In
traditional yoga philosophy, the chakras are subtle force centers
that vitalize and control the physical body. The Sanskrit word
chakra means "wheel", indicating that these force centers are
wheels of energy. The following methods of esoteric healing are
based upon the chakras.
Pranic healing is one of the oldest and most widespread methods
of treatment of physical illness. In this approach the healer
uses a type of energy that is sometimes called prana, magnetism,
or vitality. This energy can be consciously directed by the
healer toward the patient, so that the healer's vitality replaces
or reinforces that of the patient. The healer uses his chakras
to assimilate prana, convert it into healing energy, and then
distribute this energy. The patient's chakras receive the energy,
which serves to vitalize his physical body and more especially
his endocrine gland system, thereby bringing about physical
health.
Telepathic
healing can be used either to transmit helpful ideas
that may affect the patient's mental attitudes or to guide
the patient's subconscious mind for healing his physical body.
Several types of telepathic impulses can be sent: intuitional,
mental or emotional. The healer's chakras are used to send
these impulses, and the patient's chakras are used to register
them.
Radiatory
healing can be accomplished when the healer is in
alignment with his inner spiritual nature. The qualities resulting
from this alignment can be radiated to the patient to calm
his emotions, stimulate compassion, strengthen his mind, and
bring him into alignment with his own spiritual nature. The
healer's chakras radiate these qualities, and the patient's
chakras register them.
This
article will discuss radiatory healing, but first it is necessary
to understand certain terms and relationships regarding a person's
inner constitution.
A
fundamental teaching of theosophy is that the solar system is
sevenfold in its constitution. Whereas only the physical world
can be perceived with the ordinary senses, it is said that there
are also six higher worlds, of progressively subtler matter,
that interpenetrate the physical. These worlds are called planes.
Furthermore, each plane is divided into seven subplanes.
For
instance, the physical is the lowest plane, and it consists of
the following subplanes: first ether, second ether, third ether,
fourth ether, gaseous, liquid and solid.
The
three lowest subplanes - gaseous, liquid and solid - compose
the dense world of matter and are perceptible with the five physical
senses.
The
four highest subplanes represent the etheric region. Although
imperceptible with normal faculties, these four ethers are considered
as being part of the physical realm. Corresponding to the division
of the physical plane into dense and etheric portions, a person's
body has two portions: The dense physical body is composed of
solids, liquids, and gases, including such parts as the bones,
blood system, nervous system, brain and endocrine glands.
The
etheric body, sometimes called the vital body, is composed of
the four ethers. It is referred to in the Bible as the "golden
bowl" (Eccles. 12:6). The etheric body has the following functions:
although of a tenuous nature, it is the framework or foundation
underlying every part of the dense physical body; it vitalizes
or energizes the dense physical cells; it is a clearinghouse
for all forces coming to the physical from higher dimensions,
transmitting them through the nervous, endocrine and blood systems;
and it is the transmitter and receiver of esoteric healing energies.
The
etheric body is below the threshold of consciousness and is generally
recognized only in terms of vitality or lack of vitality.
The
chakras are force centers within the etheric body, and there
are seven major chakras and 21 minor chakras. A major chakra
evolves over time, moving from a sluggish semi-dormant state
to an active fully-developed state. When a chakra develops, it
gains the ability to work with additional forces and to perform
additional functions.
Following
are some of the functions of each of the seven major chakras.
The crown
chakra vitalizes the cerebrum (or upper brain) and
anchors the consciousness stream from the causal body (or soul),
enabling a person to have self-awareness. When developed, it
registers wisdom, insights and spiritual purpose.
The brow
chakra vitalizes the cerebellum (or lower brain) and
central nervous system (which consists of nerve fibers within
the brain stem and spinal cord). When developed, this chakra
focuses wisdom, insights, and spiritual purpose (all received
via the crown chakra), which then can be used to control the
personality.
The throat
chakra vitalizes the lungs and vocal apparatus, and
it also registers concrete thoughts from the mental body (received
via the solar plexus chakra). When developed, the throat chakra
responds to strength and clarity from the causal body (received
via the brow chakra), enabling creativity to be expressed in
thought, speech and writing.
The heart
chakra anchors the life stream, which governs the
circulation of blood throughout the body. This chakra also
controls the vagus nerve, the largest nerve in the parasympathetic
nervous system (which activates involuntary muscles that restore
the body's energy). When developed, it registers compassion,
which is experienced as a sense of oneness with others.
The solar
plexus chakra vitalizes the sympathetic nervous system
(which activates involuntary muscles that mobilize the body
for action). This chakra is considered to be developed in an
average or ordinary human being, in which case it registers
emotions that can incorporate both feelings from the emotional
body and concrete thoughts from the mental body.
The sacral
chakra vitalizes the sexual life and organs of reproduction.
It is considered to be developed in a human being following
birth.
The basic
chakra vitalizes the kidneys. This chakra also feeds
the life-giving principle, the will to live, to all parts of
the physical body, resulting in the fundamental instinct of
self-preservation.
According
to Alice A. Bailey, the etheric body extends outside the dense
physical body, and the chakras are part of that portion of the
etheric body that lies outside.
In
particular, she states that the crown chakra is "just above the
top of the head", the brow chakra is "just in front of the eyes
and forehead"; and the five spinal chakras (throat, heart, solar
plexus, sacral and basic) are positioned in the "etheric counterpart
of the spinal column", which is behind the dense physical body.
(1)
In addition, she says that these spinal centers are at least
two inches away from the dense physical spine for an undeveloped
person and are even further away for an average person.
(2)
It is possible to give a precise definition for chakra development.
Bailey states that each major chakra is separated from the one
above it and the one below it by an interlaced protective web
of etheric substance. She says that there are four circular webs
lying between the five major chakras in the etheric spine and
that there are two additional webs in the head. When intact,
these six webs prevent the free movement of energies in the etheric
body.
(3)
These webs become dissipated slowly, normally, and automatically,
as the person purifies his life, disciplines his emotions, and
practises meditation. When a particular web is dissipated, the
corresponding chakra is defined as being developed, and the person
has attained a higher state of consciousness.
The
lowest etheric web is between the basic and sacral chakras. When
this web is dissipated, the sacral chakra is defined as being
developed. Because this dissipation occurs around the time of
birth, the sacral chakra is always developed for all persons
following birth.
For
an average or ordinary human being, the etheric web between the
sacral and solar plexus chakras has generally been dissipated,
in which case the solar plexus chakra is developed and the person
can express emotional sensitivity.
When
the web between the solar plexus chakra and the heart chakra
is dissipated, the heart chakra is developed, and the person
has attained the first spiritual initiation called Birth at Bethlehem.
When
the web between the heart chakra and the throat chakra is dissipated,
the throat chakra is developed, and the person has attained the
second initiation called Baptism in Jordan.
When
the web between the throat chakra and brow chakra is dissipated,
the brow chakra is developed, and the person has attained the
third initiation called Transfiguration.
And
when the web between the brow chakra and the crown chakra is
dissipated, the crown chakra is developed, and the person has
attained the fourth initiation called Crucifixion.
It
is possible to give Buddhist and Hindu names for these expansions
of consciousness. Meditation can be defined as an effort to evoke
a quality associated with a state of consciousness higher than
one's normal state, with the result of increasing the activity
of a chakra that has not yet been developed. Having a regular
daily period of meditation is a fruitful approach for developing
the chakras and raising one's state of consciousness. Without
meditation a person will still experience glimpses of qualities
associated with higher states, but the purpose of meditation
is to prolong and deepen those glimpses.
A
person's meditation practice usually will evolve as his chakras
develop, so that there will be a different approach for each
state of consciousness that he attains. For instance, he may
progress from bhakti yoga, to raja yoga, and then to agni yoga.
A
chakra can be thought of as being an oscillator with a particular
natural frequency. An oscillator can be described as any object
that moves in a regular periodic manner, such as a violin string
or a pendulum. Two oscillators having the same natural frequency
can develop sympathetic resonance, which means that the vibrations
of one oscillator can reinforce those of the other. For example,
if a string in one violin is played while a second violin lies
on a table, then the corresponding string in that second violin
will begin to vibrate. In this case, vibratory waves are passed
through the air from one violin to the other. In the same way,
if several pendulum clocks are hung on the same wall, so that
the pendulums are of the same length but are out of phase, after
a while all clocks will be in phase. Here, vibratory waves are
passed through the wall from one clock to another.
Radiatory
healing can be understood as a process of establishing sympathetic
resonance between corresponding chakras in healer and patient.
In this case, vibratory waves are transferred over the etheric
subplanes, enabling 'synchronization' to occur between the healer's
and patient's chakras.
(4)
Vibratory waves from the healer's crown chakra, via the brow
chakra, can aid the patient in becoming aligned with his own
spiritual purpose. Waves from the healer's heart chakra can convey
a sense of compassion or oneness with others. Waves from the
healer's throat chakra can aid the patient in strengthening and
clarifying his mind. And waves from the healer's solar plexus
chakra can convey inner peace and calm the patient's emotions.
Both
healer and patient should fulfill certain conditions in order
for radiatory healing to be successful. The healer must be able
to experience the various qualities within himself and then be
able to radiate the corresponding vibrations. This process requires
that certain of his chakras be developed. In particular, the
healer needs to have his brow chakra developed to radiate the
quality of spiritual purpose from that chakra.
(5)
His heart chakra should be developed to radiate the quality of
compassion.
(6)
His throat chakra should be active to radiate the quality of
mental clarity. And his heart chakra should be active and solar
plexus chakra developed to radiate the quality of inner peace
from the solar plexus chakra. For proper registration, the patient
should have some of his chakras active plus a willingness to
register the radiated energies - the word willingness is used
because his experience is subject to his own free choice. In
particular, if the patient is "highly developed", then his crown
chakra would be sufficiently active to register the vibrations
of spiritual purpose, and his heart chakra would be sufficiently
active to register compassion. If he is "an ordinary and average
advanced person", then his throat chakra would be sufficiently
active to register mental clarity. But even if the patient is "quite
undeveloped and relatively a low grade human being", then his
solar plexus chakra would still be sufficiently active to register
inner peace.
(7)
Although this article has focused on radiatory work in terms
of the chakras, technical knowledge about the chakras is not
necessary. A person's intention automatically controls the activity
of his chakras, which generally operate below the threshold of
consciousness. A practitioner can transmit various qualities
to a patient without understanding which centers send or receive
the corresponding vibrations. After first experiencing those
qualities within himself, a healer can radiate them merely by
intending to do so, which causes the requisite activity of his
chakras to occur automatically.
Nevertheless,
technical knowledge about the chakras can be useful for several
reasons.
First,
this knowledge provides a coherent theory of the healing process
and a basis for a student to learn the art of healing, such as
by using visualization. Second, this knowledge can predict the
limitations of the healer to heal and of the patient to respond
to healing.
Third, knowledge of the chakras can improve the effectiveness of the healing
work, such as by properly utilizing the hands. And fourth, this knowledge can
explain some of the experiences that both the healer and the patient undergo.
References:
1.
A.A.Bailey, Telepathy and the Etheric Vehicle (Lucis Publishing
Co, NY 1975), p146.
2. A.A.Bailey, Esoteric Healing (Lucis Publishing Co, NY, 1977) p461.
3. Idem, p186-187; and A.A.Bailey, A Treatise on White Magic (Lucis Publishing
Co, NY, 1974) p591-592. The second reference describes seven etheric webs.
In addition to the six webs discussed in the article, there is a web on top
of the head which separates the etheric crown chakra from its counterpart on
the emotional plane.
4. A.A.Bailey, Esoteric Healing, pp604-605.
5. A.A.Bailey, The Rays and the Initiations (Lucis Publishing Co, NY, 1976)
pp689-691.
6. A.A.Bailey, Discipleship in the New Age, Vol 2 (Lucis Publishing Co, NY,
1972) p244.
7. A.A.Bailey, Esoteric Healing, p551.
Reprinted
with the kind permission of Share International Magazine.
| Authors
Details:
Zachary
F. Lansdowne
Zachary
Landsdowne is a Theosophist and author of several books
about healing. |
More
articles on Chakras
(Chakra Balancing Part 1)
(Chakra
Blancing Part 2)
(Chakras the seven
energy centres of your being)
(Chakras
& Healing) |
