F.A.Q.s on Full Moon Group Meditation

1. Why meditate on the full moon?

"Meditation is a potent method of service to humanity when the mind is used as a channel for the reception of the energies of light and love and the will-to-good and their direction into human consciousness. And the moment of the full moon each month offers the greatest opportunity for meditation - particularly in group formation - to be used as a means of cooperation with the divine Plan or Intention for our world.

One may ask, what has the moon got to do with it? The energies of light and love and the will-to-good are always available to those who can contact them in meditation. But in all aspects of our planetary life there are cycles in the ebb and flow of spiritual energies with which groups, as well as individuals, can consciously cooperate. One of the major energy cycles coincides with the phases of the moon, reaching its peak, its high tide, at the time of the full moon. This is a time, therefore, when the channelling of energy through group meditation can be uniquely effective.

The moon itself has no influence on the work; but the fully-lighted orb of the moon indicates a free and unimpeded alignment between our planet and the sun, the solar centre, the energy source for all life on Earth. At such times we can make a definite approach to God, the Creator, the centre of life and intelligence. That this realisation is part of humanity's ancient intuitive understanding is verified by the many religious festivals which are fixed by reference to the moon or a zodiacal constellation. The esoteric Law of Cycles -- the law which is symbolised by the waxing of the moon to full brightness followed by its waning -- affirms that we can consciously cooperate with the flow of spiritual energies."(-Alice Bailey, From a World Goodwill pamphlet)

2. Is meditating with a group more effective?

"Today countless serving groups large and small meet regularly throughout the world at the time of the full moon each month for meditation work. It is helpful to realise that such meetings for group meditation as a service to humanity have been held for many decades now. So the work does not start anew every month or every year. Over the years a usable group channel for energy distribution has been created which continuously grows and builds on what has been achieved, and which demands of us at all times a deepened understanding and an increased ability to penetrate to new levels of consciousness, so lifting the consciousness of humanity as a whole even by an immeasurable fraction.

That this may be difficult for newcomers is understood. But with the emphasis on the contribution each one can make in meditation, and in view of the group nature of this work, which includes individuals at various levels of growth and understanding fused together through group effort into a functioning unity, it is possible to maintain an open group in fluid condition without affecting the power of the group channel, while at the same time offering opportunity to those who wish to contribute what they can. In other words, we come to give - not to receive.

The energies which are uniquely available at the full moon -- when rightly understood, received and transmitted in meditation -- can be instrumental in helping humanity to move on towards its spiritual goal as an integrated, aligned centre of consciousness within the body of the One in Whom we live and move and have our being. This is the essential objective of monthly full moon meditation meetings."(-Alice Bailey, From a World Goodwill pamphlet)

3. How does group meditation work?

"In preparation for group meditation, the most significant part of the work is to become aligned and integrated as a group, open in consciousness to the Hierarchy and the Christ as head of the Hierarchy, and to form a usable channel of energy communication in human consciousness. For this to be successful we must know something of how the Hierarchy seeks to use the opportunities of the particular full moon period. Where does Hierarchy place its energy emphasis according to the changing tides of energy and the changing events and circumstances within humanity? This we must try to intuit and to register. If we can touch in thought on some of these essential factors, we can be of greater practical service in our effort to cooperate with the meditation of the inner government of the planet - the spiritual Hierarchy - so helping to create a ferment in human consciousness, bringing about changing attitudes of mind and heart and changed conditions in world affairs.

In undertaking the service of full moon meditation, the aim is to work imaginatively as members of the new group of world servers, dedicated to world service. Spiritually and telepathically the group is one and the work is one. Essentially, of course, these are meetings for meditation at a time when meditation by a subjectively fused and focussed worldwide group of servers can be effectively used by Hierarchy for the channeling of energy and for the purposes of human redemption. Group meditation is, therefore, the intention of groups coming together each month. These meetings are not used in order to teach elementary esoteric principles. A talk, which is often given as a preliminary to the the meditation, is not intended to be a lecture but to focus, unite and lift the thought process of those present.

The effect of human meditation at this time is to change conditions, to invoke higher, spiritual potencies, to work with concentration -- both vertically and horizontally -- within the world of men and within the Kingdom of God. This vertical and horizontal activity holds the secret of creative meditation. It is invocative of the higher energies, and creates a channel of contact between soul and spirit. This is brought about by what I have called "vertical meditation". It is also evocative and creates a ferment or dynamic movement in the level of being which must be affected or changed, and this is the horizontal aspect. Both the vertical and the horizontal activities are descriptive of the method of invocation and evocation, as employed by all the linking groups between the various planetary centres." (-Alice Bailey, From a World Goodwill pamphlet)

4. What are the three spiritual festivals?

"Of all the full moons of the year there are three which are of greatest spiritual importance, concentrated in three consecutive months and leading, therefore, to a prolonged annual spiritual effort which will affect the remainder of the year:

1. The Festival of Easter - the full moon of Aries.
2. The Wesak Festival - the full moon of Taurus.
3. The Festival of Goodwill - the full moon of Gemini."(-Alice Bailey, From a World Goodwill pamphlet)

5. What do you mean by "full moon of Aries, or Taurus, or Gemini", etc.?

Sometimes, people get a lot of confusion in this aspect, especially those with background in astrology. By "full moon of Aries", it simply means the full moon happened on the month of Aries, that is starting from around 21st of March to the 21st of April. It is not to be taken in the astrological context where the planet moon is in the sign or cusp of Aries. Same assumption applies to the other moons in other signs.

Similarly, the esoteric full moon celebrations are not to be confused with the other spiritual or neopaganistic systems where the moon (or the corresponding deity) is the primary object of worship or adoration. In full moon group meditations, the true is the opposite: at the time of the full moon, the lunar energies or influences are at its weakest or nil due to the overwhelming power of the Sun's rays which it reflects to all of life on earth. Pull of matter (or involutionary instincts which humanity has already outgrown) is neutralized and there is an unimpeded flow of evolutionary solar influence, making it conducive for spiritual activities and approach.

6. Is there a prescribed meditation format for a typical full moon group meeting?

In our experience, newbies often get disappointed upon learning that we do follow a specific and structured format in our group meditations. They thought each person can practise meditation in his own way (or using his own system) while doing the group work. Still, some expect the group to use alternate or different meditation methods with each monthly meeting. But many also becomes excited to learn a new method with they can also adapt for their own personal practice.

In reality, not all meditation methods are created equal. Each one has its own unique objective. A meditation designed for releasing stress (like going down to the 'alpha states' of the brain) or for cultivating the body's energetics system for healing or any magical operation cannot obviously be used for the purposes of world service mentioned in the preceding paragraphs which the full moon groups wishes to achieve. It is not that one method is more superior than the other but there are methods that are not suited for a certain objective or for use in certain occasions.

The format being used is based on the raja yoga system and the esoteric approach. In the raja yoga system, the mind plays an active role in the meditation process; the goal is not to suppress or negate the thought process but to use it to align the personality and the Soul. It is far from being selfhypnotic. The esoteric approach uses a structure or form in the meditation. This is somehow similar to a ritual form where there are several stages and interludes leading to a climax or the main rite. But in the group meditation, all these are happening mentally and while being still and seated. In contrast, the mystical approach to meditation are usually unstructured, passive (or making the mind blank or thoughtless), or alternatively, often involves devotion to some master or deity, through repetitive chanting or prayer.

Having a format is also practical as it makes the group more focused on the objective. And more groups using the same format in unison during the period of the full moon will make the work (meditation as service to humanity) even more potent and effective.

A typical full moon group meditation meeting (1 to 2 hrs.), as practiced by Light Net, takes the following form:

1. Opening and declaration of purpose of the meeting.

2. If there are newbies, a brief definition of terminologies used to put the activity into the context of the entire ageless wisdom teachings, as well as an explanation of the meditation format that the group is using.

3. Brief background of the keynote for meditation.

4. Full moon group meditation using the prescribed format (30 minutes).

5. Closing and grounding (tea, coffee, etc.).

7. Why use The Great Invocation in group meditation?

The rationale for the use of The Great Invocation in group meditation is somewhat similar to that employed in most magical, occult or even religious rites - to raise power in the group or circle. To achieve this, they usually use some sonic formula, singing, chants, mantras, movements such as dancing, or elaborate invocation to the deities. The Great Invocation is a word of power, a mantram, and a world prayer translated into over 70 languages to date. It has the power to affect the consciousness of those who use it, and since it is in an understandable language, the user has the capacity to penetrate into its inner meaning, and eventually enter the life behind the symbols used - the world of the Soul.

More significant is that The Great Invocation summarizes the highest ideal or aspiration of all humanity; and in fact its wordings affirm the very purpose and objectives why groups are meditating worldwide during the time of the full moon.