Welcome. Let me explain a bit about the term “Crimson Pillar” and what this movement, this ideology is about. First of all, let me introduce myself: I, like many of you, have been on a spiritual path that has evolved and changed like the shifting sand. At times I needed stability and other times liberty, in the end I found a pathless path – a way without dogma, ritual or demand.

Inner guidance alone does not preclude inspirational writings. Unlike the dogmatic instructional manuals of spiritual past, inspirational writings lack direct exposition. One needs to ingest the words and ideas and let them resonate, in order to directly experience the meaning for themselves. Like art, the process is unique to the individual, and those mystical passages of greatness (such as the Tao Te Ching), are readily available to transform through their inspirational message.

It is a work of inspiration that led me to the descriptor: “Crimson Pillar.” I came upon a book of the Bahai faith, a book called “The book of Certitude.” While I am by no means, a member of the Bahai community, I found something deeply personal from within this book. Let me reiterate, my understanding and use of “Crimson Pillar” is not related to the Bahai faith. From the Book of Certitude, I read a passage that resonated with the tapestry of mysticism and which revealed itself to me, in my own way:

The heart must needs therefore be cleansed from the idle sayings of men, and sanctified from every earthly affection, so that it may discover the hidden meaning of divine inspiration, and become the treasury of the mysteries of divine knowledge. Thus hath it been said: “He that treadeth the snow-white Path, and followeth in the footsteps of the Crimson Pillar, shall never attain unto his abode unless his hands are empty of those worldly things cherished by men.” This is the prime requisite of whosoever treadeth this path. Ponder thereon, that, with eyes unveiled, thou mayest perceive the truth of these words.

The Book of Certitude

Those words in bold, in the quote above, left me with awe. Unlike the Bahai, I do not interpret the “Crimson Pillar” to be a reference to the blood of martyred saints of the past. Instead, I realize it as the power of the inner Master. That calm and abiding force that is constantly guiding us from within.

The path of the Crimson Pillar, is one of self-reflection and dedication to the inner Master. It was Socrates who stated so eloquently that, “the unexamined life is not worth living.” We are not truly alive, if we simply become simulacrums of our parents, politicians and community. Therefore, one likely needs separation from the past influence that has created delusion. Once the separation is complete, one observes clearly what the guidance of the inner Master.

Let me define the word Master. I am not a Master. No human being is a spiritual Master, but all human beings have their own inner Master. In recent years this force was called “The Higher Self.” In ancient times the force was called “The Holy Spirit,” and Socrates referred to it as the “Daemon” (not to be confused with “demon.”) It may have many different names, yet it has one identity: it is our inner guide.

The Master is hard to follow because our ego personality, and our upbringing, has created interference. If you were to close your eyes, right now, without taking any moment to calm the mind and simply ask yourself, “what should I do today?” You’ll likely get several responses to the question. The ego mind is primed and ready to answer all your questions with rapidity. Using the brain, and psychology, it responds to situations with the level of logic and reasoning it has gained thus far. At times of stress, the ego will likely react within a fight or flight choice of action.

While the ego personality, if trained in logic and reason, is great at helping manage the affairs of the world – it lacks considerably when dealing with esoteric topics. It is the inner Master that is an alterative to the ego. Like the ego, the Master offers guidance, but unlike the ego, the source of truth the Master offers us comes from a much larger vantage point.

Our inner Master is everywhere, all at once. It is our bridge to union with the Source of all creation.

This is the Crimson Pillar: the uniquely individual path towards spiritual Truth – the unfolding Light of the Master.