June 2009
Greetings!

I hope this finds you well and in great possession of yourself and the finer things that life has to offer. This is to serve as a reminder of our Advanced Studies gathering for Saturday, June 13, at Rose Lodge starting at 11 a.m. as usual. Bring your sticks and swords and staves for play as we will engage with great gusto. No worries if you do not have them, as I will be bringing mine as well. Our reading assignment is one that is wide open. The basic idea is to find whatever you can that pertains to “bullying”, and bring that as research to our Saturday meeting. We are preparing some research on the subject so we can create a dynamic program on prevention. Think back on your own experience and bring anecdotes from your life related to witnessing, or being challenged by a bully in action.

The I Ching guides us this month to pay attention to the change that is happening now. It recommends that we strip away the old and like a snake that sheds its old skin we must allow the new to be seen. This is the time for eliminating that, which is decadent or corrupt or quarrelsome. Let doubt and sorrow disappear from your mindset. This is the time to present your self to the world in a vastly transformed fashion. All of us must focus our attention on the mandate of heaven which is to create the earth anew. This is the time of the coupling of the primal forces of the universe. This is the time of renewal. This is the time for yin and yang to meet and join together in mutual attraction, with full awareness of the transformation to come. Remove disharmonious elements from your life. There is a need to fully awaken to a well-ordered  and dynamic vision of the future. Waiting for the right moment is essential to the understanding of change. Being open to the impulse is all. When you wait for the right moment, when you watch  with patience, with  openness, you will see what action is needed, and what energy will be required to make the right action occur that sets you free. Freedom in one generates freedom in others. Rush not and lag not. Timing is everything. 
Learning to live from a place of personal sovereignty means many things. One is to align with the cosmic forces and out of that primordial chaos come to a state of balance and power. When one is in possession of oneself wholly one must needs be aware of being modest, and easy in gentleness rather than trying to force any issue. Keeping the ego in check is of great importance. Gentleness and goodness are the basis of our work. Practice kindness. Let go of pride, and greed, and instead place your attention on your inner character and its development towards simple goodness. Be clear about your intentions towards the good.


This is a time for “Biting Through” the obstacles that keep us bound. Our spirits must be clear and pure. Whatever keeps us from achieving our highest purpose is working at cross-purposes to the dynamic reality that is awaiting us. Whatever real problem that is functioning as a bond to your ultimate freedom must be chewed through so that you can get your hands and mind free to take action towards the greatest good of yourself and your community. Keep your mind clear from misunderstandings, and generate kindness and generosity toward others. What bad habits or delusions or rationalizations that have occupied your thoughts must be done away with, so that your higher self can have free reign in your person. What makes you feel good about yourself? What brings you into harmony with others and the cosmos? Reforming the self is reforming the world. Starting at square one, we then can proceed to the farthest reaches. As the poet Browning once wrote, “A man’s reach should exceed his grasp.”

Please R.S.V.P. so that Debbie can prepare the appropriate amount of food for lunch. Please also bring your own plates and utensils so we have less waste.

Yours in great measure,
Dr. David Chandler