THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE SOUL #2

DESTINY

Destiny is vital to the soul's purpose.

 

“The souls of people on their way to earth-life pass through a room full of lights.

Each takes a taper, often only a spark to guide it in the dim country of this world.

But some souls by rare fortune are detained longer and have time to grasp a handful of tapers which they weave into a torch. These are the torchbearers of humanity – its poets, seers and saints who lead and lift the race out of darkness towards the light. They are the law givers and saviors, the light bringers, way showers and truth tellers and without them humanity would lose its way in the dark.” Plato

 

The taper that Plato refers to may be our mission, purpose, destiny, archetype or core/signature strength (Seligman.) Those who are gifted with many tapers are fortunate but it is important to realize that whichever we are given

only one of those is our prime "taper." 

One's other talents should serve the one. 

There are those who are given many gifts and it can be confusing which to choose for one's focus. Moreover, 

to whom much is given much is expected.

Their way will be more difficult and demanding unless they choose to squander it - in which case tricksters will support them in wavering.

We are all given a destiny cup to fill. Some have an easier time since their cup is smaller. Those with huge cups may try to be 

a jack of all trades and master of none 

- gratifying - but not fulfilling in terms of our karmic requirement.

No matter how small the Creator's gift ...

"In every person there is something precious which is in no-one else. And so we should honor each for what is hidden within them for what only they have." The Talmud

 

“Despise no human and consider nothing impossible, for there is no person who does not have his hour and there is nothing that does not have its place.” Talmud

 

We are made in the image of the Divine. 

As above, so below, as without so within - as below so above, as within so without …

 

“All the talents of God  
are within you.
 How could this be  
otherwise when your soul is derived from His
genes!” Hafiz

 

Our destiny is our life's work. We are here to help others and the planet with it.

 

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” W. Churchill

 

“…Each soul makes Two agreements upon entering the world. The first binds the individual to a distinct destiny that becomes the soul’s great project in life. 

The second entangles each person in the limitations of fate and responsibilities for family and community. 

While all second agreements can be renegotiated, the first is non-negotiable.”  Michael Meade

 

The second agreement Meade talks about is usually linked to survival and ego. Fate is the cards we are dealt in life which depend somewhat on our karmic profile which may determine our current rebirth. It is said that our Zip code can determine our fate but we should not let it. 

We are meant to rise above our fate in order to find that unique destiny  we were given by the Infinite One. This gift is designed to enable us to help heal the planet and correct injustice in our own unique way. 

One of the key questions in the divinations I do for others is:

What is my destiny? 

Or alternatively the divination bones may say, 

"you are not in line with your destiny."

“Be who you is, ’cause if you ain’t who you is, you is who you ain’t.”Inscription on a tomb stone in Arizona

Finding one's destiny is not an easy task. 

The search for one's destiny is the search of one's life, stick to the scent, stay on the spoor.

 

 THE SENSES

 We are Sentient Beings!

The soul's conversation is not of the mind. It is best heard with the senses. 

The soul's fulfillment is through the experience of the senses.

 

One of the gifts we are given when we are reborn is to be in a sentient body. When we die we lose this gift. Across the veil between worlds sensation can be imagined but no longer experienced. We are meant to enjoy and savor the senses while we are here, but responsibly. 

We will also be accountable to the extent that we did not enjoy those opportunities. 

Buddhists say that they are true hedonists because the Buddhist path is a joyful one. Buddhist practitioners strive to increase their compassion and alleviate the suffering of others which is a template for being happy. They also pray to inherit a next lifetime where they can continue their spiritual journey at a higher level or better still inherit the Pure Land of the enlightened and do not have to reincarnate. 

If one is confused about where to go, Karma yoga (service to others) is always an option.

 

From my flesh shall I behold God.
The route to God is through our senses.

  

Our soul is made for joy and the more we truly love the more we will experience it and become its very essence.

THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE SOUL #1

 

In this blog we will cover some critical aspects comprising and surrounding the soul. Considering the complexities and the mystery of the soul or Higher Self, I will describe these to the best of my limited abilities haven been given help from the Ancestors. 

The main themes in this blog are...

THE SOUL AND ITS BREATH ARE PURE

 

THE SOUL AND DESTINY

 

THE SENSES AND THE SOUL

 

THE HEART, LOVE AND THE SOUL

 

KARMA

 

THE FIVE LEVELS OF THE SOUL AND PATANJALI'S FIVE SHEATHS OF CONSCIOUSNESS

 

“The soul emanates from the Infinite One, … descends through the worlds leaving a root in each of the worlds, until it is clothed in a physical body. Thus, there are five levels of the soul or levels of God -consciousness, corresponding to the various planes of reality.

Unity, Intellect, Mind, Energy and the Physical. Kabbalah

These five levels will be discussed later according to Kabbalah, the Ancestors and also Patanjali, the great Yogi.

 

Everyone will ultimately achieve the spiritual perfection for which we are created. This may take many lifetimes because of free will.

 

The search for the Soul, the Self, the True or real Self is at the core of human motivation whether we know it or not or whether we believe it or try to achieve it or not. 

We could also call the soul our Buddha or our Christ-like Self or that part of us made in the image of the Divine. 

The Creator does not micromanage and there are many polarities designed in a mysterious way in the soul's architecture that we need to master in order to allow us to reach this stage of "perfection." 

 

"Kabir says, friend, there are very few who find the way."

 

The gates are wide but few will enter.

 

The fallacy of perfection is in thinking there is a point of such completeness beyond which there is no place to go, improve, strive for. 

This differs from excellence which is achievable, always desirable and often necessary but in varying degrees for varying tasks and purposes.

 

One could also call "perfection" a certain level of excellence because spiritual perfection is a state of impossibility. 

Hence the Ancestors prefer the word "Becoming" to that of Self-Realization or Enlightenment which may assume a fixed point - there is always another level of vibration to realize above the one that we have attained. 

However, once a certain level of excellence is fulfilled, we are no longer required to continue on the journey of "samsara," the continuous cycle of death, reincarnation, mundane existence and suffering from ongoing rebirth.

 

"Listen to the cry of a woman in labor at the hour of giving birth - look at the dying man's struggle at his last extremity, and then tell me whether something that begins and ends thus could be intended for enjoyment.” S. Kierkegaard

 

In spite of this we are told to savor each moment of existence between the polarities of light and dark, good and evil, the sacred and the profane, positive and negative. They are all part of the conundrum that gives us the qualities required to test our resilience on the road to Becoming. 

Buddhism states that "all is suffering" and the Buddhist path teaches us not only how to help ourselves but also to help others with this suffering. 

This, with our God given destiny, is a vital part of the soul's journey - to help heal the planet and the Four Beings of Nature.

 

“ Before the soul enters this world, it is conducted through all the worlds. Last of all it is show the first light which when the world was created illuminated all things and which God removed when humans became corrupt. Why is the soul shown this light? So, from that hour on it may yearn to attain the light and approach it rung by rung. (those on the Tree of Life) The Talmud

 

This divine light may be the same light that those who have had a Near Death Experience encounter. This light appears to embrace them in the Creator's love. Most who have had a N.D.E. are never the same. In a sense they may be yearning to attain this light again by doing service to others.

 

The four "Worlds of Manifestation" in Kabbalah also correspond to the Four Trees of Life through which the multiverse was created. 

Emanation - in the beginning was the Word – the intention.

Creation - the design, the plan. 

Formation - the elements required to assemble the mystery of the universe and multiverse. 

Actualization - the universe coming into being. 

If we think of anything that we create ourselves, it also follows these four stages. For instance, an architect designing a building.

 

Emanation begins in the imagination. Imagination is soul work. The Wild Beings of nature do not have this capacity.

 

To think like God is to think with imagination.

Whatever cannot be imagined, cannot be fulfilled.

 

THE SOUL AND THE BREATH ARE PURE

 

“The soul is pure …” Rev Nachman

 

BREATH

The Creator “breathed” humanity into existence

 

Source of my power, the breath you have given me, the breath you have given me is pure.

 

Flame of the Infinite One is the Soul Breath of the human.

The life breath, is the Flame of the Infinite One, searching through the chambers of our core.

 

“…What is God? The breath inside the breath.” Kabir

 

 The Four Directions and the Four Winds 

 

A river arose out of Eden forming Four Rivers and Four Winds which animate all of creation. The Zohar

 

The Four Winds or Breaths of the Infinite one.

The Zohar maintains that the Breath of the Creator is constantly animating all of creation - the Still Beings, the Growing or Sprouting Beings, the Wild (and the domesticated) Beings and the Talking Beings. 

Water is life which is also vital for our animation. The Four Sacred rivers that arose out of Eden are thought to have been the Tigris, Euphrates, the Nile and the Ganges. 

80% of our cells contain water. Water has been found by researchers to have consciousness, memory and resonance. 

All the other Beings are doing exactly what they we were intended to do by their Creator except for most of us - Talking Beings. 

Our souls' architecture appears to have the unique burden of transcendence through which we all have the potential to attain liberation. We all need to act on it. The time is now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT SOUTHERN AFRICAN WISDOMS HAVE TO OFFER THE WEST #13

“Drugs (and sacred mind altering plants) allow us to taste the beyond but do not make us masters of the transcendental.”
Sri Satyananda

I thought that I would devote the last blog of the series to my personal ideas on entheogens. My disclaimer is that I am not an expert but maybe that enables me to have a broader view of the subject especially in the light of my sangoma training. Entheogens (sacred mind altering plants used in ceremony) are not part of sangoma initiation so I am going outside of the title of the blog. 

They are, however, a powerful tool for shamans that use them especially in North and South America.

In Southern Africa using entheogens for divination or healing is extremely rare today. There are very few mind altering plants in Southern Africa that are safe. Certain plants were used previously but the method of preparation has been lost in time. Otherwise they are extremely dangerous. 

The Native American, Chumash of California's central coast used Datura in the past but this too can be lethal and the details of its safe use have also disappeared.

In Gabon, Iboga which contains Ibogaine, is used effectively by shamans but this plant does not exist in the south. Iboga is extremely powerful, as its South American counterpart, Ayahuasca. Both have been used successfully in the treatment of drug addiction. It seems as if the plant allows one to "see exactly" who they have become in such a drastic way as to make remission possible.

 

The use of mind altering plants are now becoming main stream in the West. Mind altering plants have become popular especially since they are non addicting. This was not true for musicians using drugs to increase their creativity and which had serious and often fatal consequences. A few have now used Ayahuasca and crafted songs out of the experience.

Entheogens should always be used in sacred space with the right set and setting, the "right" folks attending and a competent shaman or guide. This is not always the case. There is mastery required in facilitating the process. Some participants may be bringing heavy personal baggage to the ceremony. Since the "Field' is now open negative energy can effect others in the group. Moreover, if the Field is unprotected, tricksters can potentially pollute the sacred space. Competent shamans  know how to manage the demons inside the ones partaking and also outside of them resident in the Field. Deciding on who to go to for the experience should be like looking for a neurosurgeon to correct an ailment. One should do one's homework before embarking on this "trip."

Although I had two Ayahuasca experiences in 1987 in Peru's Amazon, and I found them enlightening I chose to go the sangoma way for initiation as a sangoma in Swaziland, South Africa in 2000. 

For myself I found the experiences rewarding but a little like going up in a helicopter to the top of a high peak with a broad view of the landscape that would have been impossible otherwise. I experienced things that I could never see in my prior yoga practice or in meditation a few of which were clairvoyant. I confirmed that many of the phenomena I had read in yoga and other texts were true and now could be true for me too. I felt I had been privileged to experience them and they were real even if I would never see them again until I left the planet and crossed over the veil between the worlds. I also had a near death experience and no longer fear death. No longer fearing death can be a vital part of the encounter.

Everyone's experience with these plants will be unique to themselves and often also to their culture and even religion.

In sangoma tradition connection to the spirit world is achieved during initiation through drumming and dancing. Entheogens are not used. The word Sangoma (Zulu for the equivalent of a shaman) comes from the word Ngoma which means a drum. It is the drum and the dance that call the attention of one's guides during initiation and bring them home to the sangoma in trance, divination or dreams. Sangomas (also called Nyangas) use "possession," bones and dreams for diagnosis and rituals using sacred plants for treatment of the condition/s. The bones are like a psycho-spiritual C.T. scan and in experienced hands should be about 80% accurate.

A few words on sacred geometry which can be found in some of these  plants of power.

“Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round and … the earth is round like a ball and so are all the stars. The wind in its great power whirls. Birds make their nests in circle, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing.” 
Black Elk

Some shapes and designs of themselves lend themselves more easily and align more truly to a natural connection, for instance, the circle and the spiral. Their very form speaks to essence in creation.
 

There are other shapes and designs that represent sacred geometry apart from the circle and the spiral.

If one looks carefully at the design in certain entheogens we can see the symbol of a hexagon which is also the symbol of the heart chakra. The hexagon represents sacred geometry which we can see throughout the ages.

These entheogens can open the heart chakra. This principle also can be extrapolated to the Law of Similars.

 If something resembles the other, it can affect the other. 

Cross section of San Pedro cactus which contains mescaline - many plants are hexagonal in their shape.

The affect of mescaline is similar to that of psilocybin in magic mushrooms and tends to be gentle. 

The FDA has now cleared psilocybin for use in selected patients and for research. 

The F.D.A. are way behind what is now evolving in popular culture.

Stanislav Grof was using LSD in his experiments in the 60's with amazingly beneficial results until its use became illegal.

Cross section of Ayahuasca which contains D.M.T. demonstrating the hexagon - if one connects the dots.

Ayahuasca grows as a liana often spiraling much like the Sun and Moon main channels of the chakra system or like the Caduceus. 

Hermes who carried the Caduceus was the Messenger of the gods (the master of the Field...) 

It can open the heart chakra and balance the Sun and Moon channels to allow Kundalini energy to move up the spine and open the Third Eye. The Sun channel expands, is hot, red in color and represents the masculine energy. The Moon channel contacts, is blue in color and represents the feminine energy. This sacred geometry can also be seen as the perfect combination of masculine and faminine during the mating of two snakes.

Even in Peyote used by the Native Americans in ceremony - one can see a semblance of a hexagon in the grooves. 

The hexagon's symbol of the heart chakra signifies that it can help us open this most challenging chakra. These are examples of sacred geometry in the plant kingdom. The Ancestors affirm that like all the Beings of Nature the Growing Beings have a profound consciousness that we can tap into.

In spite of the transformational power resident in entheogens and their use there are certain concerns regarding their being used unethically. When I did ceremony in the jungle in 1987 it was free. If one wanted to, one could give a donation. 

There is nothing wrong with charging for facilitating the experience but to be in compliance with the sacred power of the plant and the Field any exchange of energy should not be abused. Ideally one should have another source of income and not have to rely on the financial rewards of the plant spirit to be in complete compliance with spirit. 

Union do Vegetal in Brazil is an Ayahuasca church whose ministers receive no payment. The translation of União do Vegetal is, Union of the Plants. 

“A mere glimpse of reality can be mistaken for complete realization.” Gampopa

There are some who after several experiences portray themselves as "shamans" without having had formal training which can take many years. Furthermore, they may not have an intimate relationship with the plant and may not even know what it looks like in the wild or how best to prepare it. The more attention and intention one gives to the details, the more the power of the medicine and the more the Field responds. The plants I believe if possible are best imbibed in their own ecosystem rather than being prepared and used remote from it.

Regarding Ayahuasca, the vision vine of the Amazon, the Icaro or sacred song which is sung throughout the ritual is key to the effect of the plant as is the Chacruna additive which activates the D.M.T. The Icaro comes to the Ayahuascero shaman out of initiation from the spirit world or some believe from the plant itself. The Icaro drives the experience.  

Yes, the facilitator can sing someone else's Icaro but singing or playing Western music will not be the same. The plants requires a certain simple but profound vibration that comes from spirit.

Even though entheogens (Ayahuasca, San Pedro cactus, Peyote) can lead to transcendental experiences, as Westerners we have to be very careful and respectful when using them. They should only be taken in sacred space with an experienced shaman, guide, therapist or mentor who can protect the participants and the sacred space. 

The use of entheogens continues to increase amongst Westerners.

To paraphrase Huston Smith about his own experiences with enthreogens, that once

one has opened the door one does not have to keep on knocking. 

The inner work still needs to be done after the door has opened. 

There are other lesser well known entheogens apart from the ones discussed . In the Americas indigenous peoples depend on these entheogens for healing and wholeness whereas we Westerners may want to consider ourselves occasional visitors to this powerful experience.

 When we have a special request, the Rolling Stones remind us that

 

"You dont always get what you want but if you try you might get what you need." 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WHAT SOUTHERN AFRICAN WISDOMS HAVE TO OFFER THE WEST #12

“All healing is in the hands of the Creator . It can be delegated to intermediaries for designated moments.” Rev Ben Shimon

If you want to ask the "Field" for help, 

and for those that are healers, 

it is best to open Sacred Space as a container for your prayers and intentions.

Sacred Space

Open formally - call in your Guides or Spirit

Drum, rattle

Light Incense 

Allow Healing to occur

Close the Space and give thanks

All healing comes through the Field, through our guides and from the Infinite One to help, heal, inspire, transform and protect. This energy is essentially universal love that emanates from the Creator. Some living beings are chosen more powerfully to channel this energy be it a person or even a pet but we all have some ability to do so. 

"Only love can generate the healing fire." Agnes Sanford

There are several essential, basic intentions that we can send out to the Field for help when calling our guides 

Healing 

Protection

Cleansing 

Asking for a dream

Asking for anything else ...

One or two plants can serve for any of these requests. If one is a plant lover, specific plants can be chosen and individualized for certain requests. Cedar and white sage (or any sage) are plants of power and can be used for our requests. They can be used for incense and smudging or be placed in water to cleanse. 

I will not discuss sacred plants used in Southern Africa where sangomas use the same principles without formal knowledge of the so called laws of Similars and Contagion.

Each ecosystem has it own unique incense and aromatic plants like  juniper, lavender, mint, rosemary all of which can be used. 

Imbibing the sacred has benefits too. Aromatic and savory plants can be used in cooking in a ritual to cleanse and clear negativity. 

Placing a sage leaf in a water bottle can change the vibration of the water and protect. 

Without the intent to carry the message, the process alone will hold less power. It is strong intention and the plant that become the container for that request and that give it traction.

One does not have to have an extensive knowledge of plants to be effective. One can use any plant. 

Community creates Coherence 

providing everyone involved has positive intent. Even a few participants can create a bigger container for Coherence with the Field.  Sometimes "it takes a village." The sum of the parts become greater than the whole creating synergy.

Red is a protective, cleansing, color in sangoma medicine as well as universally. Wearing red clothing or a wrist band fortified by a sacred plant infusion can protect. One can use plants that are red in color for ritual purification from intrusive spirits (bad blood) or organic red wine in a bath for the same reason.  It is important to meditate and imagine in the bath. Breathe in the white light of positive intention and breathe out the thick black smoke of whatever it is you need to get rid of. 

The Law of Aposematism supports red as being a warning color. Traffic lights are red to tell us to stop and beware. This Amazonian red frog is deadly if eaten.

The Castor Oil plant's stems and fruit are red. The whole plant has ricin in it which is deadly poisonous. 

The leaves of the poison oak are red and although attractive warn us not to touch or we will get a terrible rash.

The Law of Similars

“By similar things a disease is produced and through the application of the like is cured.” Hippocrates

If things resemble on another they can be used in ritual to affect the other, usually favorably.

Fig wort has been known to help with skin rashes. Their inflorescence resembles a rash.

The Law of Contagion

"The law of contagion is a magical law that suggests that once two people or objects have been in contact a magical link persists between them unless or until a formal consecration, cleansing, or exorcism is performed."

If objects are in contact with one another they can affect one another.

The Law of Contagion can have dangers and benefits.

Benefits

To experience the Still Beings we need to touch them

(or they can touch us.)

Benefits include the holiness of figures and relics in places of worship.  Articles (and photos) on your alter that belonged to one's loved ones connect us more powerfully to them. If one can wear or use them, even more so.

Talismans and Amulets work beneficially through the Law of Contagion.

A locket can house protective plants, symbols or holy words to enhance the effect. The outside can be engraved with a favorite saints name or the symbol of the hexagon of the heart chakra. 

Precious and semiprecious metals, crystals and stones with positive vibrations can protect. 

Gold and silver have high vibrations and have previously been used  as such apart from their material value. 

Psychics and mediums using an article of clothing to find a lost child or person. To a rescue dog the scent of the person's clothing acts similarly.

Dangers

Witches may us a victim's nail clipping, hair, clothing or make an effigy of the person to empower a hex.

 

To experience the Growing Beings we must listen to them

If we want to learn from the plants we have to "listen" to them - listen with all the senses including sight smell, touch, and if safe, also taste. We need to ask them how they can be of assistance and give gratitude when we harvest them. 

 

Being of the breath of God, all creation is responsive to love, gratitude and petition.

Each as it is acknowledged becomes receptive to giving and receiving. That is how we experience the other.

 

Sacred plants are there to help us but they also have to be honored and respected. Only what is needed should be taken for the task at hand and one should show gratitude in some way when harvesting - for instance – giving a little water to enliven them, since they enliven us.