons.

Some sing praise only to the warmth of Summer, others only to the colours of Autumn. Some give praise only to the snow of Winter, and others to the new life of Spring. The wise among them give praise in all seasons. The Sage gives praise to the seasons which govern the Universal Garden.

The masses are the heart of a nation. Do you feel their rhythm?

The wise among them are the mind of a nation. Let them be guided by sound discernment and the fear of God.

The king is the soul of a nation, if it be free, for he is elevated by the heart and mind of the nation.

If the king is courageous, so too will be the masses. If the king is just, the masses will follow suit. The wise among the masses keep their eyes open and their ears bent so as to detect a wayward king. The Sage seeks to guide the king, even that he may not be led wayward, and even that he may not lead the masses down perilous ways.

If the King heareth not the counsel of the Sage, the Sage warns those who are wise. When the truly wise hear the warning of the Sage, they speak to the masses. If there are enough among the masses who hear, the nation will be spared.

Harken, then, unto the Sage, all ye who would be wise. His words bring harmony unto a nation.

Those who have heard the words of the Sage, go now and tell those who have not heard, for thy nation rests upon thine shoulders.

Part XI.

Lo, a spring hath burst forth from the depths and now gives fresh water to all who would drink.

Wilt thou take thine cup and fill it with the water which flows, even that ye may drink of the water therein, and even that ye may have wisdom?

Lo, a seed hast fallen on fertile ground and is nourished by the water that springs forth.

Will a seed grow branches, but no roots? Or will it send its roots deep into the dark abyss, but not its branches into the glory of eternity? It would not be so, for the seed needs the depths and the heights, and the depths are not without the heights, and the heights are not without the depths.

Lo, the Sun has risen, and He now sends His rays to warm the seedling which grows.

Will the Sun not set in the evening, bringing darkness upon the Garden? Such is the way, for a seedling is nourished by the light off day and the dark of night.

To the masses, a seedling grows slowly. To the wise among them, the seedling grows as fast as it can. To the Sage, the seedling is transformed into a great towering fig tree in a brief moment.

To the Sage, the forest canopy resembles the waves of the ocean throughout the eons.

Lo, a Great Tree has been nourished by the waters of the depths and the light of the Sun and Moon on high.

Will the Great Tree spread its branches in one direction, or its roots on one path? It will not be so, for the Great Tree requires deep and wide foundations, and must also reach its branches to all corners.

The branches, stripped of leaves, resemble the roots, and reveal the way, for the path of the seed is not up or down, but out.

Such is the consciousness of man, which is the consciousness of the whole, for it reaches its branches far and wide, high and low throughout the being of the Cosmos. Thus, the Great Sage is the true vine that twists and winds throughout the branches of eternity, and in doing so, He sees all.

Part XII.

There is pleasure in virtue. Can you feel it?

There is freedom in discipline. Will you seek it?

There is meaning in duty. Wilt thou do thine?

There are angels singing. Do you hear their song?

There is a dream upon a cloud, somewhere, somehow. Do you… nah, don’t worry about it.

Pride leadeth to great evil, but also to exceeding care of duty. Which will ye choose?

Demons knock at the door, but Christ also. Who wilt thou welcome?

There’s so much to see, and not enough time to see it. Look around—what are some of your favourites?

A flood cometh, not of water, but of blood. Wilt thou build an ark? Wisdom fills thy cup, though it is bitter to taste. Wilt thou drink?

A vision of paradise hath been given unto thee, and a warning of hell, also. Have I shown ye these things that thou shouldst now sleep again?

“Bow thine head and humbly pray,”
Is what thine mother oft would say.
But wilt thou dare, on bended knee,
To ask in sweet humility;

To wish, an answer, to receive;
To not, thine ego, let deceive;
To hear the answer as it tells
Thy soul of ancient wishing wells?

For when thine heart is stretched betwixt
The heavenly heights and the hellish sticks,
A wish is roughly all ye’ve got,
So pray and live, or sleep and rot.

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