Neuroendocrinology Effects are difficult to measure. This is the reason for the slow progress in the advancement of the field. As a subject it has been known throughout history by many names. It is therefore an old field of interest in the medical, yogic, alchemical, and religious disciplines.
Areas that involve the awareness and control of glandular secretions have been used by mankind in different areas of research throughout history. These include joggers, musicians, dancers, artists, yogis, alchemists, mystics, and practitioners of various religious traditions. A subset of the latter is the Sufi dances, and Gurdjieff dances. With the advent of greater interest in Magick and Wicca these experiences are becoming prominent in the human research records. A long term problem in these activities is in gauging the effects of motion on the mind and body. In the case of rituals the reason and motivation would aid in understanding how the neurophysiology responds to environmental factors. In a popular film series known as Star Wars a common aspect linking each episode is the character called The Force. Information about that character is introduced slowly. We learn more and more about the personality of this important character with each new film released. Despite this, the character has no dialogue. It is through the projection of the viewer’s imagination that we learn about The Force. This is facilitated by the performers verbal descriptions and actions. During one of the films entitled: The Last Jedi, a character describes the basis of introducing an unseen world through Breath (Teacher: Sky Walker). This world is home to the the highly anticipated Force. The audience is encouraged to breathe along with the student. (Student: Rae). By doing so the onlookers will come to know about this allusive character. This portion of the plot is inserted by the consequence of using rituals in theater. A methodology performed on altars, stages and hence in films. There is a passive participation that accompanies the performance. No further description as to how to breathe is provided. The method is assumed by the film makers that this is a natural process. The information is widely know so why mention it. This is a sticky point missed by the audience. We do not consciously utilized breathing by an active participation of the mind. We are taught by the characters that through this activity of breathing a door is opened and a threshold is crossed. In the film the viewer is forced to identify that breathing is a prerequisite toward the higher mental function of meditation. The introduction of breath is intended as a reminder. Those who are aroused will investigate further on their own time. This threshold when crossed does in fact lead to dreams. This is an important activity as the arts are a byproduct of the human activity of dreams and visions. If we pursue further into our example of the movie plot. We can surmise the instruction to breath is intended to induce dreaming. The teacher (Sky Walker) asked a question to the student (Rae) WHAT DO YOU SEE? Metaphorically the teacher speaks facing the audience by way of the camera. We the audience are provoked with a question. What does the Force look like to us? Swedenborg contribution The study of breath is important to the mystic. You might say the definition of mysticism is the study of how breath moves with the soul, spirit, and body. Ordinarily there is little thought given to the air that leaves and enters our nostrils. We are taught in school that the process is automatic. Our higher levels of consciousness may be intimately involved but the conscious state needs to be made aware. There is far too much competition for our attention to focus on breath. There are the delights of the earth. The stress, the fast pace, the successes and the disappointments. All these events affect breath. Think of breath as a vast current that goes through every part of our being from the universe. In the Bible there is a passage that states that first there was the Word. The origin of all things came from this Word. How did the Word come into being? Utterance always begins with a breath. It was this silent contributor that must be sought out. In order to speak breathing must occur first. An inhalation followed by an exhalation. Think about it ......The Breath was necessary to make the Word. To bring order out of chaos we must know self. This is not an automatic process. To go about knowing self requires a journey of learning about yourself. The study of self does not begin with the mind as one supposes. The Bible stresses that we must awake. It also points to the importance of breath, but not in the same context. When praising people for being geniuses we weigh their brains. The larger the brain must surely mean they are smart. This has been shown not to be the case. Some other factors not yet identified determine this. If someone works hard they must have brains and not muscle. When looking for causes of disturbances of thought we flash a picture of the cerebrum, A neurological disease demands the images of a neuron and chemical formula of the latest medicine from our media. Never do we examine the lungs. No pulmonary descriptions or paintings of alveoli are present in the art to represent a genius or in the study of schizophrenia. The greater efforts that are made on these false leads should be made toward the study of breath. To learn about ourselves we must begin by the study of breath. A passionate view is required. All the great mystics learned the use of breath in their quest for knowledge. The future in neuroscience is to study the link between breath and thought. How breathing patterns affect our thinking.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorAn esotericist devoted to the study of the self by teaching the higher sciences Archives
January 2022
Hot TopicsHOLY MOUNTAIN
Oedipus Aegyptiacus On Mankind Their Origin And Destiny Treatise on the Astrolabe _____________________ Interesting Articles _____________________ The Hermetic Principles in the Tarot The Divided Name The 12 Keys Equality of Genders Punctuation and Mind A Cross on the Earth Alchemy in Comics Gold and the Brain Art Behind the Halo Will Power & Fire Dogs Get To Know Your Ego Adding Life to Color Music by Mathematics Libra and the Kidneys Rivers of Eden Awake Spiritually Role of Spinal Fluid Where are the Angels? Mental Health Research using Music Breathing and Trance DADA movement and Dionysius the Areopagite The Genesis of Music, Part One Raphael painting of Ezekiel's vision The Zodiac and the Cranial Nerves All |