Toward Ecosophy

...and one more round of papers for the Seeker Grade, with an important exercise -- scrying in the spirit vision, FHR style. Next week I'm planning on posting the initiation of the 2° Grade of Sojourner. 

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Working with the Element of Earth:  Part Two

One important skill you will be developing as you proceed through the degrees of the Fellowship of the Hermetic Rose is the ability to use the imagination as a medium for interacting with the inner planes. This is an essential occult skill.  Some people find it easier than others, but anyone can learn to do it.  The following practice will begin the process of developing that skill.

To prepare for the practice, place a chair in the North or stand to the south of a chair in your room.  Make a list, mental or written, of questions you want to ask about the Elemental World of Earth.  (We’ll talk more about those a little further on.) Perform your protective ritual (Sphere of Protection, Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram, or Judson exercise).  Face the North and trace the green symbol for Earth in front of you in the air.  Start where the straight line joins the circle and draw the circle clockwise, then draw the straight line downward. Imagine it, as you draw it, as though you were tracing it in clear green light.

Expand that green earth symbol in your imagination to be as large as a circular door.  Stand there and ask for permission to enter the World of Earth for instruction about the Element of Earth and the Elemental World of Earth.  Wait for permission.  It may take a minute, just relax, breathe deeply and listen.  Soon you’ll hear or feel the message to enter.

Stepping through the green doorway is like stepping through an invisible barrier into another world. That’s exactly what it is.   Accept the invitation and step through the green doorway, turn around and sit down in your chair.  Your physical body will be sitting down in this physical world, but your astral body—your body of imagination and vision—will remain standing and alert in the Elemental World of Earth.

Attend to your physical body by breathing deeply, relaxing and setting your intention to travel in the Elemental World of Earth in your astral body.  Place your attention in your astral body in the Elemental World of Earth and ask your questions one at a time.

In the beginning we suggest asking only one or two questions.  The problem is not in receiving the answers, but in our ability to remember our questions and the answers as we move through this portal.  It’s not at all unusual for those entering the Elemental Worlds for the first time to forget their questions and not ask anything.  In time asking questions gets easier and easier.

Sometimes the answer you receive is: “I don’t know,” and that’s a valid answer.  If you have the presence of mind, you might then ask: “Can you find anybody that does know the answer to my question?”

Once you have answers to your questions, thank the beings who have been working with you and ask for permission to depart.  That permission is always given but sometimes a short message is communicated first.  Keep in mind that you’ve entered a world where your desire is their command to perform, though they will always act under their own laws and regulations.  Your request for permission to leave will always be granted and the request is always appreciated.  So is a simple: “Thank you.”

As you return your attention to this physical reality you realize the green doorway is in front of you and your astral body is on the other side of that doorway.  Just will your astral body to come through the doorway and return to your body.  It will.  Now by an act of will, diminish the size of the green Earth symbol to a dot and bring it into your aura so it becomes a part of you.  It is no longer a doorway to the Elemental World of Earth.  It is a part of you as is the knowledge you learned while visiting there.

It’s a good idea to perform this meditation several times before taking your Sojourner initiation.  The knowledge you learn will serve you well.  Here are some typical questions for which you can receive answers (but these are only a few  suggestions and are not intended to limit your questioning in any way):

1.  What can Earth Elementals teach me about myself?

2.  What can Earth Nature Spirits (Gnomes) teach me about myself?

3.  Is there a Gnome willing to be one of my Spirit Guides?

4.  If so, what is that Gnome’s name? 

5.  What will you teach me (name of Gnome)?

6.  What’s the name of the Earth Angel in charge of my body?

7.  What will you teach me (name of Angel)?

Elementals and Nature Spirits do not have egos.  Elementals have spirits.  Nature Spirits have spirits and souls.  Both are very genuine and unencumbered by egos and ego wars.  But they do appreciate common courtesy and they appreciate our gratitude and prayers.

Angels do not have puffed-up egos like humans, but they do appreciate our gratitude.  They not only appreciate our prayers for them, they appreciate our acknowledgement of their existence and value.  So does the Archangel Uriel who is the Grand Commander of the Elemental World of Earth.

Plan on doing this practice at least three times before you proceed to the Sojourner initiation, the second step in your initiatory journey in the Fellowship. It is wise to meditate on everything you receive when you do these practices.

 

Working With Earth Elementals

You may want to review the article about Elementals to refresh your memory about the nature of Earth Elementals.  It helps to have a good idea about what to expect before getting started.  Perform the exercise given above, and once you are in the Elemental World of Earth, enter into meditation. 

Formulate your intention to communicate with local Earth Elementals as they go about their duties.  Being Elementals they seem to always be doing their duty and they never seem to tire of doing it.  But when you enter their world they do pay attention and they will honor your requests and they will take the time to communicate with (educate) you.

Relax and keep probing for contact as you continue meditating. You’ll start to receive some impressions from the Earth Elemental World.  Keep a record of your impressions and you’ll start to see some patterns evolving.  That’s when you know you’re working with the Earth Elementals.  As with all things, practice improves your skills.  Daily practice is more effective than weekly or monthly practice. 

Once you start receiving general impressions you can open communication and start asking questions.  It’s a process.  Work with the process and you’ll learn far more than you ever imagined about yourself, the creation, the Divine and how everything in the creation works together for the benefit of all.

Earth Elementals, and all Elementals, have a mind and they can think as clearly as any human.  They speak from truth and knowledge and without emotional garbage, desires or physical limitations.  They do not deceive but they do have a sense of humor - more intellectual than rowdy, often dry or droll, but humorous nonetheless.  Earth Elementals, like all Elementals, have a Spirit and that Spirit is an individualized and manifest expression of the Divine

Earth Elementals know about the Element of Earth and not much more. Unlike humans they are not really curious about anything other than what they need to know to perform their duty of taking care of astral matter to form the physical reality.

Enterprising magicians use Earth Elementals to help them create and hold astral forms.  All you have to do is ask.  But first you need to open communications with the Earth Elementals.

 

Working with Earth Nature Spirits

Earth Nature Spirits are called Gnomes.  Do not confuse Gnomes with Dwarves, Halflings, or other creatures from the fantasy worlds.  Do not confuse them with Elves or other kinds of Nature Spirits.

Gnomes are the caretakers of Mother Earth, the protectors and builders of all the mineral kingdom.  They attend to the things of the Earth like mountains, volcanoes, rocks and crystals, earthquakes and the healing of mankind’s damage to Mother Earth.

Gnomes can be playful and they have a whole range of emotions and emotional responses.  You can hurt their feelings, make them angry, incite them to fear, and make them sad.  These approaches are not recommended.  Treat them like the friends they are and you’ll have more than just a friend, you’ll have a faithful helper.

Gnomes, like all Nature Spirits, have a Spirit and a Soul.  They are not encumbered by an ego or a plethora of personas.  For this  reason, Gnomes are very real and not pretentious or deceptive.  They have no ulterior motives.  They are what they are and nothing else.

You can build a friendship with a Gnome in your part of the world. The best way to do this is to first open communications with the  Earth Elementals working nearby.  There are several taking care of your body, so finding one is easy.  After you’ve established yourself with them, ask for an introduction to a Gnome.  They’ll be honored to introduce you to a friendly Gnome and they’re very good at matching personalities so you’ll like each other right off the bat.

Open communications with the Gnomes you meet and you’ll develop life-long friendships that will always serve you well.  They’ll keep you healthy, happy and your life will be filled with abundance.  You may not be as rich as you desire, but your life will be abundant in many ways.

 

Working with Earth Angels

There are two basic types of Earth Angels - builders and destroyers.  Earth Angels are responsible for the changes to the ever-changing Earth Element.  Things change.  All things change. Change requires that some things grow while others diminish.  Change requires robust health and disease, abundance and poverty.  For it is change that keeps the creation alive and helps us learn.  Earth Angels can bring healing or illness according to our need at the time.  They can bring abundance or poverty according to our need at the time.  Earth Angels can also protect us from any of these things. 

Angels have spirits, souls and egos just like all animals including humans have spirits, souls and egos.  Having an ego means Angels have desires, wants and needs just like we do but in a different manner.  Angels do not have free will or self-determination.  Angels are created for a specific purpose and they serve that purpose  without question.  But within that purpose Angels do have desires, wants and needs.  Humans have free will, they self-determine what they will do, when and how they will do it regardless of the rules and regulations.  Angels are law-abiding and they follow all the rules and regulations. 

What Angels don’t have that humans do is one or more personas.  We humans face this manifested physical world in fear and to protect our fragile egos we create personas.  We all have personas as a child, adult, parent. student, teacher, worker, leader, follower, lover, partner and a variety of other roles.  Each of those personas is not only a form of protection for our Ego, it’s also a false representative of our Ego.  Each persona presents a false face to the public.  Angels don’t have a false face.  They are what they are.

You can open communications with Angels when you’re ready to do so.  As a group they’re not very chatty but they will answer questions to the best of their ability.  The best way to connect with an Earth Angel is by asking your Gnomish friend to introduce you to one.  He or she will be honored to do so.  Another way is to create an Earth Angel astral form and invite an Angel to occupy the form.

Just remember that Angels don’t have a great deal of knowledge about things other than their own duty in the creation.  They also don’t have a lot of time to waste on meaningless chatter.  But they are usually kind and willing to answer a sincere question asked in a respectful manner.

 

Working with the Earth Archangel Uriel

There’s a great deal of confusion about the name of the Earth Archangel but it’s generally agreed the name is Uriel, Auriel, Oroiael or Ariel.  The Fellowship addresses the Earth Archangel by the name Uriel in our rituals and ceremonies.  Some members use  another name.  Whichever name is used the energy we know as the Earth Archangel seems to respond to our requests.

Uriel is the Archangel commander of the Earth Angels and one of the seven major commanders in the Angelic realm.  Uriel does not answer most human requests in person.  Uriel usually responds to human requests by assigning an Earth Angel to handle it.  The kinds of requests Uriel is likely to answer are requests for protection, good health, improved finances and improvement of the environment, food crops, nut and fruit trees.

Some Angelologists consider Uriel to be the Green Ray of the Divine Light.  The Green Ray is the healing ray and it’s usually associated with the planet Venus.  The Green Ray is also the abundance ray thought to bring monetary gain to those who tune into this ray. Some ritualists also consider Uriel to be the Archangel of the North.

The Fellowship makes the following assignments to the seven Archangels in our tradition:

1.  Uriel - Earth

2. Michael - Fire

3. Gabriel - Water

4.  Raphael - Air

5.  Metatron - Spirit Above

6. Sandalphon - Spirit Below

7. your Guardian Angel - Spirit Within

Suggestions for Further Study

Seekers are encouraged to research the Earth Element, Earth Elementals, Earth Nature Spirits, Earth Angels and the Earth Archangel on their own and decide how they will approach and handle these subjects.  Seekers are encouraged to create their own Pentacle of Earth according to their own concept of what this pentacle should be, how it should appear and how it should be constructed.  Seekers are also encouraged to create their own consecration ceremony.  Using our suggestions as suitable guidelines is acceptable but not required.

What we’re saying is there is no one perfect way of doing anything we suggest concerning the Earth Element.  What we’re suggesting is that you do your own research.  Go inside yourself in meditation and contemplate how you will handle these things.  Communicate with the Earth Elementals, Nature Spirits and Angels willing to communicate with you.  Call upon the Earth Archangel by the name you decide to use.  Read books, search the Internet, discuss these issues with your friends and other members of the Order.  Start your own study group and work with a group of like-minded people.  Find the way that works for you.

 

Working With Your Guardian Angel

Your Guardian Angel was created when you were created at the beginning of time.  You and your Guardian Angel travel parallel paths - you in the material world and your Guardian Angel in the “heavenly” world, you in the World of Illusion and your Guardian Angel in the World of Truth.  You travel together because your Guardian Angel has been given a charge to protect and nurture you and you’ve been given the charge to help both of you advance spiritually.  It’s an interesting connection because you both depend upon each other.

Question: What would you do if you knew exactly what your Guardian Angel wanted to do to help you advance spiritually?

That question deserves an honest answer before you proceed.  What would you do?

If your answer is that you would do nothing, you’re going to have a rather hard time with the rituals and ceremonies of the Fellowship of the Hermetic Rose.  All of our workings are designed to help you and your Guardian Angel work together for your mutual benefit and the benefit of all of humanity.  It’s a Universal Law that whatever we do to help ourselves also helps others.  The corollary is that whatever we do to harm ourselves also harms others.  Spiritual apathy harms both us and others.

If your answer is that you would do something but not necessarily what your Guardian Angel suggested, you’re going in the right direction.  The truth is our Guardian Angels always want what is best for us.  Their desire is not that we do something specific but that we do something constructive for our spiritual path.

If your answer is that you would do exactly what your Guardian Angel wanted you to do, it’s time to take control of your own spiritual path.  Our Guardian Angels never order us to do anything, they never tell us what to do.  They are there to protect and nurture us and to help us on our spiritual path.  They have no specific desires for us to do anything in particular.  They have a desire for us to decide for ourselves the best course of action to take.

It’s very important to understand that Guardian Angels, and all Angels, do not have free will.  They are created for the purpose of serving.  They serve by protecting and nurturing you, and by doing the things you want them to do so long as those things are within the scope of their understanding and the purview of their duty.  For example, no Angel will ever do anything to harm any part of the creation.  It’s not in their nature to harm anything or anyone.

Where you’ve heard otherwise, you’ve been misinformed.  But don’t take our word for it.  Learn our techniques for opening communication with your own Guardian Angel and find out for yourself.  That technique is as follows:

1.  Learn to build an astral form for your Guardian Angel

2.  Meditate with and on your Guardian Angel

3.  Learn to use and trust your own intuitive abilities

Your Guardian Angel doesn’t need the astral form you’re building.  Angels can build their own astral forms anytime they need them.  Not only that, they can build their own physical form on that astral matrix anytime they need to do so.  Building an astral form for your Guardian Angel is practice for you - practice with your Guardian Angel adding a helping hand.

Meditating with your Guardian Angel is the way you open and utilize the lines of communication.  You may use any meditation technique of your choice.  Set your intention to talk with your Guardian Angel.  Ask your Guardian Angel to speak with you during your meditation.  You may not hear your Guardian Angel in the beginning.  That’s phase one.  During phase two you do hear your Guardian Angel but you don’t believe it.  You think it’s all in your imagination.  Sometimes it really is your imagination and other times it is not.  Phase two is a confusing time because you need to learn how to differentiate between the voice of your imagination and the voice of your Guardian Angel.

Phase three of communicating with your Guardian Angel during meditation occurs when you finally are able to prove to yourself that what you’re hearing is your Guardian Angel and not your imagination.  Congratulations, the lines of Angel communication are now open.

Learning to use and trust your own intuitive abilities is an alternative path to meditating on and with your Guardian Angel.  The difference is that in this path you meditate to improve your psychic skills, your intuitive mind.  Get yourself comfortable, relax, set your intention to develop a specific psychic skill, open your third eye or empower your intuitive mind.  Use the meditation technique of your choice and practice on a regular basis.  Short daily meditations is more effective than longer intermittent meditations.

One final suggestion: the more you communicate with your Guardian Angel, the more easily lines of communication will open.