In a few hours we will be going for a week to Berlin. Many times I have been crossing the border from Switzerland to Germany. Each time I notice this strange change of qualities characterizing the national entities, this being so also when crossing other borders.
I know that some call it the national spirits, others say it is just an imagination or so-called cultural differences. For me it is a change of energy patterns, which I inwardly sense. They are also changing in smaller regional or geographical localities, towns or cities, but the change is more obvious when coming from one country into another. People seem to be entirely enveloped by their “own” areal qualities and often develop likes and dislikes towards other ones. National entities are controlling their own areas of influence, their cell membranes, to ward off unwanted elements…
It is a fascinating play of energies, though not so easy to locate. I wonder what kind of experiences we are coming across on this journey. It is also always a crossing of inner borders to other fields of experience.

Yesterday afternoon I had a chat with a young Indian studying engineering in Germany. I know him just via the web, we came into contact because we have the same spiritual teacher.
After a few ping-pongs he came out telling: “I am under heavy pressure to go back (to India) and get married to some girl of their choice” (his parents). “I would be happy if they leave me alone…” It is quite strange for us here in the West, though still very common in the East that not the individual but the family decides. He was fearing the decision of his parents, because he considered them to be people not interested in his spiritual way. It turned out that he just had thoughts about their attitude and didn’t know it exactly.
I told him: “I am sure that when they feel that you are trying to understand them, it might be a chance that they also feel what your inner need is.”
He didn’t want to speak to them fearing their interference.
I replied: “Don’t expect that your parents follow what you think, if they are not involved in the process.”
There came an excursion about monkhood, and then the deeper point: “How do I meet someone spiritual? (here in the West) All my friends drink and are not at all thinking about spirituality I am the only vegetarian, non drinker, I drive them crazy, they drive me crazy.”
It is really hard in our Western value system, considering ourselves to be modern and open-minded, to find a friend and a way, where one’s inner priorities don’t get compromised through the mainstream-pressure. I could just tell him some experiences and how I handled this situation in my life. He will have to find his solution.

Today is sunday – the meteorologists expect not just a sunny day. Clouds however don’t bother the sun, just us, he continues shining. In spirituality the sun stands for spirit, the eternal, while the moon, with its phases of waxing and waning, for matter. Very significant that today in the West we start the week with Monday, and Sunday is just a day off, at the very end of the week. Here even the shopping times are slowly extended, “for a better economy” as they say. Economy rules, we are in a materialistic mainstream time.
The sun continues to be the centre of our system, even if scientists since long have discovered its tiny dimensions in the vast surrounding. Not to speak of the lost dimensions of inner significance. Sun stands for light, and thus consciousness. Sunday is a good day to align with it. It somehow has a different quality than Saturday or Monday, it’s not just a cultural convenience. Having Friday as the centre and moon as the central planet for yearly rhythms gives a lot to think of, even down to politics and the so-called clash of cultures.
When installing this blog I have set the time to a weekly start on Sunday, and may this continue to be so, also with the way the blog proceeds.