The commencement of the year is in Pisces and its tangible commencement is in Aries. Even while concluding the yearly cycle, Pisces prepares the seeds for manifestation of the new cycle.

The symbolism of Pisces is visualised in the twelve Pisces paintings of the Images of Synthesis series done between 2010 and 2021. See also: https://www.ludgerphilips.org/.

Group energy is of great help for our spiritual progress. In a group meditation there develops a flow of energy. We are recharged and we can more easily experience a higher consciousness and a greater presence of spirit.

The energies always flow from the higher to the lower. The sun rays are streaming from the Sun to the Earth. The higher energies work through us when we feel the needs of others and respond to them. These energies strengthen the group consciousness, and they help manifest acts of goodwill in the world. Group work brings the inner light to the outside and intensifies the connection to the higher circles.

To illustrate this cooperation, I arranged in the lower part of the picture a group gathered around a table by joining pictures of two different groups. For visualising the influx of higher energies, I used a photo of a dahlia, elements of a picture of the earth, created with the software WorldWind.earth, as well as a picture of a star in the upper part of the picture. I designed the downpour of light with photos of a glass crystal held in front of a lamp. The light of the star shines through the earth globe and is reflected in the hearts of the group members.

The symbolism of Aquarius is visualised in the twelve Aquarius paintings done between 2010 and 2021. For detailed detailed descriptions please see the ludgerphilips.org website.

The horse is a profound spiritual symbol carrying various dimensions. This week, I did a video presentation about this symbolism of the horse. It was the topic of last month’s Lunar Messenger for Sagittarius (PDF), the text is also here on the WTT website.

The video was done with a layout developed for the Friends of the World Teacher Trust, and it was also published on the Friends of WTT YouTube channel. You can download the paintings used in the video on my website ludgerphilips.org. There is also a German and a French version of the video.

Watch the video to learn more about the sublime symbol of the Horse.

Capricorn, tenth sign of the zodiac, is called “the mountain”. It is the mountain of initiation, a symbol of the spiritual quest of the personality to unite with the light of the soul. After climbing to the peak and absorbing the “light supernal”, the initiate returns to assist those who are captive in matter. Capricorn represents the dawn of the year. The golden rays of the morning sun, the winter solstice sun, pour forth a spiritual light and activity that help the souls free themselves from matter and rise up again.

The energy of Capricorn supports the development of the golden etheric body and also the diamond causal body. In mythology they are represented as golden and diamond dragons. Since ancient times, high beings have lived on earth called Nagas in spiritual wisdom. They are sacred serpents or dragons holding the light of wisdom. Like serpents, they live in hidden caves in the mountain regions. The Nagas can be regarded as embodiments of the Kundalini energy. They are the ascending serpents and are radiant and divine by nature. The descending serpents are represented as black and are poisonous by nature. The Nagas do a lot of good for humanity. Some of them are also said to be able to fly.

For the illustration of the Dragon of Wisdom, I photographed a dragon statue in a Tai Chi centre in Hamburg. The mountain in the background was designed with a photograph of Aconcagua, the highest mountain in the Andes, which a pilot friend, flying over, had photographed. The essence of wisdom streaming down from the sun enters and illuminates the dragon. In his hand he holds a golden glowing orb, symbol of the gift of wisdom for humanity.

The symbolism of Capricorn is visualised in the twelve Capricorn paintings done between 2010 and 2021. For detailed detailed descriptions please see the ludgerphilips.org website.

Sagittarius is called a house of initiation, but every initiation is preceded by a crisis. Therefore Sagittarius is also the house of crises. The seers always present things in their positive dimension and so they speak of an opportunity for initiation. We should not run away from crises, but face them courageously. In Sagittarius they are fiery crises because Sagittarius is a fire sign. The fiery crisis we face can give us a push to continue on the path of light.

The symbolism of Sagittarius is visualised in the twelve Sagittarius paintings done between 2010 and 2021. For detailed detailed descriptions please see the ludgerphilips.org website.

From a spiritual point of view, the sun of our solar system is a threefold principle. The visible sun is only the focal point for the action of a greater sun called the central sun or the soul of the sun. And the cosmic sun is the spirit aspect of the solar principle. This cosmic or spiritual sun is invisible and incomprehensible to us. The central sun, around which our sun moves, corresponds to the human soul. The physical body of the sun corresponds to our physical body. Everything is threefold in its manifestation.

The physical sun has its correspondence in our heart centre. The soul of the sun has its seat in the Ajna centre on the middle of the forehead, and the cosmic sun is located in the head centre, the Sahasrara. In the Gayatri mantram, the three planes of the sun are called Surya, Savitru and Bhargo Deva. The cosmic plane of the sun is Bhargo Deva. Savitru, the central sun, receives the light of the soul from the cosmic sun and gives it to Surya. Through Surya, the visible sun, the earth receives its light and we receive the light in our hearts. Thus, we have the cosmic, solar and planetary systems embedded in us.

For the human silhouette in the centre of the image, I edited a photo of the writer. I designed the background with a photo of a sunrise and elements of a NASA photo of a star nebula. The sun in the heart was created with photos of the sun. The electric blue light of the sun in the Ajna centre leads beyond the shape of the body. The radiant centre at the top of the image suggests the formless, invisible cosmic sun.

The luminous central line merges into the light as individual consciousness gradually unites with universal consciousness. The semicircles in the lower part of the picture symbolize the different density levels from space to earth.

The symbolism of Sagittarius is visualised in the twelve Sagittarius paintings done between 2010 and 2021. For detailed detailed descriptions please see the ludgerphilips.org website.

On the lower levels of awareness, Scorpio stands for darkness and loss of consciousness. When we lose ourselves in the outer life, the light of the soul disappears; we are trapped. Especially in the month of Scorpio we should withdraw from unimportant activities and delve more into meditation. It is on inner levels where we can experience much light and bring it into everyday life. Scorpio thus offers the opportunity to encounter and overcome our undesired patterns.

The symbolism of Scorpio is visualised in the twelve Scorpio paintings done between 2010 and 2021. For detailed detailed descriptions please see the ludgerphilips.org website.

On his symbolic journey through the zodiac, the Sun in Scorpio reaches the darkness of the underworlds. Scorpio stands for loss of consciousness and death experiences. These experiences often seem frightening because they reflect encounters with the dark aspects of our personality not yet purified. Scorpio enables us to enter into the silence for inner transformation and ascension to the light.

Scorpio represents the threshold to the infernal worlds. At this threshold a Master watches over the planet and its beings, ensuring that no one falls into the nether worlds. The Master is symbolised by the three-headed watchdog called Sarama in the East and Cerberus (Kerberos) in Greek mythology. Sarama stands for the dog star Sirius, the watchdog of our system. Master Jupiter is this watchdog.

To illustrate this symbolism, I transformed a Wikimedia photo by Matthiasberlin showing a group of statues from the archaeological museum of Heraklion, Greece. It depicts the three-headed Cerberus at the threshold of the underworld, surrounded by Hades/Pluto, the regent of the underworld, and his wife Persephone. She represents the part of the immortal soul that goes through the experiences of birth and death.

The symbolism of Scorpio is visualised in the twelve Scorpio paintings done between 2010 and 2021. For detailed detailed descriptions please see the ludgerphilips.org website.

I was invited via Mark, a friend from Seattle, to give a talk at the Theosophical Society in Seattle via Zoom. The theme: “Creativity and Originality: From the Inside to the Outside and Back“. In Seattle, it was 4-5:30 pm, for me, it was 1 – 2:30 am Monday morning.

I enjoyed very much the “night fly to Seattle” to be with the group there, and several of my friends from the US participated. After the presentation, a member of the organising team of TS Seattle wrote: “Under the clothing of art you managed to convey much wisdom; it’s much appreciated”.

The presentation is about 1 hour. A month before, I had given the same talk for the German community of the WTT. There is also now a French version of the presentation.

Here is the link to the PDF text of the talk. And this link leads to the talk of my friend Mark about “Master KPK and Meetings with Remarkable People“.

10 days ago, a friend sent me some photos of Mount Girnar, a very sacred place in Gujarat, India, linked to Lord Dattatreya, where he is said to dwell. In 2018, my friend Srinivas sent me some copies of the book “Experiencing Divinity” written and self-published by Pramod Kene. It is about his spiritual discipline of climbing Mount Girnar 50 times. (The publisher is given as: Pramod Kene, Vartak Aali, Chaul, Talula Alibag, District Raigad, Maharashtra – 402203, India. Price: Rs.300/-)

I read the book with great fascination and distributed the extra-copies to friends. Srinivas now also gave a text extract from the book of Sri Kene about Mount Girnar, which you find below. You might not understand all the expressions in the text but you can read it with the heart. Srinivas also sent the pics of a sunrise at Girnar and a video, but it is not published on the web. So I give another video from YouTube for you to get an impression of climbing the sacred mount.

“Girnar is an immutable abode of Sri Datta Maharaj. There is no place for doubt whatsoever.

This is the place where Sri Dattatreya Swamy has given in person Darshan to many saints. It is no wonder that from the immemorial several Siddha Yogis are engrossed in sadhana in the caves of Girnar.

The unparalleled beauty and grandeur of Mount Girnar is simply breathtaking…!

Girnar is “TAPOBHOOMI”, a land dedicated to sadhana and tapasya of Sri Datta Maharaj.

It is on the summit of Mount Girnar where Sri Datta Maharaj did tapas for 12000 years leaving “CHARANA PADUKA” behind that are a source of motivation to all Sri Datta Devotees.

All the avatars of the almighty had their work associated with the needs of that specific time line whereas the avatar of Sri Datta Maharaj is immortal and his work is timeless.

Sri Datta Maharaj is Guru of the Gurus and till data Swamy continues to guide all.

The blessings obtained in return of our deep and faithful devotion towards Sri Datta are undoubtedly manifold.

The task of punishing and bringing a strayed devotee back on the righteous path can only be done by Sri Datta.

The more you adore him, the more Sri Datta Maharaj radiates his affection in return.

The moment one enters the virtuous land of Girnar one can feel the positive vibes.

At a height of 3666 feet, is the pinnacle of Mount Girnar and is the dwelling of Gorakhkshanath. He did some very rigorous tapas here owing to which Sri Datta Maharaj blessed him by giving him personal darshan. Located here are Gorakhkshanath “Charan Paduka and Dhuni”.

Adjacent is a small tunnel and it is believed that one who passes through this tunnel gets away to “MUKTI”.

Next peak in line is the GuruShikar. GuruShikar is straight up and conical in shape.

At its top, at a height of 3630 feet above sea level, located are the CharanPaduka of Sri Datta Maharaj that are controlling the UNIVERSE.

Generally, the place of Guru is at the topmost position, but Gorakhkshanath prayed to Sri Datta Maharaj that he be at such a location that he could get a view of the Charan Paduka of Sri Datta Maharaj all the time. Sri Datta Maharaj agreed to this and for this reason, the Gorakhksha peak is slightly higher then GuruShikar.

From here Gorakhkshanath takes darshan of the Charan Paduka of Sri Datta Maharaj.

In ShivPuran Girnar is referred to as Revataachal Mountain.

In Skand Puran, it is named as Raivat, Revataachal, Kumud, Ujjayant.

The names Revataachal, Kumud, Ujjayant are associated with “Trimurti”.

There are indications in the puranas that Lord Ram and the Pandavs lived here in Girnar.

As per historic indications, “Girnar is older than Himalaya”.”