Thanks for the session! Always thought-provoking. Here's my two cents to add on the parables/preparation discussion, a bit of a grab-bag...
Interesting that the two parables mentioned are from the same chapter in Matthew, presented in the order of
1) parable of wise virgins who are 'prepared' for the coming bridegroom
2) parable of the talents--of applying innate ability/knowledge to expand upon your gifts, and
3) parable of the sheep and goats, knowing to share/give of yourself to others.
All three include characters with appropriate responses during some defining/transitional event who are rewarded, and other characters who fail and are cast out, losing their opportunity.
My take on this is that the parables progress from personal readiness within, to applying innate abilities and faith in abundance for 'outward' success, to then helping others and ultimately either joining a successful like-minded group--or being cast out with lazy whiners and scaredy-cats.
As for parable #1, "prepared" wise virgins = from my dogeared dictionary, pre + pare Latin: parare = to give birth to, to produce, MF parer = to trim. 'Parent' shares the same root. So I wonder if 'prepare' is in the sense of being ready to produce or respond to circumstances, rather than storing cans of food on the shelf. Also this idea of "trimming," trimming lamps = need to trim the wicks for a clean, even burn, and produce the highest flame possible (most light).
Upon arrival of the bridegroom at midnight, the wise, sleeping maidens awaken and trim their lamps, produce light for the bridegroom's arrival, and pass through the door, which ultimately closes on the the foolish five. Why five? Could the five wise virgins represent five functioning chakras or five balanced elemental energies in the Chinese system, prior to some 'initiation'? The arrival of the bridegroom at midnight signals a transition point, the arrival of something (something male/active force within, or without?) that will trigger the opportunity to pass thru a gateway to a union/marriage.
This may be too literal but what is the "oil" - could this represent a physical thing or etheric/energetic thing? If the chakras are linked up with the endocrine system, would this indicate a healthy endocrine system/hormone regulation that must be present for this midnight transition/union?
Further, the foolish virgins are told to go to the 'market' to buy their oil...implying there must be some transaction/transformation to obtain it, it cannot be borrowed or begged for at the last minute. This reminds me of Gurdjieff's discussion of some centers inappropriately doing the work of other centers. Speaking of Gurdjieff, for the parable of the talents, the servants are given 1 bag of talents/gold, or 2 bags, or 5 -- could this represent Man 1, 2, or 5, or something along this line? Or does the 5-talent servant have his 5 elemental chakras working, higher-functioning human abilities, not operating in fear and therefore a greater ability to expand his [spiritual] wealth/energy, than the one operating only from his basal chakra (that of basic survival/security).
Interesting that the two parables mentioned are from the same chapter in Matthew, presented in the order of
1) parable of wise virgins who are 'prepared' for the coming bridegroom
2) parable of the talents--of applying innate ability/knowledge to expand upon your gifts, and
3) parable of the sheep and goats, knowing to share/give of yourself to others.
All three include characters with appropriate responses during some defining/transitional event who are rewarded, and other characters who fail and are cast out, losing their opportunity.
My take on this is that the parables progress from personal readiness within, to applying innate abilities and faith in abundance for 'outward' success, to then helping others and ultimately either joining a successful like-minded group--or being cast out with lazy whiners and scaredy-cats.
As for parable #1, "prepared" wise virgins = from my dogeared dictionary, pre + pare Latin: parare = to give birth to, to produce, MF parer = to trim. 'Parent' shares the same root. So I wonder if 'prepare' is in the sense of being ready to produce or respond to circumstances, rather than storing cans of food on the shelf. Also this idea of "trimming," trimming lamps = need to trim the wicks for a clean, even burn, and produce the highest flame possible (most light).
Upon arrival of the bridegroom at midnight, the wise, sleeping maidens awaken and trim their lamps, produce light for the bridegroom's arrival, and pass through the door, which ultimately closes on the the foolish five. Why five? Could the five wise virgins represent five functioning chakras or five balanced elemental energies in the Chinese system, prior to some 'initiation'? The arrival of the bridegroom at midnight signals a transition point, the arrival of something (something male/active force within, or without?) that will trigger the opportunity to pass thru a gateway to a union/marriage.
This may be too literal but what is the "oil" - could this represent a physical thing or etheric/energetic thing? If the chakras are linked up with the endocrine system, would this indicate a healthy endocrine system/hormone regulation that must be present for this midnight transition/union?
Further, the foolish virgins are told to go to the 'market' to buy their oil...implying there must be some transaction/transformation to obtain it, it cannot be borrowed or begged for at the last minute. This reminds me of Gurdjieff's discussion of some centers inappropriately doing the work of other centers. Speaking of Gurdjieff, for the parable of the talents, the servants are given 1 bag of talents/gold, or 2 bags, or 5 -- could this represent Man 1, 2, or 5, or something along this line? Or does the 5-talent servant have his 5 elemental chakras working, higher-functioning human abilities, not operating in fear and therefore a greater ability to expand his [spiritual] wealth/energy, than the one operating only from his basal chakra (that of basic survival/security).
