
Welcome to our Autumn Winter 2020-2021 newsletter.
Contents
- Bringing Light to Darkness
- Imbolc Celebration
- Charitable Donations
Bringing Light to Darkness
In these highly troubled and disturbed times, characterised by what many of us would characterise as darkness, we wonder what is going on, and what we as individuals and communities can do about it. Reflecting on this, I came across an article on Kosmon Aims and Ideals by George Morley (1.), one of the founders of the Kosmon tradition in 1904, which seems very relevant today. The article, first describes the creative elements in the Kosmon spiritual life, namely, inspiration, liberty, pacifism, and spiritual development. It then describes Evil: those dark and regressive tendencies by which the unfoldment of the soul is continually limited and checked.
Firstly, as to the origin of the darkness of the world, (we) believe that mankind today is afflicted by the out-workings of a major Evil, caused by the perverted wills of certain very powerful beings, who long ages ago turned from the Light and followed the opposite path of the (lower) self. The destructive powers which were thus liberated resulted in the destruction of the continent of Pan (Atlantis), preserved in folklore (and in Genesis) as the legend of the Flood.
Their activity has continued ever since, and will not be checked until (it has been neutralised) by a corresponding exercise of man’s will in the direction of the Light. It is this reversing of the ancient forces of destruction that is the (special) work of those who are true mystics all over the world.
A recent book by Paul Levy (2) expresses precisely the same insights on the origin and actions of evil as those outlined above. In his overview of Theosophy, Tim Wyatt (3.) describes Atlantean civilisation and its downfall.
Atlantean civilisation reached a high degree of sophistication and in many ways bore some of the hallmarks of 21st century living. They were a technologically advanced race with flying machines, canal systems, great architecture and knowledge of metals. But they became corrupt and materialistic, and eventually they were destroyed by black magic.
They tried to control subterranean elemental spirits and harness the powers of the sun, showing the same kind of arrogance that some scientists do today, believing they could subjugate nature to their will.
However, nature could not be mocked. The result was the flood, recorded in Genesis and Oahspe:
Genesis: The earth was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence —- I, (God), bring a flood of water upon the earth to destroy all flesh wherein is the breath of life. (4.)
Oahspe: The order went forth that Pan (Atlantis) should be sunk beneath the waters of the ocean —- and made no longer tenable by spirits of destruction. (5.)
In both accounts, lives of the uncorrupted were saved. In Genesis we are told about Noah and the ark. In Oahspe, there were 36 ships, establishing settlements in America, India, Africa, China, and Japan.
After discussing global consequences of evil, George Morley considers the experience of the individual, which is what is important to us on a practical, every-day level:
As to the individual, we regard him as being essentially a spiritual being, the end of a ray of light, emanating from The One All Light. But the radiation from this transcendental centre is limited by the complex of influences to which he is subjected by his birth and surroundings. Thus any evil which he may manifest is to be attributed solely to the operation of forces with which he has perversely identified himself. Wrongful behaviour is thus to be regarded as the expression of disease rather than of “sin”. —- we recognise the tremendous part which is played by heredity and environment in determining a man’s theoretically “free” actions.
Thus, we regard the person emanating evil more as the victim of a catastrophe than as a deliberate sinner. (From this viewpoint) we find it much easier to be patient with his limitations and extend to him sympathy and understanding.
George Morley makes a profoundly important point `when it come to the way we deal with darkness and evil, or indeed any challenge in our everyday life:
We are surrounded by a dense energetic field of ideas and thoughts, both true and untrue, both light and dark. In searching for meaning, the individual identifies with an idea or thought which becomes his or her reality. They simply do not realise that this is the case, they have been “taken over”, hence George Morley’s description of this situation as analogous to a disease which has overcome a person. Given this understanding, we are able respond with compassion rather with judgement.
However, the question arises as to how these, sometimes ancient, destructive ideas are to be neutralised. There are many who sense that we are at a unique time in the evolution of the earth when, with conscious action, these ideas can be overcome. The result would be, at last, one of peace and harmony. What action can we, as individuals, take to increase light and dispel darkness?
The following quotation from The Way of Mastery, a transmission from Jeshua (Jesus) in the 1990s (6.), describes his crucifixion, and how his experience of this event illustrates how an individual may bring light to darkness. Jeshua stresses that this way of working is potentially available to all of us, provided that we cultivate the art of self-observation, or mindfulness, and self-forgiveness.
When I was being nailed to the cross, there was on who raised the mallet to strike the nail. As he raised the mallet, his eyes met mine for just a moment. —- I asked myself: “How have I ever wanted to drive a nail through someone else? And I remembered my murderous thoughts. I forgave myself and brought my attention back to that one, and asked only to see the light in him. And I asked:
What is it that this action is mirroring to me?
What is it masking within him?
And I saw that one’s soul, and I loved that one’s soul. And I felt compassion for that one. In that moment – mark my words – in that moment of eye contact, that one got it.
Because my energy was different, it created the space in which that soul could make a new choice. That soul saw suddenly the entirety of its existence, and realised that if he allowed that mallet to fall upon the nail, it would be a decision to choose to continue being nothing more than a doormat for other people’s perceptions. And in that very instant, that soul decided to follow a path that would lead to sovereign mastery, and never again be a pawn of any government, or any group, or any faction or anyone. He dropped the mallet from his hand – this was a Roman soldier – stood up, walked away, and disappeared.
That one has gone on to be a master known by thousands of beings —- And it all began as the result of my desire to teach only Love.
This example which Jeshua gives of both facing darkness and extending light, offers us insights as to how we may achieve this. Constant self observation (7.) gives us the skill to be aware of what issues are reflected in us in the moment of facing darkness. Releasing these increases the light within us. Given that, we are empowered to extend light to the darkness.
References
- Kosmon Unity. Spring 1997. p.18.
- Dispelling Wetiko. Breaking the Curse of Evil by Paul Levy.
- Cycles of Eternity. An Overview of the Ageless Wisdom, by Tim Wyatt.
- Genesis, 7.
- Kosmon Unity. December 1987. p22.
- The Way of Mastery, Lesson 3. The Power of Forgiveness.
- Ibid. Lesson 22. Self Honesty – The Greatest Act of Love.
Anthony Deavin
The Imbolc Celebration
In September 1963, the minister of the Kosmon Church, Frank Morley, gave a trance address on the tasks of the Kosmon Tradition. In particular, he spoke of the need to help restore what he called “The Ancient Faith”.
(Our purpose in the Kosmon Fraternity) is to help restore the Ancient Faith as it was before all the orthodox religions came into being, the simple faith that was given to man when he first stood upright on the earth 80.000 years ago. What was that faith? It was the knowledge of the One Supreme Being, the Infinite Mind, the Father of all, and the realisation of the power of that Mind within the individual soul, the source of all consciousness, strength and inspiration (1.).
In searching for what this reconnection with Ancient Faith might mean in practice, we may gain some insight by studying the Aboriginal tradition of Australia, which is said to have survived for at least 120.000 years. Information on this tradition is to be found in Newsletter No.11.(2.) However, we are now beginning to realise that the Celtic Tradition in this country offers a way of connecting with the Ancient Faith which stems from our indigenous heritage. Moreover, the Celtic tradition offers a practical way of developing a close connection with nature, so needed at this time. (3.)
At the Kosmon Sanctuary, the eight Celtic festivals are celebrated, namely, the two solstices, the two equinoxes, and the four quarter days which come between each solstice and equinox. The Winter Solstice celebration in 2019 is described in newsletter No 13 (4.)
Imbolc, a quarter day, is traditionally celebrated on February 1st, which comes between the Winter Solstice, December 20th – 23rd. and the Spring Equinox on March 21st – 23rd. There is great wisdom in the celebrating on February 1st. This is a special time in which, although Winter is still with us, the first flowers of Spring appear. With the signs of creative energy appearing, insights and inspiration which came to us in Winter will find creative expression in the coming weeks as the sun’s energy increases.
This year we celebrated Inbolc on zoom due to Covid restrictions. Since we were not able to be in nature to observe the first signs of Spring, photos and specimens were used; as illustrated below:



Honouring Rowan & Willow at the Imbolc Celebration
Diana Beresford-Kroeger (5. P80) describes the Celtic experience of connecting energetically with trees:
To the Druidic mind, trees are sentient beings. —- The Celts believed a tree’s presence could be felt more keenly at night or after heavy rain. There was a special word for this sentience: mothaitheacht. It was described as a feeling in the upper chest of some kind of energy or sound passing through you. Science speaks of infrasound or “silent” sound, below the range of human hearing, which travels great distances by means of long, loping waves, —- and which have been measured as they emanate from large trees.
In our Imbolc celebration we discussed the two trees, Rowan (Mountain Ash) and Willow, which the Celtic Tradition particularly honoured at this time.
Rowan


Notice that opposite the stalk of each berry is a five-pointed star, a pentagram, which is the ancient symbol of protection.
Spending time with Rowan will strengthen your positive life-force energy so that your personal power is so strong, it can withstand any negative influences. This is why in the past it was used for protection and to ward off evil. Sprays of leaves were hung in doorways, worn in the hat, carried as a talisman. (3. P93)
The Tree Angel Oracle (6.) gives the following Rowan teaching:
Social masks and routines paralyse
The river dries up.
Listen! Do you hear the call?
Follow your inspiration,
And day by day
You will step into the flow of creation.
Willow

The down of silvery hairs of “pussy willow” are a “fur coat” that helps to keep the reproductive parts warm which develop under cold conditions in early Spring.
The Willow’s essential energy is the power to help things move from the emotional unconscious level to the surface conscious level. Whether you are overstimulated by your feelings or cut off from them, spending time with a Willow tree will help heal the imbalance. (3.)
Some indigenous peoples of North America use forest bathing as treatment for loneliness and associated mild depression. The patient is seated in a willow grove, preferably near moving water. During the day, the chemicals released by the willows are absorbed through the patient’s skin and lungs, and then move throughout the body. (5. P208)
Honouring the Goddess Brigid at the Imbolc Celebration

In the Celtic tradition, the Goddess Brigid is particularly honoured at the Imbolc Celebration. Brigid means the exalted one who has fiery power, and is often depicted with rays of light emanating from her head or hands. She expresses the Divine Feminine. Her energy is expressed in three ways; maiden, mother and crone or wise women.
As the maiden, Brigid represents beauty, fresh potential and new life, which we see in nature at Imbolc and fully manifest in Spring. In human life, her energy is manifest in the first phase of human life.
Brigid as the mother gives rise to all of the abundance on earth as seen in Summer with lush vegetation and young animals growing into maturity. The mother in the human realm bears children, nurtures families and takes on responsibilities, adulthood and the fullness of life.
Brigid as crone or wise woman is the wise elder aspect of the Goddess, and is associated with Autumn and Winter when we are invited to go within and reflect. In the human realm she represents the post-child-bearing years of life and the source of wisdom and guidance in the family.
The following quotation (7.) gives us some idea of the significance of Brigid in Celtic culture, which is so different to ours.
Brigid’s fire energy influences all aspects of life:
Brigid is particularly associated with the first stirrings of Spring as the days begin to lengthen, the snowdrops bloom, and the ewes begin to lactate. —- Brigid’s Fire is truly the fire of creativity. It is responsible for the kindling of the earth in early Spring, maintenance of the hearth, the kindling of passion, the kindling of the body in healing, the kindling of the heart in poetry and song, the kindling of the mind in science and craft, and the fire at the forge in smithcraft.
Hearth
Until very recently the hearth formed the centre of every home and the fire burned all the year round. It was at the hearth that the women of the house practiced the magic art of cookery. It was around the hearth that wisdom was passed from one generation to the next and old stories were recited. For the more adventurous, the hearth was also a focus for divination. What do you see in the movement of the flames, what do you hear in the crackle of the logs, what marks are left in the ashes of the fire? What is Brigid saying to you?
The Forge and Smithcraft
Today we take for granted the many highly sophisticated technical tools that we use in our daily lives. So, we can hardly imagine the awe that the smith was held in ancient times. Smithcraft was seen as magic, for only through such power could a mortal take the unassuming ore from the earth and fashion it into tools, weapons and jewellery. Shining metal mirrors enabled them to see not only the living but to glimpse the otherworld, and divine the future.
Poetry and Song
Good stories, music, and art have long opened us to wonder, magic, and awe. Before there was any written word or musical notation every story and song had to be committed to memory. Those who could recount tales of wisdom, history and mythology were held in high regard as were those who could sing us alive and lead us to ecstasy with their drumming and dance. Brigid is the Goddess of the creative arts, ancestral memory and the oral tradition.

St. Brigid’s Cross is still very much part of the Irish tradition. The cross almost certainly predates Christian Ireland, when it would have been revered as the symbol of the Goddess Brigid.
The Goddess Brigid was unacceptably “pagan” in the view of the church, but she could not be eliminated from the Irish psyche and therefore she became Saint Brigid of Kildare, one of the patron saints of Ireland. We see that Brigid’s Cross links Ireland with her ancient past.
Even without checking the calendar, you’ll know that it’s Feb. 1st when you notice St Brigid’s Cross popping up everywhere, whether as a symbol in posters or as an ornament hanging from doorways. —- discard or burn the cross you have from last year and then keep a new cross, made from straw, rushes or reeds, bless it, and keep it for the entire year, until the next St. Brigid’s day. The main purpose of St. Brigid’s Cross is to protect a house and drive evil, fire and hunger away.(8)
I bought my cross from Ireland (World Prayer Gifts via Amazon). It came with the following prayer:
Prayer to St. Brigid
Brigid, you were a woman of peace. You brought harmony where there was conflict. You brought light to the darkness. You brought hope to the downcast. May the mantle of your peace cover those who are troubled and anxious, and may peace be firmly rooted in our hearts and in our world. Inspire us to act justly and to reverence all God has made. Brigid, you were a voice for the wounded and weary. Strengthen what is weak in us. Calm us into a quietness that heals and listens. May we grow each day into greater wholeness in mind, body and spirit. Amen.
References
- Newsletter No 8, Spring/Summer 2017. The Task of The Kosmon Sanctuary.
- Newsletter No 11, Autumn 2018/Winter 2019. Restoration of The Ancient Faith.
- Sacred Celebrations. A sourcebook. Glennie Kindred.
- Newsletter No 13. The Winter Solstice celebration.
- To Speak for the Trees. My Life’s Journey from ancient Celtic Wisdom to a healing Vision of the Forest. Diana Beresford-Kroeger.
- The Tree Angel Oracle, by Fred Hageneder and Anne Heng.
- www.brighid.org.uk
- www.shamrockgift.com/blog/st-brigids-cross
Anthony Deavin
Charitable Donations
We continue to support charities on a monthly basis.
Centrepoint
Centrepoint is a charity which provides accommodation and support to homeless people aged 16-25.
Lucy Rainer Foundation
We aim to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of depression and mental health challenges, especially in young adults.
Sutton Night Watch
We raise awareness of the homeless people within the borough and surrounding area. Volunteers run a soup kitchen and food bank. We give out clothes, blankets, and sleeping bags donated by the general public.
The Trussell Trust
The Trussell Trust supports a network of over 1,200 food centres to provide emergency food and compassionate support.
CLIC Sargent
CLIC Sargent is the UK’s leading cancer charity for children, young people and their families. Our care teams provide specialist support.