Following my previous blog on what a modern mystery school might be like, I received a wonderful engaged response. Thank you!
I now want to take a further step. I want to spend some time fleshing out the school’s curriculum. In the previous blog I made a brief attempt at this. In this blog I want to begin to expand the list. It is very rough. It is work in progress.
What I welcome from readers are suggestions as to what is glaringly missing.
GATEWAY
The applicant meets these criteria:
– My heart has opened and I prioritise compassion.
– I have a sense of connection with a benevolent cosmic mystery (known by many names.)
– I have a sense of subtle energies, patterns and archetypes.
– I am humble in the face of this wondrous cosmos.
– I am responsible for myself.
METHOD
There would be taught introduction-overviews to each topic.
Students would then do their own research and action-learning supported by tutor groups and masterclass seminars.
We would create a Wiki of resources from the world’s diverse traditions, ensuring students explore and find their own insights.
YOUR CENTRE
Map where you live – geology, landscape, historical maps, peoples.
Map where you were born – geology, landscape, historical maps, peoples.
What of significance is N, S, W, E of where you live?
Attune to the land. Give a gift or ceremony.
EMBODIMENT
Techniques of earthing.
How it feels. Purpose.
Inner smile – cauldron, bowl, tree of life, etc
Map what you know of your ancestry. Acknowledge/bless them.
EARTH, SUN, COSMIC MOTHER
Locate, map, acknowledge your place in space. Which planets? Stars?
Creation myths. Astrology
CONNECTION
Develop daily practice of connecting, yielding, emptying, surrendering, soaking.
Open-Close. Psychic protection.
PSYCHIC MECHANISM
Your mode of cognition and interpretation.
Reflective practice.
Oracles etc
Projection, imagination, perception, assessment, discernment
PLANES, DIMENSIONS, BEINGS
Metaphysical maps
Metaphysical beings, spirits, angels, souls, avatars, etc
ESOTERIC ANATOMY
Chakras, meridians, dantiens
Modes of healing
METAPHYSICAL CONTEMPLATION (OCCULT MEDITATION)
Daily practice of quiet scanning and interpretation
ENERGY WORK
Sacred space, magic circle, altar, grove
Ethics
Laws of magnetic resonance; correspondences; manifestation; talismans.
Channelling. Radiation, Invocation. Healing.
Cooperation
SOUL’S JOURNEY
Whence, why, whither?
Birth, life, death . . .
Contracts, karma, constellations
PSYCHOLOGICAL DYNAMICS
Ups, downs.
Dark nights, emergencies.
First aid.
OUTCOME
Deep daily practice of
– Mystic connection
– Metaphysical contemplation
– Energy work (magic) that compassionately serves
+ Ongoing peer support and community
connection and responsibilities to animal, plant and mineral kingdoms – not just about us?
Dear William. Great work. Some Detailed comment on gaps/overlaps: (I will send a bit of context).
In Method Is this included? Shared (&led) meditations to open out new ideas from collective wisdom.
‘Centre’ I feel would be better as ‘Mapping your Start point’ or ‘Home’ as I feel our centre is Oneness. I would add Map your up-bringing/life and ancestral energies.
In Embodiment I would add The links of Awareness, thought and feeling energies. Dualism on the spectrum of experience and finding our centre. Body reactions to trauma and blissful states. Healthy Boundaries and Resilience.
In Psychic Connection I would add cognition, interpretation and choice.
Looking past the veil.
Reflective practice, Responding or Reacting.
In Energy work I would add Choice for love over fear, Law of Attraction and karmic cycles. Transcendence.
In Soul’s Journey I would add …. Towards wholeness.
Outcome – I feel the need to add here Feeling into harmony/alignment of Healthy Mind, Body and spirit achieving balanced sleep, nutrition, body movement and evolving mind. (This goes with the saying “Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” )
Hope this enriches the thoughts.
Blessings, Pete
Religion and spirituality in the past have so often been ‘done’ by men from a male perspective.
In what way can you embody a consciousness of male/female/ non-binary in this wonderful new mystery school? It reaches every aspect of our lives and experience – whether we are male, female, other, have children or not, or have chosen another path.
This looks pretty thorough tome William, although I am sure that any omissions will emerge as this curriculum is filled out. Curiously, I found this creeping into my dream life last night.
This looks awesome!
Dear William,
Thank you for involving this budding learning community in unravelling the curriculum; all very inspiring and uplifting.
After my contribution to the previous inquiry around a contemporary mystery school, ideas began happily buzzing around me whispering delightful insights and suggesting numerous options all prefaced with vibrant “what if”, “try this”, and “dare to believe and trust the inner impulse”.
Consequently, I strongly feel the call to become part of a contemporary mystery school, and this is being affirmed and validated on a daily basis notwithstanding the tumultuous waves of self-doubt that seemingly necessarily border the compelling call.
Daring to affirm myself as an embodiment of a contemporary mystery school feels, at first, to be arrogant and totally lacking in humility. Nonetheless the visitations grow stronger suggesting a more nuanced life-giving vision where I can recognise myself as a fractal of the mystery school, an exquisitely shaped fractal embedded in the much larger frame of cosmic scale and scope which I can barely cognise but most certainly can intuit. Then I contemplate how each one of us contributes to the nascent, or already existent, project waiting to be born, fractals coalescing as we come together to illuminate the larger picture.
My comments have less to do with the contents, some of the comments have already highlighted the creative forces of the universe, such as love, which beg to be charted on the ‘universal map of inner worlds’. My interests go towards the methods and how to support, and honour, student-centred learning.
The idea of bespoke learning itineraries and personal action-research appeals to me. I am reminded of the learning journeys of medieval scholars who would wander across Europe to visit different learning centres. I would like to see this wandering, and wondering, practice rekindled with a hybrid approach combining online seminars with in-person retreats in dedicated centres. I am very grateful for all that technology has made possible in terms of sharing resources and experiences. But somehow it is difficult to beat an immersive experience in a physically located learning centre or mystical hotspot. Personally, I feel privileged to be able to sit on a regular basis in the medieval round church close to my home, an eternal source of inspiration and solace, which has been operating as a portal for almost 1000 years. I also like to discover other similar portals and attune to whatever becomes available there.
All masterclasses necessarily include practices. Should the curriculum not encourage direct experiences and internships? Maybe something to add to the resources collated.
Hi I’m intrigued! This idea of yours seems likely to bring together learnings and experiences I’ve had over my lifetime.
It would therefore be helpful to someone like myself, now in my later years, to explore our personal life experiences, our connections, our energy experiences, places we’ve lived, the alchemy of it all.
. There’s something about recurring dates, numbers too, that I find intrigueing, having some clear examples in my own life.
I’ve lived at Findhorn, visited Iona,worked for Trees for Life out in the wilds ( all deep connections for me) Studied ACIM.( blows your mind!) Been friends with at least 1 shaman…..
I currently live close to the geological centre of the UK. Had energy experiences. Married or lived with 2 men with same birth date, (Halloween!) and another 2 ( I know!) with same birth date as my daughter (Ides of March!).
I now see these things as more meaningful than I did before. Like my life has been a Mystery School. I’m 70 now, and I’d love to be able to understand it all more deeply.
So, thank you. Look forward to this….
Hello, William and the Other-Selves engaging with this inspiring thread.
I’m responding to Nicola’s comments rather than making a fresh addition because she speaks eloquently for me when she says, “Daring to affirm myself as an embodiment of a contemporary mystery school feels, at first, to be arrogant… Nonetheless the visitations grow stronger suggesting a more nuanced life-giving vision where I can recognise myself as a fractal of the mystery school…” I at first thought I’d like to sign up, then realized that what I would really like to do is contribute.
I see the synthesis of the vast array of possible learnings as an impossible task, one to be pursued with clarity and honouring of all pathways that seek truth and love. The elements identified in William’s description, and what others have offered, will continue to evolve. I would like to be part of that with my own contributions and perspective.
Your Centre
what is N,S,E,W of you ?
Look at your OS map and find evidence of churches and sacred sites.
Are you on a ley line ?
Research the work of Alfred Watkins, Colin Bloy, HAmish Miller, Chris Street, Paul Broadhurst.
Look at Parallel Community’s website, Hamish Miller’s DVDs on dowsing, and the You Tube videos.
Look at Fountain International’s work, and the work of small community healing groups where they focus Light on their chosen local hara …. like the Fountain in Brighton, the Tor in Glastonbury.
Does DNA play a part in the soul’s journey? I’ve noticed a ‘pull’ with certain places, and with the access now available to material regarding our background it feels to me that it has a role linking to our ancestors and perhaps giving a sense of place.
I suggest that the primary requirement is the ability to work with the vertical stream of white light that anchors in the heart of the standard human. That light produces consciousness in the brain and life force in the body, and carries divine purpose.
Not all humans can work with the Flame in the Heart. Quite a few have dark energy sitting on the heart or brain blocking the inflow.
Sounds fabulous and engaging. I can’t think of anything to add because each participant would bring their own focus, approach and experience. What a deeply rich tapestry we could create. Thank you, William.
Please add: I practice Forgiveness and Gratitude
Mmmmmm yes please !😊 with reference to the above comment would ‘love ‘ be the Gateway qualities perhaps? Additions – understanding of and partnership with other animals and plant worlds maybe this is already included also, just my immediate thoughts
This triggers a reminder that we would need to address plant medicines, psychedelics and less mainstream ways of exploring altered states of consciousness.
Definitely ! See work of Gabor Mate on curing his childhood trauma and the lifelong depression which followed with ahayuaska
Dear William, this all looks amazing. However for me love is the power that holds every atom in the universe together and is the force that is driving the universe towards ultimate synthesis. It would be great to explore the meaning and power of love in your curriculum …. maybe it’s already there and i couldn’t see it….