When we think of enlightenment, Hollywood has projected something along the lines of an all-knowing, long-bearded, mystical sage or strict monk who could do near anything from this mythical enlightenment power.

It’s not as we would invision it in reality.

When talking of enlightenment, the Quaballa describes it as the “One thousand and one doors”. It is many things to many people, and there are numerous parts of enlightenment to be discussed.

For state of being, I’d like to show Jiddu Krishnamurti as an example.

Continue reading →

Many topics, little time.

First and for most, I’d like to mention that I am honored to still be apart of the community.

This is going to be the most scatterbrained, difficult, monotonous spiritual journey of your life: Enlightenment.

Lucky for you, I’m a half-way decent writer with a sense of humor.

Ignoring all possible theory which would make this article look more like a thesis prospecta, Here’s short and low for my long inactivity and the subject of this article.  I’ve been doing a laundry-list of spiritual studies, and working days on end, trying to create a palpable blend of everything I know,  have learned, and can base future learnings off of. Continue reading →

Why is this important?

Altered states of mind allow you, not only to see the world from an alternate perspective, they allow you to tap into a formerly unused aspect of yourself. This is a very useful, as projection, visualization, and sometimes the aspect  on it’s own helps unravel life’s mysteries. I could also venture to say, through experience, that an altered state can easily give you knowledge just from it’s activation.

There are many ways to achieve an altered state of mind.

Ritualization (to make a ritual, or to make into a ritual) is the most effective way. It involves a long set of tasks and a good amount of time. Usually, a group is involved. Most people just down have a coven waiting around, making this option very nonviable for the majority. We all know what a ritual is, I’m assuming.

A ritual is a set of tasks or steps to draw power to, to draw power from, or to honor an idea, idol, symbol, or spirit.

This ambiguity means, that from a singular standpoint you can revere your own idol, and to create sanctity for your own experience. Making it effective in mass. Also, there is a uniting effect of a ritual. When the same people perform the same ritual, there is a spiritual and psychological unity. This unity can be felt, it is tangible within your mind. You can observe this within ministries and orders the world over. Once one person is united within the group, in mind and spirit, there is no separation, from the person’s own will. It is truly an awesome experience.

However, there are very viable alternatives.

For the most obvious, there is meditation. It is a mental exercise, to rid the mind and charge it for use. It does not contain the benefits of a ritual, but it can be ritualized to be more effective than it’s brethren. Within meditation, there are certain practices which allow for many different altered states to be achieved.

There is sensory altered states. These include the uses of: excitation, stressors (a stressor is any outward influence that causes stress), sensory deprivation and sensory overload. These are just fancy words for pain, stress, emotion, pleasure, and lack of sense. These are quite easy to obtain and materials to activate these means are free, or nearly free. In terms of two-factor theory, low arousal, high arousal, no arousal, all things in between and all stress; low, high, or no stress.

Now, there are nearly infinite ways to go about this.

But, the goal is self-actualization with the attainment a state of being attuned with gnosis, or a natural and clear frame of mind with pure knowledge unaffected by the human condition. By being unaffected, I mean a state of sentience above that of a normal human.

Now, I know this all is a little heady, and maybe even a tad bit condescending, but it’s true. I am not going to profess to be a full master at entering gnosis, but, when you have entered it, you will know. It feels like you know anything and everything at a sudden moment, and it is. It is a moment of total insight.

Thank you so much for your time, and good journeys, maybe we’ll meet along the path some day.

And, as a final foot note, I leave you a quote of Gnosis:

Plato The Statesman 258e  —
“Stranger: ‘In this way, then, divide all science into two arts, calling the one practical, and the other purely intellectual .’
Younger Socrates: ‘Let us assume that all science is one and that these are its two forms.'”

 

Quick Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritualization
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_trance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_dance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnosis#Etymology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altered_state_of_consciousness

I’d first like to thank you for reading my first post, and welcome you to my view point.

You don’t have seven chakras.

There are not a mere seven gates in your body. The Chinese understood this more so than any other archival culture (Celts may have known, and Tribal peoples definitely know). They use the term “Meridian”. Defined, A meridian: is any point where body and spirit meet. You will read many occult texts using your body as a gateway to any number of planes. Witches called it “taking flight”, Ásatrú named it “climbing the world tree”, and so forth. Christianity even says, in two separate phrases “Your body is the temple of the holy spirit” and “The kingdom of heaven lies withing man”, albeit you can interpret them a number of ways, this is ominously befitting a gateway between a higher power and yourself. Even the Kabbalah  says “there are a thousand ways to enlightenment”. Back  to identifing a single spiritual gate, say the idea, intention, or emotion linked with it. Such as “Chakra of Grounding” or “Meridian of Contention”. Terms can be easily used in place of each other, but remember, there are innumerable branches of spirituality, and, therefore, numerous names.

A Mudra is a physical movement with a chant for a metaphysical benefit. Hindis most understood this with their hand-signs for intentions. These intentions focus on unity, strength, empowerment, not a single negative aspect. Most people don’t like to feel enraged. This is why mudras, an spiritual opening to the world through the body, is such a great way to empower yourself. (I think a common mudra most people have done is to kneel and put your hands together for prayer.) The phrase “Just dance” lingers for a reason.

However, they revered gods, such as Shiva the Destroyer. They used mantras, which are ideas and chants, to revere the god. Or, to take on an aspect of the god, in religions such as voudoun or in shamanism. This is the grasp of a negative aspect. You cannot let severe negativity within yourself without a severe negative effect. (I think a common mantra most people have done is a blessing for food, or in a mass.) This leads us into both mudras and mantras in action.

Tantras are ideas, or intentions with motions. It is very ritualized. Mudras and Mantras occur before or during Tantras. Tantras will be repeated as necessary, until an idea is brought through, an effect. Think of Tantras as rites, Mantras as prayers, and Mudras as significant signs. (Think of a tantra as a mass, sermon, or otherwise religious gathering for spiritual gifts.)

However,
You will never be able to discern a tantra, mudra, mantra, unless you can identify the gods or godesses (or even yourself aspects) associated with the ritual.

Quick Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mudra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tantra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mantra
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridian_(Chinese_medicine)