Tonsure, which was a fundamental part of rituals in Christianity, was banned in the year 1972. But do you know the history behind the religious tonsure? Was it just a ritual or was there a religious idea behind this custom? Read on through to the end to know-
- Origin of tonsure
- Why was it abandoned
- Theosophical view on tonsuring.
- Practice of tonsure in various cultures.
Tonsuring is the act of clipping off hair from the center of the head leaving some portion of it surrounding the head.
Tonsure was a religious practice that was widely followed in the seventh and eighth centuries. In this practice, Christian religious monks would shave the top of their head to show their purity.
A tonsure marked the entrance into a new stage of their religious development.
How did tonsure originate?
According to Encyclopedia of Hair: Cultural History, partial shaving may have its roots in ancient Egypt and Greece who worshipped the sun god. The men shaved a circular portion on top of their heads bald to honor the sun god. Similarly, higher monks of the ancient period left a narrow crown of hair around their heads. They believed it signified the crown of thorns placed on Jesus Christ’s head at the time of crucifixion.
The unique style called tonsure gets its name from the Latin word tondere, meaning – “to shear” or shave. The Roman Catholic Churches made it mandatory for all monks to adopt this hairstyle.
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, “A tonsure is a sacred rite by which a baptized and confirmed Christian is received into the clerical order by a shearing of his hair.”
Members of the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church wore the tonsure, claiming that its origins go back to the time of Jesus Christ. Began in the early sixteenth century, the ritual was in trend until the Roman Catholic Church abolished the practice of tonsure in 1972.
The New York Times in the year 1972 states that tonsure was discontinued as a part of various reforms that took place in the same year by the higher orders of the Roman Church.
Here’s a theosophical reason behind the tonsure…
The importance of having the top pat of the head shaved has something to do with our Etheric centre. There are various Etheric centres present in our etheric body called the etheric chakras. These chakras absorb Prana (Vitality) present in the atmosphere and provide this Life Energy to our bodies. One such etheric chakra is located at the top of the head known as the crown chakra. It is one of the major entry points of Prana.
What does the crown chakra do?
- It is a spiritual cord which connects the individual from the divine energy.
- When it develops, it enables the person to reach the full potential of his/her astral life. All of this, while having full consciousness in his physical body.
According to The Nature of the Energy Body, authored by Grand Master Choa Kok Sui, Founder of Modern Pranic Healing and Archaic Yoga, the crown chakra performs the following functions:
- Energizing the crown chakra has the effect of energizing the whole body
- Facilitates harmonizing and normalizing of other chakras.
- Therefore, healing is usually proceeded from the crown chakra even if the affected part is somewhere else.
Theosophy believes that the real reason for tonsure, as practiced by the Roman Catholic Church, was to uncover the Brahmarandra chakra or the crown chakra (also referred to as the Sahasrara Chakra). The belief being that a tonsure cleared the way of divine force entering the etheric body.
During meditation, the psychic forces of the individual tend to awaken. Hence, to ensure no hindrance in this divine intervention, a tonsure was worn by the Catholic monks of the olden times.
Interested to know more about the crown chakra and ways to develop it? Check out our latest Module on the Etheric Chakras and learn ways to explore your Astral life to the fullest!
We however believe that the tuft of hair may not be a significant barrier to the downpour of spiritual energy into the crown chakra.
Practice of tonsure in various cultures
There are different shapes of tonsures based on the pattern such as clerical, baptismal, and monastic.
- The Roman tonsure involved shaving the whole head, except a fringe of hair symbolizing the crown of thorns; or a small round area at the crown of the head.
- In the Eastern tonsure, the whole head was shaved. They later considered the tonsure where the hair is even close to a clean shave.
- In the Celtic tonsure, all the hair in front of a line drawn over the top of the head from ear to ear was shaved.
It is also frequently used for Buddhist novices and monks. It exists as a traditional practice in Islam after completion of the Hajj and is also practiced by several Hindu religious orders.
If the thought-form is directed towards another person, it will go to that person. Either of two effects may then result. (1) If in the aura of the person concerned there is material capable of responding sympathetically to the vibration of the thought-form, then the thought-form will remain near the person, or even in his aura, and, as opportunity serves, automatically discharge itself, thus tending to strengthen in the person that particular rate of vibration. If the person [Page 49] at whom a thought form is aimed happens to be busy, or already engaged in some definite train of thought, the thought form, being unable to discharge itself into the man’s mental body, which is already vibrating at a certain determinate rate, hangs in the vicinity until the man’s mental body is sufficiently at rest to permit its entrance, when it immediate discharges itself.
In doing this it will display what appears like a very considerable amount of intelligence and adaptability, though really it is a force acting a long the line of least resistance – pressing steadily in one direction all the time, and taking advantage of any channel that it can find. Such elementals can, of course, be strengthened and their life-period extended by repetition of the same thought.
If, on the other hand, there is in the person’s aura no matter capable of response, then the thought-form cannot affect it at all. It will therefore rebound from it, with a force proportional to the energy with which impinged upon it, and return to and strike its creator.
Thus, for example,the thought of the desire for drink could not enter the body of a purely temperate man. It would strike upon his astral body, but it could not penetrate and it would then return to the sender.
The old saying that “Curses (to which might be added blessings) come home to roost” conveys this truth and explains cases where, as many have known, evil thoughts directed to a good and highly advanced man affect such a man not at all, but re-act, sometimes with terrible and devastating effect, on their creator. Hence also the obvious corollary that a pure heart and mind are the best protection against inimical assaults of feeling and thought.
On the other hand, a thought-form of love and of desire to protect, strongly directed to some beloved objects, acts as a shielding and protecting agent : it will seek all opportunities to serve and defend, will [Page 50] strengthen friendly forces and weaken unfriendly ones, that impinge on the aura. It may protect its objects from impurity, irritability, fear, etc.
Friendly thoughts and earnest good wishes thus create and maintain what is practically a “guardian angel” always at the side of the person thought of, no matter where he may be. Many a mother’s thoughts and prayers, for example, have given assistance and protection to her child. They may often be seen by clairvoyants, and in rare cases they may even materialise and become physically visible.
It is thus apparent that a thought of love sent from one person to another involves the actual transference of a certain amount both of force and of matter from the sender to the recipient.
If the thought is sufficiently strong, distance makes absolutely no difference to it: but a weak and diffused thought is not effective outside a limited area.
Herein lies the highest and best part of the belief in answers to prayer. On the higher planes there is an infinite flood of force always ready and waiting to be poured through when a channel is offered. A thought of perfectly unselfish devotion provides such a channel, the grandest and noblest part of such a thought ascending to the Logos Himself. The response from Him is a descent of the divine life, resulting in a great strengthening and uplifting of the maker of the channel, and the spreading all about him of a powerful and beneficent influence, which flows through the reservoir that exists on the higher planes for the helping of mankind. It is this adding to the reservoir of spiritual force which is the truth in the catholic idea of works of supererogation. The Nirmânakâyas are especially associated with this great reservoir of force.
“May God Bless You!”
How many times have you blessed someone?
Receiving and giving a blessing can be described as two out of the world feelings!
But, why does it feel so good to give a blessing and to receive one?
Brahma Kumari Shivani ji talks about blessing and curse, as a thought. A thought, which may be good or evil.
Do blessings really work?
If they do, then do curses work too?
(blessing – now commonly used like a greeting, but it remains to be deep and of value only when its meant to be said)
Do you know what initiates a blessing and how does it work on the receiver?
Are blessings mere good thoughts about a person, or is there Divine intervention in these spoken words?
We give high regards to the blessings received from a Master, a guru or a devotee. Did you know, that we all are equally capable of blessing someone?
Arthur E. Powell, in his book The Astral Body says that, On the higher planes there is an infinite flood of force always ready and waiting to be poured through when a channel is offered.
This channel is no one else, but us. We choose to act as the channel for higher forces to flow through us, when we bless someone.
Did you know that you can choose to deny a curse and not let you affect at all?
And when you do so, this curse is redirected to the creator of the curse! Now let’s see how does that happen?
As we know a curse or a blessing are nothing but a form of thought that is created and directed to a person. This thought can bear two effects on the receiver:
- If a person’s aura has capable matter to respond to the emitted thought form, the person is likely to get affected. For example, a thought form sent out to hurt a person physically who is violent or careless in nature is like to get hurt. This effect can be delayed if the aura of the person is busy.
- If a person does not have capable matter to respond to the emitted thought form, this thought form bounces back with the same energy as it was emitted to its creator. This means that a person with no violent or careless attitude cannot be hurt and the thought of hurting them will strike on the creator of thought form! (elaborate)
- If a person’s aura has capable matter to respond to the emitted thought form, the person is likely to get affected. For example, a thought form sent out to hurt a person physically who is violent or careless in nature is like to get hurt. This effect can be delayed if the aura of the person is busy.
This reminds me of the old saying, “Curses come home to roost!”
This mechanism simply applies to the fact that, a curse directed towards a good and highly advanced person doesn’t affect him/her at all but has a devastating effect on its creator!
Hence, a pure heart and mind are the most powerful protection against any harm on ourselves!
On the other hand, a thought of love and protection sent out to a beloved one will find its way to serve, defend and will strengthen friendly thoughts and weaken unfriendly thoughts that reside in the aura.
There are few examples of these thought forms coming into effect in physical form or being visible to Clairvoyants.
- Talk about mother’s love and how it reflects
- Talk about blessings working without any distance barrier
- Examples of these blessings
- Talk about BK Shivani
- How blessing has become common and holds no value when said it without intentions
- A common man can also be a source of giving out a blessing or a curse
- Talk about different form of blessing or curse
- Describe role of astral body
- The outpour of energy and us acting as a medium – giving out blessings
- Conclusion
where does the power of blessings come down on us?
It is believed that on the higher planes there are ample amount of energy waiting to come down on lower planes. When someone blesses a person, this energy flows to the lower planes through the creator of blessing as a medium to transmit this energy.
Bk Shivani
In our day to day life, the value and deepness of blessing has diminished. When we usually say “God bless you” when someone sneezes it has zero to no value because there is not emotional connect or meaning to it. Similary when you wish someone a good day, most of the times its just out of courtesy and people don’t really mean it. When a blessing like this is given out, it contains no value to it as it was said with no intent.
A blessing to work has to felt deeply, with true intentions. Such a blessing will always make its way to serve the receiver.
- It is a spiritual cord which connects the individual from the divine energy.
- When it develops, it enables the person to reach the full potential of his/her astral life. All of this, while having full consciousness in his physical body.
2.distane as barrier of blessing
It is said that the power of blessing knows no distance. Blessings can be transmitted to the person who lives across the globe and will have the same effect as if they were close. But a weak form of thought, or a weak blessing will only be limited to an area.
Have you heard about sensitive souls hearing voices in their head out of nowhere?
Ever heard someone calling out your name, only to realize there was no one around?
Or do you recall hearing weird noises yourself?
Have you wondered what kind of noises are these? Where do these voices come from? Why do only some people experience it?
These sounds come from the astral plane! It connects to only some people. This happens when entities from the astral world try to communicate with those living on the physical plane. People who can hear these sounds that no one can are gifted with the power of clairaudience!
The Etheric body helps in creating impressions coming from the astral plane on the conscious minds of people and they begin to hear voices and weird sounds in their head.
Hearing sounds and voices from the astral plane is possible in three conditions:
- When the person possesses consciously controlled power.
When you are able to hear voices from the astral plane and can consciously control this power of hearing, it is known as clairaudience.
CLAIRAUDIENCE is the supernatural ability to perceive spiritual messages that others cannot hear. It is also known as the power of hearing. It is a special gift of hearing voices from the astral world that are not audible to ordinary people. These voices speaking to a person often work as your spiritual guides that help your soul to develop.
Constantly hearing voices in one’s mind can drive a person crazy! Imagine trying to speak to someone, or concentrating on a book, and hearing disturbing noises in your head continuously. Scary isn’t it? But someone who can control these voices and receive guidance from them can truly be called a clairaudient. While some are born clairaudients, others develop their psychic powers using various practices to be able to do so.
You might be blessed with the gift of clairaudience, if you hear chattering sounds in your head, a sound of music, or someone talking to you, and suggesting you something.
According to the Bible, after spending several months speaking to God on Mount Sinai, God gave Moses two stone tablets inscribed by the very finger of God. The tablets contained the Ten Commandments of the bible that form the basis of a Christian’s relationship with God. The Ten Commandments given to Moses by God proves the clairaudient power of Moses.
Taking an example from the Mahabharata; it is written that the charioteer of king Dhritarashtra – Sanjay, was blessed with the powers of clairvoyance and clairaudience. He was given the powers to see and hear what was happening in the Kurukshetra war and narrate the same to the visually impaired king.
Thus we see that when a developed soul directs the power of clairaudience, it can be used gainfully for the general good
2. When the person has a sensitive soul.
Some people are born with sensitive souls. Such people often sense someone calling them or speaking to them. Entities from the astral world easily connect to sensitive souls on the physical plane. That is why they try to communicate to those people more often.
Many horror movies like namely Annabelle and the Conjuring series show examples of sensitive souls.
Another example from the popular movie “The Conjuring” is based on the true paranormal experiences of Ed and Lorraine Warren. The movie shows Lorraine hearing voices of demonic entities communicating with her and calling out for help. Lorraine is thus a clairvoyant as well as a clairaudient in the movie.
In The Conjuring, Janet carries the same kind of sensitive soul. That is why the evil spirits keep harassing her more than anyone else in her family.
The movie Annabelle also shows little girl Janice having a sensitive soul. The demonic spirit in the doll draws her near the door and it opens to all unfortunate incidents.
3. Tearing of the atomic web
The school of Theosophy believes, we possess something called as an atomic web. An atomic web is like a shield that protects and filters elements from the astral world entering in the etheric world. It prevents the astral elements from exposing our physical consciousness to things we cannot see or hear.
Substances like drugs, tea or other intoxicants, extreme stress, trauma or even an outburst of excitement, cause damage to the atomic web. When the web tears, it allows thoughts from the astral plane to directly enter the etheric plane. This is when the man starts hallucinating.
A hallucinating person does not have developed psychic powers, so there are chances that these voices may take control of him. Under the influence of the dominating voices, he may cause any danger to himself or those around him.
A schizophrenic often has similar complaints about experiencing voices or visions that others cannot see or hear. As stress, drug addiction or other factors damage his atomic web, he is exposed to contents from the astral plane that causes hallucination.
Have your dear ones ever experienced hearing any kind of sound that inaudible to others? Share your ideas with us in the comments below!
If this spiritual blog helped in increasing your knowledge about clairaudience, don’t forget to share your views with us.
Would you like to learn in detail about clairaudience and clairvoyance?
We highly recommend you to study Module 9 of our course on The Etheric Double by Arthur E Powell which explains both those concepts and more on etheric sight!
Have you heard that people whose limbs have been amputated feel pain at the extremities of the amputated limb?
This continuous painful sensation of the missing limb after amputation is known as phantom limb pain.
You would probably imagine that if someone’s limb were to be unfortunately amputated, that limb would cease to exist entirely, with no sensation left behind. Right?
However, scientific research concludes otherwise!
As per the International Encyclopedia of the Social & Behavioral Sciences, 2001, 90% of the amputees have experienced pain in the extremities of their amputated limb. 60-70% of amputees report pain for up to one year after the amputation, but then it reduces over time.
Spooky much?
So what does science have to say about this?
Unfortunately, science has no definite answer to what causes phantom limb pain, yet. It however attempts to explain this in the following manner:
Renowned medical science website, WebMD says,
“Researchers don’t know exactly what causes phantom limb pain. One possible explanation: Nerves in parts of your spinal cord and brain “rewire” when they lose signals from the missing arm or leg. As a result, they send pain signals, a typical response when your body senses something is wrong”
So basically, when the brain/spinal cord is getting rewired to account for the missing limb, it senses something wrong, and sends the “pain” signal.
So are there any real life stories of the phantom limb syndrome?
People have reported terrifying episodes of phantom limb pain such as:
A man suffering from paralysis with a complete lesion of the spinal cord described painful and itchy feeling in the lower part of his lost foot. He could feel extreme pain in his knees and toes after amputation.
Similarly, a young man who became paraplegic after a car accident described waking up to the pain in his toes as though the nail on one toe was growing into another.
Another patient expressed a sensation of being invaded by insects, not only crawling all over his skin, but also through his veins.
Medical science has no specific drugs to treat phantom limb pain. But medicines for other conditions such as depression or epilepsy are expected to bring certain relief. Apart from the anti-depressants there are other non-drug therapies that help in easing the pain.
Isn’t it scary? So are there any answers to this query at all?
In school of Theosophy, this topic is addressed in a book called, “The Etheric Double” by Arthur E. Powell.
The book mentions that all substances on earth have a “phantom” body which is also called the “etheric body”. This body is a duplicate of the physical visible body. Hence, this is also referred to as the Etheric Double!
It has various roles, of which the key role is to be an intermediary between the physical visible body and to say for simplicity sake, the mind.
The physical body receives sensations, while the mind perceives it. The mind initiates action / motion / reaction, and the body follows the instructions of the mind.
Therefore, any sensation of pain or reaction to external stimuli will be passed on to the mind. This passage of stimuli occurs through the etheric body!
Let’s understand this Etheric body a bit more before we understand why the pain in the amputated part.
While the etheric matter is invisible in ordinary sight it is purely ‘physical’ in nature. This means it can be affected by cold, heat or even by powerful acids. The connection between the physical body and the etheric body is so strong that injuries caused on etheric body can be visible on the physical body.’
Now, coming to the moot question –
When a person’s limb is amputated, his / her physical limb is removed. However, its etheric counterpart remains intact. This etheric counterpart continues to be affected by the surrounding stimuli, leading to sensations as if the limb still existed.
Thus, as the etheric part stays attached to the rest of the body till it is physically removed, it gives out the sensations when something affects the limbs. So any pain felt in the etheric arm, will send signals to the physical brain.
To make sure the sensations are not transmitted from the astral centre to the physical brain, the etheric matter of that part must be removed. Once the connection between the dense physical body and the astral body is broken, the sensations will cease. It is also possible to drive out a patient’s own etheric matter from, say an arm or a leg, for complete anesthesia in the limb.
The possibility of utilizing knowledge of etheric phenomena for purposes of Pranic healing, mesmerism and hypnotism is limitless. In particular, the use of mesmerism to produce anesthesia for surgical or other purposes, in place of ether, gas, or chloroform is often recommended.
Now you know the true cause of phantom limb pain! With complete knowledge about the etheric body and its connection with the physical body, the topic surely isn’t as spooky anymore.
If your loved ones have experienced similar sensations, share the experience with us in the comments section below.
Share with us your feedback on the blog.
Hello, soon-to-be mum! We know you want to ensure the healthy growth of your baby and that’s why we have written about a very important and often neglected aspect of pregnancy: the mother’s thoughts and emotions.
This must be a very exciting time for you. I am sure you are taking care of your health, consuming all nutritious foods essential for the growth of your baby, doing your physical exercises regularly, all to welcome a healthy and happy child in the world.
Along with a good physical health, you shouldn’t miss on this important thing. As a mother, you also need to have positive thoughts, for a healthier growth of your child!
Experts and studies suggest that positive thoughts of a mother and a healthy environment can shape the body of the baby and nurture it during pregnancy.
So how are your emotions connected to your baby in the womb?
According to research, soon after conception a level of consciousness exists in the embryo. As the fetus develops, its subconscious stores information to prepare it for its mother’s environment.
By the sixth month, your child can hear and move in rhythm to your voice. Imagine the difference in influence this has if you sing happily or yell in anger.
The unborn child adapts and perceives a lot of things from the external world while it is still in the womb.
Even the Hindu scriptures speak of this phenomenon, through its various epics.
Abhimanyu and the Chakravyuha
This is the story of Abhimanyu, the courageous son of the great Arjuna, from the Mahabharata. Lord Krishna was Abhimanyu’s maternal uncle. He used to narrate his adventures to amuse his sister Subhadra, when she was pregnant.
One such time, Krishna was narrating his experience with the technique of breaking Chakravyuha, which is a military formation, effectively used for defence at the battlefield. While Krishna was narrating this technique to Subhadra, she fell asleep. Seeing that she was taking a sweet nap, Krishna stopped narrating the secret to exit the Chakravyuha and left it midway.
This whole time, Abhimanyu, was listening to the story in his mother’s womb, and he carefully preserved the technique in his memory. Sadly, Abhimanyu could only hear as much as Krishna narrated, which was about half of the technique.
Years later, during the Mahabharata war, Abhimanyu was faced by this Chakravyuha in a war with the Kauravas. Although he entered it successfully, he couldn’t exit it without the complete knowledge of the technique. Nevertheless, he attempted to break through, and eventually met his end.
While this is an extreme example, it highlights the importance of how the healthy mental growth of a baby begins even before it is born, while still in its mother’s womb. Recent scientific findings prove that babies can indeed hear from inside their mother.
Let us look at another example that tells us what a child learns and perceives from the mother’s womb.
Ashtavakra sage
The story of Ashtavakra is narrated in the Ramayana.
A sage named Uddalaka had a disciple named Kahola. Uddalaka offered his daughter Sujata in marriage to Kahola. After a few years, Sujata became pregnant. During her pregnancy, Sujata spent good amount of time in the ashram with her father and Kahola.
The child in her womb therefore learned many Vedas and Vedic mantras. One day Kahola was reciting Vedic Mantras at night. His baby who was still in the womb, said that he was making eight errors in each Vedic mantra.
Kahola was enraged by this and he cursed the child to be born with eight deformed body parts (feet, knees, hands, chest and head). Because of his deformities Uddalaka named him Ashtavakra. Later, he grew up to be wise man and his curse was lifted because of his sound knowledge about the Vedas.
The stories in its simplest forms tell us that pregnant mom’s thoughts and the surrounding environment are physically connected to her unborn child.
Effects on the child’s nature and behaviour
Dr. Thomas Verny who is one of the world’s leading authorities on the effects of prenatal environment on personality development says that, “Everything the pregnant mother feels and thinks is communicated through neurohormones to her unborn child, just as surely as are alcohol and nicotine,”
“Studies show that mothers under extreme and constant stress are more likely to have premature babies, lower than average in weight, hyperactive, irritable, and colicky.”
On the contrary, thoughts which fill the growing baby with a sense of happiness or calm builds a ground for the child’s balanced, happy, and serene nature throughout life.
Theosophical perspective
School of theosophy tells us that before your child’s physical body is even shaped, its etheric body is formed. The natural forces build the baby’s etheric body into which the newborn’s physical body will be built.
We have an entire Module dedicated to birth which talks about the formation of the child’s etheric body before birth.
The mother’s body supplies the etheric matter for the infant body. That is why, for the formation of a strong etheric body it is important for the mother to consume the best materials when pregnant.
Besides, the thoughts of the mother and the other thought-forms that float around her have a major impact on the growth of the child. Therefore, having a peaceful and calm mind has a positive impact on the baby. You now realize why pregnancy is indeed a very crucial time for a child’s mental and physical development.
Whether you’re planning a baby or expecting one, we sincerely hope this blog helped you in taking a step further in caring for your little one to come. Do share it with your dear ones who are going through pregnancy blues or are concerned about it. Drop a comment and let us know your views on it!
References:
1. https://www.the-open-mind.com/your-thoughts-their-effect-on-your-unborn-baby-2/
2. https://www.nhsf.org.uk/2005/12/mahabharata-abhimanyu-and-the-chakra-vyuha/
3. http://globalpress.hinduismnow.org/magazine/the-story-of-ashtavakra-and-his-father-kahola/
4. https://getfitforbirth.com/a-mothers-emotions-affect-her-unborn-child/
HOW DOES MY EMOTION AFFECT MY HEALTH | RELATION OF MENTAL HEALTH & PHYSICAL HEALTH
We all usually come across instances where being sad results into falling sick.
Similarly, we often hear people say that happiness is the key to good health!
Ever wonder why these emotions are connected to your health?
To start with, let me tell you that there are various perspectives and beliefs to emotions impacting your health.
Let’s see what western medical science has to say about it.
Multiple studies carried out by physicians suggest that mental disturbance can have physical effects.
Mental Health Foundation believes that mental disturbance can slow down your body’s working mechanism.
- It can lead to various short term diseases.
- Induce other chronic diseases leaving your system exposed to other bacteria and viruses.
- In extreme condition, it can end up being a cause for Insomnia.
While, western medical science believes that your physical and mental health is not separate, let’s see what Theosophy has to say about it.
According to Theosophy, the etheric double or widely referred as ‘Health Aura’ plays a vital role in protecting your body from negative and harmful energy from the surrounding.
Health Aura literally means an atmosphere around your physical body meant to protect you and keep you healthy.
What is your health aura composed of?
Atoms in the etheric body that have lost Prana become like any other atom. Some of them are absorbed by the body and enter into various combinations while others which are not required are forced out of the body in the form of etheric discharges.
These discharges are expelled out in all directions in straight lines. They are at a right angle to the surface of the body.
This expulsion along with excess Prana forms your health aura.
As long as the lines remain straight and firm the body is entirely protected from the attack of harmful energy and vibrations.
It is because of these discharges, expelled in straight lines, perpendicular to the body, does the aura appear to have a striated effect.
The image below illustrates how these discharges look around our physical body.
These straight lines repel all kinds of negative energies and vibrations that are trying to enter your body. The unhealthy incomings bounce back as they come in contact with these discharges.
Along with these particles, unused Prana or excess amount of Prana is also expelled out from the body.
To know more about assimilation and discharge or Prana, you can refer our online course below.
Moving on,
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR HEALTH AURA WHEN YOU FEEL LOW OR SAD?
The health aura can be affected by our emotions.
A feeling of depression or sadness leads to the drooping of these striations and a person tends to become more susceptible to diseases.
In such a case, your body is in great need of Prana. So, it uses up a greater amount of Prana-charged atoms, consequently resulting in serious loss of the quantity radiated. The health aura lines thus become weak and start to wilt. This allows negative energies to enter the body and make you sick.
On the contrary,
Did you know that you can also be a source of health for others around you?
Let’s see how.
If you are someone with great Physical and Mental health, your body contains more than necessary Prana-charged atoms. Your Spleen Chakra being the source of Prana in your body becomes so efficient in its working that it absorbs excess amount of Prana. The body then expels these Prana-charged atoms making it a source of strength for people around you. They literally act as a sponge and absorb Prana emitted out of your body.
Interestingly, some people can also drain your useful amount of Prana making you feel weak.
Read more to learn about ‘energy vampires’ draining your Prana and ways to replenish your lost energy.
https://thespiritconsciousness.com/drained-prana-life-energy/
How can you keep your health aura intact?
In addition to all these facts, your mental-emotional state has a large bearing on your well-being. This is because when you think / believe yourself to be unwell; you end up creating a thought form to that effect, which can eventually lead you to becoming sick.
What can you do to ensure good health?
Fortunately, there aren’t many secrets to great health. A good, healthy diet, the right exercise, fresh air, meditation and time with loved ones ensures that most diseases will stay at bay.
Which is the best meditation to do?
I personally prefer Twin Hearts meditation.
Master Choa Kok Sui says,
“Practicing the Meditation on Twin Hearts is like taking a Spiritual Shower. When your aura is clean, you experience a Higher Level of awareness and you see through things more clearly.”
According to World Pranic Healing website, Twin heart meditation can:
- Reduce stress, anxiety and depression
- Results in improved health
- Keeps your mind sharp and induces happiness.
Let us know how you balance your mental and physical health in the comments below. I hope you find this blog useful.
REFERENCES:
http://www.jmshah.com/aura-camera-health-insurance.html
https://www.worldpranichealing.com/en/twin-hearts-meditation-benefits/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/p/physical-health-and-mental-health
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/a-to-z/p/physical-health-and-mental-health
https://www.worldpranichealing.com/en/twin-hearts-meditation-benefits/
IS INTUITION REALLY THE HIGHEST FORM OF INTELLIGENCE?
Did you know the unfortunate incident of 9/11 was predicted long before it happened?
Have you heard stories of Simpsons predicting future?
Or Nostradamus’ four liner poems becoming reality?
You must wonder if this is all true.
Let’s find out!
COMMON PEOPLE LIKE YOU AND I CAN FOREFEEL EVENTS OF FUTURE
Yes, you read that right!
A vague feeling that something isn’t right or sensing someone’s negative energy is a part of ESP (Extra Sensory Perception).
One of the confessions on the website Graveyard Shift by Ranker said –
“I felt I should run out of the car right now, and when I did, few seconds later a big maple tree fell over the car and a branch pierced right through the seat where I was sitting.”
The above experience was of a common man just like us, and this vague feeling that he felt is called an Intuition.
Here’s a quote from the most popular book Intuition: Knowing Beyond Logic written by Osho,
“You know the word tuition—tuition comes from outside, somebody teaches you, the tutor. Intuition means something that arises within your being; it is your potential, that’s why it is called intuition.”
LET’S UNDERSTAND WHAT INTUITION IS!
Have you everfelt strongly positive or negative about some situation, person or event, sensed that something isn’t right? And later your vague feelings proved to be true?
Then you have had an intuition!
Intuition is a part of “Extra Sensory Perception” or ESP (we will look at it in the latter part of the blog post). Intuition in common parlance is also known as Gut feeling.
A feeling that your loved one might fall sick or simply that you might have to cancel your flight, without knowing ‘why’ is an intuition but only if this is proved to be true in the coming future.
Excerpts from the writings of Sri Sri Paramahansa Yogananda say,
“Intuition is soul guidance; appearing naturally in man during those instants when his mind is calm…The goal of yoga science is to calm the mind, that without distortion it may hear the infallible counsel of the Inner Voice.”
According to Theosophy,
These feelings of Intuition come from the ‘Navel Centre’ or ‘Navel Chakra’ which is also called ‘Manipura’ in Sanskrit.
This chakra is closely associated to feelings. When the correspondent chakra in the astral body is awakened, the signal from Astral Chakra flows first through activated Etheric Chakra, and then reaches the physical body.
This is how you feel intuitive about certain things in your surrounding or somewhere far.
BUT THERE’S MORE TO THIS,
Your Navel Chakra is not the only chakra that gives you these feelings;
Extra Sensory Perceptions include a broad category as seen above.
Since we’ve already discussed Intuition, let’s see what the other terms mean!
CLAIRVOYANCE
Clairvoyance is the ability to see things and receive visions from different planes of existence such as Etheric, Astral, Mental and Causal Plane.
The Centre between the eyebrows is termed as ‘Ajna’ in Sanskrit and the activation of this chakra in the Astral and Etheric body can result into Clairvoyant abilities at Astral Level. As the Ajna Chakra develops in corresponding bodies (like Mental and Causal Body) on different planes, the level of Clairvoyance also simultaneously develop.
HAVE YOU HEARD THE STORY OF CLAIRVOYANT BABA VANGA?
Baba Vanga was a Bulgarian Mystic, Clairvoyant, and Herbalist, born in 1911. At the age of 12, she was lifted in the air and threw in a field by a tornado that caused her blindness. After a long search, she was found unconscious and her eyes covered in sand and dust. Baba said, she started experiencing clairvoyant abilities ever since!
Fascinating,isn’t it?
Did you know?
She predicted events like 9/11, Barack Obama’s Presidency, 2004 Tsunami and many more historic incidents!
READING AKASHIC RECORDS
You must have heard of few people who claim that they can reveal your past life. Some of these people possess the ability of reading Akashic Records.
Akashic Records are the memory seen on the astral plane, which is just a recurring reflection from other higher planes. Akashic Records are also called “The Divine Memory” since they include everything that has happened in the history of mankind.
Sometimes, a developed ability of Clairvoyance can allow you to perceive memories by Will on the Astral Plane and sometimes these might just appear as mere glimpses. Since these memories are a recurring reflection on Astral Plane, they can be really hard to comprehend. On the other hand, perceiving Akashic Records on Mental Plane is much more accurate and complete in nature, to do so, it demands faculties pertaining to Mental Plane.
Here are few stories of people having glimpses of their past lives. Read below some of the jaw-dropping stories by Psychology Today.
Do you think that Bran – The Broken, of House Stark, a popular character from the renowned fictional series ‘Game of Thrones’ had access to Akashic Records when he became the “Three Eyed Raven?”
Below is a clip from the series where Bran wargs (ability to trace people, places and events beyond the boundaries of time) in the past at his land of Winterfell.
Note: This is only a dramatic depiction
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ORDINARY PSYCHOMETER
An Ordinary Psychometer needs an object connected to the past scene he/she wishes to see. A crystal or any other object can also help them focus and access the past scene that they aim to perceive.
You can read more about Psychometry here!
Is Cisco Ramon from popular super hero series ‘The Flash’ a Psychometer?
He is often seen vibing into the past, with the help of an object connected to it.
Below is a video that can help you relate!
CLAIRAUDIENCE
Throat Chakra is called ‘Visuddha’ in Sanskrit. Awakening of this centre in Astral and Etheric body results in Clairaudience abilities.Clairaudience is the ability to hear voices, pleasant or unpleasant, from Astral Plane.
‘The Conjuring 2’ is a perfect example of Clairaudience abilities.
In this movie, the lead child character Janet becomes a victim when she starts hearing and experiencing evil entities.
Click on this video (trailer – ‘The Conjuring 2’) below to see Janet hearing the communications from the evil entities.
To understand clairaudience better, you can read our blog below,
SYMPATHIZING WITH OTHERS
To sympathize with others is to feel what the other person or an entity is going through.
Anāhata, also called the heart chakra enables a man to sympathize with other astral entities and allows them to comprehend their feelings. Sometimes, the pain from the sufferer is also felt by the one who sympathizes.
One good way to start developing your intuitive abilities is through meditation. I personally prefer Grand Master Choa Kok Sui’s Twin Heart Meditation, which was awarded the first place at the Academy of Integrated Health & Medicine (AIHM) Annual Conference.
Can you determine which kind of Extra Sensory Perception you have experienced before? Was it an intuition?
Share with us an experience where you followed your intuitive feelings in the comments below. And also, let us know about your experiences in meditation!
REFERENCES:
https://www.ranker.com/list/people-tell-stories-of-gut-feelings-that-were-right/amandasedlakhevener
https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/93504-intuition-knowing-beyond-logic
https://www.osho.com/read/osho/about-osho
https://www.liveabout.com/need-to-know-info-about-psychometry-2593072
https://thespiritconsciousness.com/clairaudience-voices-head/
Have you ever wondered what hallucinations really are?
Where do these voices come from? What is it that some can see while others cannot?
Beginning with learning about the commonly believed ideas about hallucinations, we will study these ideas from the perspective of the spiritual teachings of the Theosophical school
What is hallucination?
Hallucinations are sensations created by our mind that appear real to the victim. These sensations can be perceived by all the senses even though it is non-existent.
The effects of hallucination can be very severe and can cause the person to feel or become isolated. A hallucinating person when left alone may suffer from paranoia or phobia of any kind. He or she must be given immediate medication.
While there are both negative and positive types of visions experienced by people, this blog will focus on its negative aspects and what causes them to occur.
What does Science say about the causes of hallucination?
It is widely believed that hallucination is caused by extreme stress (mental & physical), lack of sleep, and drug abuse of substance like marijuana or LSD, extreme fear or poor medical condition.
– mental or physical illness, like schizophrenia, epilepsy or alcoholic intoxication
Depending upon the cause of hallucinations one may need to visit a psychiatrist, a neurologist, or a general practitioner. Treatment of hallucination and schizophrenia may include taking medication to cure physical or mental illness. The doctor may also recommend adopting healthier behaviors like avoiding excessive alcoholic drinks and getting proper sleep.
Reasons for hallucinations can be psychiatric or medical. However, both have severe effects on the patient.
CAUSES OF HALLUCINATION ACCORDING TO THEOSOPHY:
Hallucinations are caused by the improper functioning of the atomic web
So what is an atomic web?
The atomic web is made up of a single layer of physical atoms which are condensed with of a differenta special kind of Prana. It acts as a layer which allows only those Prana that can easily pass from the astral into the physical plane, and blocks all other types of forces which cannot be used by either or any of the two planes.
In simpler words, the atomic web is like a shield that protects and filters elements from the astral world entering in the etheric world. The etheric plane is where all creative imaginations occur.
Sometimes it so happens that the etheric vision is temporarily activated by delirium tremens and the person suffering may witness etheric and astral creatures. For example, snake-likes and other scary creatures are belonging to the lower levelt are seen by some alcoholics. These are creatures of a lower order that get attracted by the odor of alcohol and appear to feast on these odors. The drunkard, whose atomic web may be damaged due to the inflammatory constituents of these substances, may hence witness these creatures.
Thus, we see that the atomic web helps keep these visuals outside the view of a normal human being. It is this filtration by the atomic web which is necessary because in its absence, the contents from the astral plane will leave impressions on the etheric brain that humans are not equipped to understand, interpret. Most of us may find those impressions gory and hence may not be able to handle what we see.
Thus if any harm reaches this important shield, it leads to highly dangerous effects like:
It may release the outpour of all kinds of astral experiences into the physical consciousness. If a person accidentally opens communication between the
two planes, it is most likely that all of his astral experiences will flow into his physical plane that could be hazardous to the well being of such person.
The individual becomes an open hub for astral entities to enter at any time. Those entities can bring with them certain forces which an ordinary person cannot handle and is unprepared to face.
In some cases, it is also possible that the person is dominated by an astral being who wants to control that person’s vehicle which can drive an individual crazy.
For this reason the atomic web must be taken care by avoiding substances that harm them.
Substances like drugs, alcohol, tobacco smoking habit etc. causes the web or shield to literally burn and get destroyed as soon as the inflammatory materials speed into the web. This causes damage to the shield, and is comparatively less common.
Other things that can harm the atomic web is extreme stress, depression caused by the passing away of a dear one, trauma, poor physical and mental health, etc. Thus, burning away of the shield causes an individual to become insane, obsessed and develop delirium tremens.
It is therefore advised to avoid alcoholism and other drugs and to take good care of the physical and mental health. For this, following a regular sleep pattern is also necessary.
It is also possible to deal with hallucination and related problems with the help of Pranic psychotherapy.
Let us know if this article has helped you in knowing more about hallucinations. If you or your loved ones ever experienced hallucinations, share your experience with us in the comments below!
The most awaited festival of colors in India is around the corner! It is this time of the year that Hindus around the world perform the famous ritual Holika Dahan and the following day splash colors on each other celebrating the victory of good over evil.
Let us connect the tale of Holika’s boon and her destruction to the protective “shield” of our Etheric body that Theosophy talks about!
Story of Holi
The festival of Holi originates from a powerful story, recorded in Bhagavat Purana.
Since the Gods never granted immortality, he used his cunning to get a boon that he thought made him immortal.
Hiranyakashipu then ordered his entire kingdom to worship him as god and punished and killed anyone who did not follow his orders. However, his son Prahlad did not obey his father, and refused to worship his him as a god. He was a true devotee of Lord Vishnu and he continued believing and worshipping his God.
This made Hiranyakashipu very angry and he made various attempts to kill Prahlad. During a particular attempt on Prahlad’s life, King Hiranyakashipu called upon his sister Holika for help. Holika was granted a special cloak garment that prevented her from being harmed by fire. Hiranyakashipu asked her to sit on a bonfire with Prahlad, by tricking the boy to sit on her lap. However, as the fire roared, the garment flew from Holika and covered Prahlad.
Holika burned to death, while Prahlad came out unharmed.
This marked the end of Holika and thus the end of evil thoughts and deeds over good ones.
Now let us talk about an Etheric shield that can protect you from negative influences.
The shield
While Holika possessed a cloak that protected her from fire, we too can be surrounded by a “shield” that protects us from all evil things that can cause harm to us.
Theosophy says, in various circumstances it is possible to form a shell or a shield of etheric matter, to protect oneself or others from unpleasant influences of various kinds.
Would you like to know about this special boon given to us? Read below!
How does an etheric shell or shield protect us?
Here are the 9 ways an Etheric shield can protect you:
- Protects your Prana from being drained by others.
Some people are low in Vitality and they continuously absorb Prana or (life-energy) emitting from others, although unconsciously. The etheric shield protects your prana from being drawn away by others.
2. Keeps diseases at bay.
Certain people are very sensitive and they have a tendency to actually reproduce the diseases and symptoms of others within themselves.
3. Safeguards from disturbing noises.
Some kinds of people are adversely affected by the non-stop multiple vibrations of a loud city.
4. Protects from unhealthy magnetism.
In a huge crowd of people, it is possible that some people contain unhealthy magnetism which adversely affects a student of occultism, if it doesn’t prove injurious.
5. Protects sensitive souls.
Some people are very sensitive and can contact negative energies by simply shaking hands. In such a case, they can build a temporary etheric shield around the hands and arms by using strong will and efforts, to protect themselves from even the slightest unpleasant particles.
6. Protection from fire.
Such specific shields can also be utilized for protection against fire, although creating such a shield for use requires a much high knowledge of practical magic.
7. Protection from negative influence.
When the brain is idle, it allows the flow of illogical and irrelevant thoughts into it. Keeping the brain busy in useful thought processes while awake, to protect it from negative influence of thoughts from outside.
8. Safeguards the etheric brain while you are asleep.
While asleep, the etheric brain is even more vulnerable to external negative thoughts. A shell or shield protects oneself from such unwanted impact.
9. Protection to the physical body from harm and danger
We know that anything that manifests on the physical plane has to first be manifested on the etheric plane. Hence, keeping the etheric body protected from harm will keep the physical body also protected from harm.
Creating the etheric shell requires a lot of effort of will and imagination.
There are two ways to create it:
- The border of the etheric aura can be made inaccessible. The etheric aura is the same shape as the physical body, only a little larger.
- A roughly oval-shaped shell of etheric matter can be created from the surrounding atmosphere.
The second method is more preferred but is also comparatively difficult. It requires arduous efforts of will and a sure-shot knowledge of how the physical matter will be affected by the shell.
We encourage you to keep yourself surrounded with an Etheric shield and safeguard yourself from any negative influence that can affect your bodies.
To know more about the topic “Shells and Shields”, refer our Module 6: Applications on the book The Etheric Double by Arthur E. Powell.
May this Holi add colors of happiness, gaiety, fun, and laughter to your life!
Wishing you and your Family a very Happy Holi!
References:
How often have you woken up from a dream trying to recollect what you dreamt? And the more you tried to remember, the more difficult it got. Right? Ever wondered why?
This spiritual blog will attempt to explore the question, “why we don’t remember our dreams?” from the perspective of the theosophical school. Dive right in!
What really are dreams? Are they visual images and stories created by the mind? Or is it just a random set of images from your day to day life?
This educational blog will try to decode the source of your dreams and the reasons, why you can’t catch them even if you try to, once you are awake!
Or are they just cognitive, sensory or emotional occurrences experienced during sleep?- simplify
You may have experienced at times that while waking up, when you are in light sleep, you are able to recall what you were dreaming about, but as soon as you wake up, your memory of that dream starts fading and it becomes extremely difficult to remember the dream. Let us understand why. – Make it more appealing!
This blog post will shed light on the concept of dreaming; reasons behind difficulty in recollecting them; and ways to successfully recall dreams based on theosophical ideas about dreaming.
Let us first learn about:
SOME COMMONLY ACCEPTED BELIEFS ABOUT DREAMS:
Dreams are a result of various things such as real-life experiences, all that is running in our subconscious mind while we are awake, and also our deepest desires are often envisioned in dreams.
That dreams are random and hence they hardly ever fuse into the memory. They generally occur in the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) stage of sleep. In the REM stage eyes move rapidly in many directions, the muscles freeze temporarily, blood pressure and heart rate increases. After waking up from REM, people describe bizarre visions and irrational stories that they call dreams.
It is believed that people are less likely to remember their dream because in the REM stage the long-term memory is shut, and so the memory of the dream is not stored in the brain. That is why the dream does not stay for longer than 5 minutes in the brain.
It is also said that if a man wakes up in between REM sleep, the long term memory turns back on and pondering over the last dream memory, can increase the chances of recollecting the dream.
Let us understand the concept of dreaming from the view of the Theosophical Society.
School of Theosophy tells us that while sleeping, the Astral body travels away from the Physical body and before waking up it returns to the Physical body, which may create a slight impact on the Etheric Double and the physical consciousness. This, at times leaves a very vague and short-lived memory of the astral experience. These experiences from the astral plane are called “dreams”.
The etheric plane also plays an active part in dreaming, the etheric part of the brain acts as the playing field of the creative imagination, in dreams, especially the imagination caused by external impressions, or from any internal pressure from the cerebral vessels. – simplify
Dreams are usually dramatic because the etheric body draws the collective contents of the physical brain, and arranges, separates, and recombines these as per its own fancies, and creates the lower world of dream.
In this way, dreams consist of the astral and etheric experiences of the physical brain while sleeping.- simplify
Now what really causes an obstruction in the recollection of dreams?
When an individual is asleep his long-term memory shuts down. The atomic web filters the transferring elements from the astral plane to the mental plane. It disables the memory of sleep life from the physical consciousness.
A sleeper has limited control over the content and the images that he sees as his memory is blocked by the atomic web that time.
Dreams are formed through vibrations coming from the Astral and the Etheric plane to the Mental plane. These vibrations form images and tales that we picture while sleeping. When we strain ourselves to recall the dream in a conscious state, the signals coming from the vibrations coming from the physical brain tend to overpower those coming from the Astral and the Etheric plane. So the more you force our brain to recollect the dream, the quicker it fades.
Now what really causes an obstruction in the recollection of dreams?
One of the possible ways to recall dreams is to keep your mind calm, and meditate over what little you remember from your dream. Noting down what you remember and guided meditation helps in easy recollection of dreams. A steady brain is very important to be able to do so.
Another way of bringing dreams into waking consciousness is by developing your Astral body that helps in transferring your dreams to the physical brain. Addictive items such as caffeine, alcohol or any other hallucinating drugs inhibit the atomic web that filters elements from the astral plane to the mental plane. Therefore, one should avoid intake of these items to prevent the atomic web from damaging.
Have you ever tried to use any of the above mentioned methods to recollect your dreams before? Share your experience below.
When was the last time you could remember the entire dream for a long time? Let us know how you tried to remember your dreams in the comment section below!
