The Biggest Full Moon of the Year

As many will know, the Summer Solstice this year for us here in the Northern hemisphere (and Winter Solstice, of course, for the Southern hemisphere) falls close to the time of the ‘biggest full moon’. This is the full moon of the year when the moon is closest to the earth. For those interested in astrology, it is at 11.32am in 2deg. of Capricorn in opposition to the sun (as with every full moon) in 2deg. of Cancer, sign of the Mother, on Sunday 23^rd June.

What is interesting for me is that the sun and moon are in harmonious aspect to the position of the sun in the White Eagle Lodge’s horoscope (2deg. of Pisces). I feel that this indicates a special spiritual opportunity for us—indeed a call—to give back to the earth on this day. (This applies wherever we are in the world.)

It will be a very powerful time spiritually and I am sure that White Eagle is asking his members and friends to take this time as an opportunity for a global link-up between us all, focusing on Earth healing. We feel that to make the attunement on the nearest Sunday to the solstice is the best time, and here at New Lands we shall be holding a Sunday service in the morning and our prayer for sending out the light in this service will be devoted to enfolding all the kingdoms of nature in the healing light of the Christ Star. In the afternoon we will have singing and chanting, culminating in our special ‘Sun-Earth’ ceremony in the cross-within-the-circle in the Temple field (weather permitting). Some of our Regional Star Centres in the UK and some around the world will be holding their own special ceremonies too, so White Eagle’s call is for us all to join together on the inner plane—even if we are physically quite on our own—and be part of this heartfelt giving back to the earth.

I thought you might find inspiring this extract from A Journey Within for Healing the Earth from White Eagle’s book EARTH HEALER :

‘I walk on Mother Earth and by Mother Earth I am supported and nourished. I walk beneath the canopy of the wide sky, which speaks to me also of the invisible worlds of spirit, and of the dignity of life. 

I draw close to the Great Spirit in my heart, to our Father-Mother God. In this presence I remember that deep within my heart is the light of the spiritual Sun, which draws heaven and earth together. The light of the Sun is within all physical form and beyond form.

Through the spiritual Sun in my heart, I offer myself in service to the angels of nature and would work with them to heal the wounds of the earth and restore balance in all her elements.

Through the creative power of the Sun, I picture the perfect form of the six-pointed star, full of light and the power for good.

I am within the Star and I see its light, with the blessing of the angels of nature, bringing healing to all the earth… The light of the Star shines into the soil of the earth and the plants and trees it supports… The light of the Star shines into the atmosphere, the air which all creatures breathe and by which they are protected… I see all the earth irradiated by the light and love of the Star within and around it.’

Call to Prayer

I have just returned from a few days in Switzerland, staying in the Bernise Oberland areawith Beatrice, our White Eagle leader. We have a truly beautiful White Eagle Centre there—full of light and joy. Something I loved when staying and working there (as I do at our Munich Centre) is the regular chiming of the church clocks. These days perhaps we are not so aware of that in our towns and cities here in the UK. The chimes remind me of the Islamic call to prayer—the evocative chanting of the muezzin which rings out across the streets and countryside in Islamic countries.

During my visit I was talking about White Eagle’s link with the major religions of the world—not just Christianity—and how our 3,6,9,12 call to ‘send out the light of the Star’ is so similar to the Muslims’ daily commitment of prayer at sunrise, mid-day, mid-afternoon, sunset and evening. I really believe White Eagle wants us to pray particularly for greater peace and understanding between different faiths and an end to wars between religious factions. 

I recounted to our Swiss members the vision I had some years ago whilst meditating in the Temple at Luxor in Egypt. It was sunset time and I had just listened to the ‘call to prayer’, when I became aware of Jesus and Mohammed talking together (at the inner level)! They were ‘shaking their heads’ over the fact that their followers were always fighting and they were asking all—at their time of prayer—to work for greater harmony. So as I write this near the time of what White Eagle calls ‘the Christ full moon’ (when the sun is in Gemini) this is my prayer.

White Eagle says: ‘These are the qualities of a great soul: gentleness and tolerance. You all think you know best. You all think the other person is doing the wrong thing. Tolerance, tolerance, dear ones. Live and let live. Let everybody have the freedom they need in order to grow and develop. Your work is to hold in your heart the shining Star, which is all love, and stillness and strength.’  (from White Eagle’s book ‘The Source of all our Strength’)

Peace No Matter What!

At last it seems that spring has come (here in the UK)! At the outer level nature is busy

with flowers and leaves bursting forth. It always seems to me that at this time of year there is a particular busy-ness in our outer lives too, with lots of stresses and challenges. The full moon when the Sun is in Taurus has just passed by and in White Eagle’s teaching this is traditionally the Wesak Festival linked with the Lord Buddha. White Eagle says: ‘The meditation at this time is of utter stillness and surrender, and of the one-ness of all life.’  Yes, at the inner level, if we can touch it, there is this feeling of great serenity and peace, and yet outwardly so much is happening.  So I think it is a time when we have a particular opportunity to find our own inner strength, our own inner place of peace, no matter what is going on around us. At this time of year I always try to make a particular point of meditating on the still flame, and there is a passage of White Eagle’s teaching that I often think of to help me.  I share it with you here: ‘It is not what is happening around you that is important. It is the way you deal with such happenings. You can get worked up and make yourselves ill, as some of you have done, and may do again; or you can keep very still, and continually seek the place of silence and strength. Having stilled the emotions, the next step is to reach the innermost centre of communion and the intaking of strength. You can then examine your problem and say, “Dear God, I would have the strength to handle this as the Master would handle it”. In the presence of the Master anger and resentment dissolve. You are raised above the pulls and antagonisms of the earthly plane. You are filled with peace, overcome with adoration and love. If you are big and wise enough to do what we say, you will never again be torn by emotion, nor will you be puzzled; because there, within yourself, you will find the still, ever-burning flame, so bright, a flame of the spiritual sun. As you concentrate on that pure, bright, white flame, you will feel the majesty of the sun in yourself: you will know you are master of your body and the conditions of your life. Nothing can touch you. That Presence deep, deep within you is the I AM. “Be still and know that I AM God”.’          (From ‘Heal Thyself’)

Happy sun-filled days at our Americas Temple!

I have just returned from several happy days at our Americas Temple in Montgomery, Texas. This Temple is named ‘The Temple of the Golden Rose’ and it is a truly apt name. Every time I visit, it seems the ‘golden light’ has grown! Again this year I was visiting for our annual Board and Council meetings and our special guest this time was Gay Robinson, Co-leader and Mother of our Australasian Temple. (Last year it was her sister Lyn who joined us.)

This meeting of representatives from three continents and our triangle of three Temples feels very special and our day of meetings was blessed with both heavenly and earthly sunshine. A special joy was the amazing flowering of Bluebonnets and other wild flowers on ‘Temple Hill’ and all around the beautiful labyrinth, ‘masterminded’ in its design and creation by Jane, our Americas Mother. This is indeed a stunning feature of the sacred land here and I was inspired greatly each morning in my meditations. Do visit if you can. I know you will love it and be inspired too. (See our Americas website for details and upcoming retreats http://www.whiteaglelodge.org.)

I also hope you will enjoy the photos coming shortly.

Thoughts on the Crisis in Korea

As we pray about the situation in North Korea and hold everyone concerned in the light of the shining Christ Star, my feeling is that it is really important to try and let go thoughts about the rights and wrongs, and remain very still and poised, trying to be as White Eagle says in the Quiet Mind (the chapter is: ’Is a Tower of Strength and Light’):

'Do not despair; do not dwell on the negative side of any situation, for you do no good by this. Always put into operation the forces of construction. Believe that good will come, that the best is coming, and it will...When you are in the shadows, or you feel that the shadows are near, remember to look up, to visualize the blazing Star above you in the spirit spheres, and to feel its strength, its steadiness, its radiance, pouring into your heart. Go forward in confidence and in full consciousness of the light of this Star shining upon you.'

Happy Easter!

Wishing you a very happy Easter, and I really hope it will be a time of spiritual renewal and inspiration for you. In the April issue of Stella Polaris I have written about the fact that the Christian festival of Easter was placed at a time of traditional celebration of new life and rebirth. As some of you will know, the date of Easter is always at the full moon when the Sun is in Aries and as this is the first sign of the zodiac, it brings an energy of fiery creativity and new inspiration. I love the idea that this energy is not dependant on seasons, so it applies as much to those living in the Southern Hemisphere as those in the North, where of course in nature there is so much outer manifestation of new life!

I like to make use of the energy of this Easter festival time (and throughout the period when the Sun is in Aries) to set aside time each day to contemplate the golden flame of divine love burning brightly within my own inner ‘temple’.

Although our Spring here in the UK is very late due to all the cold weather, as I’m writing this the sun is shining and New Lands gardens are turning gold with the daffodils coming into bloom—outward symbols of the recreation of life. It reminds me of the following passage from White Eagle:

‘Within you lies the power to change the very atoms of your body. Healing is the intake into the body of the eternal Sun, the light. If you can call upon this light and breathe it in; if you can live consciously in this light, it will actually control the cells of the physical body. The body is so heavy, material life so strong—but remember the power of God which can recreate the living cells of your body.’

Thoughts on White Eagle

I am writing this on the train coming back from our Ipswich Lodge for a Retreat Day this Sunday on the theme of White Eagle and His Work of Brotherhood Down the Ages. Our Lodge there, (the heart of what we now call our East Anglia Regional Centre) is one of our oldest established Centres. As I went into their beautiful sanctuary I felt immediately the amazing power of the light, generated by the dedication of all who have served there down the years, but also a touching purity. They really love White Eagle and what his teaching has brought into their lives, and this touched my heart deeply.

We began our day together reflecting on all the qualities everyone felt White Eagle and his philosophy had brought into their lives. We looked at his portrait—his lovely twinkling eyes, and smiling face and shared what we felt. Here is our list which I hope you enjoy contemplating. Maybe you have other qualities to add to it?

Gentleness

Love

Strength

Wisdom

Compassion and Understanding

Humour

Simplicity

Clarity and purity of language

Humility

Naturalness / down to earth

Practical

Non-judgemental

Grace and serenity

Openness

Eternal Truth

Patience/encouragement

Faith

Far sightedness

Trust

Threads of all world religions.