Uppercase Urban Ambles

A long time ago, before we arrived, the stage was all set for matter alive. Each one a rung on the spiralling stair, we all belong in each other’s care.

Namaste, and sincere greetings to all readers. Last weekend, Amanda was back in the capital, on business. With a blog post in mind, she rose with the dawn to take these pics while the streets were free from the morning throngs. And what a beautiful day it was, which seems quite providential when you think about it, because since the weekend we find ourselves scudding through April monsoons once again.

Here in this ancient city, we walk on roads old and new. Here things that came into existence a long time ago endure alongside things now becoming. If this place should stand come two millennia hence, I wonder how much, if any of what we see today will remain.

We belong to our time, as the builders of the wooden ships that sailed from here belonged to theirs. They too walked on roads old and new. If we were they, would we do things differently?

Fortunately, it doesn’t matter, because metaphysical speculation doesn’t increase knowledge. And none of us here are qualified to judge the soul of any other, even though we may taste perforce the rotten fruits of their ignoble labours. However, the divine gift, freely given at birth, which is the knowledge of right and wrong, unites us more intimately with the hearts of our noble ancestors than do all the handmade things they left for us to own, no matter how greatly valued, or even useful they are.

We know only too well the wrongs that were committed by certain ancestors, for we are charged with fixing them. While we observe the blind leading the blind to perdition, divine honour gently reminds us to work hard at keeping our personal lives clean, and above all, blameless. And to know that no matter how painful and difficult our individual lives may be, we are charged with the duty to say no when we are called upon to hurt, steal, cheat, lie and kill. It is as easy as that, where is the confusion?

I love the lonely palm tree, flourishing in exile, and reminding the riverbank of long ago, in a very different time, when lions and crocodiles were familiar feeders around here.

We want to express our gratitude to all who enjoy dropping by, there will be more photos taken during that morning in the big city coming soon. Until then, take care of your thoughts, strive to keep a light heart, and keep in mind at all times the fact that you are a child of the divine creation, no matter what anyone ignorant of this self-evident fact might believe.

Peace from Amras.

Willing to experience aloneness, I discover connection everywhere;
Turning to face my fear, I meet the warrior who lives within;
Opening to my loss, I am given unimaginable gifts;
Surrendering into emptiness, I find fullness without end.
Each condition I flee from pursues me. Each condition I welcome transforms me
And becomes itself transformed Into its radiant jewel-like essence.
I bow to the one who has made it so, Who has crafted this Master Game;
To play it is pure delight, To honor it is true devotion.

~ Psychotherapist Jennifer Welwood.

Photography ©Amanda Moloney.

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The Ancestral Structure

A long time ago, before we arrived,  the stage was all set for matter alive.

Each one, a rung, on the spiralling stair, we all belong to each other’s care.

 

 

Even though the year feels barely begun, I am watching chestnut leaves turning to gold, and drop to Earth. Despite all the commotion in the world, the fallen leaves always remind me of corn flakes.

On those days when the sun still shines warm and brightly, I sit in my comfortable wheelchair, under the shade of the green magnolia tree. And, I sometimes marvel at the contrast between now, and what life on Earth was like, just ten years ago. I prefer things the way they are now, (though not my health, obviously), because while knowledge may not be bliss, ignorance had simply disempowered us all.

It is so very sad to observe our brothers and sisters who are choosing to divide, and to conquer. More so, when any child can understand that we have but one source, origin, and sustenance. Our shared lineage is sacred, and we are each as a tiny leaf on a mighty and ancient tree. This is the ancestral structure, and the planet Earth is the holy foundation on which it rests.

While sat under the tree, I visualised the ground beneath my wheels being as clear as glass, and allowing me to perceive the greatness that reaches out to us from the heart of below. And it looked to me as if the great mother’s arms are outstretched to us, longing that we should respond, in love.

When the temperature dropped, as it often does on even the brightest of English days, Luke fired up our wood burner, enabling me to stay outside for just a little while longer.  In the burner I spotted a spider, trapped on a piece of chopped wood, surrounded by flames, and I imagine that I felt her despair.  I reached into the flames and called her. She ran straight onto my hand, and took refuge, to calm her nerves, in a fold of my coat. Or so it seemed. When you realise that all life is one, it’s obvious that the feelings of even the smallest creatures are our feelings too. Life is a sharing experience. I implore heaven, to rescue those human souls who are surrounded by the fires of man’s creation.

It has been many hours since I wrote the first paragraph, and the moon is now practically overhead. I don’t know about you, but for the last few days, to me, the sun has appeared larger, and the moon brighter than ever before. Fascinating.

With those words I must bow out, and send my sincerest thank you to all followers, and likers; because together, I’m sure that we are delivering positive influences, effectively, into the living ethers. Namaste from Mr A.

 

I thought I saw Jesus

on a tram.

I said “Are you Jesus?”

He replied “Yes I am”.

~ Spike Milligan.

Artwork ©Francis Moloney.