ESOTERICA • Dec 9, 2022 William Blake is well known as a engraver, painter and poet but he was also a profound and prolific mystical prophet, composing volumes detailing his own gnostic-like personal mythology. While his early poems are well known, these prophetic works largely go tragically under-appreciated due to their obscure complexity. In collaboration with @SEVERALCIRCLES , this episode serves an introduction to his mythos by turning to his foundational 1794 Book of Urizen and an analysis of to what degree can we think of Blake’s system as gnostic.
Monthly Archives: December 2022
Books: “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell” and “The Book of Urizen”
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: In Full Color
Once regarded as a brilliant eccentric whose works skirted the outer fringes of English art and literature, William Blake (1757–1827) is today recognized as a major poet, a profound thinker, and one of the most original and exciting English artists. Nowhere is his glorious poetic and pictorial legacy more evident than in The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, which many consider his most inspired and original work.
The Marriage of Heaven and Hell is both a humorous satire on religion and morality and a work that concisely expresses Blake’s essential wisdom and philosophy, much of it revealed in the 70 aphorisms of his “Proverbs of Hell.” This beautiful edition, reproduced from a rare facsimile, invites readers to enjoy the rich character of Blake’s own hand-printed text along with his deeply stirring illustrations, reproduced on 27 full-color plates. A typeset transcription of the text is included.
The Book of Urizen
The richly illuminated works of William Blake — poet, prophet, and artist — have fascinated readers since the late eighteenth century. In majestic verse illustrated with his own hand-colored plates, the poet explored profound and mystical themes, including the relationship between God and man and the concept of life as a journey toward spiritual self-knowledge.
One of Blake’s most interesting and powerful creations, The Book of Urizen represents a parody of the book of Genesis, in which the righteous figure of God is replaced by that of Urizen, the “dark power” and obstacle to spiritual life. With “the voice of honest indignation,” Blake compels readers to recognize and overcome their inner adversary in order to rise to higher levels of perception.
Incredibly beautiful in its combination of words and pictures, The Book of Urizen boasts some of Blake’s most magnificent designs, rich in energy and monumental grandeur. For any lover of Blake, this edition represents an inexpensive opportunity to enjoy one of his finest works, including full-color reproductions of the poet’s distinctive hand-colored plates and a printed transcription of the poem.
(Goiodreads.com)
Book: “Ego Is the Enemy”
Ego Is the Enemy
by Ryan Holiday (Goodreads Author)
“While the history books are filled with tales of obsessive, visionary geniuses who remade the world in their image with sheer, almost irrational force, I’ve found that history is also made by individuals who fought their egos at every turn, who eschewed the spotlight, and who put their higher goals above their desire for recognition.” – from the Prologue
Many of us insist the main impediment to a full, successful life is the outside world. In fact, the most common enemy lies within: our ego. Early in our careers, it impedes learning and the cultivation of talent. With success, it can blind us to our faults and sow future problems. In failure, it magnifies each blow and makes recovery more difficult. At every stage, ego holds us back.
The Ego is the Enemy draws on a vast array of stories and examples, from literature to philosophy to history. We meet fascinating figures like Howard Hughes, Katharine Graham, Bill Belichick, and Eleanor Roosevelt, all of whom reached the highest levels of power and success by conquering their own egos. Their strategies and tactics can be ours as well.
But why should we bother fighting ego in an era that glorifies social media, reality TV, and other forms of shameless self-promotion? Armed with the lessons in this book, as Holiday writes, “you will be less invested in the story you tell about your own specialness, and as a result, you will be liberated to accomplish the world-changing work you’ve set out to achieve.”
(Goodreads.com)
The key to transforming yourself — Robert Greene at TEDxBrixton
TEDx Talks • Oct 23, 2013 Why do we fixate on the things we can see immediately when we crave change? In this passionate talk Robert Greene shares the key to transforming ourselves and also talks about his own personal transformation and his path to becoming a bestselling author. About Robert Greene Robert Greene is the internationally best-selling author of The 48 Laws of Power, The Art of Seduction, The 33 Strategies of War and The 50th Law (with rapper 50 Cent). His books have been translated into 17 languages. He has worked in New York as an editor and writer at several magazines; and in Hollywood as a story developer and writer. He has lived in Brixton, Paris, and Barcelona; speaks several languages and worked as a translator. He tweets as @RobertGreene
Mastery
by Robert Greene (Goodreads Author)
In this book, Robert Greene demonstrates that the ultimate form of power is mastery itself. By analyzing the lives of such past masters as Charles Darwin, Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, and Leonard da Vinci, as well as by interviewing nine contemporary masters, including tech guru Paul Graham and animal rights advocate Temple Grandin, Greene debunks our culture’s many myths about genius and distills the wisdom of the ages to reveal the secret to greatness. With this seminal text as a guide, readers will learn how to unlock the passion within and become masters.
(Goodreads.com)
Swallowing your healthy anger can make you sick! | Gabor Matè
Tom Bilyeu Sep 16, 2022 FREE Workshop Build IRONCLAD discipline: https://bit.ly/3x17Jo3 WE are EXCITED to bring to you our NEW Impact Theory en Español YouTube channel. PLEASE share with all your Spanish speaking friends & family: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMEJ… On Today’s Episode: Either you or someone you know is dealing with illness on some level. Whether it’s an autoimmune condition, metabolic disorder, or mental health crisis, it’s hard to escape the reality of how sick our society has become and so we’ve normalized our lack of health and made it the new norm without really questioning why. In our fast-paced technological world where medical breakthroughs are more common it feels like we’re further from a solution than when we started or we’re just solving for problems we’ve been creating and consequently we’re farther from optimal health than ever before. At what cost is all this happening? Dr. Gabor Mate is a world renowned trauma and addiction expert with over 40 years experience and respect looking at how trauma has been affecting us from childhood long into our adult years. Today he’s discussing The Myth of Normal, also the title of his latest book on trauma, illness, and healing in a toxic culture. From the very beginning Gabor exposes the myth and explains why this new norm we’ve accepted is actually making us sick. Between exposing how trauma in our childhood and suppressed anger lead to autoimmune diseases and how our adaptive responses to bad parenting decisions cause a plethora of problems in our adult lives, Gabor Mate is laying down food for thought that will shift the way you see everything. Check out Gabor Mate’s latest book, The Myth of Normal, Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture: https://amzn.to/3RQl0rg SHOW NOTES: 0:00 | Introduction to Gabor Mate 0:39 | What Is the Myth of Normal 6:20 | Authenticity & Attachment 10:37 | Boundaries For Unconditional Love 19:45 | Nature’s Agenda for Humans 30:50 | Best Human Conditions to Thrive 36:36 | Stop Suppressing Healthy Anger 47:39 | Depression & Disconnection 53:32 | Emotional Regulation to Trauma 59:46 | Breaking Traumatic Cycles 1:12:35 | Healing Childhood Adaptations 1:23:50 | Conditions of Unconditional Love 1:27:14 | Changing an Unhealthy Culture QUOTES: “In this culture the norm is neither healthy nor is it natural, in fact the norm I think is making us sick.” [0:56] “Illness in this society given the conditions is a normal response to an abnormal circumstance.” [1:11] “That means we have to be in touch with our gut feelings and our emotions and to be true to them, and so what we need is relationships is which we can be true to ourselves, that’s a directive.” [4:25] “When you suppress your emotions you’re suppressing your immune system as well.” [5:55] “Infant is an expectation for unconditional acceptance. […] We evolved as expectations for certain conditions. The less a society meets those conditions the more toxic it becomes…” [7:56] “You can set boundaries through just love, through relationship, through example, it doesn’t have to involve force and it certainly doesn’t have to involve physical force.” [13:26] “You may know on some level that your parents love you because they feed you, they hug you, but at the same time these people that love you are deeply hurting you, that’s traumatic.” [18:38] “Wealth is defined as a set of social connections rather than a set of physical possessions.” [27:55] “In this society, it’s the worst of us that get nourished and the best of us that gets suppressed.” [30:56] “Not feeling your anger was an adaptation to your childhood where the anger wasn’t permitted. That emotional physiological effort to repress anger takes a toll on the nervous system and the immune system. It’s a major role in disease ” [42:10] “Healthy anger is a boundary defense.” [44:15] “When you suppress the emotions, you’re also suppressing the immune system.” [45:42] “Trauma is an imprint that makes you react to the present like you’re still a child, […] it’s automatic, it’s unwilled…” [55:39] “What stresses people are a loss of control, uncertainty, conflict and lack of information.” [1:05:15] “Having love for a person doesn’t mean that you’re going to put up with everything that they do, […] we have to draw our boundaries, but the question is how do we draw our boundaries and in what spirit and with what intention?” [1:24:41] “Why should we settle for the worst versions of ourselves…” [1:33:13]
Book: “SONGS OF INNOCENCE and SONGS OF EXPERIENCE”
SONGS OF INNOCENCE and SONGS OF EXPERIENCE
Songs of Innocence and of Experience is an collection of poems by William Blake.
Note: For a complete Table of Contents of the included poems, see the ‘Questions’ section below.
This book appeared in two phases. A few first copies were printed and illuminated by William Blake himself in 1789; five years later he bound these poems with a set of new poems in a volume titled Songs of Innocence and of Experience Shewing the Two Contrary States of the Human Soul.
The work compiles two contrasting but directly related books of poetry by William Blake. Songs of Innocence honors and praises the natural world, the natural innocence of children and their close relationship to God. Songs of Experience contains much darker, disillusioned poems, which deal with serious, often political themes. It is believed that the disastrous end to the French Revolution produced this disillusionment in Blake. He does, however, maintain that true innocence is achieved only through experience.
(Goodreads.com)
Ukraine Emergency Translation Group
Translation is a 5-step process of “straight thinking in the abstract.” The first step is an ontological statement of being beginning with the syllogism: “Truth is that which is so. That which is not truth is not so. Therefore Truth is all there is.” The second step is the sense testimony (what the senses tell us about anything). The third step is the argument between the absolute abstract nature of truth from the first step and the relative specific truth of experience from the second step. The fourth step is filtering out the conclusions you have arrived at in the third step. The fifth step is your overall conclusion.
The Ukraine Emergency Translation Group meets every Friday at 11 a.m. Pacific time via Zoom. We call it the Ukraine Emergency Translation Group but we welcome Translations about anything. Here are sense testimonies (2nd steps) we translated and their corresponding conclusions: (5th steps) this week.
2) Persons don’t see themselves in others.
5) One Infinite Mind flows through all persons as One Energy.
2) Astigmatism and cataracts can cause blurry vision.
5) All is unfolded, seen and accepted within the society of Truth.
2) Some people don’t want to work together for the common (of or relating to the community as a whole) good. (Obsession with an ego based identity.)
5) Truth is all there is.
All Translators are welcome to join us on Fridays at 11 a.m. Pacific time. The link is: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83608167293?pwd=cFRsckVibXMwTGJ0KzhaV0R2cWJtdz09
For information about Translation or other Prosperos classes go to: https://www.theprosperos.org/teaching
Some comments from group members about this group:
“I like the group interaction and different perspectives. Also, at least for me, it gives me a sense of accountability and keeps the practice fresh in my mind. ” –Sarah Flynn
“This group has freed me up to have more fun with my Translations.”
–Mike Zonta
How Indigenous guardians protect the planet and humanity
“If we take care of the land, the land takes care of us,” says Indigenous leader Valérie Courtois. As climate change continues to devastate the planet, Indigenous guardians are helping to honor our responsibility to the land, monitoring water quality, conducting research and working to restore key species. Courtois invites us all to support the guardians working to ensure that humanity has a future on Earth — and to discover that healing the land can transform us as well.
This talk was presented at a TED Salon event given in partnership with Nia Tero. TED’s editors chose to feature it for you.
Join the movement supporting Indigenous-led conservation across Canada.
About the speaker
Forester, Indigenous leaderSee speaker profile
Valérie Courtois is director of the Indigenous Leadership Initiative and a leading expert on the national movement of Indigenous-led conservation and stewardship in Canada.
About TED Salon
TED Salons welcome an intimate audience for an afternoon or evening of highly-curated TED Talks revolving around a globally relevant theme. A condensed version of a TED flagship conference, they are distinct in their brevity, opportunities for conversation, and heightened interaction between the speaker and audience.
Mutual Empathy with Men, Woman, Children, Families & Society
Edwin Rutsch Nov 15, 2022 Mutual Empathy with Men, Woman, Children, Families & Society Warren Farrell & Edwin Rutsch More at: http://cultureofempathy.com/Reference… Warren Farrell is an American educator, activist and author of numerous books on men’s and women’s issues. He is often considered “the father of the men’s movement,” but he started out as a vocal feminist and was a board member of the New York City chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in the early 1970s. We discuss the importance of mutual empathy with men, woman, children, families and society. https://warrenfarrell.com/http://linkedin.com/in/warrenfarrell/
Tarot Card for December 9: The Aeon
The Aeon
The Aeon (or Judgement, Last Judgement, Atonement, Resurrection) is numbered twenty and often shows figures arising from graves in answer to the clarion call of an angel. The Thoth deck veers away from the Christian overtones and instead we see the goddess Nuit, a primal sky goddess from the beginning of creation. Her body is arched above our heads and curves to imply the ankh cross, a symbol of immortality and life. A child-like male figure stands within the ankh’s loop with his finger to his lips in the traditional mystical gesture of silence. A seated regal figure is behind him. Both figures are said to represent Horus, first as child and then as ruler.
Horus was the son of Osiris and Isis. When his father was murdered by his brother Set, Horus was protected and raised by Isis. Horus’ ascension to manhood triggered a series of battles with Set, culminating in his assumption to the throne of Egypt. Set was sent away defeated and thus Horus is seen as a god of redemption.
The Aeon forces us to acknowledge that our actions set up a chain of cause-and-effect for which we are solely responsible. Here we pass through the fire of purification, shedding dead and dying wood as we go. We judge ourselves frankly, forgive, and leave the past behind. And then we are free to step into the light.
This is a card of healing, especially on an emotional level. It promises hope and happiness, along with a new sense of safeness, protection and recovery. We are at the place where miracles happen.
(via angelpaths.com and Alan Blackman)