Issue #6 - Colours of Fall

October is synonymous with Fall in the northern hemisphere. It’s the height of the changing of the leaves and it has been referred to as the “yellow month” in many countries for the fading of the leaf. It has been said by artists that October is the “holy grail of light”. The light comes in at an angle unlike the blinding fullness of summer light. One can detect subtle changes on the landscape. Clouds seem to have more depth, the sun’s shadows still create life everywhere, inviting the artist to take photographs perhaps to paint a captured moment...later when the evening draws quick.

In the eastern hemisphere, where many Asian countries do not experience the same “colours” of the season of Fall, there still seems to be a common ground that change is in the air. For example, where I live in Thailand, Thai people are now making preparations for the annual October Vegetarian Festival. This festival has been celebrated for decades and is believed to bring good fortune and good luck to those who observe its rites and rituals.

The earliest records of vegetarianism come from ancient India and ancient Greece in the 6th century BC. In the Asian instance, the diet was closely connected with the idea of nonviolence towards animals and was promoted by religious groups and philosophers. Among the Hellenes and Egyptians, it had medical or ritual purification purposes. There are plenty of colourful vegetation delights that are created, shared and enjoyed by many during this festive time in Thailand. This festival marks as well the change of low season to high season – or from the rainy season to sunnier times.

I have often wondered how many eyes are looking at the abundance of the full golden harvest moon at the same time? Does a person in Canada, have similar hopeful thoughts as someone who is seeing the same moon in Vietnam? Or the gorgeous colours of a sunrise? How many are praying to the mystery at the same time every day? How many people are expressing gratitude at the same time – creating a symphony of soft whispers and peaceful thoughts.

Where ever you are in the world, may the changing light of the month of October, inspire you to think of others in different parts of the world. May the many cultures and their traditions remind us that people do come together to celebrate the abundance of life in its many forms. That gratitude is an active virtue wherein the more you express it, the more you have to keep expressing it!

Thank you October!
Denise Bertrand for The Aquarian Team

Issue #5 - Man, Know Thyself

In the West we have been institutionalised and taught to give much attention to our physical body; so much in fact that we have slowly forgotten who we really are. We are neither the physical body, nor the mind or the soul; these are merely vessels that our consciousness picks up along the way on its journey into the physical body. We are growth seeking, non-physical, vibrational immortal beings, extended consciousness of our real selves that are now temporarily housed in these so called “material” bodies.

We are actually not that far separated from our real selves as we believe, it only feels that way, but we never are. The reason why most people feel so disconnected from their real selves is because they live rather chaotic lives. They have very little time for anything else so everything is taken for granted. It no longer comes into their minds to question themselves until everything is crumbling apart around them. However if only they could take the time to quiet down even if it is for only 15 minutes a day, they would realise that there is something coming from within like a gentle calling.

“Man, Know Thyself”, was once written over the entrance to the temple of Delphi. Many books have been written on this subject. One of the world’s greatest sages Sri Ramana Maharshi said that the quickest path to self-realisation is the path of self-inquiry and that the one who seeks his real self will not be afraid of any obstacle. To ask the mind “Who am I” will force the mind to question and to look deeply into itself from where it come from.

Here is a simple exercise to help you. Find a comfortable place to sit quietly and relax, and then ask yourself the question: “Who am I”. Gently focus your natural awareness on the Omnipresence of the inner being who is the true seer “behind you”, the one that never moves, never sleeps and is totally aware. As there is a small gap between the mind and the real self, the mind cannot connect and comprehend the state of the real self as only our consciousness can breach that gap. Let thoughts, feelings and sensations pass on the screen of your mind without given it any attention or energy. However don’t be fooled by trying to fight the mind to be quiet as the mind will never stop trying to take your awareness away on the presence of your real self. The mind will succeed many times to persuade you and that’s ok. When you have realised this be appreciative of the mind’s work to show you the false version of yourself, and just refocus your awareness once again on the presence of your inner being and continue. Only when you have looked through the eyes of your inner being you will feel the boundless Joy and know instantly that you also have been looking through the eyes of All That Is or God.

To Know Thyself can only come via the direct experience of your connection with the real self or inner being.

Mikhaël van Aken for The Aquarian Team

Issue #4 - A matter of perception

Recently a cousin of mine came over for a visit. One day as we were having a chat the subject suddenly turned serious and we found ourselves discussing religion in general. This was very interesting because people from where he comes from think that the catholic religion is the ultimate and that anything else is perceived as no good.

Almost every religion or spiritual movement tend to think that they are better and they do their best to try to convince others of it and this ends up with all sort of issues. It is not the religions or various philosophies that are at the core of this misunderstanding; it is actually a matter of perception; the kind that comes from borrowed knowledge and intellectual understanding.
This type of mental and intellectual knowledge is the one that divides everything and which is the cause of conflicts.

Luckily more and more people are now coming to the understanding that there is only one God, Life force or Universal Power and that truth exists in all religions and spiritual movements not only in the West but also in the East.

More people are now awakening to the inner knowing that comes when the inner connection with the Life Force, God or Universal Power is made. When this connection is made the individual finally understands that his/her family is the whole world not just a few, and no longer feels the need to push his or her view on others.

Imagine what would happen if more and more people with the above understanding decide to unite and create a world of beauty, peace and harmony, joy where all people on earth live and experience Divine Love and Light, in complete harmony with Nature.

Christiane van Aken for The Aquarian Team

Issue #3 - What is the purpose of all this

At one point or other throughout our lives, most of us ask ourselves the question what life is all about? Where we come from and where we go from here? What is the purpose of all this running around, the struggles and difficulties? What makes us be born in one part of the world and not another where constant conflicts assail the population.

These are very fundamental questions and although we may not get answers on the first round of questioning, they may keep coming back to mind until the day when a particular book, movie or person lifts the veil to make us think twice. Thus begins our inner journey.

It seems like we live our lives as if we were in a semi dark room, moving around within the space and activities available to us in that room yet totally unaware that beyond that room exists a field of pure light with a glorious landscape. At times, we may be curious or wondering enough to peek through the key hole of the door hoping for more but remain locked in the room of our habits, culture and beliefs.

The Initiates and great Masters tell us that beyond the world of our limited awareness exists a world of incredible beauty and harmony where everything is light and sound. To access this world, they invite us to open the door, open our awareness, and leave the confinement of the room in which we stand to walk into the beautiful landscaping and symphony of our divinity!

The only limits we face are the ones we lock ourselves in. There are numerous activities and methods to help us walk through that door. Find out more by reading our book "What the Future of Humanity could be" or recommend it to your friends and neighbors!

Carmen Froment for The Aquarian Team

Issue #2 - The evolution of societal life

In the chain of events on our dear planet the true links between causes and consequences may not always be apparent or easy to decipher. Nonetheless, the undeniable fact of their existence is there. On the other hand, for a process to unfold its dynamics up to its full potential, required necessary conditions must be met throughout the development path. This applies regardless the qualitative nature of the initial trigger (cause or action) and the associated final state (consequence).

The evolution of societal life can certainly also be looked at as a process triggered by human needs for improved living conditions. Yet, from a holistic or spiritual perspective, improved living conditions must include the provision for a balanced, harmonious and fulfilled human life in their will to physically realize something tangible, their need to develop and experience the qualities of the heart, and their desire to penetrate the various spheres of knowledge through the mind. Taking this as the goal of the quest, the evolution of societal life will definitely require a new set of initial conditions in order for the corresponding dynamics to manifest itself. Among the many initial conditions that can be mentioned, let us point out one particular one: As many people as possible on earth should perceive the need and deeply wish for the right type of societal evolution.

This is perhaps the most difficult step, but where the Aquarian Team is inviting everybody in this June issue to make a contribution. In fact, this is much simpler than one might initially anticipate. The recipe reads: work with spiritual light. Just as sunlight has the ability to let us see on the physical plane, spiritual light also has the property of letting us understand what the best choices are for our evolution. Using the power of our imagination, the first part of the exercise consist of regularly connecting with bright spiritual light that is spread throughout the universe, surrounding oneself with its shine, bathing in it and imploring it to become part of oneself.

The second part of the exercise also calls the power of our imagination to contemplate our whole planet covered in a vibrant sheet of light that penetrates everything and every being. Since spiritual light knows best when and how to bring the right messages to their recipients, soon or later our brothers and sisters on earth will be tuning to the new ideas and vision of improved life and improved living conditions on our planet. So let us all be active sources of light and form a network that continuously spans the whole planet. Let us all be triggers of an evolutionary step that will see all humans working together as one single family.

Richard Kamendje for The Aquarian Team

Issue #1 - What the Future of Humanity could be!

Two years have passed since the idea of writing a book by the Aquarian Team on issues impacting on human life sprouted, grew and is now bearing fruit. Indeed, this is the first issue of a newsletter following the publication of our book entitled “What the Future of Humanity could be!”

The current transitions in Nature at this time of the year naturally impose to our minds and souls the phenomena at the Equinoxes as a subject of meditation that we should like to consider for this first issue, whether we live on the Northern or Southern hemisphere. With some minimum sense of observation and level of perceptibility this phenomena appears as an almost common experience that Spring and Fall generate in oneself characteristic feelings with the potential to drive us in one direction or another. The key question now reads: how can these influencing forces be consciously used for our inner development towards a status of purity, liberty, freedom and fulfilment?

At the Spring Equinox, just like a seed is called forth to wake up after a dormant period when the days get longer and the warmth of the sunrays beckons it to life, we also observe in us a stirring, a joy, as if something is calling us also to move, go for a walk in the park and be more alive. When spring finally comes we observe a renewal taking place. Should this remain physical or psychological only? How about using this now available renewal power to consciously wake up the seeds of qualities and virtues deposited in us by the Creator through the warmth of our love and the light of understanding? We feel this idea worthwhile trying given the many positive changes and improvements that can result in oneself for the benefit of the whole mankind.

At the Fall Equinox, as the trees let go off their old leaves and plants their flowers, so can one shed undesirable elements such as old habits and negative thought forms, and bring one’s energies within for a period of inner work. A work to separate good from bad features often pretty entangled, and consolidate constructive inner acquisitions.

As a matter of fact, the Initiates and great spiritual Masters of humanity have always used and continue to use these powerful currents in Nature to do a work in the depth of their being and bring fruit for all. If the poets and musicians marvel at the various and almost unlimited expressions in Mother Nature, may be Higher Beings also delight in the positive changes and expressions of our inner seeds.

Carmen Froment for The Aquarian Team