#arthurianarchetypes

Arthurian Archetypes Part 2 On some occasions you may find yourself “ passed on” to another companion. This is an entirely normal process and may result in some interesting or profound relationships. Always remember that these people will become your friends in exactly the same way as people in the outside world, and they will respond in a similar manner according to the way you treat them. Should you ever find yourself in the position of wishing to discontinue working with the guide you had chosen but find for some reason that he or she refuses to leave, you should abandon all meditation for at least a week, and then begin again by consciously building the image of a new guide. The resulting knowledge gained from this exercise will enable you to interact more fully with each strata of the Arthurian tradition as and when you come to study it. The Round Table was a meeting place for those of like minds who desired to share the insights deriving from their adventures. So, too, should it become for all who answer the call of Arthur. The practices that follow are designed to enable the construction of an inner place where you may invite friends both inner and outer to share your experiences and intuitions, and where you may walk and learn and study as you progress upon your path. Next we can talk about setting up an Arthurian alter if anyone is interested or I can move into the meditations. #arthurianlegend #arthurianarchetypes #arthurian (at Upper East Side)

Working with Arthurian Archetypes Part 1 These are, simply put, accretions of energy that have coalesced around certain characters, themes, and places, both in and out of this world. Thus you might take a character such as Merlin, a priestesses of Avalon, or one of the knights as a guide and mediator of knowledge. We will be working at a magical level that draws upon the power of the archetype itself—the energy of the character, the thing, or the place. These are what we call the companions—inner-world beings who act as contacts between this world and the other. Essentially you are seeking to earn a place amongst the Fellowship of the Round Table. Such a place is not easily come by, and its importance should never be undervalued. You are following in the footsteps of the great archetypal figures from the Arthuriad, one of whom will become your companion. Once you feel a resonance with a particular character, read everything you can find about him or her if you need to. When you feel that you really “ know” your chosen companion, begin to meditate upon them, using the following suggested formula or one of your devising. Build in your imagination a room, a building, or an outdoor scene. Then, when you have established this firmly in your consciousness, introduce the character of your choice into the scene. Sit down and talk with him or her or, if appropriate, go for a walk. Begin to explore the landscape of your imagining; you will soon find that the inner character will begin to take you to other places that you had not planned to visit. This means that your inner guide is firmly established and you should be able to work with him or her for as long as you both wish. Always remember that the men and women of the Arthurian tradition are archetypes, each with a different degree of power. Some may be less easy to work with than others, but you can always choose to work with another character at any time by simply taking formal leave of whichever inner guide you are with and then building again from the beginning. #arthurianmagic #arthurianarchetypes (at Upper East Side)

The Art of Meditation: The most important instruction for meditation is to make sure you are not going to be disturbed. Turn off your mobile phone, put away your tablet, hang up your house phone, and make sure that no one with whom you share your home will disturb you for as long as you need. Next, be sure you are comfortable. An upright chair is always better than a couch or a bed as you might find yourself drifting off to sleep. Relax and take some deep breaths, clearing your mind of the background noise that accompanies us everywhere. It is a good idea to read the texts first, either aloud or to yourself. If you have a recording device you might wish to read them into it so that you can play them back and allow the images to rise naturally, rather than having to see them while you are reading or immediately after. Whichever method you adopt, the important thing is to be there , within the scenes described, as totally as possible. Remember that you are a part of these scenes and that you should be experiencing them yourself, not watching them happen on an inner TV screen. The more you invest the scenes you are seeing with a sense of awareness—seeing the stones of the castle wall, feeling the breeze from the sea on your face or the grass beneath your feet, hearing the words that are addressed to you—the more you will gain from the experience. Your senses will enable you to build the scenes described in your imagination over time and take on a life of their own, often developing and leading you further in. You will see that pauses (ellipses) are noted within each visualization to enable you to receive your own impressions. With a little practice you should be able to construct the scenes described in such a way that they possess tactile reality. Once this is achieved you can move easily from one reality to another. Remember that you can repeat any of the visualizations as often as you need if you do not receive any insights on the first occasion. Repetition is not just for beginners but for all practitioners—it allows our practice to be supported and to endure.#arthurianmagic #meditation #arthurianarchetypes (at Upper East Side)