The Foundation Stone Meditation in 15 Quotidian Glimpses – Abegael Fisher-Lang    May 15, 2020

16 Jun The Foundation Stone Meditation in 15 Quotidian Glimpses – Abegael Fisher-Lang    May 15, 2020

Every morning for 9 weeks, a group of five women – Susan Koppersmith, Esther Chase, Hannah Hidson, Monica Boyd and myself — studied the second panel of the Foundation Stone Meditation in preparation for the May AGM.  We read the insights of major writers,  supported each other in our inner practices, and shared artistic work in writing, painting and eurythmy.

I was daunted by writing about the Foundation Stone Meditation.  What could I possibly offer in the light of the canon of great lectures and books?    One day, after talking about working in my garden, I said I want to understand the Foundation Stone Meditation as a magnificent , unfolding, cosmic garden.  Then, while buying seeds, I had a little fantasy about seeing a note about the FSM on seed packets.  I thought, what if everybody who works with their hands in the earth awakens one day and recognizes the gifts of anthroposophy?

I allowed my imagination free rein, and enjoyed creating these little poetic images.

Metaphors don’t appeal to every ear, and some might consider these daily glimpses to be irrelevant,  comic or even disrespectful.

My intention was to bring a little warmth, lightness and perhaps even beauty.  Now I extend an invitation to you.   Where will metaphoricity lead us in deepening our understanding of The Foundation Stone Meditation?  

1.  At the garden shop, you are pleased to read the words The Foundation Stone Meditation embossed in tiny golden letters on each packet of sunflower seeds.

2.  Human Souls Creating is the essential mood — narrative is what’s left over.

3.  Practice Spirit Sensing is placing the 12 tall poles in the garden for the scarlet runner beans to climb to the sun.

4.  Carry the small, round (Foundation) stone in your pocket and practise skipping it over the calm surface of the lake.

5.  The Foundation Stone Meditation may sometimes be found in the Periodic Table of elements, slipped between Cobalt (Co) and Copper (Cu), next to Silver (Ag) or Gold (Au).

6.  Practise Spirit Recalling to the rustling of wings brushing the ceiling of your inner space.

7. Once the great hall is full, rainbow silk curtains open to reveal the lead player, the Foundation Stone Meditation, alone on stage, playing cello.

8. Spirit Beholding leaves nothing to chance, follows you silently, passes your pen and your book opened to a new blank page.  You are prepared.

9. Walt Whitman knew Spirit Sensing when he began his Song of Myself:  I sing myself and celebrate myself, and what I assume you shall assume, for every atom belonging to me as good belongs to you.

10. Two engraved invitations have arrived from the Office of the Foundation Stone Meditation.  The first is for a series of lectures, the other is to a sacred circle dance and potluck.

11.  At 5:30 am, doing eurythmy in the front garden:  Uniting with the I of the World.   A neighbour walking her dog stops and watches  as you crest the largest L in Alleluia;  each one startled but pleased at the other’s sudden appearance, calling out Good Morning, Good Morning.

12.  Many fragrant ingredients from the East are required for the Foundation Stone Meditation Layer Cake, but the batter must be mixed in the West.  A  full week of rhythmic activity is required.  The cake is delicious, and everyone has their fill, and, curiously, there is always plenty left over for newcomers.

13. The Sufi poet Rumi wrote that a story is like the hot water you heat for your bath, but the Foundation Stone Meditation is like having that long-awaited bath, and then running out into the falling snow.

14.  The small esoteric, best-kept-secret, bookstore called The Foundation Stone Meditation closed shop at the turning point of time.  Human beings arrived from the east, west, north and south to carry its rare collection to the waiting world.

15.  The Foundation Stone Meditation is the spirit-whisperer, reminding you of the beauty of coming into, and departing from, your life on earth.

Abegael Fisher-Lang is a retired class teacher at the Vancouver Waldorf School, a professional storyteller and a celebrant with Life Threads Ceremonies.  She has taught speech and storytelling with the West Coast Institute and participated in the recent Mystery Dramas in Vancouver. She lives with her son Aiden, a companion at the Cascadia Centre for Social Working, and finds great joy in her garden every day.