Friday 26 May 2000 AD

Sunday 28 May 2000 - Jupiter conjoins Saturn in the 23rd degree of Taurus - a time for meditation and creativity.

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Welcome to Issue #4 of the Universal Quest Newsletter

"People travel to wonder at the heights of a mountain, At the huge waves of the sea, At the long courses of the rivers, At the vast compass of the ocean, At the circular motion of the stars; And they pass by themselves without wondering."
` Saint Augustine

Dear fellow Questors

It has been over 3 weeks since my last letter to you and like you, I too have been caught up with the realities of existence: clients, projects, finances, health, relationships, family, the world and so much more. But, every day, I have found sanctuary in a little time dedicated to meditation, and this has kept me connected to the more universally conscious side of my being. Meditation is as ancient as our ability to reflect inwards. Who am I? What is the purpose of my life? What are those shiny objects up in the sky? What hidden consciousness lies within our genes? How do I still my mind so I can see clearly? So many questions, all requiring a quiet mind to begin to answer them. This is where meditation can help.

To many the revelations or direct experiences encountered through meditation have been profound, creating paradigm shifts for not only themselves but also sometimes for a large portion of humanity. New religions, great breakthroughs in science and philosophy, insights into other universes and spontaneous miraculous healing have all been the result of some form of meditation.

For every type of person, there is a suitable type of meditation, and no one school has a monopoly on the path to being successful. Whether you desire spiritual awakening, self-realization, better health, God-realization, clarity, insight, foresight, mental peace, the perception of beauty, universal consciousness ior even just a still mind, there is a form of meditation out there perfectly suited to you. As we continue on our Universal Quest, we will strive to bring you all kinds of meditations and I hope that in time, you will be able to find a path that leads towards that inner temple where you and the universe can begin a conversation.

Raja Choudhury
Founder.
Raja@universalquest.com

Sunday 28 May
The famous Chronocrator, or "Ruler of Time" conjunction, which formed again at the top of the month, becomes exact today, as Jupiter conjoins Saturn in the 23rd degree of Taurus.

For ancient peoples throughout our planet, this conjunction was the most important of all generational and time markers, as it takes Jupiter about 20 years (19.85, to be exact) to orbit the Sun, then catch up again with the slower-moving Saturn in a moment of cosmic clarity, when the rhythms of Earth and Sky are thought to be in perfect alignment for spiritual insight. The Chronocrator is also regarded as a moment of summation, a time to review the accomplishments of the preceding cycle and determine the goals of the next. The Chronocrator is a double-edged combination that offers excellent chances of accomplishing grand and ambitious goals through patient, methodical work, but may also manifest as intense dissatisfaction that desired results have not yet been achieved. Aspects with other planets may help to shed light on this.

As the Chronocrator forms a square (90 degree angle) with Uranus in Aquarius, the most obvious flavor of the month is a widespread perception that change is very long overdue in political, social, economic and environmental arenas, but continues to be blocked by established power alliances. The result in the coming 20-year cycle may be an ongoing, smoldering frustration, or may be an assertive and even violent movement for reform, or may even be the achievement of much-needed change through new and broader coalitions of spiritual interest. This Chronocrator is especially momentous, as it is the 100th occurrence of this conjunction since the year 7 BCE. The idea that 7 BCE may have been the year in which Jesus was born has now been largely discredited - for more on this see the Taurus Stellium Supplement - but as always, as the "Millennium" has just shown us, the exactitude of the numbers is less influential than the way human beings feel about them. In May, and throughout this year, the feeling about the numbers, and a conviction that the numbers are a signal for change, will run very high.

Monday 29 May
The American Memorial Day holiday, honoring the country's war dead and commemorating the sacrifices and the horrors of war, falls on this day.

In the ancient Greco-Roman solar calendar, this day was the purification festival of Ambarvalia, so-called because it was customary to circumambulate the fields and pray for the continued blessing of Demeter/Ceres on the growing plants. In one of this month's synchronicities, the Ambarvalia falls this year on the same day as the Christian festival that superseded it:

In the Roman Catholic calendar, these are the Rogatio ("Petition") Days, on which prayers are offered annually for bountiful crops and the health and peace of the natural world.

©Copyright 2000 Dan Furst.
Direct replies or comments please send to Dan Furst at hermes3@lava.net

An encyclopedia about mythology, folklore and legend
This very interesting Web site explores the mythologies and legends of many cultures, stretching back into the hoary past. These resources are invaluable for those interested in mythology as a starting point for further exploration. The way they are organized and presented is very basic but informative and easy to use. It is a good starting point from which to immerse yourself in these wise and fateful stories from our collective past.

Encyclopedia Mythica can be found at http://www.pantheon.org/mythica/

Erich von Daniken New Book Says Greek Gods Were ETs
Erich von Daniken, legendary author of Chariots of the Gods, and dozens of other extraordinary books returns to to promote his new book Odyssey of the Gods (ELEMENT Books, Boston). Did the ancient Greeks have encounters with an alien race? The history of Greece is filled with many legends of extraordinary events, powerful gods, and mythical creatures that surpass the capabilities and, at times, the imagination of modern man. What if these ancient stories - the rich cultural heritage that we associate with Greek mythology - were actually true? Erich von Daniken now turns his years of experience with Ancient Astronaut studies towards ancient Greece! In Odyssey of the Gods (to be released by ELEMENT Books, Boston, at the end of May 2000), von Daniken suggests that the Greek gods were in fact extraterrestrial visitors who arrived on Earth thousands of years ago.

Read more about this book at http://www.sightings.com/general/greekgodets.htm

Mi Ani Meditation

Mi Ani (or Who am I) - is the practice of self inquiry, a technique for opening the ego to the transpersonal observing mind.

The practice is this: Sit down in a quiet place. Center yourself with quiet breathing. Make a silent vow to free yourself and all beings trapped in the delusion of separateness. When you are ready, ask yourself a series of questions: "Am I my body? Am I my gender,... my family name, nationality, profession, reputation? Am I my thoughts? Am I my feelings? Am I my physical sensations?" Inquiree into every aspect of yourself and ask; "Am I that?" As you ask, you will discover that the "you" asking the question is not defined by the thing being questioned. After each question, silently answer, "NO, I am not that."

After you have inquired into all the relevant definitions of who you are, sit quietly with the question, "Who am I?" Do not force an answer, any answer you conjure is but another delusion. Inevitably, your mind will wander and other thoughts will arise. Do not chase after them, but inquire of them, "Who is thinking this?" or "Who is feeling this?" In this way, you will constantly return to the central question: "Who am I?" Practice this for ar least half an hour each day.

What benefit does Mi Ani meditation have? Mi Ani opens the ego to the larger transpersonal realm of the soul. The greater your ability to open to this transpersonal dimension, the easier it is to deal effectively with the challenges of everyday life. You will live more purposefully, with a greater sense of inner peace and outer kindness. How can I use Mi Ani meditation in my daily life? In addition to setting aside half an hour a day for formal practice, you could integrate Mi Ani into your daily life. Simply note what you are doing at any given moment and ask; "Who is it that is doing this?" In time, you will notice that the usually closed ego will open to and be in touch with your higher self, allowing for greater calm, love, and compassion and fuller experience of both dimensions of reality.

From Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro, Rabbi of Beth Or in Miami, and Director of the Sh'Ma Meditation Center. From his book: "Psychology of the Soul" (published by the Sh'Ma Meditation Center.) For more info see: http://www.simplyjewish.com

This form of meditation is almost identical to Shankaracharya's "Na Iti" technique and to Japanese Zen Buddhist techniques, More on these in the coming issues.

Revisiting Dymaxion

Buckminster Fuller's Dymaxion House is to be Rebuilt.

Just after World War II, Buckminster Fuller formed a company to mass-produce his aluminum Dymaxion Houses, shaped like flying saucers and supported by an umbrella-like central pillar. Shelves rotated behind the walls at the touch of a button and the entire structure looked quite surreal. Although his company fell apart in 1946, one Dymaxion house was erected, and the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI, is restoring and rebuilding it.

For more information see http://www.hfmgv.org/dymaxion

Buckminster Fuller 1895-1983
Architect, mathematician, engineer, inventor, visionary, humanist, educator, inspirational orator and best selling author, "Bucky" has been rightly called "the 20th century's Leonardo Da Vinci". Here is a man who set out to change the course of history, not through politics but through invention. During the course of his remarkable life-experiment Bucky was awarded over 25 U.S. patents, authored 28 books, received 47 honorary doctorates and created work now housed in museums around the world. BuckyÕs life was a triumph of the integration of mind, body and spirit. His unique work included the development of the Geodesic Dome, the study off molecular structures and the most innovative map of Earth ever constructed called "Spaceship Earth" which shows the planet as one continuos landmass.

You can find out all about his work at the Buckminster Fuller Institute Web site at http://www.bfi.org/ or by visiting an amazing theatrical project based on his work at http://www.buckyfuller.com

Read Bucky's personal rules (mission statement) on self discipline at http://www.universalquest.com/bfmission.htm

Virtual Parks

Virtual Parks
An interesting solution to the problem of overpopulation is the possibility of "virtual" tourist sites. Indeed eco-design conferences have proposed just such solutions for those who cannot, for whatever reason, visit the wildest natural places but yet want a feel for them. This site is a beginning solution to this issue. The author has visited and photographed many sites using a 360-degree camera that brings the nature and vistas into a very real and compelling context. Images and 360-degree photos of natural parks throughout the Western US.

Find out more at http://erik.simplenet.com/index-content.html

World Report & Global Resources
News From The Leading Edge Of Planetary Transformation
Michael Lightweaver with Network 2012 has launched a new newsletter called the World Report & Global Resources. According to Michael "the intent of this monthly publication is to provide you with brief solution-oriented news about people and events that are successfully addressing today's challenges in many areas of global transformation." We recommend you subscribe to this if you are interested in staying informed on global activism and real efforts being made to bring about positive global transformation. Here is an example of a typical report.

To subscribe send a Email to lightweave@aol.com.

A Click A Day Keeps the Saws Away
Peru - We are all painfully aware of the rapid devastation of the worlds remaining rainforest. But what can one person do? Ask Wayne Umbertis who coordinates an Internet based project which is successfully saving rainforests - with your help. Here's the story. The recently established project is set up so that when you visit the designated website (with banner ads from sponsors), the sponsoring companies contribute toward a fund that is used to purchase rainforest land for preservation. Does this really work? According to Umbertis, 175 acres along the Amazon border of Peru, Brazil & Ecuador, near Iquitos, Peru were saved in the first 90 days after the project was established. Another 40,000 acres in this area are available for purchase from the Peruvian government and it is one of the most species rich locations in the world. Regardless of who you are or where you live, each day when you log on to the Internet, you can help save the rainforests by going to http://www.saverainforest.net For more information, contact Wayne Umbertis at Wayne@greenkeepers.com.

Taken from World Report & Global Resources - Issue #1

Astrology Week - A T Mann

In the aftermath of the Great Alignment of May 5th, two of the major Jupiter aspects that provided its backbone up become exact. As Jupiter is your (possibly inflated) worldview and life philosophy, its square to Uranus brings eccentric, unusual and rapid shifts of perspective and, later, action. This refers directly to the expansive economic situation in recent years and questions its core values. JupiterÕs meeting with the definitive and confining Saturn then creates a seed that will grow those ideas over the next twenty years. It is an important time to meditate on your highest goals and conjure up the best future you can imagine. Then, to top it all off, Uranus goes retrograde, apparently moving backward relative to the Sun until mid-October, which forces us all to reevaluate recent changes and their implications. Markets and flows may stop and even reverse direction, so be ready for delving back into what you have created recently. If you are perplexed, donÕt think you are the only one who is!

May 27 Sun Gemini trine Neptune Aquarius
A sensitive and delicate imagination is a valuable tool when refined by spiritual insight. You are currently extremely open to psychic influences and must be aware that the choice of which influences to respond to is up to you. Insecurity and financial confusion in personal affairs and markets usually accompany this aspect.

May 28 Jupiter conjunct Saturn Taurus
This major conjunction that happens every twenty years brings a necessity for patience and perseverance that can help overcome difficulties, together with a sense of duty and trust. Do not force intransigent matters, but continue to strive for material advantages despite feeling alone. Concentration is essential as you bring your expectations into line with the reality around you.

May 30 Venus Gemini trine Neptune Aquarius
Extreme sensitivity coupled with rampant idealism about love relationships can manifest as either platonic love or daydreaming rapture. Adapt your inner motives to a more refined way of loving and being, make your love an art, and respect love on a higher plane.

About Universal Quest

Raja Choudhury : Founder
A T Mann : Cofounder/Contributing Editor
Mary Diener : Marketing and PR

We would love your contributions, articles, thoughts, comments, suggestions and ideas. Please do write to us at news@universalquest.com

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Raja Choudhury
Universal Quest,
560 W 43 Street - Suite 20G
New York, NY 10036
Tel: 212 868 1686