As promised, I am going to address Caroline Myss’s discussion on the seven chakras and the seven sacraments of the church. But first I want to provide some Biblical material on spirit, or what Myss also refers to as Divine energy and consciousness. Doing so will add much more depth to Myss’s work from a Biblical perspective, perhaps even bridging some gaps between esoteric and exoteric understanding. I have decided to address the material in a two-part series. In part one we’ll discuss the Biblical term “spirit,” how it relates to God and man, and the necessity of learning to see Biblical teachings through their greater esoteric interpretation. We’ll also quote some more from Myss’s work, Anatomy of Spirit.
God is Spirit
In John 4:24 Jesus teaches us what God is:
“God is a spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.”
I have placed “him” in brackets because in the original Greek the term isn’t there. Translators added it because they felt it preserves the original idea of the author better, but I believe this was a mistake. The sentence should simply read “…must worship in spirit and in truth.”
This is a subtle difference, but an important one. Why is it that once we engage worship through spirit that we don’t need a “him?” It is because in the beginning of our journey we go from the notion of God as a separate being to the realization that God is the ultimate reality and unity above duality and separateness. Our core spirit is this Oneness and unity, and from it springs our separateness and experience of duality. Once we engage worship through spirit, we begin to discover that we are no longer worshipping a separate “him,” but rather the I AM that is the core of reality.
This is not blasphemy as the fundamentalist believes; rather it is the exact opposite. True blasphemy is any endeavor which leads to equating the ego and lower self as God, which many men on this earth have tried to do. But in the ultimate reality there is no separation, there is only love. And God is also love. From this ultimate reality springs the truth that all life is divine because of its source.
Now someone could look at the beginning of John 4:24 and state that “him” was used before “must worship.” To this I say, “So what?!” The Greek pronoun used there, autos, is also translated the “same” 121 times in the New Testament, so couldn’t we also read the verse as follows:
“God is a spirit: and they that worship the same must worship in spirit and in truth.”
I don’t mean to focus on semantics here, but I believe discussing the above scripture as such will give you a deeper understanding of our discussion below.
What is spirit? Let’s use a definition from Gaskell’s work, The Dictionary of Scripture and Myth:
Spirit: A symbol of the positive, energetic, forceful, qualitative, and formative aspect of the Divine outpouring, in distinction from the passive, receptive, quantitative, form-taking aspect—matter. Spirit is the life-side which imparts qualities and motion. Matter is the form-side which receives qualities and motion. Spirit manifests in matter as the life molding the successive forms, more or less evanescent. Spirit uses matter as a sheath which lies outside and below it. Hence the intense vibrations of Spirit gradually dissipate it and bring the forms to naught…”
That’s just a scholarly way of saying that spirit uses matter as an outer garment to experience and evolve itself through, and when it is finished, cast it aside.
As you can see from the above definition, what Jesus says truly begins to make sense. You can’t worship or come near God, who is spirit, unless you do it through spirit. In other words, we must worship through the spirit in man, which is the higher spiritual mind. This spiritual mind, or higher consciousness, brings us to the knowledge of our true selves. The higher we move in consciousness, the closer one comes to the unity of God. As we gain higher consciousness, the illusory and transitory lower self and ego begins to weaken, but the spiritual ego increases.
So how do we move up the consciousness ladder? We’re going to get to more of this as we discuss Myss’s writings on how the seven sacraments symbolically relate to seven sacred truths and the seven chakras in part two of this series, but in order to understand the depth of her work as it relates to Biblical truth, I want to add a few quotes from her chapter entitled “Made in the Image of God” from Anatomy of the Spirit. You will see how it ties into the introduction I have already given on spirit.
She states:
“Today many spiritual seekers are trying to infuse their daily lives with a heightened consciousness of the sacred, striving to act as if each of their attitudes expressed their spiritual essence. Such conscious living is an invocation, a request for personal spiritual authority. It represents a dismantling of the old religions’ classic parent-child relationship to God and a move into spiritual adulthood. Spiritual maturation includes not only developing the ability to interpret the deeper messages of the sacred texts, but learning to read the spiritual language of the body.”
I love that statement, especially the words I have bolded. What does this mean for the Bible?
The author of the New Testament book of Hebrews teaches us essentially the same thing. Consider the quote below:
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrines of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance to dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:1-2).
In other words, the Biblical author says we need to have a higher, spiritual understanding of what the Christ encompasses, because the above mentioned doctrines are an outer expression of a much greater spiritual truth. This is the higher spiritual interpretation of which Myss speaks when she invites us to mature by entertaining “the deeper messages of the sacred texts.”
Paul does go on to say that if God permits, we will continue in those doctrines. Of course this is necessary, but that’s because we will always have men that have a deep rooted need to see God in the traditional parent-child relationship. There is nothing wrong with this because we all mature at our own pace, but it is time for religious leaders to realize and begin teaching the greater interpretations of sacred Biblical text (and other religious texts) for those who are ready to advance. Many more are now fulfilling that calling, the calling to embrace the spiritual life of the Word—its deeper, esoteric meaning over its exoteric one. For too long the greater earthly church is guilty of being stuck in the exoteric interpretation instead of embracing the esoteric one of higher consciousness.
In 1 Cor. 3: 1-3, we get a mental image of the Apostle Paul standing up and berating the early followers of Christ’s teachings:
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual (higher esoteric meaning), but as unto carnal (lower nature), even as babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat; for hitherto you were not able to bear it, neither now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions (think about all the different doctrines), are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” (1 Cor. 3; 1-3).
How long are we to walk as men? Is Paul asking us to walk as something more?
Made in God’s Image
Myss’s work is important because it gives us new meaning to being “made in the image of God,” and perhaps greater meaning to what Paul desires us to know and understand.
Myss also states:
“Because Divine energy (spirit) is inherent in our biological system, every thought that crosses our minds, every belief we nurture, every memory to which we cling translates into a positive or negative command to our bodies and spirits…We are biological creations of Divine design. Once this truth becomes a part of your conscious mind, you can never again live an ordinary life.”
So as Jesus states, we must learn to worship God as a spirit, through spirit. In order to worship God in truth, we must learn to operate through a higher consciousness, one which is developed through conscious choice and action.
Myss also states:
“As we become more conscious and recognize the impact of our thoughts and attitudes—our internal life—upon our physical bodies and external lives, we no longer need to conceive of an external parent-God that creates for us and on whom we are fully dependent. As spiritual adults we accept responsibility for co-creating our lives and our health.”
That is why Jesus also states that the kingdom of God is within us. We have to stop looking for heaven and God “out there,” and realize that God is within the depths and core of the human spirit.
Yes, God is much bigger than us, the lower man, but what really makes up the “us” is much bigger than what we have ever known. In its greater context, it is God.
In the next post we’ll address how all this translates through the deeper symbolic meaning of the seven sacraments and how it ties in with our seven chakras and deeper Biblical interpretation. The original teachings of the seven sacraments of the church have their foundation in a higher spiritual meaning related to elevating consciousness.
Blessings!
Hi , do you have any insight to Rabbi Kaduri and his last message to the world ?
Jac,
I’m sorry, I have never read any of Rabbi Kaduri. What was his message?
Jac,
Sparks was nice enough to provide this link for us:
http://www.wnd.com/2013/10/dead-rabbi-the-hottest-evangelist-in-world/
There is one interesting line in the Rabbi’s message: He stated the messiah has attached his soul to a particular person in Israel.
This sound more like a Gnostic idea than one of the traditional Christianity. His vision is an interesting, one, but I can’t be sure it brings much clarity on anything.
Hi Jac,
Considering the link provided by myself through Josh’s post, as your question was very intriguing and on mainstream media, I feel compelled to elaborate or at the very least delve a bit more into the subject of Rabbi Kaduri.
For myself, I believe the division’s of religions and or religious beliefs began at the very moment in time that Jesus, Yehoshua (as the Rabbi calls him), entered the scenery!
Was not Jesus a Rabbi/Teacher? born of Jewish descent and therefore a political/religious threat for the Jewish leaders of that particular space/time? But, what was He teaching? Truth!
That was the threat/fear. His teachings were affecting many lives and the evolution of spiritual consciousness was beginning to expand…hold on now, we’re not ready for this, we want control!
Of course, the Master, being one with God in Spirit did have 12 Ace’s in the hole, so He was quite prepared for what was to come, and unfortunately Christianity has been modified to fit political agenda’s again and again and again. The true books were either hidden, re-written by Scholars/Scribes, tampered with forever and a day, in other words, not to allow human consciousness to expand, our own evolution has devolved. Political power has their agenda, which God well knew, then throw science into the mix and what do we get? CHAOS
The sweet Spiritual cake has fallen/COLLASPED! shall we make another or serve the fallen cake!?
I guess my point here Jac is, I believe the wise Rabbi Kaduri and what a wonderful Revelation! A spiritual truth was revealed to him, that not only were Jesus’s teachings Truth, but were also suppressed. Otherwise, Rabbi Kaduri would not have reached the ripe old age of 108!!
and did you notice the timing with the politician?, whereas nothing is coincidental!
The real question here for me is Why? That’s where the science of the brain comes in…
As we all know a very great portion of our brains are dormant, was a Spiritual expansion too much for a human brain to comprehend/expand? Apparently so or we would be coming around the turn and headed for the winner’s circle by now…
Cashing in the winning ticket of Truth, Unity, Love, Peace, Kindness and most of all Freedom! Once we assimilate all that we carry within each of us we will be set Free…
Step out of the box (neo-cortex), and enter the Heart, free the frontal lobes.
So, Jac, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
thanks for bringing up the subject matter here and the Rabbi should be deemed a Saint, but I don’t think the traditional Jewish religion would allow that, imagine that our first Jewish Saint! Defining a Saint now is altogether a different subject, shall we go there?
Blessings and Love,
Sparks
Good works Josh, written with such perception and clarity!
May I add another Biblical Scripture for those here to meditate on…
It is the Spirit who testifies that Christ is Truth. There are 3 things which give testimony on Earth: The Spirit and Water and Blood. And these 3 are in agreement. And there are 3 who give testimony in Heaven: God, the Word, and the Spirit. And these 3 are ONE (1 John 5:6-8)
Notice that Water and the Word in each testimony are placed in the middle, thus bringing forth Life!
May the Spirit of Truth and Understanding continue to move in our hearts…
Sparks
Interesting comment sparks. In fact this comment gave some inspiration for a post through your scripture and what the blood really stands for linking our life here on earth with heaven. Maybe I’ll delve into it sometime soon. Blessings!
Josh,
Beautiful write up. Easy to comprehend. Hope you will throw more light on the the woman and her husbands because I believe is all about our evolution in consciousness
Thanks
Thanks Tony!
Joshua,
“I have placed “him” in brackets because in the original Greek the term isn’t there. Translators added it because they felt it preserves the original idea of the author better, but I believe this was a mistake. The sentence should simply read “…must worship in spirit and in truth.”
This quote this is an excellent example how translators insert their own interpretation in a text. I know, I have been there. It is so easy to do that but it should not happen.
The primary meaning of ‘autos’ is self, him-, her- or itself. The second meaning is the same and only the third is him, her or it. At least, according to my Greek/Dutch dictionary. Could we maybe also translate it as the Self, seeing that it refers to God or spirt?
Great article by the way,
Anny
Anny,
Great question and my thoughts exactly! I see this so much throughout the New Testament. I have so badly wanted to do a post dedicated to pronoun usage and all the confusion and misunderstanding it often conveys. I don’t have formal training in Greek, but this makes me want to get it.
Blessings!
Hi Anny,
Thanks for being our translator here!!
You are also inspiring me to learn more about language and Scripture!
For quite some time now I have been reconciling the patriarchal conditioning during prayer and meditation with an alternative mindset that, “where the Father or He is; also is the Mother or She”
Knowing words carry a tonal effect and vibration, I began to meditate the HU sound, it is like a very deep breath, also known to help facilitate the opening of the heart chakra, which led me to my own language “FaMaHU”, for me this expresses both the Father/Mother “breath of God”
There is a cd out there teaching tonal meditation on HU, which I highly recommend for anyone wanting to re-set their spiritual/religious conditioning.
Deep breath, then out breath HUuuuuuuuu, just that alone can help reduce high stress
Sparks
Hi Sparks,
I’ll try to comment for a second time. I already did a couple of days ago but I did not get any connection to the internet and my comment disappeared on me. And the same happened some time later with a comment to someone else’s blog. So, let’s hope for the best.
Thank you for your advice re meditation. I had already heard about meditating on this sound before from rabbi David Cooper, who Joshua already mentioned in some post. He also used (and maybe still does for all I know) this sound.
Anny
With deep appreciation Josh. Just even making allowances to try to understand it all as an
evolutionary organic development towards enlightenment and the truth setting free.
BLESS YOU and all followers in their quest for higher consciousness.
Evelyn UK
I appreciate your comment, Evelyn. Consciousness is an awesome journey.
Hi Evelyn,
Have you ever noticed that the word “Evolve” is actually LOVE spelled 2x’s within one sacred word! The duality of “as above, so below” is surely expressed, amongst other duality’s.
Continue to experience the Beauty, as your words above have expressed!
Be Beautiful and Blessed,
Sparks
Dear Sparks,
Thank you for your heart warming comments.
In fact the reponse you gave to Bernhardt referencing Tower of BABEL, I totally identified with.
I had to take 2 days away from PEOPLE and the sounds of voices and from the rest, going within praying in silence, just using my mind to establish PEACE and understanding.
I AM yes indeed in PEACE.
Thank you you sent that explanation with my name written all over it.
LOVE and LIGHT PEACE.
Evelyn
“learning to read the spiritual language of the body.” yes i love that statement. More especially when trying to express yourself experiences to people around you that are operating from the traditional mind set of worshiping God and they seems not to understand you. Could this be speaking in tongues or unknown language?
Hi Bernhardt,
Remember the Biblical Scripture of the Tower Of Babel?
I believe this is what you are experiencing, you are at a different level of consciousness than the others, they have not yet broken free for their known/programmed experience thus far.
Your essence is vibrating at a higher level! Wonderful!
They have the ability to open their Divine consciousness but are not ready to receive the light in order to fully integrate it into their lives, they will, so keep Faith, Hope and Love for them.
Personally, prior to my leaving the corporate world, I was in a meeting and could not understand one word that people I had known for many years were speaking, my experience was a Tower of Babel, I was able to pull through this overwhelming experience with finesse (smiling), and exit as quickly as possible to understand the experience more clearly without fear. A quick run to the ladies room, not to go but to cry!!
Very soon after, I was not part of this paradigm.
You are in the process of shifting into a higher level of consciousness, you will experience many changes and those like-minded creators (like yourself) will enter into your life.
Forgive me if I am off mark here, but you have already invited Spiritual evolvement into your heart and Spirit? One only has to ask with a genuine and authentic desire!
Enjoy the ride, be gentle and get out with nature, (which will help you connect), as much as possible…
Journey on!
Sparks
.
Hi Bernhardt,
I certainly understand your feelings as I have the same experience with many people around me. Fortunately I can talk to my husband about it, but mostly people are afraid to hear your message because, if you are right, then their truth must be wrong and they are not able to consider that because their whole view of the world as it is would be destroyed. I do not like that but I do understand it somehow. I am also not willing to change my view on anything on someone else’s say so.
The only thing we can and should do for the people in our surroundings is live the Truth that is Unconditional Love towards them and leave it up to them to decide when they are ready to take a more objective look at what is true for them. Then they might be willing to change it because they will be ready. And even then their newfound truth might not be exactly the same as yours, but that is okay as long as we all follow our own way towards higher awareness.
In the meantime the people I do talk to mostly live on the other side of the world, like you, and I can communicate with you all, and so can you.
Love,
Anny
Thanks very much Josh for your encouragements. How i wish i had like-minded persons around me to share experiences with. Here, no one will want to listen to me. Its really challenging. Thanks
Hi Bernhardt,
We are here and willing to listen and share with you!!
Once I was given some very sage advice to “throw down a challenge” and began to practice this, Spirit seemingly was in cooperation with that precept….
Don’t be challenged…Be Brave & of Good Courage!
Once you feel challenged you are setting yourself up for defeat
Allow an opening for Spirit to guide you, it all can be very magical!
Stand and walk in your Truth,
Sparks
Bernhardt,
When I get to feeling the way to do in this post, like there is no one around to share my experiences with, I try and remember that I AM a creative force and the it is God that looks through my eyes. I find this helpful because it means that I stop wishing for like minded people and I live like there are like minded people. Now granted, that may not be safe to openly speak about some of these thoughts and beliefs, but it wasn’t safe for Jesus either. This is why he spoke in parables to the masses and gave unguarded truth to those who were ready.
I think you may be surprised who around you is ready, the people themselves may not know it yet (do you think every apostle knew he was ready before Jesus spoke?) We all have an opportunity to spread Truth, Love, and Joy. But to do so we must have faith, faith in the God that dwells within, faith that you are the creator of your world, faith to move mountains.
Live Blessed;
Justin
Justin,
How beautifully expressed, thank you!
Directly upon reading your post the “Upper Room” or “Pentecost” came to mind, could it be that the I AM, is experienced when Spirit lovingly ushers us there?
Acts 2:41: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”
Here, in the Upper Room, Jesus’s faithful apostles finally fully understood without fear all the parables and teachings, then at that very moment 3,000 souls were touched by the Spirit!!
The I AM of the apostles became a creative force!
So, lets say if Bernhardt, You, Josh, Anny, myself and many others are touched in this same way how many thousands of lives are being affected at the same time!! and that is without saying/speaking one word…the language of the Spirit is Universal/One Song!
I have to conclude that the I AM is the creative force within, which Spirit energetically moves to warm the hearts and souls of others, thus moving mountains.
With Love,
Sparks
Thanks Sparks for your comments too. At least it establish the facts that i am not alone on this journey. Many blessings.
Hi Bernhardt,
You are never, ever alone, Spirit dwells within, so God is always with you!!
He/She just wears different outfits/clothes for different people…
Personally, I prefer the long hair, bearded, hippie outfit!
You will begin to meet many like-hearted seekers, like us, here on Josh’s website/blog…
Adding much Love and Joy to your life!
All good seekers here at SOS, there aren’t any NO signs posted, everyone is welcome
Adding much Love and Joy to your life!
Blessings & Love,
Sparks
Yes Sparks, thanks for your encouragements again and i wish you what i wish for myself . Blessings.
Hi Justin, You are right,
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”
But remember, a Jew is one inwardly.
I like the bolded portion: “It represents a dismantling of the old religions’ classic parent-child relationship to God and a move into spiritual adulthood. Spiritual maturation includes not only developing the ability to interpret the deeper messages of the sacred texts.”
I always felt like the child-parent relationship was kind of strange. I’d rather think god is everywhere, personally.
Fred,
How right you are. God is energy, not a person. A lot of people take offense at this, but let’s be honest…a person is so limited to…well, there personality! Would you want the architect of the universe to be limited to such a limiting aspect of life? It’s impossible to even conceive of, isn’t it? God is so much bigger. Even energy has consciousness, and it is the many forms that it takes that depend on how much consciousness and self awareness it displays.