The Shaftesbury Prophecy Part 6

The Shaftesbury Prophecy

- Part 6

by Robert Coon

The Magickal Domain of the Shaftesbury Eagle continued.

Duncliffe Hill

From this point, two miles west from Shaston, the Tail of the Eagle fans out reaching the River Stour, from Gillingham in the north to Hinton St. Mary in the south. Here we are in a lower area which includes part of Blackmoor Vale. Duncliffe Hill and Wood is itself on a ley from Glastonbury Tor, through Hornblotton, and finally reaching Melbury Hill.

Gillingham

Here once stood the King's Court Palace. Several early Kings stayed here, including Edward I who spent a Christmas at this ancient version of our modern Sandringham. Prior to the Normans, Edward the Confessor was elected King here in 1042. Lord Clarendon, the great historian of the Civil War, once was a pupil at the grammar school here at Gillingham. A headmaster of this school, Robert Frampton, later became Bishop of Gloucester and, in that capacity impressed Samuel Pepys with his preaching: ''The truth is he preaches the most like an apostle that ever I heard man, and it was much the best time that I ever spent in my life at church.''

There is a richness of ancient history at Gillingham. The 15th century Vicar, Richard Elys, was able to ''calculate the eclipses from the Creation.'' Sir Isaac Newton was impressed by the mathematical prowess of another vicar here, John Craig. This richness of history is added to this town by Constable, who included the bridge over the River Shreen in one of his paintings. Silton: To the north of Gillingham is the almost vanished village of Silton. The old church remains; at the tomb of Joan Nation may be found these lines: ''Here lies a piece of Christ, a star in dust, A vein of gold, a china dish that must be used in Heaven when Christ shall feast the just.'' These unusual lines attempt to touch upon the Divine Nature within each of us; and to relate this Divinity to the Millennial Feast. The Elizabethan poets had a lovely word that describes the process of mastering our Divine Christ nature - to stellify, which means to become a star. Every Being is a Star emanating a Will of Pure Love. We are the incarnations of Stars on earth, for stars are emblems of our Immortality.

The Millennial Feast is a classic archetype portraying the celebration where physical death is abolished. This image is very strong in Hasidic Messianic Lore. When the Messiah appears on earth, all those who have overcome death are invited to feast upon, or transform, the totality of darkness and death yet remaining on the earth. Through the centuries, 36 Just beings without sin, the Tsaddiks, have been responsible for maintaining the link between heaven and earth. When Messiah, the 37th Tsaddik, arises, then large numbers of beings begin to master Immortality and are without sin, Just. We are now in the early years of this Millennial Feast...

East Stour and Motcombe

These villages in the Eagle's Tail are associated with the great novelist, Henry Fielding, who was born at Glastonbury, at Sharpham Park. Fielding spent many years living at East Stour and based a character in his novel, Joseph Andrews, upon the curate at Motcombe who was his teacher when he was a boy. Parson Trullibur is the fictional character. He also based the character of Sophia Weston in Tom Jones, upon his wife at East Stour, Charlotte.

Fielding, like the Eagle, is a force that connects Glaston to Shaston. His place of birth at Sharpham Park has a great literary and magickal history. Before Fielding, it was the birthplace of Sir Edward Dyer, Elizabethan poet, Head of the Order of the Knights of the Garter (the modern equivalent to the Knights of the Round Table), and host and friend to Dr. John Dee, the Magus and astrologer to Elizabeth. When Dee and Kelly searched for the deep secrets of the Philosopher's Stone and for the alchemical work of St. Dunstan, they stayed at Sharpham with their friend, Sir Edward Dyer. Dyer became godfather to Dr. Dee's son, Arthur, who like his father, was a student of the Mysteries. The conversations between Dee, Kelly, and Dyer concerning Glastonbury must have been fascinating.

Prior to Dyer, Sharpham was the home for the last Abbots of Glastonbury, Bere & Whiting. Little remains of the original house today. Bere, Whiting, Dyer, Dee and Kelly, Henry Fielding - what a varied and rich tradition! The domain of the Shaston Eagle is very abundant in terms of creativity. Great writers such as Fielding, Thomas Hardy, Barnes, the Elizabethan poet Sir John Davies - all have strong roots in this area. I hope it is clear to the readers of this book that the Vision of the Eagle at Shaston is only useful to this earth and to you and me if, and only if, there is a creative response from individuals. The Eagle speaks to those who offer their inspiration, love and creative energies to the building of Paradise on this earth. May this Shaftesbury Prophecy inspire all beings to join in the creation of the New Jerusalem!

Marnhull

This is the fictional home of Tess in Thomas Hardy's novel. There is a Burne-Jones window of the Crucifixion in the church. Nash Court belonged to the only wife who outlived Henry VIII, Katherine Parr. Marnhull has a Glaston association - the Abbot owned a cell here and would come to stay for a period during the summer. In the Hardy novels, Marnhull is called Marlott...

Hinton St. Mary

We are near the SW corner of the Eagle's tail feathers here. I begin to wonder whether I have written anything new concerning the Shaftesbury area! For here in Hinton St. Mary lived William Freke in the 17th century. A student of astrology and dreams, he got himself in trouble with Parliament because of his bold and controversial religious writings. He proclaimed himself a Prophet and secretary to the Host of Hosts. He was somehow able to keep on good terms with his community, for he spent his latter years as justice of the peace for Hinton St. Mary.

Among the subjects Freke wrote about, several are central to this Shaftesbury Vision. In particular, I would like to obtain copies of Freke's book on the New Jerusalem Paradise-State. Also, Great Elijah's First Appearance, Dreams and Visions, and his book against the doctrine of the Trinity, would all be of interest. At the present time, I have not been able to obtain copies of Freke's writings. If anyone has such a collection, I would be very pleased see and study this material.

What Visions and Dreams of the New Eden, the New Jerusalem, did William Freke take with him into his grave at Hinton St. Mary? The Vision of the New Jerusalem is the Great Dream of humanity. When a Mystic experiences the eternal archetype of the Earthly Paradise, and knows with certainty that this great Dream shall someday become Reality on earth, then he or she becomes devoted to the sharing of this Vision. The role of Prophet becomes a probability. For the unitive experience of the New Jerusalem gives one a clear mirror for illuminating both the faults and the virtues of the present. Once the Way to the New Eden is seen, then the art of Prophecy becomes possible. The Duty of the Prophet is to illuminate the Divine Will for this planet. It is the Divine Will that the New Jerusalem, with its end to death and suffering, be established here on earth. We are now in the process of this establishment. We can greatly speed this change by dedicating our Divine abilities to creating this Paradise. The Eagle and the Wand at Shaston are Powerful Keys to the accomplishment of this Great Work. May these Keys be used by humanity to manifest the highest Dream!

Sturminster Newton

There are a few towns and villages which are just outside the overshadow of the Eagle, yet are within the circle whose radius runs from Shaftesbury to Alfred's Tower. These sites may be said to lie within the orb of the Shaston Eagle. The first of these is the birthplace of the poet, William Barnes, near Sturminster Newton. This town features in Hardy's novels as Stour Castle, because a Royal Castle was here in Saxon times. In the Tudor era, the Abbots of Glastonbury owned this place.

Stalbridge

This town is noticed here for two reasons: Its great Market Cross, which is 30 feet high and very rare; and it was the home of the great scientist Robert Boyle. Boyle was a great man in many areas. One of the founders of the Royal Society, his best known work is The Skeptical Chymist, published in 1661. He probed the secrets of fire, air and water, explored philosophy and it was said that a complete system of natural knowledge could be formed from his Work. In many ways, the older concepts of the four elements, micro and macrocosms, etc. that were at the heart of Elizabethan science, are now, once again becoming popular in this New Aquarian Aeon. Many spiritual techniques currently being used talk about balancing the inner earth-water-air-fire elements. Taoist, Hindu, and American Indian philosophies have added to this practice. These methods work. The wisdom of all previous ages and cultures is being sought for and added to the present time.

The search for knowledge leads us in time to the Kingdom of Everlasting Life within the Heart. All wisdom and all useful information is inscribed within the spiritual fabric of the heart. As the great Elizabethan poet Sir John Davies said: ''I know my soul hath power to know all things...'' (I shall shortly be returning to Davies, who was born within the Shaston Eagle area and had a deep feeling for the Divine.) Jesus told us that the Kingdom of Heaven is within. Our Challenge in this Millennial Era is to exteriorize this Inner Wealth. Let the Kingdom of Life come forth from the centre of your heart - and from the expanding centre of the World heart at Glaston-Shaston - to completely build a world of beauty, peace, and liberty... Each of us has a unique jewel of this Paradise within us. Now is the time to go within and find your unique gift and to share that individual essence of your Divinity with all Beings!

Develop a burning desire to know Thyself. Go to the most peaceful and beautiful site in nature that is near your home. Sit in silence and breath fully for a few minutes. When you feel at peace and in tune with your surroundings, focus all your attention on the spiritual centre of your heart. With all your Will, call upon the Living Spirit of Truth to fill your Heart with the Light of Perfect Wisdom. With your breath cycle, work to accumulate illumination within the heart chakra. Then ask any specific questions regarding your spiritual Self and look and feel within your heart for the Message that is useful to you at the present time. Commune regularly in this Way with the Divine Spirit of Truth, and you will develop your spiritual muscles very quickly. As Sir John said, we have the power to know all things. The Art of using this Divine Power of Knowing is what we need. This is the Art I have just described.

This same principle may be used to aid the opening and expansion of the global Heart Chakra of Glaston-Shaston. At every sacred site within this area, pray and project light energies of Love into the Earth. Pray, while you are radiating your Love, that the Earth is able to better understand its own heart and that this world Heart rapidly and joyfully exteriorize, or bring to birth, the Great Kingdom of Immortal Life contained within it. Oh Planet Earth! The Kingdom of Infinite Life, Liberty, and Beauty is within you! To glorify the Divine that is Alive throughout this Universe, Bring Forth this Bounty of your Heart NOW!

Glaston-Shaston is a microcosm of the entire earth. What is done here directly affects all Life upon the planet. Take good care of the heart, and the entire body thrives.

Henstridge

Just into Somerset, we find two unusual tombs here. Long ago Bishop Beckington of Wells granted 40 days indulgence to anyone who would say prayers at the tomb of William Carent in the church. It would be interesting to know why. In the churchyard is a very private grave with yew hedge and 12 foot high iron railings. Also near here, at the Virginia Inn, it is said that Sir Walter Raleigh smoked his first pipe of tobacco! As an incense for ritual, tobacco is used for purification and is attributed to Mars. For those with an interest in astrology, I offer this advice: Mars represents the most powerful energy of purification that can be directed towards the cleansing and expansion of the heart chakra. The Road to the Summit of Zion is the Road of the Total Purification of the Heart. This can be applied to the individual heart and to the global Glaston-Shaston heart. The ideal times for Martian purification are whenever Mars conjuncts anything in your natal chart, or on a global level, whenever Mars makes a conjunction with any other planet or either of the nodes. These would be ideal times for Praising the Divine at the sacred sites within this area that attract you. Tobacco soaked in molasses and dried is a good incense to burn to add to the atmosphere of your meditations. Better to burn in a censer than to smoke!

Back to the tombs of Henstridge: What to think of the dead? Christ said leave the dead to bury the dead! Confucius and the Mormons, each in their own way, focus a great deal of attention on the dead. The radical advice of Jesus becomes easier to understand to the degree that we reach a higher devotion to, and mastery of, Life Abundant and Unlimited. Jesus never left us any death or burial rituals. His entire message is to demonstrate the power of Life over death. He has no time for the intellectuals who delight in thinking that their own weaknesses may be overlooked if we focus on dualities forever. Nonsense such as life can not exist without death is opposed to the teachings of Christ - and to this Message of the Shaston Eagle. Alchemists such as Jesus always move towards the synthesis of supposed dualities. Death is false and is a limitation. Life is True and without limit.

Buckhorn Weston

In the church is a monument to a mysterious man - his name, status and occupation are difficult to tell.

Templecombe

The Knights Templars had a home here at Manor Farm. There is a great esoteric interest in the Templars. In the Glaston Zodiac, Dundon Hill is the centre for Templar meditations. Legends suggest that the Templars brought back from the Crusades both relics and Wisdom. Whatever they had, it did not preserve them from destruction.

Fifehead Magdalen

This village name means the five hides of land dedicated to Mary Magdalen.

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