Cancer, I've been here before.

So the docs found a new spot on my lungs. It is May 27th, 2026, I've been here before. I'm ready for this. Interesting, it was exactly four years ago on this day that I posted "My Cancer Cure" post on here. In that post I wrote: "We all come into this life with a mission, a reason, and when that reason is done so are we...this is why cancer doesn't matter to me, if I still have a reason to live, the cancer will wait. And as I told you before, the blue Buddha came to me in a dream and so I know I am healing and will stay alive as long as I continue my mission. I am chanting each morning that this body which can create a cancer cell, can heel a cancer cell. Therefore, I chant that the recent spots they found on my lungs are smaller than they were the day before, and that they are not cancerous. I then thank the heavenly deities for providing this. I also pray that the medicine king will bring me the knowledge, doctors, cures, etc., that I need...."

I go into how I eat raw bitter melon, broccoli, and carrots in the morning. I also go into my faith: "The faith I speak of is the Mystic Law which saved my life over a year ago by alarming me to have my lungs checked. I've told you about it before, how while chanting my chest began to hurt which caused me to go to the hospital where they found a cancer spot. It amazed the doctors that I brought it to their attention so early. I had part of my lung removed and have lived another year without cancer. Now, it looks like there are more spots which could be cancerous.  I am not sure what I have left, if it is to share with you how my faith has saved me again, or how I know by chanting I am protected and will be here as long as I am needed.  Maybe just to share my cure with you, kind reader. The faith I speak of is the Mystic Law. To obtain it all you have to do is chant: Nam Myoho Renge Kyo. Give it a try. 

AI to the rescue in Finding this 1960's Marimba beauty.

This may not be Esoteric to you, but it is to me, for I purchased an old 16mm footage of a woman playing the marimba with a Hawaiin Lei around her neck from the 60's. The cover had "Hawaiin-Jodie-Show in Las Vegas" written on it. I googled and no research came back, well, one did, but she was Ruth Underwood who played for Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Inventions, I was pretty sure it wasn't her. So I uploaded this screenprint of her from my 16mm film to google and asked AI who it was. 

And off this poor quality 16mm image, I got the following answers:

"This low-light, vintage style photo makes it difficult to definitively identify the exact performer based on facial recognition alone. However, the visual styling—a strapless gown paired with a high-neck wrapped scarf—strongly mirrors the classic mid-century lounge era of Las Vegas entertainment.

To help narrow down the identity, could you provide a bit more context? If you can share the approximate decade the photo was taken or the name of the venue (such as the Sands, Caesars Palace, or the Flamingo), I can help you cross-reference historical show archives."

Then I put "Jodie" and got this:

"The hint about a Hawaiian show completely unlocks this vintage photo. The performer you are thinking of is Jonie (often misspelled as Jodie) from the iconic Jonie and the Halekulani Boys, a highly popular Hawaiian musical act that regularly performed in Las Vegas during the mid-20th century lounge boom."

Then I put in "what was Jonie, of Jonie and the Haledulani Boys, last name:

"While Jonie was widely known strictly by her first name on marquee billings and album covers during her Las Vegas residencies, historical music and union records list her full legal name as Jonie Barcarse.

The Family Connection

The act was heavily anchored by family ties. The "Halekulani Boys" backing her featured her husband, Al "Pops" Makahinu Barcarse, a deeply respected multi-instrumentalist, steel guitarist, and singer. Following their successful decades performing across the Las Vegas Strip, the couple dedicated much of their later lives to passing down traditional Hawaiian culture, music, and language to younger generations.

If you are hunting for their music, checking vintage vinyl listings under both "Jonie and the Halekulani Boys" and "Al Barcarse" will yield the best results for their classic recordings."

I wasn't interested in knowing more, maybe you are.  

Here is the 16mm clip I posted for the records of this beautiful woman beating the marimba in her prime:

The Five Chinese Brothers

You could say that the Five Chinese Brothers is a story about the deep bond of love between brothers. You could say that the Five Chinese Brothers is a story about deception. You can say whatever, but the fact is, it touches something deep inside of us. 

I first read the story as a kid. It is actually the first book I remember reading on my own. I remember loving the thought of being in an ocean bottom without water. I didn't think about the boy dying in the water, or the men facing death sentences for having killed him. I do know it was better than any of the other books available to me as a five-year-old seeker. This is why I have digitized the school film of this book for my friends here on EsotericDaily.com.  I think this was the first book that touched my esoteric soul.  The scene where the man inhales the ocean in his lungs revealing the depth of the sea, was my inner esoteric-child crying out for something deeper than the "See Jane Run" books on the shelf with it. Maybe you are the same. Enjoy the film.

Athena Is Coming To Save Us From The Bullies of the World

In case you missed it, an "Exceptional Statue of the Greek Goddess Athena" was uncovered in Ancient Laodicea, Turkey.

That's right, archaeologists have uncovered a nearly 2-meter (6.6 feet) marble statue of the Greek goddess Athena at the ancient city of Laodicea, located in modern-day Turkey. Researchers found the statue lying face-down in rubble debris along the outer wall of the theater’s rear stage section, known as the “postskene.” The statue is carved from white marble, though its head has not yet been found.

As we know here at EsotericDaily.com, nothing is by accident or without meaning, and so I ask you these questions, "Why did a headless Athena present herself to us now?" "What does it mean."

First, Athena was one of the most revered goddesses in ancient Greece, associated with wisdom, warfare, and handicraft. She is traditionally depicted wearing a helmet and holding a spear, with snakes and the gorgoneion among her most recognized symbols. Unlike Ares, who personifies the bloodlust and violence of battle, Athena represents the disciplined and intellectual side of war—specifically strategy, tactical prowess, and heroic endeavor.

A quick refresher on myth, Athena was the daughter of Zeus and was known for her miraculous birth, emerging fully grown, in armor, and emitting a battle cry from Zeus’s forehead. In some accounts she was produced without a mother, and in an alternative story her mother was Metis, the goddess of counsel, whom Zeus swallowed while she was pregnant with Athena. Being the favorite child of Zeus, Athena had great power. In turn, she favored such mortal heroes as Odysseus, Heracles, and Perseus.

Now, esoterically speaking, here are the factors that present themselves to us:

1. Athena gives Perseus the power to face Medusa by instructing him not to look her directly in the eyes, but to use the reflection of his sword to attack her. Medusa, who could turn anyone into stone by looking at them, was the evil force trying to create chaos in the world. By giving Perseus the power to defeat Medusa, Athena is actually protecting the world from a selfish bully who wanted nothing but death, destruction, and chaos in the world. 

2. In another myth, Athena wanted new weapons, so she went to the blacksmith god, Hephaestus to request his services. When Hephaestus saw Athena he tried everything he could to forge a relationship with her, when she refused him, he lost control of himself and forced himself (yes, rape) on her. She fought him off, but not before he ejaculated on her leg. Athena wiped the nasty mess off herself and threw in on the ground where it turned into a snake: her snake-son Erichthonius.

3. Athens, which is named after Athena, is where western society began with the likes of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and where democracy was founded. Most myths with Athena show her as the champion of fairness, justice, and democracy -- just look at the face of the Statue of Liberty and compare it to the statues of Athena; conversely, many temples that had been dedicated to Athena were converted into churches for the Virgin Mary with the spread of Christianity, most notably, the Parthenon (the "Temple of the Virgin Athena") served as the Cathedral of Theotokos (Mother of God) for nearly a thousand years. 

Athena on the left, Mother Mary on the Right.

4. In The Eumenides, Athena shows up in the final play as the divine arbiter who ends a cycle of blood vengeance and establishes the foundations of human justice. Yes, the first courtroom scene ever written. 

Put these statements together, and we see that Athena is the goddess of human decency, fairness, and justice. Unlike the other woman in myths she doesn't need saving by a man, instead she uses her intellect to protect herself and others, and she remained a virgin. She brought order to the world with the Medusa story, then fairness and democracy to Athens, and as in the play Ajax, written by Sophocles, she intervenes to bypass useless killing by driving the bully leader, Ajax, mad.  

In conclusion, I believe Athena has popped up from the grave as a warning to the male leaders who are creating chaos instead of order. We know who they are, just look at the wars in Ukraine, Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, and the macho world leaders pounding their chest to drop more bombs, kill more people, and create more chaos.  

Enough is enough.

Athena is a hopeful message to those of us wanting immediate peace for the sake of humanity, and a warning to the war lords that bad things will start happening to them if they don't start playing nice; that is, once she finds her head. 

~~ Eso Terry 

World Labyrinth Day Disclaimer

This is my disclaimer, for I won't be able to join in a labyrinth walk today, but will be there in spirit.  

World Labyrinth Day (WLD) is an annual international event held on the first Saturday of May to promote peace, mindfulness, and celebration of labyrinths. Founded by The Labyrinth Society in 2009, thousands participate by walking a labyrinth at 1:00 p.m. local time to create a "rolling wave of peaceful energy" across the globe.

According to the WorldLabyrinthDay.org, every year on the first Saturday in May thousands of people around the globe participate in World Labyrinth Day as a moving meditation for world peace and celebration of the labyrinth experience. Many “Walk as One at 1” local time to create a rolling wave of peaceful energy passing from one time zone to the next, and there are additional ways to participate.

So why the "Labyrinth?"

A labyrinth combines the imagery of a circle and a spiral to form an irregular, meandering path toward a central location. The design has been appearing in caves, on coins and pottery, and as turf or stone structures from as early as the Stone or Bronze Ages.

Traditional labyrinths have the entrance/exit at the bottom, while a separate, radial style show the entrance/exit at the top. Prehistoric or ancient labyrinths may have been used in sacred dance and ritual. Roman labyrinths appear at the entrance of buildings which could have had a function of protection or been meant to symbolize a sacred path to deity.

Medieval Christian labyrinths appeared both in church entrances and on the sanctuary floors. Although their purpose is unclear, they could have been used in Easter rituals with penitents following the labyrinth on their knees or been designed as protection from demons. In India, there is a belief that labyrinths are the refuge of a trickster spirit and that the demon Ravana rules over labyrinths.

The first labyrinths, is found in myth of Minotaur, where Minos refuses to sacrifice a bull to Poseidon out of greed. The angry Poseidon punished the king by making his wife fall in love with a bull. The fruit of this union was the monster Minotaur, half-bull, half-man. Full of shame, Minos imprisoned the monster in a labyrinth – a word which comes from the Greek “labrys” and refers to the double axe – the symbol of the supremacy of the Cretan Mother Goddess. The deeper meaning of the labyrinth is associated with the feminine life giving force, the earth-bound instinctual nature of our bodies. The centre of the labyrinth is the goddess’s womb.

The power of nature and instincts, the Greek zoe, the sheer life force – this is how the ancients perceived the bull. Only a woman – Ariadne – knew the way around the labyrinth into its centre. It seems that this first labyrinth was designed to guard the darkest heart of nature and to keep its secrets from the solar, upper-world consciousness. Alternatively, it symbolized the fear of Minos, that is the ego consciousness, of the bestial instincts, which he tried to repress.

Interestingly, also in Christianity the labyrinths were constructed to worship Mother Goddess. The most famous example is the stone Labyrinth from the cathedral in Chartres. It is believed that originally it had the image of Minotaur in its centre, but it was later removed. Now the centre of the Labyrinth features the Mystic Rose, emblem of Mary on the one hand and the ultimate symbol of the Self and the union of the opposites on the other.

Some researchers make a point of differentiating between the maze and the labyrinth. Karen Ralls explains:

“A labyrinth eventually takes one to a Center. A maze does not, but has many twists and turns in its path, even the occasional “dead end.”

Those who walk the labyrinth do so to find inner peace, to meditate and find a way through silence to inner truth. Cirlot adds that at the centre of the labyrinth conjunction occurs between the conscious and the unconscious. Perhaps the seeming duality of the confusing maze and the orderly labyrinth can be reconciled by invoking human and divine perspective:

“From within, the view is extremely restricted and confusing, while from above one discovers a supreme artistry and order.

According to symbolreader.net:

"The maze, thus, seems to symbolize our human limited perspective, our entanglement in the world of the senses and desires, our getting lost, taking the “wrong” path, occasionally feeling lost and desperate." 

So brothers, sisters, and non-binary siblings, however you navigate through your labyrinth of life today, do so with a kind spirit, for we are all in this together regardless if we walk or not, 

~~ Eso Terry

Prana

"The Prana in me, sees the Prana in you."

What is Prana? A clothing store for the active Buddhist in all of us? Yes, it is, but before materialization got a hold of us, Prana was more, much more. Let's dive into it now

First, there is much confusion regarding Prana. Google Prana and you'll see everything from crossed-legged yoga poses to energy enemas. The problem is they seldom mention "apana," and to put it bluntly, you can't have one without the Apana (other). Yes, it's a yin/yang thing. Therefore, Prana and Apana are two primary, opposing energetic forces in yoga that regulate the body and mind. Prana is the upward/inward life force of intake and expansion, located above the navel. Apana is the downward/outward force of elimination and grounding, located below the navel area.

Now that that is clear, we will talk about Prana, and to do so I'll use a passage from Fourteen Lessons in Yogi Philosophy and Oriental Occultism, written by Yogi Ramacharaka 1862–1932, where he writes: "Prana is everywhere and in everything. Prana is not the Ego, but is merely a form of energy used by the Ego in its material manifestation. When the Ego departs from the physical body, in what we call "death," the Prana, being no longer under the control of the Ego, responds only to the orders of the individual atoms or their groups, which have formed the physical body, and as the physical body disintegrates and is resolved back to its original elements, each atom takes with it sufficient Prana to enable it to form new combinations, the unused Prana returning to the great universal storehouse from whence it came."

So you see, Prana is in all forms of matter, and yet it is not matter - it is the energy or force which animates matter.

Maybe a better definition can be found in Insighttimer.com:

"In the heart of ancient wellness practices lies a concept so powerful yet so subtle that it forms the very essence of our being. Prana, often described as the life force or vital energy, courses through the universe and every living creature, connecting us to the broader cosmos with invisible threads. This concept, deeply rooted in yogic traditions, is not just about the air we breathe but encompasses the energy that animates life itself...ancient texts and practices within Hinduism have long acknowledged the significance of prana, highlighting its role in the creation and sustenance of life. Though Hindu tradition isn’t the only well-known philosophy that recognizes life force — “Qi” (chi) in Traditional Chinese Medicine is a notable parallel." 

Finally, prana is seen as the bridge between the physical and the non-physical, influencing our health, emotions, and spiritual state. Recognizing and harnessing this energy is key to achieving a state of balance and harmony within oneself and with the surrounding world.

Now that that's clear, I'll return you to your regular way of being.


~~ Eso Terry

"Prana is everywhere, boys and girls, even in a clown like me!"

the gunas

In Sankhya, matter is said to have three gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas. These terms are translated in a variety of ways by different scholars, usually something like “harmony,” “mobility,” and “inertia.”

Sattva, is a nominal form of sat (being) with a suffix which is equivalent to English “-ness” or “-hood,” hence sattva implies a thing’s essential being.

Rajas, from the root rañj (colored, especially reddened), is associated with vapor or mist, desire, menstrual discharge, etc. and in the context of Sankhya philosophy implies exciting emotions motivated by desire.

Tamas, from the root tam (choke, be exhausted, become immobile), has the general meaning of darkness, obscuration, heaviness, or ignorance, hence implies a condition of dullness, habituality, or stupidity.

According to the folks at Theosophy.World, "There is a temptation to identify these three gunas with properties of physical matter. For instance, it is claimed by physicists that all laws of matter involve at the very least three undefined variables, usually identified as resonant frequency, energy, and inertia. That sounds very much like sattva, rajas, and tamas. But one cannot eliminate any of the three physical variables in the way that the Gita urges you to eliminate, or at least minimize the influence of, rajas and tamas. So that cannot be what they mean. A more plausible interpretation would be to equate the three gunas with the theosophical idea of the elementals of the three lower planes of matter: tamas with the physical elemental which seeks repetition of past actions, rajas with the emotional (or “astral”) elemental which seeks excitement and is mainly driven by desire, and sattva with the mental elemental which seeks harmony among ideas, thus is sometimes equated with knowledge, happiness, and illumination.

Helena P. Blavatsky grapples with the task of explaining the nature of the gunas when she writes, “What are the ‘producers’ evoluted from this universal root-principle, Mula-prakriti or undifferentiated primeval cosmic matter, which evolves out of itself consciousness, and mind, and is generally called ‘Prakriti’ and amulam mulam, ‘the rootless root,’ and avyakta, the ‘unevolved evolver,’ etc.? This primordial tattwa or ‘eternally existing “that,”’ the unknown essence, is said to produce as a first producer (1) Buddhi — ‘intellect’ — whether we apply the latter to the sixth macrocosmic or microcosmic principle. This first produced produces in its turn (or is the source of) (2) Ahankara, ‘self-consciousness’ and Manas, ‘mind’” (CW IV:580-81). In other words, she follows the general outline found in Sakhya. I. K. Taimni, in his book, Man, God and the Universe, explains the gunas thus: “Here then we have really another example of integration and differentiation not at the level of matter or vibration but at the level of the mind, for perception of properties is a function of the mind though the stimulation comes from matter and vibrations. The conception of Prakti as an integrated state of the gunas, which contains all gunas in a potential state and from which any guna or property can emerge if the proper conditions (the particular combination of the three gunas based on harmonious motion, irregular motion and no motion) are present will thus be seen to be in perfect accord with our scientific ideas regarding the nature of integration and differentiation. In the conception of Prakti as the integrated state of the gunas (dharmas — depend upon different combinations of the three gunas) we have gone up from the level of matter or vibration to the level of the mind which is the product of the interaction of Spirit and matter” (pp. 204-5).

In our modern Yoga-Coffee-Shop world today where Yoga is a form of light exercise for the body, the mind, and the "Spandex" ego, the popular definition (as found in YogaBasics.com) can be summed up as:

"All three gunas are always present in all beings and objects surrounding us but vary in their relative amounts. We humans have the unique ability to consciously alter the levels of the gunas in our bodies and minds. The gunas cannot be separated or removed in oneself but can be consciously acted upon to encourage their increase or decrease. A guna can be increased or decreased through the interaction and influence of external objects, lifestyle practices and thoughts.

"To reduce tamas avoid tamasic foods, oversleeping, overeating, inactivity, passivity and fearful situations. Tamasic foods include heavy meats and foods that are spoiled, chemically treated, processed or refined. 

"To reduce rajas avoid rajasic foods, over-exercising, overwork, loud music, excessive thinking and consuming excessive material goods. Rajasic foods include fried foods, spicy foods, and stimulants. 

"To increase sattva reduce both rajas and tamas, eat sattvic foods and enjoy activities and environments that produce joy and positive thoughts. Sattvic foods include whole grains and legumes and fresh fruits and vegetables that grow above the ground. All of the yogic practices were developed to create sattva in the mind and body."

As you might have guessed, there are a lot of ways to correct your gunas as mentioned above, things like Sweat Yoga and/or purchasing cool Yoga items on Amazon.com -- which you won't find here.

The bottom line is that there is a lot of hype about gunas today, put in a nutshell; however, there are three forces within us we must understand, and though the ancients teachers tried to leave us with  definitions, gunas do vary by end person. In other-words, know your gunas, know thyself, and if that doesn't work, there is always ayahuasca.


~~ Eso Terry

St. Germain, Master Rakoczi, Thomas Bacon? You Decide.

Mount St. Germain, what can I say.  The guy was illusive, some say a spy, a fraud, hustler, other's, like this Esoteric Artist, believe he was the spirit of enlightenment which comes around when we really need it as they did in the 18th century. Historically, he has been documented by the Kings, Queen, and guillotines of Nobility. Spiritually, he has been in every space where enlightenment, alchemy, and consciousness is spoken out loud.  Here is his story. 

St. Germain (also referred to as Master Rakoczi or Master R) is the chohan of the seventh ray the Theosophical and post-Theosophical teachings of C. W. Leadbeater, Alice A. Bailey, Benjamin Creme, the White Eagle Lodge, modern Rosicrucianism and the Ascended Master Teachings, responsible for the New Age culture of the Age of Aquarius and identified with the Count of St. Germain (1710-1784), who has been variously described as a courtier, adventurer, charlatan, inventor, alchemist, pianist, violinist and amateur composer. 

St. Germain, as one of the Masters of the Ancient Wisdom, is credited with near god-like powers and with longevity. It is believed that Sir Francis Bacon faked his own death on Easter Sunday, 9 April 1626, attended his own funeral and made his way from England to Transylvania where he found lodging in a castle owned by the Rakoczi family. There, on 1 May 1684, Bacon, by using alchemy, became an immortal occult master and adopted the name Saint Germain and became one of the Masters of the Ancient Wisdom, a group of beings that, Theosophists believe, form a Spiritual Hierarchy of planet Earth sometimes called the Ascended Masters. Thus, according to these beliefs, St. Germain was a mysterious manifestation of the "resurrected form" (or "resurrection body") of Sir Francis Bacon.

Many groups honor Saint Germain as a supernatural being called a Master of the Ancient Wisdom or an Ascended master. In the Ascended Master Teachings he is referred to simply as Saint Germain, or as the Ascended Master Saint Germain. As an Ascended Master, Saint Germain is believed to have many magical powers such as the ability to teleport, levitate, walk through walls, and to inspire people by telepathy, among others.

Theosophists consider him to be a Mahatma, Masters of the Ancient Wisdom or Adept. Helena Blavatsky said that he was one of her Masters of Wisdom and hinted that he had given her secret documents. Some esoteric groups credit him with inspiring the Framers of the Constitution to draft the United States Declaration of Independence, as well as providing the design of the Great Seal of the United States. He is also considered to be the mystery guy who was at the signing of the Declaration of Independence that no one knew.  

In New Age beliefs, Saint Germain is always associated with the color violet, the jewel amethyst, and the Maltese cross rendered in violet (usually the iron cross style cross patee version). He is also regarded as the "Chohan of the Seventh Ray According to Theosophy, the Seven Rays are seven metaphysical principles that govern both individual souls and the unfolding of each 2,158-year-long Astrological Age. Since according to Theosophy the next Astrological Age, the Age of Aquarius, will be governed by the Seventh (Violet) Ray (the Ray of Ceremonial Order), Saint Germain is sometimes called "The Hierarch of the Age of Aquarius". According to the Ascended Master Teachings, Saint Germain is "The God of Freedom for this system of worlds." According to the Ascended Master Teachings, the preliminary lead-up to the beginning of the Age of Aquarius began on 1 July 1956, when Ascended Master Saint Germain became the Hierarch of the Age of Aquarius, replacing the former Astrological Age Hierarch, the Ascended Master Jesus, who had been for almost 2,000 years the Hierarch of the Age of Pisces.

In the works authored by Alice A. Bailey, Saint Germain is called Master Rakoczi or the Master R. (In the Ascended Master Teachings, the Master Rakoczi [ otherwise known as the Great Divine Director ] is regarded as Saint Germain's teacher in the Great White Brotherhood of Ascended Masters). Alice A. Bailey's book The Externalisation of the Hierarchy (a compilation of earlier revelations published posthumously in 1957) gives the most information about his reputed role as a Spiritual Master. Saint Germain's spiritual title is said to be Lord of Civilization, and his task is the establishment of the new civilization of the Age of Aquarius. He is said to telepathically influence people who are seen by him as being instrumental in bringing about the new civilization of the Age of Aquarius. Alice A. Bailey stated that "sometime after AD 2025," the Jesus, the Master Rakoczi (Saint Germain), Kuthumi, and others in the Spiritual Hierarchy would "externalise", i.e., descend from the spiritual worlds, and interact in visible tangible bodies on the Earth in ashrams, surrounded by their disciples. 

According to Theosophy and the Ascended Master Teachings, Saint Germain was incarnated as: (Note: Not all Theosophical and Ascended Master Teaching groups accept all of these incarnations as valid. St. Germain's incarnations as St. Alban, Proclus, Roger Bacon and Sir Francis Bacon are universally accepted.)

Ruler of a Golden Age civilization centered in a city called "The City of the Sun" 70,000 years ago located in the then lush and verdant area that is now the Sahara Desert, originally a colony sent out from Atlantis.

High priest in the civilization of Atlantis 13,000 years ago, serving in the Order of Lord Zadkiel in the Temple of Purification, located in an Atlantean colony that had been sent out from the main island of Atlantis that had been established on the island now called Cuba.

Samuel, 11th-century BC religious leader in Israel who served as prophet, priest, and last of the Hebrew judges.Samuel's mother Hannah was the second wife of Elkanah. For many years, Hannah had no children. One year when Hannah and Elkanah went to the temple to make sacrifices and pray, Hannah begged God to allow her to have a child. To be barren in those days was a source of shame for women and was considered an indication that one was not favored by God.

A priest named Eli saw Hannah praying and realized her predicament. He blessed her and assured her that God had heard her prayers. A year later she gave birth to Samuel. And, as she had promised, brought Samuel to Eli as a young child to serve with him in the temple.

The prophet Eli's time of transition grew near. So God spoke to young Samuel, calling upon him to be the next prophet of Israel. And Samuel accepted this holy work, traveling throughout Israel, urging the various tribes to work together and to cease worshiping idols.

It came about that the tribes desired a king to rule over them. Samuel was urged by them to appoint the one who would be their leader. God had already told Samuel that the results of the tribes desiring a king would be regretted, for their king would take their lands and goods and lead them into wars. They would know only oppression.

Upon hearing this message, the people turned a deaf ear to the prophet's warnings. Their choice was a man named Saul. Unfortunately, Saul lived up to God's warning and there was much suffering in the land. In response, Samuel secretly anointed David as the true king of Israel. A conflict between Saul and David dominated the remainder of Samuel's life. Samuel's anointing of David began the Biblical monarchy that formed the lineage of Jesus Christ.

Hesiod, Greek poet whose writings serve as a major source of insight into Greek mythology and cosmology (c. 700 BC).

Plato, Philosopher who studied with students of Pythagoras and scholars in Egypt. He established his own school of philosophy at the Academy in Athens. (427-347 BC).

Saint Joseph, 1st century AD, Nazareth. Husband of Mary and guardian of Jesus. In addition to what is commonly known about Saint Joseph from New Testament accounts, information in apocryphal writings and more recent revelations fill in some details. For instance, Joseph and Mary not only bore the Savior Jesus but six other children, both male and female. In contrast to traditional portrayals, Joseph was not merely a carpenter but an artisan in stone working and an adept in the spiritual arts. the family lived within a devout community, the Essenes, whose beliefs included the oneness of all life, that God dwelt within each soul and in his creation, and that striving and purity of motive were the way to God's heart.

Joseph, like Mary and Jesus, experienced visitations by angels. And it was Joseph's courage to be obedient to his own prophetic dreams that proved to be key to his role as guardian of his family. An appeared to Joseph in a dream to reassure him that he should marry Mary although she was many years younger than he. After the birth of Jesus, an angel appeared to warn Joseph that Herod sought the life of the newborn. The family escaped to Egypt until it was safe to return to their home. Joseph made his transition before Jesus entered into the fullness of his teaching and healing ministry. But Joseph had fulfilled his inner vow to protect Mary and to nurture and instruct Jesus.

Saint Alban, late 3rd or early 4th century, town of Verulamium, renamed St. Albans, Hertfordshire, England. First British martyr - he had sheltered a fugitive priest, became a devout convert, and was put to death for disguising himself as the priest so that he could die in his place.

Proclus, c. 410 - 485 AD. Athens. The last major Greek Neoplatonic philosopher. He headed the Platonic Academy and wrote extensively on philosophy, astronomy, mathematics, and grammar.

Merlin, c. 5th or 6th century, Britain. Magician and counselor at King Arthur's Camelot who inspired the establishment of the Order of the Knights of the Round Table.

Roger Bacon, c. 1214-1292 AD, England. Philosopher, educational reformer, and experimental scientist. Forerunner of modern science renowned for his exhaustive investigations into alchemy, optics, mathematics, and languages. Bacon pursued a life as a scholar and was engaged in academic and theological studies for decades. He became a professor at Oxford, specializing in philosophy. Eventually he became a friar in the Franciscan Order, but this prevented him from holding a teaching post. His activities were further restricted by a Franciscan statute in 1260 forbidding friars from publishing books or pamphlets without specific approval.

Bacon's friendship with Cardinal Guy le Gros de Foulques, who became Pope Clement IV, proved to be highly fortuitous. The new Pope issued a mandate ordering Bacon to write to him concerning the place of philosophy within theology. As a result, Bacon sent the Pope his Opus Majus, which presented his views on the way philosophy and science could be incorporated into theology. Roger Bacon also wrote other works on alchemy and astrology.

During his polific lifetime, Bacon performed many scientific experiments and documente his work for posterity. These experiments are viewed as the first instances of true experimental science, several hundred years before the official rise of science in the West.

Organizer behind the scenes for the Secret Societies in Germany in the late 14th and early 15th centuries. The creation of a possibly fictional character named "Christian Rosenkreuz" was inspired by his efforts.

Christopher Columbus, 1451-1506 AD. Believed to have been born in Genoa, Italy and settled in Portugal. Landed in America in 1492 during the first of four voyages to the New World sponsored by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. At the age of twenty-two, he began an apprenticeship as business agent for three important families- the Centurione, Di Negro and Spinola families of Genoa. The countries of Europe had been trading with China and India over land, but with the fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks in 1453, this route became treacherous. In response to this, Christopher Columbus with his brother Bartolomeo developed a plan to travel to the Indies by sailing directly west across the Atlantic.

After continually lobbying at the Spanish court for two years, Columbus finally made headway with Queen Isabella of Castille in 1492. Columbus departed from Palos de la Frontera with three ships-the Santa Maria, the Pinta and the Nina. Columbus' vision that there was a westward route over the Atlantic Ocean to the Indies, if realized, would allow Spain, in dire need of funds, to enter the profitable spice trade. In hindsight we realize that Columbus' discovery set the stage for the building of a new nation, founded on the principles of equality and religious freedom.

Francis Bacon, 1561-1626, England. Philosopher, statesman, essayist and literary master, author of the Shakespearean plays (according to the Ascended Master Teachings), father of inductive science, and herald of the scientific revolution. Biographers believe that Bacon was educated at home in his early years because of his ill health. At twelve he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, and lived there for three years with his older brother Anthony. Francis Bacon studied mostly Latin and the medieval curriculum common at the time.

For the next three years, Francis traveled extensively, visiting Blois, Poitiers, Tours, Italy, and Spain. His three goals were to discover truth, to serve his country, and to serve his church. Under the reign of James I, Francis Bacon translated the King James version of the Bible. An increasing number of scholars also believe that he was secretly working with a group of some of England's best poets and writers, creating the plays now credited to William Shakespeare. Perhaps the most accepted and celebrated of Bacon's own literary works is The New Atlantis.

Francis Bacon's works popularized the inductive method of scientific inquiry. His demand for a planned procedure of investigation established the approach to scientific research still in use today. Knighted in 1603, he was given the title of Baron in 1618 and Viscount in 1621. He is recognized as one of England's greatest philosophers, statesmen, scientists and authors.

The Wonderman of Europe.After he had already made his ascension, Saint Germain received an unusual dispensation. The Lords of Karma allowed him to return to Earth. As the Count Saint-Germain of the House of Rakoczy, he attempted to prevent the French Revolution and to form a United States of Europe. In befriending European royalty, he hoped to guide them into positive alliances, creating a United States of Europe. But his guidance and warnings failed.

He left no stone unturned to capture the attention of those in power-removing flaws from their diamonds, creating verse and writing it with both hands at the same time, entertaining them with his vast musical talent, wit and humor and his ability to speak with expertise on any subject. They enjoyed the show, but they dismissed his prophetic words. Count Saint-Germain's presence at court throughout this lengthy period-over one hundred years is recorded in the diaries and correspondences of several monarchs and several members of their courts.

 ~~ Eso Terry 

 

Elvis was a Closet Esoterist

As a kid I wanted to be like Elvis.  I'll admit it.  I listened to the records of Elvis my folks had, learned guitar, and even became a Christian to sing gospel songs like Elvis.  Of course, as with my spiritual journey I've written about that took me from a Christian, to Atheist, Pagan, and finally, Buddhist from Zen to Nichiren where I finally found the answers I was looking for, I outgrew Elvis with the Beatles. 

As I grew I viewed Elvis as a materialist lost in the Christian myth.  I turned away from him and elevated my Rock and Roll tastes to the esoteric sounds of Led Zepplin, and thought Elvis was part of the exoteric problem.  Of course, now, after the book The Occult Elvis,  I see I was wrong for it has come out that Elvis was a closet Esoterist. 

As Miguel Conner explores in his book The Occult Elvis: The Mystical and Magical Life of The King, Presley had a deep interest in spiritual matters from the time he was young, and it did not take long for him to look beyond the tight confines of traditional Christianity.  His roots were in Pentecostalism, an evangelical Protestant movement centered on speaking in tongues.  Yes, those Christians that even other Christians think are weird. 

Elvis may not have spoken in tongues, but as Conner's book explains, "To deepen this direct connection, Presley turned to non-Christian texts like Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, which he read while stationed with the Army in Germany shortly after his beloved mother’s death in 1958. Though he had been only a fair student, he was a voracious reader, next turning to the essential texts of Theosophy—he loved H.P. Blavatsky’s Voice of the Silence so much that during his later career, he occasionally read from it on stage to a bemused crowd—and the very challenging works of Alice Bailey."

According to Peter Orvetti of the Theosopical Society review on Esoteric Elvis: "...there was one special reason why Elvis was so taken with Blavatsky: she strongly resembled Elvis’s late mother. On seeing a famous portrait of Blavatsky, Elvis remarked, 'Look at the eyes . . . The shape of the face, the cheekbones. I’ve never seen anything like it.'"

Madame Blavatsky

“For Elvis, the Bible was sacred, the blueprint of creation in allegorical and metaphoric form,” said Larry Geller, the hairdresser who, according to Conner, became “Elvis’s Guru.” “But his interest went beyond the orthodox, extending into Gnostic and esoteric literature” Geller added.

Presley met Geller in 1964, and they got to talking about spiritual stuff during a lengthy salon session. Geller was a self-taught student of the occult, and in him, Presley had finally found someone he could discuss these questions with. He gave Elvis books to read and got him into meditation, and with the exception of a brief falling out after Presley’s controlling manager, Colonel Tom Parker, convinced Elvis that Geller was a bad influence, he would remain Presley’s friend and guide until the latter’s death.

So there you have it boys and girls, Elvis was a closet Esoterist, but then, we already knew that, didn't we(?)

Elvis with his mom, not Madame Blavatsky, or was it?....

 

~~ Eso Terry  

Collective Consciousness

 

Collective consciousness, a concept primarily introduced by French sociologist Émile Durkheim, refers to the shared beliefs, ideas, moral attitudes, and sentiments that are common to the average members of a society or social group. It operates as a unifying force, shaping individuals’ behaviors, interactions, and perceptions within a community, thereby fostering social cohesion and solidarity. Though it exists in the minds of individuals, Durkheim viewed it as a distinct and discernible entity that stands apart from individual consciousness, exerting a compelling influence on social behavior and is passed down through generations.

That's the definition, now here's the Esoteric Truth: Collective Consciousness is the Ego in us looking for an orgy. 

~~ Eso Terry  

"Yes, boy's and girl's, we are all in this together!"

Esoteric Beards

Beards have been a thing since COVID. I grew one then and still have it. So did many of you. Having a beard these days is really cool, the flag of a modern-day hipster, the remnants of an aging hippy. Although beards appear to be fashion, esoterically speaking, they are more, much more. Beards are part of what Carl Jung called our Collective Consciousness, and so let's look at this Collective Consciousness together. 

Bearded Venus 

Today we see beards on athletes, musicians, actors, etc. Visually, they are associated with aesthetic jews, the Sunnah beard (a beard worn in the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad), and of course the beatnik's of the 50's, hippies of the 60's, and Nirvana grunge of the 80's. These are the external, or exoteric, images we associate with a beard, but esoterically speaking beards were regarded by the ancients of the middle east as a token of wisdom and a sign of power. So much so that even some of the Great Goddesses of the early Mediterranean cultures were depicted with beards, including a number of Bearded Venuses in Greece. 

In ancient Mesopotamia the beard was a mark of virility and many worth, and was carefully shaped and tended to give it distinction. Assyrian beards were meticulously arranged in tiers of circular curls stiffened with perfumed gum. 

In Islamic countries the beard was considered the supreme badge of male dignity for the faithful. Traditionally all the prophets of old before the time of Muhammad. Speaking of Muhammad, in "The Beast Within," by Benjamin Walker, he quotes the honored profit as having said, "Do the opposite of the polytheists, and let your beard grow long." Walker also states that Muslims used to "swear by the beard of the Prophet, and consider it a great insult to have their beard pulled."

Yes, beards were a thing until Alexander the Great forbade his soldiers to grow beards because they provided a convenient handle for the enemy. After that shaving became the thing gentlemen did for centuries leaving beards for the priesthood and nobility. 

In the reign of Elizabeth I there was a tax on beards in England. In Eastern Europe and especially Russia beards remained in vogue until Peter the Great decided to reform his country in line with western Europe and put a tax on beards and personally cut off beards of anyone he came across. 

Besides being a sign of manliness the beard was often regarded as a sign of mature wisdom. It was even believed that stroking the beard assisted thought and deliberations. Hence, the gesture of stroking the beard was often satirized to signify an imminent pontifical utterance that turns out to be worthless.

It has been argued that the beard, being the attribute of a mature male, must require a considerable amount of male energy to help it grow. But when the beard is full grown, the energy normally diverted to grow it becomes available for virile purposes. The beard should therefore never be cut by anyone who wishes to preserve his manhood unimpaired. 

Of courses, being a man who has grown a beard I call bullshit on the beard being anything but facial hair.  I mean, you never saw Buddha with a beard, did you? 

Putting all I've written on beards aside, there is a very real coinkydink with beards and history that should scare us all, and that is how divided our country is today between Right and Left political beliefs.  It is a divide not seen since the Civil War (1861-1865) when the US was torn apart with bloodshed in this country we haven't seen since. Now, consider this fact as reported in Google Arts and Culture, that "The American Civil War (1861-1865) coincided with a rise in the popularity of men’s full facial hair during the mid-19th century. Contemporary photography captured men’s experimentation with an endless variety of styles, including mustaches, muttonchops, underbeards and sideburns. President Abraham Lincoln embraced the widespread trend himself when he grew his iconic beard in 1860."

Yes, brothers and sisters, all the masculine facial hair we see today, is a sign of the inevitable troubles to come if we don't come together as human race, and live together as one. 

~~ Eso Terry  

 

 

Manifest A New Future This New Year. You Have The Power.

It is New Year's Day, and I would like to share this positive message to start your year off, because, the only thing holding us back from obtaining what we desire in life, is us. 

Jung wrote often on how the subconscious mind contains not only all the knowledge that it has gathered during the life of the individual, but that in addition it contains all the wisdom of past ages, and by drawing upon this wisdom and power we may possess any good thing of life, from health and happiness to riches and success. 

By now, we all should know and believe that the subconscious mind is the connecting link between the Creator(s) and us, between the Universal Mind and our conscious mind, and between the Mystic Law and our inner treasures. It is the means by which we can appropriate to ourselves all the good gifts, all the riches and abundance that Universal Mind has created in such profusion.

Berthelot, the great French founder of modern synthetic chemistry, once stated in a letter to a close friend that the final experiments which led to his most wonderful discoveries had never been the result of carefully followed and reasoned trains of thought, but that, on the contrary, "they came of themselves, so to speak, from the clear sky."

Sir Isaac Newton is reported to have acquired his marvelous knowledge of mathematics and physics with no conscious effort. Mozart said of his beautiful symphonies "they just came to me." Descartes had no ordinary regular education. The evidence of this Mind over Matter is everywhere, and enough is known to warrant the conclusion that when the soul is released from its objective environment it will be enabled to perceive all the laws of its being. The question is, how do we do this?  How much time do I have to spend on my knees praying to the Creator(s) god(s) to obtain this?  How many pagan rituals do I need to master to obtain this, etc..

The simple and quickest way in my experience is to chant Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. After years of praying to a creator god, then sitting in crossed-legged meditation, and eventually four-candle Pagan rituals, I advanced to the secret to obtaining my earthly desires by simply chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo and obtaining the powers of the Mystic Law as promised in the Lotus Sutra.  

So whatever that New Year's Resolution of yours is, manifest it now. 

~~ Eso Terry