The most visited post in this blog is the one which “began” it – “How to Draw the Sri Chakra Yantra” in early June. This exercise was foundational to my creative projects down the years. The wedding of Siva and Sakti through the cosmic lattice – whether subtle or physical – is the groundwork. It underwrites and ensures a healthy lotus.
I discovered the other day, the following sequence of drawings and diagrams, which may be of some interest.
In 1993, I kept (with my beloved of that time) a log-book. We were laying foundations for a spiritual dwelling. So to begin with, the two pages which follow are thoughts of the Sun, from Maitri Upanishad chapter 6:
“(1) – the Self bears himself in two ways, as he who is breath and he who is the Sun. Therefore, two, as true, are these paths inward outward. They both turn back in a day and night. Yonder sun is the outer self; the inner self is breath. Hence, the course of the inner self is measured by the course of the outer self.
“For thus it has been said:
“Whoever is a Knower, who has freed from evil the overseer of his senses, is pure minded and firmly established in that which is locked away from outward objects, is even so, the Self. Likewise, the course of the Outer Self is measured by the course of the Inner Self. Now that golden person who is within the Sun, who looks on this earth from his golden place, is even he who has entered into the lotus of the heart and eats food.
“(2) – Now, he who has entered the lotus of the heart and eats food …
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The action of the Sun in all directions, inward as outward
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Following this, the Upanishad says: “There are two ways of contemplation of Brahman: in sound and in silence. By sound we go to silence. The sound of Brahman is OM. With OM we go to the End: the silence of Brahman. The End is immortality, union and peace.
“Even as a spider reaches the liberty of space by means of its own thread, the man of contemplation by means of OM reaches freedom.”
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A cutting for the logbook, with a quote from the Yoga Vasishta
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Here are the early Sri Chakra diagrams from 1993. The method is from Saundarya-Lahari – The Ocean of Beauty by Sri Shankara-Bhagavatpada, a translation by the Theosophical Publishing House in Madras, 1937. The method opens the hymn as a whole. I tried it out, and simplified it just a little, to understand it.
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Note: alchemical sulphur (fire) is represented also by a triangle atop a cross – see next drawing. In the “trinity”, sulphur is rajas-guna, salt is tamas-guna, and mercury their balance is sattva-guna. The alchemical qualities corresponding to eastern gunas are an interplay of elemental humours – dry, damp, ardent, and so forth. Water mixed with earth is damp: earth mixed with air is dry. Each element inclines to fire or to water. It all embodies prana, breath. Upon these very basic qualities the universe is woven.
Flame is an upward triangle: water a downward droplet. Flame is phallus and water is womb.
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A reference to the same interpenetrative law, in the Tao philosophy: I Ching Hexagram 11 with Earth over Heaven: Peace. When Heaven-creative trigram (three Yang lines) stands above Earth-receptive trigram (three Yin lines), they draw apart – the static “Standstill” hexagram. But when they are infolded the other way round, the Heavenly power ascends through gravitational Earth – the male through the female – fertility – which is “peace”.
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This archive is by way of an embellishment. For the method to draw it yourself, see How to Draw the Sri Chakra Yantra 12 June.
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This was used as the logo for the Ramana Foundation UK journal, SELF ENQUIRY.
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More recently, in 2008 I drew this version, as part of an Ananga-Ranga series …
The Sri Chakra Yantra, fountain of eastern wisdom, combines here with the Tree of Kabbalah. The lovers are seated at Tifareth: Consciousness. Crucial to spiritual development, world peace and all good intentions, is health and loving-kindness in our sexual nature (whether active or sublimated) and relationships. We are on and in this earth for the Great Work. The flasks, retorts and pelicans in alchemical engravings, contain the lovers at every stage of the “cooking”. Their prana breathes the Divine One in and out.
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SOUL PARTNERSHIP SELF TOUCHING:
Inner and outer Tetrahedrons. A Tetrahedron is a triangle with four sides. The fourth point is a fulcrum – the dimension of volume or understanding, in any relationship.
The points of the interior, inverted Tetrahedron, touch the sides of the exterior Tetrahedron. Extending through the sides to equal size, they form with it, the Platonic Seal of Solomon.
Star of David/Seal of Solomon/Cube of space – 3dimensional tetrahedron structure
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Finally, another newspaper cutting …
… from the logbook in 1993. “Kate Adie” (celebrated war correspondent) was my bossy persona … anxious to keep myself updated on the militant-esoterickal scene.
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My adventure invites fellow travellers. I am a poet, an artist and a seer. I welcome conversation among the PHILO SOFIA, the lovers of wisdom.
This blog is a vehicle to promote my published work – The Sacred India Tarot (with Rohit Arya, Yogi Impressions Books) and The Dreamer in the Dream – a collection of short stories (0 Books) – along with many other creations in house.
I write, illustrate, design and print my books. Watch this space.
janeadamsart 