“The Heavenly Spheres make music for us,
The Holy Twelve dance with us,
All things join in the dance!
Ye who dance not, know not what we are knowing.” 
― Gustav Holst

I found this quote while browsing the web.

As a student/scholar/Theosophist of Theosophy what does this quote mean to you? 

Do you have your own quote that you would like to share with the community here?

A while back ago I read somewhere: 

When there are two Theosophist in a room there are three that are doing the thinking.

Does that ring true to you?

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Is this from his composition, taken from Gnostic literature, about the Dance/Hymn of Jesus?

John 

(Gospel of Mary Magdalene - memory may be wrong/off).

"Acts of John"

The dance was put to music by Holst. I think the words are different here. I would be surprised if they are not talking about the same passage. I do not know for sure.

the Hymn of Jesus taken from the Acts of John is on this album:

Holst - Various Works

There are several items from the RigVeda, Savitri etc.

I like some Classical music, however Holst is just not my type of composer. (I am more chamber music - Bach etc.)

His works are nearly Church-like, opera-like, choirs...

"Planets" is his most famous work - a work based on the planets in astrology.. i.e. his interpretation.

As to what I think of the quote:

He is talking of the heavenly planetary spheres of astrology, the twelve apostles, and the gnostic union/dance "Ye who dance not, know not what we are knowing" -- Gnostic Christian Epiphany.

I think he was a friend of GRSMead  (no known relation on my side).

I think the quote is referring to astrology w.r.t. heavenly spheres. The twelve refers to the apostles. So, I interpret it as a gnostic/christian statement.

His musical hymns are a separate issue. (just my take on it).

I have no insight on this. However - it seems to possibly give a hint at the origins of Gnostic Christianity (WAG). The Aeons were unlimited in separate parts of the limitless Pleroma. I admit to be out of my scope here....

I thought the oldest hymns were Vedic (Rig Veda - in particular). (?)

Much of the Greek Mathematics (mystery schools) were more interested in proportions, geometries etc. The outside world was a key to the divine "above". Studying it brought them closer to absolute perfection appearing via the mundus imaginalis of mind. This is classic theosophy (Divine/mind/external hieroglyphs in nature). The forms, shapes, symmetries, relationships are everywhere and appear as more than mere coincidence -  more like a lot of synchronicity, hieroglyphs ... God perceived by mind through the lower. (Hermetically - as below, so above; as above, so below. i.e. classic bi-directional path)

The above is somewhat my personal view on this.... 

 yes, it's all about learning to dance... any more words will keep us sitting, so I just say: let's dance!

Time to convert and join the Mevlevi Sufi order of Islam.

BTW - did you have any comments on the quote? (getting back to topic).

My point was that the cosmic dance is found in many forms and across very different religions. Ferran pointed to the cosmic dance in what is basically a Gnostic Christian quote. I was pointing out we could be talking Sufi as well. i.e. noting a universal similarity was my intent. I had no intent to propose a conversion of religions....

It is my fault... I should have put a <g> after the "convert" statement.

I apparently struck a nerve - not my intent at all.

I apologize for confusion and any harm it did.

   John

 Hi, friends!

 yes, I was betting on my mind that John would bring any reference, serious or not, just not to dance, so it's OK

 I just point out that if you are to dance, do it!

 Bruce Lee had been a champion of cha-cha-cha and when he was asked about a "Chinese" or "Western" way of fighting he said that this distinction was rubbish, only if Chinese people had three arms, then there'd be a Chinese way of fighting... so it doesn't matter the style, school or tradition, what does matter is movement!!!

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