In the symbolic journey through the zodiac, Libra represents the illusions into which the soul loses itself when it gets disconnected with the thread of Light.

I visualised it as a ravine and superimposed on it the structure of a labyrinth, depicting the windings of our intellect, our brain. There is a bridge of Light leading over the gap, and in the background there is the light of a huge unfolding flower of consciousness.

A pilgrim, symbol of the eternal part of the soul, is standing at the left side and looking down into the abyss.

At the left rock face, you see the volumes of a library, representing the great masses of knowledge where you can get lost in concepts. An old man is sitting in front of the wall of books, absorbed in studying.

A sage with a rod is observing him. He represents Saturn, the Lord of Time and the inner ruler of Libra. He is the guardian of the threshold who keeps you in a situation until the lesson is learnt.

At the bottom you see a snail, symbol of the slowly moving spiral of time.

At the centre, a young lady in white, representing the aspiring soul, is looking up to the guiding angel at the right. She is listening to him and is ready to ascend from the narrow abyss towards the Light.

The figures in this picture are taken from photos or transformed from paintings of Edward Burne-Jones (1833-1889) and Louis Janmot (1814-1892). You find more paintings in my gallery.

20 May 2013, A 5, pencils and photo work

Lately I came across the open source platform for Vedic and Western astrology,  Maitreya. It has been realised by IT architect Martin Pettau. He learned Yoga and astrology under the guidance of the late Yogi Paramapadma Dhirananda (from the Kriya-Yoga line of Babaji, Lahiri Mahasaya, Sri Yukteswar, Paramahansa Yogananda and Paramahansa Hariharananda).

The software is free for personal and professional use. It has been translated into a number of languages. All major desktop platforms are supported: Windows, Max OS X, Linux and UNIX.

Besides the technical details, you find on the website information about general and Vedic astrology and other topics. So if you are interested in working with the subtle aspects of time, this might be a helpful tool.

About the purpose of the software Martin writes:

• First goal is to serve as tool. The software has a lot of standard features for the daily work of western and Vedic astrologers. So it can save their time and energy; they can concentrate on the work of interpretation.
• Second goal is to enable astrologers for research. The program supports a lot of calculation options, so it can be used as a basis for research on the various questions of astrological calculation and interpretation.
• Third goal is to attract people and motivate them to learn astrology. Learning astrology is a complicated task because formal knowledge of planets, signs, Dasas etc. is not sufficient, but intuition and non-attachment to worldly affairs must be developed, too. So a “cool” astrology software may help in increasing the desire for that kind of knowledge.

He further emphasizes: “Astrology cannot be learned from books. Astrological software can only be a tool for the astrologer’s work. So the name of the software emphasizes the importance of divine inspiration on top of formal knowledge or astrological techniques.” This is a very important hint.

As per the name of the software he explains: “In classical Indian scriptures Maitreya is the ardent disciple of Maharishi Parasara, the author of Brihat Parasara Hora Shastra, the most prominent scripture of Vedic astrology. In this scripture the sage instructs his disciple on the various topics of Vedic astrology.”  If you want to read more about Maitreya, you might read the book “Lord Maitreya” by Sri K. Parvathi Kumar.

The software is free. In the FAQ-section it says:  “How can I make a donation?” – “Thank you for that noble offer. Please donate for religious purposes or for the poor and needy people on this planet.”

And this is a noble answer. There is a spiritual law which seems to be easy but is mostly forgotten today: As per the energetic balance there is no such thing as “free taking”. For everything you get or take without some kind of giving you receive and amass a subtle load. This is mostly not taken note of, even of those who “know” about it. This is true also for everything you get “free” from the web – and might be stocked on your computer, blocking some space on it, besides the energetic aspect.

So it is necessary to keep a good balance by more giving than taking. You don’t have to give towards the source from where you get something but you also can give in a direction where energy (money, time, loving attention) is needed. Otherwise you won’t really get any benefit of a program you download – you probably might not even use it.

Maitreya Series: Banners of the Coming One, by Nicholas Roerich, 1925-1926. Nizhnii Novgorod State Art Museum, Russia

Here is the link to a short video showing the journeys of HPB, from her childhood to 1875 – very impressive, how much she travelled the globe – a very courageous woman. (Spanish but you’ll understand….). If you like to read something about her life – years ago I wrote a short biography.

In the last blogpost on the Astro-Forum in Hamburg I gave a short description of a visualisation exercise with the double pyramid and the planets on the central axis I did with the group. I like this exercise which I do every morning in a standing position after doing some yoga asanas.

Two days ago I cam across an interesting extract of a transcription from a seminar of Sri Kumar in Hamburg 1989, where he gave more details about the work with the double pyramid as a powerful protection shield. In the text he mentions the mantram Saravanabhavaya, which you find described in the book on Mantrams  and which you can listen here. So here is the extract from the lecture (c: WTT India / Dhanishta Editions):

“Then we come to the meditation of the 6-faced Kumara. North and South, Each and West are the four directions, and we have two more directions, one is above, the other is below. With above and below, we have the six directions. From all these six directions, six types of energies visit us. They can be positive, if we are positive, they can be negative, if we are negative.

There is one triangle upwards and another triangle downwards making a rombus. Imagine that from the East there is a ray of light and wisdom coming into you and from the South there is a ray of love coming and meeting you in the heart. From the West you can imagine another ray of strength coming and meeting you in the heart. From the North it is the energy of silence coming as a ray and meeting you in the heart.

It is the light and wisdom of the East,
the love of the South,
the strength of the West,
the silence of the North

meeting you in a 4-fold direction in the center of your heart. You have already the cross fixed in you, because there is one energy coming from the front of you and another energy coming from the back and meeting at the same point in the heart. You have the center of the cross in your heart and you have the projection on all four sides. Then you connect up the four and you image that from above the four points are connected. Now you can see the dome and the base.

From above you invoke the Lord who for our purposes can be considered as the energy of Vasistha, and you have the dome connected from below to the four points.

There is a pyramid constructed from below and a pyramid constructed from above, the energy of the apex is that of Vasistha, and the energy that comes from below is Agastya. So, in the double pyramid you are totally covered. When the six angles are connected, you have the double pyramid built around you. The six angles are invoked with the six energies. One is wisdom, another is love, another is strength, and the fourth one is silence. This is how the cross is built, and with the energies from above which are the energies of Vasistha, and with the energies of Agastya, the two pyramids are constructed.

The two names Vasistha and Agastya which we use in the fire ritual are the names Indra Vishnu and Agna Vishnu in the Veda. Agna Vishnu is the one who burns up from below upwards. Indra Vishnu is the one who shines from above downwards. There is downpour of light from above downwards, and there is upsurge of light from below upwards. It is a 2-directional fire work. So, you have the wisdom, the love, the strength, the silence meeting in your heart center along with the 2-directional fires.

This is how the six syllables are uttered. When the pyramid is built on a daily basis and established around you, it is like a diamond armoury. From head to toe there is total coverage through this protective shield. It is a diamond-like protective shield that shines forth with great brilliance. You know how a diamond shines, when there is the light of the Sun? It not only makes various colours, but the colours that are reflected are very sharp, very brilliant. If you expose a pearl to the Sun, you can see some colours in it according to the angle. But if you expose a diamond to the Sun and then make angles, the colours it makes are so sharp and so brilliant, they sometimes blind your eyes. That is the kind of sharpness we have developed around us.

It looks as though we have developed an outer shield, but then this statement has its own inversion. We have to reverse the inversion. The inversion is that we find as if we have developed it around us. It is not something that is built around us through this meditation, but something from our heart unfolds as the two pyramids, while we keep making an external construction in meditation. The seed relating to the double pyramid is in the heart, and it unfolds itself and fills us from within outside. Then we carry that kind of aura around us. We can see the etheric of that person so well developed. It is not only transparent, it is effectively transparent.

…It is not mere development of an etheric body around us, it is a very brilliant and effective etheric that affects positively others. That is how the 6-syllabled mantra has to be meditated upon.

The mantra Saravanabhava is meditated after building the double pyramid. Each time you utter the mantra Saravanabhava you construct each of the directions, and then by six utterances you complete the double pyramid, sit happily inside and keep uttering as many times as you like. You are totally insulated. There is no question of any disturbance coming from outside. Inside there will be total clearance. …

Like this, the double pyramid will make you reach the high state of blissful existence.”

Here is a painting I did in 2010, about the double pyramid: “Libra – Balancing the Higher and the Lower Pole”. You find here a description.

Last weekend I was in Hamburg for the first forum on spiritual astrology organised by members of the WTT-group of Hamburg. We were 21 participants from different parts of Germany, Sweden and me from Switzerland. The meeting was in in a beautiful old hall of Osho-people quiet in the centre of Hamburg. I’m working since over 2 decades with the inner side of astrology, observing time rhythms and movements, and especially working with visualisation. Most of my paintings are inspired by it, and I had done a video (Dance of the Zodiac) for the occasion of this meeting.

There was an intense program:

Birke presented thoughts about the esoteric rulers of the zodiac.

Benjamin, who has developed an astro-program with a special focus on esoteric astrology and is well versed in the symbolism of Greek mythology, introduced his thoughts about Vulcan. He proposed that the hypothetical planet said to be close to the Sun and within the orb of Mercury is not a planet but the mass centre or barycentre of the solar system (scroll down on the Wikipedia page to view the animation. The barycentre is the point between two objects where they balance each other.) And he offered a way of calculating the position of Vulcan in relation to soul-based astrology.

Heinrich and Wolfgang discussed the relations between the 7 rays, the subtle bodies and astrology. They presented an idea how to make an approach to determine the ray qualities of the bodies and the personality with the help of astrology. Wolfgang furthermore gave a committed plea about the house systems using equal houses (because the other systems like Placidus and Koch are not universally valid and the calculation of the MC is based not on the coordinate system of the zodiac but on the coordinate system of the equator of the earth.)

All inputs concluded with a short period of silence and sounding of OM, and we also had group meditations. It strengthened the meditative field of group consciousness which all participants strongly feld.

As a counterbalance to the more conceptual talks I gave an  input about astrology and visualisation. I started with a recitation cum flute music of a chapter from Master EKs Spiritual Astrology. His texts are full of visual intensity and this way I wanted to convey the experience of inner images. I then did an exercise with the group, of opening the inner space while standing and and greeting the 4 directions and the central axis. Then we continued this “inner body work” with an exercise of visualising the planets and the present constellations in the body. I also introduced a visualisation of the cosmic Lords and the Prajapatis. Though it just takes a few minutes to go through the visualisation, it is a complex rhythmic movement through the subtle bodies which enlivens the inner presence. I do it quickly every morning and it helps me connecting the micro-cosmos which I am with the subjective side of the macro-cosmos.

All along the seminar there were lively discussions and exchanges, continuing during the meals and in the evening. The group felt the strong intent to continue this kind of participatory exchange on an annual basis. And for those who like a more regular exchange also with the help of a blog.

Preparing the room

Picture of Rishi Agastya, or Master Jupiter, the central inspirer of Spiritual Astrology

Heinrich from Sweden giving his input

Wolfgang (centre), a long-time astrologer from Hamburg and central coordinator of the meeting, together with Benjamin and Heinrich

Pause discussions

An evening walk along the Elbe

For the “Astro Forum”, organised by WTT-Hamburg of last weekend, I did a video published on YouTube , “Dance of the Zodiac“. It is an arrangement of images from my paintings on symbolisms of spiritual astrology, on which I’m working since 4 years. You might have seen them on my website (with explanations) or also on the Good-Will site, (there with links for downloads in print version).

As background music I chose a flute song of Terry Oldfield, “Loving Touch”. With some nice words he gave his ok – thank you Terry. You might have heard of him; he does “Music from the Heart” and fascinating music inspired by nature and Eastern wisdom (see on YouTube).

There are very inspiring and valuable activities all over the world to make a change in life conditions. I just came across KarmaTube.org, a video platform “dedicated to bringing inspirational stories to light, using the power of video and the internet to multiply acts of kindness, beauty, and generosity.” Their motto is “Watch. Be inspired. Act.” Have a look!

KarmaTube is a project of ServiceSpace, a very interesting volunteer run organization. Their aim is to enable individuals to contribute in meaningful ways to the world around them: “Together, we hope to ‘be the change we wish to see in the world’.”

Here is a video highlighted on KarmaTube, “The Overview Effect”, which has been done for the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the famous ‘Blue Marble’ photograph taken of Earth from space. It documents some of the astronauts’ life-changing stories of seeing the Earth from the outside – the Overview Effect. It has been creating a new kind of awareness. “They have realised that unity and oneness of all life on earth, of consciousness and awareness.”

Have a look at other very good videos on KarmaTube, like “Where is away?” about throwing away of single-use plastic articles, by “Surfing for Change“, a fascinating project of professional surfers.

A great video about the vastness of the universe from micro to macro. I have blogged about other such visualisations (here and here and here and also here) but I’m always fascinated by these presentations of the macro and microcosm. This video is really well orchestrated. Enjoy.

Pic from the video (c)

The book “Spiritual Astrology” is a storehouse of profound concepts of wisdom, which let images come to my mind’s eye. Thus when reading the chapter on Virgo impressions came to me of purity and virginity, of the world saviours as the Sons of the Virgin, of the rainbow of creation, the veil of the Mother of the World. I wanted to give a new perspective to the often misunderstood concept of the Virgin and to replace the child with a group of great messengers of God and World Saviours.

I used a painting of Fra Angelico for the central figure of the Virgin. I added a helix galaxy structure and a rainbow in the background above her head, forming the Eye of God. The head and the halo of the Virgin at the centre symbolise that the World Mother is the first emanation from the background of creation. She is sitting on a red and golden veil, the sheath covering the pure existence and giving rise to the multitude of expressions in space. Full of loving attention the Mother is looking at the group of messengers of the pure Light, which are inserted into the form of the infant Jesus, who is holding in his left hand the ball of the globe. Wrapped into her blue robe you see smiling people who feel blessed and protected through her presence. Her Light is radiating into all directions.

You might like to see my other paintings.

12 April 2013, A 5, pencils and photo work

While thinking, we are continuously creating images in our mind. Modern neurologists even think that thinking is the ability to display images internally and to order those images (this is what António Damásio thinks – a professor of neuroscience at the University of Southern California, in: Descartes Error. Emotion, Reason, and the Human Brain, 1994, p 89 – what might be his images with this thought?). These images are linked to emotions, which can be deeply stored in our subconscious mind and triggered through situations we encounter.

Marketing (and not only marketing) makes use of this phenomenon by evoking images intended to move the observer into a specific direction. And what happens with these ad-images in us? …

A master of evoking images is Carl Warner, an English photographer who became famous with his “Foodscapes” – impressive landscapes created by food arrangement (I blogged about it in 2008). You find many videos about his foodscapes on the web. Of course, these images attracted the advertising industry and they used them in campaigns for various food based products and brands.

Some days ago I got an e-mail from an Indian friend with photos of the new series of Carl – fascinating “Bodyscapes” created by arranging (living) human bodies to landscapes. When you look at them, feel the images these bodyscapes create in you – is it warm human togetherness or more a feeling of inside a sardine can? Nevertheless – impressive impressions.

Thank you Carl for the publication permission. He is also on Facebook.

Shin-Knee Valley

Valley of the reclining woman