Householder

Householder

From our friend, Charles R.

The system comprises various descriptions of physical and psychological states. Center of gravity, body type, features, states of consciousness, and so on. One such state that may be applied to the physicality of the lower self as well as a psychological state is householder, also good householder. A good householder is someone who has scale and relativity to their internal and external environments. A good householder maintains and takes care of his or her instinctive needs, possessions, relationships with others and so on.

A well-tended garden, a tidy house, clean clothes, dishes washed, dried and put away, harmonious impressions, all these are aspects of good householder. The image of Willem de Langue by Willem van der Vliet is a quiet portrayal of a man who has his life - his household - in order. The expression on his face and his posture depicts his equanimity.

In relation to consciousness, good householder is reigning in the lower self, refraining from expressing negative emotions, rising above identifications and stopping imagination. We put our internal house in order. The steward then, is the good householder, preparing the way for higher centers. Introducing and prolonging presence takes precedence over all the external and inner efforts. Dishes may be left unwashed or beds unmade, carpets not vacuumed, gardens unattended. Then the precept ‘Self-remembering first, all else thereafter’ becomes our guiding principle.

Walt Whitman, who’s nickname was ‘The Grand Loafer’ offers us an interesting perspective on good householder:

Hast never come to thee an hour, A sudden gleam divine, precipitating, bursting all these bubbles, fashions, wealth? These eager business aims—books, politics, art, amours, To utter nothingness?

Here’s wishing all of us many hours of gleams divine….

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Willem de Langue (1599-1656), by Willem Willemsz van der Vliet (circa 1584-1642)