As per the Eastern Scriptures, Sanat Kumara is the Lord of our planet and he lives in Shamballa. Shamballa is a place in the etheric plane around the Gobi Desert. Each year in Aries, the Plan or the seed for the year is received by Sanat Kumara and his team from higher circles. It is like a tremendous impulse of consciousness, a stream of energy fertilising the planet. This impulse is stepped down in Shamballa, and at Taurus full moon, it is passed on to the ashram of Hierarchy in the ethers of the Himalayan range. At Gemini full moon it is further distributed to the disciples working on the physical plane. They form the link with humanity and endeavour to manifest the Plan during the remaining nine months of the year.

The picture illustrates the transmission of this grand impulse. At the top you see Sanat Kumara and his team of Dhyan Chohans – Siddhas or perfect beings. The semicircle is open towards the top, like a receptacle for the reception of the sublime energies depicted in electric blue. The other segments of circles indicate the spheres of Spiritual Hierarchy and of humanity.

Below there is the Himalayan range with Mount Everest, composed of several photos. In the central axis, you see a group, created with a photo of statues of a blessing Buddha. There are seven larger flames representing the seven major groups of Masters.

See more pictures on the site with my paintings. If you want to print the image, you can download the file in medium and high resolution format.
The different zodiacal signs are clustered in groups – you can see here all my Taurus paintings.

With the growth of consciousness, we overcome our personality limitations. The soul breaks the boundaries and becomes limitless. As personalities we are different, as souls we are one. From individual consciousness we grow to group consciousness and to the consciousness of oneness, of BE-ness. BE-ness is beyond boundaries and beyond frames. Artists experiment with accessing to this reality in new ways.

The international art collective teamLab aims to explore the relationship between the self and the world. They want to “transcend the boundaries in our perception of the world, of the relationship between the self and the world, and of the continuity of time. Everything exists in a long, fragile yet miraculous, borderless continuity of life.”

teamLab is a collaborative group of Japanese artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, mathematicians and architects. They call themselves “ultratechnologists”. Through collaborative practice they seek “to navigate the confluence of art, science, technology, design and the natural world. Various specialists such as artists form teamLab.” (from their “biography“) See here impressions of their artwork.

In Tokyo, a permanent space is being erected, where their psychedelic exhibition “borderless” is installed. It is part of the digital art museum teamLab. teamLab has permanent expositions in various parts of the world creating futuristic environments of colours, sounds, and spaces.

Today is Aries new moon – as per the wisdom teachings it is the beginning of the new annual cycle. Ten years ago, I started with Aries the series of Spiritual Astrology paintings as a part of the Images of Synthesis series – though at that time, I did not yet know it would be a series.
Here you find the 11 Aries images have manifested since 2010, giving various aspects of the symbolism of the sign. You find the detailed descriptions of the Aries paintings on the ludgerphilips.org website.

We are in the time of spring equinox (autumn equinox in the Southern hemisphere) and it is the time of inner and outer equilibrium. On the planet, this balance fluctuates greatly at the moment. So, it is all the more important to keep it inwardly.

The following contribution was intended to be a part of a presentation at the “CVV Sharing” group life in Germany during this equinox. It had to be cancelled due to the present extraordinary situation.

“Transitions – Meditative morning walks over a field, between 7:30 and 8:30 am” contains 93 photos taken during these morning walks in the neighbourhood over 6 months.
It shows the beauty and the dynamic transitions in nature – and that partly drastic changes often come nearly unnoticed. We often do not remark where a change begins and when the new quality is emerging.

You can download it here as a powerpoint (length approx. 12 min., 100 MB). The use is only for private purposes.

My friend Sebastián Rey Aristimuño, Lipikas Films, Buenos Aires, has realised a video with a selection of the photos and a different view.

Over the last months, we met several times via Skype as the steering committee for the “CVV Sharing” – five members to plan and organize this year’s meeting at spring equinox weekend.

Yesterday, Sunday evening, we had an extraordinary meeting where we wanted to discuss the impact of the corona virus and the latest anti-virus regulations – how to continue with next weekend’s meeting in Northern Germany. Our two dear friends from Denmark, team members, just had informed that they would not be able to come – Denmark had just closed down the borders to Germany. I thought of “ro-pla”, rolling planning. I had evaluated the dangers and was resolved to go in spite of difficulties. In the afternoon already, I had checked official German and Swiss websites and saw that the border to Germany was not closed – not yet.

During our Skype meeting, we had an interesting exchange. I told what I had experienced in my surrounding – what the situation was doing with the people and the heating up of the topic via mails, social media, newspaper. I told what I heard from my son, an officer of Swiss Army and ambulance man who might have to go this week for service at the Italian border supporting hospitals in emergency. One team member expressed that he feels it is a hype, that the fear and virulence of discussion is stronger than the effects of the virus. He shared some interesting thoughts from his perspective of being a spiritual astrologer – about the Pluto-Saturn conjunction in Capricorn and its impact on societies.

The other member, also a spiritual astrologer and in addition a profound symbologist, mathematician and IT specialist, said that he tries to understand the effect of the corona virus not by “what the virus is” but by observing how it expresses – its signature and symbolic characteristics. For him, it has to do with fire, it shows qualities of Leo, the royal sign, and it even carries the Latin name for “crown”.

Now the rulers of nations close the borders of their “kingdoms” – something some have dreamt of before – and people get locked up in their places. It affects the way we rule our lives. Environmentalists did not succeed in what the nearly invisible virus brought about in a few weeks – drastically cutting down flights and other travels.

Observing the statistics published about the fast spreading virus, he sees that this dynamism will for sure not be stopped in a matter of a few weeks – the graphics show a development intensity that will take months to calm down again, even with new and effective medicines on the markets….

Suddenly during the conversation my telephone started ringing. My youngest son just came back from Germany and my wife was driving him to his home. They told me that at 8 am next morning Germany will shut down the borders to Switzerland and other countries.

I realised that I cannot travel, will stay locked up. In the Skype meeting we discussed the new situation. My friends decided that they will try to keep up the group life. I could no more join them.

In the night, while I was sending out the invitations that the online study groups will continue this week with a special for equinox celebration, they communicated,
“The CVV sharing is taking place. We think it’s important to meet in this situation for joint meditation and seek the vertical connection to the Master energy. The program will change because we have some cancellations… Our plea: Come to share! There is no better way to strengthen the immune system as social / spiritual contacts, group meditation, the testimony to Timeless Wisdom, Love… and humour! Let us remain aligned in love.”

I will join in spirit – and with our online groups.

P.S.: My friend mentioned above commented:

“Dear Ludger, the Latin word corona has so many meanings. One main is the surrounding, limiting circle, a Saturn symbolism. Once upon a time, the world power Rome crowned its slaves. Rome, the Lion capital of the Lion country Italy – a really heartful country, but also the first corona-infected in Europe!
Our world is divided in rich and poor. Most of humanity lives in poverty. The apparently privileged people in Europe and all over the world are becoming slaves to the financial and economic systems. More and more we are loosing our creativity, our big Lion potential – the other side of the meaning: corona, the heavenly the Sun power.
I hope we will return to that power and the main Lion gifts – giving and loving.”

On his seeming journey from south to north, the Sun cuts the equator at spring equinox. It is the beginning of Aries and the Sun is directly overhead at the equator. The equator is an imaginary circle around the earth. South of the equator is the tropic of Capricorn and north of the equator is the tropic of Cancer; at both of these points the Sun seemingly changes direction. In Spiritual Astrology, cutting the circle is seen as the beginning of a new cycle.

The image visualises the Sun cutting the equator from an inner perspective. Inwardly, the equator corresponds to the navel centre. The picture shows Mother Earth sitting inside the globe and the Sun at her navel cuts the plane of the equator. Above and below are the two tropics. At her heart there is the shape of India and the Himalayas as her breast jewel. The North Pole is at the top of her head.

For the Mother Earth I used a statue of Quan Yin. The globe lies in a huge lotus, signifying the principle of unfoldment. The detail of the globe is created with the help of a picture from WorldWind.earth using NASA images. The reddish colour is from the overlay of a photo of a sunrise over India at a Christmas morning. The red Capricornian sunrays are seen as the blood of the Sun, the saviour.

In the upper left corner, you see Mars, the ruler of Aries, and in the right corner there is the constellation Aries.

See more pictures on the site with my paintings. If you want to print the image, you can download the file in medium and high resolution format.
The different zodiacal signs are clustered in groups – you can see here all my Aries paintings.

36 years years ago, Master EK passed over to the subtle spheres – the day of his transition was 17th of March, 1984, on Pisces Full Moon day. See more here. See here the videos on Master EK from the series on “Music of the Soul” (from video 2 on).

At the celebration of Master EK’s birthday 2019, Master Kumar said:

“Master EK left the physical in 1984. Though it was earlier than expected, we should not worry because wherever he is, he will continue to fulfil the plan and bless everyone who sincerely follows his teachings. We should not think that he is no more because all beings always exist and such ones can give their presence from anywhere just by recollection. He continues to inspire us to walk the path. We should keep recollecting him from time and time and be sincere in following his teachings. May he bless all of us.

Here is a short story from the discourse of Sri Kumar (Master KPK) at the celebration of Master EK’s birthday 2019 and a picture of the Master:

“I used to drive Master EK in my car to many places. Once we going in that car and Master EK asked “What is this?” pointing to the car dashboard. I said it contains all the documents relating to the vehicle. He opened that dashboard and took out a picture of Lord Maitreya from it and told me to keep it with myself. I was shocked as to how he did it. I kept it in my room and used to feel very happy every time I saw it. Once Master EK was looking for a picture of Lord Maitreya and could not find any. He asked me and I said he could take the picture which he gave me. He asked, “Are you willing to give that away?” I said I will give if he requires it as it was given by him. Master EK felt very happy and said “I am happy that you give importance to Lord Maitreya without getting attached to his picture.” He took that picture and sent to someone in Vijayawada who needed it. That person was losing his eyesight and no medicines were working. He was given the picture of Maitreya and asked to look into the eyes of Lord Maitreya every day. That person did not lose eyesight as long as he remained in the body. There are many incidents that like which we can keep discussing.

Master EK is a great saint who lived among us and we should be very grateful to have come in contact with him. We should be very sincere in following the instructions and teachings of Master EK.”

The newspapers here are full of articles about the coronavirus and epidemics. Today, our regional newspaper published a long interview with the Chinese ambassador in Switzerland telling that the peak of the coronavirus crisis has been passed, and another article about “The coming plagues – Viruses are unpredictable. Despite modern medicine, we have to live with them”…

This morning, I read again an article in the Vaisakh Newsletter, Pisces 2020, p 10. Though already written in October 2019, before the spread of the coronavirus, it is like a comment to the present situation. In the article, Dr Sri K. Parvathi Kumar elaborates a seed thought of Master Koot Hoomi on Shambala striving hard to arrest deteriorating conditions on the planet even by promoting natural calamities like epidemics – and man being the unconscious contributor to the spread of such poisonous viruses. Here is an excerpt:

“Shambala embarked upon the responsibility of purifying and uplifting the Earth. In its effort to keep the Earth pure, Shambala strives through the Hierarchy to educate the humanity of the need for keeping the Earth pure. While Earth is striving towards purity, the humanity is working contrary to the Earth’s plan. The humanity is consistently and constantly polluting the earth. Unless the irresponsible nature of humanity is set right, the effort of Earth to purify itself remains undone. The matter, the water as well as the air are deeply polluted upon Earth. The illicit and immoral activity of humanity infected the Earth with infectious germs, variety of poisonous fevers and epidemics that emerge from time to time. The old epidemics are replaced by the new and more vicious fevers. Varieties of viruses are prevalent upon Earth. Man is afraid of the geometrical progression of viruses but he least realizes that he is the unconscious contributor to the spread of poisonous viruses.
Shambala strives hard to arrest these deteriorating conditions if and when the deterioration is rampant. It even promotes natural calamities such as earthquakes, explosion of volcanoes, tsunamis, tornadoes and the like. If required, mass scale wars are also promoted. The Will of Shambala is invincible.”

Today starts the month of Pisces. Here you find ten images for the month of Pisces which have manifested in ten years of Spiritual Astrology Paintings, giving various aspects of the symbolism of the sign. They form part of the Images of Synthesis series. You find the detailed descriptions of the Pisces paintings on the ludgerphilips.org website.

This is the 1500th blog-post. I started blogging on 31 March 2006. I called the blog “Flowers on the Wayside”, along the roads of Good Will.

This post is about incense. Recently in an online-meeting with friends someone said, “But please don’t bring these black heavy ones…” They preferred light, Japanese incense. I also like but I silently thought of “these black heavy ones” which had become my trusted companions since many years. And I thought to write some words about them.

Of course, there’s no arguing about taste, and we can also add, no arguing about smell. Smell has a profound influence and you can remember it over many years. I know of a sandalwood fragrance which was used at a meditation seminar in summer 1975. I got one package, and it was so delicious… I never found that species again.

Many others followed. In a way, it became a dear meditation habit to light an incense. And when once one of my sisters told me that it was a dangerous habit, that the smoke is harmful to the lungs, that in India, living with open windows, it might be OK but here it is not – I thought, then may it be my little addiction… I especially like some of the kinds manufactured in the Sri Aurobindo ashram – they are striving for perfection.

I came to know the “black heavy ones” when I first came to the WTT group lives end of the 90s. They were not my favourites in the beginning. But I heard that they are made according to a recipe given by Master EK. I had felt a long, long calling by Master EK, over nearly 2 decades, before I approached and joined the path. And the incense became something linking me to this. And they became dear to me.

I heard from others saying, “I do not like them” – but I started liking. Maybe it was similar like with coffee, tea or smoking; it often does not taste well in the beginning but you can get accustomed. There are different flavours, and each time I am in India I get a good amount of them – for myself and also as a gift to friends. There is also one kind called “Sandal” – it does not smell much like sandal; however, I also like.

Incense supports alignment of the mind in meditation, to get the divine presence. In a group life in Argentina 2015 Sri Kumar said : “As far as incense is used it is to help you to get the presence. Once you are so well established in your prayers that you can relate to the presence even without incense, the incense shall not bother you.” Master CVV recommended incense, saying incense is important because the Master energy works through air, it is the permeating principle of the air. Therefore, having a good odour in the ambience is important.

Among all perfumes, sandalwood is considered to be the most sacred, because it supports the will in an excellent way, and it opens doors into super mundane much more effectively than any other perfume, than any other incense. There should be no artificial perfumes, only natural ones. Also before going to sleep you should light an incense and then go asleep, having conducted a prayer. Lighting a candle and an incense would dispel negative elements from the room. Sandalwood is also helpful for an easy departure and entry into the subtle planes at the moment of death.

Whenever we read a scripture about subtle topics, we should have incense and a candle. It is helpful to pray for the cooperation of the author of the scripture, as his presence is with the scripture. It is like a big light that can show us the intricacies of the text.