The movie "felt" very authentic and brought a lot of mixed emotions as we watched the particular groups (Roman gods vs the new Christianity vs Judaism) struggle and condemn one another. Hypatia did appear to be very engrossed (and somewhat unbalanced in my opinion) in her astronomy pursuits, never seeming to arrive at conclusions that satisfied her - to the point where she was almost unaware of the upheavel occurring everywhere around her. Yet she was compassionate and caring of her students and slaves (who seemed to be her only friends). There were no other women in this movie. I was startled to observe that her personal slave was a male (who might have been a eunoch). More than one male was in love with her (according to the movie) but she was unwavering in her pursuits. To her credit, she was willing to die for her beliefs (whatever they were; it wasn't clear), although she didn't seem to realize the reality of where these "beliefs" (or lack of them) would lead her. Studying how she affected the people she was close to can be very interesting also. Excellent movie, acted well and very enlightening.

I have often wondered about the burning of the books in Alexandria and what triggered it. I was unaware that the Christians of the time were so fanatical, their response to Jesus's teachings of love and redemption were certainly not evident. The cruelty of how they treated each other was almost like things are today, the slaves wanted freedom but they had no idea what it meant they burned the books without any thought of what was in them and defaced and destroyed the artifacts of the time, much like those who destroyed some of the Buddhic statues today.

It appeared as though the men were jealous of Hypatia's intelligence, and it was the putting down of the feminine ray with Hypatia having to accept this new church authority and not being allowed to teach anymore, she could not accept their demands and therefore she was murdered mercifully by her former slave, and her body was then tortured. Mother was given another opportunity to teach the truth and set the record straight.

I personally found the movie very disturbing. The violence and hatred in this film,( and in any film) effects me deeply.
My realization that these events and too many like them have occured, and continue to occur on our planet is sobering. At the same time it gives us hope that the consciousness of mankind through the ages as evolved to become more enlightened and tolerent, especially with reguard to the Divine Feminine.
I also found it hard to believe that Hypatia was not more aware of the turmoil and danger all around her, or was that omitted from the story? My heart went out to Mother for the suffering her soul chose to endure. I believe what happens to one soul is deeply felt by all. Thank you God for your Mercy Light.

I see I need to post a longer essay and send it to the registrar. However, for a brief comment on the film, Agora, here are my thoughts:

a. the integrity of Hypatia (female heroine) was incredible -- through all the tension and aggression, she kept to her values.
b. Hypatia was continually trying to find the "answers" to life; however, in her case, they seemed limited to scientific explanations.
c. There was so much sadness when you saw spiritual groups fighting amongst each other.

We have evolved from continual warfare in the West. The Middle-East will one day catch up.

Hypatia was ahead of her time, and thus may have been destined to lose her head. Hypatia was a famous Egyptian woman mathematician and Greek philosopher and the main character in the 2009 film Agora, played by Rachel Weisz (Wikipedia.com).

In several other embodiments, the same soul lost her life and her head, as she stood for truth. This film showed how ignorance and hardened hearts combine to strike aggressively and try to eradicate the truth. The unscrupulous and power-hungry perpetrate anger and cause the crowds to act unconsciously.

The saddest moment in the film for me was when she was called the ruler’s whore. The other senators may have been unable to understand and therefore believe her lifestyle of study and contemplation.

As a mathematician, Hypatia studied conic sections (cones). An ellipse is an example of a conic section since it can be formed by a single diagonal slice through a cone. The circle is a special case of an ellipse where the two foci meet at a single point called the center. When Hypatia was looking for an explanation of the sun as the center of the universe, she realized our son was actually the focus of the universe and therefore could be described by two centers as long as the sum of the distances of the foci to each planet remained constant. Therefore the sun we see is one center and thus we must have a second center of the universe implying an unknown entity. I see this as an example of Alpha and Omega, Helios and Vesta, or the sun and the Great Central Sun. Whichever the case, Hypatia opened the way for a much higher spiritual matrix for considering the source of our solar system, and simultaneously a model of the Divine Feminine. I had not realized this connection until I saw the film and realized the point she was making. I was also very appreciative of her passion for mathematical studies and her constancy in her determination to reach her students and bring them higher.

Her method teaching, the Socratic method, is respectful of the inner man, and woman, of the heart. By asking questions, she was able to lead students to a higher way, while at the same time, acknowledge their own inner wisdom. She also used this method with herself as shown in several scenes as she was struggling to work out her mathematical problems. She was an example of the divine mother, caring for the well-being of her students and the same time having the wisdom to let them go their way when they so chose. As we saw at the end, the slave who loved her showed great mercy as she had earlier shown mercy and understanding to him.

A wonderful minister/herbalist healer from New York City came to my Quaker college campus in the South to speak only to the women in the college chapel. He preached to us in a booming voice and warned that when the woman and the mother fall away from God and are desecrated from the Divine Feminine that they are to uphold, either by their own choices or by the society at large, prostituted, silenced, raped, even murdered like Hypatia, then that entire civilization will go down from the destruction of the family, to the child, to the men, to the government and institutions because the woman holds the balance and standard for all of society. The home is the microcosm for the rest of society and when the home is broken, thus follows civilization. The woman is the mother in the home; she is the mother of the world. I will never forget his words and empowerment I felt listening to him.

Barbara Stevens Sullivan, wrote Psychotherapy Grounded in the Feminine Principle (1989). She wrote:
Our resistance to a feminine orientation is tremendous….In the face of the clearest, most consistent evidence, our culture insists upon denying the ubiquitous, inescapable fact of darkness and death and upon maintaining a fiction of the possibility of living happily ever after if we will only manage our lives properly. The consequence of this attitude is not an increasingly widespread incidence of happiness, it is rather a situation in which people feel guilty about their depression and despair, exacerbating their pain by struggling against the legitimate suffering that life involves and that, when submitted to, ultimately brings wisdom.

We have all experienced the pain of a karmic return in the form of unpleasantness to deep suffering. Suffering has the purpose of raising our consciousness. If we avoid it, or subdue it with drugs, etc. it will not go away, it will only eat at our psyche. We must learn the lessons of life. We must confront our shadow side and learn the wisdom that it will teach us. This is the feminine approach to healing.

I want to close in saying that the feminine is not of more worth or value than the masculine principle in life. Both are essential, and both need to be integrated into one’s being and consciousness. The masculine aspect has brought civilization many blessings, including some technology and a high standard of living. As Sullivan wrote, “But the loss of the Feminine is increasing injurious to the deeper layers of our lives. The Feminine is not superior to the Masculine, but because it carries what we lack, it may seem more desirable than what we have.”

Conscious effort to embrace, integrate and return to the Mother and the Divine Feminine is required of each one of us. The creative, right brain activity, heart centered love-wisdom balance with the blue plume of God-power is an undeniable storehouse of conscious living in harmony with the Divine. It is Christ-Consciousness. I will always remember the words of our Lord, Jesus when he said, “I AM the Champion of Woman”. It is unfortunate that Jesus was not there to defend Hypatia in her last hours.

My major concludions of watching the movie "Agora"
It's essence helped me to realize:
We do not have to repeat history over and over again. We are learning from it. We are using the keys we have been given through our connection with our higher self and through the Ascended Masters teachings and the examples of their lives and how they passed their initiations. We are transcending patriarchal religion and fundamentalism by becoming the Mother, by raising the energies of the Kundalin and by Being in Presence. By continually working with these keys we are evolving beyond needing religions and we are replacing human knowledge with Divine Gnosis and bringing in the Golden Age of Enlightenment wherein there is an ever increasing number of people with all knowing in all areas of life.

Conclusion from essay on the movie, Agora

In closing I have to say that I am especially happy for all Europeans, and their world-extended culture, who get the opportunity to watch this movie, for they are the ones who suffered so very much under their imposed religion, and drove many to the opposite pole, no religion. Now they will be able to see and understand how it all happened, and hopefully choose a middle way.
It is clear that the destruction of the Alexandrian Library, the desecration of the sanctity of Hypatia's school, and all that it stands for, and the organizing and reforming of the Christian movement by Constantine were an unimaginable setback for a coming golden age of enlightenment. That was over 1600 years ago, and much ingorance and malice has ensued in these past 1600 years. And now, as we enter the Age of Aquarius, we have arrived at our greatest opportunity to do our utmost to become enlightened and to enlighten others.
Ronald Dubrawsky

Hypatia taught both ancient wisdom and leading edge concepts. She inspired new perspectives in her students. She taught by example and lived to elevate her students to higher thoughts and motives. And she posed an ultimate challenge to tolerate and value women as equals. Her pursuit of truth was one pointed, perhaps then to a fault. She was courageous and uncompromising in her beliefs, perhaps beyond comprehension in her day. And she kept her personal integrity and poise in the face of persecution and violence even unto her own murder. Agura gives us a point of reference at the cusp of ages for appreciating the lapses and progress of our spiritual evolution. We see the tumultuous swing of the pendulum in her time from worshiping a pantheon of external gods to monotheism. Today we are awakening from the dualism of religious divisiveness to a great equilibrium of seeing God within as the all One. This film showed the dangers of fanaticism creeping into any movement; its mask as zeal, and its ultimate cost to the soul. And it’s message left me more awake to the value of identifying my own vulnerabilities and being relevant to my times. And I felt very sad for the ignorance and cruelty that devalued life in the name of religion. I found myself really wishing and hoping I had not lived during that time. Agura’s characters portrayed the weakness of human logic unwilling to act early for fear of defending the truth, and led us along a tragic trajectory as the tares grew up among the wheat. I was left with a deep appreciate for the gifts of light and initiation being poured out to our Hearts Center movement by the Brotherhood at this juncture between ages, with much thanks to great men and women like Hypatia who paved the way for higher mindfulness and for us tertons to return.

Today we are again transitioning from suppression to liberation, and again we seek spiritual truth, universal love/wisdom and the raising of the divine feminism. Today we desire to preserve the wisdom treasure that is the original blueprint for our planet and her people. We are so carefully being goal fitted to co create the shift we desire to see for all men to return to the One. I feel Hypatia’s lessons are now our legacy as we heed her warnings, follow the example of Clare de lis’ final sacrificial life, embody her teachings and make them relevant to fulfill her mission.

PS I saw the slave, Davus, at the end acting as Archangel Michael did with Joan of Arc. As Joan was dying at the stake, Archangel Michael appeared to her. He told her to breathe in the smoke. Because she was breathing the smoke, she fainted and did not feel the pain of burning to death. Similarly, in Hypatia’s story, the slave blocked Hypatia’s nose and mouth and caused her to faint. He thus saved her the pain of being stoned to death and maybe still being alive while her body was ripped to shreds as it was tied to the back of the cart and dragged through the streets. He actually did the best for her that he could.

In other parts the movie, I saw intolerance and misunderstanding. As the leaders were intolerant of Hypatia, the opposing parties were intolerant of them. Karma! And, as ages come to a close, and cycles speed up, the return of karma is also faster. For me, one of the take-home messages is: intolerance is dangerous. And, as we are now in the midst of a cosmic shift in consciousness, similar to the shifting of tectonic plates, we had best take care to express tolerance so we can avoid physical violence.

from Dorothy R.
I saw the film way at the beginning of the class.
I found the violence difficult to watch but the understanding of the story of how the library was destroyed was important to know.
The intolerance was so hard to watch. We must continue to learn from history.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship of Hipatia to her wonderful father
It was interesting how they used the sandbox for her to explain her ideas.
the scene of photography where they showed the people from way way above, seeming to scurry like ants. Interesting photography.

So you can get credit for this and get a certificate for 1107, please contact MURegistrar@heartscenter.org.

The following are my observations on the movie Agora.

The movie Agora depicted how a civilization shifting from one age to another and one belief system to another can be thrown into violence and how people can be emotionally and psychologically divided inside their beings as they attempt to understand the shift. I think it also showed how people who desire power and control will use a time of religious or political upheaval to manipulate the masses to cause destruction in order to solidify their power. The burning of the Library of Alexandria was a very tragic example of how an entire civilization can be plunged into darkness by destroying the knowledge that had been gleaned from the great teachers and adepts from many previous centuries. Those in positions of power sought to control the masses by keeping them in ignorance.

The earth is moving from one age to another again as we move from the Piscean age to the age of Aquarius. Those who stand up for the Aquarian principles of unity, oneness, peace, love and brotherhood are still being attacked—in some countries physically and violently and in other countries through more subtle methods such as the manipulation of the media, education, and the balance of nature. What I feel is so hopeful about the shift to the age of Aquarius is that through the current technology, including the internet, knowledge can no longer be withheld from the people. Now that the truths of loving cooperation between people, nature and the universe are being spread through the media and by example, it cannot be stopped.

The spiritual work of all those who desire to bring peace and harmony to the planet will be what brings in the golden-crystal age. Our prayers, meditations and communion with the Universal Brotherhood will provide the spiritual impetus for enlightened communities to grow and thrive throughout the globe. The shift of light is here, the wave is coming and there is no turning it back! Joyce

Hypatia was born in Alexandria in 350 AD and executed in 415 AD. She was the first woman instructor in mathematics as head of the Platonist School of Alexandria.

The Library of Alexandria, according to the history books, was founded during the 3rd Century B.C.

The destruction of the Library of Alexandria is unclear in the history books. Four different dates are given for the destruction:
1) 48 BC Julias Casear's fire in the Alexandrian War
2) Attack of Aurelian 270 AD
3) Decree of the Coptic Pope Theophitus 391 AD
4) Muslim conquest of 642 AD

The Decree of the Coptic Pope Theophitus 391 AD correlates with Hypatia's life span.

HPB taught that Atlantis existed until approximately 12,000 BC. Edgar Cayce's readings say 9000 - 1100 BC. As students of truth many of us believe that Egypt was a continuation of Atlantis and that the truth about those end times and ancient wisdeom was recorded. Possibly the information of the Atlanteans was recorded in the scrolls in the Library of Alexandria. Of course that information would have wanted to be destroyed by the ones who wanted to control the people.

I have heard teachings that the Iliad and Odyssey by Homer, Greek Poet (850 BC) was the hero's attempt to avoid the earth changes that were taking place during the destruction of Atlantis just as we are doing today. Where is it going to be safe to live? where will there be floods?, earthquakes? etc.

Even though there was a shift going on during the time of Hypatia the big shift was during the end times of Atlantis and now we are going through another great shift into the Age of Aquarius.

To this day people who speak the truth are hunted down, i.e. Tesla, whistle blowers etc. Hypatia was a speaker of the truth and had to be terminated. Even though I did not personally know Elizabeth I knew many people tried to stop her from speaking the truth but fortunately this did not happen.

This essay seems to be all over the place but in my mind I am seeing a much bigger picture than just this particular embodiment of Elizabeth. St. Germaine was in and out of the picture as well as Hesiod the Greek poet 750-650 BC and Samuel 931-877 BC.



I see changes happening all the time as we move into higher levels of consciousness. The truth is being exposed through the internet, videocameras, pictures, etc. I was watching a John Wayne westerner one day and was shocked to see him shot a beautiful sauharo cactus. Imagine someone doing that in a movie today? Chances of it happening are very slim. More and more people are exhibiting reverence for all life including plants and animals. Michael Vick did not escape the pitt bull dog fighting he was doing and he paid a high price for it. Many people are celebrating the killing of Kadafi but the people who are in a higher state of consiousness see his killing as the killing of themselves and it is very painful to watch. We prayed many times for him to see the unity of life but unfortunately his time has ended.

The Light of the Divine Feminine energy is becoming stronger each day. As I make my pilgramage to Lake Titicaca for the 11:11:11 I know that all of us who are Light Workers will be anchoring even more of this Divine Feminine Energy on this day just as Hypatia did over 1,600 years ago during that embodiment.

On November 21st (Monday) at 6pm Pacific Time I will be having Danion Brinkley on my radio show "Return to Shamballa" on
BBSRadio.com to talk about his new book.

On November 7 I will be having Esparanza Rey on the show to talk about her new book "Hope Reigns Beyond 2012." (6pm PT)

Thank you Cheryl and David for a wonderful class.
Vicki Goodwin
Shamballa Enterprises, LLC

In terms of wisdom learned from the movie and applying it to our times, Clare de Lis speaks about how today “increasing numbers of the current generation” are beginning to understand the teachings that lead to “the basis of Self-discovery of who they are” and to thereby ”be released from the grip of the purveyors of illusion and those whose desire is control and manipulation”. Hypatia was a victim of such purveyors. The vying for power and control among Christian sects and other groups at the time was in direct opposition to the true teachings of Jesus and his message of love, mercy, compassion, brotherhood and oneness in God.
Fortunately today in our society, we have the freedom to explore our own Self-discovery and knowledge of God in our own way with little chance of exposure to the violence that Hypatia experienced. This is not true everywhere, however. Today we witness examples of intolerance among people who insist on seeing greater differences among people, be they racial, ethnic, religious, cultural, etc., rather than seeing the common humanity in all of us and the inherent divine core of each human being. The motivation for many continues to be based on fear and other negative emotions and values. Many places on the Earth are experiencing shifts in political and social systems (particularly in the Middle East and Africa), where many people are seeking freedom of speech, assembly and religion as well as justice, equality and self-determination. Mother Earth and the elementals are also bringing forth occurrences in the nature world that are seeking balance for humanity’s lack of love and appreciation for nature, mankind, and God.
So, how can my spiritual work assist in the process of moving into the age of Aquarius? In my path to Self-discovery, I am attempting to move forward step by step, to know, to understand, to be and to manifest Self-in-God and the God-qualities that we seek for all of mankind and all of life in the early budding of this new age. We are all One. All of life is One. This truth is being felt now across the globe. For God’s truth and God’s way to manifest externally, we know it must first manifest within each Self. So in order to contribute, I must begin the work within myself first.

Agora and the Path of Initiation
by Lenore Harris

Much of life is initiation—for individuals and groups of peoples alike. The movie Agora demonstrates this in an intensely graphic way. Along with Hypatia, we see the initiations of her father, her students, the leaders of the religions in Alexandria and their followers. These initiations were fundamentally ones of whether or not to succumb to pride and the human ego. Everyone in Alexandria went through them during the extremely turbulent times portrayed in this movie.
Hypatia’s father had his first initiation when he was outraged at the Christians for having burned to death one who was speaking on behalf of the pagan religion--his religion. He lined up the household slaves and demanded to know if any of them were Christians and then proceeded to beat the one who made that admission. Hypatia told the slave later that he had felt badly about what he had done.

The whole cycle of violence began when the Christians began mocking the pagan gods in the agora. One leader of the pagans, in response, was inciting the pagans to avenge this. Hypatia begged him to stop since she knew what it would lead to. He then turned to her father and acknowledged that as director he would have the last word. He was at that moment facing possibly the greatest initiation of his life. The entire course of the history of Alexandria and hundreds of people lay upon his decision. And what did he choose? He proclaimed, “Let the gods be avenged for this insult.”
I considered Davis, Hypatia’s slave, to be a very compelling character in the story. He was intrigued by Amonius and his preaching about Christianity and finally did become a Christian after feeling compassion well up inside as he passed out his entire basket of bread to starving people in the temple. His admiration for Hypatia and his own great interest in her work, however, left him somewhere in between in this battle of the religions. His pride was a bit wounded when Hypatia made off-hand disparaging remarks about slaves. He passed the early initiations by brushing off the hurt.
But a major test came when the library was being stormed and after feverishly searching for Hypatia to help her in this dire situation, finds her and she berates him by demanding of him where he’s been and then blustering,” Slaves—they’re never there when you need them—they’re just idiots!” Overcome by his hurt pride, Davis storms out and overtly joins the Christians and the killing spree. His next failed initiation comes when he accosts Hypatia physically.
His decision to side with the Christians later bothers him though after being a part of so much violence. Deeply troubled, he wonders out loud, “Suppose we’re wrong.” In the end, his love for Hypatia trumps all as he frantically searches for her and when he finds her attempts to “save” her from the mob of Christians who are preparing to stone her to death. Without judging that particular act, you could make a case for him passing that initiation.
Orestes is another character we get to know well in the course of the movie. His love and loyalty for Hypatia puts him in the middle of a church scene in which he must prove his Christianity before the bishop and the congregation by denying Hypatia. Confronted with such a horrendous decision, he passes the initiation of standing for what he knew to be right and refused to accept their accusation of Hypatia as being a godless witch.
Another test comes when he, as the prefect, has the opportunity to step in and prevent yet another round of vengeful violence, this time on the Jews. Hypatia implores him, “If you do nothing this will continue to happen again and again.” Knowing that if he was seen as standing up for the Jews, half the town would be against him. He does nothing and allows the violence to ensue.
And the mobs, the pagans, the Christians and the Jews—are they undergoing initiations as a group? I think so. They are all easily swayed by the “orators” inciting them to move against the targeted group. And they all, summarily, fail the huge initiation to reject the calls for revenge. This is an initiation largely of rising above the human ego that cannot stand to be mocked, ridiculed and made out to be wrong.
I have found it to be valuable to look at the movie in this way. It has helped me to look at the path of initiation from a different perspective than I usually do. These initiations were so extreme and yet it’s been beneficial for me to meditate on how I would do in these circumstances. And in fact I may have been one of those people. What keeps coming to mind is Andrew Harvey’s premise that the only way humanity is going to survive the dire circumstances we find ourselves in at this point in history is for us to become the Divine Human. That Divine Human, when faced with such initiations, will reject the strong temptation to avenge blows to the false pride of the human ego.

Meru class 1107

Agora was a shockingly violent film. There apparently was incredible need for those who perceived a new belief system to force it on everyone else – otherwise maybe they thought their new way of life wouldn’t be quite so valid if ‘everyone’ wasn’t living it. Human beings have an internal desire/need to feel that what they’re doing is ‘right’ – they feel their survival is at stake. So (since we are all one), even if they’re doing what they ‘know’ is ‘right,’ if everyone else isn’t doing it the world is not right.
Necessity for stark contrast between ‘right’ and ‘wrong.’ And having chosen a direction, everyone in the world was required to follow it on pain of death. There was an intermediate period when ideas were being explored and people had not become polarized as yet.
There are always parts of ourselves that are the sentinels that require all other parts of ourselves to think and behave according to our current belief system, and if they don’t we punish ourselves.
I find it much more meaningful to view the movie as events, experiences taking place within a single host – the one. Me, for instance. I flagellate myself whenever parts of me don’t live up to the parts who have decided what is right and wrong.
It was just so shocking to see it taking place ‘outside of me’ in the movie. And parts of me couldn’t understand why the sentinels had to force their ideas on others so radically - - and yet I do it to myself all the time. And having the habit pattern developed and in place for so long, it’s difficult to let it all go and just love myself.
I think the challenge is to see the beauty of the one in all people at all times, and to understand and consciously know that at the same time people are still dealing with the dweller pretty much at all times, and we have to see past that… to move past that into the beauty of the light, love and joy of God’s Holy Will, Wisdom and Love.
Holly

Posted By Carol Daly on 17 Sep 2011 09:07 PM
I have often wondered about the burning of the books in Alexandria and what triggered it. I was unaware that the Christians of the time were so fanatical, their response to Jesus's teachings of love and redemption were certainly not evident. The cruelty of how they treated each other was almost like things are today, the slaves wanted freedom but they had no idea what it meant they burned the books without any thought of what was in them and defaced and destroyed the artifacts of the time, much like those who destroyed some of the Buddhic statues today.

It appeared as though the men were jealous of Hypatia's intelligence, and it was the putting down of the feminine ray with Hypatia having to accept this new church authority and not being allowed to teach anymore, she could not accept their demands and therefore she was murdered mercifully by her former slave, and her body was then tortured. Mother was given another opportunity to teach the truth and set the record straight.

Agora
Hypatia was a very feminine and beautiful woman, & she was the only woman in the movie. She lived in 355-415 AD, she was a philosopher, visionary, and a mathematician. She had no degree was taught by her father who was a professor at the time. She loved teaching and taught geometry to her students. She was also interested in the topics of the day, very intelligent and in some ways smarter than the men in her time. She was compassionate, showed care and tenderness when her slave admitted to being a christian and was beaten by her father as that wasn't acceptable in those days, she tended to his wounds. Her slave cared much for her and it appeared to me was jealous of the young man who openly confessed his love for her, and later she embarrassed him in class in front of the other students, giving him a gift of her cycle on a cloth stating he was in love with that and not truly her. That took courage I don't know if I could have done that.

She later freed her slave and in the end he mercifully took her life so she wouldn't feel the pain they were about to inflict on her, otherwise I don't know that she would have been able to endure that would have probably past out from the pain. How brutal and ugly the human can get when the ego rules.

The brutality of the human ego and it's jealousy of others is ending. It's an age of taking responsibility for oneself forgiveness of the past and we can now thru vision,bring in a Golden age.

The masters have told us that there is nothing more sacred than the "holy of holies" of a person's faith or religion. This is why we should take great care to allow people to pursue their beliefs until they conclude on their own that maybe there is more to the truth than they at first realized.

Our ability to tolerate views we may see as incorrect is as important as promoting the things we believe in with a sense of non-attachment to how others perceive it.

The movie AGORA reminds us how powerful an attachment to our beliefs can be and how readily people can become angry and violent when faced with challenges to their beliefs.



Hypatia

As we transition into the age of Aquarius with all of its attendant change, I think we will see many long-held beliefs and traditions challenged as God moves us higher. As this happens, we should be prepared to maintain our harmony, especially in the presence of others so that we may be a calming influence when uncertainty or confusion should appear. I thought it was interesting how the movie portrayed the mobs as being easily manipulated by one or two "leaders," and how important one or two people can be when placed in the middle of such chaos. The ability to counter such manipulation with calm (poise, prayer, peace) and love will go a long way in bringing about a smooth transition into the next age.

It occurred to me as the mobs were murdering people in the movie how different it could have been if a handful of people had been giving prayers and devotions in their temples or homes allowing the forces of heaven to prevent the violence before it began. For me, because we are few in number, maintaining our prayer vigils so that such events never occur is the overriding message of AGORA.




Hypatia in the School of Athens?

One of my favorite works of art is the SCHOOL OF ATHENS by Raphael, a frescoe which was painted about 1510 and which can be found in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican.

When Raphael allegedly submitted the draft of this work to the church fathers for approval, they asked him "who is this woman in the middle?"

He replied "Hypatia, the most famous student of the school of Athens."

The bishops replied "remove her. Knowledge of her runs counter to the belief of the faithful."

Raphael replied "as you command."

Many believe that Raphael altered her appearance and put her into the painting anyway.

Others believe this is an image of Jesus in his youth. Notice that this figure is one of the only figures in the painting looking out at the observer. Why?

So disappointing that even 12 centuries after Hypatia, certain religious authorities were still persecuting her.

Pretty heady stuff, this gory Agora, themed with so much pathos. hatred of the truth, animosity to admirally
intelligent philosopher/science-oriented Hypatia. She simply wanted to share her enthusiasm of geometrey
and other things, to show others, especially men to whom she felt no inequality. the beauty and wonder of
the universe as she observed it was worthy of so much interest and speculation, as she pondered the stars
in the heavens.

Her reward for such lofty thinking..abominable hatred, ignorance, displaced animosity to the truth, even
the lack of tolerance for differences of views. I say this, you say that, and for that I should and would
kill you! Oh mankind, oh savage heads and breasts who bare arms against those who do not believe as
we do. oh wounded pride, and small minds, what have you done, in disgracing the marvelous organ or man's mind, to hold in contempt others, especially a strong-minded woman who simply allowed other
men to experience what she was teaching, using the socratic method. Hurrah for her soul, for not
distancing herself from her students, whom she so carefully nurtured and guided with that wonderful mind.

Such a sorry state that in the misunderstanding of the value of learnings preserved in the Library of Alexandria, or did the destroyers really not know what great was the value within? They could destroy
the physical edifice, but could not destroy the mind of those who saw the truth, held up the worth of
learning, even at the risk of being bullied, spat at, stabbed by mindless hatred and intolerance. I
was appalled at the destruction of the Buddha statues in the mideast, and wondered at the brittle
and small minds which lead to that.

So civilization continues on, truth is evoked as by the scientist who 1200 years later corroborated
Hypatia's theory of the sun being so central to the planets. Great hatred still manifests in mad
acts committed in the name of God, women still being treated like beasts and worse, cities and towns
still being destroyed by those whose rigid minds cannot wrap around the fact that we all learn and
share with our beings with heart and souls, bear common needs and desires, aspirations, and above
all that we believe in God, just not necessarily in the same image. who would believe in an uncaring
wreckless God who would subject others, especially women, to such low estates?

But we are making progress, as evidenced by people like you and I, and politicians, leaders of
many walks who realize that the only real solutions are those born of common bonds, out of each
other's heart, beyond the bounds of mental audacity and gross stupidity. we owe so much to
the masters for being the wayshowers, the brave and stalwart who endured so much agony and
torment to preserve for future humanity and today's the means to make amends with the past, to go
and become beings we were meant to be to the glory of God, the All in All, that brilliant and shiny
light within and without.

On one level, life hasn't changed a lot since the time of Hypatia. Violence and bloodshed still prevails between various religious. Although it’s not the Christians now, it’s factions of the Muslim faith that think bloodshed is the key to victory. I’m sure this, too, shall pass.
On the other hand, women now have rights in most countries. In America and the west, although this began in the late 1800’s. it wasn’t until the late 20th century it became very evident that women were a force of strength. We now have female executives and heads of state. Looking back 1700 years, Hypatia was killed because she was an strong, enlightened independent thinking woman, something that was not tolerated by the Christian male dominated society.
Although women are still treated as less than their male counterparts in some regions, this is changing. Even in many countries in the Middle East, women are beginning to find their strength, are being educated and becoming independent.
The hour of the woman is come.

My Experience Of The Agora Movie

The extreme fanaticism and violent behaviour of Christianity
in this movie was deplorable. Death to many and all manner of bloodshed treated as the norm of life.

Having heard of the destruction of the Library Of Alexandria,
brought a greater understanding of this historic situation.

During my years of receiving the masters teachings through
Elizabeth Clare Prophet, I recall the masters admonishment
to "stop fanaticism". I did recognize this thread within
my own being, having been brought up in the christian tradition. I now more fully understand how I could still have remains of this when observing the levels of fanaticism
and insanity brought against those who did not follow
demands of the christian faith.

As I meditate upon this, I see that today we still deal with levels of this energy in non-acceptance of different faiths
or masters.

Hipathia exhibited great mastery through situations. Her
quest for the sun brought to mind how she was consumed with
this and the joy she experienced as she received a glimpse
of a realization of the world being round and a connection
to the sun.

I saw her quest to fulfill her mission within her heart as
a burning desire to know the sun as she pursued and found it.
Today she comes having fully realized this burning quest within and now to show the way.

I give my gratitude to Hipatchia and her many embodiments
where she unrelentlessly pursued her burning heart to bring
enlightenment to all she came to serve.

Thank you Clare de lis.

I also reflected upon the idea that in viewing this lifetime
of someone who is so dear to my heart now, I may have been
given an opportunity to have possible karmic unresolved
issues come to the surface for transmutation.

Was I in Alexandria then?

These are my gleamings of viewing the movie Agora.

Agora, the movie, is an example of a civilization controlled by the human ego. There are three social groups: Christians, Jews and Pagans who are unable to live together in peace and harmony. Over a short period of time, the Christians are able to take control of Alexandria obtained by much violence and destruction and left the Jewish and pagan communities powerless.

I find one character unwilling to participate in these chaotic actions of pride; her name is Hypatia. Hypatia is a female teacher of philosophy and astronomy, imparting her knowledge of Plato and Aristotle to her pupils who include pagans, Christians and Jews. She continued to give her wisdom teachings to her father and other men in leadership positions for defending freedom and gave philosophical solutions to guide them which they continually ignored. This eventually led to her murder. She was unable to conform to the ruling party’s dogma. At one point in the movie, she is telling one of her former pupils who is now a Christian Bishop: You do not question what you believe; I must question what I believe. Shortly thereafter she is led by a band of zealous Christians who put her to death.

This movie can assist us in our spiritual work by following her example. She had such a strong virtuous personality that kept her focused on her beliefs and principles that she gave her life living up to them. She followed her inner voice and remained true to her heart. I am grateful to have this piece of history brought to my attention and have Agora in my life by posting this on the Forum, for Agora is a Place to speak in Public. Thank You!

The essay that I will be given below is based on the central theme of the movie "Agora", which is the life of Hypatia, equally, I will mention the historical moment in which events were developed with religious cultural socio politic characteristics, as well as the impact that these changes had on society at that time. I will conclude with the contribution that we as a spiritual group can do in these times of transition.

1. The film itself is based on the life of a great woman by the name Hypatia of the 4th century. Who was Hypatia? She was a woman with a brilliant mind in the City of Alexandria, she was a great logical thinker a mathematician, philosopher, astronomer, and musician, among others. She wrote several books on algebra, geometry, and astronomy; she improved the astrolabes (which determines the positions of the stars), invented the hydrometer. But her most important achievement was the study on Conic Curves, one of which governs the movement of the planets. Most of her work was lost, particularly the study of Conic Curves, and only after 1,200 years, the mathematician Johannes Kepler made this discovery again. Most Hypatia’s work is known thanks to the writings done by her disciple Sinesio of Cyrene, cleric of the Catholic Church.

But, why is this great woman so important for us? The reason is because she was one of the incarnations of our beloved Clare de Lis, Elizabeth Clare Prophet.
The film shows us in part of how was this incarnation, it has some inaccuracies and omissions, and although it tries to live up to its name, it doesn’t come close to the reality of her time on earth as Hypatia. I dare to say that as important as her intellectual life was, her spiritual life was as well.

Hypatia worked during this incarnation purifying her soul and her spirit, her life was prudent, virtuous, and chaste. She was characterized as a benevolent woman, just, pious, full of love, serving, etc... She was the head of the Neoplatonic School of Alexandria, follower of Plotinus a philosopher - Mystic Neoplatonist, who believed in the ONE (God), NOUS (light) and the SOUL. She was never an atheist; moreover, in her times she was not judged nor condemned for being an atheist, she was listed as such two centuries later when a Coptic Bishop, belonging to the Egyptian Catholic Church of John of Nikiû, names her a such in order to justify her death. Her death was violent and cruel in the hands of fanatical hordes. We could consider Hypatia as a martyr of the transition of ages.

2. The murder of Hypatia by orders of Cyril Patriarch of the Catholic Church of Alexandria, occurred four centuries after the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Roman Empire was nearing its end, the followers of Jesus Christ had established the Christian Church and the emperors that assumed power had converted to Christianity, we could say that Alexandria was for that time an intellectual Oasis in a desert of ignorance. Four centuries later, the process of transition from an Era to another continued. Fanaticism, struggles for economic, political and religious power, within the newly founded Catholic Church was already part of the new standard of life, that subjugated all segments of society, reaching an over-extended power of control and dominion over all; all those who were not Christian were declared heretic. Because of having her own kind of belief in God different from the Christian belief (without being atheist), was sufficient to declare Hypatia a heretic and condemn her to death

In this context, a city like Alexandria represented a challenge to the new order and as a consequence, in the eyes of the newly formed Christians, it needed to be cracked. This crack down began with the destruction of the library of Alexandria as well as the statue of its sponsor Serapis Bey (flame of Ascension); then, the death of Hypatia, the perfect symbol of the flame of the Mother (you know, there is a direct relationship between the Chakra of the Base and the Chakra of the Third Eye, without the light of the Mother there is no art, science, mathematics or philosophy). The light of the mother was vanished from the Classical Era, and as a result so was the manifestation of Light in an era of darkness.

The death of Hypatia and the destruction of the library of Alexandria marked the end of an Era for a small portion of the planet. However, the impact was global when the Catholic Church spread west, re-defining history as before and after Christ. Nowadays the concept of an Era change is spreading throughout the planet as a result of mass media communication and technology. We have at our disposal increasingly sophisticated channels that allow us to witnesses the happenings of the planet, its wars, famines, natural disasters, etc.
I wonder if the changes were really positive or negative. What was the contribution of the Catholic Religion in the new order? What was its contribution to humanity? With the exception of the Saints who understood, interiorized, and embodied the teachings of Jesus, what can we find that allows us to say that the change was positive for humanity.

3. In appearance there is nothing positive, but that is only in appearance, because in these two thousand years of "darkness", we had the opportunity to move forward in our Christian path, first to accept Jesus as the Christ, with Jesus cleaning (of demons) of the path between us (physical realm) and heaven (the real of the I am presence). The path of ascension was finally within our reach, the opportunity to purify our soul through "the via dolorosa", through service, through giving, etc.. all of it helped our soul prepare to welcome the age of Aquarius; to find and accept our Holy Christ/Buddha Self, the I AM Presence, the Ascended Master and everything that comprises the New Age.

4. What would be then our spiritual work in the present circumstances? The answer is, to continue what we are doing right now: follow the path of the bodhisattva that we started with this dispensation from The Hearts Center, devoting our lives to the salvation of all conscious beings of the planet and the cosmos, through sacrifice, surrender, selflessness and service; by giving our life on behalf of our brothers, by being examples of compassion, goodness, mercy, and love. We know this and we are working on it.

What more can we do? Visualize perfection in oneself and our brothers, continue the ritual of the Sunrise, pray, decree, sing, dance, meditate, visualize the golden age; follow the path marked by Ascended Master in this dispensation of The Hearts Center, as well as all other dispensations that are coming, in other words stay in direct contact with our Older Brothers, the Ascended Masters, our Holy Christ/Buddha Self, our I Am Presence, our Threefold Flame. And declare here and now the Kingdom of God on Earth.

Thanks,

Guiomar

ESSAY ON THE MOVIE, AGORA
MU Class 1107
By Ronald Dubrawsky
10/13/11
Yes, the sun is at the center of our solar system, and the earth is not flat.
The earth is one of the wanderers, a child of the sun.
When two things are equal to a third, they are equal to each other.
When men reject the Mother, they become fanatical.
There is a higher love that is above the physical.
Falsehoods and the wrong use of the spoken word can incite riot and violence.

Today it is common knowledge that the earth revolves around the sun of our solar system. That may be in word only, for some, and for others a way of life. And for those who see it as a way of life, the door eventually opens with the realization that one is to become that sun. This is the path of the initiate.
How fortunate were those who were able to study with such a one as Hypatia at her mystery school in Alexandria. How doubly fortunate it was that the teacher was a woman, which speaks volumes for Alexandrian culture up until that tipping point time.
We must ask ourselves, who gains by the destruction of the Alexandrian Library and the murder of Hypatia in this dualistic culture? Surely it was not the enlightened ones. And we do remember the dark ages that resulted. We do remember the inquisitions, the crusades, and the extermination of the Cathars.
And yet, Hypatia taught that we are all brothers, that we are more the same than we are different. So simple, yet even the students had to be reminded, slipping so easily into the lower consciousness of divisions and differences. Knowing the divide and conquer tactics, how does it happen that we continually fall? In our own meditations, we are reminded that momentums rise or fall depending on our indulgence, repetition and where we put our attention.
Who gains in this expansive episode? Who created the greatest momentum, who created the greatest karma?
Today, it is commonly stated that as people awaken, one by one, the world will change. And as the Light increases, the darkness does likewise, and the tests become more subtle.
Hypatia’s three outstanding students depicted in the movie played archetypal roles. Davus, who was Hypatia’s slave and was finally freed by Hypatia, was trying to come to terms with what he was taught in Hypatia’s school - Greek masters, logic, astronomy, geometry - and his strong belief in Christianity. I would say that his basic modus operandi was his Christian faith, his driving will, his secret love for Hypatia, and later in the movie, his profound questioning of everything that was going on around him and in him, resulting in rapid development of his heart chakra.
Synesius was very intelligent, logical and practical. He eventually became a bishop. Something of his character is depicted in the scene where he tries to convince Orestes that when he, Orestes, failed to kneel in front of Cyril, who was holding the sacred text over him in the cathedral, he virtually ended his career and maybe his life.
And in another scene as he was comforting Hypatia, trying to convince her that we are all good people, and therefore she is as Christian as the rest of us, Hypatia’s reply to Synesius was: “You do not question your beliefs, you cannot, I must.”
This reply was a new paradigm for the ears of Synesius, which I personally think required time for reflection on Synesius’ part. Synesius replies that it is a great pity, “Our revered teacher…taken away from what she herself taught us.”
Orestes demonstrates his devotion to Hypatia when he was caught in Cyril’s snare. He refuses to kneel to the sacred words of the bible in order to make a stand and show his loyalty to his beloved teacher, Hypatia. I think this act of placing Hypatia above his own career and life, shows much love and courage even though he was caught off guard by Cyril.
The scenes of drama and violence leading up to the murder of Hypatia and her stand on principal are very reminiscent of the scenes leading to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
In closing I have to say that I am especially happy for all Europeans, and their world-extended culture, who get the opportunity to watch this movie, for they are the ones who suffered so very much under their imposed religion, and drove many to the opposite pole, no religion. Now they will be able to see and understand how it all happened, and hopefully choose a middle way.
It is clear that the destruction of the Alexandrian Library, the desecration of the sanctity of Hypatia’s school, and all that it stands for, and the organizing and reforming of the Christian movement by Constantine were an unimaginable setback for a coming golden age of enlightenment. That was over 1600 years ago, and much ignorance and malice has ensued in these past 1600 years. And now, as we enter the Age of Aquarius, we have arrived at our greatest opportunity to do our utmost to become enlightened and to enlighten others.

Ronald Dubrawsky

ESSAY ON THE MOVIE, AGORA


The Movie, Agora, filled in much of the history I had not been fully aware of. The social setting, culture, and history were clarified in greater measure. The violence and fanaticism acting between the different groups of people was difficult to watch just as it is in today’s world. The intensities taking place stirred emotion within me. It is amazing to see how far man can stray from their God reality. Seeing the intolerance, judgment and lack of freedom present in this period demonstrates how cycles repeat themselves, unless there is greater enlightenment and until there is the recognition of all life being sacred. This movie brought awareness of the importance of learning history more fully in order to avoid the repetitive patterns of mankind and the snares they get into.

I have a greater appreciation of beloved Clare de Lis as Hypatia in witnessing yet another embodiment of her love, wisdom and power being outplayed. The soul of Hypatia like many of her other embodiments have brought witness to her love of truth and search for greater enlightenment. Seeing Hypatia’s study of the path of the planets and the Sun in the 5th century, I can personally relate this to our growing relationship with the sun and all life within our universe and its interconnectedness.

I remember Guru Ma saying near her retirement that she had advanced teachings she desired to deliver to her devotees. As I am reading her 33 heartstreams again, and I am so caught up in them, I desire to be in the highest reality she says we can be in and be there at all times. I find them so precious and preparatory for the work and advancement my soul requires to fulfill my divine plan and to assist in holding the balance for life on this planet. Our beloved Mother delivered the teachings for decades and now we are blessed to have her sponsorship in the Heartscenter. Now it is time to take that torch and give back to God all that we have received by being in perfect Presence. As I gain greater oneness with my Solar Presence so will all life be lifted up. Love is the Key.

Dwinn Dubrawsky