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A
MYSTICAL WAY OF UNFOLDING COSMIC CONSCIOUSNESS
Preliminary Explanation ABOUT SPIRITUAL PSYCHOLOGY
We
become intuitively receptive to the essence of a symbolic image by holding
it steadily in our mind, letting it irradiate our awareness with its subtle
quality. Such contemplation of an image may lead to an IDENTIFICATION with
it. Whether it happens spontaneously or intentionally, identification
enables the understanding from within of the formless reality, which the
symbol represents. Naturally, such cognitive connections do not occur to
everyone all the time, and, when they do occur, they do not necessarily
produce identical insights. For example, for some people the diamond is a
symbol of the Higher Self or Soul and of the world of visions, of glittering
harmony and unity. But for others, the diamond may just stand for social
status and prestige. For still others, the diamond may not be symbolic at
all. It may be just a diamond, and nothing else. In any case, nearly all of
us will find that one or another symbol can be a true reservoir of
revelations.
Here
is a series of visualization exercises based on symbolic images. Follow each
one of them. Each one represents a subtle reality with its own particular
quality. Hence, each opens the door to a new state of consciousness and can
elicit psychological change. The technique of this series of visualizations
is to focus easily and concentrate on your chosen subject and goal, visualizing the symbol,
atmosphere and mood that you are creating as vividly and consistently as you
can.
This series of symbols are different from the ones that appear and pop up spontaneously during your meditation or in your process of inner development. Rather, you are given to work with this or that symbol because of the cognitive and transformative value it offers. The issue here is a general one: You can creatively intervene, improve and cultivate the quality of your subtle senses, playing with them and exploiting their possibilities. These preliminary exercises are given here to help you create a new world for yourself. They are "tools" to help you "activate" dormant qualities and "awake" a new aspect of your being - and a new level of consciousness. These preliminary exercises will help you create a positive "mood" and make you discover the power of your IMAGINATION and INTUITION.
Hence
you will be given the possibility of working with two types of symbols. Concentrating
and working with archetypal symbols, which are universal and on
symbols that are "man made", meaning that they come from your
personal experiences. Both types of symbols are in themselves powerful
energies of transformation.
INTRODUCTION ON HOW VISUALIZATION AND MEDITATION WORK We become intuitively receptive to the essence of a symbolic image by holding it steadily in our mind, letting it irradiate our awareness with its subtle quality and energy. Such contemplation of an image may lead us to completely identify with the essence and meaning enclosed and included within the symbol or image. Whether it happens spontaneously, or intentionally, identification with a symbol or image enables us to understand symbols from within, and intuition is nothing less than the understanding from within of the formless reality, which the symbol represents. All symbols presented to you on this website are somehow connected to "SEED IDEAS" and all "Seed Ideas" are part of your spiritual being. In other words, these symbolic images will "TRIGGER" within you and awaken in you a corresponding energy. In their turn, the subtle energies within your etheric and astral bodies will be activated and consequently your emotions/feelings and thought processes will react accordingly. You will be presented with a series of visualization exercises based on symbolic images. Each one represents a subtle reality with its own particular quality. Hence, each opens the door to a new state of "mind" and "feeling". This means that these symbols and exercises can help you bring changes in your energy levels and unfold subtler levels of consciousness within you.
EXERCISE :
THE LIGHTHOUSE
Let
us now turn our attention to a visualization exercise that focuses on
"man made" symbol that has become an archetypal one because
like the diamond it can suggest something more subtle and profound.
·
(first read this short visualization exercise and tape it on your tape
recorder )
Relax
on your chair and put the recorder on, close your eyes and imagine that you
are on a small ship at sea, at night. A storm is raging, and the rain beats
down on the deck. The ship is rolling and pitching. All around you is
darkness.
Feel
the rolling and pitching of the ship, hear the wind howling, feel the chill
of the wind and the rain on your face. See the stormy sea at night.
Experience the fatigue in your muscles and the difficulty with which you
wrestle with the wheel.
Now,
in the distance, you can see a dazzling light shining. Its source is a
lighthouse. Its steady, radiant beam guides you through the night. You
welcome this guidance with relief. Now you know where to steer. Concentrate
on the lighthouse, and visualize its light radiating in all directions to
help people who have lost their way, to give guidance to all who need it.
The storm is raging, the wind howling, the rain falling, the night
pitch-black. But the lighthouse stands solid and shining. Nothing can shake
it.
After
a time, let the visualization gradually subside, yet keep within you this
sense of SHINING STRENGTH.
Such
an example illustrates how symbols, rightly used, will deepen their
transformative function, allowing us to change our inner attitudes and outer
behavior. The quality inherent in the symbols not only reveals to us new
ways of experiencing ourselves and life, it also creates a new line of force
in our psyche - one which can gradually become a trait in our personality
and thus affect our actions.
It is suggested that after doing this exercise for a couple of times,
you visualize it without the tape. Please make a point to take notes of your impressions in your notebook.
EXERCISE : THE
BUTTERFLY
Imagine a caterpillar. You can watch it crawling
about on the tree where it lives. Attaching itself to a branch of the tree,
the caterpillar starts to form its cocoon. Gradually it surrounds itself
with golden, silken threads until it is totally hidden. Observe the cocoon
for a few moments Now be inside the cocoon…Surrounded by the
softness of silk…you rest in the warmth of the golden darkness… You are
only dimly aware, so you do not know exactly what is happening to you, but
you sense that in this apparent stillness a hidden, transforming
intelligence is at work… At last the cocoon breaks open, and a ray of light
penetrates through a chink… As the light touches you, you feel a sudden
surge of vitality and realize that you can shed the cocoon. As you feel the cocoon falling away, you discover
that with it you have shed the defenses and supports of your safety and your
past… You are now freer than you ever dreamed you could be; you are a
beautiful, multicolored butterfly… You soon realize that your boundaries
have extended infinitely… you can fly... You find yourself dwelling in a
totally new realm of colors, of sounds, of open space… You experience
yourself flying…being supported by the air, being gently borne up by the
breeze, gliding gown, flying up again... Below, you see an immense meadow full of flowers
of every kind and color…You settle on one…then on another…then on
another still, so gently that the petals are not even disturbed. You
experience each flower as a different being with its own color and
perfume…its own particular life and quality. Take your time in
experiencing the many aspects of your expansion, your freedom, and your
lightness.
Always try to record the exercise this will facilitate your inner work
and visualization. (read and record your voice at the pace that is
convenient and right for you) Always keep your notebook handy to write down your impressions and insights To Go Back to list of Exercises Click on the Picture below
 Painting by Alex Gray 01/24/09
To make a copy in black and white
To go back to the list of pages
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