“If humankind could have known God without the world, God would never have created the world.” ~Meister Eckhart
Adab in The World
The Music of LIfe
Five Poems
Musica Universalis
"As Our Circle..."
Tarot Card - The World
Exercises
Chilla
From Pir Elias Amidon
It seems the longer we live the more we can feel there’s something unseen behind all that we see.
After a night of secretly falling snow, when the first sunlight of the dawn touches the peak of the mountain behind my house, it’s not just “mountain” or “dawn” or “snow” that I see, but something else, something invisible to my eyes, yet evident nevertheless — a wholeness in the nature of things, as if everything is lit from within. What I see is beautiful, yes, but that beauty seems to be arising from something generous and quiet that precedes or informs what’s visible. “Beauty,” as the 13th Century Sufi, Ibn Arabi, famously said, “Beauty is the welcoming openness of the truth toward us.” It’s this inner light in the world that touches us and that somehow reminds us of our own essential being.
Notes from the Open Path - March 2024
Five poems about The World read by Isha Francis
The Musical Universe
Inayat Khan on Music and the World:
"The music of the universe is the background of the small picture which we call music. Our sense of music, our attraction to music, shows that there is music in the depth of our being. Music is behind the working of the whole universe. Music is not only life's greatest object, but it is life itself. Hafiz, the great and wonderful Sufi poet of Persia, says, 'Many say that life entered the human body by the help of music, but the truth is that life itself is music'. What made him say this? He referred to a legend which exists in the East and which tells how God made a statue of clay in His own image, and asked the soul to enter into it; but the soul refused to be imprisoned, for its nature is to fly about freely and not to be limited and bound to any sort of capacity. The soul did not wish in the least to enter this prison. Then God asked the angels to play their music, and as the angels played the soul was moved to ecstasy, and through that ecstasy, in order to make the music more clear to itself, it entered this body. And it is told that Hafiz said, 'People say that the soul, on hearing that song, entered the body; but in reality the soul itself was song!" READ MORE
The Music of the Spheres:
The musica universalis (literally universal music), also called music of the spheres or harmony of the spheres, is a philosophical concept that regards proportions in the movements of celestial bodies – the Sun, Moon, and planets – as a form of music. The theory, originating in ancient Greece, was a tenet of Pythagoreanism, and was later developed by 16th-century astronomer Johannes Kepler. Kepler did not believe this "music" to be audible, but felt that it could nevertheless be heard by the soul. READ MORE
The World, According to Shakespeare:
Sweet are the uses of adversity
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in his head;
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks,
Sermons in stones, and good in everything.
As You Like It. Act 2, Scene 1
From Rumi:
You dance inside my chest
Where no one sees you
But sometimes I do
And that sight becomes this art
Drum sound rises on the air,
its throb my heart,
A voice inside the heart says
I know you’re tired - but come, this is the way..
Come, this is the Way –
Turn as the earth and the moon turn, circling what they love, Whatever circles
comes from the centre.
We have fallen into the place where everything is music……Lets stop the wordsnow.
Open the window in the centre of your chest,
Open the window in your chest, where all is music… and Stop the words for now.
If we cannot touch this earth deeply,
feel ourselves held in a field of gravity,
how can we possibly know, know what we are
holding in our hearts, in our own two hands?
How can we hear the changing voices of the sky,
the water, the trees; How can we know, if we
cannot breathe in a wild rose, the cream
of a blossoming magnolia, or taste what has
been served with love? As our circle gathers
and the seasons transform, separation slowly
dissolves. We come to know what has always
been ours and cherish all these bright gates
of existence.
~ Jett Keyser
As Our Circle Gathers
The World Tarot Card
The Tarot card "The World" is often considered one of the most profound and complex cards in the deck. In esoteric and mystical traditions, it carries deep symbolism representing completion, fulfillment, and unity. Here are some interpretations of the esoteric meaning of "The World" card:
Wholeness and Integration: "The World" represents the culmination of a journey, indicating that the querent has achieved a state of wholeness and integration. This could be in terms of personal growth, spiritual enlightenment, or the resolution of a significant life cycle.
Unity and Harmony: The card symbolizes the harmony and balance achieved through the integration of opposites. It suggests a time of harmony, where all aspects of life are in alignment and working together seamlessly.
Completion and Fulfillment: "The World" signifies the completion of a major life cycle or significant project. It indicates a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment, suggesting that the querent has reached a significant milestone in their journey.
Transcendence and Enlightenment: This card represents transcendence beyond worldly concerns and limitations. It suggests a deep spiritual understanding and enlightenment, where the querent has transcended the mundane and achieved a higher level of consciousness.
Cycles and Continuity: "The World" also symbolizes the cyclical nature of life and the continuity of existence. It reminds the querent that endings are just beginnings in disguise and that life is an eternal cycle of growth and transformation.
Integration of Dualities: The card depicts figures in the four corners representing the four elements (earth, air, fire, water) and the four fixed signs of the zodiac (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius). This symbolism suggests the integration and balance of diverse energies and forces within the individual.
Expansion and Boundlessness: "The World" card can also signify expansion and boundlessness, indicating a sense of infinite possibilities and potential. It suggests that the querent is open to embracing new experiences and exploring new horizons.
Overall, "The World" card in Tarot carries a profound message of wholeness, unity, and transcendence, urging the querent to celebrate their achievements and embrace the infinite possibilities that lie ahead.
~ChatGTP
Exercises
Chilla - Awaken the song of your life.
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Hum while you do your chores, wash dishes, sweep floor, etc.
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Sing when you go for a walk.
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Go further:
Start your morning practice with OM or another vocalization.
Sing yourself a lullaby before you go to sleep.