Last time we explored the history of the transiting Neptune midpoints that led up to the current mini triangle between Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Neptune midpoints happen only once every 500 years and they represent huge shifts in our understanding of ourselves and how we organise society as a result. We’ve now reached another turning… Continue reading Outer Planets Triangle 2024–28 and the Crisis of Modernity
Last time we introduced the work of Robert Fludd and his illustrations of the harmony of the spheres, and explored the reasons for his public spat with Kepler. Fludd believed in the Hermetic view of the macrocosm and the microcosm, and used Pythagorean principles of mathematics and musical harmony to explain how the cosmos was… Continue reading Fludd and the Alchemical Process of Creation
Last time we explored the divine human form in Agrippa’s Occult Philosophy books and introduced another astrologer, Robert Fludd. Fludd was a 17th century English scientist, doctor, alchemist and Rosicrucian who wrote vast books filled with beautiful illustrations to explain his Neoplatonist and Hermetic knowledge of the cosmos. He also helped to translate the King… Continue reading Fludd and the Harmony of the Spheres
Last time we explored the cycle of Venus and how it encodes the Golden Ratio of Phi, the mathematical principle that underlies the whole of nature. That includes the human form as illustrated by Leonardo da Vinci in his famous Vitruvian Man drawing. But he wasn’t the only person trying to square the circle. Similar… Continue reading Agrippa and the Divine Human Form
Last time we looked at the difficulties mystics have expressing their experiences, and introduced the four characteristics of mysticism. In part three of our extracts from Mysticism by Evelyn Underhill, she goes into more detail about the first two characteristics. Extract: “(1) Mysticism is practical, not theoretical. “This statement, taken alone, is not, of course,… Continue reading Characteristics of Mysticism, Part 3: Practical Spiritual Activity
Last time we looked at the differences between mysticism and magic, as explained by Evelyn Underhill in Mysticism. In part two, we continue the extracts with a look at why mystics have such trouble expressing their experiences in words, and introduce the four characteristics of mysticism. Extract: “The greatest mystics, – Ruysbroeck, St. John of… Continue reading Characteristics of Mysticism, Part 2: Ineffable Reality and Symbolism
This week I’m reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M Pirsig. It’s a curious book: not really a novel, more an excuse to philosophise about anything and everything, and likely to provoke many arguments and lots of feverish thinking. The narrator of the tale sets out on a road trip with… Continue reading Review: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
This week I’m reading The Tao of Pooh, a fun little book that explores Taoism through the wisdom of the Bear of Little Brain. Benjamin Hoff uses stories from the classics Winnie the Pooh and the House at Pooh Corner to introduce the principles of Taoist philosophy, with original illustrations by E.H. Shephard plus loads… Continue reading Review: The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
Part of my occasional series on mystical and gnostic themes in Film & TV. The film adaptation of the Ubisoft game Assassin’s Creed had some intriguing possibilities in its mythology so I checked it out. There’s a lot of hoo-ha around the problem of video games making bad movies and many people were optimistic about this… Continue reading Assassin’s Creed: a film confused by its Gnostic roots
Here’s some of my favourite quotes from the totally insane but brilliant TV show Monkey. Silly jokes and Buddhist philosophy – you can’t go wrong… “Just because you’re a Dragon it doesn’t make you better than me.” – Monkey “There is one, it is infinite. Yet what is called Buddha fills it. The one takes… Continue reading Favourite Monkey Quotes
The Dalai Lama describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. Today he turns 80 and to celebrate, here’s some great quotes to inspire you on a Monday morning… Happy Birthday Tenzin Gyatso! Image: Dalai Lama (Click images to make them larger if you can’t read them ;) )
The Sun of Wisdom is a commentary on one of the classics of Buddhist literature by one of the great Tibetan masters, Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso. Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way was written by Nagarjuna in the 2nd century and is a commentary on the Buddha’s teachings on the nature of appearance and emptiness. The… Continue reading The Sun of Wisdom: Teachings of the Noble Nagarjuna – Review
Jessica Davidson 