“Then the savior continued and said, ‘Oh, unsearchable love of light! Oh, bitterness of the fire! You blaze in the bodies of people, and in the marrow of their bones, blazing in them night and day, burning their limbs and making their minds drunk and their souls deranged. You dominate males and females day and night, you move and arouse them secretly and visibly. When the males are aroused, they are attracted to the females and the females to the males. So it is said that everyone who seeks truth from true wisdom will fashion wings to fly, fleeing from the passion that burns human spirits. And one will fashion wings to flee from every visible spirit.’ Thomas answered, saying, ‘Master, this is precisely what I ask you. I understand that what you say is beneficial to us.’ Again the savior answered and said, ‘This is why we must speak to you, because this teaching is for those who are perfect. If you wish to become perfect, keep these sayings. If not, the name for you is “ignorant,” since an intelligent person cannot associate with a fool. The intelligent person is perfect in all wisdom. To the fool, however, good and evil are one and the same. The wise person will be nourished by truth and will be like a tree growing by the stream of water. Some people have wings but rush toward visible things that are far from truth. The fire that guides them gives them an illusion of truth. And it will shine on them with a perishable beauty, and will imprison them in dark delight and capture them in sweet-smelling pleasure. And it will blind them with insatiable desire, inflame their souls, and be like a stake jammed into their heart that can never be removed. It leads them according to its own wish, like a bit in the mouth.’”

-Book of Thomas

Love of Light

Love of Light is important for those seeking spiritual development. Not the ordinary light of a light bulb, or even the light of the physical sun, but a Higher Light that come from God. If you know of this Light and believe in the effect it has on the spirit and soul, you can’t help but love it. This Light, which is the image of God, is loved just as we love God.

Bitterness of Fire

You might think that Jesus is still talking about love when he starts talking about fire in an obviously symbolic way, but when he continues by adding “ in the marrow of their bones, blazing in them night and day, burning their limbs and making their minds drunk and their souls deranged,” it is clear that he isn’t talking about love. He is talking about the fire of greed that consumes those who fall prey to materialism and the material things that it offers. He may also be talking about those who feel that something is missing in their lives and try to satisfy that feeling with material things when what they really need is to awaken and develop their spiritual Self.

Fashion Wings to Fly

Jesus is speaking allegorically when he advises us to “ fashion wings to fly, fleeing from the passion that burns human spirits.” We don’t literally grow wings in order to develop our spiritual faculties, nor does the passion for material things actually burn our human spirits, but it might as well. When we cling to a life of matter, our spirits stay dormant, and the development of a conscious Soul never happens, except in very rare cases where an accident or personal tragedy may trigger an awakening.

For Those Who Are Perfect

When Jesus tells Thomas that these teachings are for those who are perfect, we might question it since we know that none of us still on the earthly plain of existence (third dimension) are perfect. But He then goes on to clarify that he is talking about those who wish to become perfect and are trying their best to do so through the practice of spiritual development techniques. Developing the body and the mind is good, but we also need to develop the spirit.

Good and Evil

Jesus then says: “To the fool, however, good and evil are one and the same.” This is probably the most important statement in the quote. Based on comments and memes I am seeing on social media, it seems there are spiritual schools who are teaching people that they must embrace their dark side and work with it just as much as with the light, or good side. That is foolishness. Did they forget that it is what got the allegorical couple, Adam and Eve in trouble? When they ate from the Tree of Good and Evil they were cast from Heaven because knowledge of evil inevitably leads to some people doing evil. Yes, we do need to acknowledge that there is darkness (or evil) and it is largely in control on the earthly plain of existence, but we should not embrace evil, we should do our best to avoid it. So embrace the Light, try to make it grow within you, and one day in the not-too-distant future, Earth will be a world of light, as will the whole material universe.

“Clairvoyant consciousness is able to learn something of what will happen during the Jupiter state. The beings and facts observed in this field of consciousness have not the nature of sense-images; they do not even appear as fine air structures from which effects might proceed which resemble sense-impressions. They give purely spiritual impressions of sound, light, and heat. These are not expressed through any material embodiments. They can be apprehended only through clairvoyant consciousness. One may say, however, that these beings which at present manifest on the psycho-spiritual plane, possess a ‘body.’ This body, however, appears like a sum of condensed memories which they carry within their souls.

“One can distinguish within their being what they are now experiencing and what they have experienced and now remember. This last is contained within them like a bodily element. They are conscious of it in the same way that an earthly human being is conscious of his [physical] body.

“at a stage of clairvoyant development higher than just described as necessary for a knowledge of the Moon and Jupiter states, the student is able to perceive supersensible beings and things which are, in fact, the more highly developed forms of those present during the Sun condition, but which have reached stages of existence so lofty as to be quite imperceptible to a consciousness capable of observing the Moon forms only.”

–Rudolf Steiner

Clairvoyant Consciousness

What Mr. Steiner calls “Clairvoyant consciousness,” we in Cosolargy might refer to as simply “psychic consciousness” without specifying a specific psychic ability to associate with it. I won’t bother to get into what he calls “the Jupiter state.” Suffice it to say that what he calls “the Moon state” is the low level of the typical materialistic person on Earth. A higher state of consciousness associated with the psychic level of being, he calls “the Jupiter level,” and still higher is the “sun level,” or spiritual level. He also makes it clear that there are even higher levels of being and consciousness than the spiritual level. We would call the highest level Christ Consciousness or Cosmic Consciousness.

Purely Spiritual

Steiner says the beings that one might observe in a higher state of consciousness have “not the nature of sense-images.” In other words, they cannot be seen by the physical senses of the body, but must be seen by awakened psychic and spiritual senses. He adds that they give “purely spiritual impressions,” which makes sense as we are talking about spiritual beings. He adds that these beings do possess a body, but not one of matter. Steiner says their bodies appear “ like a sum of condensed memories,” an odd description in my opinion as I have no idea what condensed memories would look like. I think it is better to describe the bodies of these beings as less dense than our physical bodies, and made of energy rather than matter. At the highest levels of consciousness, the beings found there would have bodies of brilliant Light and energy.

Supersensible Beings

Steiner goes on to say that beyond this Jupiter State, are even higher developed forms of the being found in the Sun State. This indicates that the beings of the Sun State are even more advances, in a spiritual sense, then those found in the Jupiter State. This makes perfect sense to students of Cosolargy who know that there are beings that exist at all levels of reality, some good, some not good. In order to see and communicate with these higher-level beings, we must raise our own consciousness to their level. That is what the Solar Techniques of Cosolargy help us do.

“People are of varying temperaments, and that course that will best suit one will not meet the requirements of another. One will seek progress and development in one direction, and another in a different way, and a third by a still different course. The Yogi Philosophy teaches that the way that seems to appeal most to a person’s general temperament and disposition is the one best adapted to his use at the present time. They divide the Path of Attainment into three paths leading up to the great main road. They call these three paths, (1) Raja Yoga, (2) Karma Yoga, and (3) Gnani Yoga; each being a path leading to the Great Road. …

“Raja Yoga is devoted to the development of the latent powers in Man and the gaining control of the mental faculties by the will—attaining mastery of the lower self—the development of the mind to the end that the soul may be aided in its unfolding. …

“Karma Yoga is the yoga of work. It is the path followed by those who delight in their work, who take a keen interest in doing things with head or hand. …

“Gnani Yoga is the Yoga of Wisdom. It is followed by those of a scientific, intellectual type, who desire to reason out, proving, experimenting, and classifiying the occult knowledge. It follows a strong path towards metaphysics. Examples are to be seen in the great philosophers. As a matter of fact, all students of the Yogi Philosophy are attracted to Gnani Yoga to some degree.”

-William Walker Atkinson

Varying Temperaments

It is true that people are of varying temperaments, and we must all start from where we are. The person who is still very materialistic may start by trying to think about and study things that are spiritual. The one who is, as Stkinson says, all wrapped up in his work and related accomplishments can start to do his work in a way that is more pleasing to God, although that will often mean that is is less pleasing to materialistic bosses and employers. The one who is scientific and needs to experiment and learn from experience is the most fortunate since this is really the beginning of the True Path. Atkinson calls this third path one of Wisdom, but I think that is an inappropriate name for it. It is more one of intellect than wisdom, and they are not the same thing.

Preliminary Steps

The important thing that Mr. Atkinson points out is that all of the three paths of beginners, which might be thought of as preliminary paths rather than true paths to enlightenment, all eventually lead one to the “Great Road,” as he calls it. Many spiritual schools and Gurus tell people that there are many paths and we must each follow our own path, yet they provide little proof of that theory. A study of all the great spiritual leaders and enlightened individuals of the past will reveal that they all followed very similar paths, although their followers have often changed the truth in the written books about them so they may seem to be different. Some anti-religious people love to point out on social media that many of the things that are written about Jesus can be found in earlier writings of the Hindus and others. This doesn’t prove that the stories about Jesus are false, although some are. It proves that all great spiritual leaders follow a similar path.

The Great Road

The most important thing that Atkinson says in the quote is that all of the paths eventually lead to the One True Path that he calls “The Great Road”. So it may be true that there are multiple paths, especially for beginners, but eventually, we must all get on the True Path to achieve real enlightenment. If you think about it, you will realize that if we are all going to be on that path eventually, it is a good idea to head to that route as soon as possible. The teachings of Cosolargy will put you on that path.

“The person who combines spiritual knowledge with the practice of the virtues is a throne and a footstool of God. A throne because of his spiritual knowledge and a footstool because of his ascetic practices. And the human intellect, purified of all material images, and occupied, or, rather adorned with the divine principles of the noetic world, is a heaven itself.

“When any philosopher – any devout philosopher – fortified with virtue and spiritual knowledge, or with ascetic practice and contemplation, sees the power of evil rising up against him through the passions like the king of the Assyrians rising up against Hezekiah, he is aware that only with God’s help can he escape. He invokes God’s mercy by crying out silently and by striving to advance still further in virtue and knowledge; and he receives as an ally, or rather as his salvation, an Angel that is one of the higher principles of Wisdom and Knowledge.

“Every passion has its origin in the corresponding sensible object. For without some object to attract the powers of the soul through the medium of the senses, no passion would ever be generated. Without food, there is no gluttony; without gold, there is no love of money, and so on.”

–St. Maximos (in The Philokalia)

Spiritual Knowledge With Practice of Virtue

I believe that what St. Maximos (or Maximus) is trying to say here is that spiritual knowledge alone doesn’t make one an enlightened person, especially if we are talking about the limited kind of spiritual knowledge that comes from books, or listening to lectures. We must put that spiritual knowledge to use and practice spiritual development techniques to truly gain anything from it.

A Throne Because of Spiritual Knowledge

St. Maximos seems to be saying that anyone who has gained spiritual knowledge is a throne of God. That is true only of those who have achieved the very advanced stage of spiritual development and have gained the high level of Knowledge known as Gnosis. They are thrones of God in an allegorical sense because they have reached the high level of consciousness that permits them to communicate directly with God, at least some of the time.

A Footstool of God

As the photo used to illustrate this post shows, footstools, and thrones are often together, a set like a modern easy chair and hassock (or ottoman). Maximos says those advanced spiritual students are like a footstool of God because of their “ascetic practices”. I think it is more accurate to say that such spiritual adepts are footstools as well as thrones because they have true humility, not thinking of themselves as better than other people because of their advanced spiritual state.

Power of Evil Rising

It is true that spiritual students must watch for the powers of Evil (or darkness) rising in them and trying to take control. Each day, usually just before going to sleep, it is recommended that the students ask themselves if they did a good job of avoiding darkness that day. Did they get angry with someone? Did they get jealous or envious? If so, they should make note of it and try to do better. Did they become attached to material goods or property? If so, they need to work on that, or possibly get rid of the item they are becoming too attached too. That doesn’t mean we can’t have property, we simply must avoid attachments. St. Maximos refers to asceticism, but that is because the book the quote comes from is a training guide for monks in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Passions and Objects

St. Maximos goes on to tell us that passions are always related to a “sensible object”, sensible meaning from the world of the six senses, the realm of matter. He gives a few examples that make sense. It should be noted, however, that people can become passionate about something they don’t actually have, but dream of having. It may not even be something that actually exists, but something they would like to exist. It should also be noted that passion isn’t always a bad thing. We can be passionate about our spiritual development, and that is good. We can be passionate about teaching others to develop their spiritual Self, and that is good as well. So we need not avoid all passions, just the type that leads to attachment to material things.

“’How,’ says the Desciple to the Master in one of Boehme’s ‘Dialogues,’ ‘am I to seek in the center this Fountain of Light which may enlighten me throughout and bring my properties into perfect harmony? I am in Nature, as I said before, and which way shall I pass through Nature and the light thereof, so that I may come to into the supernatural and supersensual ground whence this True Light, which is the Light of Minds, doth arise; and this without the destruction of my nature, or quenching the Light of it, which is my reason?’

‘Master: Cease but from thine own activity, steadfastly fixing thine eye upon one point … For this end, gather in all thy thoughts, and by faith, press into the center laying hold upon the Word of God, which is infallible and which hath called thee. Be obedient to this call, and be silent before the Lord, sitting alone with him in thy inmost and most hidden cell, and attend His Will in the patience of hope.

So shall the Light break forth as the morning, and after the redness thereof has passed, the Sun Himself, which thou waitest for, shall arise unto thee, and under his most healing wings thou shalt greatly rejoice: ascending and descending in his bright and health-giving beams. Behold, this is the true Supersensual Ground of Life.’”

-Evelyn Underhill with an inner quote from Jacob Boehme.

Seek the Fountain of Light

The Desciple in this dialogue by Boehme knows that he should seek the fountain of light, he just doesn’t know how to do so. Still, he is ahead of many who call themselves spiritual, yet have actually done nothing to develop their spiritual faculties. This disciple at least knows of the Fountain of Light and knows that this Light brings Enlightenment, hence the name.

Bring Into Harmony

There are different things involved in being in harmony, but the primary one for most spiritual students is developing their spiritual centers in such a way that they are in harmony and work together without any one of them dominating. There are some spiritual schools that have you developing, or energizing, only the top three or four energy centers. That is fine for the more materialistic person who is overly developed in the lower centers, but a lot of those who seek out spiritual development are actually weak in those lower centers. We need to develop all of them and bring them into balance and harmony. Another way spiritual development brings us into harmony is that it makes us more loving and understanding, more peaceful and humble. This allows us to live in harmony with all people regardless of their age, sex, religion, race, or political leaning.

Without Destruction of My Nature

What the disciple is calling his nature, is what we would refer to as his individuality. Some schools teach that when we become One with The All, we lose all individuality like a drop of water that falls into an ocean. But when we become one with The All, we retain our individuality, much like a brick that becomes part of a wall. The wall is one whole, yet the bricks are still individual things.

Light of Mind

Boehme refers to the Spiritual Light as the Light of Mind. This may be the result of a poor translation or simply because Boehme had to be careful what he wrote so he wouldn’t be accused of heresy. Since Boeme received his enlightenment when sunlight was reflected onto his eyes from a metal bowl he was holding, I think he knows that this is a matter of the Spirit, not the mind.

Fix Thine Eye

The Master tells the student that he must fix his eye on one point, but he doesn’t say what that point is. In part, I think he is saying that one must concentrate on spiritual development when engaging in spiritual development techniques, but he also means to fix his eye on the sun as taught by spiritual masters so that you do not harm your eyes (NEVER stare at the sun).

“Faith is indeed as the ‘grain of mustard seed, to which, as to growth, it is compared in the New Testament. But it can grow for evil as well as good, and, if for evil, may become a tree in which every foul bird of evil omen will come and build its nest. Your evil or gloomy imagining is faith in that evil. Your fear of a disease is in the perpetuity and increase of such disease. You have a slight derangement of stomach or kidney or other organ. So, having it for one day or a few days, you begin to expect it. You think of it only as an unhealthy organ. You never in your mind see it as a sound organ. You may be then told it is in dangerous condition. You have a name possibly given to the ailment which suggests great suffering, debility, and ultimately death. All this is aiding your faith in evil. The force of other minds added to your own increases that evil. Everything tends to make you see yourself as sick, weak, and enfeebled. You have not in your own mind an imagining of the part affected as sound and healthy. None are sending you thoughts or imaginings as vigorous and healthy. The spiritual force sent to you is all for evil. You get more disease, more weakness by the same law, or force, which can, otherwise directed, bring you heath.”

-Prentice Mulford

Grain of Mustard

When Jesus said that with faith no bigger than a mustard seed, which is a very small seed, we can move mountains, that is very true, but it is just as true that if we have faith we won’t be able to do something, then we won’t be able to do it until we manage to lose that false faith. Mulford calls that kind of faith, faith in evil. Still, I would prefer to call it faith in falsehood, because I think of evil as intentional, while in most cases, as in Mulford’s example regarding health, we are not doing it intentionally.

A Tree for Every Foul Bird

What Mr. Mulford is saying here in an allegorical form is that once you have let some false faith, more is likely to follow. Evil attracts more evil.

Fear of Disease

The rest of the quote from Mulford centers on the idea of developing faith in disease. Sadly, just about all of us do this to some degree. You don’t have to be a hypochondriac to develop a faith in disease or unhealthy conditions of the body. A hypochondriac can hear someone talking about an illness on the news and they immediately think they have it and actually start developing symptoms. However, anyone can have an illness such as the stomach flu and convince themselves that it is something serious that will never go away. Or a man can have sexual problems on one day and think he has become impotent and needs to use drugs all the time if he wants to have sex. We could go through a hundred variations, but the point with all of them is that we make the situation worse by believing the illness will continue to get worse. If we learn to start thinking and telling our subconscious mind that the illness is temporary, it will get better, it is getting better every day, etc. We will usually see improvement. Unfortunately, when a belief has become firmly embedded in the subconscious, it is hard to overcome, but it can be done.

Besides Disease

Our physical health is not the only area in life where many of us tend to sabotage ourselves with false beliefs. We do it in business also. We believe that we won’t get a promotion and so fill the situation with falsehoods that hold us back. We think that we aren’t smart enough to become a doctor or a lawyer, possibly because others have told us so, therefore we never try.

Spiritual False Beliefs

The most deadly kind of evil, or falsehood, is false spiritual beliefs. Demons of darkness love to whisper ideas into our heads that fill us with false spiritual beliefs, and we often fall for it. Churches that have, for the most part, lost the way, teach many falsehoods, and millions of people believe them. Scientists will sometimes claim that there is no God, when they have no proof of that belief, and therefore, should know better. In any case, false spiritual beliefs often prevent us from developing our spiritual faculties, even when we want to. That is why an old Chinese saying says you must empty the tea cup before you can fill it with fresh tea. It means you must clear out the false beliefs before the truth can start seeping in. It isn’t easy to do, but it can be done. You don’t have to convince your subconscious that all those beliefs you have accumulated are false, you have to convince it that they may not be true.

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

“For darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;

but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will appear over you.

“Nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

“Lift up your eyes and look around; they all gather together, they come to you;….

“Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you… and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

“Your gates shall always be open; day and night they shall not be shut, so that nations shall bring you their wealth.

“For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste.

“I will appoint Peace as your overseer and Righteousness as your taskmaster.

“The sun shall no longer be your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give light to you by night but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, or your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.”

-Isaiah 60: 1 – 6. 11 – 12, 17. 19

Your Light has Come

Isaiah is talking about the spiritual Light of God that comes to us through the intermediary of the Spiritual Sun. We don’t know who Isaiah was talking to, but now that we are in the End Times and the time of the Sun of Righteousness, we can assume that he is talking to us.

Darkness Shall Cover the Earth

There are different kinds of darkness, physical darkness and mental darkness. We are experiencing the latter kind quite a lot these days. With wars, plagues, tornadoes and floods, etc. it seems like the world is full of darkness. We must remember, though, the old saying, “It is always darkest before the dawn.” We are seeing a lot of darkness in the world, but we are also seeing people awakening to the Light, in small numbers, but growing all the time.

The Lord’s Glory Over You

The Glory that has appeared over us is the Sun of Righteousness predicted by the prophet Malachi, among others in different faiths.

Nations come to Your Light

This hasn’t happened yet, but it is in our prophecies that our community will one day be recognized for its importance in the complete development of mankind, and political leaders, as well as business leaders, will come to us for advice and guidance.

Your Gates Will Be Open

We will be open to helping all the nations all the races, all the religions of the world to unite and live together in peace and harmony.

Your Sun Shall Not Go Down

The Sun of Righteous, being the Spiritual Sun with the addition of God’s presence in it, never goes down because it is spiritual and not subject to the limits of time and space. While it is convenient for us to think of the Spiritual Sun as being in the same location as the Physical sun, the Spiritual Sun is not limited to that location. In fact, many Cosolargy students sometimes find when doing their daily solar techniques, that as they are finishing, they find they are looking at an area some distance away from the physical sun. That is perfectly fine, as once again, the Spiritual Sun is everywhere.

“So that the name of Christ may be exalted and glorified in us, we should follow him up the mountain of our bare intelligence, even as Peter, James, and John followed him up Mount Thabor. Thabor means in our tongue an increase in light. So soon as we are like Peter in the knowledge of truth, and like James in overcoming the world, and like John in fulness of Grace possessing the virtues in righteousness; then Christ brings us up onto the mountain of our intelligence to a hidden solitude, and reveals himself to us in glory and Divine Brightness. And, in his name, his Father in Heaven opens to us the living book of His Eternal Wisdom. And the Wisdom of God enfolds our bare vision and the simplicity of our spirit in a wayless, simple fruition of all good without distinction; and here there are indeed seeing and knowing, tasting and feeling, essence and life, having and being: and all this is one in our transcendence in God. And our heavenly Father endows each of us according to the nobility of his life and his practice. Therefore, if we ever remain with Christ on Mount Thabor, we will continue to experience a growth of new Light and new Truth, for we should forever hear the voice of the Father.”

-John of Ruysbroeck

Glorified in Us

Actually, in most places where it says “Christ” in the quote above, it originally said “Jesus,” but it was obvious from the context that Ruysbroeck meant Christ, so I changed the wording for clarity. It is Christ, a spiritual Being and true Son of God who should be exalted and glorified in us. This does not mean that we should worship Jesus or even Christ. It means that we should try to awaken our own spiritual consciousness with the goal of eventually reaching the highest level called Christ Consciousness. This cannot be done instantly, or even in a week or two. It takes years of practice and gradual change to climb up the many levels of consciousness until we achieve Christ Consciousness, or, using the analogy Ruysbroeck used, it takes years to climb to the top of Mount Thabor, the mountain of Light. So to follow Jesus, Peter, James, and John up Mount Thabor means that we should gradually increase our own Spiritual Light and in doing so, develop our spiritual faculties.

Peter, James, and John

According to Ruysbroeck, Peter, James, and John, each represented certain attributes or desirable traits of a true spiritual seeker. Peter represented Knowledge. Not the knowledge gained from books, or attending a government-approved school system, but the Divine Knowledge that is only revealed to the awakened and developed Soul. James, according to Ruysbroeck, was known for “overcoming the World”. He was one of the most spiritual of the apostles and an actual brother of Jesus (Mary had more than one child). John was full of grace and the “virtues in righteousness”. Those virtues are love, peacefulness, and humility which we must all develop.

Hidden Solitude

One problem with Ruysbroeck is that he doesn’t seem to recognize the difference between intellect and consciousness, but that is not surprising for the times when little was known about the brain, mind, or consciousness. In any case, there is a “Hidden Solitude” that we can get to by practicing our spiritual development techniques regularly and conscientiously. In this hidden solitude, the true Knowledge (Gnosis) is revealed, perhaps slowly at first, but eventually in its entirety.

Transcendence in God

There is only one real transcendence and that is transcendence in God. Gaining intellectual knowledge is not transcendence. Gaining psychic knowledge and abilities is not transcendence. Those things may be steps on the path for many people, but it is only when we climb to the top of Mount Thabor and become one with God do we truly transcend. Some people fear this transcendence because false schools have spread the idea that once we become one with God and one with The All, we completely lose our individuality. They compare it to a drop of water joining the sea and becoming completely mixed, but that is not how it happens. It is more like a grain of sand dropped on a beach that is now one with the beach, yet still an individual grain of sand.

“When you are offended by any person’s transgressions, presently reflect upon yourself; and consider what you yourself are guilty of in the same kind. You may also think it a happiness to be rich, or to live in pleasure, or to be praised and commended, and so on. For this, you should call to mind, so you will soon forget your anger; especially when at the same time this also shall occur in your thoughts, that he was constrained by his error and ignorance to do so; for how can one choose as long as they are of that opinion? Do you therefore, if you can, take away from that person that which causes them to do such things.

“Think of Socraticus and Eutyches, think of Sylvanus or Severus. When you do, look upon yourself and fancy yourself to be one or another of these Caesars; and so for every one of them. Then ask yourself, ‘Where now are they all?’ For so shall you realize how all worldly things are but smoke that vanishes into nothing. Then contemplate how long your memory shall remain after you have left this world.”

-Marcus Aurelius

When You Are Offended

Today, many of us get offended too easily. Another person simply has to say something we disagree with, and we are offended. If someone we know chooses to vote for a different political candidate than us, we are offended. If someone eats foods that we think are unhealthy, or tells us not to eat unhealthy foods, again we are offended. The majority of us have become too sensitive. We seem to think that the whole world should operate according to what pleases us, and are offended that it doesn’t.

Reflect Upon Yourself

The advice of Marcus Aurelius in such cases is that we should look at our own behavior before getting angry with others. Or as we would say it today, put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. Have we ever done anything foolish? Have we ever said anything stupid? If we are honest, the answer to both questions will be “Yes”. None of us is perfect. We all make mistakes. One of the biggest mistakes any of us makes is believing that we are perfect and never make mistakes.

So before you criticize, or get angry at another person, think about your own mistakes in the past, and the new mistakes you are likely to make in the future.

Think of Socraticus and Eutyches

Aurelius advises us to think of several ancient Roman Caesars, and he chose ones that most of us have never heard of, although they were probably well known in his time. As a result, he has made his point better than expected. He says we should imagine we are one of these Caesars, but that is hard to do since most of us have never heard of them. If you prefer, you can imagine yourself to be one of the better-known Caesars such as Julius Caesar. Many of us think we know a lot about this Caesar, but in fact, we know only a little. We know of those years he spent with Cleopatra, eventually having a child with her, but that is only a few years of his long career. We don’t know the rest of it. So as Aurelius is trying to teach us, the deeds of the high and mighty kings and rulers don’t last long after their death. Rather than dust in the wind, Aurelius says they become smoke that vanishes, so the same idea as dust blowing away in the wind. The point he is trying to make is that those with overblown egos who think that they are in essence a sort of king who does no wrong should remember the kings of the past and how soon they are forgotten and how soon the laws they made get changed by new rulers.

Go Beyond Walking a Mile in Someone’s Shoes

So it is a good idea when we become offended by another person to “walk a mile in their shoes.” But it shouldn’t stop there. We can’t just imagine ourselves in the shoes of another person who offends us at times. We must put ourselves in the shoes of every person, including the ones who don’t have shoes. Not only when we are offended by someone, but on regular occasions we should take a little time to contemplate what our life would be like elsewhere. Consider what it would be if we were born in a very poor country. Consider what it would be if we were born in a very wealthy country, but we ourselves were not one of the wealthy people there. Consider what it would be like to be a person in a country that is despised by most of the world. Consider what it would be like to be a carpenter, a priest, a ditch digger, or a corporate CEO. Put yourself in the shoes of every other person. Then you will not be so egotistical as to think that the whole world exists to please you.

 “According to the Hermetists, disease could be prevented or successfully combated in seven ways. First, by spells and invocations in which the physician ordered the evil spirit causing the disease to depart the patient. This procedure was probably based on the Biblical account of the man possessed by devils whom Jesus healed by commanding the devils to leave the man and enter into a herd of swine. …

“The second method of healing was by vibration. The inharmonies in the body were neutralized by chanting spells and intoning sacred names or by playing musical instruments. …

“The third method was with talismen, charms, or amulets. The ancients believed that the planets controlled the functions of the human body and that making charms out of different metals could combat the malignant influences. …

“The fourth method was by the aid of herbs and simples. While they used talismen, the majority of ancient physicians did not approve of mineral medicine for internal use. Herbs were their favorite remodies. …

“The fifth method of healing was by prayer. All ancient people believed in the compassionate intercession of the Deity for the alleviation of human suffering. Paracelsus said that faith could cure all diseases. Few people, however, possess sufficient faith.

“The sixth method—which was prevention rather than cure—was regulation of the diet and daily habits. The individual, by avoiding things that caused illness, remained well.

“The seventh method was ‘practical medicine,’ consisting chiefly of bleeding, purging, and similar treatments. These procedures, while useful in moderation, were dangerous in excess.”

-Manly P. Hall

What is Disease

For the most part, the Hermetists, as well as other ancients, did not distinguish between mental and physical illness as we do today. They generally treated the ill person as an entire being, not just treating specific symptoms. This concept is returning today under the name of Holistic Healing.

Why So Many Methods of Healing

One reason for so many different forms of healing was that the physician felt that in specific cases, one method was better than another. Another was simply that the individual healer may have only known two or three of the methods, so he had to use what he knew. If those methods didn’t work, a different physician might be called on to try other methods.

Healing by Spells

Helaing by spells and invocations was, I suspect, not a method used by the majority of healers. I think that it is rare for a person to be physically or mentally ill due to possession by evil spirits. However, if the patient believed in such possession, then this type of treatment might work.

Healing with Vibration

Healing with vibration is also a much older form of healing than many people believe. In particular, healing with sound is thought by many to be something new, but it has been practiced for many centuries. The digeredoo invented by the aboriginies of Australia was not used by them for music but was a healing tool used by the Shaman. In other places, tuning forks have been used for healing. And simply singing or chanting over the sick person was also a method of healing. In fact, you can help heal yourself by chanting or singing.

Healing with Charms

The basic idea of healing with charms was that certain metals could help heal some illnesses. For example, If a person was ill due to an iron deficiency, he might be given an iron charm or amulet to wear. The charm would have the picture of a god or goddess carved on it, or some prayer designed to invoke healing. Doctors today would prescribe a pill with iron in it instead. Only recently, a form of this became briefly popular again. At the beginning of the Covid-19 epidemic, some spread the word that copper helped prevent virus infections, so many people started wearing copper bracelets, amulets, or charms.

Healing with Herbs

This is probably the most used form of natural healing today. People who have had bad side effects from prescription drugs, or have simply heard of such problems, often turn to herbal remedies as an alternative. Herbal healing formulas are sold for such things as improving circulation, lowering blood pressure, controlling pain, etc. Most of these herbal forms work to some degree, but may not be enough in all cases, It might be good in such cases to add some form of vibrational healing, as well as prayer, to the treatments.

Healing with Prayer

Healing with prayer is another method of healing that goes back many centuries and is still practiced today. Prayer can work, especially if the person believes in it, but it might not work if the person’s illness is due to karma.

Healing with Diet

A healthy diet is certainly an important part of healing physical ills. In almost all cases, an illness could be at least partially alleviated by dietary changes. Even mental illnesses may sometimes be caused by eating the wrong foods. Unfortunately, few doctors today suggest dietary changes as the first treatment for illness. Many never suggest it at all.

Practical Medicine

What Mr. Hall calls practical medicine is fortunately not used much today, particularly bleeding the patient to get the illness out of them. Purging, in some forms, may still be used occasionally, such as with constipation.