Appreciating the Legendary Musician Orpheus - II

The Sacred Mountain Rila in Bulgaria; Maritza Lakes – the place of the Last Temple of Orpheus

In this Post I will desribe my mystical contact with the Spirit of Orpheus, my involvement with the sacred dance Paneurhythmy, my spiritual contact with A. N. Scriabin and my fascination with his monumental project for a dance-transfiguration. During the writing of my PhD thesis in Moscow in 1972, I often visited the Museum of Scriabin and became friendly with the curators there: one of them was the daughter of A.N. Scriabin himself and the wife of the great Russian pianist V. V. Sofronitsky. They were kind enough to open the personal library of Scriabin and to allow me to read from his personal books and manuscripts. Thus, I appreciated Scriabin’s interest in Theosophy, his deep philosophical ideas and his great project for sacred dance-transfiguration. Perhaps it was not by chance that the next year, 1973, I brought the sacred dance Paneurhythmy to Russia. Thus, the dream of Scriabin was fulfilled in an unexpected, but interesting way.

Everybody in Bulgaria has heard about Orpheus. He was born in, and is associated with, the Rodopi Mountain. The Master Beinsa Douno revealed that his last sanctuary was at the foot of the highest Rila Summit, Mussala, above the two Maritza Lakes. Studying music in Moscow, I was familiar with many legends about Orpheus but never heard his music. Below I will share an amazing story which happened to me in appreciating Orpheus music.

In the late 70's (most probably 1977) the Summer camp of the youth group in the Brotherhood was in the Mussala area, at the base of the picturesque rock called the Sphinx. Every morning we got up at 5.00 am and for about 40-45 minutes we climbed to the plateau, to the Sphinx, in order to meet the sunrise. This was one of the most picturesque and mystical panoramas for meeting the sunrise in this area (except from Mussala itself). After the sunrise we either did a Paneurhythmy in the area of the Sphinx or descended to the base camp for the activities of the day.

One evening I felt an impulse to visit the Orpheus sanctuary on the other side of Mussala above the Maritza Lakes. The next morning the weather was wonderful and the sunrise magnificent. After the Paneurhythmy there I suggested to friends to go to the Orpheus place but they had different plans for the day so I went alone.

In a good mood, surrounded by spectacular scenery, I started descending slowly from the Sphinx towards the Maritza valley. I heard the music of the brooks and underground waters but at some stage I heard wonderful flute music. I thought it was the music played by some shepherds or some tourists in the area, but, to my surprise I wasn't able to locate the source of the music. Continuing my descent I reached a most picturesque meadow on route to the valley where I decided to have a little prayer and meditation. The music continued to sound around me so I asked myself where it comes from and who is playing it. In my meditative state, little by little, I realised that I was listening to music recorded in the Akashic Chronicles and this was the music of Orpheus. Being a musician (a musicologist by education) I knew many composers and various musical epochs but I had never heard such music – with great softness, tenderness, subtle vibrations, connected with the soul of the player and the nature around.

It was a revelation for me and I felt extremely thankful for this Divine present – finally the music of Orpheus! In my sitting meditation I dissolved in this Divine music and soon the whole valley was filled with these sounds. Little by little it changed metaphysically and I was able to link with Orpheus, playing his magical music (on flute or harp), which had the ability to tame wild animals, to change the weather and to influence the destiny of people.

I spent more than one hour on this meadow in joy and ecstasy, dissolving in the music of Orpheus. During this time everything which I knew about him became alive and I had the feeling that I was entering into the world of Orpheus, lit by the solar mysteries, which he brought for the first time on Earth. Of course, an important part of the Orpheus story was his relationship with Eurydice, which, on a cultural level, was expressed in music by many great composers, in particular Gluck (in his opera Orpheus and Eurydice). Gluck’s music, without disturbing the original Orpheus music, started to sound in me as well.

I continued my descent towards the Maritza Lakes, completely immersed in the music of Orpheus and the spiritual world of the initiation which he brought on Earth. In this uplifted state I reached the lakes and there, between the first lake and the mountain there was a wonderful meadow surrounded by most picturesque "mythological" rocks (in the Brotherhood these rocks are called The Altars). Here, according to the Master Beinsa Douno, was the last Sanctuary of Orpheus. On this meadow I spent a few hours and I did a very joyful and deep prayer-meditation, appreciating the legendary musician Orpheus and the great Solar mysteries which he brought on Earth.

On this sacred place mystically I immersed in the sacred word of God – OM, the sacred vibration which upholds the whole of Creation: Before the world was created, the Word already existed; he was with God, and he was the same as God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. Through him God made all things. (John 1:1-3) The sacred word OM 'shines' with all colours of the rainbow, 'resounds' with the multitude of creative sounds and 'forms' the primal chord of Divine harmony between all worlds. In other words, OM is the key to the majestic Divine Ocean of light and to the great Divine harmony of the spheres. The sacred vibration of OM was in the Soul and Spirit of Orpheus and from this Primal Source his own music, poetry and songs originated. Merging with the Primal Source of Being, in Divine inspiration and creativity, Orpheus proclaimed:

Know thyself, and thou wilt know the Universe and the Gods!

This is the key to the Orpheus mysteries and it became the key to the whole ancient esoteric culture. Now, in line with the mysteries revealed to me by the Cosmic Christ, Orpheus was the first Initiate in the ancient European Culture who linked with the highest Divine World and the Solar Logos. His great love story with Eurydice was like a Wedding between the Universal Masculine and Feminine Principles, which had to elevate earthly life on to a new spiritual level. Eurydice symbolized the earthly life-giving Feminine energies; Orpheus was in contact with the Universal Masculine energies, with the Solar Logos. According to the story, Eurydice was bitten by a snake (which is a reminder of the Fall of Eve), while Orpheus looked back at her and thus he broke the promise and was unable to lead her from Hell (the Earthly life) towards the new Solar mysteries. As a result the impulse for the establishment of new Solar Mysteries on Earth did not materialise and Orpheus in great mourning lost Eurydice. Nevertheless the initiation of Orpheus still remains in the life of humankind. At the end of the Indo-European Cycle, when the mystery of the Second Coming will triumph, the Spirit of Orpheus will reunite with the Soul of Eurydice and they will establish the new Solar Mysteries, merging Heaven and Earth.

So, on this wonderful day I understood much more about Orpheus, his music and his mysteries, than during my entire life. I understood also the essence of the Orpheus principle in music which Scriabin was trying to revive and the Master Beinsa Douno activated in its great fullness and power. Of course, when I came back to the camp the same evening, I shared some of my mystical visions with friends.

This emotional story had a continuation after one month when the guide of the youth group, Brother Krum, a friend called Maria, and I went to a mountain house (Chakur Voivoda) in the same part of Rila to investigate some possibilities for future summer camps. It was a rainy afternoon and when we relaxed in the house, I shared with the friend, Sister Maria, my Orpheus journey (at this time Brother Krum was dozing). After I finished my sharing, Sister Maria was excited and told me that while I was speaking, she was seeing a light behind my head. Soon Brother Krum woke up and said: if you knew what an amazing dream I had just now: I saw Leon in an ancient Orpheus temple with the clothes of an Orpheus "priest", standing in front of a few hundred people and performing an Orpheus ceremony. We were amazed with these coincidences (my sharing, Sister Maria's vision of light behind me, and Brother Krum's dream) and we were sure that I had a real contact with the legendary musician Orpheus.