Welcome to our Autumn 2016 / Winter 2017 newsletter
Contents
- Service
- Young Carers in Sandhill Wood
- Children Walking the Labyrinth
- A Note on Silence: The Work of the Kosmon Sanctuary Group
- Sandhill Wood
- Pheasant Berry
Service
In these newsletters we aim to take a theme which has been of importance to the Kosmon Tradition, considering it in the light of insights which have flooded into our awareness from many sources in recent years, insights which were not in the public domain when Oahspe (1.) was channelled by J.B. Newbrough in 1881.
The Kosmon Tradition viewed the life of physical embodiment as the first stage in our evolution as spiritual beings, an evolution which continues after death in realms beyond the physical. (2.) We are able, of course, to experience both the physical and spiritual worlds. With spiritual evolution, we become less and less dominated by attachment to the world , but rather seek ever greater experience of spirit, which is our true home. So the challenge for us is to participate fully in the world whilst maintaining a constant connection with spirit. The question arises: what practical steps are we to take to meet this challenge?
For the Kosmon Tradition, service was vital in order to nurture our spiritual evolution, though meeting with others of like mind within a group in contact with the angelic realms was no less important.(3.) The following quotations illustrate the Kosmon Tradition’s view of the importance of service for spiritual development:
“Just as we desire to build the Father’s Kingdom on earth, so must we build a new self within. The Kingdom must firstly grow within our own hearts. Yet, strangely enough, as we give service unto others on the outer plane of life, so are we building the temple of light in the soul.” (4.)
“Through service shall myself become merged in the All Self.” (5.)
“The star of your Creator is within your soul – – – – – – . it is of great power in him who forgets himself in labouring for others”.(6.)
We see that the Kosmon Tradition valued service as a means for spiritual development for the person providing the service. In recent times, profound insights on service, have been given to us by Yeshua (Jesus) through the channelling of Jon Mark Hammer (Jayem). This channelling speaks of the inestimable value of service to the recipient. (7.), rather than of its value to the giver.
The following quotation speaks of a state in which, when the world has lost its power over us, service becomes a natural activity in which the servant acts as a conduit for the extension of Love:
“The servant does nothing save to extend Love to the Christ who dwells in another, having learned to see past the appearances that are the world The one who is ill recognises that the servant has recognised her as she is and decrees: I am seen as I AM, and I release my illusions now.
How then, does the servant serve? By being only the presence of Love.
The extension of Love, untainted by the thought of a doer, is the quality of genuine service, a reflection in this world of the Love which begets eternally the holy and only begotten child of God.”
So when the servant, whatever service they may be providing, gives with love and compassion, the recipient receives not only material benefit, but is also released from burdens they are carrying. And, moreover, in that relationship of love, the servant, likewise, experiences release.
References
- Newsletter #2. Spring 2015.
- Newsletter #3. Summer 2015.
- Newsletter #6. Spring/Summer 2016. Article: Silence.
- The Twelve Gates. The Kosmon Press. Page 9.
- The Twelve Gates. The Kosmon Press. Page 29.
- Oahspe. Modern Language Edition. Book of Apollo. 14 /5.19
- The Way of the Servant. Living the Light of Christ, by Jayem. Pages 61-63.
Young Carers in Sandhill Wood
This Autumn, The Kosmon Sanctuary welcomed a group of children who assist in caring for siblings or parents. The day was organised by the charity: Surrey Young Carers, who have been supporting young carers across the county since 1996. The charity’s aim is “to support you in your caring role, help you to achieve your best at school, have fun, discover new interests and make new friends” (www.surrey-youngcarers.org.uk).
Sarah Bassett, who organised the day, said that 12 children came to The Kosmon Sanctuary for a woodland skills day, whose theme was “self-esteem through achievement”. The children worked together to make a fire and then cooked and ate sausages in the woodland. They loved walking the labyrinth and the woodland space, made dens, learnt bush craft and had a lovely break from their caring role.
Children Walking the Labyrinth
Children enjoy walking the labyrinth and easily relate to the idea that walking the labyrinth is like going on a journey. If you stick to the path there is no doubt that you will reach the centre, even if at times your journey seems to take you away from the centre, where you wish to be.
A Note On Silence: The Work Of The Kosmon Sanctuary Group
In The Kosmon Sanctuary Group we seek to play our part in the healing of this increasingly troubled world. (1.) By setting a clear intension in the stillness of the Sanctuary we ask to be a channel for sending healing vibration to where-ever it is needed. Always on the look-out for guidance as to the best practice, we came across the remarkable book on Silence by Robert Sardello. In this book, Silence is describes as follows:
“We have a strong tendency to imagine Silence as the absence of sound. This imagination deprives Silence of being anything in itself and makes it an emptiness, a void in what should be the norm. But Silence was here before anything else, and it envelops everything else. It is the most primary phenomenon of existence, both palpably something and seemingly nothing. Silence is prior to sound, not the cessation of sound. If we drop into silence for just a moment, we feel the presence of Silence as an invitation.” (2.)
Robert Sardello’s approach to prayer, and to the expression of intension, is refreshingly simple. It requires of us to maintain a connection with Silence with unwavering attention, which does present its challenges. (3.) The prayer or intension is then spoken into the Silence, one word at a time, with spaces between the words. This is rather like dropping a pebble into still water, the ripples spreading out from the centre. Here is what Robert Sardello writes about this process:
“We locate ourselves as spiritual beings through the heart where we come into union with the vast spiritual being who is Silence. As we become quiet and receptive to the Silence, we let ego-consciousness recede and rest within our attention, or our spirit-selves. We then begin to speak within the Silence, speak in an inner way that constitutes praying, which is the proper mode of conversing within the Silence without breaking the Silence. – – – – – – – – Praying within the Silence is a purifying process in which love, the very essence of our being, is extracted and offered to the spiritual worlds.” (4.)
All are welcome to come to The Kosmon Sanctuary Group. We meet on the second Saturday afternoon of each month, 2pm to 4pm.
References
- Newsletter #4. Autumn 2015
- Silence. The Mystery of Wholeness by Robert Sardello. Goldenstone Press. Chapter 1. P7.
- Newsletter #6. Spring/Summer 2016.
- Robert Sardello. Chapter 9. P. 111,117.
Sandhill Wood
The Kosmon Sanctuary is very fortunate to own Sandhill Wood, which comprises 22 acres of beautiful ancient woodland. This was bequeathed to the Kosmon Church, now called The Kosmon Sanctuary, by Mr J.G.M. Hunter in 1983. Mr Hunter created a network of waymarked paths in Sandhill Wood for the recreational use of church members.
The wood is highest where it joins the garden. From here there is a gentle undulating slope downwards with a shallow valley cleaving the site down the centre. Everywhere you walk the view changes, embracing a wide variety of trees, some very old, including Sessile and Pedunculate Oak, Hornbeam, Ash, Hazel, Silver Birch, Yew, Sweet Chestnut, Sycamore, Beach, Mountain Ash, Holly, and single specimens of Horsechestnut and Wild Service Tree. In the Spring we have a stunning display of bluebells and wild garlic. There is an extensive badger set, Muntjac and Roe deer, foxes, hedgehogs and grey squirrels.
In the past Sandhill Wood was managed to provide timber and fuel for Walton Manor. The wood contains stands of hazel, hornbeam and sweet chestnut coppice,, not cut for 30-40 years. The trustees have agreed to a 10 year management plan with The Forestry Commission which will involve the re-establishment of coppicing, removal of invasive holly and rhododendrons, and the re-establishment of pathways throughout the wood.
Hazel Coppicing
Coppicing is a traditional tree management system. Trees are regularly cut to the ground, regrowing with several stems, providing wood needed for a wide range of products. Cutting needs to be regular so that a variety of habitats are created, some very open, encouraging insect activity, and others with trees sufficiently grown to provide habitats for nesting birds. We coppiced hazel early this year, protecting new growth from grazing by deer (see photograph).
Yew Tree Circles
A notable feature of Sandhill Wood are six arrangements of yew trees, which, we are convinced, are not a natural occurrence but the result, at least 150 years ago, of deliberate planting. The arrangements are as follows:
One triangle of three trees (see photograph), one circle of four trees, one circle of five tree with one in the centre, two circles of six trees with one in the centre. (1.), and one arrangement of five trees. This five-tree arrangement, (see photograph), consists of a square of four trees with a further tree offset on one side forming a triangle. It feels as if the visitor is intended to enter the square from the side facing the offset tree, walking as far as the centre. Here the energetic quality of the of yew tree arrangement may be sensed.
If anyone has any idea as to what the purpose of these yew tree arrangements may be, please let us know. We are mystified.
References
- Newsletter #5, Winter 2015/2016 contains a photograph of a six tree circle with one in the centre.
Pheasant Berry
Pheasant Berry is growing in the hedge at two places in the garden. This shrub came from China and Tibet, and is often planted agriculturally as cover for game birds. They love the berries, hence the common name Pheasant Berry. The flowers are white with burgundy coloured bracts, while the berries, shown in the photograph, are reddish purple.
