Thursday 26 April 2018

The Tree of Life - An Introduction to the Kabbalah


THE TREE OF LIFE  An Introduction to the Kabbalah by Z’ev ben Shimon Halevi


The Tree of Life, An Introduction to the Kabbalah by Z'ev ben Shimon Halevi 1972 The Guernsey Press
Image result for the tree of life


This is another book I have had on my bookcase for a long time. I had no idea what the Kabbalah was and I have found it very interesting.
 
The Tree of Life is a framework upon which we can examine the structure of any organisation, from a business to the existence of Man.
At the top of the tree is the sephira, or container, Kether, the Crown, which is the Absolute, the Unknowable.
At the bottom is Malkut, the Kingdom, which is the physical body.
On the central column also are
·         Yesod, Foundation, which is the Ego or Persona;
·         Tepheret, Beauty, which is Man’s consciousness of himself, the Watcher. This is at the centre of the tree between Heaven and Earth
·         Daat, Knowledge. This is invisible, the Divine, the Void, the state of No-thing. This is where Man meets the Absolute
On either side of the central column is a passive column and an active column.
The Active Column contains, from the bottom:
·         Netzah, Eternity, which is the autonomic system which runs the vital functions and instincts.
·         Hesed, Mercy, which is the internal world of man, the devotion and passion which drives him.
·         Hochma, Wisdom, which is inspiration and genius coming from the Crown
The Passive Column regulates the corresponding sephiroth, or containers:
·         Hod, Reverberation, which is basic reasoning and knowledge.
·         Gevura, Judgement, which is assessment of the emotions which arise in its opposite, Hesed.  If these are not balanced, then Hesed could lead to uncontrolled passions, while someone who is in Gevura could become a bigot or zealot.
·         Binah, Understanding. This is the intellect, which balances the flashes of inspiration found in its opposite, Hochma. A person who is in Hochma could become a revolutionary, while one in Binah could become too conservative.
I don’t know if this is clear, but to me it is a good map, showing the development of a person from merely physical functioning to a realisation that there is more to life; a great deal more to explore and to achieve.
 
 
 

Ancient Hawaiian Wisdom and Focusing


The beliefs of the Kahunas of Polynesia and Focusing
The Secret Science Behind Miracles, Unveiling the Huna Tradition of the Ancient Polynesians, Max Freedom Long, 1948, DeVorss & Company.
 

Max Freedom Long studies the beliefs and practices of the Kahunas (Keepers of the Secret) in Hawaii. His findings mirror exactly what we have found in using Focusing.

The Kahunas believed that we are made up of three souls:

1.    The Low Self (unihipili). This is found around the body. It manages the emotions and it also holds a person’s memories. It has only elementary reasoning powers, like a dog or a horse. It has animal instincts, hates, fears and addictions.

2.    The Middle Self (uhane) is the conscious mind. It can use the powers of reason, imagination and will but it has no memory. It has language. It has unemotional logic but it can have fixed ideas if it does not use its powers of imagination.

3.    The High Self (aumakua) is the superconscious. It is a blend of masculine and feminine. It is the light, the way, or the path. It is a powerful force which is in contact with “the God who dwells with man”. Its role is love and service.
 
The High Self has wisdom and love and can guide, correct ad heal the other two selves. But the Kahunas believed that it could only do so in a certain way. The low and middle selves have free will and the high self allows them to exercise their free will and to learn by their experiences unless they desire and request guidance from the High Self.

It is only the Low Self that is able to communicate with the High Self. But it can only do that if it is directed by the will of the middle self. Therefore, when guidance is required, the middle or logical self, uses its energy or will to direct the Low Self to communicate with the High Self. The Middle Self then must relax and allow the other two to communicate.

This is exactly how Focusing works. If there is a problem the focuser is brought into a relaxed state, out of the mind and into awareness of the body. Once the relevant part of the body is located, it can communicate, by use of metaphor and images, its experience of the problem. Then the High Self will intervene and help with the problem. Often it will suggest looking at the issue from different perspectives and changing certain behaviour or ways of thinking.

If there is no particular problem, the High Self can be contacted anyway and will communicate using light and colour to give the focuser a wonderful spiritual experience.

 
The Kahuna explanation of how problems arise:

The Low Self governs the senses but has little intelligence. Therefore, it can become driven by those senses into addictions or enmeshed by overwhelming emotions, which it cannot control. It also holds the memory of everything that happens but is unable to communicate these memories to the other selves without the direction of the middle self.

The Middle Self has logic and reason but if it does not connect with the Low Self, it loses the instincts which tell it whether its beliefs are right or ethical. It cannot connect with the High Self without the aid of the Low Self.

The Kahunas believed that if a person believes they have “sinned”, the Low Self and the Middle Self agree that there is a sin, and then the Low Self will feel unworthy to contact the High Self for guidance and will not do so. It may believe that punishment must be given and this comes in the form of illness or accidents or seeking the company of people who will hurt them.

The Low and Middle selves can also absorb the criticisms and abusive comments of others and believe them to be true. This inhibits the natural talents and abilities of the person.

All of these can be helped by contacting the High Self, through the body, by means of instruction from the Middle Self or mind/will.
Back Again

I haven't put anything in this blog for the last year. I have been very busy, together with my colleague, designing and delivering courses for therapists who work with clients who have suffered trauma. The work has been very satisfying and it has been a great pleasure to work with groups of people who are dedicated to their work helping clients.

As the demand for our courses rose, we worked harder and harder to keep up. Now that I have reached the ripe old age of 70 I have decided I can't keep up with Dzmitry and have scaled back on my part of the work.

So now I have time to dedicate to my shamanic and spiritual work again - hence this return to my blog.

If anybody out there is reading my offerings, bless you and greetings.