Cloudy

The Way of Heaven becomes obfuscated by all religions.

Spiritual Spirals

There is a clear line between spirituality and religion.

Those who are spiritual see this line.

Those who are religious do not see it, or may refuse to look.

 

Yet, religion, for many, is a stepping stone to spirituality.

A lesson. A wake-up call. An alarm.

Jesus Flippin’ Tables!

It is most difficult for me to imagine that the Messiah would have had any association with any of today’s modern brands of religious practice, except to occasionally drop by and flip some tables and maybe flog a few money changers.

Religion is to spirituality what dirt is to pure water.

Dirt may not encapsulate water, but the water will become muddied for a while.

Religion may not encapsulate the spirit, but its (spirituality) perception by others will become distorted by it.

The Dominion may not encapsulate natural law, which is free, but its efforts in doing so will make mankind slaves of [their] law.

Teachers of the Law

Pharisees and Sadducees;
They never went away.
They only change their image
About every other day.

Preface

There IS a mental height requirement for understanding the similitude(s) within the pages of the Bible. I am my own proof and evidence.

Why, when I say that, does it cause abrasion to others? Does it cause offense if I say there is a mental height requirement for learning calculus? Or learning to put one’s excrement in the potty? Is it not a fact that everything we learn from life has a mental height requirement? Even the actions we claim are instinctual require some stage of development.

Why, then, when I say that some are not yet ready to grasp what is contained within those pages, does it provoke wrath?

“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)… There are just some kind of men who – who’re so busy worrying about the next world they’ve never learned to live in this one, and you can look down the street and see the results.”

-Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird

When I tried reading it during my 20’s, it didn’t go very well. At its surface value, it made me angry; it insulted my intelligence. I did not even make it all the way through Genesis. I quickly dismissed it as “ignorant babble” and put it away.

But Things came together later on. After choosing to stand up from my Fall, I began seeking again.

Now, I want to reach my hand across the gulf to those who are beginning to rise from their slumber. I want to donate fertilizer to the keeper of the Garden. I want to warn the  keeper of the Garden about weeds and pests. I want to behold the brand new sprouts as they become Gardens of Roses.

But concerning the Bible,  this is as far as I may reach at this time:

The Bible, taken only at its surface value, contains both wheat and chaff because it is filtered through the pens of Man, who is formed from a corrupt Substance; but there is something far, far deeper at work; something supersensual …. that is the Kernel. To find the Kernel, first separate the wheat from the chaff.

(but please understand, dear reader, nothing should be removed; the chaff is there for a reason)

Only a similitude can come close to describing this virtue (or power) that I am trying with corporeal words to explain. It is so very complex… until you realize its plain simplicity.

3-in-1 Whole

Without beginning or end,
It unfolds as a rose;
Like the Generating Heart;
With Movement and repose.

Incorporeal Inclinations

“If thy heart will incline to me,

Saith the Spirit,

Then I will also incline to thee.”

-Jacob Boehme, Aurora, Chapter 20

An Encounter with a Burning Bush

by Jedidiah Fleming

It happened on Mt. Sinai:

“An eye for an eye’ll 
Make the blind lead the blind,”
Said someone far wiser than I.

“But what if for the eye, I gave them a word?”
I questioned the Fire; quite undeterred.
“Would that, to your majesty, be more preferred?”

“Given with that heat, they’ll grow only with scorn.”
“Then how?” said I, growing further forlorn,
“Upon what words, then, may this wisdom be born?

For this simple poet cannot possibly conceive
The kind of words to help them believe,
While they stand behind their motes and beams!”

From the fire, I retrieved:

“Only with meekness should they be fed;
Only with humility should they be led,
But stand your ground before the dead;
Allow them not, on you, to tread.”

Then the flames roared up and said:

“Look not upon their many deceits
That conceal away the only relief,
But wield this mystery with strong belief:

Upon your actions they will see
The one and only side of me.

My children, seeker, don’t you see?
In chains again; apart from me!
Reveal this truth and set them free!

But, my child, listen closely; tell them on that day:
If they wish me to speak, then I want them to obey.
There has never been another way;
It does not change from day to day.

Of the rules I have for all, I’ll sum it up with two:
Love me and love your neighbor; that alone will do.

If they’ll use this as their foundation,
I’ll give unto them my revelations.
Out of this court, we’ll cast wrath and lamentation;
We’ll wipe away, forever, this fierce damnation,
And replace it with an incorruptible, new creation.

Go now, boy; this flame’s adjourned;
Go and tell them all you’ve heard;
Teach to them what may be learned;
Speak to them what may be earned!”

Looking down, the bush was burned.
For his people, the Father yearned.
Down the mountain, the poet returned.

And still the wheel presses further on
Through the redness of the dawn.

 

Oppression

For any who are enduring oppression or persecution from the world because of seeking Truth:

“23. For he [who climbs the spiritual ladder] must climb through a horrible deep, a giddiness will frequently come into his head; and besides, he must climb through the midst or centre of the kingdom of hell, and there he will feel by experience what a deal of scoffings and upbraidings he must endure.

24. In this combat I had many hard trials to my heart’s grief: My sun was often eclipsed or extinguished, but did rise again; and the oftener is was eclipsed or put out, the brighter and clearer was its rising again.

25. I do not write this for my own praise, but that if it go so with you, you should not despair about it; for there belongeth and is requisite a mighty enduring hard labour and stoutness, for him that fighteth with the devil, between heaven and hell; for the devil is a potent prince.”

-Jacob Boehme, Aurora

 

What belongs to Caesar and not to God?

Jesus said, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”

Crafty words, are they not?

Further thinking: could the word “minion” be related to the word “mine?”

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.”  1 Chronicles 29:11