The Thought That Lingers: Part Three

To those who course the netherworld,
with Bardo trust and faithfulness,
a measured means of recompense,
must dutifully be prescribed
for this alembic journey of the liminal.

Alembic journey is that of invocation;
a summoning of the alembic  journeyman;
that involves a daring inward quest
in search of higher state of mindfulness;
and exploration of the human psyche.

For bridging of the liminal spaces
between the conscious and the unconscious;
within the deepest realm of psyche;
The Bardo realm  of the faithful,
in alembic journey of Transformation.

The golden realm of Bardo
is, itself, non-physical;
a liminal, intermediate stage
between two phases of our lives on earth:
the physical and metaphysical.

It covers various phases
of our lives in consciousness;
extending ever inwards;
pursued in dreams — even nightmares,
for goal of liberation.

Phenomena of Bardo,
to some, may seem quite terrifying;
may require soulful action
of that which is transcendental;
our external thoughts suspended.

Alembic cup provides distillation;
for that is required of the pilgrim’s mind.
An ouroboros of the mind transformed;
condensed; turned inwards on itself;
transformed — and now refined.

By a Refiner’s Fire.
The human soul unblemished
from brightest light that cleanses;
removing us from darkness;
ever closer to new brightness.

This is the divine journey that Dante took;
John Bunyan displayed in Christian allegory;
Likewise the paths of Buddha and The Christ;
and of Muhammad’s mystical night ride…
Alchemical journeys of transformation.

All these journeys were deep within,
requiring descent before ascent;
for knowledge casts its brightest light
in deepest place of darkness;
in cavernous alembic  spaces.

That is where the soul must travel,
while searching thus for knowledge:
The locus of the archetypes,
where conscious meets the unconscious;
in realm of the supra liminal.

Beyond causal space is such a realm,
for search of deepest truths.
For truths deeper than the linear,
requiring need to probe within;
to re-discover Psyche’s resting place.

For paradise lost can be regained.
And redemption  is the pathway.
The straight and narrow has its thorns.
The Rose of Sharon knows it
as sacrificial offering.

The inward journey of the Betwixt
and the Between,
has an enduring, lasting meaning
indelible to them wayward pilgrim;
and for all lost souls seeking light.

To find the light, one must descend
through deepest, darkest hole;
away from the seven  deadly sins.
One must take courage; journey on;
away from darkness, and towards light.

When man is born like child again,
he becomes a shining light;
he becomes a child of innocence,
reflecting that which lies within.
Then shall the Truth to him  be revealed.

Then shall this new man, too, rise;
rise and thus be lifted up;
his soul to soar on eagle’s wings;
a risen, resurrected man;
a man reborn of Godly nature.

Truth long hidden, now revealed;
revealed to eyes that once were sealed;
eyes now that see without searching;
enlightened, seeing eyes.
To such eyes will the truth be grasped.

Truth flowing free; from Alembic cup.
Like a Taoist mountain brook.
Flowing, gushing in cavernous spaces;
unsullied brook of Taoist time and space.
Of such nature is this Sacred Truth.

That truth that’s buried deep within,
waiting for human exploration.
Ever so patiently waiting,
is that inward journey offering light
to an outer world so full of darkness.

We, all of us, known or unknown,
are all pilgrims of the nether world;
traveling to that other realm
where conscious meets the unconscious;
and darkness is embraced by dazzling light.

The thought that lingers beckons me
to ever keep on searching,
in realms cavernous, deep within;
with Bardo trust and faith as pilgrim,
the alembic cup ever pursuing.