Happy Birthday 2009 to Celtic Shaman Van "the Man" Morrison

by Robert Wilkinson

Today we celebrate the birthday of one of the great talents of our time, the amazing Van Morrison. Videos and more!

Last year's birthday celebration for this unique and amazing man included a host of great videos, While some of the classic performances are still good links, others have either been removed or link you to Van's site and the Astral Weeks Hollywood Bowl concert CD. Still, here's the link to Happy Video Birthday 2008 to Irish Keltic Shaman Van Morrison which will take you to youtube videos and many others I didn't link to last year.

Today I've included lyrics to a very profound song, "Dweller On The Threshold." from the "Beautiful Vision" album. In esoteric philosophy, the "Dweller On The Threshold" is a very potent concept of that energy which confronts us, terrifies us, and encourages us as we strive to break through to higher levels of awareness.

The Dweller on the Threshold is the sum total of all that holds us back, "haunting the thresholds" which all aspirants must cross as they move into ever higher levels of Initiate awareness. The Dweller is the accumulated karmas, fears, hesitancies, and astral residue of past behaviors which one who aspires to Initiation (from the First to the Jivanmukta) must face and conquer once and for all.

Think of it as those tendencies which once lived in our lives and were not confronted then, but remained dormant until the moment when we aspire to move into an eternal higher state of awareness. The Dweller is the body of echoes of past tendencies which we have not yet confronted but must if we are not to be held back by that which is no longer real.

The good news is that once we conquer the Dweller, it tranforms itself into "the Angel of the Presence." In the overcoming of fear of who we no longer are, we come to see it with Divine eyes. References to the Dweller are found in the works of HP Blavatsky and Alice A. Bailey, and it would seem from the lyrics that Van the Man has spent some time studying some of the teachings of these remarkable women.

In any case, Happy 2009 Birthday to Van Morrison, and many thanks for the many amazing tunes and mystical, magical lyrics throughout the decades. Thanks for daring to do your thing in your own way.

And now, for your consideration, "Dweller On The Threshold" by Van Morrison.

I'm a dweller on the threshold

And I'm waiting at the door

And I'm standing in the darkness

I don't want to wait no more

I have seen without perceiving

I have been another man

Let me pierce the realm of glamour

So I know just what I am

I'm a dweller on the threshold

And I'm waiting at the door

And I'm standing in the darkness

I don't want to wait no more

Feel the Angel of the Presence

In the mighty crystal fire

Lift me up consume my darkness

Let me travel even higher

I'm a dweller on the threshold

As I cross the burning ground

Let me go down to the water

Watch the great illusion drown

I'm a dweller on the threshold

And I'm waiting at the door

And I'm standing in the darkness

I don't want to wait no more

I'm gonna turn and face the music

The music of the spheres

Lift me up consume my darkness

When the midnight disappears

I will walk out of the darkness

And I'll walk into the light

And I'll sing the song of ages

And the dawn will end the night

I'm a dweller on the threshold

And I'm waiting at the door

And I'm standing in the darkness

I don't want to wait no more

I'm a dweller on the threshold

And I cross some burning ground

And I'll go down to the water

Let the great illusion drown

I'm a dweller on the threshold

And I'm waiting at the door

And I'm standing in the darkness

I don't want to wait no more

I'm a dweller on the threshold

Dweller on the threshold

I'm a dweller on the threshold

© Copyright 1982 Morrison, Murphy

Article © Copyright 2009 Robert Wilkinson

Comments

[Valerie]

WOW as usual your timing is impeccable. This song speaks to my condition. Thank you very much. There are moments when I feel I've gone totally mad. Going to my sister's funeral tomorrow and facing a myriad of sadness and confusion. Aside from the Mars and Pluto transits, I somehow think Saturn has something to do with it too. In Virgo just now near the cusp of the 8th house.

Interesting you should mention Helena Blavatsky and Alice Bailey, too. Time for me to go back for a review. Back INTO THE MYSTIC.

Happy Birthday Van the Man, whose music I adored since the beginning. :)

[Morlokk The Mage]

ASATHOR THX 1138 THC APOLLYON

“The world is not turning against us the world is turning with us, we JEDHI.”

Authenticate Archimedean Azimuth Avatar Avenger Affirmative Archangel AVP SPACE N’SPACE 1 Space n.SPACE Space, space n~SPACE 9 Space n-SPACE SPACE N+SPACE 1 Space n=SPACE SPACE N_SPACE 6 Space n*SPACE SPACE N(SPACE) 1 Space n’SPACE SPACE N.SPACE 3 Space n,SPACE SPACE N~SPACE 5 Space n-SPACE SPACE N+SPACE AI N=space a n_space face space n*SPACE SPACE N(SPACE) SP N’SPACE ME N.SPACE SPACE N,SPACE MOM SPACE N~SPACE AI N-space p n+space a n=space c n_space e space n*SPACE SPACE N(SPACE) P N’SPACE V N.SPACE A SPACE N,SPACE S N~space a n-space f n+space me space n=SPACE SPACE N_space leg n*space nah n(space) c n’space r space n.SPACE A SPACE N,SPACE AI N~space p n-space me space n+SPACE SPACE N=space e n_space v n*space it n(space) am n’space r n.space n,SPACE I N~space ff space n-SPACE A SPACE N+SPACE S N=space p n_space a n*space c n(space) e space n’SPACE SPACE N.space re n,space g n~space ne n-space v space n+SPACE A SPACE N=SPACE AI N_space a n*space f n(space) me space n’SPACE SPACE N.space rat n,space n~SPACE AV SPACE N-space n+SPACE S N=space a n_space face space n*SPACE SPACE N(space) ht n’space u n.space mi n,space z space n~SPACE A SPACE N-SPACE 1916135 Space n+SPACE SPACE N=space n_SPACE NA N*space e n(space) de n’space mi n.space h n,space c n~space r space n-SPACE A SPACE N+SPACE AI N=space a n_space f n*space ace space n(SPACE) SPACE N’space et n.space ac n,space it n~space ne n-space ht n+space u space n=SPACE A SPACE N_SPACE Sp n*space me space n(SPACE) SPACE N’SPACE A N.SPACE I N,SPACE P N~SPACE A N-SPACE C N+SPACE E N=SPACE SPACE N_SPACE ONE SPACE N*SPACE S N(space) a n’space f n.space me space n,SPACE SPACE N~SPACE Au n-space then n+space tic n=space ate space n_SPACE AI N*space p n(space) me space n’SPACE SPACE N.SPACE Arc n,space hi n~space me n-space d n+space ea n=space n space n_SPACE S N*space p n(space) ace space n’SPACE SPACE N.SPACE A N,space z n~space n-SPACE I N+space m n=space u n_space t n*space h space n(SPACE) AI N’space a n.space f n,space me space n~SPACE SPACE N-SPACE Av n+space a n=space tar space n_SPACE S N*space a n(space) f n’space ace space n.SPACE Space, space n~SPACE Av n-space eng n+space e n=space r space n_SPACE 1916135 Space n*SPACE SPACE N(SPACE) A N’space f n.space firm n,space at n~space iv n-space e space n+SPACE AI N=space a n_space f n*space ace space n(SPACE) SPACE N’SPACE Arch n.space angel space n,SPACE S N~space p n-space me space n+SPACE SPACE N=SPACE A N_SPACE VP SPACE N*SPACE AI N(space) p n’space ace space n.SPACE Space, space n~SPACE S N-SPACE A N+SPACE F N=SPACE ME N_SPACE SPACE N*SPACE MUM SPACE N(SPACE) AI N’space p n.space me space n,SPACE SPACE N~SPACE S N-SPACE P N+SPACE A N=SPACE C N_SPACE E N*SPACE SPACE N(SPACE) Authentic n’space ate space n.SPACE Space, space n~SPACE SPACE N-SPACE Arch n+space n=SPACE I N_space me n*space dean space n(SPACE) AI N’space a n.space f n,space me space n~SPACE SPACE N-SPACE Azimuth space n+SPACE S N=space a n_space f n*space ace space n(SPACE) SPACE N’SPACE A N.space vat n,space a n~space r space n-SPACE 1916135 Space n+SPACE SPACE N=SPACE Avenge n_space r space n*SPACE AI N(space) a n’space face space n.SPACE Space, space n~SPACE Affirmative space n-SPACE S N+space p n=space me space n_SPACE SPACE N*SPACE Arc n(space) hang n’space n.SPACE EL SPACE N,space n~SPACE AI N-space p n+space ace space n=SPACE SPACE N_SPACE AV N*SPACE P SPACE N(SPACE) S N’SPACE A N.SPACE F N,SPACE ME N~SPACE SPACE N-SPACE COSMOS SPACE N+SPACE AI N=space p n_space me space n*SPACE SPACE N(SPACE) SPACE N’SPACE SPACE N.SPACE Authenticate Archimedean Azimuth Avatar Avenger Affirmative Archangel AVP 1916135 AIAFACE SPME AIPACE SAFME AIPME SPACE AIAFME SAFACE: Whole new ball game it certainly shall be once this grand game of living life is final. What shall actually transpire being anyone’s guess, all that we do know is that those who have scored highest points be certainly consigned to the history books. Actual winners of this game definitely know being individuals who have so taken everything out of living life that they could have possibly a gotten out of the numbered lifetimes that they have lived life just for themselves justified so for themselves.

HIM WIZARD OF OZ AUSSIE MORLOKK THE MAGE

[ryn]

.....and from the unparallelled concert recording of all time - A Night in San Francisco - "I Forgot That Love Existed"
I forgot that love existed troubled in my mind.
Heartache after heartache, worried all the time.
I forgot that love existed
Then I saw the light
Everyone around me make everything alright.

Oh, oh Socrates and Plato they
Praised it to the skies.
Anyone who's ever loved
Everyone who's ever tried.

If my heart could do my thinking
And my head begin to feel
I would look upon the world anew
And know what's truly real.

such a gift to us all....

[Wendy]

YES!!!! Robert this is so perfect!!!! Thanks for making my day more Heavenly within a lot of hell.
Reminds me of the song The Reaper. I've had to jump and fly so many times.
I really love you're teachings,
Wendy

[cathy cataldo]

Thank you for such a beautiful memory I will find this tape when I get of line.I'm packed again!! I remember jumping around and dancing and singing to sweet thing.Another era another "grow old again". BUT not today!! I have been true blue, He is the man.

[Morvah]

Thanks Robert, A Shaman indeed! Straight to the heart - so many rich memories
Shanti

[WarriorLady]

Thank you. Love Van Morrison! My brother-in-law saw him in concert, once. His tale? Morrison went on stage, performed and walked off without a word-- ha-ha!

I love that story.

[harbeena]

not sure if you know this, but we're in the midst of the ganpati festival in india... it's a celebration of ganesha - the lord of thresholds, remover of obstacles and son of shiva the creative destroyer & parvati (embodiment of life force shakti)

[Sue Moon]

Could Morlokk the Mage perhaps choose to keep his posts to something we could understand and be a little more relevant?

[Robert]

Hi Valerie - "G-L-O-R-I-I-I-I--- G-L-O-R-I-A..." Yes, discovering the lyrics to the Dweller confirmed that was the thing to write about. Van is truly a Western Shaman of the most excellent type, even if he doesn't care much what others think or have thought his entire career. All good prayers for your sister navigating the Bardo with ease releasing all fear and confusion. Saturn often has some association with significant deaths, since they are non-negotiable, like Saturn. There are times to review the source material, since they are touchstone jewels in this superficial era.

Hi Morlokk - I've allowed many redundant posts, esp. if they contain something the community may learn from. However, at this point, you must truncate your comments, or I will. I've allowed a lot of n-SPACE SPACE etc. content in prior comments, and comparing some of them, it doesn't seem you're adding much of value. And of course, words others can understand are always welcome.

Hi ryn - Yes, the man moondances under love's orb reflecting the needs and feelings of all throughout the ages. That's why he touches so many so deeply.

Hi Wendy - Remembering the eternals helps us refocus. "Don't fear the reaper...." Glad it all resonates.

Hi Cathy - He does inspire many of us to remember things we never thought, to feel things from a timeless time, and embrace going "into the mystic." "and it touched me to my Soul...."

Hi Morvah - Across the decades he never ceases to amaze me. Each time I think he's disappeared, he returns with a new face, a new sound, a new message, delivered with the same power as G-L-O-R-I-A Glor-ia....

Hi WarriorLady - Yes, I hear he's a bit shy. Of course, Jimi used to play entire sets with his back to the audience.

Hi harbeena - Yes, Lord Ganesha is familiar to me since he's my son in a curious sort of way. May the dispenser of blessings and the remover of obstacles bless all who are seeking the Highest with righteousness, and place obstacles in the path of those who would harm the servants of Dharma. Aum Namah Shivaya!

Hi Sue Moon - He's very enthusiastic, no? I hope my reminder can help him to communicate more effectively with this community. "Everybody's talking about Mages and sages and rabbis and popeyes and byebyes and byebyes....." (with all thanks to a dead Saint!)

[Valerie]

Thank you again... :)

[RJ]

Thanks Robert. I was out celebrating my own birthday on the 31st (8/31/1962, 2:10 a.m. Boulder CO). I didn't know much about Van Morrison 27 or so years ago when I pulled Beautiful Vision out of the bin at the record store. I'd heard Moondance, Wavelength and Brown Eyed Girl and a few other songs and liked them. I didn't realize it at the time, but the record was part of a series of events that opened up a deeper and more meaningful experience of life for me. I didn't find out till much later when they announced on the radio that Van and I shared a birthday. My experience as a Virgo has had its share of loneliness and feelings of being unwanted. Van also has a song called Virgo Clowns from the His Band and Street Choir that has often helped bring joy back to my heart.

[Jeanette Squires]

Dearest Robert, just a big thank-you have not commented for ages have been checking in though and have gained strength here....have been a fan of the man for so long ....his songs touch the soul and have saved many lives....have been grieving the loss of my brother...its a godsend to have such soulful,inspirational music to heal with....thanks giverny x