Archive for Luxor
September 10, 2009 at 5:49 PM · Filed under Meditation Focus, The Healing Arts and tagged: breathing, Egypt, healing arts, Luxor, meditation, opening of airways, pranayama, states of consciousness
The Role of Breath 
The relationship of air, the opening of the vital pathways in the body and respiration in general, is an integral theme to the global body of esoteric knowledge going
back to the beginning of the teachings themselves. It is often the case that discourses in breathing, are frequently the first step in mystical lessons, healing arts and in many of the meditation practices.
It is often noted that in our breathing, we take in the vital life force surrounding our planet, to animate our bodies 
as we inhale and to expel waste energy and purify them as we exhale. The practice of Pranayama, or “control of the life force” is said to be more than 3,000 years old. This practice teaches control of, and specific uses for, various breathing techniques for the purposes of prolonging life, curing illness and attaining rarified states of mind.
In the ancient Egyptian temple of Luxor, the large hall of columns in the section of the temple representing the human chest and lungs (see part III of the series on Symbol), has elaborate carvings of the cycles of the moon at the base of each of the columns that correlate to not just the rising and falling of tides and the human chest cavity, but specific intervals of breath to induce altered states of mind as well. In regards to our journey on the path and seeing the physical experience as a mystical adventure, how does our ability to control the function of breath (the only vital function we are able to consciously control) relate to its purpose and use and how is this advantageous to those of us on the path?
Please feel free to post any comments or feedback regarding this topic or share your meditation experience with our community in the Comments section below.
September 9, 2009 at 10:11 PM · Filed under Esoteric Commentary and tagged: Alexander of Macedon, Alexander the Great, Egypt, esotericism, Freemasonry, harmonic proportion, harmonics, initiation, Luxor, Masonic symbol, pineal gland, sacred geometry, Schwaller, symbolist teachings, Temple of Man, third eye, Washington D.C.
In Parts I & II of this series we discussed how symbol is experienced in different ways by people at different points of advancement on the path and the nature and methods of how symbol is interpreted in my mind. We touched upon the role of symbol in Pharaonic Egypt and the unfolding of consciousness as one begins to see symbol at work in the world around them. Today we’ll see some examples of how the use and application of symbolist teachings can contribute to a richer life and give insight into sacred and esoteric texts.
Once one has a grasp of symbol and the symbolist teachings that are imparted, it becomes easier to comprehend the messages and teaching contained in symbol and over time, allows for the initiate or student to move much faster. As a simple, somewhat recreational example, a trip to Washington D.C. by any Freemason with knowledge of Masonic and esoteric symbol becomes a truly amazing and eye-opening experience. Which, I can say is not only great fun, but in some ways quite moving. A completely new world is unveiled and it is quite an amazing experience that I do not have words to properly express.
As symbolist teachings become engrained and are active in the mind, one will begin to see the fundamental relationships between not only esoteric texts, but the traditional religious texts and articles of faith left to us by pervious generations as well as previous epochs. In regards to Egypt, a trip to the standing Egyptian Temples becomes a mind-blowing experience. In this case, we find not only a massive archive of hieroglyphic knowledge condensed in the symbols that adorn the walls and pillars or the structures left from that ancient time but also that the temples are themselves the teachings to be understood by current initiates. The harmonic proportions, sacred geometries and number theory contained in the actual structures begin to speak and impart knowledge to the prepared mind. Even one temporally removed by 4,000 years can still reap the benefits of the esoteric tradition today (see intro video on Magical egypt). In the case of the Temple at Luxor, the teachings reveal the nature of the human body expressed in the temple itself. In oldest part of the structure, the Holy of Holies, we find the center of the brain and the pineal gland (third eye). As you move from the top to the bottom of the temple, you are guided through the entire human physiology ending at the bottom, or feet of a human structure. From the esoteric lunar influence of tides in relationship to respiration to the semi-incomplete interconnected carvings on the opposing faces of a granite wall representing thought traversing the mind as they create a complete picture when superimposed. The experience is unlike any other.
As we look at disparate cultures and how symbol can still be relevant, I am reminded of a story of Alexander the Great. Alexander of Macedon conquered most of the known world during his lifetime and was himself an initiate of the Egyptian Mystery Schools. As he ventured across the eastern continents, we was known to take part in the religious worship of the peoples he conquered. He saw the fundamental truths and symbolic equalities in the religious allegory and rituals and could interpret those teachings within a common framework that transcended difference and religious fervor.
A serious student of symbolist teaching will eventually be confronted with the religious texts of the modern world. At this point, the texts loose all semblance of historical and chronological validity and the initiate sees and begins to understand the greater truths exposed to them. The expression of principles and laws, universal truths and allegorical interpretation lay in full view of the initiate and a completely new text appears. As these texts are experienced in a symbolic way, a deeper respect is often found and in many ways, an entirely new history is experienced.
This concludes our brief introduction to symbol and symbolic language. If there is continued interest by the readers of this blog, I will go into further detail on this subject. I hope you enjoyed this piece and I wish you well on your adventure ahead.
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Symbol – The Universal Language – Part III
September 9, 2009 at 10:11 PM · Filed under Esoteric Commentary and tagged: Alexander of Macedon, Alexander the Great, Egypt, esotericism, Freemasonry, harmonic proportion, harmonics, initiation, Luxor, Masonic symbol, pineal gland, sacred geometry, Schwaller, symbolist teachings, Temple of Man, third eye, Washington D.C.
In Parts I & II of this series we discussed how symbol is experienced in different ways by people at different points of advancement on the path and the nature and methods of how symbol is interpreted in my mind. We touched upon the role of symbol in Pharaonic Egypt and the unfolding of consciousness as one begins to see symbol at work in the world around them. Today we’ll see some examples of how the use and application of symbolist teachings can contribute to a richer life and give insight into sacred and esoteric texts.
Once one has a grasp of symbol and the symbolist teachings that are imparted, it becomes easier to comprehend the messages and teaching contained in symbol and over time, allows for the initiate or student to move much faster. As a simple, somewhat recreational example, a trip to Washington D.C. by any Freemason with knowledge of Masonic and esoteric symbol becomes a truly amazing and eye-opening experience. Which, I can say is not only great fun, but in some ways quite moving. A completely new world is unveiled and it is quite an amazing experience that I do not have words to properly express.
As symbolist teachings become engrained and are active in the mind, one will begin to see the fundamental relationships between not only esoteric texts, but the traditional religious texts and articles of faith left to us by pervious generations as well as previous epochs. In regards to Egypt, a trip to the standing Egyptian Temples becomes a mind-blowing experience. In this case, we find not only a massive archive of hieroglyphic knowledge condensed in the symbols that adorn the walls and pillars or the structures left from that ancient time but also that the temples are themselves the teachings to be understood by current initiates. The harmonic proportions, sacred geometries and number theory contained in the actual structures begin to speak and impart knowledge to the prepared mind. Even one temporally removed by 4,000 years can still reap the benefits of the esoteric tradition today (see intro video on Magical egypt). In the case of the Temple at Luxor, the teachings reveal the nature of the human body expressed in the temple itself. In oldest part of the structure, the Holy of Holies, we find the center of the brain and the pineal gland (third eye). As you move from the top to the bottom of the temple, you are guided through the entire human physiology ending at the bottom, or feet of a human structure. From the esoteric lunar influence of tides in relationship to respiration to the semi-incomplete interconnected carvings on the opposing faces of a granite wall representing thought traversing the mind as they create a complete picture when superimposed. The experience is unlike any other.
As we look at disparate cultures and how symbol can still be relevant, I am reminded of a story of Alexander the Great. Alexander of Macedon conquered most of the known world during his lifetime and was himself an initiate of the Egyptian Mystery Schools. As he ventured across the eastern continents, we was known to take part in the religious worship of the peoples he conquered. He saw the fundamental truths and symbolic equalities in the religious allegory and rituals and could interpret those teachings within a common framework that transcended difference and religious fervor.
A serious student of symbolist teaching will eventually be confronted with the religious texts of the modern world. At this point, the texts loose all semblance of historical and chronological validity and the initiate sees and begins to understand the greater truths exposed to them. The expression of principles and laws, universal truths and allegorical interpretation lay in full view of the initiate and a completely new text appears. As these texts are experienced in a symbolic way, a deeper respect is often found and in many ways, an entirely new history is experienced.
This concludes our brief introduction to symbol and symbolic language. If there is continued interest by the readers of this blog, I will go into further detail on this subject. I hope you enjoyed this piece and I wish you well on your adventure ahead.
Symbol – The Universal Language – Part I
Symbol – The Universal Language – Part II
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