Sri Vidya, the highest tantrik knowledge of the Devi, is something that I have been exploring for a few years now. I had gotten familiar enough through readings and workings that I was fairly confidant in my knowledge, although certainly recognizing that I was still in the beginning stages of the approach to the slopes of Mt. Meru.

A chance encounter with a physician in Bombay taught me more in 10 minutes than all the books I have been pouring over. While it was not his intent, my interaction with him was like a direct introduction to my own mental blocks and ignorance. I will not go into details here, but lets just say it was a surprise and a blessing to meet him and interact with him, even if so briefly. My eyes have been opened.

The biggest stumbling block, one of the most persistent kleshas, is knowledge. Or rather, ones self assessment of what they think they know. Stay open, stay awake, stay aware. She comes to you unexpectedly, shy glances that you might catch out of the corner of your eye and then in a flash she is hiding again.

Later the next day went for a walk in the sweltering heat and humidity, only to chance upon this shrine to the Goddess that was setup along the roadside next to a banyan tree (visible) and a neem tree (out of frame). 

I am grateful for each chance encounter. Bhavani tuam!

An exciting announcement from my friends Mike Magee and Phil Hine!

Announcing Yakṣiṇī Magic

I’m very pleased to announce the forthcoming publication of a new book by Mike Magee, Yakṣiṇī Magic.

Yakṣiṇī Magic is the first extensive treatment of Tantric texts dealing with practices that relate to the Yakṣiṇīs, an ancient class of female spirit beings often described as “fertility deities” and said to inhabit wild places, plants and trees.
Beginning with an examination of Kubera, the treasurer to the gods, who is often held to be the leader of the Yakṣiṇīs, Mike examines and elaborates on existing scholarly accounts of the Yakṣiṇīs, and traces their appearance from the earliest Indian textual sources—the Vedas through to Buddhist, Jain, and Tantric literature. He highlights the importance of astrological timing in Yakṣiṇī-related magical practices, and discusses how the magical elements of the tantras have been sidelined.

Parvati, Daughter of the Mountains and spouse of Shiva, shown here in her South Indian form. Bronze cast from Tamil Nadu c1550CE

Temple Yogini from Kanchipurum, Tamil Nadu, 900CE. Earrings are a severed hand and a snake. Four arms, with a kapala (skull bowl). One arm is broken off which had her taking offerings to her mouth

A yakshini is a female tree spirit. In addition to scaring the occasional lone wanderer at dusk that happens to inadvertently stroll under her tree, they are fond of grasping the tree branch and giving the trunk a kick to make the tree flower. Shalabhanjika (“breaking the branch of the Sal tree”) yaksinis are auspicious guardians entrusted to protect the gateways to palaces. These first two are from Madya Pradesh around 1-100CE. The last one Uttar Pradesh from 100-200CE.

The Song of the Vajra

CHÖGYAL NAMKHAI NORBU
(1938-2018)

Unborn,
Yet continuing without interruption,
Neither coming nor going, omnipresent,
Supreme Dharma,
Immutable space, beyond definition,
Spontaneously, self-liberating.
Perfect state without any obstruction,
Existent from the very beginning,
Self created, without location,
With nothing negative to reject,
And nothing positive to accept,
Infinite expanse, all pervading,
Immense, and limitless, unbound,
With nothing even to dissolve
Or from which to be liberated.
Present beyond Space and Time,
Existent from the beginning,
Immense dimension of inner space,
The radiance of clarity is like the sun and the moon,
Self perfected,
As indestructible as the Vajra,
As stable as a mountain,
As pure as a lotus,
Strong as a lion,
Incomparable bliss
Beyond all limits;
Illumination,
Equanimity,
Peak of the Dharma,
Light of the Universe,
Perfect since the very beginning.

From “The Song of the Vajra”, An Oral Commentary by Namkhai Norbu Rinpoche,
Edited by Gina Perini

From the 26th Dynasty of Egypt in Thebes, the Priest of the god Mentu, Ankh-ah-na-Khonsu, created the Stele of Revealing (although it was not called this until much later).

It is from the translation of the hieroglyphics on this Stele that the Song comes from, the supreme mantra of Thelema (Aleister Crowley referred to this mantra as the “holiest of all” in Book 4).

a ka dua
tuf ur biu
bi a’a chefu
dudu nur af an nuteru

“Unity uttermost showed!
I adore the might of Thy breath,
Supreme and terrible God,
Who makest the gods and death
To tremble before Thee –
I, I adore thee!”

An effective and simple method of rapidly establishing an active current of Light in the sphere of sensation is to use the Egyptian mantra in conjunction with a Middle Pillar type practice, incorporating the Four Worlds map of consciousness. In this method, each line of the mantra is associated with one of the Four Worlds, thus:

I have signed copies of my book The Magickal Union of East & West  available for purchase. Contact me for a copy using the form here and let me know if you would like a personal inscription. Currently going at $20 plus shipping and handling.

A Place Where a Precious Thing is Concealed

Kenneth Grant notes in Nightside of Eden (page 71):

The Scarlet Woman – 393 – is less 666, “the Beast whereon she rideth”, by 273, which is the number of AVR GNVZ, ‘the Hidden Light’, and ABN MASU HBVNIM, ‘the Stone which the builders rejected’. 273 is also the number of ARBO, meaning ‘four’, the sign of the cross or crossing, and of the four directions of space.

The reference is to a passage from Psalm 118:22: “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.”

In Hebrew, the phrase “the Stone which the Builders refused” is Ehben Masu Ha-Bonaim (ABN MASV H BVNIM).

The root of the Hebrew masu means “to despise, reject, refuse.”

Other Hebrew words which have this same numerical value of 273:

ChVRM ABIV, Khurum Abiv – “Hiram Abiff”

AVR GNVZ, Aur Ganuz, — “hidden light”

In Greek there are two words of particular relevance that also enumerate to 273:

Anthanasia, “immortality.”

Heh Kleis, “the key.”

It should be noted that the Cross is also the Tau, a cornerstone of the Temple of which Baphomet, the idol of the Templars was enshrined. This is also the Muladhara or basal chakra, the Baptism of Wisdom.

I have been immersing myself in a project that requires a dive back through all of Kenneth Grant’s  Typhonian Trilogies, and in the process keep coming across incredibly good quotes and reminders. The recent series of quotes are some of the inspirations coming out of this.

No doubt over the years these have been seeds planted into my unconscious and, like sigils or runes, have been nurtured in the darkness over time and their fruit – strange and beautiful – slowly takes form.

Here is this mornings reminder…

Unless occultism becomes creative in the sense of opening up new approaches, modifying and developing traditional concepts and generally revealing a little more of that Supreme Goddess whose identity is hidden behind the veil of Isis, Kali, Nuit, or Sothis, there will be stagnation in the swamp of beliefs rendered inert by the recent swift acceleration of humanity’s consciousness, which is little short of miraculous. If the science of the unmanifest is not to remain grounded at a pre-pubescent stage, while the manifested sciences soar into space, the mature occultist must put aside the toys of superstition and face fearlessly the Trees of Eternity whose trunks and branches glow with solar fire, but whose roots are nourished in the dark.

— Kenneth Grant, Nightside of Eden

There is a resurgence in many esoteric circles, with creativity coming to the front and driving innovation and experimentation.  These patterns cycle through time.  In some cases, like light reflecting off a dew covered branch, what appears to be one thing may in fact be something else entirely.

“My incense is of resinous woods & gums; and there is no blood therein: because of my hair the trees of Eternity.” AL I:59

“Let the woman be girt with a sword before me.” This indicates the dominance of the martian element. Woman will lead the initiatory system of the New Aeon; her priests are veiled and out of sight, even as Hadit is not perceptible at the centre of the Circle, or the bindu in the Shri Chakra. “With my force shall she see & strike at the worship of Nu; she shall achieve Hadit” (III, 45). – Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God, Kenneth Grant

“Qabalistically considered, the supreme formula of Nuit (Nought), is Kali=61=Ain=Nothing (Nuit or Not). This is the highest, most transcendental equation which it is possible to project into the realm of mind by mathematico-qabalistic symbolism. It is evident that the Shaivite conception functions altogether at a different level. The child, Ra-Hoor-Khuit, projects or bodies-forth the Limitless Light (ain soph aur) of Kali/Nuit as blackness which, by its seeming opacity, appears as Set, the Absorber of Light. Set takes the form of the shadows cast by the magical vortex created by the interplay of Hadit and Nuit (or Shiva and Shakti), whose explosive union is so blinding in its brilliance that it appears as “thick darkness” and “sudden death”. The darkness of Set is the womb of the Goddess from which appears to emanate a glamorous web in the form of the World-All; none other than that “world-bewitching Maya” that revealed itself as the Supreme Mother, Kali, in Shri Ramakrishna’s ecstasies of inward contemplation.”

– Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God, Kenneth Grant

“Here we are confronted with an issue that concerns matters more urgent than doctrinal preferences. I refer to the age-long antagonism which has existed between Shaivas and Shakteyas, between worshippers of the God and devotees of the Goddess; more bluntly, the conflict between the Lingacaras and the Yonicaras. AL solves this problem by exalting the Child, the product of both.” – Aleister Crowley and the Hidden God, Kenneth Grant.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

What is the purpose of starting letters with this sentence of eleven words? Often I think it deteriorates into a flag waving exercise, a means of proclaiming what team you are identifying with. Is that really all?

What would happen if you were to consciously think and write these words? Saying it consciously really brings it to the mind. These days so many people have shortcuts. What is the point?  If it is just another habit, albeit an odd one, it serves little purpose. It should be said thoughtfully, with intention.

In this way, the very act of writing these eleven words is an act of Awareness. In the ongoing struggle against habit and unconscious patterns, this one practice to help the dreamer awaken is welcome.

Do what thou wilt, or Svecchacara, or 93. Whatever you may say, let it have conscious intent, and help both yourself and others to experience, if but for an instant, that primordial pristine Awareness.

Love is the law, love under will

I’ve been a meditator  since around the age of 16. After decades of practice, and quite honestly, a lot of struggling, I have finally managed to come across a sweet spot in formal sitting practice that has accelerated my sense of “progress” (not that there is anywhere to go or anything to change, but that is a deeper topic for another day!)

So, what has suddenly helped me, and turned me from a semi-frequent meditator to someone that sits twice a day every day for about an hour? Here are a couple tips that work for me. Most of them are amazingly obvious, and I admit that I am just a slow study,

Sit comfortably

For years I would force myself into painful asanas in order to sit for meditation. I was convinced I had to sit on the floor in some way, either on my folded legs or in a half lotus (I gave up trying to twist into full lotus a long time ago). I would spend so much time in pain and discomfort that I would be unable to sit for long periods of time more often than not. My sitting practice was more of a twitching, tight breathing and stealing glances at the clock practice.

Now I sit in a chair. What a difference. Instead of struggling against muscle spasms and sprained back, I can focus. My friend and teacher Soror Meral told me to sit in a chair back when I was first starting out, but I discarded the advice of course because I had to sit in the Dragon asana like I saw in my copies of the Equinox.

Now that I am not battling against my body, I find that its a lot easier to settle in and move into the practice in a deep way.

Sit outside

This is another really basic one. For years my practice was indoors, inside a temple or shrine room. Thats fine and helped in many ways, but things really took off when I stepped outside into the world. The real temple has no walls.

I’ve found that being closer to nature, or just the sky outside, is far more effective for me than in a room. Something about feeling the breeze on my face, hearing the rustle of leaves and bird songs. I’ll often meditate with my eyes open, and seeing the wide open sky with its clouds, the trees and mountains, or the stars and moon at night — all of this goes a long way towards helping to stay centered and feeling the deep connection that we have with the world.

Again, this is a silly little trick in a lot of ways, as when your perspective shifts to one taste the location does not matter (really one should be in active presence in any situation). There is nothing wrong with using props to help you get jumpstarted, and nature is an amazing, beautiful, inspiring one.

Use an App

Despite working in high tech, I resisted using any apps for my practice for the longest time. Using technology that finds every possibly means to distract and interrupt attention seemed like the antithesis of any deep, mindful practice.

Then I tried out a free mindfullness app (Insight Timer), and discovered that these tools can in fact be really helpful. With guided meditations by many different teachers, and simple timers that can be configured to use custom timings and sounds, the app has actually become one of my most useful tools. Its simple to use, and rather than being another distraction, it helps to delineate the time. I also like seeing the charts that show how much time I have been meditating over the past weeks and months. An app can also help you to remain consistent, as you can set reminders which can be important depending on what your daily routines are like.

An app will not be for everyone, and there are still plenty of alternatives. The deeper lesson here is to not discard a potential aid simply based on things like “taste” or “tradition.” Use what works for you. Experiment, modify, discard and retain to find what is effective.

Take a Hike

Walking meditation has a long established history in many traditions. I am not suggesting a formal mindful walking practice here (although that is great as well). Just get out into nature as much as you can, out into the wilds if possible or even a park. Quiet, contemplative walks or hikes are great opportunities to feel at one with the universe.

There is a reason so many pagan and native traditions hold their practices outside in nature. Get out and try it. Like sitting outside for meditation, being active and moving your body, breathing fresh air, listening to the sounds of nature while being immersed in a forest, or making your way through a rocky path, along rivers — this is your world, and its best to experience it in its raw, natural beauty as much as possible.

Go alone or with a partner or group that has a similar intent to silently experience nature. Expand on this to go camping or backpacking in the majesty of the world.

I had some similar thoughts on this in relation to western esotericism in this article  Reuniting yourself with the natural world

During the 1950’s Kenneth Grant wrote several articles for The Call Divine and The Mountain Path, exploring the non-dual philosophy of Advaida Vedanta and the teachings of such great sages as Sri Ramana Maharshi, Anandamayi Ma, Sri Thakhur Haranath and others.

Below are a few articles from The Call Divine, from Sri Ramanasramam

Resignation

Nothing Manifests Itself in Any Form

The Cult of the Hill

The Great Solvent

The Message Enshrined in Silence

Quicksand

Arunachala Siva, The Void Nature of the Self.

The Adamantine Way

Bhagavan Sri Ramana as I knew Him-SYMPOSIUM

The Bodiless Presence

These articles and others from The Call Divine and The Mountain Path have been collected together in the excellent Starfire publication, At The Feet of the Guru, Needless to say, this is a beautiful publication, as all the titles from Starfire are – highly recommended.

Additionally, in the Call Divine appears an article by Steffi Grant describing a miraculous healing dream with Ramana Maharshi, entitled A Dream

“As the letter ‘a’ is the first of all letters but is itself uncreate and formless, free from all modulations, so also is the One Pure Consciousness likewise the formless source wherefrom Samsara appears to arise. Of all the letters, Sri Krishna, in the Gita, claims identity with the letter ‘a’ since this letter signifies the void and contentless vast of Consciousness, which is bereft of all concept and all ideas of subjectivity and objectivity.” – Kenneth Grant, The Adamantine Way (appearing in the Call Divine, 1 May 1954).

This article and several others from Kenneth Grant are online at the Sri Ramanasaram site. 

Phil Hine’s chapbook on dakinis was released recently, and I wrote up a short review of it. Available over here http://enfolding.org/book-review-yoginis-sex-death-and-possession-in-early-tantras/

Had the pleasure of attending a talk and meditation by Professor Robert Thurman last week. With decades of experience  as both a Tibetan Buddhist practitioner and as a professor, he has a great knack for presenting these often complex ideas in a simple manner that cut right to the essence of a profound teaching.

Professor Thurman is His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama’s personal representative in the US, and the founder of Tibet House, an organization dedicated to preserving the rich cultural legacy of Tibetans. He also has a wicked sense of humour, and this comes out often during his talks! Many of his lectures are available on the Bob Thurman Podcast, which I highly recommend. Even if Buddhism is not your thing, you might find a lot of value in these talks.

The talk I attended was geared towards the very materialistic, scientific minded engineers of Silicon Valley. He thought it was great that “mindfullness meditation” is becoming all the rage among the corporate world, even if it is a very stripped down version of the practices. It still has the benefit of getting people to be a little more introspective. In a culture of materialism and western science, where the tendency is to live for “this life only” and to negate any deeper look into the meaning of existence beyond making money, this is a welcome foothold into daily life. In such a context, Professor Thurman defined enlightenment as “making the unconscious, conscious.”  With nods to Freud and Jung, this was the perfect explanation for westerners.

A very simple meditation practice was given that can be used to enhance the vipassanna styled meditations that have been popularized in the Valley by all the meditation apps (10% Happier, Headspace, Calm) currently making the rounds. Inhale white light, with a sense of healing filling up your cells. Hold the breath briefly, just a few seconds, while seeing it as a rich ruby red light that is vibrant with health and healing. Exhale the breath, seeing it as a deep cobalt blue light that gives out healing to the world and the environment. Tantrik sadhakas may see in this simple practice the deep roots of vajra breathing with the vibrational syllables of OM AH HUNG.

I recently finished reading Dr. Jacques Vallee’s Forbidden Science, three volumes of diaries covering about 40 years of research into the UFO problem. What an incredible journey of exploration he has documented! Anyone that has done more than a cursory glance at the phenomena will know that the deceptively simple subject may start out innocently enough, but quickly goes far beyond mechanical space craft with alien pilots that are visiting the earth, and dives headlong into the depths of consciousness itself.

Of all the researchers in the field, Vallee is perhaps one of the only ones doing such thorough cutting edge investigations into this murky and mysterious world that spans the topics of psi research, multi-dimensional entities, the expansion (and meaning) of consciousness, and more. What is the nature of these “lights in the sky”? Investigating  not only contemporary sightings, but also diving deep into folklore (Passport to Magonia is highly recommend as well), Vallee presents a fascinating look into his research. You can see over time the development of his theory of the control mechanism that seems to be at the core of this phenomena (see Messengers of Deception for this thesis worked out in detail).

The diaries also give tantalizing insights into the role that the various world government agencies have played in investigating and obfuscating any research. SRI (Stanford Research Institute) was doing incredible reasearch in the 70’s, which I found particularly of interest having grown up in the area during that time (I attended Menlo-Atherton high school, just a few blocks away from SRI. Several of my classmates had jobs at SRI after school).

Also of interest are his interactions with various “occult” luminaries. Dinner parties with Anton LaVey, meetings with Grady Louis McMurtry, and discussions with Manly Palmer Hall among others. Ultimately deciding that the occultists were ignorant of anything relating to the phenomena, its an amazing read and shows his inquisitive and exploratory nature. If only he had interviewed Kenneth Grant, who knows where the research may have led!

Follow this link for a recent interview with Dr. Vallee discussion many of these subjects: http://skeptiko.com/jacques-vallee-diaries-reveal-what-scientists-deny-359/

A shout out to the Three Rivers blog, a very interesting collection by my long time friend and colleague Charlotte Moore. And she updates regularly, not like me! https://triveni93.wordpress.com

Its been quite some time since this blog has seen an update! Enjoy this great review of The Magickal Union of East & West

In Search of Depth – A Review of ‘The Magickal Union of East and West’ by Gregory Peters

A new review of The Magickal Union of East and West has been posted by Spiral Nature. Check it out here.

A thoughtful review of the Magickal Union:

http://spirituality.today/spiritual-practices/tantra-sacred-sexuality/the-magickal-union-of-east-and-west-by-gregory-peters

The Art of Ninzuwu journal of the Black Dragon Society has posted my recent interview. Check out all of their interesting articles and research, and my interview!

http://warlockasylum.wordpress.com/2013/10/03/interview-with-mystic-gregory-peters-on-crowley-grant-and-his-work-with-legend-phyllis-seckler/