by Claire Watson March 1997 from SpiritWeb Website recovered through WayBackMachine Website       Concourse Of The Forces Ritual of the Cathedral portal is the quintessential ritual! This is the fifth ritual, in the element of Aether. The four rituals preceding this one invoked the four elements and constituents of Matter: Fire, Water, Air and Earth. In Ritual of the Stonehenge Portal we performed Fire Ritual to Invoke the Shield Guides. In Ritual of the Rock Eagle Portals we performed Fire Water Ritual to Call Forth the Wings of Love. In Ritual of the Pyramid Portals we performed Earth Ritual to Empower the Spirit-Soul. In Ritual of the Sarcophagus Portal we performed Air Ritual for Spirit-Soul to Walk the Sky. Thus, we invoked the four elements and also the energies of the ancient worlds: the Celts of Great Britain the Mound Builder Indians of North America the Egyptians the Aztecs and the Mayas of Central America     These are powerful energies we called upon, for these are the energies that built legendary civilizations on this planet, and in so doing preserved and advanced the Ancient Knowledge.   We also have asked many great spiritual beings, Energy-Intelligences, Planetary Spirits and Occult Forces of the universe to assist us in our alchemical Great Work of spiritual evolution and planetary ascension.   In these rituals we boldly called for many individuals, many collective consciousnesses and the God-power of the universe to shed Light and Love on us while we work on behalf of universal consciousness. These great and powerful Beings of Light responded to our collective call and are joining with us to bring us and our planet to a whole new level of consciousness. What is the significance of the four elements? In classical astrology the appearance and construction of each created thing is determined by a specific combination of the concourse of the forces of the four elements. When the elements of Fire, Water, Air and Earth are in contact they set up a motion which produces an action.   The form the action takes is dependent upon the concourse of the forces brought together. The first concourse of the forces of Fire and Air produced heaven and earth. The second concourse of the forces of Air and Water created a strong wind born from water, which created all vegetation. From the third concourse of the forces of Air and Fire, generation began. The fourth concourse of the forces of Water and Fire entered into contact with Earth and this resulted in the creation of humanity. We learn by this allegorical mythology that concourse of the forces is a powerful formula for creation in the universe.   In this Aether ritual we are bringing together the four elements and also the powerful Beings of Light and their energies to direct the four elements into the concourse of the forces for the benefit of our planet, our group consciousness and our individual selves. Because we are motiveless, desiring to work for the greater good within the Light of Divine Love, these great powers are responding.   With this Aether ritual we will activate the great celestial Cross of Light in the vault of the Northern Hemisphere. This cross will light for eternity this time on this planet when Spirit and Matter came together for the love and benefit of all. Plato said the power which comes next to the highest God is marked with a Cross of Light upon the universe, and we will draw upon the power of our Cross of Light for guidance and energy as we continue our Work on the physical plane. The fusion - the alchemy - of Spirit and Matter expressed by the Cross of Light also is powerfully expressed by the total solar eclipse during the night of the ritual, or Sunday, March 9, in Siberia. Lasting longer than 2 minutes, the solar eclipse will allow for an easy view of comet Hale-Bopp if you are in eastern Asia. The visibility of a comet during a total solar eclipse is quite a rare event and has only happened four times in the last century or so. Throughout the ages, the alchemical union of the sun and moon is the most enduring symbol in alchemy. When Forces of Light (the Sun) and Forces of Dark Light (the Moon) come together on March 9, the energies of union will be facilitated by Chartres Cathedral near Paris.   Within the cathedral, concourse of the forces is always active: in the Earth of the crypt where the portal is cited in the Water of the Well of the Strong beside the portal in the Fire of the cathedral, burned down five times in the Air of the flying buttresses of the Gothic arches, built on the principles of sacred geometry By the Aether ritual, its natural power amplified by the solar eclipse, we will fulfill several Love goals, including: bringing into geometrical alignment the energy on this planet by bringing through the portal of Chartres the angels of geometry and the geometry monks; linking with the healing spiritual vibrations of the Divine Mother, Our Lady of Chartres; and activating for ourselves the energy power of the mythological wealth and legendary treasures of the planet and the vast wealth of the Knights Templar, who built Chartres and many healing hospices all over France.   We will create for ourselves the Ring of the Niebelung, the golden ring symbolizing the power of Spirit with the wealth of the planet. With both Spirit and material resources accessible to us, we can continue our spiritual work and go forth into the world as spiritual knights under the banner of Health, Wealth and Love! Several spirit-guided articles to follow this one are: Toward the Divine Dreamtime Journal Activity: Vibratory Attunement Celestial Order of the Prophets of the Golden Masons A Light-Matrix in Stone The Knights Templar and the Ark of the Covenant Sophia, Queen of Heaven Aether ritual       Toward The Divine When you do the ritual this time, think about inviting someone to participate.   Sometimes, group consciousness (two is a group) can manifest an experience that is more palpable than what individual consciousness provides. Linda Libra's Merkaba meditation group produces impressive group ritual results.   Here is their Ritual of the Sarcophagus Portal: Our group usually sits around a large table with the various accouterments for the ritual in front of us. For this one, however, it seemed appropriate to set up an altar in the pathway of the room's portal without table. A pathway of crystals (most of these were milky) and candles led from the portal entry, and the altar itself had the large Merkaba in the center surrounded by a circle of crystal laser wands and other crystals on top of a like number of major arcana cards, intuitively drawn.   Several other appropriately placed crystals were also around the setup. Each of the participants intuitively drew a power deck card and an angel oracle card to be read at the end of the process for further guidance. Our intention and focus was to be in a place of love for ourselves and the Universe so as to be clearer channels for love for the earth and all lifeforms. We sang songs and performed chants especially to assist in the raising of the vibration. The Heartbeat Drumming was also performed to attune to Mother Earth's vibration. A 21 breath Merkaba meditation was accomplished with a call afterward for all to join in a network of light with all others who were also engaged in the meditative activity of the day (Gaiamind, World Peace, and yours), linking the cosmic Christ grid. A silent meditation allowed each to receive his/her own insight. The very first energy sensed by all present was that of the Divine Mother, followed by a stream of others including the sense of Archangel Michael and Gabriel (the first time I had ever seen Gabriel), Shiva, Jesus, and a number of others (ours is an eclectic group).   The energy flowed around the room thru the portal in such waves that it was easily "seen" and sensed: we were sitting in a semicircle in front of the altar and around the area. In answer to my request, a "raft" of Mayans entered the room, resplendent to say the least. Each of the Mayan etherics appeared to blend with one of the participants in the meditation. We were in the silence of that energy for some time, and all felt they had received healing, inspiration, and personal guidance, as well as being a part of a greater healing, ascending effort. The general consensus was this was the most dynamic of all we have held up to this time.   Thanks for being a channel of Light, Claire. Blessings. Group Consciousness is a powerful dynamic and a blessed event. What an experience it is when someone sitting beside you describes to you what you are seeing through inner vision! Others are seeing it along with you because it is a group consciousness inner vision. In the group ritual I led this February in Atlanta, we saw with 3rd eye a flaming red rosebud. This is Dante Alighieri's "Rose of the Blessed."   In Dante's structure of the universe, the Rose of the Blessed is situated beyond the planetary spheres and signifies ascension into a new way of seeing, a new way of thinking, a new way of Being toward the Divine.     Celestial Orders Of The Prophets Of The Golden Masons With only one week until the ritual, the energy is really beginning to build!   This is the quintessential ritual, so it is important to have a little more preparation time than usual. For this reason I have posted all the ritual articles, as well as the ritual, on the web site at: http://web.archive.org/web/20020806203833/http://www.jesupnet.com/portal/   You may not hear from me again by email before the ritual, because I am beginning my meditation now. In the Aether ritual you will see references to a gold ring and a silver cape. This is part of an initiation I recently experienced in which I was empowered by Spirit to marry the wealth of the planet to the spiritual aspirations of all involved in this ritual. This light-body initiation and Divine Marriage was performed on the stone steps of Chartres Cathedral and officiated by the Celestial Orders of the Prophets of the Golden Masons. This is the name of the Order of the angels of sacred geometry and the geometry monks who are coming through the portal at Chartres.   This is an angelic order devoted to the Divine Mother and whose initiates are: the Knights Templar (warrior monks) the Benedictine monks (Alchemy monks) the Palamun monks (Gnostic monks) In the initiation, a man wearing a white ritual gown and a red cloth belt came forward accompanied by a Shield Guide.   The man carried before him a small white pillow upon which rested a beautiful wedding ring of gold light. When the ring bearer presented me with the gold ring, it floated up from the pillow and turned slowly in a circle, growing bigger and bigger, then small again.   A thin, wide sheet of glittering silver etched with symbols materialized and wrapped itself around my shoulders, form-fitting itself to me to become a silver cape. I felt intense excitement and breathlessness (even as I write this), and gasping a little (solar plexus chakra activity) I was awakened by my guides to take a deep breath.   In that ceremony I was initiated as a spiritual knight into the Celestial Orders of the Prophets of the Golden Masons.   We are divinely wed to the Divine Mother.     Retrograde Energy, The Piscean Influence And Pilgrims With Backpacks As a frequent skywalker I often encounter energy patterns and life forms different from my own.   Have you ever dreamed that you are going in fast reverse and can't stop? That is the experience of connecting with retrograde energy. The energy is quite powerful and allows for the release of less-than-eternal emotions, especially fear, which weigh us down and hold us in our little selves while our larger selves patiently await. We are experiencing at this time strong retrograde energy, expressed by the apparent reverse motion of Mars and Pluto. This energy has lessons to teach if we can find the classroom! After skywalking through the portal to Chartres a few nights ago, I encountered inside the cathedral the retrograde, spiral energy housed by the sacred geometry of the architecture. I passed through the portal and was moving inside the cathedral in comfort when suddenly I went straight backwards at about 30 miles per hour, then full forward, then took a sharp 90 degree right turn and then, falling fearlessly to the left, I tumbled down from the Gothic arches like falling from the tower on The Tower card in tarot.   As I fell I had a series of thoughts and images that seemed unrelated to the experience of the moment. Swept along in this retrograde energy vortex I fell into the crypt and into the fishy, Piscean water of the Well of the Strong. Under the Piscean energy influence of fishes swimming in opposite directions, I splashed around and experienced difficulty of movement as I struggled to right myself and reassert my own energy pattern. I avoided "drowning" only by finding the strength to shed a layer of self like removing a heavy overcoat. The coat was woven of fear, and after casting it aside I floated free. This experience gave me considerable insights into ascension. The fish of Pisces are tied together and want to hold onto the old and the known, being fearful of loss and the unknown. But by releasing these fears we can swim free to the next level. The Pisces sign represents the attainment of universal consciousness at the end of a cycle, and this attainment involves letting go of the known in favor of the unknown.   Connecting with retrograde energy also taught me a fascinating lesson about universal consciousness and the Eternal Now. Although it seemed to me I traveled backwards at a speed of 30 miles per hour, in fact I traveled so fast in reverse that I went into the future and experienced the events that happened the following day as thoughts and images as I fell into the crypt. Through the portal I went back to the future! The energy of the Chartres ritual is profound and paradoxical -- it is both volatile and peaceful. And I wonder if you have seen any etheric young "pilgrims" lately? Some of them are wearing backpacks! They have come here to do the ritual with us. The following astrological information is the work of Melissa Stratton. Thanks, Melissa!   At the end of the article is a web link to a Chartres page with several beautiful photographs of the Cathedral, including the stained-glass Pisces window in Chartres.   Melissa's astrology information for Ritual of the Cathedral Portal: Right away what stands out is that 8 planets along with 3 asteroids (11 planetary bodies!) are lined up entirely within the 2nd and 3rd houses. The 2nd house, of connection with the material plane, is ruled by Capricorn with asteroid Pallas Athena (the wise warrior - Knights Templar??) at the cusp and Neptune in Capricorn nearby, and includes the important conjunction of Uranus and Jupiter in Aquarius. The asteroids Ceres (in Aquarius) and Vesta (in Pisces) are also in the 2nd house.   The conjunction of Uranus/Jupiter in Aquarius can indicate expanded opportunities when we begin to trust advanced concepts. In the 2nd house, this conjunction along with the other 4 planets/asteroids points to an emphasis on creating a new material foundation based on expanded concepts. The Pisces-ruled 3rd house contains a line-up of 4 planets - Venus, Mercury, Sun and Moon (tightly conjuncted in the eclipse) all in Pisces, along with Saturn in Aries. The 3rd house of lower mind and communication ruled by Pisces with 5 planets inside can indicate an intuitive opening up of the "lower" mind to receive the Picean ideal of unconditional love - very indicative of the Divine Mother influence, I'd say!   Saturn in Aries is a nice addition, since it tends to anchor new experiences in the mental realm - meaning, our conscious minds can more readily accept/believe these experiences. Retrograde Mars/North Node conjunction in Virgo is in the 9th house of higher mind, indicating that the experience of the lower/conscious mind can be channeled through the higher mind. In fact, this shows that the higher mind is ready and willing to handle the details, organize and help integrate the experience. The transformational energy of Chiron in Scorpio is located in the 10th house. It's interesting that the Atlanta (East Coast) chart has Scorpio/Chiron in the ego arena, while the major portal of Chartres has it in the house of worldly recognition. It's as if it is "time" for this ancient portal to be once again utilized "out in the world", but we aren't meant to use this for our own ego-aggrandizement. Retrograde Pluto in Sagittarius is located in the 12th house, which has Scorpio at the cusp. This adds another message about transformation - Pluto is the planet of transformation in the 12th house ruled by Scorpio, the sign of transformation. Pluto/Sagittarius in the 12th house of connection with other realities, can indicate that it is time to let goof our fears around reaching out toward higher planes of reality.   This process can help us reconcile the "dreamtime" with who we project ourselves to be - since in the chart Sagittarius begins in the 12th house, but spills out into the 1st house of persona and rules the ascendant. The Vertex is in Cancer in the 8th house (another indicator of transformation, since the 8th house is the house of transformation) and is opposite Neptune/Capricorn in the 2nd house. This can be phrased as, "Destiny knocks at the door of transformation, waiting for us to dissolve our former concepts around the material plane and enter a new dimension." The asteroid Juno is in Taurus in the 5th house of creativity indicating the willingness to commit to grounding creative endeavors. And finally, one fascinating note is that the comet Hale Bopp (according to the ephemeris provided by Astrolabe) will be traveling through Pisces very close to the Sun/Moon eclipse at the time of the ritual! So it will be highLIGHTing the Pisces sector of the chart - the Divine Mother Love. Melissa Stratton Chartres page: http://web.archive.org/web/20020806203833/http://www.globalnet.net/elore/elore04c.html       A Light-Matrix In Stone Our Lady of Chartres Cathedral, dedicated to the Divine Mother and built 1128-1228 CE above an ancient geophysical portal, is a light-matrix in stone. Demonstrating this is a comparison of the cathedral ground plan to the World Soul, a light-matrix design based upon the Kabala Tree of Life.   The World Soul light-matrix demonstrates the geometrical properties of light which are built into the cathedral as sacred geometry.         Chartres is designed according to proportions which obey the law of the Golden Mean, 1.618 (phi).   In Chartres, distances between pillars and the lengths of the nave, transepts, and the choir are all multiples of the Golden Mean. The ribs supporting the vaults of the quadrangular units of which the cathedral is composed are the shape of the golden rectangle. The overall ground plan design of Chartres is a Latin Cross, symbolizing Light of the Cross, where Spirit and Matter come together. The esoteric concept of sacred geometry as being based upon the geometrical properties of light is demonstrated by placing the ground plan of Chartres beside the light-matrix. Spheres S1, S2 and S3 are connected by two diagonal paths of light, D1 and D2, and one horizontal path of light, H1, creating the top up-pointed acute triangle of the light-matrix.   In the cathedral, these are the three great stained-glass windows through which streams bright sunlight, the material world counterpart of the Boundless Light/Great Creator. The brilliant light illuminates the interior of the cathedral, enlightening Sacred Center, S4 on the light-matrix. S2, S3 and S4, connected by H1, D7 and D8, form an down-pointed acute triangle, the mirror image of the first up-pointed triangle. The corners of North and South Transepts of the cathedral are S6 and S9 on the left, and S5 and S8 on the right. In the center of the transepts is occulted S7. The spheres S4, S5, and S6, connected by H2, D9 and D10, form a second up-pointed acute triangle. S5, S6 and S7, connected by H2, D13 and D14, form its mirror image, a down-pointed acute triangle. The spheres S7, S8 and S9, connected by H3, D15 and D16, form the 3rd up-pointed acute triangle. Below occulted S7 is Vortex, S10, defined as "Portal" in Kabalism. S8, S9 and S10, connected by H3, D21 and D22, form a third down-pointed acute triangle. Below Vortex is Great West Door, S13, defined as "Communion" in Kabalism. S10, S11 and S12, connected by H4, D23 and D24, form a 4th up-pointed acute triangle. S11, S12 and S13, connected by H4, D29 and D30 form a 4th down-pointed acute triangle. This system of repeating mirror image triangles is a graphic representation of the ancient and venerable philosophy of Emanationism, the secret religious philosophy of the Jewish rabbis and many others before and after them.   The World Soul glyph describes a universe (and a cathedral) based upon rational order and comprehensible intellectual structure. It is derived, in part, from Platonism, in which the original template, or tri-fold god-energy/light, is duplicated endlessly throughout the universe in various degrees of light-density and power.   The philosophy is enduring throughout the ages but not widely popular, because the idea of God as the ultimate matrixed, metaphysical Energy-Intelligence-Creator expressed in terms of light is challenging to conceptualize, being such a long way from the popular notion of God as a gaseous vertebrate. The light-matrix, like the Kabala Tree of Life, is composed of three vertical pillars. Left pillar is comprised of spheres S3, S6, S9 and S12, connected by vertical paths of light numbered V3, V6, and V9. In Kabalism the left pillar is designated negative. Right pillar is comprised of S2, S5, S8 and S11 connected by V2, V5 and V8. Right pillar is designated positive. Middle pillar is comprised of S1, S4, S7, S10 and S13. Middle pillar is neutral. Diagonal paths of light connect all these spheres together and form acute triangles of various sizes.   The spheres on the outer pillars are connected by horizontal paths of attraction-repulsion H1, H2, H3 and H4. Three rectangles are formed by the horizontal paths of light connecting with the vertical paths of light at the spheres on the outer pillars. The rectangles are halved by the middle pillar, creating six cubes, three on the right of the middle pillar and three on the left. The light-matrix is a representative section of a continuum, the triangles repeating ad infinitum. At the top of the left and negative pillar is Sphere 3, S3, known in Kabalism as "Form" and named Binah, the Black Mother. In Chartres this Kabalistic pillar is the Black Madonna, called Our Lady of the Pillar. (image copyright Rhey Cedron) She is the womb portal/feminine energy through which all of the material world is born as her Divine Child. The three pillars, depicting the ancient Three Primordial Principles of creation, is found in art as early as 6,000 BCE.   The three pillars shows the polarities at work in creating the spiral energy of the vortex, a representation of which is found carved on the floor of Chartres. When studied from a different angle, both the linear ground plan of Chartres and the linear appearance of the light-matrix can be seen as concentric circles of the vortex.   Spiral energy, Divine Mother energy, is the most powerful energy/light configuration in the universe. Traditionally, when the pilgrims entered the cathedral through Great West Door they proceeded to Vortex. At the center of Vortex used to be the combat of Theseus and the Minotaur, erased over time by the feet of pilgrims. From the outer circle of Vortex the pilgrims performed a ritual of the portal in which they spun around and around ever inward, activating and integrating the spiral energy/light, until they reached the center of the vortex.   After this ritual, they proceeded into the cathedral to await their turn to enter the crypt of the cathedral, where another ritual was performed to invoke the healing powers of the Divine Mother. Inside the cathedral, the metaphysical portal/shamanic tunnel is erected in the divine proportions of the sacred geometry that comprise its arched architecture. And there, at the end of the great arched tunnel, is the huge Rose window, the representation of Ain Soph, the Boundless Light. 131 feet below the pinnacle of the Gothic arch and 131 feet over the ancient geophysical portal floats Sacred Center, S4 on the light-matrix. Beneath Sacred Center, in the crypt of the cathedral, is a convergence point of telluric (earth) energy, where is located a dolmen and a well. The dolmen, a megalithic tomb of two standing stones supporting a large, flat boulder, was built about the time of Stonehenge.   Located at that place is a well, called "the Well of the Strong." The dolmen and the well were once buried within a mound, creating a portal tall enough to walk through. Chartres is the 6th church built over the dolmen and the well, the other five having been destroyed by fire. Until the 18th century, every pilgrim took part in a second ritual of the portal involving descent to the dolmen, where they were blessed with the water from the well. In the 3rd century CE, Christians named this underground sanctuary "Druid's Grotto" because mysterious rituals were held here long ago, and they attributed the rituals to the Druids and their college, or mystery school. Residing in the crypt is the statue of The Virgin of the Crypt - Our Lady of Chartres. Throughout history, sick people were nursed in the crypt, usually for a period of 9 days. Great crowds were drawn to the sanctuary, and pilgrims slept in the cathedral while waiting their turn to the crypt. This accounts for the slope of the nave paving allowing a thorough washing, and panels of the stained-glass windows could be taken out to air the building.   Many miracles took place in the crypt and are recorded in chronicles of the cathedral and attributed to The Virgin of the Crypt. The origin and heart of Chartres is the crypt, the womb portal of Our Lady and her healing spiral energy. "Traveling through the universe, spiraling through the universe is Universal Mother energy." (Words of the Matawil) Chartres Cathedral was built on the principles of sacred geometry especially to channel and amplify the spiritual vibrations of this nurturing, healing God energy.       The Knights Templar And The Ark Of The Covenant Shrouded in mystery is the financing and building of Chartres, involving the Knights Templar, the last order of the Grail Knights.   The mystery involves how the Templars found the knowledge as early as the 12th century CE to build such a magnificent cathedral. The answer to this mystery lies in the quest the Knights undertook in traveling to Jerusalem. They hoped to gain secret knowledge believed to be held there in the Ark of the Covenant, which was rumored to be buried under Solomon's Temple.   Because their first quarters in Jerusalem adjoined a building known at the time as Solomon's Temple, the Knights became known as the Poor Knights of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon, or Knights Templar. The Ark of the Covenant was a wooden chest (arca) in which the Jews kept the tablets of the Law. In Jewish synagogues and temples an ark is a cabinet for housing holy scrolls. The Ark mosaic in Israel at the Beth Alpha Synagogue, built during the Greco-Roman period, portrays the Ark of the Covenant designed like the light-matrix in which are contained the Holy Scrolls of the Law. The Ark is comprised of three pillars, negative on the left, positive on the right and neutral in the middle. To the right and left of the middle pillar are 4 cubes stacked vertically with designs like light codes.   These are the drawers which contain the Holy Scrolls, 4 on the right and 4 on the left. The top of this Ark finishes in an acute triangle, pointed like a cathedral spire. Hanging from the center of the spire is a lantern. To the right and the left of this Ark are Menorah (candelabras). Lions of Judah eat of the fruit of this Kabala (hidden) Tree of life, astrological symbols can be seen, and to the far right a curtain has been pulled aside (a veil is rent) by a crab so we may have a rare view of this sacred, celestial object of Light. What is the Law contained by the Holy Scrolls? The Law contained within the Ark of the Covenant is the secret knowledge the Knights Templar sought at Solomon's Temple. It is the knowledge with which they build Chartres Cathedral.   I believe this knowledge is the Law of Polarity, the first principle of creation; the plain of truth; the hearth of the universe, easily seen demonstrated in a section of a Gothic arch. Since ancient times (6,000 BCE) polarity has been studied as the three pillars of the Three Primordial Principles, defined as positive, negative and neutral.   The right positive pillar is Jachin, the name of the right pillar of Solomon's Temple. The left negative pillar is Boaz, the left pillar of Solomon's Temple.   The right pillar is defined, as positive in Hermeticism as Male in Kabalism as Light in Gnosticism as Ohrmuzd or Endless Light in Zoroastrianism as Light in Greek philosophy as Father of Greatness dwelling in the Light in Manichaeism The left pillar is defined, as negative in Hermeticism Female in Kabalism Darkness in Gnosticism Ahriman or Endless Darkness in Zoroastrianism Dark in Greek philosophy King of Darkness in Manichaeism With the addition of the third principle, the central and neutral pillar, comes the concept of transcendence of polarity.   With the third principle polarity becomes dimensional and gains a plane surface (that which has length and breadth). The plane surface, formed by the triangle, was called the "plain of truth" by the Pythagoreans of ancient Greece because it is the Three Primordial Principles expressed in geometry as a triangle. According to the Pythagoreans, the plain of truth is the "hearth of the universe."   The central pillar is, neutral in Kabalism Androgynous in Alchem Hermaphroditic in Hinduism Intermediate Spirit in Gnosticism Void-Negative Space in Zoroastrianism Air-Fate in Greek philosophy Shadow between like a Wedge in Manichaeism With their knowledge of sacred geometry based upon the geometry of light, most likely gained from their association with Jewish Rabbis and mystics who studied Kabala, the Knights Templar returned to France in 1128, after 10 years of study in Jerusalem, and began construction of Chartres, a small model of the universe and the archetypal Gothic cathedral and light-matrix in stone. While the Templars were in Jerusalem defending Christians against the "infidel" (Muslims) they regularly transmitted money and supplies from Europe to Palestine, and they developed an efficient banking system on which the rulers and nobility of Europe came to rely. The knights gradually became bankers for a large part of Europe and amassed great wealth.   They used this money to establish the first large, community service organization and held communal prayers and rituals in hospices they founded all over France. Giving up all personal property and wealth, they took vows of chastity, obedience and poverty, and became warrior-monks. They upheld their vows but became immensely wealthy anyway because of estate donations, some of which the Roman Catholic Church and the King of France would likely have received. About 200 years after the construction of Chartres, the Catholic church assisted King Philip the Fair of France in condemning the enormously wealthy Knights as heretics. 64 Templars were burned at the stake and their wealth seized by the King and by the church. When the Templars died, they refused to give out any of their secret knowledge, even about Baphomet whom they were accused of worshipping, whom they admitted worshipping, and whom they were burned for worshipping.   The mystery of Baphomet was solved recently when it was discovered that the Knights knew the Atbash Cipher, a system of cryptography involving the written Hebrew language. Evidence exists indicating Jesus was familiar with the Atbash Cipher, found in a number of Dead Sea Scrolls.   In the Atbash Cipher, Baphomet decodes itself perfectly into "Sophia," Greek for Wisdom.   The Knights Templar were burned as heretics for worshipping Wisdom. "Precisely because orthodox religion was defective in the wisdom component, any modality which contained it was, ipso facto, heresy." Walter Lang, "Introduction," Le Mystere des Cathedrales But Sophia is much more than Greek for Wisdom. Sophia is the Queen of Heaven, the Divine Mother, The Virgin of Light, Our Lady of Chartres Cathedral - a Lady worth dying for.     Sophia, Queen Of Heaven When in the presence of the Divine Mother called Sophia, the early Gnostics of the 1st-4th centuries CE wondered why they were so fortunate to be near her.   They held a dim view of physical life, calling it a prison from which escape was made possible only by death. Therefore, if a divinity such as Sophia could be among us, then they reasoned it must be because she was a "fallen" divinity. So they told a mythological story about the fall of Sophia, and this explains her nearness to earth and her desire and willingness to help us. Sophia, meaning Wisdom, in her exalted state is the Virgin of Light. She is like the Persian divinity Anahita, mistress of the waters that flow from a heavenly source in the region of the stars. The sad story of the fall of the Virgin of Light from her exalted position in the celestial realms above is mirrored in the events of humanity below.   This story reveals the strong negative thoughts of the ancient Gnostics regarding life on this planet and their desire for escape or rescue. Conversely, the Knights Templar worshipped Sophia and built a cathedral to her. Her merciful, healing energy inspired them to build hospices all over Europe to care for the poor and sick. In the Gnostic account of Sophia, she is the Virgin of Light who judges souls worthy to be passed through the portals to the Treasury of Light. The Virgin of Light weighs the merits of the souls and dispenses justice according to the souls' spiritual accomplishments while physical. This is like the Egyptian god Thoth, who weighs the soul against the weight of a feather. When the Virgin finds the souls wanting in spiritual attainment, she sends them into the rotation of the spheres or down through the body of the constellation Draco, whose tail descends into the abyss.   Draco is formed by the long and winding procession of the souls on the way to the abyss. If the souls are worthy, they receive from the Virgin the seals, mysteries and baptisms necessary for their journey into the upper realms. The Virgin of Light passes those perfect souls who are to ascend to the upper realms to the Treasury of Light. Judging them worthy, she releases them from the birth-rebirth cycle, the dance of death, by sealing them against the powers of the spheres (planets). Joyfully, the souls ascend to the heavenly realms. The Virgin of Light becomes filled with a longing to reunite herself with the Treasury of Light and the supernal entities of the higher celestial realms. She envies those souls whom she sends upwards to merge with the Light. Her strong emotions of envy and desire weigh her down, just as they weigh us down. She falls from her exalted position as the portal to the upper realms down into the lower heavens to dwell in the 8th sphere.   When she falls she becomes Sophia, the "Portal of Life," the door of birth into the physical world. She wears a crown of 12 stars and these symbolize the universe she fashions with her great powers. All the material world is born through her. She is the Divine Mother, the Matawil, Our Lady of Chartres, the Queen of Heaven. Her throne is the universe. She sits on the Holy Scrolls of the Law. How does the Divine Mother look? In some accounts of her, she is pink and gold spiral energy.   Historically, she is painted as human. In one representation of her in Chartres she is the Blue Virgin at Chartres.       Preparation For Ritual Of The Portal I hope we can all start on time and do the ritual together.   If not, perform this ritual when you can.   On the same day or the 7th or the 9th would be great. About 400 of us will be participating all over the planet, some actively and others in mind and idea. In this ritual we will call upon the Divine Mother to create with us the Cross of Light in the vault of the Northern Hemisphere, to bring into Chartres Cathedral the Celestial Orders of the Prophets of the Golden Masons, and to bestow the golden ring and silver cape symbolizing the power of Spirit with the wealth of the planet. Set up your portal anyway you like, as a circle, as an altar, as a specific design. I plan to construct mine as a circle of milky quartz with a cross in the center. To create Concourse of the Forces I will be using candles for Fire and Air, and bowls of Water and bowls of Earth. These will be used during a certain part of the ritual. Using Tarot of the Spirit tarot cards I will make the Cross of Light in the shape of the Latin Cross (high horizontal bar).   Use anything magical you like to design this cross, runes, quartz, whatever you have that is special for you. Place a candle at the four corners of the Cross of Light. In the north position of the cross place an extra candle, so that five candles will be used. Inside the circle and around the cross I will be using all my crystals as well as sacred objects. We will be using Divine Mother portal disk (above) and/or Shri Yantra portal disk. Use the one you resonate with or use both. "Yantra Yoga is the path of union with God thorough geometric visualization. A yantra is a geometric design. They are highly efficient tools for contemplation, concentration, and meditation. This type of yoga might also be called Mandala Yoga. The Buddhist are masters of this type of yoga as can be seen in their mandalas, icons, tankas, and sand paintings. The American Indians used this type of yoga, also. The Kabbalistic Tree of Life might be put in this category as well. By tuning into the different aspects of a yantra you can tap into certain deities or creative force centers in the universe. The yantra is like a microcosmic picture of the macrocosm. It is a focusing point and an outer and inner doorway. The yantra are often focused on a specific deity. They can be drawn on paper, wood, metal, or on the Earth itself or they can be three-dimensional. The yantra provides a focal point that is a window into the absolute.   The idea is to make the yantra so real, inwardly and outwardly, that it becomes alive. In that way it absorbs the practitioner's complete attention, and [s/he] can no longer tell if the yantra is within [him/herself] or if [s/he] is within the yantra. The most celebrated yantra in India is the Sri Yantra, or Auspicious Wheel.   It is a symbol of the entire cosmos that serves to remind the practitioner of the non-difference between subject and object." Joshua David Stone Shri Yantra helps us transcend the I/Thou archetype of our bipolar world and join with the Divine Mother.         Aether Ritual To Install The Great Cross Of Light Our Lady, Divine Mother, give us Your healing gift of Love. With Your Love energy, what is there we cannot do? You are eternal, spiraling Love. Come through our portals. We have made a place for You in our hearts, Dear Lady. You have come to us so often and we give You our thanks. You have come graciously under many names, Notre Dame. You come as Isis, the Empress, Universal Mother, and Sai. You come as Anahita, Mary, Sophia, Matawil, and Binah. You come and give us life passage through Your womb portal. Give birth to Your symmetry, Your sacred geometry. Thy Will be done. Give Birth to Your angels of geometry and Your geometry monks. Bring forth the Celestial Orders of the Prophets of the Golden Masons. Let them pass through the portal of Notre Dame of Chartres. Fire, Water, Air and Earth! Now is the Concourse of the Forces! The cathedral was burned five times. (Light the five candles.) Fire, Water, Air and Earth! Re-align the energies of this planet! The cathedral is an airy temple to sacred geometry. (Meditate for awhile using one of the portal disks.) Fire, Water, Air and Earth! Into Chartres bring the angels of geometry! This is water from the Well of the Strong. (Sprinkle the water onto the portal disk.) Fire, Water, Air and Earth! Into Chartres bring the geometry monks! This is earth from the crypt of the cathedral. (Sprinkle the earth onto the portal disk.) Dear Lady, we offer ourselves to You in Divine Marriage in this cathedral. Give us Your golden ring and Your silver cape. Place them on our pillow. We will wear them for all time and we will give You our Love. The Power of the Ring is Yours! The Power of the Ring is ours! Our Lady, You are the World Soul. You are our Mother, we are your children. You are the light of the Moon. You are the face of the Sun. You are Goddess! You are the Portal of Life. Through Your great Love is the world born. On this blessed day of days Your children, the Sun and the Moon, are wed. Divine Mother, the Sun is occulted by the Moon. See those starry skies? There is the Pole Star! Place there our Cross of Gold and Silver Light. This marks for all time these moments we share with You. This marks for all time our knowledge of eternal health and immortality. Everything in the universe is Yours. Share with us your sparkling wealth. Vast treasure chests of gold and silver light glitter in tribute to You. Marry with us and bestow upon us Your dowry of lustrous riches. Share with us Your legendary treasures and we will share with others. With Your blessings we will open the portal to the cave of Ali Baba. Open Sesame! Open the portal in the stone. The wealth therein is ours. With Your blessings we will open the portal to the gold of El Dorado. Open Sesame! Open the portal in the stone. The wealth therein is ours. With Your blessings we will open the portal to the Leprecahn underworld. Open Sesame! Open the portal in the stone. The wealth therein is ours. With Your blessings we will open the portal to the mines of King Solomon. Open Sesame! Open the portal in the stone. The wealth therein is ours. Divine Mother, grant us this great favor, that we manifest Your desires. Allow us to access the vast wealth You bestowed upon the Knights Templar. It was taken from them and placed in unholy places, imprisoned within walls. Release this wealth and grant us the wisdom to use it. Only Thy Will be done. These things we ask, not for ourselves alone but for the benefit of the world. Dear Lady, we will draw from our cross Your healing Love energy. Send us Your healing energy, as we make Your wishes become our desires. In health and wealth we are spiritual knights under Your banner of Love. So it is and so shall it be. The ritual is over.   Now relax and enjoy the meditation. Soon as you can, please send your ritual results. Keep a watch of the Northern skies to see the great Cross of Light. Claire Watson Shield Guide LVX - Light of the Cross     Ritual Results I Am With You Always This message was given to me by the Madonna, who came in glowing pink light and visited with me, filling me with a deep sense of love, awe and reverence. We also did some yoga body stretching together!   Since the ritual on March 8, I have felt a strong positive energy enfolding me, and others have felt it, too. It's a feeling of being unlimited, of being more successful, of having more energy and of things coming together easier. If you have experienced any of this, please email me and let me know. Claire Watson The following personal ritual results are from: Frank van der Palen, Holland Krista Essler, New York Robert Love, Canada ShriBarbie, Indiana Barbara S. Tom Yudai, Canada Roger Kerr, Colorado Barbara Casey-Sorrell, Hawaii Hildur Hakonardottir, Iceland Charbern, Arizona Dawn/Wunjo, Colorado Todd, Texas Jason Carey Connie, Texas Nick, Connecticut Grannyflash Jim Amidon, Pennsylvania Suzanne Sargent Chantyl Wilson, Illinois; Dan Ogden, Florida Cynthia Moore, Washington State Margaret Bradley, Australia Deanna, Illinois Xeia Maureen, California Karen Langdon, New Zealand Austin, Pennsylvania Serge Khalatian, California Melissa Stratton, Pennsylvania Claire Watson, Georgia To read the personal ritual results "click" HERE.     Return to Stargate Return to Ciencia Real