Can color make you feel better?

There are seven main energy centres (chakras) of the body. These chakras are like spirals of energy, each one relating to the others. Using the seven colors of the spectrum, Color Therapy aims to balance and enhance our body's energy centres/chakras and also to help stimulate our body's own healing process. Color Therapy uses color to rebalance the Chakras that have become depleted of energy.

Color therapy can be shown to help on a physical level; however there are deeper issues around the colours on the psychological and spiritual levels. Color has a profound effect on us on all levels, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. If our energy centres become blocked or depleted, then our body cannot function properly and this, in turn, can lead to a variety of problems on any level. 

Our well being is not purely a physical issue. Many more practitioners are now treating patients in a holistic manner. That is to say, we are body, mind and spirit and none of these areas function entirely alone; each has an effect upon the other. This is why Color Therapy can be so helpful since color addresses all levels of our being.  

This post was taken from Three Hearts & Company. 

 

Is enlightenment elitist?

The concept of the chakras, or energy wheels within the body, is common to both Chinese and Indo-Tibetan subtle body theoretical frameworks. The Chinese describe the energy as moving in circular patterns in the body. The Indo-Tibetan systems describe a central channel with a solar and lunar set of parallel meridians, which must be united to fully open the central channel. When these energies are integrated, there is said to be realization. Similarly, the kundalini theory describes the energy as traveling from the base of the spine to the top of the head.

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The nihuan point, which corresponds with the pineal gland, represents the third, or wisdom eye. The human body is actually a universe which can be described in alchemical terms as "as above, so below" which sees the human body as both the microcosm of the multiverse and the fundamental source of the design of the cosmos.

According to Taoist alchemical theory, the pineal gland of the enlightened adept becomes equivalent to the North Star because everything between heaven and earth has become one being. The mind and body of the adept is identical to the mind and body of the universe simultaneously. This idea that the inner dimensions are actually more real than our conventional third-dimensional reality is based upon the ability of advanced practitioners who travel between inner worlds. The other basic idea is that the reproductive energy of the lower body can be taken to the head to activate the brain and increase the luminosity of the mind. 

Chinese alchemy is based on the idea that aging can be dramatically reduced if the original pre-birth energy of the body is restarted by natural breathing practices. The basis of Taoism is that embryonic breathing results in a kundalini activation, the Golden Flower, or the union of the individual with heaven and earth, the higher and lower dimensions of reality being unified into a single whole. This single whole is the Tao or universal void. 

The goal of meditation is for the individual to open the third eye by systematically cultivating the mind and body, using variations of heat yoga. All of these alchemical systems describe the human body as a crucible, which can be heated by specific practices, both internal and external, which greatly increase the overall luminosity of the mind/body continuum.

Is enlightenment elitist? To get good at something one must study and practice. There is more access to information about the various practices used to achieve enlightenment through the globalization of our information systems. The nirvana meme has gone into the advertising industry, as well as commercial sports, which use Zen concepts like the Zone or Peak Performance to enhance an athlete's psychological condition. The end result is that a spiritual, non-religious dimension is recognized in Western science as normal. What do you think?

 

 

Lucid Dreaming: Part 2

Although Nobel prize-winning scientists often describe their creative leap as a fundamental dream-like insight, the fear of mysticism, which pervades science, prevents the true integration of unconscious levels of reality with the physical world. Similarly, science is based upon theoretical or mathematical descriptions of reality, which can be used for technological gain, whereas real meditation or dream practice results in the direct experience of the truth body at the completion stage.

In many shamanic cultures, the waking state is considered to be an illusion and the inner dimensions are considered to be real. These states can be accessed through dreams, or visions using hallucinogenic plants.

Indeed, in many shamanic cultures, a shaman is chosen by the spirits. It is not taken on as a job title or a vocational skill or even a career. Often the future shaman is felled by a mysterious disease and lies in a deep coma-like state for some time, being refashioned and restructured internally. When he or she awakes they have the option to go into deeper training, both with an older shaman and in the dreamworld.

Unfortunately, the majority of modern scientific interpretations have described luminous or visionary phenomenon as symptoms of a malfunctioning brain, schizophrenia or temporal lobe epilepsy. From a shamanic viewpoint, the well-being of both the individual and the tribe is largely determined by skill in dreaming. The Tibetan emphasis on lucid dreaming as a means of understanding the nature of reality is a remarkable example of a shamanic culture that unites yogic and alchemical theories into an organized cultural framework.

In many of these cultures, skill in dreaming results from a greater activation of the original energy of the body, using a variety of techniques, which range from breathing exercises to sensory deprivation. Many of the Himalayan lineages, which result in Nirvana Without Remainder, emphasize using extended periods of darkness to unlock the original energy of the body. Taoism also has the tradition of extended periods of meditation deep within caves. It is believed that by immersing oneself in the extreme yin environment of the dark cave the practitioner is better able to communicate with the world of dreams and visions. The chief characteristic of the dark retreat is that the dreams of the individual become the only reality that the practitioner can observe consciously. Many of the greatest adepts have actually spent years in total darkness; although this is an extreme model, it demonstrates the importance of the integration of the world of dreaming with the conscious mind.

Changing Mental Patterns: Hypnosis

Hypnosis is actually the safest and most effective method of adjusting probabilities by changing mental patterns. The hypnotic state can be used to greatly enhance learning ability as well as creativity and the healing of the body. The average individual is functioning within an incomplete trance state with a greatly repressed unconscious. The integration of the conscious and unconscious levels of perception can be greatly enhanced by the use of medical hypnosis. The possibilities of combining Chinese medicine with hypnosis and chi gong have tremendous potential for optimum healing.

The ultimate potential of hypnosis has not been fully explored by Western science. The ability of the mind to access information using suggestion is a probable future use of hypnosis combined with thought experimentation. The story of how Rachmaninov regained his creative excellence after daily hypnotic therapy is a good example of a non-pharmaceutical means of integrating the waking consciousness with the creative unconscious. The creative unconscious, which actively seeks an artistic integration with the waking world of conscious reality can enhance the performing aspects of the self.

Much of success in any field of inquiry is dependent upon the performance level of the individual, and this level can be greatly increased using suggestion. Any specific skill or creative ability can be tremendously enhanced in an extremely short period of time using hypnotherapeutic methods. This includes both physiological and mental changes, both of which improve the performance of the individual. Chi gong includes hypnosis and self-hypnosis; it is a method of combining energy cultivation with trance as a means of generating health and longevity. It also leads to kundalini activation.

Whatever creative project a person is working upon in waking reality is often the subject of dreams. These dreams can be guided and shaped with hypnotic suggestion so that it affects the conscious and unconscious level, and ultimately the integration of both. In terms of Western science, hypnosis is the key to consciousness integration because it is the only non-pharmaceutical means in Western medicine to unite the conscious and unconscious levels of the mind.

Enhancing creativity as well as longevity should be the goal of medical science. Each individual has the ability to rapidly evolve to greater levels of perception by the correct use of hypnosis.

If used incorrectly, hypnosis has resulted in false memory recovery syndrome. The mental compliance aspect between the hypnotherapist and individual is also threatening to the Western concept of individuality. Hypnosis was the original basis of Freud's work. The Western concept of the unconscious comes from his observations after he administered post-hypnotic suggestion to individuals. The definition of neurosis as a repressed unconscious "id" which must be controlled by the superego, represents a view of inner conflict as the basis of Western culture. The conflict between the id and the superego is the basic duality, which is unified through the completion stage of meditation. The conjunction of opposites actually represents the unification of the id and the superego, which results in an integration of perception.

Hypnosis works so well medically that it should be included in all future scientific endeavors. Very few scientists have understood that an integration of unconscious and conscious information will lead to greater discoveries and breakthroughs. Western culture values speed above any other commodity and hypnosis can be used as a means to greatly increase the speed of creative discovery in any scientific field. Creative discovery leads to greater truth, the goal of science as a whole.

What is the Kundalini?

In the writings of the Indian expert on kundalini, Gopi Krishna, we find the following: Heaven has planted in the human body a powerful reservoir of psychic energy that, when roused to activity, can lead to transcendental states of consciousness, genius, and supernormal psychic gifts.

Though millions of ordinary people may know about the breakthroughs in astronomy, medicine, chemistry, and other branches of science, hardly anybody is familiar with a far more important development: the almost unbelievable potential lying dormant in their own brain. It is this power center in the human body that the sages in India knew as Kundalini and that adepts in other parts of the world called by names as varied as the “sun behind the sun” and the “philosopher’s stone.”
-Gopi Krishna, Kundalini: The Evolutionary Energy in Man

What is this kundalini that we are talking about here? To understand kundalini we must understand the term prana, which means something quite close to the Chinese chi. Prana is life energy and, like chi, can be linked to the breath. Also, like chi, it is the original energy that gives life to and supports all of our physical, mental and even emotionalactivities. As an old saying goes, “Where there is breath, there is life.” We can go without food or even water (as in some yogic practices in India as well as in China) for days, weeks, or even months at a time but we cannot go for more than a few minutes without breathing.

Many yogic practices are about strengthening or purifying the prana or life force. The specific aspect of the life force that is called kundalini is said to reside deep in the first chakra of the body, lying coiled there like a snake. The image of a snake rising through the spinal core is used to describe the awakening of the kundalini energy. This energy called the kundalini is the juncture where the body meets the other elements of consciousness. Activation of the kundalini spreads this primal energy up along channels called nadis, through the knots of the chakras. Or course to do this one needs proper coaching. Although occasionally pain is described, usually the sensations of heat, pleasure, and even ecstasy are reported.

Tantric Sex

It is said that the tantric path can be a slippery slope without proper understanding and guidance. Without the amount of preparation, self-cultivation, and deep understanding of the principles involved, one will only be indulging in low-level desires and not truly experiencing the tantric path of ultimate freedom and awareness.

In ancient tantric texts from India we see that sex is viewed as having three distinct purposes — procreation, pleasure, and liberation. Spiritual seekers are able to use this most fundamental of human expressions to facilitate greater communication and trust levels with their partners, and are able to improve their health physically, emotionally, and psychologically. They can also use this powerful form of energy cultivation for further spiritual growth.

In India many types of sexual rituals were practiced. Some of them involved elaborate preparation and purification rites. In these rituals, the male and the female were seen as living embodiments of the primordial aspects of the universe—Shiva and Shakti. When they are joined physically these Shiva and Shakti energies are fused, resulting in a powerful energy field. This energy field then allows both the male and female to achieve higher states of consciousness as well as greater levels of health and spiritual insight.

An important part of this practice was seminal retention. It was believed that semen, being full of life-giving properties, was too precious to be lost.

Inner Illumination

The basic idea here is that a normal human being is like a 60 watt light bulb. For an enlightened human being, the frequency of the energy of the body has been greatly increased, so it's as if the person has been turned into a 300 watt light bulb. There is a tremendous amount of energy stored within the pre-birth energy body system. The starting point of the body in particular contains a vast reservoir of stored energy that can be released by correct practice, including breathing exercises, specific meditation movements, special diet, acupuncture, and herbs. The concept is based on recreating the breathing pattern that you had when you were inside your mother, with the goal of recreating conception within yourself, which is the union of yin and yang. That results in inner illumination, where you are using the starting point of the body to fully activate the brain and to open the third eye, or mind's eye, and in turn unites the individual mind with the mind of the universe - that's the realization of the Tao, or shen-ming, which is inner illumination.