Category: Teachings

Gathering of Lights 2021

Special Revealing of the 12 Keys of knowledge to those who make the effort to come this year

This year’s Gathering will be in LaVerkin Utah, which is close to the beautiful Zion’s National Park. The Gathering will start Thursday, Sept 9 at 6 pm (after checking in a few hours earlier) and we will check out Monday morning on Sept 13.

This year we have an extra treat for those readers of The Immortal who make the effort to come despite the virus.

JJ will reveal the remainder of all the 12 Keys of Knowledge. Seven so far have been revealed in the books and at gatherings with five more to go.

JJ will also present highlights from his new book “The Mysteries of A Course in Miracles.” This Course presents a different perspective than that held by many esoteric teachers but it covers some overlooked principles and mysteries.

In addition we will have group meditations designed to reach a spiritual high as well as healing ceremonies.

There are two groups of lodgings available. The first group consists of four cottages we have reserved that are 1000 square feet each. Each one has two private bedrooms, each with a private bath. Each bedroom has a kingsize bed as well as a single daybed, so each cottage can sleep 6, or three in each bedroom. Couples wanting their privacy may want just the two of them in a bedroom.

The cottages have a fully-stocked kitchen with refrigerator, stove, microwave, dishwasher; a clothes washer/dryer; a dining area; a living room with TV and internet connection; and outdoor patio with a large grill.

The cost for use of 1 bedroom/bath and shared use of the rest of the cottage will be a total cost of $595.00 for 4 nights, whether one, two or three people use the bedroom. When reserving, you’ll need to tell us who is in your group and full pre-payment is required to reserve it on a first-come, first-served basis.

Here is a graphic showing the cottages

The second group of lodgings we have reserved are 3 bunkhouses that have 2 units each, separated by a connecting door. Four units have 1 king bed and one 2-person bunkbed, 1 unit has two 2-person bunkbeds (sleeps 4), and 1 unit has 2 king beds. While they lack a kitchen and living room, these units have a full bathroom, TV, a propane and charcoal grill, toaster, crock pot, and other amenities such as a hairdryer, coffee maker, blender, cooler, rice cooker, microwave, full refrigerator, A/C, heat and WiFi.

Each bunkhouse unit can sleep 4, but we will require only three people per unit so no one has to share a bed. The price for staying in a bunkhouse unit will be $240.00 per person for 4 nights. Plan on staying with two others in the unit.

Here is a graphic showing the bunk houses

All prices include cleaning fees for the lodgings and the cost of the 4-day Gathering seminar. The cost of food is not covered. Damage deposits are not charged because they are refundable, and we know everyone will leave their lodging as they found it, right?? All rooms will be disinfected for bacteria and viruses prior to your stay.

As for payments to us through PayPal, after choosing “Send Money”and indicating how much and who you want to send the money to, please choose “Sending to a friend”. In doing so, we don’t lose a portion of your payment to PayPal fees. If you have any technical problems with this option, please contact Artie at artiedewey@gmail.com.

If you need to pay with a credit card let us know and we’ll send you an invoice that you can pay with any standard card.

If you provide your own lodgings, the cost will be $100 per person or $180 for a couple.

Artie and JJ will be staying in an apartment about a mile away where we will hold our indoor meetings. If the weather is not too hot, we may also hold part of the meetings in the spacious lawn area by the lodgings.

Please note that car rentals from the airports may be limited due to agencies selling their cars due to limited travel during the pandemic, but hopefully by September this will not be the case. We also hear there has been some scams by fake rental agencies, so be careful in making your reservation.

We look forward to seeing all of you in the flesh again. There are always good times to be had among like-minded people.

To reserve a place or to ask questions email jjdewey@gmail.com or call 208-371-7719 and ask for Artie or JJ.

The time is getting short so please register in as soon as possible as we have to know how many lodgings to hold in reservation. If you register after Aug 25 we may or may not be able to provide lodgings. Those who register late may have to stay in a nearby motel if additional lodgings are no longer available.

Dimensions of Freedom

I posted this meme a couple days ago which generated quite a bit of comment and questions.

“They who cannot feed, clothe and house themselves and loved ones are not free.”

This received a variety of response largely because people have different views of what freedom is. The odd thing about freedom is that everyone thinks they are for it. Hitler claimed he was fighting for freedom as did the American South who fought for freedom to own slaves. They saw slavery as a win-win. They thought the blacks were better off being slaves and the masters had more freedom because of their benefits from the slave labor. If you look far and wide you probably cannot find one person who will admit to being against freedom.

Therefore, when one speaks of freedom he should define the terms involved. As with all ideas both extremes do not work. Most realize that tyrannies where the populace is strictly controlled is not desirable.

But the other extreme is also not desirable, for a situation of anarchy evolves into tyranny. For instance, if the burglar has freedom to come into your home and take what he wants with impunity then his unchecked freedom diminishes the freedom for the whole.

The desirable point is what I call maximum freedom. This acknowledges that the more freedom we have as a society the better off we are and the goal is to create situations where laws, government, business and social activities are efficient so the maximum amount of freedom is had by all.

Now some think that maximum freedom would materialize if our government would just follow the Constitution and honor the Bill of Rights. That would certainly help as a number of rights are under assault, including the most important of all – free speech.

So yes, for maximum freedom the most just constitutional and civil laws are a prime ingredient.

So, does this mean that all who live under an idealistic legal system are enjoying maximum freedom?

Not quite.

Two other main items influence our freedom. The first is our own minds. Even more than government our own minds create prison walls for us. Hitler realized this when he said this:

“By the skillful and sustained use of propaganda, one can make a people see even heaven as hell or an extremely wretched life as paradise.”

Even so, one can live in a country with just laws and abundance, but if his mind is held captive to some outside authority that says life is bad for him he will not be able to enjoy the fruits of his society but will be held prisoner by his own adoptive belief system.

The mind above all things determine how much freedom we enjoy for all decisions we made in the past determine our circumstances today and decisions today affect the freedoms we will enjoy tomorrow.

The other thing that determines our freedom is our circumstances. That said we acknowledge that current circumstances are based on past decisions . This includes our unequal beginnings at birth for even this was determined by decisions and actions made in past lives.

Even so, it is a definite fact that some find themselves born into situations where more or less freedom is available.

For instance, one who is born blind is much more restricted in his freedom than one with good sight. One who is born with very strict parents has less freedom than liberal ones. One who is born in North Korea has much less freedom than someone in Switzerland.

In addition, our own mistakes or even what appears to be bad luck affects our freedom. Say a person runs a stop sign, has an accident and is a paraplegic for life. His dumb unintentional mistake stripped him of his most basic freedoms for life, even if he lives in the freest society on the planet.

Others make bad financial investments, get laid off their jobs or have problems that strip them of all their money and resources. They are often in the situation mentioned in my meme

“They who cannot feed, clothe and house themselves and loved ones are not free.”

It doesn’t matter if you are in the freest country on earth, or if the situation was your own fault or something else, this is a situation where maximum freedom is not possible – at least until the situation changes.

If you are extremely limited in funds you have limited freedom to buy food, clothing housing etc. Having enough material goods to sustain needs is a basic ingredient for maximum freedom.

Therefore, the lover of freedom will not only fight for good civil government but also to improve situations to benefit the less fortunate.

Now many feel that it is fine to take away freedom by force from those who have abundance to help those in need often even quoting Jesus on this idea.

But Jesus only advocated helping others through free will. He never advocated forcefully taking money from the rich to give to the poor but encouraged those with abundance to give though their own free will.

Even so, will true freedom lovers in this day do what they can through free will to help those who need assistance enjoy maximum freedom.

June  3, 2021

Copyright by J J Dewey

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Group Synthesis, Part 13
Group Cooperation

DK told us that “Unselfish people are not rare. Unselfish groups are very rare.”

We could also say this about group cooperation. “Cooperation among individuals is not rare but it is very rare that established groups cooperate with each other.” It may be quite appropriate to compare it to attempting to herd cats.

One must keep in mind that there are two types of group cooperation. There is that which occurs on the subtle levels and then the objective. The subtle or inner levels cannot be measured by any standard means but DK indicates that it is more pervasive than the objective levels for that which materializes in the physical always first manifests in the spiritual realms.

He gives an interesting reason why there is cooperation on the inner planes:

“The basis of the possible success of such an effort (group cooperation) consists in the fact that within each group are always to be found members of the New Group of World Servers. Upon this fact we can count, and we can depend upon the strength of the inner integration, produced by these synthesizing “points of contact.” Esoteric Psychology, Vol 2, Page 727

All members of The New Group of World Servers have a reasonable spirit of cooperation, but not all members of spiritual groups are composed of them. There is always a percentage who focus more on personality issues and self-serving agendas than for the good of the whole.

Fortunately a large number of the The New Group of World Servers is not essential:

“This (inner group connection) becomes always possible where there are three members of the New Group of World Servers found in any one exoteric group; it then becomes “linked by a triple thread of golden light” to the New Group of World Servers, and can in some measure be used.” Esoteric Psychology, Vol 2, Pages 196-197

Those servers in each group who see beyond the lower issues must become the norm:

“Only as servers cooperate from the standpoint of an inner subjective linking can a united world be carried forward. … the inner relationships and cooperation Must be established and developed, in spite of the outer divergences of opinion.” Esoteric Psychology, Vol 2, Page 106

Whereas the outer group has resistance to cooperation because of the laggards, this resistance is bypassed by the The New Group of World Server members who telepathically connect with other groups on subtle planes. As these connections grow the pressure on the outer groups toward cooperation will grow until it finally reaches a critical mass and manifests.

This pressure has grown in the past few decades and as we enter the Aquarian Age it becomes only a matter of time before we see outer results. DK sets the standard:

“They will and should become a strong united body in the outer world. The test will then be to hold the inner clarity of vision and the inner subjective relationships and, at the same time, pursue the work in the world with united, intelligent effort and with success.” Esoteric Psychology, Vol 2, Page 660

Even though DK s tresses united goals and work he does not support the idea of all groups merging into one for he says: “A super-organisation which emphasises unity is the last thing to be desired; a multiplicity of living organisms held loosely together by cooperation, constant communication and possessing identity of goal and of purpose is what the world needs today.” Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 2, Page 458

The work of the Spiritual Hierarchy sets the example for us. Instead of being one large authoritarian supergroup they are composed of many small groups (ashrams) dedicated to different work according to ray quality but united in support of the One Great Work.

Spiritual groups must do the same:

“The groups are intended to work together eventually just as the various departments of a great organisation work effectively together as a unit. They must function smoothly and intelligently within themselves and also in their inter-relation with each other. This will become possible when the individual members in the groups and the individual groups of disciples lose sight of their own identities in an effort to make this hierarchical work possible.” Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 1, Pages 42-43

The basic plan then is that there be many spiritual groups but that they advance in consciousness so they instead of merely working as isolated units that they will unite on essential goals and activities that will benefit the world as well as themselves.

Here he gives a good first step for the Aquarian Age:

“Because where a group is involved and the members are very intelligent, through their questionings they could make much progress in learning to know and understand each other. Threads of intercourse could be set up which would link them more closely together.” Esoteric Healing, Page 306

Indeed, the sharing of group resources could be of great benefit to the spiritual community but most groups are very protective of their members and assists feeling that sharing may diminish their authority. Nevertheless DK gives this encouragement:

“The many who are working in isolated fashion in the various fields of human endeavour (political, religious, scientific and economic), must be brought into touch with each other, and thus made to realise their essential unity. … First, they must discover each other and be in touch with each other. Thus the sense of weakness and of futility will be offset. This is the first duty and task of the New Group of World Servers. … The men of good will in every country must be discovered, and all who respond to these ideals must be gathered together through mailing lists. Their cooperation must be sought and systematised.” Esoteric Psychology, Vol 2, Page 669

DK emphasized a number of times the importance of groups, not just getting in touch with each other, but actually sharing mailing lists. Going so far as to sharing such lists is almost unheard of among any type of groups. Membership roles are a closely guarded secret by most.

This has somewhat changed though with the internet and the widespread presence of groups there. On Facebook, the largest host of group work, the member lists are easily accessible. Though leaders are still extra protective of their flock many of like interest can now get in touch with each other where in previous generations this was only a dream.

This extra power of group members to cross barriers and communicate has not led to an equal outreach of the groups themselves. This dismantling of barriers between groups is a work that the The New Group of World Servers will have to address in the coming generation.

When barriers are sufficiently weakened and greater interplay is set up then this goal set By DK may be realized:

“A central group, chosen from among them, should synthesise this work and coordinate it, whilst giving the widest latitude to individual servers and workers.” Esoteric Psychology, Vol 2, Page 669

As noted earlier he is against supergroups wielding authoritarian power but does look forward to the day when groups will be cooperative enough that they can come under the umbrella of a coordinate effort to accomplish a greater good that cannot be done by isolated units.

To read Part 1 go HERE , Part 2, HERE , Part 3 HERE, Part 4 HERE, Part 5 HERE, Part 6 HERE, Part 7 HERE, Part 8 HERE, Part 9 HERE, Part 10 HERE, Part 11 HERE, Part 12 HERE

Copyright By J J Dewey

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A Prime Ingredient of Goodwill

We have recently introduced the Declaration of Goodwill and are in the process of fine tuning it before we promote it on a larger scale.

One of the main points emphasized that will help with goodwill is the elimination of using derogatory names thrown at each other, commonly called “name-calling.” This is emphasized because name calling is one of the prime causes of negative feelings of one person or group toward another. If this process can be significantly reduced then that alone could take us half way to reasonable goodwill.

First, let us clarify what is meant by negative name calling. Quite simply it is this: A name or description of another to which the person does not identify with and feels insulted at being called such. The name called has intention to insult and the sender is aware that the name will not be favorably accepted.

The most common of such names are liar, hypocrite, hater, racist, bigot, the N-word, homophobe… The list could go on, but the point is that few if any think the calling of these names is justified and have ill will, not goodwill, toward those who do use such names.

Just call a person a liar one time and there is a strong probability he or she will loath you for the rest of his life. You may think your accusation is correct, but the accused may see it as completely unjust and just plain mean.

Some may think we should not make a blanket rejection of name calling because there seems to be times when the person’s sin is so egregious that he deserves to be called a liar, hypocrite or whatever.

Here’s the problem with that idea. When most any person calls another a negative name he will just about always think he is justified and the guy deserves it. If we say a little is okay then the little will be turned into a lot because each person thinks his judgment is just fine. This is why negative name calling needs to be met with disapproval in all instances. There is no supreme judge as to what is justified and what is not.

Perhaps I can set the example here. Not once in my life have I resorted to name calling toward any individual far as I can remember. I have made it a policy to avoid such attacks and it has served me well.

Let us examine the most common word used in negative name calling which is probably “liar.”

The problem with this (and other name-calling) is that everyone has told some kind of lie sometime in their lives. This means you could call anyone a liar and be technically correct.

But when using the encompassing word liar in relation to an individual you are not just pointing to one or two isolated untruths, but you are categorizing the whole of the person as a liar, as if this is what he is and nothing he says should he trusted.

Maybe the lie was just a mistake, or maybe it was the first lie in years or maybe the attacker was the one mistaken and to be stereotyped as an all around liar s is always seen as an insult. Whether the person deserves it of not the attack always does more harm than good as far as the promotion of goodwill is concerned.

If you think then that another is telling a lie that needs corrected then what should you do? Should we just let the lie go unexposed and perhaps do much harm?

Of course not, but name calling is not the answer. I do not know how many times I have seen someone called a liar and I have been left to think, “I wonder what his lies were or if they are really lies.”

Just calling someone a liar or any other name does little to expose the real problem.

What then does reveal that which needs correction?

The answer (concerning a lie): A description of what is not true followed by that which is true.

For instance, suppose another says something like this: “I can’t stand that politician Bob Smith. Did you know he hates little puppies?”

Now you are very familiar with Mr. Smith and you happen to know he is an animal lover. You may be tempted to call your friend a liar, but realize it will just alienate him so you say this: “I’m familiar with Bob and know he loves dogs so I am wondering where you came up with this idea. Do you have any evidence of this?”

Now instead of feeling insulted which results in more attack your friend is forced to examine his own thoughts and there is a chance he may realize his lie.

Confronting the attacker with truth is the best means of diffusion. Most anything is better than just categorizing another as a liar as if that is all he is all the time. Simply saying “I believe that statement is a lie or not true is better than calling the person a liar for you are dealing with the statement, instead of stereotyping the person. To describe the untruth and present the truth as mentioned earlier, however, is the best approach.

The much less destructive approach of analyzing the words of an attacker rather than attacking back can be used with any type of name calling. For instance, if you see hypocrisy instead of declaring the guy a hypocrite remind him that his specific action does not seem to be in harmony with what he claims to believe.

One of the problems in applying this principle correctly is we live in an age of high sensitivity and people are offended over many things that were just passed over a generation or two ago.

The older generation will often use words they think are harmless that offends the younger generation.

Words that are unintentionally offensive are not part of the main problem. Of course, if a person offends another with a certain word and is made aware that such word is offensive then, for the cause of goodwill, he should stop using that word in relation to that individual. For instance, a trans person may be born a “he” and desire to be called a “she”. If you learn that “he” is offensive then good manners should dictate that one stop using it in identifying this person.

Negative name calling designed to be insulting, that you know will be rejected by the person attacked is a much bigger obstacle to goodwill than the many unintentional offenses that happen in daily life. If we can eliminate the intentional insults and replaced them with civil dialog we can create a major step forward in establishing goodwill on this planet.

Copyright by J J Dewey

Dec 30, 2020

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Group Synthesis, Part 12
The Goal of Ideal Groups

The master teacher Djwhal Khul (DK) has given out many teachings and suggestions concerning groups and group work. He asks this question:

“What should disciples in a Master’s group look for as evidence of successful group work?”

Then he answers:

“First and foremost, as you well know, group integrity and cohesion. Nothing can be done without this. The subjective linking of the disciples with each other in their own group, and the linking of the group with other groups occupied with special work within the Ashram and the emergence (as a result of this) of a group and an ashramic consciousness are vital objectives. It is hoped that this will also eventuate in a telepathic interplay which will bring potent results and successful outer work. From these activities will emerge a group circulation of energy which will be of service in world salvage. Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 1, Pages 15-16

So first the group must have “integrity and cohesion” for it to develop along constructive lines which will lead to telepathic interplay and a subjective linking to other group members and eventually other advanced groups.

Since integrity and cohesion lay the foundation to all advanced group work the disciple should indeed focus on what is meant here.

A group with these two ingredients would be one where the members are bonded together with enough unity, purpose and soul energy that no personality issues , attacks or disagreements can shatter its existence or alter its purpose. The bonding and agreement on higher levels is strong enough to withstand all the lower temptations that come to all groups.

This takes a group some time to achieve, as in the formation there are always rough edges to be worked out. The spiritual group that will be useful to the Hierarchy must have members that appreciate group integrity and cohesion more than their small personality issues. A love and acceptance of other group members through looking upon the soul is essential.

Strong group cohesion is essential but tricky to achieve for it involves the Principle of fusion concerning which DK says this:

“Identification with others, which is embryonic fusion, carried eventually to synthesis…” Discipleship in the New Age, Vol II Pg 661

“The underlying Principle of Fusion and of group endeavour is right and part of the divine plan; its implementation by grasping, greedy and ambitious men, or by deluded disciples, is terribly wrong and will lead to disaster. This disaster the Hierarchy is seeking to avert, but the Masters are handicapped (as usual) by the relatively few upon whom They can depend, and by the lack of understanding amongst the masses of well-intentioned people. These, through their ignorance rather than through their planned ill-doing, know not how to stem the tide of evil.” Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 2 Pages 353-4

So, group cohesion and fusion are necessary but they must be achieved by spiritual methods working with the free will and the souls of the individuals involved. If a group is directed by a powerful aspiring personality a forced unity can be achieved that will create problematic thoughtforms that create more harm than good.

True group integrity where focus is of the many on the oneness of spirit and soul is rare today but the numbers will grow as we work with Aquarian energies in the decades and centuries to come.

DK tells us that the Hierarchy sets the ideal for group fusion:

“The Hierarchy is a place of fusion of all souls upon the higher levels of the mental plane. Just in so far as a person comes under soul impression, then soul control and final identification with the soul, just so far does he move towards the centre of fusion. As your love for humanity increases and your interest in yourself decreases, so will you move towards that centre of light and love where the Masters stand in spiritual being.” Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 1 Page 681

DK emphasizes numerous times that groups useful to Christ and the Hierarchy do not have personal development as a main goal. The spiritual progress of the individual is his or her responsibility and needs to advance under the guidance of the seeker’s own soul.

He says this:

“It is not primarily the unfoldment of the intuition, or of the power to heal, or of telepathic efficiency which is of importance. That which counts with the Hierarchy as the Ashrams function is the establishing subjectively of such a potent group interplay and group relation that an emerging world unity can be seen in embryo. A joint power to be telepathic or a group capacity to intuit truth is of value and somewhat novel. It is the functioning of groups who have the ability to work as a unity, whose ideals are one, whose personalities are merged into one forward swing, whose rhythm is one and whose unity is so firmly established that naught can produce in the group the purely human characteristics of separation, of personal isolation and selfish seeking, that is new. Unselfish people are not rare. Unselfish groups are very rare. Pure detached devotion in a human being is not rare but to find it in a group is rare indeed. The submergence of personal interests in the good of the family or in that of another person is often to be found, for the beauty of the human heart has manifested itself down the ages. To find such an attitude in a group of people and to see such a point of view maintained with an unbroken rhythm and demonstrating spontaneously and naturally – this will be the glory of the New Age. Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 1, Pages 22-23

There is a key thought here on which the disciple should focus. Concerning the ideal he says that “the establishing subjectively of such a potent group interplay and group relation that an emerging world unity can be seen in embryo.”

DK then wants to see such unity and spiritual interplay among outer groups that they will set an example significant enough to be copied and followed by the world. Is there such a group today that sets such an example? Perhaps, but not one with much influence, but that will eventually change for DK adds this in t the same section:

There will (through this and analogous groups) be set in motion on earth a network of spiritual energies which will facilitate the regeneration of the world. The influence of these groups – when permanently established and potently working – will have a wider objective than just the elevation of humanity.”

Then he adds this:

“No group can be used in world service that is not working in perfect accord and this harmony must be attained as a group. It must be brought about, not through the process whereby people withdraw within themselves and thus inhibit that which upsets group equilibrium, but by the process of loving self-forgetfulness.” Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 1, Pages 194-5

Many times DK emphasizes that the individual members of a group accepted by the Hierarchy must take attention away from the lower individual self and focus on the group life.

“As long as your state of awareness lays emphasis upon the fact of your individuality, the group idea cannot take form as a group ideal. The sense of separativeness is still present.” Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 2, Page 94

“Where true identity is achieved, there is no sense of this and that; where the merging is complete, there is no recognition of individual activity within the group, because the will of the merged soul is identical with that of the group and automatic in its working; where true unity is present, the individual applicant becomes only a channel for the group will and activity, and this with no effort of his own but simply as a spontaneous reaction.” Rays and Initiations, Page 168

The advanced disciple has no fear of loss for the personal self for he realizes that focusing on the good of the whole also results in the greatest eventual good for the individual unites involved.

Jesus hinted at this principle when he said:

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Matt 16:25

As far as group work today goes the individual who seeks to gain for self shall lose and miss out on the greater reward and life that can only realized through a focus on the good of the whole.

Dec 26, 2020

To read Part 1 go HERE , Part 2, HERE , Part 3 HERE, Part 4 HERE, Part 5 HERE, Part 6 HERE, Part 7 HERE, Part 8 HERE, Part 9 HERE, Part 10 HERE, Part 11 HERE, Part 13 HERE

Copyright By J J Dewey

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For Free Book go HERE and other books HERE

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