The Order of Joan of Arc

Editor's note: An order, the Concise Oxford Dictionary says, is "a fraternity of monks or friars, or formerly knights, who agree to be bound by a common rule." The Order of Joan of Arc is an order of spiritually-minded people who wish to commit to the order's principles and purposes and who wish to be inspired by the life of Joan of Arc. The following description of the Order of Joan of Arc has been written by Lama France Laplace Spence, who is the Order's First Knight and helps direct the work of the Order. The Order was established by members of The Theosophical Fellowship, but is open to all who agree with its purposes and wish to work within its energy. Groups of Order members work in Australia and Denmark at present. Inquiries about the Order are welcome; please see address at the end of this article.

In 1998, the impulse to externalise the work of the Society for Maitreya Theosophy and The Theosophical Fellowship came through. Thus was inspired the creation of various Orders or working groups, as members of the Fellowship were prompted to translate energy into action.

At the full moon of November 1998, just back from France after 15 years of absence from there, I had a 'vivid dream experience' which initiated the opening of the Order of Joan of Arc.

The Order gets its inspiration from a powerful archetypal image - Joan of Arc - symbolising justice and action, the power to change the world and to bring about balance, due to the rising of the receptive energy on the planet.

The originating impression for the opening of the Order of Joan of Arc came about thirteen years ago, at the time of the founding of Right Human Relations Fellowship. It issued from the Ashram of right human relations - which is an Ashram of communication - headed by the Lord DK. It may be useful to keep in mind that "an Ashram is an emanating source of hierarchical impression upon the world. Its 'impulsive energies' and its inciting forces are directed towards the expansion of the human consciousness..." (Discipleship in the New Age II, A. A. Bailey, p.36).

The purpose and objectives of the Order of Joan of Arc are worded succinctly in the Prayer of the Order (11/2/2000):

"Give us the boldness
To face evil in all its forms
With respect, with love and understanding"

(the full prayer is included at the end of this article)

The purpose of the Order of Joan of Arc is to dispel illusion, especially the illusion of the existence of an only materialistic world and nothing else, and dissipate the glamour of separateness created by eons of personality development.

"Give us the capacity to absorb the world sorrow."

The influence of the World Mother Office is felt in this specifically receptive activity.

"Give us the strength and resolution
To walk the Path of the Bodhisattva
May your loyalty and faith inspire us
So we may serve the Sons of God.
May your courage and perseverance guide us
So we may serve the Sons of Men.
May your mercy and devotion direct us
So we may serve Mother Earth."

In the above affirmations resides the Truth underlying the work and efforts of the Order, its very existence, and committing its members to supporting the expansion of consciousness in all sentient beings, the Bodhisattva Vows.

To do so, the Order of Joan of Arc is using a powerful force called Justice.

In our understanding, Joan of Arc stands for Justice. What is Justice? Justice is an aspect of the second ray energy of Love and Wisdom; it is therefore attractive and magnetic in essence. Justice maintains balance between the polarities. It comes from the interaction of an active force upon a passive receptive force. It is the principle of alignment and re-adjustment born with consciousness itself. It is the agent of right relationship, the principle of relatedness; it is the equilibrium in the universe, the harmony and beauty in nature. It is the bridge between spirit and matter. It governs action and its results, and everything, in its totality is the result of action.

Justice is the breathing mechanism, the movement of the universe.

Justice exists because we live in a world of duality and causality. Causes reveal themselves by the effects, and the effects are proportional to the causes. In everyday life, it is simply knowing that one can choose, physically to maintain a sane and healthy lifestyle, emotionally to control the selfish and negative urges when, for example, one opposes love to hatred, generosity to greed, sharing to grasping, calmness to violence, etc. And mentally, when one endeavours to learn to think and to take control of the thought process to create a harmless environment.

Choice, opportunity and action are what Justice offers.

One is aware of reality through experience. To realise is to make real, to 'matter-realise'. An idea realises itself in a thought which realises itself in an emotion and in the written and spoken word; it then translates and confirms itself into action which modifies the society and the world.

The objective of the Order of Joan of Arc is to stimulate and mobilise people of goodwill everywhere so that they realise their numerical strength, realise that they exist in the millions and represent a vast section of the thinking public, and that together they can create a world public opinion so outspoken on the side of human welfare that the leaders of the world will be required to listen and cooperate.

To fulfil its purpose and achieve its objectives, the Order of Joan of Arc uses prayer, meditation, visualisation, invocation, evocation, and healing, thus influencing the subtle levels of consciousness. To act upon the conscious mind, the Order uses teaching, writing, and public speaking, involving all means of communication and media. It also chooses direct action by getting involved in the life of the community and world affairs.

The Order of Joan of Arc will have, in the future, responsibility to make contact with world organisations, such as the United Nations, UNICEF, and other political, educational and welfare bodies to share ideas promoting right human relations and world unity.

Underlying the efforts of the Order of Joan of Arc is the aspiration to develop global awareness, a state of consciousness that eventually will lead every one of us to soul realisation and identification.

Current Activities of the Order of Joan of Arc

1. Monthly meetings, usually the 3rd Saturday, 7.30 pm-9.30 pm: prayer, meditation, decrees, discussion and/or group work
2. Weekly meditation/service on attracting money for the common good, Sunday,
   8.00 am-9.00 am
3. Ceremonial work

Examples of involvement of the Order or individuals within the Order in the life of the community

Working together with other groups and members of the local community:

1. Since 2000, Emily Jordan House Australia Inc. Fundraising activity to support a hospice for AIDS sufferers and the creation of an orphanage in the little town of Khagiso, South Africa. Activity initiated by Tulku Rose, a member of The Theosophical Fellowship.
2. Since April 2002, involvement with national action group Rural Australians for Refugees, to find humane solutions to the refugee crisis.
3. Since April 2002, involvement with local action group and the local 'green' member to stop clearfelling of the native forests in Victoria Central Highlands Region.
4. Since June 2002, involvement with different local Churches to open a food bank, Helping Hands Inc., in Hepburn Shire to provide emergency food relief to people in need.
5. Most recent project: a 'travelling' weekend workshop "Finding a Path with Heart and Mind" to be held for the first time in Canberra, Australia, in September 2002.

See also ...
Maitreya Theosophy on Justice, written by Ananda Tara Shan
Prayer of the Order of Joan of Arc

Correspondence about the Order of Joan of Arc should be directed to:

Lama France
dragons@netconnect.com.au
P.O. Box 300, Daylesford, Victoria 3460, Australia

Prayer of the Order of Joan of Arc

Ancient of Days, Son of the Sun, Queen of Heaven,
Through the Spirit of Joan of Arc come forth, O Mighty Ones
Three in One.

Joan, Sister Joan, come to us.
Through the heart of Fountain Blue, come to us.
Pure white and silvery light descend into our body.

Give us the boldness to face evil in all its forms,
with respect, with love and understanding.

Give us the capacity to absorb the world sorrow.
Give us the strength and resolution to walk the Path of the Bodhisattva.

May your loyalty and faith inspire us so we may serve the Sons of God.
May your courage and perseverance guide us so we may serve the Sons of Men.
May your mercy and devotion direct us so we may serve Mother Earth.

Let sacrifice be our motivation,
Fearlessness be our shield and protection,
Compassion be our foundation.
Help us unite with our soul
and with every living being and thing in the universe.

Light of our soul, we pray,
"May the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart
be always acceptable in thy sight, O Soul, our Lord, our Redeemer." *

Let the Lords of Liberation be reached by the Lion Hearted
Let the Rider on the White Horse be touched by the Dove Hearted
Let the Lord of Civilisation hear the call of the Men of Goodwill.
Three in One.

Thy Will be done, O Divine Father,
Thy Love be done, O Divine Brother and Sister,
Thy Light be done, O Divine Mother.

In the silence of the heart, I listen.
I commend us to God,
may He/She watch over us.
Peace in all.

*Prayer of the personality to the Soul given by the Lord D.K. in Discipleship in the New Age I, A.A. Bailey, p. 62.

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