The8thChakraWhatitisandhowitcantransformyourlife

JudeCurrivanPhDAuthorofTheWave

©JudeCurrivan,2006

Themoralrightsoftheauthorhavebeenasserted.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthisbookmaybereproducedbyanymechanical,photographicorelectronicprocess,orintheformofaphonographicrecording;normayitbestoredinaretrievalsystem,transmittedorotherwisebecopiedforpublicorprivateuse,otherthanfor‘fairuse’asbriefquotationsembodiedin

articlesandreviews,withoutpriorwrittenpermissionofthepublisher.

Theauthorofthisbookdoesnotdispensemedicaladviceorprescribetheuseofanytechniqueasaformoftreatmentforphysicalormedicalproblemswithouttheadviceofaphysician,eitherdirectlyorindirectly.Theintentoftheauthoris

onlytoofferinformationofageneralnaturetohelpyouinyourquestforemotionalandspiritualwellbeing.Intheeventyouuseanyoftheinformationinthisbookforyourself,whichisyourconstitutionalright,theauthorandthe

publisherassumenoresponsibilityforyouractions.

AcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.

ISBN9781848504424inMobipocketformatISBN9781848504431inEpubformat

TheNativeAmericanspiritualtraditionsrecognizethatweareallrelated–people,animals,treesandalltherealmsofthelivingEarthandthewiderCosmos.

The8thChakraisdedicatedwiththeunconditionalloveoftheuniversalhearttoallourrelations.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Introduction

PartI:Understand

Chapter1:ThecosmichologramChapter2:HarmonicsofcreationChapter3:BelievingisseeingChapter4:Cosmicprinciples

PartII:Feel

Chapter5:EmbodycosmicharmonyChapter6:Breatheout…Chapter7:ThelivingEarthChapter8:Cosmicwaves

PartIII:Be

Chapter9:Heart-centredsoulhealingChapter10:ThejourneyofthesoularheroChapter11:Comm-unityChapter12:Re-memberChapter13:Home

Attunement1:Breathexercises

Attunement2:Personalchakrameditation

Attunement3:Universalheartandearthstarchakrameditation

Furtherreading

AbouttheAuthor

TitlesofRelatedInterest

JointheHayHouseFamily

AcknowledgementsMydarlingmotherusedtosaywithasmilethatI’dspeakwithanyone.Since the ageof four I’ve spokenwith and,more importantly, learned from

notonlythepeopleI’veloved,laughed,criedandarguedwith,butalsoanimals,nature spirits, Devas, Angels, ghosts, Ascended Masters, ancient gods andcosmicguides.IhonourthemallasfellowtravellersandIloveandthankthemforwhatever

reasonandinwhateverwaywehavejourneyedtogether,whetherforamoment,aseasonoraneternity.InwritingThe8thChakramy loveandgratitudearegivenespecially to the

followingbeings:MichellePilleyofHayHouse,whosewisdom,encouragementandtrustareapricelessgifttome.

Myeditor,LizzieHutchins,whose extraordinary insight and expertisebroughtthebooktolife.

MydearfriendJeannieKar,atruesoularhero.

MybelovedhusbandTony, forwhoseever-present loveandsupportmywordscanneverbeenough.

AndmymentorandguideThoth,whohasbeenwithmefromthebeginningofeverything.

IntroductionAsIbegin towrite, today is23rdDecember.Onthiswintersolsticedawn, theSun has oncemore commenced its yearly spiral fromdarkness to light. Sinceancient times, this day has traditionally welcomed the birth of the archetypalsolar hero, who has been known bymany names and whose outer quest andinnerjourneytowholenesshavebeendepictedinmanymythicsagasandmyriadspiritualteachings.Thesolarherowasnevermeanttobeworshipped;rather,hewasmeanttobe

emulated.Foreachandeveryoneofushasthisdivinepotentialwithinus.Yetfor2000years,thevoiceofthegreatestofsolarheroeshasgoneunheeded.Jesussaid,inJohn14:12,‘AsIdothesethings,soshallyedothem,andgreater.’We are the ones he spoke of. But over the last two millennia, first

institutionalized religion sought to convince us of our unworthiness and thensciencesoughttopersuadeusthatonlythematerialworldwas‘real’.However, a new vision of the Cosmos is now emerging, one which is

reconciling science and spiritual wisdom in a more profound and personallyempowering way than ever before. It is offering us not only answers to thequestionsofhowtheCosmosisasitis,butalsothechancetounderstandwhyitisasitis.Thisnewawarenesshasradicalimplicationsforeachandeveryoneofus.For

it reveals a wholly interconnected, conscious and holographic universe, aCosmos where consciousness is primary – and where we are therefore bothcreationandco-creator.Ourhighestpurposeinbeinghereatthismomentoustimeistorememberthis,

and in doing so to remember who we really are.We are now able to accessnewlyavailablecosmicenergiesthattranscendourpersonalsenseofself.Theyliberate our perception, enabling us to heal and release old patterns andlimitations.And,aswefreeourselves,weareempowered to fullyembody thehigherpurposeofoursoulandtoconsciouslyco-createtheemergenceofanewcosmicage–anage inwhichweallhave thepotential to real-ize thatwearesolar–orsoular–heroes.

The8thchakra

Theearliestspiritualtraditionsperceivedegoconsciousnessasmediatedthroughsevenenergeticvortices that theycalled‘chakras’. In recentyears, thisancientwisdomhasbecomemuchmorewidelyknownandaccepted.Collectively,however,weknowatadeeplevelthatourpersonalenergyfield

of seven chakras is incomplete. This can be shown by the cosmic resonanceembodiedinthe13notesofthecompletechromaticmusicalscaleandtheeightnotesofitsdiatonicsub-scale.Singingthefirstsevennotesofthediatonicscale–doh,ray,me,fa,soh,la,te–leavesusfeelingthatsomethingismissing.Andsoitis.Itistheeighthnotethatcompletestheoctaveandthe8thchakra

that completes the octave of our personality-based consciousness. The 8thchakra isalso theenergeticportal toourhigherawareness,guidanceandsoul-levelpurpose.

UnityawarenessThe 8th chakra is the first transpersonal chakra of our unity awareness.Unityawareness is consciousness of the greaterwhole ofwhichwe are all part andwhichwe are now able to embody in human form.Accessing such expandedawarenessenablesus to transcend the limitationsofourhumanperceptionandremember that we are not alone but ultimately are all-one. We are thusempoweredtoreal-izetheholographicnatureoftheCosmos,theOneexpressedthroughthealmostinfinitediversityofthemany.Formillenniawehave experienced the polarities of light and shadow in all

theirrichexpression.Nowisthetimeforustotakeconsciousresponsibilityforourdestinyandembodythetranspersonalawarenessthatoffersusawayhometo theunity that liesbeyondallpolarities.This is thedestinationof the soularhero.This book shares how to access these transpersonal energies to empower

greaterperceptionandundertakeheart-centredhealingatasoul level.Itshowshowwecanexperienceall thatwereallyare throughourminds,emotionsandbodiesandhowwecan re-establishprofound relationshipswithourselves,ourhumanfamily,Gaia(thelivingEarth),andthewiderCosmos.Everyoneofuswalksauniquepath toanultimatedestinationsharedbyus

all.The8thChakra is away-shower for the soular hero in all of us, enablingeachofustochooseourownwayforward.

RememberEvery journey begins with a first step, which we often only perceive inhindsight.Thefirststepofmyownjourneytothe8thchakrastarted,asitdidforusall,aeonsago.ButIfirstbecameawareofthepathwhen,literallyoutoftheblue, I receivedapsychicmessage in earlyMay1998.Whilst Ihavereceivedsuchhigherguidancesinceearlychildhood,thismessagewasparticularlyclear.ItopenedupapaththatbecamethemostchallengingIhaveeverwalked,foritaskedmetorememberwhoIreallyam–notjusttheJudeIthoughtIknew,butalltheaspectsofmydis-memberedpsyche.I began to remember not only my personality-based awareness but higher

levelsofarchetypalandcosmicconsciousnessasIjourneyedfrombeingal-onetoknowing thatweareall-one.That journey tookmearound theworldand isrelatedinmyforthcomingbookThe13thStep. Itopenedme to therealitiesofthe 8th chakra and the higher perception that is our individual and collectiveheritageandcosmicdestiny.Itisthisawarenessthatissharedinthisbook.

Whynow?Theholographicuniverse is innately interconnected,consciousandpurposeful.Therearenoaccidents!Individually and collectively, we have trodden an age-old journey to this

moment in time. It has been a journey during which, as spiritual beingsundertaking a physical experience, we have explored all that it means to behuman.Orhavewe?PropheciesrangingfromthoseoftheancientMayatothoseofcontemporary

mysticsandtheeldersoftheprimarypeoplewhostillwalktheEarthstatethatthis is a time of transformation. The Mayan calendar ends at the Decembersolsticeof2012,whichtheyperceivedasbeingtheculminationofmyriadcyclesofconsciousnessandpresagingaShiftincollectiveawareness.AllthatIhaveunderstoodonmyownjourneytothispointisthatthisShiftis

the precursor to our consciously embodying our spiritual wholeness in ourexperienceofbeinghuman.ThelivingEarthhasbeenourcradleandsheremainsourhome.Butit’snow

timeforustogrowup.

HoME-comingThe8thChakraisstructuredinthreeparts,reflectingthethree-in-onenatureofallinitiatoryexperiences.Also,sincetheinnerjourneytospiritualwholenesshastraditionally been embodied in 12 around 1, culminating in the transformative13th,The8thChakrahas13chapters.Thepathisasfollows:

Part I, encompassing the first four chapters, shares, in an accessibleway, howleading-edgescienceisreconcilingwithspiritualtraditiontodevelopauniversalmodelof cosmic consciousness. It also explainswhat thismeans for each andeveryoneofus.

Part II, Chapters 5 to 8, explores who we really are. It reveals that we aremicrocosmswithinavastholographicCosmosandshowshowwecanbegintoembodycosmicharmony.

Part III,Chapters9 to 13, describes, in an empowering and practicalway, thestepstoourself-realization–howwemayembodythemagnificentwholenessofourspiritualnatureandexpressitineveryaspectofourlives.

The8thChakraisultimatelyacallforustorememberwhowereallyare.Inchoosingtobehereatthismomentoustimeinthestoryofhumanity,wehaveallgiven ourselves the opportunity to fulfil our highest soul purpose: to comeHoMEbyco-creatingHeavenonMotherEarth.

We’llnowsetthecontextofourjourneybytakingabrieftouroftheholographicuniverse.

PARTIUnderstand

CHAPTER1

Thecosmichologram

Astronomers nowunderstand that at theverybeginningof space and time theuniversewassetupinanincrediblyorderedwaywhichenabledthe‘arrow’oftime to begin its flight. They also now know that the initial conditions fromwhich theuniversewasbornwere exquisitely fine-tuned, therebyenabling theevolutionofbiologicallife.Andtheyarenowawarethatmanydimensionsarerequired to satisfy the natural laws that underlie the physical world. Perhapsmostprofoundly,theyarecomingtoentertaintheviewthattheuniverseandallthatitcontainsmaybetheprojectionofacosmichologram.Scientists undertaking research into a variety of complex systems – from

biological organisms to economics, weather patterns to human conflicts – arealsobecomingawareofthesameunderlyingholographicprinciple.Understandingthenatureofthecosmichologramisnowappearingtobekey

toourunderstandingtheuniverse.Butwhatisahologramandhowisitcreated?

Thehologram

Ahologramisproducedwhenasinglebeamofcoherentlight,suchasthatofalaser,issplitintotwo.Onebeamisbouncedoffanobjectandthesecondbeamisaligned to interfere with the reflected light of the first. The resulting wavepatternisthenrecordedonfilm.When light issubsequentlyshone through thetwo-dimensionalfilm,athree-dimensionalimageoftheobject–orhologram–isthenprojected.Holograms are now mundanely seen on credit cards, which reveal a small

holographicimagethatcomestolifewhenalignedwithlight.One of themost significant aspects of the holographic principle is that the

entirety of thewhole object is recreated in every part of its three-dimensionalimage. So, if a holographic projection is subdivided into millions of pieces,

every single piece will incorporate a tiny and complete representation of thewhole.Themathematicsthatdescribesthehologramenablesanyphysicalpatternto

be transformed intowaveforms and convertedback to its original shape.Suchholographic‘transforms’arealsorelatedtotheanalyticaltoolsthathaverecentlybeendevelopedtodescribecomplexsystemsbothnaturalandman-made.Thesehave revealed underlying geometric patterns called ‘fractals’. Theirinterrelationshipsaretheinnaterealityfromwhichthediverseworldofformismanifested. Their harmonic nature is seen both in their self-similarity, whereeach part is similar to the whole, and their scale-invariance, whereby theirinherentpatternsremainunchangedwhetherscaledupordowninsize.Scientifically,thedescriptionoftheCosmosinholographictermsisrelatively

new, yet the idea is millennia old. The teaching ascribed to the archetypalwisdom-bringerknownasThothtotheancientEgyptians,‘Asabove,sobelow’,describestheOneasmanifestinthediversityofthemanyandthemicrocosmasembodying the totality of themacrocosm.This perfectly reflects the reality ofthehologram.

Cosmicmind

Science is also beginning to rediscover the ancient insights that viewed themanifest universe as an all-pervasive cosmic mind. In this world-view,consciousnessisnotonlypresentatallscalesofexistence,itisexistenceitself.Itbothtranscendsandpervadestheentiretyofspaceandtime.Hitherto,sciencehassoughttounderstandhowtheuniverseisasitis,leaving

thequestionofwhyitisasitistophilosophers.Butnowthenecessaryinclusionofconsciousness in theemergingworld-viewno longerallows thequestionof‘why’tobeexcludedfromtheexplorationofthegreaterrealitiesoftheCosmos.MybookTheWaveexploreshowleading-edgescienceandthelatestresearch

intoconsciousnessarereconcilingscienceandSpirit. InThe8thChakra,we’llundertakeourjourneytounderstandwhowereallyarefromtheperspectivethatconsciousnessisprimaryanddoesindeedcausethemyriadeffectsthatwecallthephysicalworld.Alltheenergiesandmatterthatcomprisethephysicalworldhavebeenpresent

fromitsverybeginningandwillbeuntil itsend.Theirvastdiversityof formsarises from underlying patterns that are innately harmonious. And throughoutNature consciousness continually co-creates through the alchemical

transformationswecall‘life’.Consciousness expresses itself as energy, which manifests as waves. The

cosmichologramofthephysicalworldisthencontinuallyco-createdfromtheirinterferencepatterns.Tounderstandhowtheuniverseisexquisitelysetuptoenabletheexploration

of consciousness, we now need to delve into its fundamental energeticprinciples.Andtodothatweneedtojourneyback13.7billionyearstoitsbirth.

Lightandsound

The big bang theory which cosmologists use to describe the creation of thephysicalworldshowsthatitsbirthwasneitherbignorabang.From an almost unimaginably minute genesis, the universe inflated as an

impeccablyorderedwaveofspaceandtime–acosmicout-breathratherthananexplosion.TheVedictraditionofancientIndia,theTaoistsofChinaandthewritersofthe

Bibleallperceivedthattheuniversewassungintobeingbyprimalsound–theWordofcreation.InIndia,thephysicalmanifestationofthiscosmicvibrationistheAum.SimilarlyinancientChina,thefoundationtoneofimperialmusicwasthehuangchung, the ‘yellowbell’ deemed tobe the audible equivalent of thedivinenote.Theancientsalsounderstoodtheinherentroleoflight–thevisiblepartofthe

spectrum of electromagnetic energies – in themanifestation of physical form.Perhaps this isbestdepicted in thebiblical ‘Let therebeLight’. Inaprofoundway,thesemetaphysicaldepictionsoftheancientspresagetoday’scosmologicalinsights.

Spaceandtime

Incommonparlance,spaceandtimeareseparate,butinrealitytheyarenot.Asouruniverseexpands,itsfabriciswoventogetherby(andatthespeedof)lightintothefour-dimensionalentitycosmologistscall‘spacetime’.Cosmologistsnowknowthatatthebeginningoftheuniversespacetimewas

inanincrediblyorderedstate.Thisiscrucialbecauseinanysystem,orderwillalways tend towardsdisorder– as anyofyouwith childrenwill know.So theinitial order of spacetime could only evolve one way – to greater overalldisorder.Itisthis,cosmologistsbelieve,whichenabledthedirectionofuniversal

time,whichwecallits‘arrow’,tobeembodied.But the level of disorder, or ‘entropy’, of a system is also ameasureof the

amount of information heldwithin it. This is because the level of disorder isequivalent to the number of available states its fundamental elements canembody.Thegreater thenumberof states, thegreater the level of informationwithinthem.So,sincethebirthoftheuniverse,nearly14billionyearsago,asitsoverall levelofdisorderhas inexorably increased, thephysicalworldhasbeenenabledtoembodyevermoreinformationandawareness.

Real-ativity

Spacetimeisnot,however,anabsoluteandpassivebackdroptotheuniverse.Itisrelativetothepositionofanobserverandisalsodynamicwithregardtothatobserver’smovement.Observersinrelativemotiontoeachotherwillmeasuretimedifferently,and

thesedifferencesarenotmerelypersonalperceptionsbutaretherelativity–orreal-ativity – of the way the physical world actually is. For example, let’simaginetwoobserversonaspacestationsynchronizingtheirwatches.Onethenremains on the station whilst the other joins the crew of a spaceship able totravelat87percentofthespeedoflight.Asthespaceshipsubsequentlyreachesits maximum speed, whilst the observer on board measures his own time as‘normal’,hewould,ifhewasableto,discernthattimeforhisfriendleftatthestationispassingonlyhalfasfast.Conversely,fortheobserveratthestation,hisown time ispassingnormally,whilstheobserves that timeon thespaceship isrunningathalfthe‘normal’speed.However,unlikethemovementofeverythingelseintheuniverse,fromsnails

tostars,thespeedoflightisalwaysmeasuredasbeingconstant,nomatterhowfastanobserverapproachesormovesawayit.Thisisbecauseasthespeedofanobserver – or indeed any physical object – increases, time itself progressivelyslows down in perfect correspondence so that the speed of light is alwaysmeasuredasbeingthesame.Yettoeachobserver,themeasurementoftheirowntimeappearsnormal.Thisperceptionofnormality iscrucial,because itmeansthat the laws of physics themselves are identical to all observers undergoingconstant-velocitymotion,regardlessoftheirvantagepointintheuniverse.Thespeedoflight,knownas‘c’(fromtheLatinceleritas,meaning‘rapid’),is

the fastest speed possible within spacetime and is thus the upper limit of thetransmission of all information within the physical world. The combined

attributesof this inherent limitationand theuniversalarrowof timeembedtheprincipleofcausalitywithintheverynatureofspacetime.Thisfundamentalprincipleenablestheuniversetounfoldandevolve.Italso

allows the level of consciousness associated with the ego-self – for not onlyhumansbutallself-awarelifeforms–toexperiencetheimplicationsofmakingchoicesthroughthecreativeprocessesofcauseandeffect.Inthiswayweaccruelearningandunderstanding.

Universalforces

The Taoist philosophers of ancient China described the origin of the physicalworldasbeing thesunderingofunity into theuniversalpolaritiesofyangandyin. Whilst now four apparently distinct forces have been recognized asregulatingmatterandenergy,cosmologistsalsobelieve thatat the inceptionoftheuniversetheywereessentiallyone.

Thefirstofthefouruniversalforcesiselectromagnetism.Thisisintrinsictotheholographic principle and the mediation of consciousness into physicalexpression.

Twootherforcesonlyoperateatthetinyscaleoftheatom–theso-called‘strongnuclear force’whichbinds thenucleiof atoms together and the ‘weaknuclearforce’whichaccountsforphenomenasuchasradioactivedecay.

The fourth force is gravity,whosepower to attract increases in relation to themasses of objects. It is thus only discernible in the large-scale interaction ofmatter.

The relative strengths of these four forces and the scales over which theyoperate are wonderfully balanced to facilitate the evolution of complexity. Ifgravitywereonlymarginallystrongeroriftheelectricalornuclearforceswereslightlyweaker,starswouldnotshineandbiologicallifewouldnotbepossible.Over the last century, scientists have sought not only to understand each of

theseforcesbutalsotobringthemall intoaunifiedvisionofNature.But it isonly recently that cosmologists have been able to formulate a view of theuniversethatholdsthepotentialforsuchunification.Todoso,theyhaveneededtoperceiveNatureinthesamewayasthephilosophersoftheancientworld.

Thecosmicsymphony

Theancientsagesintuitivelyunderstoodthephysicalworldasbeingessentiallyharmonicanddescribeditinmusicalterms.In modern times, Einstein offered us the first clue that the ancients were

correct when he revealed that all matter was essentially standing waves ofenergyconjoinedbythespeedoflight.HedescribedthisinhisfamousequationE=mc2, showing that the energyof anobject,E, is equal to the product of itsmass,m,andthespeedoflight,c,multipliedbyitself.Matter and energy were once considered to be made up of point-like

‘particles’. During the last decade, however, this understanding has beenreplacedbytheconceptthatallenergyandmatterisfundamentallymadeupofultra-minute waveforms called ‘strings’. The theory runs that the oscillatorypatterns and resonance of these strings form the fundamental ‘notes’ of thecosmicsymphonythatistheuniverse.Anintrinsicrequirementofthisdevelopingtheoryisthatstringsvibratenotin

ourfamiliarfour-dimensionalspacetime(threedimensionsofspaceandoneoftime), but in 11 dimensions.This acknowledgement of higher dimensions is aleap forward in our understanding of supra-physical realities. But it is furtherfundamentalelementsofstringtheorythatmaybethekeytothemostprofoundrevelationyetofourunderstandingoftheCosmos.Thesearemultidimensionalobjects called ‘branes’. They theoretically form the framework within whichstrings oscillate and to which they are energetically connected. Astoundingly,cosmologistsarealsobeginningtosuspectthatbranesmayformtheboundaryofspacetime and are the means by which the entire physical world isholographicallyprojected.

QuantumnotesOf crucial significance has been the further realization that the vibrations ofthesefundamentalentitiesofNaturearenotcontinuous,butchangetheirformindiscrete steps,withaminimumpacketor ‘quantum’of energy associatedwitheachfrequency.Scientistsdescribesuch‘quanta’asexistingin‘quantumstates’andthespontaneousshiftfromonestatetoanotherasa‘quantumjump’.Justastherearenointermediatestagesbetweenonemusicalnoteandanother,sotherearenonebetweenonequantumstateandanother.Suchquantizationiscriticalfortheholographicprincipletooperate,because

wholequantaofenergiesarerequiredtoenablethephenomenaofcoherenceandresonance– that is,physicalmanifestation– tooccur.Thesame is truefor the

wholenotesthatmanifestmusicalharmony.

Nonlocality

Untilobservedthequantumbuildingblocksoftheentireuniverseexistonlyasprobabilities.Butexperimentsshowthatwhenweobserveaquantumentity–or,significantly,havetheintentiontodoso–itbecomescoherentandisrealizedor,asquantumphysicistssay,‘actualized’.Suchevidencerevealsthatwecannolongerconsideranobserverandwhatis

observedasseparate.Andwhilst formanyyearssciencehas insisted thatsuchquantumeffectsarelimitedtotheminuteworldoffundamentalparticles,thisisincreasinglybeingshownnottobethecase.This recognition is profoundly associated with one of the most intriguing

aspects of quantum behaviour. Termed ‘nonlocality’, it is the experimentallyproven fact thatquanta canbe instantaneously connectedandare effectively asingleentity–evenifseparatedbytheentireuniverse.Researchers investigating phenomena such as telepathy and remote viewing

have revealed that thehumanmindalso actsnonlocally. In suchcaseswecanperceive events and obtain information beyond the limitations of our physicalsenses. Communication can transcend spacetime and consequentially does notrelyonanysignalorinfluencetravellingwithintheuniverse.Essentially what this means is that within the physical world, influence is

mediated by the speed of light. Therefore causality and the arrow of time arepreserved.Yet at nonlocal levels of perception,which includehigher levels ofindividualandcollectiveconsciousness,awarenessisnotboundbytheconfinesofspaceandtime.

TheuniversalDVD

WenowneedtogoevenfurtherbeyondthelimitationsofourlinearperceptionoftimeandbegintoattunetothedeepernatureoftheCosmos.Withinspacetime,theperceptionthatspaceexistsinitsentiretyisfamiliarto

us.Butasspaceandtimeformasingleentity,theentiretyoftimealsoexistsallatonce.So,asEinsteinpointedout, theperceptionof the flowof timebyourconsciousmindis,inessence,amentalconstruction.In the symmetryof theuniverse, novantagepoint in spaceor time ismore

valid than any other – reality encompasses all such ‘nows’without distinctionbetween past, present and future. It is only in ourmental freeze-frame that a

sequenceofeventsseemstoevolveasacontinuousstory.RatherlikeaDVD–whichalsoworksonholographicprinciples–everymomentof‘now’ isastillframe which, when run together in sequence with all the others, creates acontinuousstoryandenablesacoherentexperiencetounfold.However, aswith a story captured onDVD, the perception of change does

embodyadirectionintime.Andthefutureisinherentlydifferentfromthepast.As we shall see, whilst the underlying fabric of time is ever present, theinformationrelatingtoeventsisprogressivelyimprintedasthestoryunfolds.ThedeepmysteryoftimeisonetowhichweshallreturninChapter4,as it

hasprofoundconsequencesforourunderstandingoffreewillanddestiny.

Archetypalpatterns

Let’snowturn–perhapswithasighofrelief–toaspectsoftheworldthataremorefamiliarpartsofoureverydayexperience.Inancient times,geometersintuitivelydiscernedthatarchetypalpatternsand

harmonyweretheunderlyingtemplatesforthediversityweseeinNature.Thelimitedanalyticaltoolsattheirdisposalmeant,however,thattheywereunabletoprobe deeply into natural phenomena, such as weather patterns, which arecomplexorexhibitchaoticbehaviour.However,inthe1960s,withtheadventofcomputers,agreaterunderstandingofsuchcomplexsystemsbecamepossible.Since then, researchers have scrutinized a vast range of data concerning a

varietyofsystemsexhibitingfluctuationsandirregularities,whetheroccurringinspace or time.What they have discovered is a holographic revelation of self-similar fractal patterns repeating at ever-larger and smaller scales. Fromearthquakes to economics, from the incidence of conflicts to the shapes ofcoastlines, from biological ecosystems to the worldwide web, the harmonicsignatureoftheholographicprinciplehasbeenrevealed.Beneathapparentchaos,thereisorder.

Powerlaws

Asanexample,beforethis‘complexitytheory’wasdeveloped,mostresearcherssoughttounderstandandpredicttheoccurrenceofearthquakesusingstatisticalmethods.Theyattemptedtodeterminetheirfrequencyandscaleaccordingtothepremisethata‘typical’earthquakecouldbesodescribed.Butitcan’t.Whatseismologistshavefoundinsteadisthatoveranenormouslywiderange,

thefrequenciesofearthquakescorrespondinadirectwaywiththeenergythey

release–anearthquaketwiceaspowerfulisfourtimeslesslikelytooccur.Where,asinthecaseofearthquakes,thecontinuingdoublingofthefrequency

of one factor (e.g. the energy released) elicits a constant response in thefrequencyofanotherfactor(e.g.therateofoccurrence),theharmonicnatureofthe phenomenon and the resonance underlying its entire manifestation arerevealed.Sucharelationshipisknownasa‘powerlaw’.Theinherentsimplicityofholographicpowerlawsunderliesthecomplexityof

the phenomena they describe.Any systemwhich obeys a power law is scale-invariant, self-similar and based on a fractal pattern – and as such the term‘typical’justdoesn’tapply.

Harmoniccycles

Thesecomplexsystemsallexhibitwhatiscalled‘non-linearbehaviour’.Inotherwords, a small causecan setoff a largeeffect, orviceversa.Sucheffects canthenbecome thecausesof further largeror smaller effects,whichmay in turnfeedbacktotheinitiatingcause,creatingharmoniccyclesofbehaviour.Suchsystemshavebeenrevealedasinnatelyholographicinnature.Forwhen

thevariablesdescribing their behaviourhavebeen tracedmathematically, theyhavebeendiscoveredtotaketheshapesofwhatareknownas‘attractors’.Suchattractors are essentially the energetic templates from which such systemsmanifest.Tothegreatsurpriseofscientists,itappearsthatthereareonlythreetypesof

attractor, each of which is generic to specific phenomena. The attractors thatunderliemanycomplex systemsare, perhapsnot surprisingly, called ‘strange’.Anditisthesethatareembeddedwithinallthecomplexphenomenamentionedabove.

Criticalstates

Whilstcomplexitytheorycanexplainunpredictability,byitselfitisn’tenoughtoexplain major shifts or upheavals. For this we need to develop a deeperunderstandingofsystemsthatarenotinbalance,especiallythosethatarepoisedontheknife-edgebetweenorderandchaos.Such non-linear systems, where a tiny event can trigger either a small

dislocationoracatastrophicupheaval,areinherentlyunstableanddescribedasbeing‘inacriticalstate’.Theyarefoundacrossahugerangeofphenomenaandtheirmathematicalsignaturehasbeendiscernedineventsasapparentlydiverse

asthecontagionofepidemics,thecollapseofecosystems,stock-marketcrashesandthespreadofforestfires.Increasingly it is being recognized that interconnecting networks of many

typeshaveatendencytonaturallyorganizethemselvesinsuchstateswhenopento the flowof energy.How they behave appears to be solely due to the basicrelationalissueofhoweasyitisforanorderingordisorderinginfluenceatonepoint in the system to bring order or disorder to another point nearby. Inaddition,only thephysicaldimensionsof the elementsof the systemand theirbasicgeometricshapematter ineffecting this influenceandthus thebehaviourofthesystem–nothingelse.Suchamazinguniversalitytellsusthatifthecharacteristicsofoneexamplein

auniversalclassofphenomenaareunderstood, thenallothermembersof thatclassareunderstoodtoo.Italsorevealsthatifthefundamentalfactorsofelementalsizeandshapeare

understood,thenthediversityofthesystemcanbemodelledwithoutrecoursetothemyriadofotherdetailsitexhibits.Again, themore deeplywe peer beneath the diversity ofmanifestation, the

more we discover harmony and underlying order – the cosmic hologram ofconsciousnessatwork.

Feedback

Whereaninfluencegeneratedbyoneelementinasystemonanotherresultsinareverseinfluence,thesystemissaidtoexhibit‘feedback’.Whentheprocessesoffeedback are irreversible, what happens in the future depends on theaccumulation of what has happened in the past – the history of the systemmatters.Suchfeedbackprocessesareanintrinsiccomponentofself-organizingcritical

systemsandareprevalentincontextsinvolvinggrowthandevolution.Whilst the studyof suchprocesses is still in its infancy,bringing thesenew

toolstobearisdramaticallyextendingourunderstandingoftheCosmosandisbeginning to resolve deepmysteries relating to the Earth and its history. Theinsights theyoffer into theevolutionaryandrevolutionaryaspectsofcollectiveinfluenceandbehaviourarealsoapplicabletohumaninteractionsandsocialandeconomicsystems.

Membranes

The same underlying holographic principles appear to operate throughoutbiological lifeforms, whether embodied by single-celled organisms or entireecosystems.Modern biological research has emphasized the ‘power’ of genesand assumed that the more complex an organism, the greater the number ofgenes it would possess. However, the recent report of the Human GenomeProject,whichbeganinthelate1980sandsoughttomapthegeneticsequenceofhumanDNA,hasastonishedgeneticists.For ithasproven thatnotonlydowehaveonlyaboutaquarterof thenumberofgenesexpected,but that thereisn’tmuch difference between that number and the gene count of much moreprimitiveorganisms.Clearly,genesarenotthecompleteanswertotheevolutionofbiologicalcomplexity!Afewpioneeringbiologistshave,incontrast,focusedonhowanorganism’s

relationship with its environment and, more specifically, its perception of itsenvironment, directly control behaviour and gene activity, and thus ultimatelyevolution.OneofthesescientistsiscellbiologistBruceLipton.Withinacell,thegreat

majority of the genetic material is concentrated in the nucleus. Lipton haspointedout that if genesdid represent the control centreor ‘brain’of the cell,thentakingoutthenucleuswouldresultinthecessationofallcellfunctionsandultimately the death of the cell. However, such enucleated cells are able tosurvive for several months, carrying on as normal by responding toenvironmental stimuli and continuing to sustain life. Lipton and others haveconcludedthatitisinsteadthecell’smembrane,itsouterboundaryandtheonlyorgancommontoalllivingorganisms,whichrepresentsits‘brain’.As a semi-permeable barrier, themembrane enables the cell both to protect

itself from the outer environment and to maintain control over its internalconditions. But it is not a passive boundary; it actively mediates informationbetween its outer surroundings and the cell interior. It effectively controlsadaptation by the recognition of environmental signals by ‘receptor’ proteinsembeddedwithin it. These perceive both physical signals, for example in theformofelectrically-chargedchemical ions,andenergetic signals suchas thosecarriedbyelectromagneticvibrations.It now appears that the maximum consciousness expressed throughout the

physical universemaybe proportional to the braneswhich are its holographicboundary.Italsoseemsthatthemaximumperceptionabletobeprocessedbyabiological cell may be proportional to the surface area of its surroundingmembrane.

The fractal evolution of multi-cellular organisms then enables increasingperception to be embodied. It thus optimizes the ability to adapt, survive andthriveandprovidesevermoreabundantopportunitiesforconsciousco-creationto unfold. All biological organisms, including humans, are thus essentiallymicrocosmicholograms.Weallhavecausative templates forourphysical forms,knownasbiofields.

Research has also shown that the physical counterparts of these biofields aremediated by coherent electromagnetic fields, the modus operandi of theholographicprinciple.In the same way that it is now being considered that fractal patterns may

accountfortheevolutionoflife,systemstheoristshavediscernedthesepatternsin the workings of human societies too. The rise and fall of economies, theincidenceandscaleofconflictsand thenatureof theworldwideweballshowthat there is no fundamental difference between the ‘natural’ and ‘man-made’world.They–andwe–areallaspectsofthecosmichologram.

Thecosmichologram

We’venowseenhowscience isbeing reconciledwithspiritual tradition in theemergingperceptionoftheholographicCosmos.Consciousnessisprogressivelybeingviewedasanall-pervasivecosmicmind

which isnotonly inherentatall scalesofexistencebut isexistence itself.Thehologram of the physical world, expressing itself as energy that manifests aswaves,iscontinuallyco-createdfromtheirinteractions.We now can appreciate that the universe is intrinsically interconnected and

harmonic,andembodiesunderlyingorderandpurpose.Insodoingwecanalsobegintodiscernhowwemayalignourselveswithourownhigherpurposeandthe cosmic flow of life. We no longer need to struggle with the fragmentedvisionoftheCosmosthathascometodominateWesternculture,foritsviewofthe world is outdated and partial. We can now reclaim the deeper intuitiveknowingthatwearespiritualbeingsundergoingaphysicalexperienceandthatatthemostfundamentallevelweareall-one.Aswebegin to acknowledge thesedeeper realities of space and time– and

thatourawarenesscanflybeyondtheirlimitations–wearereadytobeginourjourneytore-memberwhowereallyare.In thenextchapterwe’llexplore theuniversalharmonicsof lightandsound

that are intrinsic to theworkings of the cosmic hologram.Andwe’ll see their

profoundinfluenceonourjourneysashumanbeings.

CHAPTER2

Harmonicsofcreation

In the last chapter we explored how science is rediscovering what perennialwisdom has always maintained – that not only is the universe a holographicwhole, but that it has creative purpose and meaning. In this chapter, we willfocusontheharmonicattributesoflightandsound.Intheirarchetypalpatternswe’ll see how both wisdom teachings and science are revealing howconsciousnessexpressesitselfenergeticallythroughouttheresonantCosmos.

Music

Fundamentally, aswe’ve seen, it is the vibrating notes ofminute strings fromwhose resonance all the energies of the universal hologram are believed toderive.Thebasicprinciplesofcreatingmusicarethesameprinciplesbywhichconsciousnessco-createsthecosmicsymphonyoftheuniverse.Sothetenetsofmusic and the numerical relationships fromwhich its harmonies arise offer usthemost appropriate language to describehowconsciousness acts bothwithinthephysicalworldandontranscendentallevels.There are three elements of musical harmony that are crucial for our

understandingofhowconsciousnessco-createsthephysicalworld.

AttunementThefirstisthatofattunement,whichistheprocessofadjustingthefrequencyofsomethingtoharmonizewiththatofsomethingelse.This isrevealedwhenwesound a tuning fork. When we do so, any stringed instrument nearby willautomatically vibrate at the same note. Likewise, whenwe are ‘in tune’ withourselves and with others, we are aligned with their frequency of vibration.Conversely,whenweare‘outoftune’ordissonant,weareoutofalignment.Our

well-being, onmental, emotional and physical levels, actually depends on theextenttowhichweareenergeticallyalignedandinharmonywithallaspectsofourselves,eachotherandthewiderworld.Theancientsunderstoodthatdis-easearisesfromdis-harmonyandwereawareofthetherapeuticbenefitsoflightandsound.

CoherenceTounderstand the other two elements of harmony,we also need to appreciatethat waveforms are not only described by their frequency but also theiramplitudeandphase.As they travel,waveformsembodya three-in-onecurve as eachwave rises,

peaks and falls away, every stage being a phase of the complete wave.Amplitude is theheightofawave fromitsmidpoint– its intrinsic intensityorloudness.Withthisunderstanding,wecannowconsiderthesecondelementofharmony,

which is that of coherence. This describes a situation when not only thefrequencybutalsotheamplitudeandphaseofwaveformsarealigned.For example, the white light from a normal light bulb comprises many

frequenciesandamplitudesandisradiatedinalldirections,whereasthelightofa laser has been attuned to a single frequency and direction and its wavesaligned,peak to peak, in phase. The difference in focused power between thetwo is extraordinary.A light bulb can only be harnessed to illuminate a smallspace,whereas a laser is able to cut throughmetals. Indeed, a laser beamhasbeendevelopedthatissopowerfulthatithasrecentlybeenabletotravelfromEarthtointercepttheMessengersatellitesome15millionmilesawayonitswaytotheplanetMercury.

ResonanceThethirdelementofharmonyis thatofresonance,orsympatheticvibration.Itoccursasaconsequenceofsomethingbeingattuned toand thuscoherentwithsomethingelseandtherebythetwocombiningtheirenergies.Awell-known example of thiswaswhen the city ofLondon celebrated the

recentmillenniumbytheopeningofanewfootbridgeacrosstheRiverThames.As people began towalk across, itwas discovered that the frequency of theirfootsteps was resonant with the bridge, causing it to sway dangerously. Only

when its fundamental structurewas altered and thusmade dissonant from thewalkingfrequencyofitspedestrianuserscoulditbeusedsafely.Resonancealsooccursnaturallywhenthefrequenciesthatinteractareoctaves

ofeachother.Youmayhavenoticed thatwhenstrikinganoteonapiano, thenotesthatarehigherorloweroctaveswillalsoreverberate.Our psychemay be likened to the octaves on a piano keyboard.Whenwe

undergo an experience, our perception of it resonates on the spiritual,mental,emotionalandphysicallevelsofourbeing.Whenourexperiencesaretraumatic,iftheirenergeticimprintsarenotresolvedandreleased,theyultimatelybecomechronicandmaybecomeembodiedatcellularlevelasaphysicaldis-ease.

Co-creatingrealities

Thesethreeprimaryelementsofmusicalharmony–attunement,coherenceandresonance–alsohelpustounderstandhowweultimatelyco-createourrealities.Forwhenwe intend to do something, we attune our attention to it. Thus ourawarenessbecomescoherentwithourintentionandenergeticallyresonantwiththat we intend. The greater the intensity, or amplitude, of our intention andattention, themore powerful the resonant energy and themanifestation of ourpurpose.The holographic nature of our consciousness is integral – it is essentially

different vibrations of a complete entity, our soul. So, when we speak ofintentionandattentioninthisway,itisimportanttounderstandthatitmayariseatanylevelofourpsyche,notonlyfromtheconsciousawarenessofourego-selfbutalsofromsubconsciousortranspersonallevelsofperception.Inthenextchapterwe’lldiscussfurtherhowourbeliefsandperceptionsshape

our well-being and thus our lives. We shall also continue to see howmanifestation follows energy and how energy expresses consciousness. Thisunderstanding is crucial to our journey to embody the wholeness of who wereallyare.

Three-in-one

TheholographicprinciplemaybeperceivedasexpressingtheOnethroughthediversity of the many. All spiritual teachings describe this sundering of unityconsciousnessintouniversalpolaritiesanddepictitthroughvarioussymbols.Itis, however, perhaps best known through theTaoist tradition of yang andyin.Theirever-creativedanceofactiveandpassiveforces,lightandshadowaspects,

andmaleandfemaleattributesreverberatesthroughoutallscalesofexistence.But these active and passive forces can only create phenomena through the

presenceofathirdprinciple,aneutralorcreativeforce.ThusTaoistphilosophy,incommonwithallperennialwisdomtraditions,perceivesthattheinnatenatureofallmanifestationisnottwo-butthree-fold.It is in the resolution of such three-in-one balance that the creativity of the

Oneisexplored.Forexample,nightanddayarebalancedatdawnanddusk,andthesacredmarriageofmaleandfemaleprinciplesisfertilizedbythebirthofachild.LamaKaziDawa-SandupdescribeshowinBuddhistdoctrine:

Intheboundlesspanoramaoftheexistingandvisibleuniverse,whatevershapesappear,whatever sounds vibrate,whatever radiances illuminateandwhateverconsciousnesscognise,allaretheplayormanifestationofthe Tri-kaya, the three-fold principle of the Cause of all causes, theprimordialtrinity.

Ultimately, on all symbolic, energetic and experiential levels, such three-in-oneness is fully expressed in the rising, peaking and falling away of waves.Whilst in their rising and falling the polarity expressions of yang and yin areovert,itisintheturningpointswhentheypeakandreformthatthecycleisableto complete and move on, and it is through these turning points that allphenomenaareco-created.Inthehologram,too,theunityoftheinitiatingbeamoflightissplitintotwo

and it isonly from the recombinationof these twobeams that theholographicimageisborn.TheVedic traditionofancient Indiaalsoperceived thephysicalworld,at its

most profound level, as being continually created from the interplay of threefundamentalprinciplesofNature, termedgunas.Translatedas ‘light’, ‘fire’ (or‘creativity’) and ‘darkness’, these three principles are all-pervasive, yet theancientsagestaughtthatlightanddarknessareunabletopairdirectlywitheachother.Creativity isneededtobalanceeachwith theother.Again, it is the thirdprinciplethatisthemoderatorenablingresolutionintowholeness.InthewritingsoftheChineseTaoTeChing,‘TheWayoftheTao’,orultimate

truth,thetriadicnatureofphenomenaissymbolicallydescribedas:

TheTaobegotOne.OnebegatTwo.TwobegatThree.AndThreebegatten thousand things. The ten thousand things carry yin and embraceyang.Theyachieveharmonybycombiningtheseforces.

TheChinese recognized these cosmic combinations in archetypal tri-grams ofyinandyangcalledkua.Thereareeightpermutationsofkua,fromthreeyintothreeyangandallvariationsinbetween.The Chinese sage known as KingWen is credited with partnering two tri-

grams to form a six-fold hexagram. His total of 64 possible combinations ofthese hexagrams comprise the divinatory tool of the I Ching, the ‘Book ofChanges’.Millennia later, themathematicianGottfriedLeibniz saw in the I Ching the

fundamentalelementsofthebinarynotationonwhichthelanguageofcomputersisnowbased.AndwhenthestructureofDNAwasdiscovered,itwasfoundthatthe binary pairs of its genetic bases, or codons,were organized into the samematrixof64hexagramsasthoseoftheIChing.

Light

The three-in-onenatureofphenomena isembodied in light itself.Visible lightspans a single energetic octavewithin the electromagnetic spectrum. Over 70octaves in its entirety, it ranges from high-frequency short-wavelengthX-raysthroughmicrowavestolow-frequencylong-wavelengthradiowavesandbeyond.The intersection at 90 degrees of an electric and a magnetic field causes thewaves of the electromagnetic spectrum to travel in a third, perpendiculardirection.Andatafundamentallevel,aswediscussedinthefirstchapter,lightweavestogetherspaceandtimeitself.The splittingof abeamof coherent light and its recombination is, aswe’ve

alsoseen, thebasisof thehologram.Butbeamsofcoherentsoundcanalsobecreated, split and recombined to form acoustic holograms. Indeed, dolphinscreatethree-dimensionalrepresentationsoftheirsurroundingsinthisway.Theentireelectromagneticspectrumisintimatelyresonantwithsoundandthe

conversionbetweenlightandsoundformsthebasisofourglobaltechnologies.Forexample,whenIpickupatelephonetomakeacall,thesoundofmyvoiceisconvertedtoadigitalsignalwhichisthentransmittedaselectromagneticenergydownthephonelineorbeamedviaasatellitetothetelephoneofthepersonI’mcalling.Whentheypickuptheirphone,myvoiceisthenreconvertedtosoundintheir receiver.Andwhen they speak, their voice reachesme through the samealchemicalprocess.

Biofields

Theancientsperceived the interplayof cosmic light and soundas forming thesupra-physical templates of manifest forms. Research is now revealing thatcoherentelectromagneticfieldsaretheorderingprincipleforourphysicalbody.The energetic template for the physical structure of an organism is generallyknownasits‘biofield’,althoughbiologistRupertSheldrakehasalsocoinedtheterm‘morphicfield’.Research is indicating that there may be higher-dimensional attributes of

electromagneticfieldsandthesemayformthebasisofsuchbiofields.Theymaybemediated into material form by the physical components of such coherentfields.Pioneeringresearch into the low-energyfieldsof thebodysupport this idea.

The molecular structure both within and between the cells of our body issufficiently ordered to support the semi-conduction of electricity.The uniformpolarityofournervesactsasone-waywave-guidesforelectromagneticpulses,givingenergeticcoherencetoournervoussystem.Electricalfieldsintheouterlayerofthemembraneofourskinalsoappearto

initiate regrowthby stimulating cell differentiation and thushealing.Electricalfieldsareintrinsicallyinvolvedtoointheprocessbywhichcellschangetoandfrom being functionally specialized and thus in how the diversity of physicalformisrealized.

Sound

As the harmonics of coherent light form the holographic template for ourphysical form,we shouldn’t be surprised that theharmonies of sound are alsoessentialtoourmental,emotionalandphysicalwell-being.Bytheageof24weeks, theearsofahumanfoetusarefullyformedandits

responsiveness to sound amply proven. It is now becoming commonplace forexpectantmothers toplaymusic to babies in thewomb.The soundof normalheartbeats also soothesnewborns to sleep,whereasanacceleratedheartbeatordissonantsoundwillupsetthem.Experiments with plants have also shown that playing music to them will

accelerate or inhibit normal growth, depending on the type of music chosen.Classicalordevotionalmusichasbeenproventohavebeneficialeffects,whilerockmusichasbeenshowntohavetheoppositeimpact.Suchexperimentswithplantsdemonstratethatregardlessofourownpersonal

musical likes and dislikes, on an objective level, different tonalities of music

havedifferenteffectsonbiologicalwell-being.OneofthemostsignificantfindingsofbotanistDrT.C.Singhhasbeenthat

latergenerationsoftheseedsofplantsmusicallystimulatedbybeneficialmusiccontinue todisplay the improved traits.While therehasbeenno suchverifiedexperimentationwithplantsexposedtodisruptivemusic,itwouldbelogicalthatnegativetraitswouldalsobetransferredonagenerationalbasis.Indeed, biologists arebeginning to recognize that such so-called ‘epigenetic

traits’, which are also a consequence of lifestyle and environment, are asignificantfactorinourowngeneticinheritancetoo.

Hearandlisten

Hearingisthefirstsensetodevelopinuteroandappearstobethelasttofadeaswe approach the demise of our physical body. How we hear has a profoundeffectonhowwelearnandhowweinteractwiththeoutsideworld.Medical doctor Alfred Tomatis, who hasmade a lifetime study of hearing,

makesacleardistinctionbetweenhearingandlistening.Hedefineshearingasapassiveprocesswherewemerelydetectthesoundsaroundus.Listening,ontheotherhand,isanactiveprocessrequiringtheconsciousintentiontounderstandthemeaningofwhatwearehearing.Asaconsequence,wemayenjoyexcellenthearingbutbepoorlisteners.ThestudyofsensoryintegrationpioneeredbyJeanAyreshasalsoshownthat

when the vestibule of the inner ear is under-stimulated, children can becomehyperactiveastheyattempttocompensatefortheirlackofauditorystimulation.Tobecomegoodlistenerswenotonlyneedtobeabletohearthesoundand

focus on the information embedded in it but also to be able to filter outunnecessary background noise. Whilst good listeners can tune in and out ofsonicawareness,poorlistenersdon’thavetheabilitytoselectivelytuneout.Inextremis, theironlydefencemechanismagainst continuousbombardment is totuneout all sound.That iswhatADD (AttentionDeficitDisorder) individualsdo.Butwehearnotonlythroughourears,forsoundisalsoconductedthroughthe

bonesofourbody.If,forwhateverreason,thisinnersoundistunedout,wealsofindlearningdifficult.Tomatis and other researchers have discovered that people with ADHD

(AttentionDeficitHyperactiveDisorder)orADD,especiallychildren,listentoomuchwith theirbodiesanddon’thaveaway toselectively filter suchsensory

information– theyeitherpayattention toall inputor screeneverythingout. Iftheypayattentiontoeverything,theyareunabletofocusonanygiventopicandthus appear to have a deficit of attention. They also feel overwhelmed andbecome frustrated, angry or anxious. Conversely, screening everything outresultsinlethargyandwithdrawal.Over many years Tomatis and his colleagues have developed powerful

techniquesthatretraintheearstobecometheprimarygatekeepersofsoundforthebody.Bydesensitizingboneconductionstress is reducedand listeningandlearningaresupported.Tomatishasalsodiscoveredthatweheardifferentlythrougheachearandthat

everyoneiseitherright-earor left-eardominant.Thoseofuswhoareright-eardominantaregenerallyabletolearnmoreeasilythanthosewhosedominantearistheirleft.Thisislogical,giventhatourrightearconnectsdirectlywiththelefthemisphereofourbrain,whichisprimarilyresponsibleforthedevelopmentandprocessing of language.With left-ear dominance, the signals connect directlywith the right brain but must then be relayed to the left brain for languageprocessing. Not only does this slow down information processing, but certainhigherfrequenciesofsoundarelostinthetransfer.Sucheardominancethusnotonly influences our ability to learn language-based skills but also affects ourabilitytocommunicateandthusouremotionalwell-being.Again, Tomatis has developed ways of alleviating extremes of such

imbalance.However,musicisassociatedwiththerighthemisphereofthebrainand thus the left ear. Whilst I’m not aware that any research has yet beenundertaken, I feel itwouldbeuseful to testwhether left-eardominancecanbecorrelatedwithmusicalability.Our ears also amazingly act as a relay station for all sensory information

betweenthenervoussystemandthebrain.Assuch,notonlyourhearingbutalsoourvisionandsenseoftoucharemediatedthroughthemechanismoftheear.Solearning and other behavioural difficulties may be far more due to listeningdifficulties than is commonly recognized. However, as Tomatis’s techniqueshaveshown,inverymanycasestheymaybealleviated.

Entrainment

AsmusicologistDavid Tame has noted, it is likely thatmusic, like language,givesusaframeworkofmentalconceptsandemotionalexperienceswithwhichtomouldourviewoftheworld.

Indeed,languageprofoundlyaffectsthewayweperceivetheworldaroundus.Tamehaspointedoutthatwhenasocietyhasnowordforaparticularconcept,itis often unable to identify its reality.He reports the inability of someAfricantribes to distinguish colours for which they have no name, even though theireyesightisperfectlynormal.Thewordsofalanguageencodeconceptsandphenomenathatareculturally

perceived and experienced. In childhood the adoption of our native languageeffectivelyentrainsourthoughts.Butmusicnotonlyentrainsourthoughts,butalsoouremotionsandbodieson

consciousandsubconscious levels.Asmusicologist JuliusPortnoydiscovered,by affecting our mental and emotional states it is also able to change ourmetabolism,raiseorlowerourbloodpressureandinfluenceourdigestion.WhatPortnoyfoundwasthatmusicwhoserhythmisabout thesamerateas

ournormalheartbeatwill sootheus.When it is slower,wewill feel suspense,andwhenitisfaster,wefeelexcited.There arenowhundredsof studieson the effectsofmusic, especiallywhen

allied topowerfulvisual imagery,andall showa linkbetweenmediaviolenceand anti-social behaviour. Whilst language correlates with our left brain ofmental conceptualization, music does so with the right brain of emotionalperception.Iteffectivelytranscendsspokenlanguageandresonatesdirectlywithouremotions.Assuchitspower–forgoodorill–isenormous.

Musictherapy

Ancienthealingtechniquesreliedsubstantiallyonthetherapeuticvalueofmusicto soothe. Much of the inspirational influence of the Vedic and Greek sagasderivedfromtheirbeingsungratherthanspoken.Inrecentyears,therehasbeena resurgence in sound therapy, led by practitioners such as Don Campbell,JonathanGoldmanandJamesD’Angelo.Allsuchtherapiesextol thevalueofwavesofsoundinterwovenwithwaves

of silence. In the Vedic tradition of ancient India, whose Sanskrit texts areprobably theearliestwrittensourceofancientwisdom,audible sound iseitherahata,thephysicalexpressionofcosmicsound,oranahata.Whilsttheformerisheard by the ears, the latter can only be ‘heard’ in communion withtranscendentalrealities.Anahata is also the name given by the same tradition to the heart chakra –

recognizingthatitistheheartthathearsthearchetypalWordofGod.

TheancientEgyptianname for the imminent creatorwasAmn, fromwhichthe‘amen’ofChristianprayersderives.AmnisalsoassociatedwiththecosmicsoundorWordoftheVedicsages,theAumorOm.NotonlydoestheA-u-mthusrepresenttheprimalsoundoftheCosmos,butalsobyutteringit,especiallyasanintegral part of a spiritual practice such as yoga, one is deemed to be inalignmentandharmonywiththecosmicflow.

BinauralbeatsWhenwe hear sounds of nearly the same frequency as each other in stereo –with different signals reaching each ear – our brain integrates the two andproducesthesensationofathirdsoundcalleda‘binauralbeat’.Thesignalsmaybechosenso that the frequencyof thebinauralbeat is low

andwithintherangeofbrainwavefrequencies.TheMonroeInstituteinVirginia,foundedbyRobertMonroeandnowledbyhisdaughterLaurie,hasdevelopedpowerfultechniquesofmixingfilteredwhitenoise(knownas‘pinknoise’)withbinaural beats of specific frequencies to facilitate states of focusedconsciousness. The Institute has recorded CDs of so-called ‘metamusic’ thatcombinesmusicalcompositionswithunderlyingbinauralbeats.Thesevariouslypromote states of relaxation andmeditation conducive to healing, peak stateswhich aid learning and creativity, andmystical stateswhich access our higherawareness.

Thepowerofmusic

That the ancients appreciated the power of music and its ability to engenderaltered states of consciousness is also clear from the multitude of sacredmonumentsaround theworldwhosestructuresandgeometriesareacousticallyresonant. From the sonic niches at the temple of Ollantaytambo, Peru, to thepyramids of Egypt, the Treasury of Atreus in Greece and the NeolithicchamberedmonumentsofBritain,theancientworldwasrepletewithsanctuariesofsound.ThesoaringarchitectureoftheGothiccathedralsofmediaevalEurope,too,isessentiallymusicfrozeninstone.Theprimacyofcosmicsoundwasofmajorcosmologicalsignificancetothe

dynasties of ancient China. The foundation tone for their imperial music, thehuangchung, or ‘yellowbell’,was reset by each incoming emperor to ensurealignmentbetweenHeavenandEarth.Thispurestmanifestationofthecreative

impulse of theCosmoswas used to ensure that allChinesemusic fulfilled itssolepurpose:topurifybothperformersandlistenersandalignthemwithdivinewill.Such a consciously creative role for music, for good or ill, has also been

utilized in both free and totalitarian societies. For example, as David Tamerelates,whenStalincametopowerintheUSSR,heimmediatelyunderstoodthatthe hitherto liberal approach tomusic posed a significant threat to communistrule, for the musical forms that had developed had increasingly encouragedindividual expression. Accordingly, he strengthened the authority of theconservativeRussianAssociation of ProletarianMusicians,which derided anymusic remotely progressive and thereby ensured that music adhered to thepoliticalwillofthestate.

Thechromaticscale

Thevastcompendiumofmusicalexpressionacrossallculturesandthroughouthistoryisinitsentiretymadeupofonly13notes.Allmusic,fromVedicmantrasto Mozart sonatas to Beatles ballads, is composed of the 12 notes of thechromaticmusicalscale,thethirteenthofwhichbothcompletesoneoctaveandbeginsthenext.Within the completeness of the chromatic scale, the ancients identified two

sub-scales,whichformthebasisfortheprevailingWesternandEasternmusicaltraditions.Thediatonicscale,whichcompletestheoctaveontheeighthnote,isfamiliartousasthewhitenotesonapiano.AndthroughoutAsia,thepentatonicscaleismadeupoffivenotesthatalsospananoctave.TheGreekphilosopherPythagoraswasthefirsttoteachtheprinciplesofthe

chromatic scale outside the temples of ancient Egypt, Chaldea and India. Thenotesofthescalearebasedonfundamentalratiosofsimplewholenumbersandthe creation of the complete scale beginswith a string, orwire, of any lengthfixedatbothendstoastablebaseandpulledtaut,asinaguitarorviolin.Whenthestringisstroked, itwillvibrateat itsfundamentalnote,whichisdependenton its length.Placinga fingerorbridgeat thehalfwaypointof the stringwillproduceanotewhich,wheneitherhalf-lengthisstroked,istwicethefrequencyofthefundamentalnote–theintervalknownastheoctave.Dividingthestringattwo-thirds of its length thus creates two notes an octave apart. By thencontinuing to divide each two-thirds section into an ever-smaller sequence oftwo-thirds ratios, a range of higher notes is produced, each in a harmonious

relationshipwith theonesbefore andafter.On the thirteenth step, the cycle iscompletedwhentheoriginalnoteissoundedoncemore,althoughslightlyflat.This chromatic scale of the ancients is harmonically resonant with the

physiologyofthespiralofourinnerearandalsowithourbodyasawhole.Thewhite and black notes of the modern piano represent it, but with one crucialdifference.Forbetweentheactualthirteenthnoteandtheidealdoublingthereisa small difference in frequency – 1.34 per cent – which was known to theancients and is termed the ‘commaofPythagoras’.The initiates of thisGreekmasterrecognizedthattheopenspirallingtoever-higherfrequenciesenabledbythecommaembodiedtheevolutioninnatetothephysicalworld.Theymayalsohaveunderstood that theharmonicof 12 into13 is the fundamentalmeansbywhichunityconsciousnessisembodiedinphysicalform.Withtheintroductionsoforchestrasintheseventeenthcentury,however, the

difficultyoftuningbetweendifferentinstrumentsresultedintheintroductionofthe even-tempered scale used today. Now the difference represented by thecomma of Pythagoras is evenly distributed across the 12 notes of the scale,ensuringthatthethirteenthisanexactoctave–ordoubling–abovethefirst.Whilstpragmatic,thismodernadjustmenthasmovedawayfromthemusical

harmony with which our bodies are naturally resonant. But these ancientrhythms and the therapeutic nature of music are now returning to ourconsciousness as we seek the re-establishment of well-being, harmony andwholeness.

Cymatics

TheinnatemusicalityandharmonyofNaturewasalsorevealedtotheGermanphysicistErnstChladni200yearsago.Chladnidiscoveredthatwhenhecovereda flatmetal platewith a thin layer of sand and stroked the platewith a bow,ratherlikeplayingaviolin,visiblepatternsappearedinthesand.Morerecently,SwissdoctorHansJennyexpandedonChladni’sideasbyusing

avarietyofmediatodemonstratetheprimacyofvibrationtoallphysicalforms.Hecalledthisprocess‘cymatics’,fromtheGreekwordfor‘wave’,kyma.Intheancientscienceofsacredarchitecture,themostfundamentalgeometric

harmonicsrevealedthroughcymaticswereincorporatedintothedimensionsandshapesofbuildingswhichwerecreatedasmicrocosmsofthecosmicsymphony,toeaseandhealthebodyandfreethespirit.

Harmonicsofcreation

In our exploration of cosmic light and sound, we have discovered thatconsciousnessco-creates thecosmic symphonyof theuniverseusing the sameharmonic principles that are innate to musical expression. These fundamentalharmonicsofcreationcontinually sound throughout theCosmos. Intentionandawareness then manifest our realities through the harmonic principles ofattunement,coherenceandresonance.Infuturechapterswe’llseehowthe13notesofthemusicalscaleareintrinsic

tounderstanding thewholenessofoursoul.Andasweexpandourawareness,weshallraisethevibrationsofourconsciousnesstoever-greaterflightsofSpirit.Inthenextchapterweshallindeedflybeyondtheconfinesofspaceandtime.

CHAPTER3

Believingisseeing

Theemergingawarenessof theholographicCosmos ispoised toeliminate theapparent separation ofmatter andmind that has been the basis of the schismbetweenscienceandSpiritforsolong.Fortheconsciousnessofthecosmicmindisprimary to itsuniversalexpressionasenergy,andallmatter– includingourphysicalbody–isformedbythestandingwavesofcoherentenergies.Intelligence thus pervades our entire physical body.Whilst specific organs,

suchasthebrain,havetheirindividualfunctionalpurposesandspecialities,thebodyasawhole isamicrocosmichologramthatprocessesandmemorizes theexperiencesofourhumanpersonality.Memory, emotionsandperceptionare thusembodiedat cellular levels.And

whilstthebrainistheprimaryprocessorofouregoconsciousness,otherlevelsofawareness,includingtheresponsesandhabitualpatternsofoursubconscious,aredistributedthroughouttheentiretyofourbody.

Theholographicbody

Itnowseemsevidentthatourhigherenergetictemplate,ourbiofield,ismediatedintophysicalformbycoherentelectromagneticfields.In the earliest stages of a human embryo, as indeed for all biological

organisms, every geneof ourDNA is fully active and every cell is like everyother.Theseprimary,orstem,cellsthenbegintoformthreerudimentarytissuelayers,ormembranes–theprojectionscreensofourholographicconsciousness.As the organism develops further, some of the available genes start to

deactivateandnewcellsbecomespecialized.Theinnermembrane,orendoderm,grows into the glands and viscera of our body. The middle, or mesoderm,becomes our bones,muscles and circulatory system.And the outer, ectoderm,developsintoourskin,senseorgansandnervoussystem.

Andafter ninemonths, themicrocosmichologram that is thevessel foroursoul’sjourneyinitscurrentlifeisborn.

Integralmind

Todescribeconsciousnessandmatterasseparateisasnonsensicalastalkingofthewavesoftheoceanasbeingseparatefromtheoceanitself.Mindisintegral,with different levels of awareness that may be likened to the frequencies ofelectromagnetic energies. For example, whilst radio waves vibrate at lowerfrequenciesthanvisiblelight,whichinturnvibrateatlowerfrequenciesthanX-rays,allformpartofacontinuingspectrum.But just as with the electromagnetic spectrum, where different frequencies

have different attributes, so it is with our integrated mind. Essentially oursubconscious awareness vibrates at different frequencies from our wakingconsciousness–ourego-mind.Andwearealso innatelyconnectedwithmanyotherlevelsofconsciousnessabovethatwhichwedelineateasourpersonality.However, the purpose of our ego-self is to embody a personality and

experiencethecreativityofourhumanjourney.So,ratherlikeamethodactorina play, the role of our ego-mind is to fully immerse us in the reality of ourphysical life. To do so, it perceives its individual self to be separate from thewiderworld.Ourheartknowsbetter.Whereastheroleofourego-mindis toseparate, the

roleofourheart–ourfeelings–istounite.And ultimately, the role of our will is to reconcile these two parental

influencesandtomeldthemintothecreativityandlearningthatareourhumanexperience.

Thestageoflife

Thephysicalrealmhaslongbeenconsideredbymetaphysicianstoofferusthemostprofoundandchallengingopportunitiestoexplorethecosmicpolaritiesoflight and shadow,male and female, love and fear, and ultimately to embracetheirresolution.Ithasalsobeendescribedasastage.AsShakespeareclaimedinAsYouLike

It,‘Alltheworld’sastageandallthemenandwomenmerelyplayers…’Wemayindeedperceivethatultimatelyweareactorsonthestageoflife.And

justasactorstakeofftheircostumeandgohomeattheendoftheirperformance,sodowe.Forthegreatmajorityofus,themethodactingofourego-selfmeans

thatwedothisonlyattheendofourlives–orindeedafterwards.Butduringourlife,wecanchoose to seebeyond thephysical stageandcomprehendwhowereallyare.Andaswedosowecometounderstandthatintheplayofourlife,wearetheultimateco-author.Whilst this has been the quest of spiritual seekers from time immemorial,

individuallyandcollectivelywearenowlivinginmomentoustimeswhensuchawarenessisavailabletoallofus.Wearelivinginatimewhenweareabletoexpand our consciousness beyond the limitations of our ego-self and offerourselvestheopportunitytoembodyourhighestpurpose.

Believingisseeing

Generally, the ego-self is culturally conditioned. Therefore it not only acts inaccordancewiththeprevailingworld-viewandbeliefs,butit is literallyunabletoseewhatitcannotimagine.Inessence,thereisnoresonanceonthatbasisandsotheego-selfhasnowayofattuningitselftonewandeffectivelyunimaginablephenomena.A few years ago, an experiment in perception at the University of Illinois

demonstratedthis.Volunteerswereshownthevideoofabasketballgameduringwhichawoman inagorilla suitwalkedacross thecourt.When thevolunteerswereaskedafterwards if theyhadnoticedanythingunusual,mostof themhadcompletelymissedtheunscheduledappearanceofthegorilla.However,whereourego-selfcanimagineaphenomenonandbelievesinoris

atleastopentoitsreality,weareabletodirectlyexperienceandessentiallyco-createthatreality.Theoldadageof‘seeingisbelieving’isnowbeingshowntobebacktofront,

foritisratherthecasethat‘believingisseeing’.In Chapter 1, we saw how research into what is being called the ‘New

Biology’isdetermininghowourperceptionsdirectlyaffectourbiologybothonconsciousandsubconscious levels.Therewediscussed theemergingmodelofthe cell membrane as an organic information processor which is dynamicallyinterlinked with the environment. And we discussed how the behaviour andinternalconditionsofthecellreflecttherecognitionofperceivedenvironmentalstimuli–bothphysicalandenergetic.But such awareness may be distorted, only partially understood or even

completely incorrect. It represents our beliefs about reality, rather than itsactuality. So, thought processes and emotions, whether ‘true’ or otherwise,

influence the behaviour of our cells. Accordingly, our mental and emotionalconvictions–onbothconsciousandsubliminallevels–areabletoinfluenceourphysicalbody,guidingittohealthordis-ease.Thebeliefsaboutourselveswhichwedevelopduringourformativeyearsare

especially powerful in the imprinting of subconscious and habitual patterns ofbehaviour.Suchpatternsmaylimitandblightourentirelivesunlessweseektounderstandandhealthem.

Love,joyandgratitude

It’snotonlythewaywethinkandactbutalsothewaythatwefeelthatmakesuswhoweare.Ourego-mindpersuadesusofour individuality,butourheart re-membersthatweareultimatelyall-one.Ifweallowit,ourheartunitesus.Itcanonlydoso,however,ifitisopen.Formanyofus,includingmyselffor

muchofmyearlierlife,ourmindconvincesusthatthepainofemotionaltraumawill cease only ifwe stop feeling.At the age of 20, I shut downmy heart. Ithoughtthiswasmyrefuge,butitwasactuallyaprisonofmyownmaking.Andittookmeafurther25yearstobreakdowntheprisonwallsIhaderected.Inlaterchapterswe’llexplorenotonlythereasonswhyweharmourselvesin

suchways,butalsohowtounderstandandreleasesuchtraumaticimprints.Biologistshavealsonowrecognizedthatthehearthasitsownnervoussystem

and that a two-waybio-communication systemoperatesbetween theheart andthebrain.Indeed,aswedevelopinourmother’swomb,ourheartbeginstobeatbefore

our brain starts to form. Even then, it is the part of the brain that relates toemotionsthatgrowsfirstandonlyafterwardsthatthe‘thinking’partdevelops.Theprimary role of our heart significantly affects howwe interactwith the

world.Researchhasshownthatsuccessinlife,asmeasuredusingbothmaterialcriteria and the quality of our experience, appears to depend farmore on ourabilitytodevelopouremotionalintelligencethanonourintellectualprowess.Otherstudieshavedemonstratedthatregardlessofeducationalopportunities,

our intellect is relatively fixed from childhood. Our emotional intelligence,however, can develop throughout our entire life, providedwe are prepared to‘liveandlearn’.Ouremotionalwell-beinghas significant influence tooonbothourphysical

health and indeed longevity. For over 15 years, stress researchers at theHeartMath Institute in California have amassed experimental findings that

conclusively demonstrate that negative emotions such as insecurity, anger andfear throwournervoussystemoutofbalanceandcauseheart rhythmsthatarejagged and disordered. The positive emotions of love, joy and gratitude,however,createcoherentenergysignalsthatincreaseorder,reducestress,bringbalancethroughoutournervoussystemandarereflectedinharmoniousrhythmsofourhearts.Sensitives,mediums and dowsers also have awealth of anecdotes and case

studies testifying to the same findings.And there is now substantial scientificevidence that shows that when we enhance our emotional intelligence andinvoketheintuitivewisdomofourheart,wesendenergeticsignalstoeverycellofourbody,restoringbalanceandwell-being.

Sixthandseventhsenses

Ourmind,emotionsandphysicalbodyessentially ‘see’whatwebelieveaboutthe world around us and ourselves. But research into consciousness is alsoproving that we have additional ways of ‘seeing’ that our ego-mind oftenchoosestoignore.In Chapter 1, we introduced the phenomenon of nonlocality, spontaneous

communication that transcends spacetime.Not only have physicists proven itsreality at quantum levels but researchers investigating human consciousnesshave also revealed that we have the innate ability to perceive and influenceeventsnonlocally,or‘atadistance’.Experiments have shown that both humans and animals are able to detect

muchmoresubtleenvironmentalsignalsandelectromagneticinfluencesthathadhithertobeenundetected.Oftentheseaffectusatsubliminallevelsandarenowbeingrecognizedascontributingtowhathasbeenknownasour‘sixth’sense.However,weneedtodifferentiatethissensitivitytoinfluencesthatwearestill

able to pick up at a sensory level from the true nonlocal awareness of our‘seventh sense’. And whilst traditional evolutionary theory has been able tosuggest survivalbenefitsand thus reasons for theevolutionofour sixthsense,there is no such explanation, other than the primacyof consciousness, for ourseventh.

Influence‘atadistance’

The investigation of nonlocal perception, such as telepathy, across both spaceandtimehasbeenatthecuttingedgeofconsciousnessresearchforthelastthree

decades.By1995sufficientevidencehadbeenamassedfortheUSCongresstorequest the American Institutes for Research (AIR) to review government-sponsoredstudiesofsuchpsiphenomenaasremoteviewing,commissionedbytheCIA.ThereportoftheAIRclearlystatedthatthestatisticalresultsobtainedbythe

experiments were far beyond those expected by chance. Having reviewed theintegrity of the experimental protocols, they refuted any possibility that theresultscouldbeduetoanyflawsinthemethodsusedandalsoconfirmedthattheresultshadbeenreplicatedatanumberof laboratoriesaround theworld.Theyconcludedthattherealityofthephenomenawasproven.Theirrecommendationwasthatratherthancontinuingtoexperimentmerelytoofferfurtherproofoftheexistence of psi, future research should focus on understanding how thephenomenaworkanddevelopingpracticalapplications.WhilstintheWestpsiresearchhasbeensignificantlyheldbackbytheclosed

attitudes of most institutions and scientists, such limitations have not beenimposed elsewhere. InRussia, for example, the StateUniversities ofMoscowandStPetersburgandtheRussianandUkraineAcademiesofScienceshavelongsupportedsuchenquiries.In recent years, however, a growing number of Western universities and

institutionshavebeensupportingpsiresearchandtherearenowwell-establishedparapsychologydepartments in theUK, including theKoestlerParapsychologyUnit (KPU) at the University of Edinburgh, the Centre for the Study ofAnomalous Psychological Processes (CSAPP) at University College,Northampton, and theMind-MatterUnification Project led byNobel LaureateBrianJosephsonattheCavendishLaboratoryofCambridgeUniversity.In the US, too, the Consciousness Research Laboratory (CRL) at the

University of Nevada, the PEAR Laboratory at Princeton University and theDepartment of Psychology of the University of Arizona are pioneers of suchstudies. A number of other organizations, including the Institute of NoeticSciences in San Francisco founded by former astronaut Edgar Mitchell, theRhine Research Center in North Carolina and the Boundary Institute inCalifornia,alsocontinuetoundertakesuchleading-edgeresearch.

Awarenessandinfluence

Psiphenomenaaregenerallyclassifiedintothosephenomenainvolvingpassiveawarenessandthoseincorporatingactiveinfluence.

Passivenonlocalperceptionincludestheremoteviewingofdistantlocations,whereapersoncanattunetocircumstancesoreventsoccurringinanotherplaceorevenanothertime.Conversely,activeinfluence‘atadistance’isencounteredin suchphenomena as telepathy,whereoneperson canmentally communicatewith another, and in the ability to affect the outcome of ostensibly randomevents.InmybookTheWaveIdetailthesortsofexperimentsthatareconvincingever

morepeoplethatpsiphenomenaarebothrealandaninnateaspectofournature.Herewe’ll focusonanumberof findings thathave important implications forthewaysinwhichweco-createourrealities.Our normal waking perception is generally occupied with processing the

awarenessof theouterworld thatwereceive throughour fivephysical senses,especially our eyes and ears. The quietermessages of our sixth sense and thenonlocalawarenessofourseventharethususuallydrownedoutbythesensorynoisearoundus.To reduce such ‘noise’ and thus enhance our psychic sensitivity, spiritual

traditionshaveformillenniasoughtouterpeaceandquietcombinedwithalteredstatesofconsciousnessinvolvinganalertandreceptivemind.Toinvestigatepsieffects, researchers have developed similar techniques of sensory deprivation,termed theGanzfeld, a German word meaning ‘whole field’, to induce suchstates. These experiments have confirmed the benefit of such conditions inenhancingpsireceptivity.Investigations into passive perception in the 1970s and 1980s showed them

that only a small percentage of tested volunteers displayed consistent aptitudeand apparently that neither training nor practice significantly improved theperformanceof theothers.Conversely,experiments intoactivepsiphenomena,such as telepathy, have shown that both practice and feedback improve aperson’sfutureperformance.Sowhilstitseemsfromthevastarrayofexperimentsthatourabilitytoboth

transmit and receive nonlocal information is innate, the occurrence of ultra-sensitivepsiperception,atleastcurrently,isrelativelyrare.But,astelepathicexperimentshaveconfirmed,feedbackthatencouragesour

ego-mind to relax and accept the validity of such perception enables us toimproveour conscious ability todo so.Andongoing research is updating andimprovingthemeansbywhichsuchpsiabilitiescanbenurturedandexpanded.Forinadditiontothemanyorganizationsalreadymentioned,agrowingnumberofinstitutions,suchastheCollegeofPsychicStudiesinLondon,offerongoing

trainingindevelopingsuchpsychicandintuitiveawareness.The experiments we have reviewed to date have considered both ‘at a

distance’passiveperceptionandactiveinfluencebetweenindividuals.But,aswehave seen, the holographic principle describes a Cosmos that is whollyinterconnected at all scales of existence. So, what is the evidence for ourcollectiveinfluence?

Collectiveresponses

Over the last 15 years, experiments have conclusively proven that at peakmomentsof group attention, both at conscious andunconscious levels,we areabletochangetherandomoutcomeofevents.The ongoingGlobal Consciousness Project, comprising over 70 researchers

aroundtheworld,wassetupin1998.Itseekstostudytheinfluenceofcollectivehumanconsciousnessthroughthelarge-scalesharingofreactionstomajornewsevents.Forthoseeventsthatinvokeasharedcoherentandintenseresponseataspecifictimeoroverarelativelyshortperiod,theinfluencehasbeenseentobesignificant,aswasthecasebothwiththeeventsof11September2001inNewYorkandWashingtonandthefuneralofPopeJohnPaulIIon8April2005.Given that the levelof influenceappears to increasewithcoherent intensity,

suchasanoutpouringofcompassionataspecificeventormomentintime,thenan event that elicited varied or variable reactions or which occurred over anextended period of timewould be likely to reduce the level of coherence andthus the corresponding level of influence. This was seen by the Project’smeasurementof theglobal response to the tsunamiof26December2004.Thenonlocalinfluenceherewasmuted,butthefactthattheappallingextentofthedisasteronlybecameapparentoverthecourseofanumberofdaysmaybethecauseofitsreducednonlocalimpact.

Nonlocalhealing

Another series of studies has sought to investigate the phenomenon of distanthealing,whichhasbeenlinkedwiththespontaneousremissionofillnesses,thealleviation of pain and the accelerated recovery of many patients around theworld.Fromascientificperspective,suchstudiesareextremelydifficulttoevaluate,

due to the great number of associated variables. However, the evidenceaccumulated over many years by researchers such as psychologist William

Braud and anthropologist Marilyn Schlitz has conclusively determined thatpeople are able to consciously influence the nervous system of remoteparticipants and affect their blood pressure, muscle response and skinconductivity.Whatisconsistentlyreportedinsuchstudiesisthattheefficacyofthehealing

dependson thehealersbeingat leastopen toahigherpowerworking throughthem, although the specific beliefs and spiritual traditions of the individualhealers appear to be irrelevant. A key requirement is that the healers are notpersonallyattachedtotheoutcomeofthehealinginfluence.Perhapsthemessagetoallhealersshouldbe‘Lete-goandletGod.’

Co-creation

All theseexperimentsdemonstrateourabilitynotonly toperceiveonnonlocalspatialandtemporallevelsbutalsotoinfluenceapparentlyrandomevents.Theircumulative results are undeniably far beyond chance and demonstrate whatmetaphysical traditions have always maintained – that we individually andcollectivelyco-createourrealities.Inscientificterms,theresonanceofourattentionandintention–andalsothat

of our subconscious patterning – causes the quantum field of free-wavepossibilities to harmonize into the coherent standing waves of real-izedmateriality.And,asweshallsee,thehigherourvibrationalawareness,themorefocused

ourattentionandthemorecoherentourintention,thegreaterourempowermenttoconsciouslyco-createsustainedhealthandwell-being.

Ego

Duringourwakinghours,wearegenerallyawareof theself-consciousnesswecall theego. It is thisselfwhichseemsseparate fromothers– ithasadefinedpersonality,ahumanhistoryandaculturalheritageandaffiliation.Both on conscious and subconscious levels, we are continually interpreting

our body’s sensory communication and interaction with our externalenvironment.Itisprimarilybysuchperceptionthatourpsychederivesitssenseof material individuality and ongoing sense of ego-self. However, all suchsensory information is filtered through the lens of cultural conditioning anddefinedbytheindividualpersonality.Soitisthecombinationofourconsciousmindandourhabitualsubconsciouspatternswhichprejudgesthepossibilityof

nonlocalconsciousnessandpsieffectsandthusdelineateswhatweconsider tobe‘real’. Inalteredstatesofconsciousness,where thesensorydistractionsandboundaries of our conscious perception are relaxed, the mind is enabled toexpandandexploresuchnonlocalandotherlevelsofawarenessandtoletgoofitsattachmenttothenarrowconfinesoftheego.

Coherence

Coherence is integral to the phenomenon of nonlocality. On a quantum level,nonlocalconnectionsbetween‘twin’,orentangled,particles,whichbehaveasasingleentitythroughoutbothspaceandtime,aregeneratedinanumberofways.But each technique crucially requires the coherence of the originating energypatterns.Onemethod raises a group of atoms to exactly the same level of energetic

excitement. On returning to their naturally stable state, they release coherentenergyintheformoftwinparticles.Anothertechniqueinvolvestheuseoflaserstocreatesuchentangledpairs.Similarly,whenatsomelevelofawarenessourpsycheiscoherentlyattuned,

wetoocanbothperceiveandexertinfluenceonsuchlevelsthattranscendspaceand time. For most people the filter of the ego-mind tends to shut out thepossibilityofsuchphenomena.However,aswebecomeopentothepossibilityof such awareness, the tight grip of our ego-mind loosens andwe can accesssuch comprehension on the level of full waking consciousness or in the alertstateoflighttrance.Whilstsomepeoplearenaturallygiftedinthisway,weallhavetheabilitytoperceivenonlocally.Howcoulditbeotherwise,forthisisourtruenature!

Attunement

Unsurprisingly, given the underlying resonance throughout the holographicCosmos,psiexperimentshaveshownthatwhenwearecoherent–whenweareattunedtooronthesameenergeticwavelengthassomethingorsomeoneelse–ourabilitytoperceiveandcommunicate‘atadistance’issignificantlyenhanced.Thisislikethedifferencebetweenswitchingonanuntunedradioandhearing

just ‘noise’ – which is actually the background sound of deep space – andactively tuning in to a particular radio station and being able to hear theprogrammeitistransmitting.We ourselves are continually both transmitting and receiving – it’s just that

mostofusaren’tawareofit.OurabilitiestoattunetotheCosmos,whethertoour own highest awareness, to empathize with others, to find lost keys or todiscoverundergroundwater,areallaspectsofourinherentnature.Andthemorewepractiseattunement,thegreaterourabilitytodoso.Assuming that someone is open to the possibility of consciously accessing

theirnonlocalawareness,therearethreecrucialrequirementswhichenablemostpeopletodoso.Thesearearelaxedbody,anopenmindandapeacefulheart.AstheGanzfeldmethodhasdemonstrated,ourpsiabilitiesareenhancedwhen

weareinwardlyandoutwardlyquietandourawarenessisnotbombardedbythemyriadsensationsandenvironmentalsignalsweencounteronaneverydaybasis.Not all of us have access to the stringent laboratory conditions of such

quietude,buttheaimistoberelaxedyetopenandalertandinalightmeditativestate,soaquietroom,acomfortablechairandlowlightingarehelpfulformostpeople.Toocomfortableachairisliabletosendustosleep,however!Adining-roomchair or similar is usually best, as it supports a sitting positionwith ourhead, neck and back straight, our hands resting lightly on our legs above thekneeandbothfeetflatandbalancedonthefloor.Tryingtoattunewhenweareemotionallydisturbedcanbeverydifficult.So

beforebeginningasession,aim tobecalm. Ifyouare feelingupset, there isabreathexerciseonpage243whichyoumayfindhelpful.Formostofus,themostdifficultthingtoquieteniswhattheyogicinitiatesof

ancientIndiacalledour‘monkey-mind’.This is theinsistentwayinwhichourwakingegoicconsciousnessdartshereand there inacontinual innerdialogue,fomenting ideas, passing judgements and processing the experiences of oureverydaylife.Here,too,mostspiritualtraditionsemphasizebreathingtechniquesliketheoneofferedinthisbook.WhatIhavepersonallyfoundmosthelpfulisnottotrytodenythemonkey-mindthoughtsastheyarise,nortojudgethemorforcethemaway,buttoallowthemtoflowawayeffortlesslybyfocusingonthein-andout-breath.Like all practices, themore you do it, the easier it gets. But I don’t know

anyone, however long they have undertaken such practice, who doesn’texperiencetheongoingmischiefofthemonkey-mind,sodon’tallowyourselftobetootroubledbyit.

Modesofperception

Awareness at a distance, aswe have seen, is both passive and active.We can

attunetosuchperceptionwiththeaimofreceivinginformation,asisthecaseinremoteviewing,orwecanactivelyseektoinfluenceonsuchlevels,forinstanceto communicate telepathically or to offer others healing or the support of ourprayers.In both passive and activemodes of awareness,we each have different and

preferredmeans of perception. Someof us visualize on an inner level.Othersfeelorsensesomething.Yetothersmayhearsoundsorsmellfragrances.Afewbusypeople are able tomulti-task andpsychicallypickupon all these levels.And sometimes we just know! None of these ways is better than any of theothers–theyarealljustmoreorlesseffectiveforus.Sometimes, as we become more practised, not only is our initial mode of

awareness enhanced but we also begin to perceive in other ways too. Forexample,ifourprimarymodeofnonlocalawarenessistofeelimpressions,wemayfindourselvesbeginningtovisualizetoo,andviceversa.Such higher attunement takes time and effort and, as with somany things,

greater commitment topracticewill almost inevitably result in fasterprogress.The progress of our spiritual alignment also walks hand in hand with ourcommitmenttoaninnerjourneyofinsight,healingandgrowth.

Believingisseeing

As we’ve seen, our bodies are microcosmic holograms, the vessels for ourintegral consciousness to explore what it means to be human. Our ego-mind,emotions and body thus ‘see’ what we believe about ourselves and thewiderworld. But even if our cultural conditioning is such that our ego-mind has apurelymaterialisticworld-view,ourheartandourbodyknowbetter.We’veseenhowourawarenessisintrinsicallynonlocalandthatatlastscience

too is recognizing the realitiesof suchpsiphenomenaas telepathyanddistanthealing. As our awareness expands, individually and collectively we arebeginningtoseetheCosmosmoreclearlyandaccessour8thandhigherchakras.Wehavealreadybegunthejourneytowholeness.Inthenextchapterwe’llseehowanoctaveofeightcosmicprinciplesenables

consciousness to explore its ever-creative expression and we’ll delve moredeeply into the nature of time and explore what we mean by free will anddestiny.

CHAPTER4

Cosmicprinciples

Theholographicuniverseisexquisitelysetuptoenableconsciousnesstoexpressitself throughpolarity-basedawarenessandultimately tobring it to resolution.Andaseverythingwithin theuniverse is related toeverythingelse,all thatweexperiencewithinthephysicalworldisbasedonsuchreal-ativity.Thepersonalityofourego-selfisalsocontinuallyexploringtherelationships

betweenourthoughts,feelingsandsenses.Theirever-changingdynamicformsthecreativedanceofourinnerexperiences.Andinourouterrelationshipswithothers and the wider world, the microcosm of our inner self resonatesholographicallyonever-largerscalesofourcollectiveco-creation.

Spaceandtime

Thefundamentalnatureofspacetimeis,aswehaveseen,understoodbysciencetobeessentiallyauniversalDVD.Everypointofspacetimeisconsideredtoco-existallatonce,anditisonlyourmindthatcreatestheperceptionoftheflowoftimeandtheunfoldingofevents.WemaythenlikenourconsciousnesstoacosmicDVDplayerwhich,through

ourcoherentattentionandintention,isabletoexpressandstorethediversityofourindividualandcollectiveexperiencesofwhatwetermthe‘physicalworld’.Sensing theflowof timeand theuniversalarrowof itsdirection isessential

for our experiences of the physical world – for choices to bemade and theirimplications to unfold. Our nonlocal awareness, however, transcends thelimitationsofspacetime,thoughitseemstodosowithcertainlimitations.Thesemayholdthekeytoadeeperunderstandingoftimeanditspurpose.

CreationintheNow

To begin to understand the holographic universe, we need to perceive themetaphysical intention behind its creation. In a hologram, a coherent beamoflight is split into two and recombined to form a holographic image.With theuniverse,itappearsthatitisabeamofcoherentintentionofconsciousnessthatissplitintotwo.Onebeamembodiesthetotalityofwhatwecallthepastandtheotherbeam theongoing intentionofconsciousness that forms the future.TheymeetinthepresentmomentthatwecalltheNow.AndthusitisonlyintheNowthattheholographicuniverseisactuallycreated.Thefundamentalfabricofspacetime–past,presentandfuture–existsinits

entirety, as maintained by physicists. But information relating to theaccumulationofalltheeventswecallthe‘past’appearstobeimprintedonwhattheancientsagescalledthe‘AkashicRecord’andwhatcosmologistsnowrefertoasthe‘zero-pointfield’.Inthismodel,futureeventsflowtowardsusfromthehigher intention of consciousness mediated by the second holographic beam.Essentially thefuture isnotyet fullyformed,butcontinues tobeco-created ineverymoment.Nonlocal awareness seems to support this emerging view of the physical

world. And, as discussed in The Wave, experiments have shown that we areindeedabletohaveprecognitionofthefuture.Theexperienceofsuchawarenesssuggests too that the future continues to crystallize until it becomes the co-createdNow.Wearethusabletohavemorecompletenonlocalperceptionofthepast, byaccessing theAkashicRecord, thanweare toperceivea still-forming‘future’.The focus, or coherence, of conscious intention is themeans by which the

wavesofprobabilityof thequantumfieldaremanifestedandactualized in thestanding waves of specific outcomes – the energies/matter we call physicalreality. Sowhenwe perceive the ‘future’ during precognition,we are actuallybecoming aware of the more subtle energetic vibrations of the initiatingintention. If this is indeed the case, we do not perceive the outcome of theintentionina‘future’pointofspacetime,butthenotyetphysicalizedtemplateofour individual and collective intentionality as it flows towards theNowof thepresent.It is important to appreciate here that it is not only our consciousmind but

alsoother levelsofour awareness that are engenderingattentionand intentionandthereforecrystallizingthefuture.This has significant implications for our understanding of destiny and free

will.

Destinyandfreewill

Sciencestruggleswiththeconceptsofdestinyandfreewill.Fortheimplicationthatspacetimeexistsallatonceseemstoofferonlyoneinterpretation:thatfreewillisillusoryandthatweareessentiallyautomatonswhocanonlyplayoutourdestiny.Writingsofeveryancienttradition, too,haveemphasizedthepowerofdestinyandourinabilitytoavoidit.Yetaswemakechoices,itseemsthatwedosofromfreewill–althoughwhenIseeaplateofchocolatebiscuitsmyownfreewillseemstobeabsent!Howcanthisparadoxberesolved?Togethertheholographicmodeloftheuniverseandtheprimacyofintegrated

consciousnessmayofferusameansnotonlyof reconcilingscienceandSpiritbutalsothisage-oldparadoxbetweendestinyandfreewill.As we shall go on to explore in coming chapters, our individuated

consciousnessisvastlygreater thanthelimitedawarenessofourego-self.Andinthisintegrativeviewofourselves,wemakechoicesonmanydifferentlevelsof perception. So, many of the experiences of our ego-self may indeed bedestined,havingbeenchosenbyfreewillatother levelsofourawareness.Yetotherexperiencesaretheimplicationsofthefree-willchoicesmadebyourego-selfperception.Thisisinaccordancewithspiritualtraditionsthathavelongmaintainedthatat

a soul level we choose the circumstances of our birth and life in order toexperience and learn from life’s lessons. Such intention and choice are thenclearly not at the level of our ego-self awareness but at a higher level of ourconsciousness.

Higherchoices

In beginning to appreciate this – and to recognize that all such choices areultimatelyours–weare empowered to take anothergreat leap forward inourjourneyofdiscoveryofwhowereallyare.Recognizing that the implications of our higher choices are in essence our

destiny,wecanthenchooseat the levelofourego-self tobe inalignmentandharmonywiththemandthegreaterflowoftheCosmos–ornot.The ongoing challenge for each and every one of us is that our higher-self

doesnothavetophysically,mentallyoremotionallyundergothechallengesandtraumas towhich it has essentially committed us.We can berate this and railagainstthecircumstancesofourlives,orwecanchoosetorealizethatourego-

selfandhigher-self–andindeedalllevelsofourindividuatedconsciousness–formoursoul,andthatultimately,everythingweundergoisforthehighestgoodofoursoul’sevolution.There is an old adage, ‘Before enlightenment carrywater, chopwood; after

enlightenment carry water, chop wood.’ In other words, after recognizing thegreatertruthsandperceptionthatenlightenmentbrings,wedon’tnecessarilyfindthe circumstances of our chosen lives changing. Our attitude and awareness,however,aretransformed.InourcontinuingjourneythroughoutThe8thChakrawewillstillcarrywater

and chopwood, but as fellow travellerswe’ll learn how to be in ever-greaterharmonywiththeCosmos,ratherthanattemptingtodamupordivertitsflow.

Cosmicflow

Cosmic flow comprises waves of experience on which we can choose to becosmicsurfers–ornot.IrememberonceontheislandofMauigazingoutovertheoceanandseeing

somewindsurfersridethePacificwaveslikedragonfliesskimmingoveralake.Watching entranced, I could sense their exhilaration and freedomas they rodeperfectlybalancedbetweenseaandsky.Present ineverymoment, Icould feeltheircommunionaseachwaverose,crestedandfellaway.In these significant times, we are all surfers, individually and collectively

ridingatidalwaveofchange.LikethosewindsurfersofMaui,wecanchoosetobeflexibleandresponsivetothenuancesofthewavesofourpersonallifeandthoseof thegreatwaveweall rideby consciouslybeing inharmonywith thecircumstancesandtimingofevents.Alternatively, we can choose to pretend the waves don’t exist or have no

relevancetous.Buttheydoandtheyhave.Thereisoneaspectofthetimingofeventswhichoffersusasuresignthatwe

areindeedinthecosmicflow:synchronicity.ThepsychologistCarlJungcoinedthistermtomeanaconjunctionofevents

whichhaveno apparent cause but aremeaningful to those experiencing them.Junghimselfexperiencedsuchasynchronicitywhentreatingapatientwhoatacritical point in her treatment had a dream in which she was given a goldenscarabbeetle.Athernextsession,justasshewasrelatingherdream,Jungheardatappingonthewindowbehindhim.Onturningroundandopeningthewindow,

hecaught a scarabaeidbeetle as it flew, contrary to itsnormalhabits, into thedarkenedroom.Until then, Jung’s treatment had been effectively blocked by his patient’s

unwillingnesstochangeherrationalperspectiveonlife.Thescarab,whichtotheancient Egyptians was a symbol of rebirth, offered both Jung and his patienttransformationalinsight.Bybeingopentothepossibilityofsuchsynchronicities,wewelcomedeeper

magicandhighertruthintoourlives.Expectmiracles!

Eightcosmicprinciples

There is an octave, an eight-fold group of principles, which, in its variousexpressions, throughouthistoryandacrossallcultures,hasformedthebasisofuniversalwisdom.Togethertheseprinciplesmaybeperceivedasguidingtheco-creativity of all experience. They are the fundamental harmonies by whichconsciousnessexpressesitself.The influence of these principles harmonically resonates not only on the

physicalplanebutalsothroughoutmental,emotionalandspiritualrealms.Theyarethusnotmerelyuniversalbutcosmicinnature.Inunderstandingthesecosmicprincipleswebecomeawareoftheunderlying

meansbywhichconsciousnessexploresitself.Andindoingso,weseehowtheCosmosinitsentiretyisultimatelyco-created.

RelativityThe first principle of the cosmic octave is the principle of relativity – real-ativity, probably best represented in the ancient Chinese attributes of yin andyang.ThesejuxtapositionspervadetheCosmos.Inherentwithineachistheseedof its partner, and in theirmeeting andbalance the third and crucial aspect ofcreationfindsexpression.

Takeafewmomentstodiscoverforyourselftheunderlyingthree-foldnatureoftheuniverseandthiscosmicprincipleofreal-ativity.

Onasheetofpaperdrawthreeverticalcolumnsand,takingjustoneminute,makealistinthefirstcolumnofanyattributesofthephysical

worldthatcometoyourmind.

Nowinthelastcolumnwritetheoppositeofeachattribute.Forexample,ifinthefirstcolumnyouhavewritten‘white’,writeitsopposite,‘black’,intheendcolumn.

Finally,takeabreathandinthecentralcolumnwritewhateverwordcomestomindtodescribetheresolutionorbalancebetweenthetwoopposites.Forexampleifyouhavewritten‘day’and‘night’,youmightchoose‘dawn’or‘dusk’toexpresstheirbalance.

Iwouldbeextremelysurprisedifattheendofthislittleexerciseyouhaven’tfoundapointofbalanceorresolutionbetweeneverysinglepairofoppositesonthepage.

‘Duality’ is a word that has been in common usage to describe suchjuxtapositionsofopposites.Buttheessenceofdualityisthatsuchoppositesareviewedasbeingseparateandeachstandsalone.Anotherwordforsuchoppositionis‘polarity’.Whilstoriginallythetermwas

usedtodescribethenorthandsouthpolesofamagnet,itsusagehasextendedtodescribe the fundamental sunderingof consciousness into themyriad formsofyinandyangattributesthroughouttheworld.If ‘duality’ describes two strangers standing side by side without touching,

‘polarity’encouragesthemtoat leastholdhands.Yet thereisstillasensethat,like the two poles of amagnet,whilst such polarities can balance each other,theycannevermeet.However, by describing their interplay as expressing their inherent

relationship–orrelativity–rather than‘polarity’or‘duality’,wecanperceivethe innate dance between them. And it is through their real-ativity – and itsultimatebalanceandresolution–thattheworldisrealizedandwearere-souled.

ResolutionAsweshalldiscussfurtherinlaterchapters,whenweincarnateinphysicalformasamanorwoman,weembodybothmale(yang)andfemale(yin)aspectsonemotional, mental and higher levels of vibration. Their relationship forms acrucialaspectofourjourneytowholeness.The ancient sages realized that all opposites could ultimately be resolved.

They saw the creativity of their communion as embodied in the birth of aphysical,metaphoricalorsymbolic‘child’.This‘child’expressionofthetrinity,however,isnottheenergeticoffspringofthe‘male’and‘female’.Itisnotlaterorlesser,butequaltothemandisanintrinsicaspectofwholeness.

ReconciliationThetriangle,itsthreesidesculminatingatthreepointsorapices,isthesimplestgeometric form expressing such triadic reconciliation.As architects have longknown,itisthemoststableoftwo-dimensionalphysicalforms.Ultimately, energetic resolutions on all scales of the holographic universe

require all three partners – male, female and child – to be equal in theempowermentoftheircomplementaryexpression,justasthemoststabletriangleofallisonewiththreeequalsides.Andpersonally,Iwouldn’twishtositonathree-leggedstoolwherethelegs

wereunequal!

TrinitiesThisperceptionoftripartitewholenessrevealsitselfnotonlyingeometricformbut also throughout the myths and symbols that were the preferred teachingmethodsoftheancients.The healing symbol known as the caduceus, found in various forms

throughouttheancientworld,showstwoserpentsintertwiningaroundacentralstaff.Thisrepresentstheinterplayandbalanceoftheenergeticpolaritiesandthewholenessoftheirresolution.In theVedicpantheon,Brahma theCreator,Vishnu thePreserver andShiva

theDestroyer represent theeternalcosmiccyclesofbirth, lifeanddeath.Suchcycles,ever thesameandyeteverchanging,play themselvesout inspaceandtime.Andwithinthesametradition,thethreecosmicprinciplesofmanifestation,orgunas,continuallyexpressthemselvesinanever-creativedance.Such fundamental wholeness is also embodied in the almost universal

presence of trinities of male, female and child archetypes in ancientcosmologies.TotheEgyptians,themythicOsiris,IsisandHorusembodiedtheseprinciples. For theGreeks, the relationship ofAphrodite, the goddess of love,andAres,thegodofwar,broughtforththechildHarmonia,whomediatedandresolved their innate conflict. And until deemed heretical by the Church, theGnosticChristian traditionperceived the cosmic trinityofmaleFather, female

HolySpiritandandrogynousSon–theembodimentofchristedawareness.

TriadsThroughout thephysicalworld, the tripartitenatureof thewhole iscontinuallyrevealed. It iswithin theconfinesof three spatialdimensions that thephysicalworld is manifest. And embedded within the physical laws that regulate theforcesoftheuniverse,thesethree-in-onethemesofmediation,manifestationandresolutionarealsorepeatedlyexpressed.InEinstein’sfamousequationE=mc2,energyandmatter,whichtogetherform

theembodimentof thephysicalworld,arereconciledthroughthemediationofthe speed of light. There is also another way of perceiving this fundamentalrelationship, thanks to my friend Jeb Barton. I suspect that Einstein wouldappreciate Jeb’s interpretation: enlightenment (E) equals themanifestation (m)ofconsciousness(c)exploringitself.Atoms are inherently stable due to the three-in-one balance of the masses,

forces and charges of the proton, neutron and electron of which they arecomprised.Indeed,theprotonissostablethatscientistshaveestimatedthatforonetodecayintosomethingelsewouldtakeatleast100milliontrilliontrillionyears!SubatomicphysicistsseekingthemostelementalstructureofNaturehavealso

discovered that just three families of fundamental particles make up all thematteroftheuniverse.Andtherearealsothreelawsofphysicalmotionwhich,as Isaac Newton discovered in the seventeenth century, completely describemovement in three-dimensional spaceandwhichareapplicable throughout thephysicalworld.

WavesThe waves of energy that are the universal expression of consciousnessthemselvesembodythisfundamentalthree-in-oneness.Eachwavebeginsasanupsurgethatthenpeaksandfinallyfallsaway.ThevastinteractionofwavesonallscalesofexistencethenformstheholographicpatternoftheCosmos.Ourexperiencesarealsoessentiallywavesoftheexpressionofconsciousness

andassuchembodytripartitephases.Theinitiatoryjourneysthathavebeenthemeans of gaining wisdom in all cultures at all times inevitably involve threestages.Whenthe‘I’oftheinitiateisdeemedreadytheyinstigatethemissionorquest.Undergoingthequestformstheinner-tuitionofthelearningprocessitself.

And the third and perhaps most important aspect of the initiation then is theintegrationofthewisdomacquiredthroughenduranceandcourage.Thefundamentalnatureofthree-in-oneresolutionpervadesourentirewayof

perceivingtheworld.Wedelineateeventsasbeinginthepast,presentorfuture,goodstoriesneedtohaveabeginning,amiddleandend,andweseeourselvesasfundamentallyembodyingheart,mindandwill.

ResolutionWehavealreadyintroducedthesecondcosmicprinciple.Forasweexplorethelight and shadow of our experiences, the ultimate aspiration of our integratedconsciousness–whetherornotourconsciousmindisawareofit–is toattaintheir balance and resolution, or re-soul-ution. Throughout all dimensions andrealmsoftheCosmos,theprincipleofresolutiondescribeshowtheenergiesofconsciousnessultimatelyseektocomeintosuchreconciliation.The essence of polarity awareness is that each polar element can only be

perceived in relation to its partner. Thuswe are only aware of lightwhenwehave darkness to compare it with. Each needs the other to express itself. Byitself, each is also inherently unbalanced.Wemay judgeonepolarity as ‘bad’anditspartneras‘good’.Butessentially,themoreextremethemanifestationofeither, themore unbalanced it is.And in extremis,whatever form the polaritytakes, itwillbecomeitsnemesis.Extremelightwillflipintoextremedarkandviceversa.Aswecontinuetojudgesuchpolarities,weofferthemenergyandattention–

and inevitably, what we resist persists. The Buddha perceived this cosmicprinciplewhenheexhortedhisfollowerstotakethemiddle,Noblepathtoself-realizationandenlightenment.Ponderthiscosmicprinciplenexttimeyourunthehotandcoldwatertogether

for a bath.Neither is ‘good’ or ‘bad’ and their resolution – or re-soul-ution –offers one of our most blissful experiences, especially when combined withbubblesandaglassofwine.

RememberingAs we explore our polarity-based awareness on the physical plane, we areparticipants in circumstances.We not only forget that we are spiritual beingshaving a physical experience but we enter so deeply into our role that the

traumas we experience on physical, emotional and mental levels may dis-memberourpsyche.Theinnerpathtorememberingisthenapathofprofoundhealingatthelevelofoursoul.ThisisthepaththatwewillwalktogetherfortheremainderofThe8thChakra.Ourrememberingwillinvolveaprocessofexpandingourawarenessbeyond

thelevelofourpersonalityandego-self, for it iswithinouregoicenergyfieldthat theresidual imprintsof the traumasofourdis-membermentareheld.Andsince,asEinsteinpointedout,aproblemcannotbesolvedfromthesameplacethat created it, we need to move to a higher vantage point. Ultimately, thatvantage point is the awareness of the unity underlying all the diversity of theholographicCosmos.Thisisourjourneyhometothewholenessofwhowereallyare.

ResonanceTheprincipleofresonanceexpressestheharmoniccorrespondencesbetweenallthingsandexperiencesoftheprinciplesandforcesoftheCosmos.Wediscoversuchcorrespondencesnotonly throughout thephysicalworld in all its aspectsandonallscales,butthroughoutmetaphysicalrealmstoo.This cosmic insight is perhaps best expressed by the wisdom teachings of

ancientEgypt.Aswehaveseen,Thoth,thearchetypalwisdom-bringer,declaredthat the entire world resonated ‘as above, so below’. In perceiving themacrocosm expressed through the microcosm, he described the fractal andholographicnatureoftheCosmos.The energies of our own thoughts and feelings resonate on both inner and

outer levels.Suchresonancefinds itscorrespondence in thestateofourhealthandthecircumstancesofourlife.All our thoughts, emotions (energy in motion), words and actions embody

energy.However,thefrequencies,orvibrationallevels,oftheseenergiesmaybehigh or low. High-frequency energies inspire and vivify us, whereas low-frequencyenergiesdepleteanddrainus.Ultimately,thehigherthefrequencyofenergy, the greater its power to penetrate and transform. Love embodies thehighestfrequencyofenergythroughouttheCosmos,whereasemotionssuchashateembodythelowest.According to the principle of resolution, judging such lower-level energies

offersthemtheenergytopersist,whilstfocusingourattentionandintentiononhigher-levelfrequenciesoffersusthepathtowholenessandat-one-ment.

Asourawarenessexpands,inevitablywebecomemorecoherentinourenergypatterns. In doing so,webecomemore authentic in expressing the purpose ofour soul and embody ever-greater integrity. Then both the resonance and thecoherenceofthehighervibrationsofourintentionandattentioncorrespondwiththeeternalharmonyoftheCosmos.We thus learn progressively how to be a cosmic surfer and master of our

highestdestiny.

ReflectionTheprincipleofreflection describes how theouter circumstancesof our livesreflectourinnerstateandviceversa.Thisprincipleisaconsequenceoftheprincipleofresonance.Ourvibrational

level resonates with other people and circumstances that embody the samefrequenciesandwethusco-createcircumstanceswhichreflectthoserealities.Themorewebecomeawareoftheinevitabilityofthisprinciple,themorewe

areabletopayattentiontoourownwayofbeingandthusbegintheprocessoftransformation. The principle of reflection therefore offers us the ongoingopportunity to develop self-awareness and move towards inner balance. Wecannotescapeitspresencethroughoutourlives,for it is invariablythereintheouter circumstances of our experiences as individuals, families, societies andcivilizations.Whenwehealtheone,wehealthewhole.

ChangeThewavesofenergiesthatexpressconsciousnessareinperpetualmotion.Theprincipleofchangeunderliesthisfundamentalreality.The rhythms of our experiences, their highs and lows, their beginnings,

creative unfoldings and completions all provide opportunities for us to gainawareness.Depending on our perspective, the continual co-creation of changeoffersuschallengesoropportunities–ofteninthesamemoment.Butwhilstwecantrytorunfromchange,wedefinitelycan’thide!Formanyofus, thepast isourcomfortblanket–andsomeofusclingto it

despite it being pretty threadbare.Although beingwilling to let go sometimesrequiresa leapof faithand trust in the future, itmayofferus themiracleofarebirth.I know this inmyown life.For someyears ago I emotionally attempted to

holdon toamarriage thatno longer supportedeithermy thenhusbandorme.FormonthsIdesperatelytriedtohangonwhenIknewinmyheartIneededtomoveon.Theemotionalanguishbecamesogreat that it felt likean ironbandcrushingmychesteverymomentofeveryday.Early onemorning I cried out in despair to Spirit and finally let go ofmy

burden.AsIdid,withinmomentsIwaspain-free.Withindays,myhusbandandIseparatedandnow,nearlyeightyearson,Iamhappilyremarriedandmyex-husbandandIremainthesoulfriendswehavebeenandalwayswillbe.

CauseandeffectThe principle of cause and effect is the wider metaphysical context of thephysicallawthateveryactionproducesanequalandoppositereaction.Just as physical laws are fundamentally interconnected, so is the cosmic

octaveof these eight principles.Theprinciple of cause and effect interweaveswith the principle of resolution so that within the experiences of integratedconsciousness,suchaction-reactionprocessesareultimatelyequalized.Both the principles of change and of cause and effect are embodied in the

ancient Vedic concept of karma. Today karma is sometimes misconceived asbeing the reflection of personalmorality or judgement by others or by higherconsciousness of our actions. But beyond the limitations of our ego-basedawareness, our soul understands the deeper truth of karmic balance andresolution, for the principle of cause and effect embodies,without judgement,the implications of our choices. These, as we have seen, may be made atdifferent levels of our integrated consciousness. And karma is the inevitableprocessoftheirplayingout–notonthenarrowtit-for-tatbasisperceivedbyourego-self,butinmuchmoreprofoundwaysthatwemaybeunawareofunlessweexpandourawarenessbeyondthenarrowconfinesoftheego.As our awareness expands, however, not only do we become profoundly

perceptiveofthewholenessoftheCosmos,butwenaturallyalignourchoicestoitsultimateunity.Aswedoso, theenergiesof the implicationsofourchoicesbecomebalancedandkarmaisresolvedandreleased.

ConservationAsweknow,thewavesofenergiesthataretheexpressionofconsciousnessareincontinualflow.However,whilsttheformthattheenergiestakemaychange,

accordingtotheprincipleofconservation,theyareultimatelyconserved.This cosmic principle requires us to both give and receive and thereby to

allowtheebbandflowofthewavesoflifetopassharmoniouslythroughus.

Wecangainasenseofthisprofoundtruthbytakingafewbreaths.

To begin, take a deep in-breath followed by a shallow out-breath. Thenreverse the process and take a shallow in-breath followed by a deep out-breath.

Actually,Ishouldhavesaid,‘Tryto…’,for the imbalancebetween those in-andout-breathsmakesitvirtuallyimpossibletodo.

Sonow,takeadeepin-breath,holditand,afterpausingforafewmoments,allowyourout-breathtobeequallydeepandbalanced.

Ihopeyoufeelbetter!

ConcessionThe eighth cosmic principle,which completes the octave of the expression ofconsciousness,istheprincipleofconcession.Linked to the principle of cause and effect, this describes how once an

intentionhasbeensetandthechoicemanifested,concessionofitsimplicationsis an intrinsic part of the learning and integration of the experience and thedevelopmentofgreaterawareness.Essentially,thisprinciplerequiresustoacknowledgeourresponsibilityforthe

circumstances of our liveswhilst fully recognizing that our choicesmay havebeenmadeathigherlevelsofourawarenessthanourego-self.Two other words that are sometimes used here are ‘acceptance’ and

‘allowance’.ButwhenI’veexploredthenuancesbetweenthe twodescriptionswith participants inmyworkshops,most have felt that ‘acceptance’ implies alevel of resentment – of having to put up with the consequences of causes.‘Allowance’ feels more positive and freeing and thus empowers us to takegreater responsibility for our life path. However, ‘concession’ means toacknowledge the truth of something. Sowhenwe concede the implications ofour choices, we can recognize what then unfolds as being authentic and

appropriate.

Cosmicprinciples

We’venowexploredhowthecoherenceofconsciousnessco-createsactualizedstatesfromthequantumfieldofpotentialities.Andwe’veseenhowourintegralmindmakes choices which, according to our perspective, we can interpret asdestinyorfreewill,butwhichatthehighestlevelaretheintentionofoursoul.We’vealsoseenhowthewisdomofallagescanbedistilledintoanoctaveof

eightcosmicprinciples thatrevealhowcosmicmindguidestheexperiencesofpolarity-basedawareness.By perceiving and aligning with these principles of relativity, resolution,

resonance,reflection,change,causeandeffect,conservationandconcession,wecan understandwhat our ownhigher awareness is seeking to tell us: ‘You areconsciousness!’Throughoutthefollowingchapterswe’llsometimesreferexplicitlytooneor

more of these principles of cosmic wisdom. But even when not overtlyexpressed,weneedtorememberthattheyunderlieandguideoureverythought,wordandaction.Andaswewalkourpathtowholeness,theirpreceptscontinuallysupportand

guideoursteps.

PARTIIFeel

CHAPTER5

Embodycosmicharmony

TotheVedicsagesofancient India, thehumansoul isadropletof the infiniteocean of consciousness that is Brahman. This spiritual metaphor, now manymillenniaold,sees the journeyof thesoulreflectedin thecyclesof life-givingwateronEarth.Distilledfromthevastnessofthecosmicocean,wesoar.Lightbeingsofvapour,wearecarriedbylightbreezesandtossedaboutinthemidstofstormcloudsuntilwereach land.Fallingas rain,wefindourway through thefertile soilsof thewelcomingEarthanddancewithin the intricatenetworksofsubterraneanwater.Aeonsmaypass beforewe stream to the surface and thenflowwiththesmallandgreatriversoflifeuntilweultimatelyfindourwaybacktotheocean.Thisancientmetaphoroffersusaprofoundinsightintohowourindividuated

consciousness expresses itself. For just as a river is comprised of manytributaries, so our consciousness is far greater than the small stream of theegopersonaweexploreinasinglehumanlife.

Lifeafterdeathafterlife

Vedicliteratureoffersustheoldestwrittenteachingsofourhumanfamily.TheirwisdominformedtheancientChinese,EgyptiansandSumeriansandthusmanylater traditions, all of which perceived the continuation of the human psycheafterthedemiseofthephysicalbody.Most traditions consider that whenwe return to Spirit, wemove on unless

thereisareasonforustoremainclosetothephysicalplane.Thesereasonsmayinclude a traumatic demise, when we may not even be aware that we havepassedover,oranemotionalattachmenttoapersonorplace.Whilstmanyofus,likemybelovedmother,maychoosetoremainclosetothoseweloveforashorttime after we pass over, remaining for much longer ultimately serves neither

those for whom we care nor ourselves. Indeed, spirits sometimes becomeeventuallyentrappedthroughsuchattachment, remaininglongafter their lovedonesthemselveshavemovedon.Inthelastfewyearsinvestigatingsuchentrappedspiritsorghostshasbecome

amorerecognizedaspectofparapsychologicalresearch.Facilitatingtheirreleasehasalsobecomeamorecommonmeansofspiritualsupport.AttheUniversityofArizona,psychologistsGarySchwartzandLindaRussek

havespentseveralyears investigatingtheclaimsofmediumswhoare in touchwiththespiritsof thedeparted.Theyandotherresearcherswhoarestudyingarange of phenomena from near death experiences (NDEs) to after deathcommunication(ADC)areprogressivelycomingtothesameview:thatthereisincreasinglystrongscientificsupportfortheancientandspiritualviewthatourhumanpsychedoescontinueafterourphysicalbodyhasperished.Mostworld religions alsobelieve in some formof reincarnation– theview

thatwelivelifeafterlifeaswecontinuetoexplorewhatitmeanstobehuman.The early Gnostic Christians also held this belief although the concept wassubsequentlydeemedheretical.TheresearchofpsychiatristIanStevensonprovidesuswiththebestscientific

evidence we yet have for reincarnation. Stevenson has studied the cases ofyoungchildrenwhohaveclaimedmemoriesofotherlives.Hehassoughtbothtominimize the danger of ‘false’ memories and collect details that can beindependentlyverified.Sofar,hehasamassedover3,000casestudiesindicativeofreincarnation.

Ourego-self

When we incarnate as a human being, a three-fold stream of consciousnessweaveswithinustheunderlyingfabricofourlife.Thefirststreamrepresentsourgeneticinheritanceandthusthelineageofthe

familyandcultureweareborninto.Whilstthesequenceofgenesencodedinourparents’DNA is the primary directive for our physicalmake-up, scientists arealso now becoming aware that generational characteristics and environmentalfactors affecting our parents and even our grandparents can result in thewaygenesareepigeneticallyexpressedintheiroffspring.Thesecondstreamisrepresentedbyourpersonality,theemotionalandmental

lensthroughwhichwerespondtothecircumstancesofourexperience.Within the ever-changing matrix of consciousness we call our Solar – or

Soular – System, the combined holographic influences of the Sun,Moon andplanets at the time and place of our birth engenders the fundamentalcharacteristicsofourpersonality.Andtheseco-ordinatesareuniquetoeveryoneofus,forevenidenticaltwinsborninthesamebedwillcomeintotheworldafewminutesapart.The third stream of consciousness arises at the level of awareness of our

higher-self. As the purpose for our incarnation or destiny is chosen, so theopportunities andobjectives of our life experiences are decided.And it is thislevelofintentionthatdeterminesthecircumstancesofourcomingintotheworld–whereandwhenwearebornandwhowillbeourparents–andthesubsequentenvironmentinwhichweliveourlife.Thedynamic interplayofall three streams is thenexpressed throughoutour

lifeatthelevelofawarenesswecallthe‘ego-self’.

Mind,heartandwill

The role played by the awareness of the ego-mind of our ‘normal’ wakingconsciousness is primarily to persuade us by allmeans available to it that itsreality–thephysicalworld–istheonlyreality.Furthermore,fulfillingitsroleofindividualizingourexperience,itseekstoconvinceusthatweareseparatefromothersandthewiderworld.Butwhilstourego-mind thusaims tomaximize thecreativityofourunique

perception,ourheartsyearntore-membertheunitythatunderlies thediversityoftheholographicCosmos.Bothmindandheartfindtheircreativeexpressionthroughourwill.Thethree

together form the fundamental trinity of male, female and child principlesthroughwhichwelivelife.Weeachchoosetoincarnateeitherasamanorawoman.Whilstequal,these

are intrinsically and energetically different, not just physically but alsoemotionally and mentally. The inner balance of our male, female and childenergiesandtheirappropriateuse,regardlessofourgender,arefundamentaltothefullexpressionofourhumanityandaprerequisiteforourcontinuingjourneytowholeness.

Subtleenergymeridians

Vedic wisdom perceives that the subtle energies of the human personalityinterfacewiththephysicalbodythroughthespinningvorticesofsubtleenergies

knownaschakras.Thechakrasareconsideredtoconnectwithatriadofsubtleenergymeridians,

ornadis, known individually as thepingala, ida and shushumna,whichact asconduitsforthesubtlelife-forceenergiesofourbiofield.Thetrinityofnadisembodyour inherentexpressionofmale/yang(pingala),

female/yin(ida) andchild/neutral (shushumna) energies.Thesepositive/active,negative/passive and neutral/creative principles are depicted by the ancientsymbol of healing known as the caduceus. The central staff represents theshushumna,upandaroundwhichtwinserpentsrepresentingthepingalaandidaenergiescoilandcometogetherateachchakra.As the caduceus reveals, it is the balanced expression of all three cosmic

principleswithinus,asmediatedthroughthechakras,thatenablesustomanifestthefullego-self.

Chakras

Therearesevenprimarychakrasrelatingtoouregopersona.Thesearelocatedjust in frontofour spineandextend fromour tailboneup to thecrownofourhead. These are the root chakra (tailbone), the sacral chakra (pelvic area), thesolarplexuschakra, theheartchakra, the throatchakra(all locatedwhere theirnames suggest), the third eye chakra (at the centre of the brow just above thebaseofthenose)andthecrownchakra(atthetopofthehead).Theselocationshavebeencorrelatedwiththemajorglandsofourendocrinesystem.Secretingawide rangeofhormoneswhose inter-relationshipsarenotyetwellunderstood,theseglandsregulateahugerangeofphysicalandemotionalresponses.Thechakrasmediatethesubtleenergiesofourbiofieldandthefreedomwith

whichbothsubtleandphysicalenergiesflowthroughusisdirectlycorrelatedtoouroverallwell-being.Anyblockagesorrestrictionswillresultinimbalanceanddis-easeatpsychological,emotionalorphysicallevels.By understanding our chakra system and how it operates, we can become

awareofourownenergeticblockages.Aswedoso,weempowerourselves togobeyondthemanifestationofdis-easetoitscausationandthereforetoinitiaterealandsustainedhealing.

Acorporate‘office’Eachof the chakras is traditionallyunderstood to express adifferent aspectof

the human experience. In total, they may be likened to seven floors of acorporateofficebuilding.

On the ground floor, the engineering department (root chakra) ensures that allthe utilities and facilities that support the corporation’s activities are wellgroundedandhavestrongfoundations.

On the next floor (sacral chakra), the role of the personnel department is tofacilitatetheappropriatecareofeveryoneintheorganization.

The third floor (solar plexus chakra) is dedicated to operational efficiency byensuringthateveryactivitythroughoutthecorporationworkstogethertoexpressthecorporatepurposeandcreativity.

Onthefourthfloor(heartchakra)theresponsibilityofstakeholderservicesistomakesurethattherelationshipswithallthestakeholdersoftheorganizationaremetandhonoured.

Thesalesandmarketingdepartmentsarebasedonthefifthfloor(throatchakra).Their roles are to enable the voice of the corporation to be heard and thus itsuniqueproductstobeknownbyandsharedwiththewiderworld.

Thesixthfloor(thirdeyechakra)ishometothestrategicplanningteam.Hereaninnervisioniscreatedwhichalliestheorganization’sresourcesandcapabilitieswithawiseperceptionoftheouterworldtosecureandsustainabundance.

Ontheseventhfloor(crownchakra) is theboardroom,wherethecorporation’sdisparate activities arebrought together andanoverviewof itswell-beingandrelationshipswiththewiderworldismaintained.

OrganizationtoorganismJust as, in the corporate example,where the focusof the lower three floors isprimarilyinternaltotheorganization,sothefocusofourlowerthreechakrasisourselves. These three chakras emphasize the basic physical, emotional andsecurity-relatedneedsofourownorganismandessentiallyhowwecansurviveintheworld.The fourth floor, or heart chakra, is where we begin to open up to and

empathizewith thewiderworld.Andthefifth iswherewestart toexpress theuniqueproductthatwehavetooffer–ourselves.Asweascend throughour imaginarycorporateofficebuilding,wecan look

out of the window on each floor and get a better view of the surroundinglandscape.Similarly,asweascendthroughthechakras,ourownbodygainsanexpandedviewofthewiderworld.Bythesixthfloor,orthirdeyechakra,weareabletocollateourunderstanding

ofwherewearewiththeperceptionofhowtogoforwardinalignmentwithourresourcesandhigherpurpose.From the vantage point of the seventh floor, the directors have an overall

understanding of the entire corporation and its interactions with the world atlarge.Equally,fromtheawarenessofthecrownchakrawegainanoverviewofourego-selvesandhowwerelatetoothers.Dependingonourlevelofawarenessasexpressedthrougheachchakra,from

theroottothecrown,wewillinterpretdifferentlywhatareobjectivelythesameoutercircumstancesorevents.

ComplementaryenergiesBeforewe go on to discuss each chakra in turn,we need to recognize that inchoosingtoincarnateasamanorawoman,wearealsochoosingtomanifesttheenergiesofourchakrasdifferently.Menandwomenareenergeticallypolarizedinacomplementarybutopposite

way,althoughweallembodytheuniversalprinciplesthatwedescribeasmale,femaleandchild.Amanprimarilyembodiesthemaleoryangexpressionthatisenergeticallydirectedoutwardandisactiveandexplosive.Conversely,awomangenerally embodies the female or yin expression that is energetically directedinwardand ispassiveand implosive.Crucially,eachgenderalsoembodies thechild expression which is energetically neutral but from which all creativityarises.Aswemoveupthebody,eachchakraalsoswitchesitspolarity.Soformen,

the root, solar plexus, throat and crown chakras are expressed in a yang oroutwardwayandthesacral,heartandthirdeyeareexpressedinayinorinwardway.Forwomen,theroot,solarplexus,throatandcrownchakrasareexpressedinayinwayandthesacral,heartandthirdeyeinayangway.Thusmengenerally express themselves in anoutwardoryangway through

thesecurityneedsassociatedwith their rootchakra, theurge toexpresspowerandpurposemediatedby theirsolarplexuschakra, thecommunicationof theirthroatchakraandtheintellectoftheirmind.Buttheyinpolaritiesoftheirsacral,heart and thirdeyechakrasmean that their expressionof theenergiesof these

chakrasisnaturallydirectedinwards.Forwomen,theoppositeisgenerallythecase.Withtheinnateactiveoryang

expressionoftheirsacral,heartandthirdeyechakras,womenarenaturallyabletoexpressinnerfeelings,empathyandintuitiveinsightsoutwardly.Buttheyinpolarityof their root, solarplexus, throatandcrownchakrasmeans that issuesrelatingtosecurity,power,communicationandintellectarenaturallyexpressedandfocusedmoreinwardly.Foreveryone, theever-presentchildenergiesare thecreativeconduitfor the

combinationofthesetwocomplementarypolaritiesofyinandyang.Ultimately,the expansion of our awareness enables us to achieve suchbalance and dancewith its appropriate manifestation – not to attempt to homogenize genderexpression but to offer ourselves a much richer symphony of experience andspiritualempowerment.

ImbalancetobalanceWe’llnowrevieweachchakrainturntounderstanditsperspectiveandhowitsenergiesareexpressedbothinimbalancedandbalancedforms.Aswemoveupthe chakras and fully awaken and balance the energies of each, we take aquantum leap in our awareness of the Cosmos, for each represents aprogressivelyhighernoteoftheenergiesofouregoconsciousness.Imbalancesinthechakras,asweshallsee,showupinmanydifferentguises–

but ultimately all of them are about whether we are expressing ourselvesauthenticallyandbeingtruetoourselves.Whenweare,weareintheflowoflifeand inharmonywith theCosmos,whateverouroutercircumstances.Westandstraight, neither leaning forwards in our eagerness to prove who we are norleaningbackwards, afraid to showourselves and fearful of sharingouruniquegifts with the world. On page 247 you’ll find a simple exercise to help youunderstand and clear energy imbalances and blockages in each of the sevenchakras.Thefirstthreechakras–root,sacralandsolarplexus–areprimarilyaboutus

asindividuals.Therootisabout‘findingourfeet’inlife,thesacralisabouthowwe gain pleasure and the solar plexus relates to our manifestation of power,purposeandcreativity.

Therootchakra

Therootchakraislocatedatthebaseofourtailboneorcoccyx.Itsawarenessisinstinctual and its aim is to survive. Its sole responsibility is to itself and thesustainingofitsownphysicalneedsofshelterandfood.Within the perspective of our ego-self, this chakra is the root bywhichwe

connectwith theEarth.Likea tree, ifour rootsare shallow, thestormsof lifewill uproot us, but if our roots are strong and deep, we are supported andnourished.Tofeelbalancedonthislevel,weneedtophysicallybewhereweneedtobe.

Eachofushasourownauthenticneedsanditisimportantthatwedifferentiatethem from our desires. If our real need is to live in rural surroundings, thehubbubofalargecitywilldepleteanddrainourenergies.Butifwhatwetrulyneed is to live in such an urban setting, whilst every one of us needs aconnectionwithNatureinsomeway,aruralidyllwillnotsustainandnurtureus.Toensurethattheneedsofourrootchakraaremetrequiresustobeastruthful

aswecanbewithourselves.Tobalancetheentiretyofourlivesasbestwecan,wemaybepreparedtocompromisetosomedegreewithregardto thespecificaspects.Buteverycompromise thatdeniesourauthenticneeds takesusoutofbalancewithourselvestosomedegree.

FacingourinnerfearsThe choice to be where we know we truly need to be will almost certainlyrequire us to face our inner fears to some degree or other. We may as welladdress this issue now, because it will continue to arise as we consider eachchakrainturn.Fearisahealthyemotionwhenitalertsustodanger.However,ifitbecomes

chronic at every appearance of change or uncertainty and thus effectively is acontinuingwayofbeing,thenitismostdefinitelynothealthy.Aswecontinueourjourneytowholeness,fearswillalmostcertainlycomeup.

And as they do, their concerns need to be understood and appropriatelyhonoured.Butwemustacknowledge thatat somestageour inner journeywillinevitably take us into the unknown.At that point, as at any timewhen suchuncertaintymayarise, all Iwouldencourageyou todo is tohear thevoiceofyourheart.Indeed,theveryword‘courage’resonateswiththeFrenchwordforheart–coeur–andsowhenweembodycourageitisourheartthatspursuson.Andverysoon,we’llbesharingawayoflisteningtothewisdomofthevoice

ofthe8thchakraoftheuniversalheartandourownhighestguidance.

Butlet’snowreturntotherootchakra.

CultivatingrootsTherootchakra’sfocusisfullyonusandnooneelse.Thereforeunlessitsneedsaremet and its energies balancedwe’ll find that survival issues dominate ourexperiences.Unlessourneedforsecurityissatisfied,itisunlikelythatwewillbe able to focus on much else in life. So understanding what makes us feelsecureiscrucialtobalancingtherootchakra’senergies.Thisisespeciallytrueifitseemstousthatweneverhaveenough,despitehavingsufficientresourcestosustainourneeds.Cultivating rootswherewe need to be and in thewayswe need to be and

beginning to perceive and appreciate the inter-relationship of all life are otherimportant steps in disengaging from the habitual fears of an imbalanced rootchakra. If we are not able to do this, we may find our awareness remainingprimarilyat theroot level,withourprevailingemotionbeing isolationandoursolefocusbeingonmaterialgain.

Thesacralchakra

The second, sacral chakra is located in the area of our pelvis and its primaryenergetic drive is the attainment of pleasure as a basis for our physicalrelationshipswiththeworld.Balancing the energies of this chakra relates to the development of our

personal values and discernment as to what we will or won’t do to accesspleasure.Byenjoyinganexperienceinthemomentandallowingitspleasuretoflowthroughusratherthanhangingontoit,weareabletoavoidthedangerthatthequestforsuchexperiencecanbecomeitsownpleasure.Otherwise,wemayentrapourselvestotheextentthatassoonassomeoneorsomethingisattainableorattained,itceasestoofferuspleasureandourquestgoeson.Whensuchanimbalance continues, it is ever-more difficult to find fulfilment and wemakeever-greater attempts to satisfy a need that cannot be fulfilled. This is calledaddiction.Imbalancesatthislevelmay,ifnotcurtailed,leadtoneedingincreasingdoses

ofwhateverweareaddictedtoinordertoovercomeourfeelingsofemptinessordissatisfaction.Suchaspiralmayinvolveadeepfearofthelossofourpleasures.Inrelationshipsthiscanengenderobsessivebehaviour,jealousyandaneediness

thatisunabletobesalved.Also,whenwe’reenergeticallyimbalancedat this level,wemaycontinually

compare ourselves with others and in so doing suffer an ongoing feeling ofinadequacy.Thefirststeptobalancingthesacralchakraistoseelifeasjoyfullyabundant

ratherthanbereftandscarce.Ratherthandesiringwhatwedon’thave,weneedtodelightinwhatwedohave.Suchcontentmentisnotcomplacency;bybeingwillingtoseetheabundanceinourlifeasitis,thecosmicprincipleofresonanceisenabledtoattractever-moreabundancetous.Tobebalanced,eachchakraalsorequiresthebalanceoftheonebelowit.It’s

like trying to build a house of cards – the security of the upper levels isdependent on the stability of those below. So for the energies of our sacralchakratobefullybalanced,wemustresolveanyissuesrelatingtothoseofourrootchakratoo.

Thesolarplexuschakra

Thesolarplexuschakraislocatedexactlywhereitsnamesuggests,atoursolarplexus,around theareaofournavel.This is thepowercentreof thebodyandmediatestheenergiesrelatingtoourwill,purposeandcreativity.Withtheenergiesofthischakraweessentiallyassertwhowearetothewider

world. Under-use of this chakramay result in an inability to assert ourselveswhenappropriateorfeelingsofguiltwhenwedoso.Alternatively,overuseleadstousseekingtoimposeourwillratherthanexpressingourinnatepower.In asserting who we are in a balanced way, we also need to define our

boundaries without deliberately or inadvertently raising barriers against theoutsideworld.Suchdiscernmentisessentialtoourprogressiveself-mastery.

EmpowermentThefundamentalprinciplesandvaluesbywhichweleadourlifeareengenderedinthethreelowerchakrasandbalancingtheenergyofthesolarplexuschakraiscrucialtoembodyingtheirintegrity.Onaprimarybasis,thelowerthreechakrasrelatetosecurity,sexandpower.

When their energies are balanced within us, they are able to support theincreasingawarenessofthehigherchakras.Hereasever,weneedtoremindourselvesthatenergyleadseventsandnotthe

other way around. So the first step in resolving imbalances in these and allchakrasisourintentiontodoso.The focus of our intention and the level of awareness of our purpose as

mediatedbythesolarplexuschakracanresultineitherego-basedpower–whatIcall‘me-powerment’–orthehigherpurposeofourempowermentasembodiedin our service to others. Such empowerment enables us to resolve conflictthrough compassion, change competition into cooperation and transform thelimitationsofcontrolintothefreedomofco-creation.

Theheartchakra

Thefourthchakraislocatedatthelevelofourheart.Asthecentralchakraofourpersonality energy field, poised betweenHeaven andEarth, it is here that theprocessofintegratingourspiritualawarenessandphysicalexperiencebegins.Whilst the role of our ego-mind is to express our individuality through

apparentseparation,theroleofourheartistoremindusofourultimateat-one-ment.Thatiswhywhenwecloseourheartsdownweareenteringintoaprisonofourownmaking.Conversely,bylettingdownourdefences,weenablelifetoflowthroughus.

OurapparentvulnerabilityisinactualityourgreateststrengthasweawakentotheknowingthatloveisthegreatestpowerintheCosmos.Asigntousthatourheartisawakenedandbalancedisourabilitytobothgive

andreceivefreelyandjoyously.Foroften,theenergyofanawakenedheartmaynonethelessbeimbalancedandwemayfindthatwhilstwelovetogivetoothers,wefinditdifficulttoreceiveinreturn.However,byrecognizingthatbydoingsowe deprive others of their joy in giving, we can gracefully acknowledge andaccepttheirgiftsofloveandsoregainbalancewithinourselves.‘Love’ is an oft-misused word. We use it to clothe feelings from lust to

compassion.Unlessthelowerthreechakrasarebalanced,thelovewefeelinourheartswillbeconditionaland fundamentallyaboutsecurity, sexorpower.Ourrelationships will be needy and co-dependent, rather than empowered andinterdependent.Aninterdependentlylovingrelationshiphasbeenlikenedtotwotreesgrowing

sidebyside.NeithershadingeachotherfromtheSunandrainnordenyingeachotherthenutrientsoftheEarth,theirbranchesandrootsareabletoreceivethefullnourishmentofSource,whichtheyarethenabletoshareequallywitheachother.

Toliveintheheartalsorequiresustolovesomeoneforwhotheyareratherthanwhowewouldlikethemtobeorwhowethinkwecanmaketheminto–whether or not that iswho theywouldwish to be.While lovingly supportingtheirintentionandeffortstobewhotheywishtobe,wealsoneedtorecognizethatitisultimatelytheirjourneyandnotours–theymustwalkitspath,notus.Suchloveisunconditional–neitherconditionedbytheresponseoftheother

personnorjudgementalofthem.Adeepdilemma,however,oftenfacesusasweexpandourawareness to sucha level.Forwhenwe loveunconditionallydoesthatmean thatwemust accept the dysfunctional behaviour of our nearest anddearest?Mypersonalperspectiveisthatitdoesn’t.Whatever levelof awarenessweare at,we inherently resonate at that level.

Whilstultimatelywethusattractpeopleandcircumstancesofthesamelevelasourselves, our integrated consciousness goesonwith its co-creative search forthe abundance of experiences. So we will continue to encounter people andsituations at all levels of awareness.But aswe explore the nature of the nextchakra,wewillseethatbyconnectingwithpeopleandeventswithanawakenedandbalancedheartchakra,ourlovingtruthunfailinglyservesourownandtheirhighestpurposes.

Thethroatchakra

Thefifthchakra is locatedat the throatandweawaken itsenergiesbyfindingour authentic voice and expressing our creativity inwhateverway is uniquelyrightforus.Thecommunicationof such spirituallybasedcreativity isnot limited toour

spokenvoicebutembodiestheentiretyofourpersonalmeansofself-expression.When our throat chakra is awakened and balanced, such creativity isinspirational.Itflowsthroughusfromourhigher-selfandisbeyondthecontrolofourconsciousmind.ThekeytoaligningandharmonizingwithitisinessencetoloseourselvesinitsflowbybeingwhollypresentintheNow.An awakened throat chakra can, however, also be imbalanced if the lower

chakra energies remain so.Wewill then find ourselves expressing our ‘truth’inappropriately–inanger,frustrationoravarietyofotherwaysthatreflectthoselower imbalances.But theauthenticityofour truevoice is alwaysheardwhenwespeakfromanawakenedandbalancedheart.Anditisthenthatwhateverwearedoingandsayingislovinglytrueandabletoreachothersatthatlevel.

Thethirdeyechakra

Theawakeningofthesixthchakra,thethirdeye,whichislocatedbetweenandjustabovethelevelofourphysicaleyes,offersusaninner-sightintoourselvesandintotheDivine.Mother Teresa, when once asked how she could bring herself to wash the

destitutebeggarsofCalcutta,repliedthatshesawthat theywereall‘Godwithdirtyfaces’.The thirdeyechakra,as itsnamesuggests,offersus the intuition–or inner

tuition–ofourinnervision.Again, any imbalances in the energies of our lower chakras will be re-

encountered asweawakenour third eye.For thenour ego-mindwill perceiveouremerginginsightsasmerelyimaginationanditsdoubtswillattempttopullour awareness back to a materialistic world-view where only the physical is‘real’. Our heart-centred intuition, however, knows better and as we allowourselves tohearandactively listen to itsguidance, itwill steerusever-safelyonward.Conversely, as the third eye chakra continues to awaken, if we ignore the

advice of our intuition, we will invariably experience consequences whoseseverity – and I speak from personal and rueful experience – is in directrelationshiptothelevelofourawakening.Beingpro-activeratherthanmerelyreactivewithourintuitivesenseopensup

the magic of synchronicity. When we begin to perceive the interconnectedthreadsof circumstances andevents andallowourselves tobeguidedby theirflow,wedanceinharmonywiththeDivine.Webegintorealizetherealitythatnothing happens by chance and we become ever more aware that there is aninherentpurposethatunderliesandguidestheflowoflife,eventhoughwemaynotunderstanditsreasoning.Awakening and balancing the energies of the third eye chakra have been

understood for many millennia as a major step on the spiritual path totranscendence. But here I would stress that such awareness is ultimately toenableustoembodythewholenessofwhowereallyarethroughthemiracleofhumanlifeandnottoavoidorescapeitscircumstancesandchallenges.

Thecrownchakra

As we awaken the energies of the crown chakra we are able to perceive theuniverse as an interconnected conscious whole and ourselves as both a

microcosmandtheentiretyofitsholographicnature.With the balanced opening of our crown chakra, we have arrived at the

thresholdbetweenbeingaloneandbeingable toperceiveourall-onenesswiththeCosmos.Whenwestepoverthatthreshold,webegintodirectlyexperiencehowtheOneisexpressedthroughthediversityofthemany.Thebalancedenergiesofourcrownchakraenableustodiscerntheworldas

innatelysacredandsuffusedbydivinepresence.Wealsocometoknowthatwetrulyareadropletofthecosmicocean.Sohowcouldwenothavedirectaccesstoourowndivinity?

Thealtermajorchakra

Ancient traditionreferstothethirdeyeandcrownchakrasasofferingusinnerand outermental views of theworld respectively.But lesswell known is thathighinitiateswerealsoable toaccess thesynthesisof theseviewsandtherebyrealize thatour innerandouterperceptionsare reflectionsofeachother.Theirability to connect with such transcendental realities was achieved through afurtherchakraatthebaseoftheskull,termedthealtermajorchakra.As our individual and collective awareness is expanding, this chakra is

becomingofcrucialenergeticsignificance.Forbyaccessingandbalancing theenergies of the alter major chakra with those of our heart and solar plexuschakras,wearenowabletoraiseourvibrationtoperceiveandactivatethe8thchakraoftheuniversalheart.

Embodycosmicharmony

Theenergiesandawarenessofourlowerchakrasareabouttakingresponsibilityfor our conscious choices and their implications.Aswe awaken the heart andhigherchakras,weprogressivelyopenuptoandalignwiththeawarenessofourhigher-self.Our willingness to embody such alignment has been called surrender. And

indeeditis,asweletgoofourego-selfrelianceandletGodguideusonwards.Butthisisnotasacrificeofwhowethinkweare–itisre-memberingwhowereallyare.

In the next chapter we’ll go on to discuss archetypal, transpersonal andcollective consciousness and how these higher levels of awareness are

fundamentalaspectsofourpsyche.

CHAPTER6

Breatheout…

Wehave just explored the nature of our egoic or personality-based self. Let’snowtakeanout-breathintothevastmatrixofconsciousnesstowhichwehaveaccess.Goingbeyond theego-self to experience suchexpanded statesof awareness

hasbeenthegoalofspiritualseekersfromtimeimmemorial.Fromthemistsofprehistory onwardwe have had the potential to access such states, andmind-altering substances and psycho-spiritual techniques have beenway-showers tothese realms. But whilst mystics and initiates throughout history have soughttheseextraordinarystatesofbeing,forthegreatmajorityofpeoplethemundanerealitiesofordinarylifehaveprevailed.Nolonger.Individuallyandcollectively,wearenow–everyoneofus–beginningtobe

abletoaccesshigherlevelsofawareness.Andcrucially,wearebecomingabletodo so without recourse to the mind-altering substances and psycho-spiritualmeansofourforebears.Equally, over the past two millennia, religious institutions have exercised

spiritual authority. Gurus or priests, whether benevolent or malevolent, havebeenperceivedastheprivilegedconduitsofSpirit.Nolonger.Inembodyingtheenergiesofthe8thchakra,eachoneofuscannowempower

ourownspiritualityandaccessthewholenessofwhowereallyare.Whilstwe can continue towalk alongside our fellow travellers inwhatever

spiritualtraditionwechoose,wearealsoabletotreadtheinnerpaththatisoursalone–andyetleadstoourcommondestination.

Thecollectiveunconscious

Fromhis research into altered states of consciousness, psychologistCarl Jungidentifiedavastgroupawarenesstowhichweallhaveaccess.Hecalledit the‘collectiveunconscious’andperceivedittobethearchiveofourentireculturalandhistoricalheritage.Jung also identified primeval creative principles he termed ‘archetypes’,

whose essences pervade the collective unconscious and which therefore findexpressioninbothourindividuallivesandinhumanityasawhole.Sucharchetypesmakeupthepantheonsofdeitiestheworldover.Whilstwe

may perceive them in ways that are culturally specific, their innate nature isgenericandtheirguidanceandpresencearecommontousall.Aswe expand our awareness beyond our ego-self,we access the collective

unconsciousandtherealmsofarchetypalbeings.Indoingso,webeginnotonlyto perceive but also to directly experience that the boundaries between ourpsycheandtheCosmosareessentiallyarbitrary.In such states of awareness we are able not only to access knowledge

throughout space and timebut to experienceon anonlocal basis that journeysbeyond theworldofmanifestation.Wemayobtain information thatappears tobememories of other lives, or wemay identify with other beings – animals,trees, mountains and rivers – and become intimately aware that they too aresentient.As Jung also discovered, such states are able to offer new and accurate

informationthatcannotbederivedbythemeanshithertoopentoourego-basedmind. For example, when the shamanic healers of the Amazon Basin, thegreatestrepositoryofmedicinalplantsonEarth,wereaskedbyresearchershowtheyhadgained theirencyclopaedicknowledgeof thepropertiesof theplants,they replied, ‘The plants told us.’ Anthropologists, who have for generationsbrought a materialistic world-view to their research, are now beginning todiscover for themselvessuchmetaphysicalknowledgebyundergoing thesamevisionquestsastheprimarypeopleswhoseculturestheyarestudying.What is clear from all the accounts of such experiences is that whilst the

archetypesthemselvesarebridgestotheultimateSourceofallcreation,theyarenottheSourceitself.MistakingthemfortheSourcehasbeenthehistoricalpathtoidolatry,divisionanddisempowerment.ButunderstandingthemasarealpartofanalmostinfiniteholographicconsciousnessenablesallculturallimitationstobetranscendedandagreaterawarenessofboththeCosmosandourplacewithinittobeattained.Ultimately, at the very frontier of human perception, there is a level of

awarenessthatembracesallpolarities.Everyonewhohasdirectlyexperienceditacknowledgesthatitisbeyondthepoweroflanguagetodescribe–anineffablefieldofpuremind,unconditionalloveandcreativepower.Sublimemusicallowsusaclearerglimpseofitthanwords,howeverpoetic.ThesightofNatureinherfullglorygiftsusanother.Butthelanguagethatresonatesatever-higherlevelsofawareness is thatof love–not thewords thatseektodescribe love,but theinnerfeelingsthatleavenodoubtastoitsreality.Andnotthefeelingsthatseektojudgeorconditionlove,butthefeelingsthatsetitfree.As our awareness continues to expand, we may choose to merge into this

consciousness,towitnessitinblissfulaweortoembraceitastheBelovedofourheart,mindandwill.

Shamans,geomancersandmystics

The world over, metaphysical traditions have understood that our feelings,thoughts and sensory awareness aremediated through the three centres of ourmind, heart and will. In turn these have been correlated with the archetypalgenderassociationsofmale,femaleandchild.Different cultures at different times have emphasized these three different

aspectsofourhumanexperienceinseekingtoexplaintheworldandourpurposeonEarth.Toscientistsandgeomancers,bothancientandmodern,thewayofthemindhasopenedupavaststorehouseofcosmicknowledge.Overthelastthreecenturies, we have collectivelywalked this path and in doing so have delvedfurtherintothemysteriesofthephysicalworldthaneverbefore.Butbecausetheroleof themind is to individualizeourperception, thepricewehavepaid forsuchoutersighthasbeentheprogressiveblindnessofourinner-sight.Toindigenousshamans,thepathtounderstandingistheheart-centredwayof

directexperienceandtheinnatefeelingofbeingathreadinavastwebof life.Forfollowersofthispath,theentireCosmosisaliveandalllifeishonouredandperceived through relationship. This is the way of deep ecology, of walkinglightly upon the Earth and of cooperating with, rather than fighting, cosmiccycles.Thethirdway,thewayofthewill,hasbeentroddenbythemysticsofmany

traditions,forwhomintuitiverevelationsrepletewithmiracleshaveformedthepathtoglimpsingthecreativepurposeoftheCosmos.These three paths have the same ultimate destination and are not mutually

exclusive. Indeed, the integration of our mind, heart and will is essential to

accessingtheportalofthe8thchakraandcontinuingourjourneytowholeness.

Archetypalnumbers

Manywisdomtraditionsteachthatthewholenessofthehumansoulisembodiedbyamatrixof consciousnesscomprisingan integrated12-into-13harmonicoffundamentalenergies.Suchteachingsrelyontheuseofsymbolandmetaphortodepictthisunderstanding.Andsothroughoutthearchetypallanguageofmyth,inthejourneyofthesolar–orsoular–hero,theinnerpilgrimagetowholeness,werepeatedly encounter these archetypal numbers. Twelve companion deitiessurroundedOsiris, the ancientEgyptiangodof regeneration.Twelve followersaccompaniedthearchetypalheroOdysseus,whoselongjourneyhomeaftertheTrojanWar was recounted by Homer. Hercules the Greek hero undertook 12labourstocompletehismissionandattainfreedom.AndJesus,whosebirthwecelebrateatthewintersolstice–therebirthoftheSun–had12disciples.This interweaving of 12 around one is reflected in the astronomical and

astrological cycles of the zodiac and the cosmic dance of the Sun,Moon andEarth. Each year the Sun completes a cycle against the background of the 12constellations of the zodiac. And each year theMoon, as it circles the Earth,tracesout12siderealmonthsasmeasuredagainstthestellarbackgroundand13fullMoonsorlunations.The same harmonic is embeddedwithin themusical notes of the chromatic

scale,where,aswehaveseen,thethirteenthnotebothcompletesanoctave–bydoubling the frequencyof the firstnote–andbegins thenext.To the initiatedmusicians of ancientGreece the innate geometrical relationships embodied bythechromaticscalereflectedcosmicprinciplesofevolutionandtheembodimentofunityconsciousness.The ancient geometers depicted Spirit as a perfect sphere. To them the

embodimentofSpirit inmatterwasfurther revealedby thegreatestnumberofspheres able to be packed around a central sphere of the same size, being 12aroundone.Itwastheseintuitiveinsightswhichreconciledsomanyancientculturesina

commonperception.

Ordinaryandextraordinary

The journey of re-membrance takes us to levels of awareness far beyond theillusory constraints of our personal self. The attainment of such states has

generallybeenperceivedas the culminationof a lifetimeofdevoutdedicationand hitherto been viewed as only available to those whowould renounce theeverydayworld.Indeed,formanyspiritualtraditions,thephysicalworld,byitsverynature,hasbeenseenasbeing‘fallen’and‘sinful’andsuchtraditionshaveconsidered that only by removing themselves from the ‘temptations’ of thatworldcouldseekersdiscovertheirhigherspiritualselves.Whilstunderstandingthethinkingfromwhichsuchviewsderive,Ipersonally

feelthatatthistimeourhighestpurposeinbeinghereinphysicalincarnationisto embody the spiritual wholeness of who we really are through our humanexperience.Someyears ago, on a beautifulmorning as Iwalked inAvebury’ssacredlandscape,Ireceivedthefollowingclairaudientmessage:

Inthecommonalityofourhumanity,weareallordinary.Inthecommonalityofourdivinity,weareallextraordinary.

Irealizedthenthatweareheretoexpressourcosmicnatureinall itsordinaryandextraordinarysplendour–toembodythedivineinthemundaneandtoseethatdivinityisthenaturalwayoftheworld.

Thetidesofhistory

Overtheaeonsof timethathaveunfoldedsincethebeginningof theuniverse,theevolutionofcomplexityhasenabledever-greater levelsofawareness tobeindividuallyandcollectivelyexperiencedonthephysicalplane.Andduringthecosmic blink of time which represents the collective human story, we havecontinually sought deeper understanding of our place in the Cosmos andcommunionwithitshigherrealities.Likethegreattidesoftheocean,pulledtoandfrointhralltotheMoon,the

tides of human history have ebbed and flowed.Andwe are all surfers on thewaves that are thecircumstancesofour individual andcollective lives as theyrise,peakandfallaway.WeeachhaveourdestinedroleintheirinterplayoflightandshadowandweareallherenowatthismomentoustimetoplayourpartinwhathasbeencalledbymanymysticsaShiftofAges.

Stretchedtobreakingpoint

Wenowknow that evolution is characterizedby slow trends interspersedwithrevolutionaryleaps.Approximately50,000yearsago,fullymodernhumansfirstappeared in the fossil record. Since then, whilst our cognitive abilities have

hardly changed at all, we have individually and collectively explored the fullgamutofpolarity-basedawareness.Forthefirst40,000yearsofthejourneyofourspecies,theavailableevidence

indicatesthatweunderstoodthatwewerespiritualbeingsundergoingaphysicalexperience and embraced a shamanic world-view like those of contemporaryhunter-gatherers.Shamaniccommunitiessee themselvesaspartofagreatwebof lifewithinwhosecyclesofbirth-life-deathand rebirth they tread lightlyonthelivingEarth,inharmonywiththeirfellowcreatures.Butoverthelast10millennia,newworld-viewsarosethatwerecharacterized

byadifferentrelationshipwiththeEarthandthewiderCosmos.Withtheadventof farming and the domestication of animals, our relationshipwith the naturalworldunderwentarevolution.NolongerwashumanityatthemercyofNature.Nowwebegan to view theworld aroundus as somethingwe could tame andcontrol. From perceiving ourselves as an intrinsic but not particularlyadvantagedthreadinlife’sgreatweb,webegantoseeourselvesasprogressivelygaining dominion over that web. And from seeing the Earth as intrinsicallysacred,webegantoperceiveourselvesasbeingatthecentreoftheCosmos.Overthecenturies, thedifferentculturesthatsoughtever-greaterdomination

over the Earth and her children compromised and eventually destroyed ourintimacy with both her and the Cosmos. As we explored our separation andnewlydiscoveredindividuality,webegantofeelandevenrevelintheperceptionthatwewerealone.Butastheschismgreweverlargerwebegantofeellonely.Forthelast300years,materialisticsciencehassoughttoconvinceusthatthe

physical world is without purpose and that it is the only reality. In its mostfundamentalistform,sciencehasalsomaintainedthatwearesolelytherandomoutcomeofevolutionaryprocesseswheretheonlymotivationissurvival.Thusourcollectiveexplorationofpolarityperceptionhas, likeanelasticband,beenstretchedtobreakingpoint.

Dangerandopportunity

The Chinese symbol for ‘crisis’ juxtaposes the glyphs for ‘danger’ and‘opportunity’.Andintheperfectcosmictimingofthismoment,asweappeartostandontheedgeofanabyss,wearealsoexpandingourawarenesstogaintheunderstandingofhowwemayleapthechasmthatliesbeforeus.Untilnow, toexplore thefullnessofpolarity-basedperceptionwehave, like

all actors, needed to convince ourselves of the reality of the play we are

enacting.Now,however, for the first time inhumanhistory,wearepersonallyandcollectivelyable tobalanceand transcend the limitationsofpolarity-basedawareness.Wearenowabletoembodyunityconsciousness,asdidtheavatarswhohavebeenourspiritualway-showersovertheages.Andweareabletodosowithoutgivingawayourpersonalempowermenttoanyintermediary.As spiritual beings undergoing a physical experience, we are ready to

undertakeagreaterchallengeand toembraceagreateropportunity.At lastweare able to embody the energies and awareness of the 8th chakra and thuscomplete the fundamental octave of awareness and consciously reclaim thewholenessofoursoul.

Transpersonalchakras

Beyond the seven-fold chakra system of our personality are five highertranspersonal chakras. At ever-higher vibrational levels of holographicperceptiontheycompletethe12-foldenergyfieldandattainthethirteenthwholeoftheawarenessofunityconsciousness.

The8thchakraThe 8th chakra of the universal heart is the bridge between our ego-basedperception and our higher awareness. On a collective level, we are nowexperiencing our resonance with this chakra as an increasingly globalcompassion. Most people individually feel its presence as an energy centrepositionedbetweenthepersonalheartandthroatchakras.Energetically,the8thchakramaybeperceivedasbringingtogetherthetrinity

energiesofourmind,heartandwillasexpressedthroughouraltermajor,heartandsolarplexuschakras.Inessencethetriadicnatureoftheuniversalheartthuscreates an energetic portal, balancing and raising our awareness to atranspersonallevel.Unconditional love is the vibration of this level of perception and as we

reverberate with its essence we gain a new understanding of the archetypalconsciousnessthatguidesourhumanexperience.

TheninthchakraTheninthchakraislocatedapproximatelyahand’slengthbeneathourfeet.The

energies of this so-called ‘earthstar’ chakra offer us a much more profoundconnection with the Earth than does our personal root chakra. By connectingwith the Earth through the earthstar chakra, we are able to commune at evermoreprofoundlevelswiththedevicandelementalrealmsofthelivingEarth.

ThetenthchakraThetenthchakraislocatedenergeticallyaboutahand’sbreadthaboveourheadandconnectsuswiththematrixofthegroupsoulthatistheconsciousnessofourentireSolar–orSoular–System.Throughtheexperienceofthesehigherchakras,peoplearebeginningtoheal

the traumas of their soul journeys and to re-member their soul identity atterrestrial,intra-terrestrialandextra-terrestriallevels.

TheeleventhchakraThe eleventh chakra, approximately 18 inches above the crown of our head,connectsusatgalacticlevelsofawareness.As we expand our perception to incorporate the consciousness of these

transpersonal chakras we are able to access the wisdom and guidance of themulti-dimensional realms of the Cosmos and our own highest awareness andintuitiveguidance.Atthismomentofglobalcrisis,suchhigherwisdommayindeedofferusthe

keystoafutureinwhichweareconsciouslyinharmonywiththeCosmosandreadytobecomethemasternavigatorsofourindividualandcollectivedestinies.

ThetwelfthchakraThetwelfthchakra,whichislocated36inchesaboveourhead,connectsuswiththe unity consciousness of the entire Cosmos and offers us the ultimate re-memberingofwhowereallyare.For,asthe12togetherbecomethetransformationalthirteenth,theunityofthe

Onewhichtranscendsandgivesbirthtoallrelativityconsciousnessisrealized.

Oursoulpurpose

The8thchakraoftheuniversalheartcompletestheoctaveofperceptionthatis

ourpersonality-basedconsciousnessandistheportaltoourhighertranspersonalawareness.In earlier chapters we’ve seen the fundamental importance of three-in-one

principlesandhowtheircombinedenergiesresolvethetensionsthatare innatein the expression of polarity.Within the consciousness of our ego-self, on anenergeticlevel,ourmind,heartandwillembodythiscosmictrinity.Itisthroughour inner thoughts and feelings and our interactions with the outer world asmediatedbyourwillthatweexperiencewhatitmeanstobehuman.Also, as we have seen, each of our seven personality-based chakras

incorporates male, female and child energies, and these active, passive andneutral(orcreative)principlesarealsotermed,respectively,thepingala,idaandshushumnaintheVedictradition.At a higher level of the cosmic hologram, our mind, heart and will also

incorporate these three-in-one cosmic principles. Forwhetherwewere born aman or a woman, our feelings are essentially female, or passive, and ourthoughtsmale,oractive,andourwillexpressedthroughthecreativeenergiesofthecosmic‘child’.Whentheseareinbalance,theenergiesofthe8thchakracanbeaccessed.If,

however, either the male or female energies become dominant, their creativeexpressionthroughthewillbecomesimbalanced.Over the last twomillennia,ourcollectivepsychehasbeencharacterizedby

theprogressivedominanceof themind.Andwhetherornotwearephysicallymaleorfemale,wehavecollectivelydenigratedthepoweroftheheart.Ibelievethatwehaveextendedsuchenergeticimbalanceasfarasourcollectivepsychehas agreed to do so and the redressing of this imbalance is intrinsic to ouropeningtheportalofthe8thchakraoftheuniversalheart.Inaccessingtheuniversalheart,wetranscendthelimitationsofourego-based

awarenessandrealizethemulti-dimensionalbeingswereallyare.Wealsobegintocomprehendthepurposeofoursoul.

Todoso,wenowneedtoconsiderhowourexpandingawarenessresonateswiththematricesofconsciousness,firstoftheEarthandthenofourSolar–orSoular–System.Thoughthecrisesofthesetimesembodygreatrisksanddangers,weare also offering ourselves an incredible opportunity to re-establish ourrelationshipwiththeseinnateaspectsofthecosmichologram.

CHAPTER7

ThelivingEarth

TheEarthisalivingbeing.Sheisnotapassivebackdroptoourlives.Norissheanenemytobesubduedandovercome.Nor issheareplaceableproduct tobeabused and abandoned. Yet we treat her with such ignorance, aggression anddisdain.Despiteallthis,shecontinuestonurtureus–butforhowmuchlonger?NotonlyistheEarththeonlyhomewehave,sheistheonlyhomeavailableto

usfortheforeseeablefuture.Andasweshallsee,sheisourevolutionarypartnerintheShiftofconsciousnessthatisnowimminent.Someofusspeakof‘savingtheplanet’,whilstothersignoreorareoblivious

tosuchpleas.TherealityisthatitisnottheEarthwhoneedssaving;itisus.Forultimately she will survive whatever puny abuse we shower upon her andwhateverchangessheiscurrentlyundergoing.We,however,willnot.Atanexponentialrate,wearepoisoninganddestroyingtheenvironmentthat

has abundantly sustained us for hundreds of millennia. And, like a virus thatspreads and destroys its host, we are collectively rushing heedless towardsdisaster–disasterthatisavoidable.Theimmenseresourcesspentonso-called‘defence’arenodefenceagainstthe

greatestthreatweactuallyface.Ifafractionoftheglobalenergyandresourcesspent on the development and use of weapons were refocused on thedevelopment of harmonious technologies and industries in partnership and co-operationwiththeEarth–andwitheachother–wemightstillprevail.Butthisasksmoreofusthanachangeofmind–italsoasksforachangeofheartandofwill.Anditrequiresanexpansionofourawareness.Whilst there is research pioneering such harmonious technologies, it is

minusculecomparedtothenowurgentneed.MybookTheWavediscussessuchdevelopmentsandpossibleenvironmentalsolutionsinmoredetail,butherelet’sconsider the consciousness andbiofield ofGaia, as the ancientGreeks termedtheSpiritoftheEarth.Foraswedoso,wecanbegintoperceiveotherwaysin

whichwecanreconnectwithher,listentoherdeepwisdomandlearntoliveinharmonywithher.

Fromdominationtostewardship

In seeking domination rather than stewardship of the resources of the livingEarth,wehave in ignorance and carelessnessbroken the strandsofherGaia’sway of life. And until recently science has brought an overwhelminglyreductionistandmaterialisticmindsettoitsunderstandingofher.Now,however,aswehaveseen,scienceisdiscoveringtheholographicnature

oftheuniverseatallscalesofexistence,fromtheminutestringswhichformthefundamental ‘notes’of energyandmatter to complex systems suchasweatherpatterns and earthquakes. Such holographic resonance is also being revealedthroughoutbiologicalsystems,fromindividualorganismstoecosystems,anditsharmonicpatternsunderlie theentiretyof evolution.Theancientperceptionoftheharmoniouspartnershipbetweenthenaturalenvironmentandbiologicallifeis being re-evaluated and progressively understood as being innately co-evolutionary.The pioneering work of James Lovelock, the first person since the ancient

Greeks to call theEarth by the nameGaia, has ushered in a new era of deepecologyandappreciationforherbiorhythms.Lovelockwasamongstthefirsttoidentifytheintricateandself-organizingmeansbywhichGaiahasbeenabletosustain biological life for nearly four billion years, despite at least fourcataclysmsthateachdestroyedoverthree-quartersofthelifethenextant.Hehasalsorecognizedtheconsequencesofourunconscionableabuseofourplanetaryhomeinhisnewbook,TheRevengeofGaia.

Honour

Weshareourecosystemswiththeanimalsandplantsthatfeedandthussustainus, and yet very fewof us honour these fellowbeings, let alone acknowledgethat theymayhave feelings.Naturalists,however, are increasinglydiscoveringthattheydo.Animalshavenowbeenfoundtoexperienceemotions,includingloveandthe

sufferingofgriefandfear.Indeed,howcouldtheynothaveindividualfeelings,at least at some level,when scientists are attempting to identify every humanemotionasanevolutionarydevelopment?Wehaveclosedourcollectiveeyestothesufferingofanimals.Advocatesof

industrialized farming methods have denied that such methods are cruel. Butthereisirrefutableproofthattheyare.Howthencanwecontinuetoacceptsuchbarbarism?Whilst there are sound ecological and personal health reasons for eating

substantiallylessmeatthanwedo,thechoicetoeatmeatisstillanappropriateone.Forthelast10millenniawehaveco-habitedwithdomesticatedanimalstoour mutual benefit. Only in the last half-century or so has our partnershipbecomesoprevalentlyabusive.Itdoesn’thavetobelikethis.Therearehumanemethodsofbreeding,rearing

andkillinganimalsforfood.Factoryfarming,however,isanabomination.Notonlydotheanimalssufferbutalso,aswehaveseen,suchenergeticpatternsareimprintedonacellularlevel.Soeveryanimalthatisrearedinmiseryanddiesinpainispassingonthoseemotionstoeveryonewhoeatstheirflesh.Considertheeffectonhumanhealth.

Plantsentience

In the 1960s researcher Cleve Backster demonstrated that plants were alsosentient and responded to pleasure and pain. Backster’s experiments showed,however,thattheplantswereimmediatelyresponsivetohisthoughtratherthantohissubsequentaction.Whenhemerelypretendedtoharmaplant,therewasno reaction at all – the plant appeared able to differentiate between real andpretend intent. Backster was able to detect a reaction even when a leaf wasdetachedfromtheplant.Theplantsalsoreactedtounformulatedthreats.Backsterdiscoveredthatifa

plantwas threatenedwithoverwhelmingdangerordamage it ‘playeddead’byretreatingintoadeepstateofdormancy.Lie-detectortestscarriedoutbyBacksteralsoshowedthatplantswereableto

tell truth from lies. Further experiments showed that plants hadmemory and,onceattuned toaparticularperson,wereable tomaintain that linkevenwhenthepersonwaselsewhere.Otherresearchers,suchasMarcelVogel,RandallFontesandRobertSwanson,

haveallvalidatedBackster’sfindingsthatplantshavealevelofsentience.Andbyattachingelectrodestosinglecells,amoeba,yeast,mouldcultures,biofilms,blood and sperm, Backster himself has been able to show that all exhibitreactionsakintothoseofplants.Such investigations are in their infancy and improved methodologies and

wider-ranging research are needed to verify the claims of the few researcherswhoareundertakingthiswork.Nonetheless,thepreliminaryworkthathasbeendone supports the anecdotes of all green-fingered gardeners who have thesensitivity and sense to communewith their plants.Suchgardeners alsoknowthatbycommunicatingwithaplant that is about tobepickedor cooked, theycanputitateaseandthusobviateanyenergyoffear.Intheweboflife,therolesthatmanyplantstakeareofinestimablebenefitto

us.All they seem toaskofus in return is thatwehonour theirgifts andoffergratitude,asdoprimarypeoplesworldwide.

Thetruepriceoffood

There-establishmentofarespectfulrelationshipwiththeanimalsandplantsthatshareourplanetaryhomeisnowurgent.ThefoodweeatintheWestmaylookgood,buthasbeenfound tohaveonlyaquarterof thenutritionalvalueof thefood of two generations ago.We are eating more than our ancestors and yetsuffering from malnutrition. This, together with our lifestyle choices to eatchemically treated andprocessed food repletewith toxins, is ensuring that notonlywebutalsoourchildrenareprogressivelybeingatbestmalnourishedandatworstpoisoned.The industrial methods perpetrated over the last two generations and the

exponentialincreaseinprocessedfoodshasledusnowtoalevelofsickness–obesity,allergies,diabetesandheartdisease–thatisunprecedented.Bynot including the ill-health-relatedcosts in the truepriceof food,weare

completely deluding ourselves that our food is cheap. If these ill-health costswere added to the prices for industrially grown and processed food and thencomparedtotheequivalentpricesfororganicandfreshfood,wewouldseethatthelatterareactuallycheaper.The market for processed foods has become so huge because we are also

busier than our parents and grandparentswere andwe perceive such foods as‘fast’andconvenient.Whilstsuperficiallytheyare,ifweweretoaddupthetimelostthroughillnessandtheshorteningofourlifespans,wewouldseehowblindwehavebeentothemonthsandyearstheyareactuallycostingus.Ifwewant to regainourhealth,wemust immediately reverse thisappalling

trend, not only for ourselves but also for our children.There is now an entiregenerationgrowingupthatneedstobere-educatedintheireatinghabitsiftheyarenot tohavea lifeexpectancy,and indeedqualityof life, that isworse than

ourown.Ourbodyisthegrail throughwhichourconsciousnessexploresthephysical

world.Ourembodimentofthehigherlevelsofawarenessthatarenowavailabletousrequiresustohaveaconcernforourphysicalwell-being.Andifwearetofulfilourdestiny,weneedtoseekhealthandbalanceofbothourinnerandouterenvironments.The outer environment, too, bears the damaging costs of our industrial

methods, not only in food production but throughout virtually all thetechnologies that have been developed to exploit the resources of Gaia. Tounderstand how we may reconcile and re-establish our relationship with theliving Earth, we now need to consider the ninth or earthstar chakra locatedbeneathourfeet.

Theearthstarchakra

InthelastchapterwediscussedhowourconsciousnessconnectswiththeEarthonapersonallevelthroughtherootchakra.Butaswebegintoaccessthehigherawarenessofourtranspersonalchakras,weneedtogroundthesemorepowerfulenergiesthroughtheearthstarratherthanourrootchakra.Thereasonforthisisthat,likeatree,thehigherourenergeticbranchesreach,thedeeperourenergeticrootsneedtobetokeepusgroundedandsecure.Connectingthroughtheearthstaralsohelpsustoaccesstheconsciousnessof

the living Earth and the wisdom of her multidimensional realms, as we willdiscussfurtherinthenextchapter.Onpage 251 there is a universal heart and earthstarmeditation to help you

connectwith,integrateandgroundthesetranspersonalaspectsofourselves.

Electromagneticbeings

We are all electromagnetic beings who interact not only within ourselves butalsowithourphysicalenvironmentprimarily through the resonanceofelectricandmagneticinfluences.Ourperceptionofrealityisnotonlydependentonthefive-foldsensoryinput

fromoursurroundings.Certainenvironmentalenergiescanbypassthesesensesandresonatedirectlywiththeenergysystemsofthebodytocreatealteredstatesofrealityinsomecaseseverybitas‘real’asnormalwakingconsciousness.Forexampledifferentlow-levelmagneticfieldstrengthsandfrequenciescan

slowdown,switchofforstimulatebrainactivity.Andover-stimulationbylow-

level electric currents has been associated with visual illusions andhallucinations.In the early 1980s it was discovered that the magnetic field of Gaia also

affectsourpinealglandandourinternalbiologicalclock.Whenweareshieldedfrom the Earth’s field our circadian rhythms are significantly desynchronized.Indeed,generatorsprovidingalow-levelmagneticfieldarenowroutinelyfittedinspacecrafttopreservethenaturalbiorhythmsofastronautsduringlongspaceflights.Itisnotjustourbrainthatisaffected.Thehumanbodyactsasatuningdevice

resonating powerfullywith particular frequencies of electromagnetic radiation.Inadditiontoourbrain,theethnoidsinus,thymus,liver,spleen,heart,lungsandthehaeminourbloodareparticularlysensitive.Pulsed low-frequency magnetic fields are currently used to treat bone

fractures, and magnets are applied to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis andrheumatism. Research and anecdotal evidence are also suggesting that naturalradioactivitycancausealteredperceptionsoftimeandinsmalldosesmayevenhavebeneficialhealingeffects.Mainstreammedicine now recognizes the diagnostic power of technologies

basedonelectromagneticfields.ThepowerofX-raystoseeinsidethebodyhasbeenutilized formanyyears.Now,whencombinedwithcomputerprocessing,CAT scans enable three-dimensional images of the tissues and organs of thebodytobecreated.MRIscans,whichutilizemagneticresonanceactingonthehydrogenatomsofthewaterwithinourbodies,alsocreateinternalimagesthatareincrediblydetailed.New techniques continue to emerge that recognize the power of light and

electromagnetic fields to heal by resonatingwith the body’s natural fields andpromotinghealth.Forinstance,over60percentofthepopulationintheUKareestimatedtosufferthepainanddisfigurementofcoldsorescausedbytheherpesvirus.Butbyenhancingthebody’simmunesystem,afocusedbeamofinfraredlight,withnoharmfulsideeffects, isnowbeingpioneered tocure thesores inlessthanhalfthetimeofanyotherremedy.

Schumannresonance

Gaia, too, is an electromagnetic being replete with multi-frequency energies.Manyofthese,bothwithintheEarth’scrustandthroughouttheatmosphere,areof very low frequencies that correspond to those of our brainwaves. In other

words,atlevelsbelowourwakingawareness,weareprofoundlyentrainedwiththeconsciousnessofGaia.In1952W.O.Schumanndiscoveredthatwithintheatmosphereandencircling

the Earth there is an ongoing harmonic pattern of standing waves creating acontinual energy field with a resonant frequency of 7.83 cycles per second.Termed‘Schumannresonance’,itsfundamentalfrequencycorrelatestothemid-rangeof the alpha rhythmsofourbrain– the rangeof frequencieswe exhibitwhen we are in a meditative state. And since Schumannmade his discovery,measurements of this innate environmental resonance have also revealedovertones of its basic frequency, all of which lie within the range of humanbrainwaves.

Magneticpolereversals

Gaia’selectromagneticfieldiscrucialtothebiologicallifeshesustains.Buthowthe fieldaroseandhow ithaspersisted fornearly fourbillionyears remainsamysterytoscience.WhilstgeologistsknowthatGaia’soutercore,ofmoltenironsuffusedbypreciousmineralssuchasplatinumandgold,actsasageo-dynamo,howitdoesthisisasyetunknown.Periodically,however, thepolarityofGaia’smagnetic field flips.Sowhat is

now themagneticnorthpolewasonce thesouth–andwillbeagain,possiblyverysoon.Currentlythenorthmagneticpoleisover1,000milesawayfromthegeographical North Pole. The magnetic north is moving very rapidly – forgeologicalprocesses–ataround25mileseachyearandiscurrentlyoffthecoastofwesternGreenland.Themagnetic fieldstrengthhasalsobeenreducedatanacceleratingratebysome10percentoverthelast150years.Bothofthesearesignsthatapolereversalisimminent–infactitiswayoverdue.Inthepast–thelastonewasapproximately700,000yearsago–theentirefliponlytookabout4,000years.We do know from the fossil record that such flips don’t appear to have a

detrimentalaffectonanimals. Indeed,ourhominidancestorswerewalking theEarthduringthelastevent.Buttherecordisunabletoshowwhattheeffectsonconsciousnessmayhavebeeninthepastormaybeinthefuture.Althoughwedon’t yet know, it could be that such a magnetic reversal triggers shifts inawareness.And,aswe’llsee,metaphysiciansarepredictingthatsuchashiftwilloccurinthe2012/2013timeframe.Weshouldnot,however,forgetthatforourfellowcreaturessuchasmigrating

birds and whales, the reduction and reversal of their magnetic way-showersmightsadlyhaveseriousandunavoidableconsequences.

Dragonpaths

Just as energy meridians flow through our own body, similar channels alsonetworktheenergeticbodyofGaia.TheancientChinesecalledtheselungmei,or ‘dragon paths’, and sought to locate their homes so as not to disturb theirflow.In 1921, an English entrepreneur named Alfred Watkins had a clairvoyant

vision where he saw the landscape of his native Herefordshire networked bylineshecalled‘leys’,afterancientclearingsintheforests thathadcoveredtheland millennia before. He perceived such straight tracks as following ancientpathwaysandconnectingancientsites.As interest in such alignment leys increased, dowsers began to sense Earth

energies associated with such lines. But unlike Watkins’ straight alignments,these energy leys were sinuous and akin to the lung mei of the Chinesegeomancers,ordragonmasters.Overthelast50yearsWesterngeomancershavealsodiscoveredthatenergetic

gridsencompassGaiaandthatthesubtleenergiesofherbiofieldareintheformofadodecahedron.ThisisthefifthofthefiveelementalsolidshapeswhichtheancientgeometersconsideredtobetheidealizedtemplatesofphysicalformsandtheirinterfacewithSpirit.Thesefivearenamed‘Platonicsolids’aftertheGreekphilosopherPlato.Two-and-a-halfmillenniaagohewasthefirsttodescribetheirgeometrical properties and to ascribe one of the primary elements of Earth,Water,AirandFiretoeach.Tothefifth,thedodecahedronwithits12five-sidedfaces, he ascribed the element of Aether – an all-pervasive universal energy,whoseexistenceisnowbeingre-evaluatedbycosmologists.PlatowasalsothefirsttodescribethegridofGaiaasadodecahedron.Inthe

1970s, three Soviet researchers, Nikolai Goncharov, VyacheslavMorozov andValery Makarov, announced their discovery of a grid of Earth energiescorrespondingtothisancientunderstanding.Inphysicalterms,thegridequatesto electromagnetic stress lines around the globe. To some degree it alsocorrelates to the formation of the tectonic plates onwhich the continents driftandwhichallowGaiatocontinuallyrecycleandreplenishtherocksofhercrustandthussustainthefertilityofbiologicallife.

Water

Watercomprisesapproximatelytwo-thirdsofthesurfaceofGaiaandalsoofthehuman body. It is crucial for life, has extraordinary abilities to carry andtransformenergiesandisabletoretainmemory.Since1994,JapanesescientistDrMasaruEmotohasstudiedtheinnatenature

ofwater and has discovered that it responds both to environmental conditionsandtohumanemotions.By freezingand thenphotographingdropletsofwater fromvarious sources,

Emoto has obtained some remarkable and revolutionary images.What he hasfoundisthatwaterfromapristinesourcesuchasamountainstreamformsicecrystals of exquisite delicacy and symmetrical geometry. But water obtainedfrom polluted sources has misshapen crystals, contorted from their naturalperfection.Goingfurther,Emotoplayedavarietyofdifferenttypesofmusictosamples

ofpurewater,thenfrozeandphotographedthedroplets.Whenheobservedthefrozen images, he saw the implications of how different music energeticallyaffectsthewaterinourownbodies.Whereastheicecrystalsofwaterexposedtoclassical music or folkloric tunes were found to embody their harmonicsymmetry, those exposed to heavymetal and rockmusicwere, like thewaterfrompollutedsources,distortedasthoughinpain.Emoto’s research adds to the growing awareness that as innately resonant

beings,weareprofoundlyaffectedbytheenergiesofourenvironment.

Geomancy

OurcurrentWesternlifestylesandworld-viewdesensitizeustowhatevernaturalenergies may be prevalent in the environment and even encourage ourdisparagementoftheirexistence.Yetformillionsofyearsourevolvingspecieswasintimatelyinterconnectedwiththenaturalworld.Our forebears recognized the energetic significance of certain places in the

landscape, which they sometimesmarked by the creation of art. Such art hasbeen discovered in the deep dark recesses of caverns in Spain and southernFrance,datingbackupto34,000years.Theseimagesandtheopen-airrockartfromuptofivemillenniaagorevealtheuseofthesespecialplacesforpsycho-spiritualexpression.Environmental research at sites of ancient significance is still in its infancy.

But the scientific evidencealreadyamassed strongly suggests that thehuman–

environmentalinteractionattheseplaces,bothnaturalandmonumentalized,mayencompassmoresubtleenergeticeffectstoo.Suchinteractionsareknownbythefew primary peoples remaining on Earth, such as the Aboriginal peoples ofAustralia, whose geomantic traditions and knowledge of the Tjurkupa, orDreamtime,maygobackasfaras40,000years.WhilstthemodernscientificstudyofEarthenergiesisembryonic,thesacred

sciences of feng shui in China and vaastu in India, aswell as other forms ofgeomancyelsewhere,haveformillenniastudiedthesubtleenergiesofGaiaandcommuned with her Spirit to bring harmony and well-being to people andplaces. Inevitably, certain aspects of ancient traditions are specific to theirculturesandtimes,butmuchofwhatwasunderstoodhasuniversalapplicationsandthusisasrelevanttoustodayasitwasmillenniaago.Sincethe1960stherehasbeenarisinginterestingeomancyandaprogressive

honingofgeomanticskills.TodaytherearenationalsocietiesofdowsersintheUK, the US and a number of other countries. In Europe the teaching ofgeomantictraditionstoarchitecturestudentsandothersinvolvedinthedesignofbuildingsisincreasinginpopularity–andatanintenselyopportunetimewhenourbuiltenvironmentisprobablymoretoxicthaneverbeforeandbothlandandbuildingsoftensufferfromgeopathicstress.

Geopathicstress

Whilst our natural environment is both abundant and benevolent, Gaia doesproduceformsofradiationthatcanbeharmfultous.ThemeridiansoftheEarthcan also become blocked or imbalanced in some way. Such geomagneticdisturbanceisgenericallyreferredtoas‘geopathicstress’.Somepeoplearemoresensitivetosuchstressandsusceptibletothediseases

it engenders. This appears especially to be the casewhen someone is alreadyunder stress from other lifestyle factors and their immune system alreadydepleted. Others that are vulnerable and thus at higher risk include youngchildrenandoldpeople.European researchers have led the way in determining the relationships

betweengeopathicstressandhumanillness.Onewell-knownstudywascarriedout in the 1930s in the town of Vilsiburg, southern Germany, by the dowserBaronGustavvonPohl.Bydowsingthehousesofthesmalltown,vonPohlwasable,with100percentaccuracy,toidentifytheincidencesofcanceramongstitsinhabitants. By dowsing the level of geopathic stress in the places where the

bedsofthecancersufferershadstood,hewasalsoabletolocatewhereintheirbodiesthecancershaddeveloped.One canton in Switzerland now takes the problem of geopathic stress so

seriouslythatitoffersagranttowardsthecostofadowser’ssitesurveybeforethebuildingofanynewhouse.Planningpermissionwillnotbegranteduntilthishasbeencarriedout.

GeologicalfaultsandundergroundwaterGeopathic stress may have a number of specific causes. The two primarysubterranean causes of geopathic stress are geological faults and undergroundwater.Thelevelsofelectromagneticactivitygeneratedbythestressesofgeological

faulting are well known to geologists, who measure the surface level ofionizationtoidentifysuchfaultsandthuslocatetheminerals,includingoil,thatareoftenassociatedwiththem.Suchionization,thelevelsofwhichincreasesignificantlyatnight-time,may

includesubstantialamountsofradioactiveparticlesandhigh-frequencygammarays – all detrimental to human health. Ongoing exposure to these rays maycausecancer.Electromagneticburstsemanatingfromfaultlinesmayalsobeacauseofso-

called‘Earthlights’,forwhichthereisextensiveanecdotalevidencefromaroundtheworld.The folklore of such phenomena attests to their ability to engenderalteredstatesofawarenessandvisionaryexperiences.Butthemostprevalentcauseofgeopathicstressisundergroundwater.Whilst the art of dowsing is indeed best known for the ability of its

practitioners to locatesuchwater, there isnoasyetwell-accepted theoryas tohowthewatergetstobewhereitis.Geologistsnowknow,however,thatetchedinto the ocean floors ofGaia formany thousands ofmiles are trencheswhererocks are recycled both into and out of the molten magma that underlies theEarth’s crust. Seawater, at great pressure, is an integral component of thesesubductionprocesses.Whilst as yet unproven, such pressurized water may find its eventual way

throughfissuresandcracksuntilitrisesinlandtonearthesurfaceoftheEarth.Thecurrenttheoryisthathere,duetothelocalizednon-permeabilityofsurfacerocks,thepressurizedwaterisunabletoescapeupwardsandisforcedtoradiatehorizontally.

These sites are termed ‘blind springs’ by dowsers. They generate powerfulenergies andmany have been dowsed as being beneath churches and ancientsacredsites.However, water is also an amazingly effective carrier of energy. So, if the

underground energies are polluted or stagnant, or the water passes through aseam of rock that includes highly radioactive minerals, geopathic stress mayresult.

Sacredsites

FromthebeginningoftheNeolithicera,peoplebegantoaltertheEarth.Naturalplacesthatweredeemedspecialwerefurtherenhancedandmonumentsbegantobebuilt,ofteninplacesofpriorsignificance.Growingnumbersofresearchersarenowseekingtounderstandtheenergetic

resonance of these ancient sites.Their aim is to gain a deeper appreciation oftheirpurposeandthesacredscienceoftheirconstruction.Inthe1980s, theDragonProject,co-ordinatedbyresearcherPaulDevereux,

brought together specialists covering a range of scientific disciplines todetermineenergeticanomaliesatsacredsitesthroughoutBritain.Theirpreliminaryfindings identifiedarangeofenergeticanomalies,notably

high levels of natural radioactivity, magnetic effects and peaks of ultra-sonicenergiesatcertaintimes,whichsuggestedtheintentionalplacementofmegalithstomarkandpossiblyenhancethesenaturaleffects.Since then dowsers, Earth mysteries enthusiasts and geomancers have

continuedtoexploresuchsites,eachaddingtoourstoreofEarthknowledge.

Spiritsofplace

For many researchers, what begins as a scientific search for such knowledgeexpandsintoaspiritualquestasthemagicofsuchsitesweavesitswayintotheirawareness.Andsensitivesvisitingsacredsiteshave longreported thepresenceofdiscarnatebeingsthere.Such‘spiritsofplace’areexperiencedinmanyforms.Someappeartobethe

guardiansof the site,havingonce lived thereandbeen in service to its sacredaims.Othersareelementalbeings,orDevas,anancientSanskritnamemeaning‘shiningones’.WewillencounterDevasagaininChapter12,wherewewilldiscusshowto

hear their age-old wisdom and learn from them how to diagnose and release

imbalanced energies and geopathic stress in the environment. But here we’llsharethetruestoryofonegroupofpeoplewhodecidedtolearndevicwisdomforthemselves.The founders of theFindhorn communitywent one step further thangreen-

fingeredgardenerswhen in the1960s theybegan to consciously communicatewithnaturespirits toco-createagardenonawindsweptsandyspit innorthernScotland.Astheyhadlittlemoney,growingtheirownvegetableswasanimportantpart

oftheirlives.Butthedifficultconditionsandimpoverishedsoilmadetheprojectdauntingandtheirprospectsuncertain.Oneof the founders of the community,DorothyMaclean, began to connect

withtheplantkingdomDevasandlaterwiththeDevaresponsibleforthelocalarea, a being she called a ‘landscape Angel’. Thanks to other clairvoyantconnectionsandtheirwillingnesstofollowtheguidanceoftheirdevicmentors,theFindhorncommunitywasabletogrowabundantharvestsformanyyears.

Cropcircles

Another harbinger of our changing perception of Gaia and ourselves is thephenomenonofcropcircles.Todatenearly12,000ofthese‘temporarytemples’havebeenreportedaroundtheworld.Theirmanifestationgoesbackcenturies.Butonlyinthelastfewdecadeshas

the seasonal arrivalofvast and intricate formations caused reactions thathaverangedfromwondertodisdain.The heartland of this worldwide phenomenon is the landscape of southern

England.Here,intherollingchalklandofthesacredlandscapearoundthegreatNeolithiccircleofAveburyhengeanditsgeomanticpartner,themassivemoundofSilburyHill,themostintricateformationshavebeenfound.Thecreationof cropcircles appears to involveelectromagneticvorticesand

sonicenergies.Suchenergieswouldneedtobecoherentlyfocusedtocreatethegeometrical and other complex patterns that have been a feature of theformationsoverthelast15yearsorso.The biological imprints of such energies have also been discovered. The

usuallymicroscopictranspirationholesinthestemsofaffectedplantshavebeenfound to have increased in size over 100-fold – as though exploded from theinside by the release of high energies.Andwhilst the affected plants of theseliving mandalas remain unharmed, the subsequent growth patterns from their

seedsshowsignificantdifferencesfromthoseofseedsfromunaffectedplantsinthesamefield.Thesurfacesoilwithincropcirclesisalsoaffectedandgeologicalanalysishas

shown that clayminerals have crystallized in the sameway as they would ifexposedtoheatandpressure.Significantly,noneoftheseeffectshasbeenseenincontrolsamplesofplants

andsoiltakenfromoutsidetheformationsthathavebeenstudied.But why the circles are created and who the circle makers are remain

unanswered questions. Despite the claims of so-called ‘hoaxers’, theaccumulated evidencedoes not support human agency as their sole and easilydismissiblecause.Myownperceptionandthatofmanyothergeomancersisthatthe phenomenon is a co-creation between the realms of Gaia, our collectiveunconsciousness andpossibly extraterrestrials, and signals the comingShift ofconsciousness.Ifwearepreparedtohearitsmessage,thisway-showerspeakstousinthearchetypallanguageofsymbolandgeometricharmony–thelanguageofthecosmichologram.Inmyownexperience,bybeingpreparednotonlytoheartheirmessagebut

also to listen, I’vebeen repeatedlygiftedwith intuitive insightsandasenseofbeingnurturedbyGaia.Cropcircleshavebenignlyguidedmealongapathofinner healing, as they have formany others.Andwith their help I have beenfurthersensitizedtosubtleenergiesandthequietvoiceofSpirit.Bymywillingnesstolisten,I’vefoundthatIhavebeenableprogressivelyto

commune with and receive the wisdom of the devic and elemental beings ofGaiaandtheaethericguardiansoftheancientsacredsites.

TheUnitygridofGaia

Weareever-moreconsciousthattheEarthisalivingentity.Sinceancienttimes,mystics and geomancers have perceived a 12-fold geometric energy gridencompassing her. I call this the ‘Unity grid’ because as a holographicmicrocosmoftheuniverseitholdstheever-present‘memory’ofthewholenessofphysical creationand resonateswith the comingShift of consciousness andtheembodimentofthefuturedestinyofbothGaiaandourselves.As humanity collectively evolves in consciousness, so does Gaia, and vice

versa.Andasweexpandour awareness,wenotonly reconnectwithGaiabutalsoresonatewiththeenergiesoftheUnitygrid.Hitherto, the energy meridians of Gaia have been dowsed as embodying

polaritiesofmaleandfemale,positiveandnegative.Now,however,the‘child’aspectof the fundamental cosmic trinity– itsneutralorcreativeprinciple– isbecomingever-moreactiveasanewcosmicageisreadytobeborn.

ThelivingEarth

Gaiaisalivingbeingand,asourplanetaryhome,isourco-evolutionarypartner.Wehaveseenhowwefundamentallyresonatewithhercyclesandenergiesandhow our holographic inter-relationship is being progressively rediscovered byscience. The imminent Shift of consciousness is not only our own collectivedestinybut thatofGaiaandallher realms.Asweaccess theawarenessof the8thandhigherchakras,wecanre-establishourrelationshipwithherandlistentoherwisdomandguidanceinthesetumultuoustimes.Indeed, themorewecommunewithher, themorewemayquietenourown

fearsandinnerturmoilandrealizethatsheandwearefellowcosmictravellers.

In Chapter 12 we’ll return to how we may consciously re-establish ourrelationshipwithGaiabyhearingthevoicesofherdevicandangelicrealmsandlistening to their wisdom. We’ll also explore how to heal the energeticimbalancesandgeopathicstresstowhichourenvironmentmaybesubject.But nowwewill explore thematrix of consciousness of ourSoularSystem

anddiscoverhowtheSun,Moonandplanetarybodiesalsointeractwithusonprofoundlevels.

CHAPTER8

Cosmicwaves

Theholographicandconsciousuniverseenergeticallyrelatestoitselfatallscalesandlevelsofexperience.EachSolar–orSoular–Systemwithinitisessentiallya group soul, a self-relating hologram within which individual and collectivesoulexperiencesareplayedout.Our own Soular System, formed four-and-a-half billion years ago, is a

wondrousenvironmentforusasspiritualbeingstoexplorephysicalexperience.Research is progressively supporting the probability that physical life wasseededonEarthfromspace.Wealsoknowthatthedustofwhichoursystemiscomprised was created in the death throes of earlier stars – we are truly starseeds.

OurSoularSystem

OurSoularSystem is shaped rather likeavast flattishdiscwith theSunat itscentre and all the planets, including theEarth, spinning around it in the samedirectionandinroughlythesameplane.AsseenfromtheEarth,theorbitsoftheotherplanetsthroughtheheavensthusremainwithinafewdegreeseithersideofthepathoftheSun,whichastronomerscallthe‘ecliptic’.DuetothetiltoftheEarthonheraxis,weactuallyperceivealltheplanetary

pathsandtheeclipticitselfaswavesthatappeartoencircleusoverthecyclesoftheirorbits.Ancientstargazersenvisagedtheoutlinesofdeitiesandanimalsintheskyand

by about 500 BC had embodied 12 of these in star patterns or constellationsalongthe360-degreecircleoftheecliptic.Each30-degreesectionoftheskyisknownbythenameofoneofthese12signsoftheso-calledzodiac,whichformthestellarbackgroundtotheyearlypatharoundtheheavensoftheSun,Moonandplanets.

The astrological cycles relating to the zodiac begin with the sign of Aries,againstwhich theSun risesat theMarchequinox.TheycontinuewithTaurus,Gemini,Cancer,Leo,Virgo,Libra,Scorpio,Sagittarius,CapricornandAquariusbeforecompletingwiththesignofPisces.Over time the characteristics attributed to each sign evolved to createwhat

CarlJungperceivedasthegreatesttoolofpsychologicalanalysisknowntoman.Scientists of the eminence of Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein have alsoconsidered thatastrological insightsofferusprofoundunderstandingofhumanpersonality.Herewemust emphasize that theSoularSystemas aholographicmatrixof

consciousness is self-referential, so the characteristics relating to each zodiacsign represent the influences applying to that section of thematrix and not tothoseofthemuchmoredistantstarsmakingupthezodiacpatterns.

Cosmicremembering

Astrologically,theSun,Moonandthefiveplanetsthatarevisibletothenakedeye–Mercury,Venus,Mars,JupiterandSaturn–resonatewithourpersonality-basedenergyfield throughthemediationofoursevenchakras.Theirenergeticinfluencesatthetimeandplaceofourbirthcreateanastrologicalchordthatisuniquetoeachofus.Andoverthelastcoupleofhundredyears,atthesametimeas we have progressively come together on a global basis, the outer planetsNeptune, Uranus and Pluto have been discovered. These planets take muchlonger toorbit theSunthantheinner‘personal’planets.Sowhilst individuallyweembodytheirinfluence,theirprimaryastrologicalresonancesareconsideredtobeongenerationalandcollectivelevels.Forastrologers,thediscoveryin1977ofChiron,aplanetoidwhoseorbitlies

between those of Saturn andUranus, represented an energetic bridge betweenthepersonalandcollectivepsycheofhumanity.Andthishasbeeninterpretedasofferingusakeytoinnerhealing.Suchresonanceisreflectedintheplanetoid’sname,forinGreekmythChiron

wasthewisestofthecentaurs,half-horseandhalf-man,whowastheteacherofthegreathealerAsclepius.Chironhimselfhadbeenwounded,butbeingdeemedimmortalwasdestinedtocarryhisinjuryforeternity.Also, in October 2002, NASA announced the discovery of the first trans-

Plutonian planet, one of a growing number now being found on the furthestfringes of our Soular System and whose origins go back to its primeval

fragmentationfour-and-a-halfbillionyearsago.Millenniabeforetheinventionofthetelescope,Sumerianscholarsnonetheless

somehowappear tohavebeen awareofall the planetarybodies of ourSoularSystem.AtabletofbakedclaydatingbackmillenniaseemstodepictasystemcomprisingtheSun,Moonandaretinueof10planets includingtheEarth– intotalaSoularSystemof12bodies.GiventhatinadditiontotheEarthonlysevenastronomical bodies of the Soular Systemwould be visible to the Sumerians,how were they aware of the planets that were in theory discovered onlymillennialater?Evenmoreintriguingly,modernastronomyrecognizesthattheretinueofthe

Suniscomprisedofonlynineplanets, includingtheEarth,not the10depictedbytheSumeriantablet.According to antiquarian Zecharia Sitchin and other researchers, ancient

SumerianmythsalsorefertothistenthplanetandaresultingSoularSystemof12bodies.Themythsdescribe thechaoswroughtas this twelfthbody roamedthroughourSoularSystem,ultimatelycausingacatastrophiccollisionthatledtothe formationof theasteroidbelt.Could theplanetoidChironbea remnantofthiscataclysmandthusanenergeticremnantofthistwelfthplanet?Astrologers view Chiron as bringing forward the awareness of our inner

wounding and facilitating our healing on individual and collective levels. Is itthat the primeval debris scattered throughout our Soular System as a result ofthis ancient catastrophe is now emerging into our awareness as the twelfthharmonicofourcollectiveawareness,aswebecomereadytorememberourowndis-membered psyche? For it appears that aswe progressively access our 12-chakra energy field of unity awareness, our journey to wholeness is also ajourneybeingundertakenbytheholographicconsciousnessofourentireSoularSystem.

Ourastrologicaljourney

Asaharmonicmatrixofconsciousness,allofourSoularSystemembodieslife.Thepositionsof theSun,Moonandplanetswithin thesignsof thezodiacandtheir relationships to each other at the time and place of our birth form theholographicpatternofinfluencedenotedbyourbirth,ornatal,astrologicalchart.Astrologers view this interference pattern of correspondences between the

archetypal patterns embodied in the Soular System and individual humanconsciousness as comprising our personality. And given the specific time and

placeofourbirth,thepatternembodiedbyeachindividualisunique.Astrologyisahugesubjectandastrologersmayspendalifetimeexploringits

nuances. Nonetheless, its fundamental principles are straightforward. So let’snowdiscoverhowtheseengendertheenergeticmatrixofourpersonality.Forbyunderstanding the energetic influences of each of the 12 zodiac signs, theplanetarybodiesandthemajoraspectstheymakewitheachother,weareabletogain a deeper understanding of our character and thus empower our ongoingjourneyofawareness.

Two-foldsymmetryWithinthefundamental12-foldmatrixof theSoularSystem,thecosmicdanceof the Sun,Moon and planets incorporates cyclicwaveswhich embody two-,three-andfour-foldsymmetries.Therearethreeprimaryexpressionsofthefundamentaltwo-foldsymmetryin

whichvariousastrologicalaspectsformpartnershipsandpolarities.Thefirstoftheseisthepartnershipsformedbetweensignsthataresixmonths

apartandthusfaceeachotheracrossthedomeofthesky.Ariesisthuspartneredby Libra, Taurus partners Scorpio and so on until the sixth partnership, thatbetweenVirgoandPisces. In considering theovert influenceof each sign thattheSun,Moonoraparticularplanetisplacedinatthetimeofourbirth,wealsothereforeneedtonotethemoresubtleandyetintrinsicinfluenceofitspartner.The second expression is the polarity of light, as represented by the

hemisphere of the sky above the horizon at our birth, and of shadow, thehemispherebelowthehorizonatthattime.Planetsabovethehorizonwillhavemore open influences within our personality, whereas the influences of thosebelowwillbesubtler.Thirdly,asthereare12zodiacsigns,beginningwithAries,activeandpassive

attributescanalsobeattributed toeach in turn.So thesignsofAries,Gemini,Leo,Libra,SagittariusandAquariusaredeemedtoembodytheactive,ormale,archetypewhereasTaurus,Cancer,Virgo, Scorpio,Capricorn andPisces carrythepassive,orfemale,principle.

Three-foldqualitiesThree-fold symmetry is embeddedbyenergeticqualities that reflect the innateunderstandingthatallexperiencesarethemselveswaveswhichcomeintobeing,

consolidate and then fall away. In astrological terms, the zodiac reflects thisthree-in-onequalityof experience in its division into so-called ‘cardinal’ signs(Aries,Cancer,LibraandCapricorn),whichareassociatedwiththeinitiationofactivities, ‘fixed’ signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius), which areassociated with their full expression and manifestation, and ‘mutable’ signs(Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces), which are associated with theirintegration.

Four-foldelementsThe final division of the zodiac is the four-fold symmetry represented by theembodiment of the energetic characteristics of the four archetypal elements ofFire,Earth,AirandWater.ThoseofuswhohaveFiresignsinourastrologicalmake-up (Aries, Leo and Sagittarius) are seen as being enthusiastic andoutgoing.Earthsigns(Taurus,VirgoandCapricorn)areassociatedwithcautionandpracticality,Airsigns(Gemini,LibraandAquarius)withclarityofmindandcommunication, andWater signs (Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces)with sensitivityandempathy.

Theastrologicalcycle

The Sun begins each yearly astrological cycle by rising in the zodiac sign ofAries, the ram, at the March equinox. Aries is the active cardinal signembodying the element of Fire. As such its energetic qualities are those ofdynamism,enthusiasmanddirectness.Butforsomeonewithanumberofplanetsin thissign, itsenergiescanbeoverlyexpressedasbeingassertive,aggressiveandselfish.The second signofTaurus, thebull, is thepassive and fixedEarth sign. Its

energyisstable,patientandorientedtowardssecurityandmateriality.Taureansaregenerallypracticalandendowedwithcommonsense.However,achartwithplanetsclusteredinTaurusmaysignalstubbornnessandanoverlymaterialisticoutlook.Gemini, the sign of the twins, is designated as the activemutableAir sign,

being changeable and communicativewith diverse interests. Someonewith anemphasis of planets in this sign, however, may be superficial, unable toconcentrateonanyoneactivityandeasilybored.ThefourthsignofCancer,thecrab,ispassivecardinalWateranditsenergies

are emotional, nurturing and intuitive. However, when strongly aspected insomeone’schart,itcansignifymoodinessandthetendency,likeacrab,toretreatintoitsshellwhenthreatened.Leo, the lion, is the sign of active fixed Fire. Determined and powerful, it

needs to express its creativity and to do so openly to be fulfilled. If a Leo isobligedtohidetheirlightunderabusheltheyarelikelytosetthebarnonfire!Andwhenover-expressed,thissigncanbeattention-seekinganddisruptive.The sign ofVirgo, the virgin, is passivemutable Earth and its energies are

practical,analyticalandorderly.Whilstablegenerallytoexpresstheseenergieswith intelligenceandskill,Virgoanscanbehypercriticalorprudish if stronglyaspectedbyplanets.The next sign, Libra, the scales, is active cardinal Air. As its archetype

suggests, its energetic influences are balanced, diplomatic and concernedwithnatural justice. However, a surfeit of planets in this sign may result in apersonalitythatisresentfulorindecisive.Scorpio,thesignofthescorpion,ispassivefixedWater.Generallywithhigh

levelsofphysicalandemotionalresources,Scorpionicenergiesareemotionallyintenseandifunfulfilledcanbejealousorrestless.ThesignofSagittariusthecentaurishalf-horse,half-mananditsenergiesare

active mutable Fire, tending to combine physical strength with a powerfulintellect. Expansive and versatile, this sign needs diversity and challenge. Acontinualseeker,itwillbecomefrustratedifitssearchiscurtailed.Thetenthsign,Capricornthegoat, ispassivecardinalEarthandisgenerally

ambitious and seeks to do the ‘right’ thing. Status-conscious and structured, itwill set goals and work conscientiously to achieve them, especially in thecontextofbusinessandcareer.Anover-expressionofitsenergies,however,canresultinauthoritarianism.ThesignofAquarius,thewatercarrier,isactivefixedAiranditsenergiesare

innovativeandindividualistic.Oftenembodiedinpioneers, theenergiesof thissignneedbothfreedomandthecompanyofthoseoflikemind.Whenstronglyaspected, however, its energies may be expressed in unpredictability oreccentricity.ThetwelfthandfinalsignofPisces,thefishes,ispassivemutableWaterand

itsenergiesarecompassionateandspirituallyinsightful.ButwhilstPisceanscanbeinspiring,theycanalsobeoverlyimpressionableandinextremesbeaddictivepersonalities.

Sun,MoonandAscendant

Atourbirth,theinfluencesoftheSun,Moonandplanetseachcorrespondtoaspecific psychological function or motivation which is then directed by theenergiesofthezodiacsigninwhichitislocated.Threeof themostsignificantaspectsofourbirthchartare theplacementof

theSun,MoonandwhatistermedtheAscendantorRisingsign.ThepositioningoftheSunatthetimeofourbirthreflectstheouteridentityof

ourpersonalityinthislifetime–liketheSun,itsymbolizeshowweshine.Thesign fromwhich its energies radiate thus indicates howwe approach life.Theotherplanetstowhichitisaspectedshowushowoursenseofidentityintegrateswiththeotheraspectsofourpsyche.The Moon reflects the Sun astrologically, as it does astronomically. It

symbolizes our inner feelings and instinctual responses. In our natal chart, itsposition shows uswhatwe need to feel good about ourselves and thus offersinsightsastohowwemaymosteffectivelyrespondtolife.Itsalignmentswithotherplanetsrevealhowourfeelingsrespondtootheraspectsofourselves.TheAscendantisn’taplanetarybodyatallbutisthezodiacsignthatisrising

overtheeasternhorizonatourtimeofbirth.Itsenergiesinfluencehowweco-createourpaththroughlife.Itdefinesthefoundationofourpersonality,howweadapttoourenvironmentandrevealsustoourselves.Whilst most of us are aware of our Sun sign, as it is the one used by

newspaper andmagazine horoscopes, understanding ourMoon andAscendantsignsisequallysignificantandcrucialforustogainabalancedunderstandingofour personality. Appreciating their combined influences enables us to knowourselvesbetterandtobalanceandharmonizetheirenergieswithinourpsycheandthusourlives.

Thepersonalplanets

Now let’s turn to theplanets of ourSoularSystemand their associationswithothercharacteristicsofourhumanexperience.From the earliest times until the eighteenth century, astronomers were also

invariablyastrologers.TheancientGreekstargazersgavetheplanetsnamesthatcorresponded to their deities and embodied their archetypal presences. ThenamesbywhichwenowknowtheplanetsarethelaterRomanizedversionsoftheseGreekgods.Mercury, themessenger of the gods, is the innermost planet to theSun and

symbolizescommunication. Itsposition inourchartnotonlyrepresentsall thewaysinwhichweexpressourselves,butalsohowwethink.Itisalsoassociatedwithtravel.Whenitappearstogobackwards,orretrograde,foraperiodoftime,which it does several times each year, communications and travel plans of allsortsarelikelytobedisrupted.Duringtheseperiods,it’susefultocheckdetailsandeven,ifappropriate,todeferimportantmatterstoamorepropitioustime.The planet Venus is next out from the Sun and astrologically represents

relationships andwhat pleases us.Generally, in aman’s chart, the position ofVenusalsoreflectsanidealfemaleimagetowhichheisinnatelyattracted.TheplanetarysymbolismofMars,theRomangodofwar,relatestoactivity,

impulses, aggressionand sexualdrive. Inour chart it showsushowweassertourselvesandthenatureofourdesires.ComplementingthepositionofVenusinaman’s chart, the position ofMars in awoman’s chart then reflects her idealmaleimage.JupiterwasthekingofthegodsandtheplanetarysymbolismofJupiteristhat

of wisdom, expansion and abundance. It contrasts with and partners Saturn,whoseinfluencerelatestodisciplineandlimitation.Ratherlikeourout-breathsand in-breaths, theircomplementary influencesenableour lifelongexperiencestoebbandflow.Until thediscoveryofUranus in1781,astrologersbased theirpsychological

profilesonthesevenvisiblebodiesof theSoularSystem,whichcorrelatewiththesevenchakrasofourpersonalityenergyfield.However,withthediscoveryofUranusin1781,followedbyNeptunein1846

and Pluto in 1930, astrologers were able to gain insights into aspects of ourcollectivepsyche.

Thecollectiveplanets

Whilstallthevisibleplanetshaveorbitalperiods,fromthe88daysofMercurytothe29yearsofSaturn,whichliewithinthescopeofasinglehumanlife,thethree outer planets,Uranus,Neptune and Pluto, takemuch longer to orbit theSun.FromUranusat84yearstoNeptuneat165yearsandPlutoatnearly248years, their primary influences are thus perceived to be generational andcollective.AstheSun,Moonandfivevisibleplanetsresonatewithusonapersonality,or

ego-selfbasis,theseouterplanetsdosoontranspersonallevels.Insodoing,theythusenergeticallybridgeoursenseofpersonalselfandoursenseofcommunity.

ThediscoveriesoftheseouterdenizensofourSoularSystembeganatatimewhenourhumanfamilywasstartingtointeractonagloballevel.Energetically,wemayseeourcollectiveawarenessofUranusinthelateeighteenthcenturyastriggering the revolutionary overthrow of imperial states, the resurgence ofindividuality,theearlystagesofdemocracyandtheentrepreneurialinceptionoftheindustrialrevolution.AstrologersthusdescribeUranusasthegreatawakenerofpersonalandcollectivepossibilities–butpossibilitiesthatmay,ofcourse,beexpressedinwaysthatarerevolutionaryratherthanevolutionary.Neptune’sdiscovery, in themid-nineteenthcentury,occurredata timeofre-

emergentinterestinthepsyche.NamedaftertheRomanizedgodofthesea,itsinfluencesarise fromthesubconsciousandcaneitherenableus togaindeeperunderstandingofrealityorescapefromitintodelusion.Atthebeginningofthe1930s,whenPluto’sinfluenceenteredourawareness,

wehadcollectivelyarrivedatthethresholdofanerathatmayultimatelyleadtoeither our destruction or transcendence. For it was at its inception that webecameabletosplittheatomandthereforecapableofglobalannihilation.Pluto was the Roman god of the underworld and plutoniumwas the name

giventothethennewlydiscoveredelementofourpotentialnemesis.ButPlutoalso indicatesourpower todestroyoldbehaviourpatterns and regeneratenewones. Its astrological influence is transformational. Currently Pluto is alignedwiththecentreofourgalaxyanditisthis,asweshalldiscussalittlelater,whichastrologers consider is one of the harbingers that offer us transcendentopportunitiesforaShiftinconsciousness.

Thewoundedhealer

BetweentheorbitsofSaturnandUranusliestheorbitof theplanetoidChiron,thewoundedhealer,whoissupportingusbothpersonallyandcollectivelyonourjourneyofrememberingourselves.ThepositionofChiron inour birth chart identifieswhich areasof our lives

and psyche are dis-membered and offers us the opportunity to reconcile thepolarities and behavioural imbalances we carry. However, if we continue toproject our personal suffering onto others, or indeed the world generally,Chiron’s influence is unable to be effectively expressed. Acknowledging ourwounds and consequential suffering and taking responsibility for our ownhealingarethefirststepsinallowingChirontoguideourpathtowholeness.TheorbitalperiodofChiron is justbelow51years.At certain timesduring

ourlife,itisharmonicallyalignedwithitsnatalpositioninourchart–asarealltheplanetaryinfluences.Whenthese‘transits’occur,theyveryoftencorrespondwithmajorlifeexperiencesandturningpoints.Inourlateforties/earlyfiftieswhenChiron’sinfluenceequatesto–conjuncts

– that of our birth, it offers us an opportunity for profound healing and innergrowth.Indeed,wemayevenfindthatunlesswetakeadvantageofthiscosmicoffer,ourliveswillbecomeunsustainableuntilwedo!Just as Pluto is now aligned with the galactic centre, at the time of the

discoveryofChironinthelate1970s,itsAscendantwassimilarlyaligned.Theinfluencesofboththeseastrologicalbodiesarethuscrucialtothiscurrenteraoftransformation.

Aspectsandtransits

Wehaveseenhowconsciousnessexpressesitselfasenergyandthatallenergiesarewaves.Inanastrologicalchart,harmonicalignmentsbetweenplanets,wheretheirwavesofinfluencecombineincertainways,arecalled‘aspects’.Throughoutourlives,astheintricatecyclesofourSoularSystemcontinueto

resonatewithour individualconsciousness, thereare timeswhen theplanetaryaspectsofourbirtharerecreated.Theseperiods,whichmaylastfromlessthanadaytomanymonths,are,aswehaveseen,calledtransits.Whilsttheirinfluencesaresimilartothoseofourbirthchart,ourresponsestothemreflectthelevelofourcurrentawareness.Issues that were previously unresolved and hopes wemay have abandoned

returnat thenextroundof thesespiraldancesforus toreviewoncemore.Wemaythencontinuetoplayoutoldpatternsorwemayutilizetheopportunitytomakeinnerandouterchangesinourlives.There are six primary aspects that astrologers consider to be especially

significant:conjunctions,oppositions,trines,squares,quintilesandsextiles.Planets are said to be conjunctwhen they are in the same position or very

close to each other in a chart and their energies combine. Depending on thenature of the planets involved, such conjunctions can be supportive orchallenging,but theywill alwaysbepowerful, as the influencesof theplanetsconcernedareconjoined.Opposingplanets,incontrast,occupypositionsthatarediametricallyopposite

to each other in a chart. They embody an innate tension until our awarenessallowsus tocome to termswithandbalance their inherentpolarities.Wemay

play out an opposition aspect in our chart by identifyingwith one planet andeither denying the qualities of the other in ourselves or projecting them ontootherpeople.Itisonlywhenwearewillingtoembracebothqualitiesthatweareabletobalancetheirenergies.Theinfluencesofplanetsintrineaspect,wheretheyare120degreesapart,are

harmoniousandtheirflowingenergiesdenoteabundantsupportfortheareasofourlivestheyimpact.Square aspects, in contrast, arewhen planets are 90 degrees apart and they

produceconflict thatusuallyrequireseffortonourbehalf toresolve.However,suchchallengingalignmentsmaybethemotivationweneedtoundertakeinnergrowth.Quintileaspectsareformedbyplanetarybodiesbeing72degrees,orone-fifth

ofthecircleofthesky,apartandreveal theareasofourlivesinwhichwearepowerfullydriven.Suchinnerdrivesareoftensubliminalandcanbediscernedthrough compulsive tendencies and personality traits. Quintile influencesempowerustosucceedandunderstandingthemenablesustodosoinwaysthatarehealthyandbalanced.Finally, sextiles,where the planets are 60degrees apart, have a harmonious

and easy-going influence. Such aspects in our chart suggest we will avoidconflictandseekcompromiseinourlives.Thespecificplanetsinvolvedinsuchan aspectwill determine inwhich areas of our lives such compromisewill besought.

Precession

The Earth continually wobbles on her axis and this creates the phenomenonknown as the ‘cycle of precession’. Travelling backwards through the zodiac,over a period lasting nearly 26,000 years, the Sun rises at theMarch equinoxagainsteachofthe12signsinturn.These12Ages,eachlasting2,160yearsorso, are named after the zodiac sign whose sector of the sky influences theenergeticcharacteristicsofthatAge.WearenowtransitioningfromtheAgeofPiscestotheAgeofAquarius.Astrologersdebatehowthe influencesofeacheramanifest inourcollective

psyche. One view, to which I myself adhere, is that the wave of zodiacalinfluencegivingitsnametoanAgebeginsduringthaterabutonlyfindsitsfullexpressionintheonefollowingandfallsawayduringthethird.ThusthecomingAge of Aquarius will seed the influences associated with that sign, Piscean

characteristicswillfindtheirfullexpressionandthoseoftheAgeofArieswillfallaway.Theseenergeticinfluencesthenembodyfurthernuancesduetotheharmonic

relationships between them and the zodiac signs characterized by the samequality and archetypal elements. So in the Age of Aquarius we shouldindividually and collectivelybegin to experience its characteristicsof personalempowerment and co-creation, the full expression of the Piscean influence –seededby thegreat teachersof 2,000years ago–of compassion and spiritualwisdom,andthefallingawayoftheself-focusofArianenergies.

2012/2013

Asweundertake the transition to theAgeofAquarius,however,metaphysicalprophesiesandportentousastrologicalalignmentsarecurrentlyculminatinginawaywhichsuggeststhattheperiodof2012/2013mayheraldamajorShiftinourcollectiveconsciousness.The12signsofthezodiacrepresentthepsychologicalattributesoftheirsector

of the sky. However, unknown to most people is that there is a thirteenthconstellationwhichliesontheecliptic,calledOphiuchus.TheancientGreeksknewOphiuchusasAsclepius.Hewasthegodofhealing,

the sonof theSungodApollo, and learnedhishealingarts fromChiron.Thisthirteenthzodiacsignisdepictedasamanholdingtwoserpents,representingthebalanced and remembered energies of our psyche. In some traditions thisthirteentharchetypalfigurealsorepresentstheperfectedhumanbeingorsoularhero.ButnotonlydoesthisarchetypalfigurelieonthepathoftheSun,itslocation

intheskyalsoalignswiththecentreofourgalaxy.Aswehave seen,bothPluto andChironare also conjunctwith thegalactic

centreatthismomentoustime.Atthisexactmomenttoo,forthefirsttimeinnearly26,000years,thecycleof

precessionhasbroughttheSunatitsDecembersolstice–thetraditionalbirthofthe soular hero – into alignment with the thirteenth zodiac sign of Ophiucus,Pluto,Chironandthegalacticcentre.Whatdoestheresonanceoftheseamazingastrologicalandarchetypalportents

revealaswejourneytowardsthetimeofitsculmination?According to the ancientMayanpriests,whoweremastersof time, to fulfil

our collective destiny we would undergo a Shift of consciousness at the

Decembersolsticeof2012–andsotheircalendarendedonthisdate.Theywereunable to intuitively perceive what would come afterwards and how the verynatureofourexperienceoftimewouldcontinue.Myownviewandthatofexponentiallyincreasingnumbersofpeoplearound

theworldisthatwearebeingofferedanincredibleopportunityforacollectiveexpansionofawareness that includesnotonlyourselvesbutalsoGaiaandourentireSoularSystem.Thehigherchakrasofourunityenergyfieldarenowbecomingaccessibleto

us. The 8th chakra of the universal heart is our portal to transpersonalperception. The ninth or earthstar chakra is linking us with rediscoveredreverence to Gaia and all her children. And as we begin to access the tenthchakra, we are also reconnecting at a conscious level with the archetypalawarenessembodiedbytheSun,MoonandplanetsofourSoularSystem.This reconnection is also a remembering. As we’ve seen, astronomers are

currently discovering the fragmentary members of our Soular System. Thenatureofthecosmichologramissuchthataswearerememberingourselves,theSun,MoonandthenineplanetsofourSoularsystemarenowbeingreconciledwiththefragmentsoftheir–andour–twelfthfamilymember.Beyond theSoularSystem, theeleventhchakra isconnectingourawareness

withgalacticconsciousness.Thestoryof its initialactivationon23December2003 and our ongoing journey towards 2012/2013 will be told in myforthcoming bookThe 13th Step. Such awareness is, I believe, our collectivedestinyAs we’ve seen, the astrological support for this Shift of consciousness is

abundantlyavailabletous.Butonlywecanundertakethisleapbychoosingtocommittoourownhealingandthustothehealingofthewhole.In the third and final part of The 8th Chakra we’ll explore how we may

undertakethisjourneyandreachourultimatedestination:HoME.

PARTIIIBe

CHAPTER9

Heart-centredsoulhealing

Ourhumanexperiencehassometimesbeendescribedasspiritualbootcamp,aviewwithwhich,Isuspect,mostofuswouldconcur.Ourjourneyinthephysicalworldinvolvesusinchallengesthatoftenbruiseandhurtus,notonlybodilybutalsomentallyandemotionally.Formanyofus,thetraumasofthesenon-physicalbruisesmaytakealifetime

– ormore – to heal. At theirmost extreme, our psyche is fundamentally dis-membered.And itmay thenbea longandarduous inner journey to rememberandhealourselves.Suchtraumasshowupas imbalancesinourpersonalityenergyfield,butwe

mayonlybeconsciouslyawareofa small fractionof them.Like icebergs, thelargerpartmayliehiddeninthedepths,buriedinthehabitualresponsesofoursubconscious.Dependingonwhataspectsofourlifeandexperiencesuchatraumaprimarily

affects, and the characteristics of our personal response, it may engenderblockages in one or more chakras and manifest as specific types of physicalailments.Butasthepersonalityofourego-selfisenergeticallymediatedthroughallsevenchakras,imbalanceswillultimatelyaffectusonallenergeticlevels.

Archetypaltraumas

InChapter 6 we discussed how archetypal and collective consciousness is anintegral aspect of our individual soul experience. Across all cultures andthroughout history, archetypalmyths and symbols have reflected our commonheritage. Archetypal patterns of behaviour are a collective experience withwhichweallidentify.Thesameistrueofarchetypaltraumas.There are five fundamental traumas – abandonment, abuse, betrayal, denial

and rejection – which we all embody to some degree or other. For the great

majorityofus,itwillbeoneoftheseprimarypatternsthatwerecognizeinourownlifeasrepeatingcyclesofexperienceandpain.Andwhilstitmayhavebeentriggered by events in this lifetime, we may well have played out the samearchetypalthemeinotherlives.Allfivearchetypaltraumasareengenderedonphysical,emotionalandmental

levels of experience. Abuse, for instance, does not have to be physicallyadministered–itcanbeimposedonemotionaland/ormentallevelstoo.Andwecan be abandoned on emotional levels as catastrophically as if we had beenphysicallydeserted.In our experience of these patterns, we are inevitably both givers and

receivers.Forinstance,ifweembodythearchetypeofabandonment,wewillnotonlybeabandonedbutinothercircumstanceswillbetheonewhoisabandoningsomeoneorsomething.Ultimately,wewillabandonourselves.Allarchetypal traumasworkinthisway, thougheachprimaryarchetypehas

its own associated patterns of behaviour through which we both play out itsarchetypalessenceandalsoseektoavoidorcopewithitsconsequentialtrauma.

Triggeringinchildhood

Formostofus,inourcurrentlife,suchanarchetypeislikelytohavebeenfirsttriggeredwhenwewereveryyoungchildren.Inmyexperienceofhealingworkwithmanyhundredsofclients,theageswhensuchinitialtriggeringoccursrangefromwhenachildisdevelopinginthewombthroughtoaboutfiveyearsold.Atsuchyoungages,wearedevelopingoursenseofselfandarevulnerableto

the traumas of what in hindsight may be trivial events. But at the time, ourability toarticulateandmakesenseofwhat ishappening is limited–oftenwecannotyetspeak–andsowerespondbyinternalizingthepainatasubconsciousandcellularlevel.Forinstance,untilabout30yearsagointheUK,whenachildneededtobe

hospitalized, its parents were limited to only short visiting hours. For manychildrenthisengenderedadeepsenseoflossandabandonment.Eventhoughintheir adult years many such children have been able to rationalize theirexperience, their emotional trauma was embedded at subconscious levels andthey are still struggling to come to terms with its legacy. Accordingly, theyexperience continuing occurrences of the abandonment pattern in their lives,oftenwithoutunderstandingwhy.Canwethenevenbegintocomprehendthesenseoflossandabandonmentof

children such as entire generations of Aboriginal children in Australia, takenfrom their familieswithoutwarningor exceptionand fostered in culturesbothalien andoftenhostile?Or the childrenorphaned through conflicts around theworldorbytheravagesofAids?

Puberty

Asyoungchildrenweare inherentlyopen to theemotionsof those aroundus,especially thoseof our parents and siblings.So to take another exampleof anarchetypaltrauma,ifourparentsareplayingoutapatternofabuse,eventhoughwemaynot be its direct subject,we can nonetheless take on and embody theessence of its pain. Throughout childhood wemay then experience situationsthatengenderthesamearchetype.Also,asIhavefoundfromworkingwithmanyclients,duringourearlyteens,

aswestruggletomakethetransitionfromchildtoadult,oneormoresignificanteventsalmostalwaysoccurswhichdeepenstheimprintofthearchetypalpattern.And by our late teens, our responses and coping mechanisms have generallybecomehabitual.It is therefore unsurprising that there is an innate correlation between the

severity of an archetypal trauma in an individual’s life experience and issuesrelatingtotheirsenseofself-worth.Beforewegoontoconsidersomeofthebehaviourthroughwhichweeither

play out these five archetypal patterns or try to copewith their consequences,thereisoneimportantfacttoemphasize:asweenacteachpattern,notonlydowe perpetrate it on others, or them on us, but we ultimately impose it onourselves.Whilstwemaydothisovertlyorsubconsciously,itisthiswhichmaybethemostpersistentmeansbywhichourlackofself-esteemisreinforced.

Abandonment

Abandonmentisallaboutloss.Analternativewaywedescribeit is tosaythatsomeone has been deserted. Indeed, if we close our eyes and envisage theemptinessofageographicaldesert,itslonelinessanddesolationofferusasenseofhowitfeelstoexperiencethisarchetypalpattern.The diversemeans by which we seek to cope with abandonment all try to

avoidsuchlossandtheconsequentialpainandloneliness.Forinstance,whenweareeitherinanewrelationshiporatapointinanongoingrelationshipwherewehave a choice to take it to the next level of intimacy, wemay find ourselves

sabotagingitinsomeway.Thus,andprobablyatasubconsciouslevel,weaimtoleavesomeonebeforetheyleave–orabandon–us.Alternatively,wemayseektocontrolormanipulateotherstoavoidloss.This

mayoccurnotonlyinhowwerelatetootherpeoplebutalsotooursurroundingsandtolifeingeneral.Indeed,ifwefeelparticularlyvulnerabletothepossibilityof abandonment in our relationships, we may become even more concernedabout exerting control over other aspects of our life. Depending on ourpersonality, we may choose to control these areas of our life on an openlydirectivelevelorwemayinsteadbelessdirectandmorecovertinourattemptstomanipulatecircumstances.Almost paradoxically, we may alternatively attempt to avoid even the

possibilityofabandonmentbyisolatingourselvesinstead.Inthisway,weensureourown imprisonmentby shuttingout life itself and therebyabandoningevenourselves.However,therealityoflifeisthatitisaprocessofcontinualwavesofchange.

Whenweareabletoembraceratherthanfearitsinevitability,itisabletoflowfreelythroughusandweareabletomoveon.Butwhenweseektocontroltheflowofchange,wedamtheriveroflife–withoftenunforeseenandsometimestragicconsequencesforothersandourselves.As with all five archetypal patterns, the first step in coming to terms with

abandonment and resolving and releasing its energetic trauma is ouracknowledgementofitspresence.Whilstourawarenessofitsinfluenceandourresponses to it may be at subconscious levels, we can know its reality by itscontinuingoccurrencesintherelationshipsandcircumstancesofourlives.

TheillusionofseparationAs spiritual beings undertaking the challenges of a physical experience, theabandonmentpatternthatmanyofuscarryhasbeentriggeredbythefeelingsofenteringphysicalincarnationandtheillusionofseparationfromSpirit.Often,soulswhosufferthishavechosenapurposeinthislifethatengenders

notonlyagreatchallengebutalsoagreatopportunity.Forthisillusoryschismisthe cause of the deepest sense of abandonment we can feel. By healing itstraumawithinthemselves,thesesoulsofferagreatgifttoourcollectivepsyche.Manyincarnateintofamilieswherethereisanextrememanifestationofthis

archetype. Their courage in recognizing it and struggling to heal it forthemselvesandthosearoundthemisallthegreaterinthattheyhaveultimately

chosentoundertakethiswork.AndastheirinnerprocessinvolvesnotonlytheirrememberingofthatchoicebutalsobridgingtheirperceivedschismwithSpirit,theessenceoftheirhealingisahomecomingofprofoundjoy.Theabandonmentarchetypecanbeparticularlypainfulasweconsidereither

ourowndeathorthatoflovedones.Ultimately,eachandeveryoneofushasaneventual appointment with the death of our body and thus the opportunity tomoveon toournextcosmicadventure.However, for thoseofuswhoembodythe archetype of abandonment and for whom the physical world is all weperceive,deathmayrepresenttheultimateabandonmentandwemaythusfearitatadeeplevelthatwemaynotconsciouslyevenunderstand.Beinghelpedtoseebeyondthelimitationsofthephysicalworldandtorealize

thatSpiritneverabandonsuscanoftenbethebreakthroughtothebeginningofourhealingjourney.

GriefWhenwedo,however,sufferthelossofthoseclosesttous,ourneedtogrieveisnatural and necessary. By allowing ourselves the time and circumstances toacknowledge and eventually release the sadness of grief,we are able tomoveforward.Butwhenwe deny ourselves the opportunity, our sadness doesn’t goaway,butismerelysubdued.Whenwe lose someone,bybeingable to talk about themand shed tearsof

memory, we can acknowledge both that we miss them and celebrate theexperiencesweshared.Whilstweconsciouslyrememberthepast,however,weareoftenunawarethatourfeelingsofgriefarealsoforthefuturethatwewillnotbe able to explore together. So when we grieve, it’s important for us toacknowledge these past, presentand future aspects of our sorrow and, by ourtearsandourgratitudeforhavingexperiencedthepresenceofthelovedoneinourlives,toenablethegrieftoflowthoughusasitneedstoforustobeabletoreconcileourlossandtowalkon.

Abuse

The cruelty of deliberately inflicting pain can operate inways both overt andsubtle. From the physical humiliation of corporal or sexual abuse to theemotional and mental abuse caused by constant unconstructive criticism, thispattern is one that can literally leave the deepest scars. It can be a means of

making ourselves feel better, however briefly, by making others feel worse.Morethananyother,thisarchetypalpatterncontinuestoplayoutwithinfamiliesonaninter-generationalbasis.Those of uswho have been subject to abuse, especially as young children,

mayfeelsomehowthatitisourfault,forwearegenerallytaughttobelievethattheadultsclosetousare‘right’,andso,bydefault,weare‘wrong’.Abuseisalsoapatternofbehaviourinwhichthepersoninflictingitwilltend

tojustifytheiractions,bothtothemselvesandothers.Alternativelytheymaybeindenialthattheyareactuallyabusive.Whenweabuseourselves,oftenasanextensionoftheabuseofusbyothers,

we most often do so through the insidious pain of addiction. Many peopleinitiallyturntosomethingtowhichtheylaterbecomeaddictedinanattempttoescapeotherformsofabuse.Sadly,escapingtheabuseofothersisusuallyeasierthan escaping such self-abuse once its influence has been imprinted on ourpsyche.

Betrayal

Thetreacheryofbetrayal,whetherofone’sfriends,familyornation,isonethatstrikesattheveryheartofhowwerelatetoeachother.Beingabletotrustthosewithwhomweshareourlivesanswersdeepneedsforinnersecuritywhich,aswehaveseen,lieattheveryrootofourbeing.Betrayal destroys trust and demolishes loyalty. And of the five archetypal

traumas,allofwhichweresufferedbyJesus,theonefromwhichweallrecoilishisbetrayalbyJudasIscariot.YetJudashadaninnermotivationforbetrayinghisspiritualleader.Whilstthe

Biblesuggestshisreasonsratherthanofferingdetails, thearchetypalpatternofbetrayalhasasitsinevitablecorollarythefactthatthebetrayerfeelsjustified,onwhateverbasis, for theactofbetrayal.Those reasonsarediverseandmaynoteven be known on a conscious level to the betrayer themselves. They will,however, be intimately associated with how they perceive themselves inrelationshiptothepersonorinstitutiontheybetray.Tobetrayorbebetrayedbysomeone,weneedalreadytohavebeeninvolved

in some form of relationshipwith them –we can’t be betrayed by a stranger.This is the case even when a nation is betrayed, for it is everyone of thatnationalitywhosetrustisbetrayed.Butsomedegreeofdisillusionmentwiththeexistingrelationshipalmostalwaysprecipitatestheact.

To begin to understand betrayal, we need to be able to listen to the self-justificationofthebetrayer–whetherthatissomeonewefeelhasbetrayedusorour own justification in betraying someone else. Whatever the rationale,howeverspecious,itoffersclueswecanusetogainunderstanding.Whetherwearethebetrayedorbetrayer,itoffersusanopportunity,ifweare

able to muster the courage and honesty, to search our own behaviour andmotivations.For,aswehaveseen,thecosmicprinciplesofconsciousnessrevealthe correspondences and reflections that mirror our inner and outercircumstancesthroughoutallourexperiences.

Denial

Denialistheunwillingnesstoacknowledgetherealityofasituation,eitheraboutothersorourselves.Whilst it isanarchetypalpatterninitself, itmayalsobeacomponentintheprocessofcomingtotermswithandhealingtheotherpatternswearediscussing.Often, to prevent any chink forming in the armour of denial, anything that

may initiate such acknowledgement will be avoided at all cost. Thus the oldadage‘Outofsightoutofmind’isaprimarybehaviourpatternofdenial.Certainsubjectsaretaboo,wewillstudiouslykeepoutofthewayofcertainobjectsorsituationsandwemaydevelopobsessiveorhabitualbehaviourthatpreventsthepossibilityofbringingtomindwhatisbeingdenied.Prejudice is invariably associated with denial. For by seeing someone or

something in thewaywe think they are rather than theway they actually aredenies their reality.Suchprejudiceusuallyenablesus to feelsuperiorand thusbetter.Butitalsodeniesourownreality.A pattern of denial by its very nature renders it difficult to address. As

addictioncouncillorsalwaysrelate,untilsomeonehashitrockbottom,insomecasestotheextentoflosingtheirfamilies,livelihoodsandalmosttheirlives,thedenial that they have an addiction continues to play a large role in itscontinuation.Butoncesuchdenialisreleased,healingcanbegin.

Rejection

Thefinalarchetypaltraumawewillconsideristhatofrejection–therefusaltoacceptoracknowledgesomethingorthediscardingofitasworthless.Ifweareembodyingsuchanarchetype,wemayconsiderthatnothingisever

goodenough.Ultimately,thatoftenincludesourselves,andthusweareunabletoacceptandloveourselvesforwhoweare.Alternatively, whenwe encounter rejection, rather than perceiving it as the

judgement and projection of others, we may take it to heart and thus feelinherentlyworthless.Aswithallthearchetypaltraumas,rejectioninfluencesusonthelevelsofour

lower three chakras and thus affects our fundamental sense of self. Continualrejectionleadstoprogressiveisolation,orice-soul-ation.Asweseparatethe‘I’ofourselvesfromthe‘notI’ofallothers,weturntoI-ce!Wearethenfrozenandliterallyunabletoflow.Wemayfeelasthoughoursoulisencasediniceandwehave no warmth – no love – in our lives. For ultimately, it is only love thatenablesustothawandbereleasedintotheflowoflifeoncemore.

Familypatterns

Whilst we experience such archetypal traumas in our individual lives, beinginnately collective we very often find that the same pattern runs through ourclosefamily–grandparents,parentsandsiblings.As our consciousness is holographic, when we become aware of and

committedtotheinnerhealingofourownenergeticpatterns,weessentiallygiftthat healing to thosewithwhomwehave shared its inter-play.Thismayhaveprofound implications, becauseoften such familypatterns gounacknowledgedand unspoken. We enter into dynamic and dysfunctional relationships wherethere develops ways of being and behaving to which everyone involved hasadjustedtheirownpsycheintheirownway.Compensationinothercircumstancescanbebeneficial,suchaswhentheloss

of, say, sight or hearing is counter-balanced by increased sensitivity in othersenses. But compensatory behaviour to cope with archetypal trauma merelyenables the trauma to deepen its energetic imprint on our individual andcollectivepsyche.

Healingschisms

As thesearchetypal traumasare intrinsic to theholographicnatureofpolarity-basedconsciousness,wecanalsodiscerntheminthepsycheofentiregroupsofpeoplewhoshareanethnic,religiousorculturalheritage.Forinstance,forovertwomillennia,thediversepeoplesoftheBalkanshave

undertakentit-for-tataggression.Whilsttheferocityoftheirconflictshasebbed

andflowedoverthecenturies,theunderlyingmistrustandresentmentsbetweenethnicandreligiousgroupshavebeenenergeticallyimprintedatadeeplevelofthecollectivepsyche.Inotherareasoftheworld,suchcommunaltraumasalsoremainunresolved,

witheachnewgenerationbeingculturallyimpregnatedwiththesameprejudicialfearsandhatredastheirforebears.The Middle East is a primary example of this. Here the schism between

Arabs,JewsandChristianssymbolicallyandenergeticallydatesbacknearlyfourmillennia.AtthetimeofthebiblicalpatriarchAbraham,histwosons,IshmaelandIsaac,bytwodifferentwives,HagarandSarah,aredeemedtohaveformedthe bloodlines of theArabic and Jewish people respectively. The later schismbetweenJewsandChristiansalsoultimatelyarosefromaJewishunwillingnessto accept the bloodline and thus authority of Jesus as the Christ, which was,however,embracedbyhisfollowersandtheresultantChristianfaith.Now in these transformative times, as we are becoming able to access the

energies of the 8th and higher chakras, our expanding awareness is able todiscern and understand these ancient patterns within ourselves, our families,communities and nations. And even more significantly, by aligning with theconsciousnessofour transpersonalawarenesswearenowable to facilitate thehealingoftheirassociatedtraumas.

Intention

Theword‘heal’has thesameoriginas theword‘whole’.Soessentially,whenweheal,webecomewhole.Andasharmonyisthenaturalstateoftheworld,sodisharmonyshouldalertustoimbalancesandalackofauthenticityandintegrityinourlives.Theinnerjourneytoharmonyandwholenessisonewecanalltread.Butthe

firststepistheacknowledgementthatthereisanimbalance.Thesecondstepisthe intention todosomethingtochange.Without that intention,ourperceptionhasnoenergytodrawontoenabletheflowofthatchangetobegin.But the choice inherent in such intention may initially not arise at the

consciouslevelofourego-self.Indeed,itsimpetusisfarmorelikelytooriginateathigherlevelsofourintegratedconsciousness.Wemayfirstbecomeawarethatsuch an intention has been set by the fact that our personal circumstancesbecomeevenmoredifficult!Whateverarchetypalpatternweareembodying,wemayfindthatsomehowitgetsawholelotworse.Andifwewerenotawareof

thepatternbefore,wesurelybecomesonow.This is the means by which our higher-self draws our attention to such a

patternandindicatesthatitscontinuationinourliveshasbecomeunsustainable.If we don’t get the message, our circumstances will usually continue todeteriorateuntilwedo!Whenwefinallydo‘getit’,however,wecanenergizeourintentiontochange

onaconsciouslevelandthentakethenextstep.Aswethencontinuetheprocessof healing, according to the nature of the holographic Cosmos and its cosmicprinciplesofmanifestation,ouroutercircumstanceswillchangetocorrespondtoour inner states. By changing from within, we transform our lives from theinsideout.NealeDonaldWalshmadethisclearinhisbookConversationswithGod.He

turnedourusualmantraof(fillinthedetailsofyourowngrumble):‘Whenwehave…wewilldo…andwewillbe…’intotheoppositeorderof‘Be…do…have.’Inotherwords,wemust‘be’whatwechoosetobefirstandnotlast!Understanding these principles and applying them to our own life

circumstances offers us a profound insight into ourselves fromwhichwe canmoveforward.

Agoodquestion

Youmightbeaskingbynow,whydoesourhigher-selfchoosetheembodimentofsucharchetypalpatternsandtheirconsequentialpain?Averygoodquestion!Theansweris,forthesamereasonthatanygoodactorrelishesachallenging

role. The actor knows that at the end of their performance, they take off thecostume and make-up and go home. So, too, our soul knows that at thecompletionof our physical experiencewe are re-united and thus awareof oursoul’s purpose. And, like an actor having triumphed in their role, we canafterwardsenjoythekudosforourremarkableperformance.Ourexperiencesandhowwedealwiththemmakeuptheperformanceofour

livesanddefinewhoweare.Butifweover-identifywithourrole,wemayholdon to feelings andways of thinking that are simply part of the play. To fullyparticipate in life,we need to feel, andwe need to have thoughts of all hues.However, when we are unable to allow these to flow easily through us andinstead carry them with us, they become ever-heavier energetic baggage andprevent us frommoving forward. Thenwe begin to recycle the patterns theyembody…andrecycle…andrecycle…

The five archetypal patterns we have discussed are incredibly rich in thediversityofopportunity theyoffer toexplorepolarity-basedconsciousnessandthus the illusionof separation.Accordingly, the resolutionandhealingof suchpatterns also offers us both individually and collectively a fast track towholeness. Yet paradoxically, we often hold onto the pain of the traumas weincur–manytimesuntilthetippingpointwherethepainofholdingonisevengreaterthanthefearoflettinggo.In such a case our pain can be our comfort blanket, although we would

probablydeny this.Whilst honouring anyonewho takes their pain to thewirebefore lettinggo, Iwouldnonethelessencourageallofusnot towait for suchdespairbeforewetakealeapoffaithintotheunknown.

Seed-points

Inordertoreleasethetraumasofsuchpatternsfromourpsyche,understandingtheeventsthat‘seeded’themandthusenergeticallyreleasingtheirimprintfromthatpointcanofferhealingataprofoundlevel.Whilsttheexperientialseed-pointsforarchetypalpatternstendtobetriggered

duringchildhood,especiallyinthepre-schoolyearsandagainatpuberty,aswegrow to adulthoodwebecomeenmeshed in thepatterns andourprogressivelyhabitualresponsesbecometheruttedroadofourlives.But such a triggering may in actuality be a retriggering. In my healing

experienceswithverymanyclients,wehavetogetherrealizedthatsuchpatterns,especially when deeply rooted, have their originating seed-point not in thislifetimebutinanotherlife.Wehavealreadyreferredtotherichnessofthesepatternsinexploringpolarity

consciousness. Although the themes of each are the same, there are vastopportunitiesfordiversityintheirexpression.Andso,aswebegintounderstandourownpatterninthislife,wemaycometorecognizethatwehaveplayedoutthesamearchetypeinmanyotherincarnations.However, as we shall see, by accessing our higher awareness, through the

portalof the8th chakraweare able to identify the energetic seed-pointof thepatternanditsretriggeringinthislife–andtoreleaseandthushealitsimprintinourpsyche.

Integratedmedicine

Traumas,aswe’veseen,areheldatdifferentenergeticlevelsandthustoeffect

theirreleaseweneedtoundertakeaholisticapproachtohealing.Usuallyonlyasmallpart isheldat cognitive levels.Most isheld subconsciously, resulting inresponses that may not yet have been acknowledged or understood on aconsciouslevel.However,whenevenasmallaspectofthearchetyperisesintoourwakingawareness,itisasignthathealingisreadytocommence.Integratedmedicineisnowbeingrapidlyacknowledgedasthemosteffective

means of bringing together different modalities to support a person’s specificneeds. This emerging approach to health combines an aim to prevent diseasethrougheducationandawarenessoftheimplicationsoflifestylechoiceswithaholistic approach to treatment. Utilizing the most up-to-date technologies fordetecting disease or treating physical injuries, it embraces complementarytherapiesforchronicillness,thealleviationofpainandtheenergetic releaseofblockages. It is also progressively recognizing our holographic nature and therelationships between thought, emotions and physical ill-health. Andincreasingly, elements of integratedmedicine aremodalities to release traumafromourenergeticbiofield.

Energymedicine

All techniques of energy medicine utilize the same underlying principles ofresonanceandultimatelytheeightcosmicprincipleswediscussedinChapter4.However, it’s not the energy that heals, but the information and perception itcarries. Thoughts and emotions are information-based patterns of energyconfigurationanditistherearrangementofthesepatternsthateitherinhibitsorrestoreshealth.Themany techniquesofenergymedicinewhichunblockand release trauma

therefore aim to provide free-flowing meridians which will then enable thereprogrammingofourharmonicpatternsofbeliefandbehaviour.Manynew techniquesarecurrentlyemergingandover thepast fewdecades

therehasalsobeenareappraisalintheWestoftheancientEasterntechniquesofenergymedicinesuchasacupuncture.Whilstingeneralsuchtechniquesrequirequalifiedpractitioners,theprinciplesofenergymedicineempowereachofusasindividuals,fortherearesimpleandeffectivetechniquesthatwecanalluse.The benefits of regular meditation practice that realigns us with cosmic

harmonyarewellknown.Andwehaveseenhowtheancientsalso recognizedthe healing power of sound andmusic. The fundamental harmonics expressedthroughthetoningofmanyEasternmantras–thesimplestofwhichistheAum,

theexpressionofprimordialcosmiccreation–isaneverydaymeansofaligningourenergieswiththeflowofalllife.A number of new techniques are being developed which are intended to

release the energetic patterns associated with past emotional or psychologicaltrauma. On an energetic level, these therapies usually work within thepersonalityenergyfield–essentiallyatthesamelevelofego-basedawarenessatwhichthetraumawasinitiallyincurred.If,however,theissuesthatgaverisetothesymptomsareembodiedinarchetypalenergeticpatterns,thesymptomswillreturn unless the underlying attitudinal and behavioural patterns have beenamended and the mental and emotional reasons for the imbalances fullyresolved.In other contexts, it has often been said that it is impossible to resolve a

problemfromthesamelevelofawarenessthatcreatedit.Thisisalsotruewhenattempting to resolve and release mental issues and emotional blockages.Essentially, if we continue to think, feel and act in the same way, we willcontinuetoexperiencethesameoutcome.However,byenergeticallyraisingourawarenesstothetranspersonallevelof

the 8th chakra of the universal heart, we are not only able to witness andunderstand the pattern from a higher perspective but also, by connectingwithourhigher-self,togainguidanceonthemosteffectivemeansofreleasingit.Whenweclimbahill,weareabletoseefurtherthanwhenweremaininthe

valleybelow.Sowhenweperceiveourselvesfromthevantagepointofthe8thchakra,wecanwitness,with intuitive insight andcompassion, the journeysofourlivesandthetraumasthatitisnowtimetorelease.

The8thchakra

Accessing the energies of the 8th chakra enables us to become aware of thedeeper behavioural patterns that pervade our lives. Where these no longersupport us, we are then able to attune to the wisdom of our higher-self andundertakeuniversalheart-centredhealingatasoullevel.As we have seen, the triadic energies of the 8th chakra bring together the

awareness embodied by our personal mind, heart and will and raise theirvibrationstoatranspersonallevel.Withinourego-basedself,thefundamentalroleofourmindistomaintainthe

perceptionthateachofusisaseparateindividualandtosustaintheillusionofthepolaritiesofthephysicalworld.Thecontinuingroleofourheart,however,is

to ensure that we do not wholly forget that in fact we are all connected andultimatelyOne.Andthepurposeofourwillistooptimizetheroleweplayinco-creatingourrealitiesbyourwillingnesstoparticipateintheplayoflife.Themoreweparticipate,however,themorewetendtoidentifywiththerole

weplay.Suchidentificationisnotbyitselfaproblem.It’sonlywhenwebecomeor remainattached to the implicationsandconsequencesof such identificationthatourexperiencesimprisonus.This is where the level of awareness of our personal mind, heart and will

embodiesour identificationand theirassociated traumas. Incopingwith them,our conscious mind may seek to protect us by taking control. We may thenattempttoretreatfromfuturepainbyclosingdowntheinnervoiceofourheartorbyrefusingtolistentothecreativityofourwill.Thepainwe’reaccustomedtocanthenberationalizedaspreferabletothepainwefearwemayincurifwe‘letgo’andleapintotheunknown.Unfortunately,whatourego-mindperceivesasprotectionmayinfactbeimprisonment.When,however,weaccesstheawarenessofthe8thchakra,weareabletosee

the archetypal pattern in which we have been enmeshed. We can perceive,withoutfearorjudgement,itsthemes,includingitstriggeringinthislifetimeanditspossibleseedinginanotherlife.Balancing and manifesting the healthy expression of the seven personal

chakrastakesusfromthelonelinessofseparationandlosstotheembodiedsenseofself–ourperceptionofouralone-ness.However,aswegoontoexplorethehighertranspersonalchakrasoftheuniversalheartandbeyond,wewillmoveonfrombeingal-onetorememberingthatweareall-one.AnancientnameforGodwasEl.Soaswerememberwhowereallyare,wegofrombeingal-onetoall-onebyaddingan‘l’–or‘el’.Inotherwords,weconsciouslyembodytheGodwithinus.Scientistshavediscoveredthatthenatureofthecosmichologramenablesthe

expression of the maximum amount of awareness to be embodied withinspacetime. The incredible diversity of life and the uniqueness of individualawareness then ensure that this capacity is fully utilized for the physicalembodiment of experiences. For ultimately the purpose of our integralconsciousness–oursoul–inchoosingtobehereistoco-createandtolearn.As we heal our ego-based persona, we are able not only to expand our

awarenessbutalsotoembodysuchco-creativityandincreasingunderstandingasamemberofthecommunityofalllife.

Theintentiontoheal

Wecanonly tomake the choices for our ownhealing in thepresentmoment.Whenwerevisitthepastaspartofourheart-centredsoulhealing,wedosoonlyto bring an understanding of how our patterns and blockageswere created inordertodiscusshowbesttoreleasethem.Onlybyresolvingandclearingtheenergeticimprintatitsseed-points,bothin

this life and, if it was the case, in another life, can we ultimately release itsinfluence. For unless we address the root cause of the pattern, wherever andwheneverthatmayhavebeenseeded,itseffectswillcontinuetospreadintoourlives.Aswithanyenergy-basedhealing,andindeedanyenergyworkgenerally,we

alsoneed to groundour awareness in order to fully embody and integrate ourhealing experience. As we’ve seen, it is through our root chakra that thegroundingofourpersonality-basedawarenessisaccomplished.However,asweaccessthehighervibrationalenergiesofourunitychakrafieldandbegintoworkatasoular level,weneed togroundourawareness throughtheninth,earthstarchakra.When any behavioural or other pattern is released, on an energetic level it

leavesavoidbehind.Afundamentalattributeofallenergy,however,isthatanyvoidwillbefilled.Sounlessreplacedbyanotherformofenergy,thevoidleftbythereleasewillthenfillupwithwhateverotherformofenergiesmaybepresent.By always replacing the energy that has been released by the energy ofunconditionallove,webothbalancetheintrinsicflowsofconsciousnesswithinourselvesandofferourselvesthegreatestgiftofunityawareness.As you read and integrate themessage ofThe 8thChakra, you are already

undertakinguniversalheart-centredsoulhealing.Andonpage251you’llfindasimple meditation which will help you to access and embody these highervibrationalenergies.Let’s now go through a number of ways in which we may recognize and

releasetheseoutworntraumas.

Thetraumaticseed-pointinthislife

Thefirststepisforustorecognizetheenergeticseed-pointofthepatterninthislife.

Theenergeticseed-point

To do this, always begin by silently breathing in to the 8th chakra andintending thatyourhighestguidance revealclearly toyou thecircumstancesoftheoccurrenceoftheseed-point.

Yourhigher-selfmay thenofferyouan innervisionora feelingor senseofsomething,oramemorymaypopsuddenlyintoyourawareness.

Yourhigherguidancecanpresentitselfinmanyways–itmayappear‘real’orsurreal,couchedinsymbolsorflashesofcolour–butthesignificanceliesinwhat it specificallymeans toyou.Whatevercomesforwardand inwhateverform,trustthatitispurposefulandallowyourselftolistentoitsmessage.

Ifnothingappears,relaxandallowtheprocesstounfold.

Inner-view

Analternativewayofrevealingtheseed-pointistobreatheintothe8thchakraandinwardlyintendthatyourhigher-selfguidesyoubackalongthetimelineofthislifetime.Allowyourintuitiontoguideyouuntilyoustopataparticularsceneorbecomeawareofaspecificmemory.

Breathe into the 8th chakra and allow the events of thememory to unfold.Rememberthatyourwayofperceivingmaymeanthatyousenseorfeelthisinnerexploration rather thanvisualize it.Buthoweveryourhigherguidanceoffersitsgiftofdeeperunderstanding,itisrightforyou.

As your understanding emerges, continue to breathe through the 8th chakraandinwardlyaskthatyourhigher-selfguideyoutoafullunderstandingoftheseed-pointexperience.

When you are intuitively aware that you have this understanding, ask yourhigher-selfwhatyouneedtodotohealitsenergeticimprintinyourpsyche.

Thereleaseofheaviness

Whilstwhenyouare fully in theenergiesof the8thchakra,youareable towitness this unfolding of understanding with compassion and withoutjudgement,youmaywellfindthatpainfulorheavyfeelingsdoinitiallyarise.Iftheydo,breatheintothe8thchakraandallowthefeelingstoflowthroughyou.

You may visualize this by seeing or sensing the energies being held in aparticular part of your body. If you do so, again allow your breath to flowthough the 8th chakra and sense the blockage dissolving and the heavyenergiesflowingdownthroughtheearthstarchakrabeneathyourfeetandintotheEarth.Asyousensethemdoingso,offergratitudetoGaiafortheirrelease.

Don’tleaveanenergeticvoidintheirplace,butvisualizeorsensetheenergiesofunconditionalloveflowingthroughthe8thchakratothatpartofyourbody.

Lovingtruth

Inidentifyingtheseed-pointofapatterninthislifetime,youareverylikelytoencounterfamilymembers,friendsandotherswithwhomyouhaveplayedoutthispattern.Thosewhoarefundamentaltoyourexperiencewillemergeintoyour awareness. You are also able in your inner vision and sensing to callthosepeopletoyou.Asyoudoso,breatheintothe8thchakraandallowyourhighestguidancetoflowthroughyou,revealingtoyouwhatyounowneedtodotohealthepattern.

Itmaybethatyouneedtohaveaninnerdialoguewithwhoeverhasappearedtoyou.

Rememberthatyouareabletocallupontheirhigher-selfinthesamewaythatyourownhigher-selfisintrinsicallyguidingyouthroughoutthisprocess.

Speak directly to them, and say what you need to, with loving truth andwithoutholdingback.Inreturn,listentowhattheyhavetosaytoyou,foryoumay gain a profound understanding of their motivation and in so doing adeeperunderstandingoftheirownpatternandcompassionfortheirpain.

This inner dialogue alonemay enable the pattern to be released from your

psyche. But if more is needed, ask your higher guidance to reveal how toproceed.

When you sense that the pattern has been released, feel into your intuitiveawarenesstoconfirmthatithasbeenfreedatitsseed-pointinthislife.Withaverydeeppattern,youmayfindthatasyouremainopen,othercircumstancesmay arise. If they do, go through the same processes to release each one.However,byintendingthatyoureleasethepatternatitsseed-point,itwillbetothatpointthatyourperceptionwillbedrawn.

Honourandallow

Duringthisprocessyoumay,however,findthatwhateveryoudoorsay,thosewhomyoucalltoyouorencounterareunwillingorunabletomeetyouinthiscrucible of consciousness. If that is the case, acknowledge it, honour theirchoiceandallowthemtogo.

Youarebothstillenergeticallyconnectedbythearchetypalpattern,however,and so to heal you need to free yourself and the other person from itsconstraints.Iftheyareunwillingorunabletocommunicatewithyouthenyoumayaskyourhigherguidancehowtobestaccomplishthis.

Onewaythatoftenworkswellistoenvisagewhereinyourandtheirbodyorenergyfieldyousensethatyouarejoinedbyanenergeticthread.Thismaybeheadtohead,orleftkneetorightelbow!Oritmaybeviaparticularchakras.

Whatever appears, trust the guidance it offers. Then, as you breatheunconditionallovethroughthe8thchakra,envisagethatthethreadisreleased–again,bywhatevermeansyouareintuitivelyguidedtodoso.

When you sense that you are released, feel into your intuitive awareness toconfirm that this is indeed true.As previouslymentioned,with a very deeppattern,youmay find thatasyou remain receptive,othermemoriesarise. Iftheydo,gothroughthesameprocessofreleasingtheirtrauma.

However, as you continue to intend that the pattern is released at its seed-point, your awareness will intuitively come to that originating event to behealed.

Seed-pointsinotherlives

Whenanarchetypalpattern is released in this lifetime, inorder toprevent thepossibilityof its reappearance, theenergetic templateof itsoriginal seed-pointneedstobehealedandreleasedinthelifeinwhichitwasinitiated.TheholographicnatureoftheCosmosmeansthathealingatthelevelofthis

original seed-point enables the release to flow through every life where thearchetypalpatternhasbeenenactedandintotheNow.Inunderstandingtheseed-pointeventsofanotherlifeandhealingtheirlegacy,

youdon’talterhistory.Youdo,however, increaseyour levelofawarenessandthustransformyourpresentandyourfuture.

Ifyouarereadytoperceivetheother-lifeseed-pointofthearchetypalpatternyouhavebeenembodying,beginbyaccessingtheenergiesofthe8thchakra.Intend that your higher guidance is revealed to you and open yourself towhatevercomes.

Whilst youmay find that your awareness arises inways that are similar tothoseyouexperiencedwhilstunderstandingandhealingthearchetypalpatternin this lifetime, don’t assume that this will be so. It may be that yourperceptionoftheoriginatingseed-pointcomestoyouinaverydifferentway.Sojustrelaxandbeopen.

Youmayfindthatthecircumstancesoftheseed-pointlifearerevealedtoyouin detail. Or, more likely, you may perceive a specific scene or event.RememberthatyouareinconsciouscontrolofthiscosmicDVD,sobreathethroughthe8thchakraandallowyourhigher-selftoguideyoutothelevelofunderstandingyouneedtoenablethehealingandreleaseyouintend.

Freeingourselves

Being in the energetic vibration of our 8th chakra also facilitates theidentificationofotherimbalancesandtraumaswithinourpsycheandguidesusinunderstandinghowtofreeourselvesfromlimitingbeliefsandfears.Todothis,youmayfindthemeditationonpage251helpful.

Theclarityandfocusofyourintentionisfundamental.Sobeforeyoubegin,youmaywishtoconsiderwhatyouareaskingfor.

Whenyouhaveaccessedtheenergyofthe8thchakra,asyoubreathethroughit,focusyourintentionandinwardlyspeakit,allowingitspurposetoresonatewithinyou.

As with healing the energies of archetypal patterns, your identification oflimitingbeliefsandhowtohealthemmayariseinmanydifferentways.Inthehealing energies of the 8th chakra, whatever is revealed is the gift of yourhigher-self.Trustit.

Heart-centredsoulhealing

Fromthehighervantagepointof the8thchakraof theuniversalheart,weareabletohealthearchetypaltraumasofabandonment,abuse,betrayal,denialandrejectionnotonlyforourselvesbutforourentirehumanfamily.Their re-soul-utionisanintrinsicaspectofourinnerhealing.Suchhealing–ourjourneytothewholenessofwhowereallyare–isastep-by-stepprocess.Aswehavealreadyseen,ancientmythsrefertothisasthequestofthesolar–orsoular–hero.These wisdom teachings perceive that the wholeness of the human soul

embodies an integrated 12-into-13 harmonic of fundamental energies.We arethus microcosmic reflections of the cosmic harmony that is comprised of themusicalscaleof13notes.Onalargerscaleofthecosmichologram,thisharmonyresonatesthroughthe

yearlydanceof theSun,MoonandEarth, comprising12solarmonthsand13lunarmonthsofFullMoons.ThepathsoftheSun,MoonandalltheplanetsofourSolar–orSoular–Systemthroughtheskyalsointerweavethroughthe12signsofthezodiaceachyear,creatingthematrixofastrologicalinfluenceofourindividualandcollectiveawareness.Ancientwisdomreliedonmetaphorandmythtodepictthisunderstanding.So

in the journey of the soular hero we repeatedly encounter these archetypalnumbers.ThejourneyoftheSun,orSol,isthusthejourneyofthesoularhero.Andthe

journeyofthesoularheroisthejourneyofthesoul.Nowisthetimeforustorealizethatweallhavethepotentialtobesolar–or

soular – heroes. Whilst each of us follows a unique path, we all share theultimatedestinationof thesoularhero–therealizationandembodimentof the

unitythattranscendsandgivesbirthtoallpolarity-basedconsciousness.Thejourneyofeverysoularheroincorporates12stepsthatsoonerorlater,we

alltread.Itisthisjourneythatwe’llnowexploretogether.

CHAPTER10

Thejourneyofthesoularhero

Lifeisconsciousnessexploringitself.Howcanitdothisotherthanthroughtheprocessesthatwecallexperiences?Andhowcanexperiencesunfoldotherthanthroughchange?Change is theonlyconstant in life.Yetweoften treat itasafoe,seeking to

barricadeourselvesagainstitsinevitability.Changeisnotanenemyatthegateof thecitadelofour identity,however– it’s the friend thataccompaniesusonour journey home. By embracing it as a friend, a fellow traveller and guidethroughoutourjourney,weareabletoflowwiththeriverofliferatherthantodamandthusstagnateitswaters.Change is a friend who challenges and surprises us, yet nonetheless only

wishes our highest good.MotherTeresa once expressed her feelings in awaythat I suspect finds an echo for most of us when she said that whilst sheunderstoodthatGodnevergaveheranythinggreaterthanshecouldhandle,sheonlywishedsometimesthatHedidn’ttrustherquitesomuch!The changes in our lives always offer us opportunities to co-create and to

learn,however.Theyformthestepping-stonesofourpathof innergrowthandare the way-showers of our journey to wholeness. For nothing happens bychanceandeverythinghasahigherpurpose.

Twelvesteps

Whilsttheultimatedestinationofthisjourneyofself-realizationisthesameforallofus,thestepswetaketoreachitareuniquetoeveryoneofus.Thepathwechoosetotakemaybeoneofthewell-wornwaysoftheworld’sgreatreligionsoritmaybeapathlesstrod.Wemayalsochoosetostopatanypointalongtheinnerjourneyasitbecomesmorearduousorchallenging.Butregardlessofwhetherourchoiceisaspiritualhighwayoralittle-trodby-

way, if we do decide to walk on, something incredible happens: we begin tonotice thatwhilstour journey isunique, thereareuniversalway-stationsalongthepath,way-stationsthatnurtureusandvalidateouronwarddirection.Such way-stations are embedded in every initiatory tradition and healing

process.Inmanytraditionstheinsightstheyembodyaredeemedtocomprise12steps,whichtogetherformthethirteenthandthusbecomecomplete.Andasweembody the spiritual understanding that each step gives to us,we too becomewhole.These insightswere revealed tome duringmyown soular journey, a three-

year pilgrimage to 12 locations around the Earthwhichwill be related inmyforthcoming bookThe 13th Step. Here I’ll share the lessons I andmy fellowtravellers learned. I’ve introduced someof these insights already in this book,but here we may see how together they comprise the steps that lead to ourindividualandcollectiveremembering.My own soular journey continues, for having been offered the map of the

terrain, I feel that I’mstill reconnoitringand rediscovering it everydayofmylife.With each thought, word and action, I have opportunities to embody itscosmictruthsandtakesanctuaryinitsspiritualway-stations.In experiencing extraordinary revelations, I feel evermoreordinary.And in

theordinarymomentsofmydailylife,Iperceivethedivinitythatistheworld.Ifallovertoo,withoccasionaldayswhenItakerefugeundertheduvet,and

yet I experience other days when miracles, like butterflies, alight on myshouldersfromdawnuntilnight.UnlikethetimebeforeIbeganconsciouslytoundertake the journey of the soular hero, everymoment now is precious andeverydayoffersmeanewtheinfinitemagicoflife.AndInowknowformyselftheinsightsthatthemysticsofallageshavesharedwithus.Butthisadventureisnotmineal-one;it isoursall-one.Thenewlyavailable

energies of the 8th and higher chakras are our communal heritage, and theirembodimentourcommunaldestiny.Let’s now share what I and nearly 70 fellow travellers discovered as we

undertookthejourneyofthesoularhero.

Thefirststep:Responsibility

Our first step is to take responsibility for our choices and their resultantimplicationsandconsequences.AfundamentalchoicetakenbyoursoulhasbeentoincarnatehereonEarthat

thistime.Eachandeveryoneofushastakenthisdecision.Thisisaboldstatementthatpeoplereacttoitindifferentways.Someareable

to acknowledge such a choice. For many of us, however, the challenges weexperienceinourownlivesandthosethatweseeinthelivesofothersleadtoourdenyingthepossibility.Yet, as we have seen, our consciousness is integrated on all levels of

awarenessandwemakechoicesnotonlyatthelevelofourego-mindbutalsoatthe level of our higher-self, as in the choice to incarnate.Until our awarenessexpands,however,wemayonlyperceive thechoices thatemanate throughourego-mind.Our awareness is continually changing. It is different today fromyesterday.

Anditwasdifferentlastweekfromlastyear.Weareonlyabletomakechoicesinthepresentmomentandwithourpresentlevelofawareness.Nonetheless,wemay findourselves saying ‘If only I knew thenwhat I knownow.’Whilstwemayoftenberateourselvesforlackingthatawareness,it’slikegrumblingthatathree-year-old child doesn’t know how to send an e-mail. Actually, that’sprobablyapoormetaphor,asIsuspectafewthree-year-oldscandojustthat!Takingresponsibilityliesinmakingchoiceswiththeawarenessthatwehave

in thepresentmoment.Wedon’tneed to take responsibility for thechoicesofour higher-self, unless we are aware of those choices. We need only toacknowledgethatweareindeedresponsibleforthechoicesweareconsciouslyawareof.Wecanchoosetotakethisfirststepofthejourneyofthesoularheroatany

momentofourlives.Wedon’thavetowaituntilwe’reolder,clevererorricher,havemoretimeorfeelhappier.Like all other choices, this too has implications and consequences. For by

taking responsibility for our conscious choices, we inevitably expand ourawareness.Webegintoperceive, inwaysbothobviousandsubtle, thechoiceswe havemade and continue tomake – choices ofwhichwe’ve hitherto beenunaware.This is the moment to re-mind ourselves, if we need to, not to regret the

choicesofourpast.Wemadethoseatthelevelofourpastperception.Andtheexperiences relating to those choices brought us to our current level ofawareness.Having taken this first step,we are also able to perceive that continuing to

makethesamechoicesthatwe’vemadeinthepastwillleadalmostinevitablytothe same outcomes. So if wewant to change the future, wemust change the

present.

Thesecondstep:Fear–orlove?

Thesecondstepof the journeyof thesoularherois tochoose loverather thanfear,inthought,wordanddeed.Whenwe’reinastateoffear,researchhasshownthatourbodycontracts–we

literally withdraw into ourselves, ready to fight or flee. We’ve evolved suchmechanismsasameansofsurvival.However,manyofusareburdenedbyfearsonanongoingbasis,evenwhenthereisnoimmediateorrealisticdanger.Suchchronicfearmaybeexpressedasaspecificphobiaorembodiedinmoregeneralways,suchasafearofcommitmentorofattainingsuccess.Atbest,itlimitsourability to participate fully in life and at worst it debilitates and locks us in aprisonofourownmaking.This isour fear.Weown it, forultimatelynoone else canmakeus fearful.

Whilstofcourse therearepeoplewhodeliberatelyseekto instil fear inothers,theycanonlysucceed if thoseothersallowthemselves to respond in thatway.DuringtheSecondWorldWartheBritishleaderWinstonChurchilloncedistilledthistruthwhenhesaid,‘Allwehavetofearisfearitself.’Howdowe relate to thepeople aroundus–with loveor through fear?For

mostofus,ourpartners, friendsand families areour ‘lovedones’.During thehorrendouseventsof9/11, the lastmessagesfromthepeoplewhodiedonthatdaywere of love, to their parents, wives, husbands and children. But beyondthese‘lovedones’,howdowerelatetothewiderhumancommunity?Isitwithlove?By ‘love’, I mean an attitude that perceives the world as an inter-related

whole,anattitudethatlooksforthethingsthatwehaveincommonratherthanthosethatapparentlyseparateus.Suchloveisnotblindtothecircumstancesofthemanifestworld but is able to perceive, however elusively, the holographicharmonyandpurposethatunderlieandguidethem.Whereastheenergiesoffearareinnatelythoseofscarcityandseparation,the

energiesofloveareinherentlythoseofabundanceandrelationship.Butthiskindof love isn’t always easy to feel for those we perceive as different fromourselves, and fear is often ourmore immediate emotion. In the dynamics ofhuman relationships, and given the often violent and abusive heritage of ourethnic,culturalandreligiousdiversity,wehavemuchtodotoreconcileandheal.Thisreconciliationcanonlybeginwithineachofus.But,aswe’llseeinthe

next chapter, it is on ourwillingness or otherwise to do so that our collectivedestiny is founded.We live inmomentous times thatportendgreatchange.AsMartinLutherKingonce said, ‘Weeither swim together as brothers or drownseparately as fools.’ We cannot resolve the global issues that confront us byacting independently.Unlessweareable tobegin theprocessofauthenticco-operation and collaboration, no single family, group or nation will have asustainablefuture.Individuallyandcollectively,wecanrespondtotheknownrisksandunknown

possibilitieseitherfearfullyorwithlove.Thelovewe’rediscussingisnot‘soft’.Itdoesn’tcolludeorcompromisewith

fear-based actions. But it does have compassion and seeks understanding forthosethatperpetratethemanditdoesaimtoempowerthoseinfeartodiscoveramorelovingwayofbeing.Suchadiscoverycanonlycomeaboutifthosewhoaremoreawarearemore

lovingthemselves.Wecannotsay,‘DowhatIsay,notwhatIdo.’Asindividuals,groupsandnations,unlessweourselvesarelovinglyauthentic,wecannothopethatotherswhoarelessawarecanbecomeso.Theenergiesofourintentionsandmotivations, as we’ve seen, direct the outcomes of our choices and actions.Energetically,theendneverjustifiesthemeans.Forthemeansbecomestheend,andwearedeludingourselvesifwethinkotherwise.

Loveisn’t‘like’Buthowdowechooseloveratherthanfear?First,lovingsomeoneorsomethingisn’tnecessarilythesameaslikingthem.

Welikesomeonebecausetheyresonatewithusonapersonalbasis.Essentially,welikesomeonebecausetheyarelikeus.Imeanby this thatwe tend to likepeoplewhoshareourpersonalvaluesor

view of the world, rather than similarities in our personal likes and dislikes.Whenwelikesomeoneonthisbasis,it’seasierforustomovefromlikingthemtolovingthem.Sometimes, however, on a personal level we may find ourselves loving

someone despite not actually liking them. In my experience this most oftenhappenswithinfamilieswhenwefeelthatwehaveverylittleincommonwithabrother,sister,parentorchild,andyetwelovethem.Indeed,aswe’veseenwiththearchetypaltraumasweplayoutinourlives,it’s

veryofteninfamilyrelationshipsthat thegreatest traumasareembodied.Such

painisdeepenedbythefactthatitisassociatedwiththosewefeelshouldbeournearestanddearest.InChapter5weexploredhowasweawakenourperceptionweprogressively

accessandbalanceourpersonalchakras.Ifweremainatthelevelofawarenessofourlowerthreechakras,wewillcontinuallybeseekingsecurity,pleasureandpower – and the feelingswe have towards other peoplewill be based on thatperspective.Onlywhenweawakenandbalanceourheartandhigherchakrasarewe able to begin to feel love. Otherwise what wemight call ‘love’ is in factbasedoncontrolofsomesort.Lovedoesn’tseektocontrol–itseekstosupport.Suchlove,whilstnotnecessarilyneedingustoliketherecipientofitsfocus,

nonethelessremainspersonal.Whenwebegintoaccesstheenergiesofthe8thchakra of the universal heart, however, the lovewe feel for others transcendspersonal love and becomes compassion. We start to experience the profoundinterconnectionoftheentireCosmos,andindoingso,weseeever-moreclearlythatfeararisesfromtheillusionofseparation.Wealsoseeopportunitiestohealthatfearbyfeelingthelove,bothinourownlivesandinthewiderworldaroundus.Andaswecontinueourjourneytoinnerwholeness,stepbystepweattainthe

realityoflovethatisunconditional.

Thethirdstep:In-to-great

Theloveembracedbytheaspiringsoularheroisn’tblind.Itseesthediversityofthedanceoflightandshadowthatpervadestheworldandeverythinginit.Butitdoessowithcompassion.Mostofus,althoughnotall,wouldprefertoseeourselvesinthebestpossible

light.Ourbehaviourmay incorporate archetypal patterns thatwemaydenyorrationalize, but I suspect there are few people who when they look into themirroreachmorningseesomeonetheyconsidertobe‘bad’.Nonetheless,weallincorporatetherelativity–ortherealativity–oflightandshadow.Thethirdstepofoursoularherojourneyistoacknowledgesuchpolaritieswithinourselves.Inso doing, we can begin to embrace their reality, resolve their imbalances andbecomewhole.Whenwe embody an energetic imbalancewithin ourselves, often at a level

belowourconsciousawareness,wemayfeelasthoughsomethingismissinginour lives. This feeling of loneliness is ourway of expressing the loss or non-attainment of inner wholeness.We may seek its fulfilment outside ourselves,

especiallythroughrelationships.Whereweenterintorelationshipsonthisbasis,wemaywelldiscoverthatthelonelinessfeltbyourpartnerhasplayedaroleintheir need for the relationship too. Yet, whatever our motivations, ourrelationshipsnonethelessofferusongoingopportunitiestoheal.However,someoneorsomethingoutsideourselvescannevercompensatefor

ourinnersenseofloneliness.Onlywhenwerecognizethisandlookinwardsdowe have the opportunity to take the steps from being lonely to being fullyourselves–oralone.Whereaswhenwe’re lonelywe feel something’smissing inour lives,when

wefeelaloneweempowerourselves.Exploringsuchaloneness,ourtruesenseofself,isafundamentalaspectofourhumanexperience.Continuing to aspire to inner healing and greater awareness, though, we

reconnect with and remember ever greater aspects of our soul. And as weintegrate ourselves – or, as my dear friend Kelly Daigle says, ‘in-to-great’ourselves–wejourneyfromlonelinesstoalonenessandthenontoall-one-ness.

Thefourthstep:Showup!

Thefourthstepofoursoularherojourneyistoembodycoherenceandalignmentwith the flow of the Cosmos and our own higher purpose. Our higher-selvesofferus theopportunities to explore such experiences everyday.Butwemust‘showup’bybeingwillingtodoso.Byopeningourselvestoourownhigherguidance,webaseourintentionson

the understanding of our highest purpose – that of our soul. We are thusempowered to embody our destiny in this life, whatever it may entail, withawarenessandjoy.If our highest purpose is that the circumstances of our lives remain as they

werebefore,wearenonethelessinwardlytransformedandourattitudetothemistranscended.But whether our outer circumstances remain the same or change out of all

recognition,ourhighestpurposeinbeinghereisrevealedtousandwebecomeabletoshareouruniquegiftsinservicetoall.

Thefifthstep:Now

Thecosmichologramisco-createdineachmoment.Anditisonlyinthecosmicgift of the present – theNow– thatwemake our choices and experience ourlives.Yetithasbeenestimatedthatatleastathirdofourenergies,asexpressed

throughour thoughtsandemotions,are focusedon thepastanda further thirdare focused on the future. This leaves at most only a third of our energeticattentiononthepresent.Holdingontotheenergeticpatternsofthepastresultsinregret,grieforanger.

In extremis, we may replay its events again and again without resolution orrelease.Alternatively, byprojectingourselves into the futurewemay either seek an

illusory escape from the challenges of the present or focus our fears ontounknowncircumstances.Whatever thepasthasheldforus, it ishistory.Wecan’tchangeit,although

wemayjudiciously,aswe’veseen,gaingreaterunderstandingof it inorder toilluminatethepresentandhealthefuture.AndwecanonlyinfluencethatfuturebythechoiceswemakeinthemomentoftheNow.Themore enticingour futuremight look, themorewemight be tempted to

ignore the present. Conversely, the less positive itmight appear, themorewemightretreatinfear–oftenintothesafetyofthepast.Buttoparticipateinourlives,wemustlivethemasauthenticallyaswecan.Ifwewereabletopredictorguarantee the future, itwouldbe like reading theendofabookorplay. Ifwewereabletoknowtheoutcomeofourlives,whywouldwepayattentiontotheinterveningevents?Aswewalkthroughourlives,byphysicallyonlybeingabletoplaceoneleg

infrontoftheother,weretainourbalance.Similarly,bybeingabletoperceivenomorethanthenext‘step’ofawarenessahead,wekeepourspiritualbalance.Thisenablesustomakeourchoiceswithourgreatestawareness.Andsothisfifthstepofthejourneyofthesoularhero–toliveintheNow–is

onethatwetakeeverymoment.

WavebeingManyofusviewlifeasarace–weevencallourselves the‘humanrace’!Werun from experience to experience, deadline – not lifeline – to deadline, andconvinceourselvesthatthisishowwemustlive.Evenwhenwearechronicallyexhaustedorstressedtobreakingpoint,wemaystillcontinuetopushonratherthantakingastepbackandconfrontingourchoices.Westernmaterialismhaspersuadedvastnumbersofusthatsuchfreneticlives

aretheonlywaytobe,andthat‘moreof’and‘newermodel’aresignsofhealthandabundance.Ifthiswerethecase,however,ourlevelofhappinessandhealth

would surely be greatly higher than that of our parents and grandparents.Yetevery study over the last few years has shown that in general, our physical,emotionalandmentalwell-beingiscollectivelylessthantheirs.Nonetheless,aswehavenotedthroughoutThe8thChakra,atthismomentof

crisis,ourhigherawarenessandthatoftheCosmosareenablingustorememberourselves,ifwechoosetodoso.Wecanthentransformourraceintograce.Ourownhigher-selvesareofferingustheunderstandingofhowtotransform

‘ourwayofbeing’intoourbecominga‘wavebeing’.Ifwechoosetodoso,wecanenableourselvesnotmerelyto‘gowiththeflow’buttobecometheflow.

Thesixthstep:Mutualrespect,loveandgratitude

Thesixthsteponourjourneymaybeagreatleapformanyofus.Overthelastcenturies,religiousauthoritieshaveinformedusthatwemayonlyapproachtheDivine through intermediaries. Science has gone further and insisted that theDivineitself is illusoryandthatonlyweandperhapsafewhigheranimalsareconscious. The insights and experiences of the ancients and primary peopleshavebeendecriedas superstitiousnonsense.Andanyoneable toconnectwiththearchetypalconsciousnessofDevasandAngelshasbeentreatedwithderisionatbest.But, aswe’ve seen, science and Spirit are beginning to be reconciled.And

evermorepeopleareexperiencingdirectly the realities thatmainstreammediaandout-datedsciencecontinuetoignoreordecry.So this is now our choice: do we continue to be part of the materialistic

problemorcanwebecomepartoftheintegratedsolution?Choosingtoembodyourintegralawarenessis,however,achoicethatcomes

with increasing responsibility. Forwe know that aswe expand our awarenessandaccesstheenergiesofourhighertranspersonalchakras,wereconnecttothemulti-dimensional consciousness ofGaia, our Soular System and theCosmos.We do these higher beings – and ourselves – a disservice if we do notacknowledgethatweareallfellowtravellers.Mutualrespect,loveandgratitudeare key to these spiritual relationships. In continuing to learn and grow, suchbeingsareourlovingmentorsandspiritualguides.Theyarenotourmasters,nordotheyaskorwishtobe.Alltheyaskisthatweembodyourdestiny.

Theseventhstep:Hearandlisten

Aswedevelopadialoguewithourspiritualmentorsandourownhigher-selves,

wewillprogressivelybeabletoheartheirandourownintuitiveguidance.Howtonotonlyhearbut also actively listen to thiswisdom is thenext stepof ourinnerjourneytowholeness.In my own experience over many years, I’ve discovered that the wisdom

emanating from these higher realms invites rather than instructs, is inclusiveratherthanexclusiveandspeakstooursenseofserviceratherthanoursenseofself.Suchwisdomseeks toempowerus. It encouragesus to embodyourownhighestpurposeandoffersustheopportunitiestodoso.In the past there have been very good reasons why all initiatory journeys,

especially that of the soular hero, have been travelled step by step. For if ourego-self remains imbalanced aswe access higher energies,we open ourselvesnot tothehighestguidancebut tolowlevelsofconsciousnessthatplayonoursense of ego-based importance. This has been whywell-intentioned and wisegurusandteachershaveaccompaniedtheirstudentsalongthepathsofspiritualinitiation.Now,however,aswebecomeindividuallyandcollectivelyabletoaccessthe

newlyavailablechakrasofourunityenergyfield,ourhigher-selveshaveensuredthatweareonlyable todosowhenweare ready.This readiness isexpressedthroughthelettinggoofourego-basedattachments.Unlikeseekersof thepast,whowereable toachieveacertain levelof ‘me-

powerment’byforceofegoicintellectorwill,weareonlyempoweredtoaccesstheuniversalheartof the8thchakrawhenourhigher-selvesknow thatweareready.Ourconsciouswillingness toundertake thehealingwehaveexplored inThe8thChakrabringsustothatpointofreadiness.

Theeighthstep:Lovingtruth

Whenwesing in tune,wedescribe thenotesasbeing‘true’. In thesameway,whenwe embody our truth,we are essentially being ‘in tune’with ourselves.The cosmic principles through which consciousness explores the holographicCosmosthenensurethatwearetruetonotonlyourselvesbuttoall.Theeighthstepofourjourneyis thustobeauthenticandlovinglytruewith

ourselves,allourrelationshipsandthewiderCosmos.Tobelovinglytruthfulistobebothlovingandtrue,andweneedtoembody

bothtotakethisnextstep.Sometimeswemayperceivethetruthofsomethingbutbeunwillingtoexpressitbecausewedon’twanttohurtsomeone.Whilstwemayperceiveourchoiceasbeingloving,itactuallydisconnectsusatsomelevel

with that person. For instance, wemay see a friend acting in a way we finduncomfortable.Yet tomaintain our friendshipwe choose not to say anything.Instead we may seek to ignore or deny their actions or we may distanceourselvesfromthem.Two very dear friends ofmine realized that theywere taking this approach

with each other. Eventually each recognized that every time they felt theycouldn’tsaysomething, theirrelationshiphadtakenastepbackwards.Astheirrelationshipbecameprogressivelydistant,bothweredismayed.Finally,onedaytheyhadaheart-to-hearttalkandallthathadbeenunsaidwasexpressed.Inthatmoment theymade a commitment to eachother that theywould saywhatevertheyfelttheyneededtoinordertoremaintruetothemselves–andtoeachother.The way they were able to talk heart to heart was, however, crucial. Each

chose to speak in the loving energy of truth rather than to blurt out theirdisagreements.Andeachwasabletolistentotheother’struth,evenwheretheyfeltthatitwasmisunderstoodormisguided.Lovingtruthisnotacquiescence;itisnotpassive.Neitherisitblind,dumbor

deaf.Itdoesinvolvelisteningtoothers’pointsofview–whichtheymaynotbeabletoexpressinlovingways.Wecanmakethechoicetobelovinglytruewithboththoseweholddearest

andwithstrangers.Emanatingfromtheheart,especiallyfromtheuniversalheartof the 8th chakra, such loving truth can never hurt someone. It expresses ourtruthoffeelingsandsituationsthattheymaynotconsciouslywishtohear,butitoffers them the gift, if they choose to accept it, of a deeper understanding ofthemselves.Theirchoicethenistowhethertobelovinglytruethemselves.Theninthstep:DiscernmentThereisanoldsaying,‘Don’tjudgeanotherpersonuntilyou’vewalkedintheirshoes.’ Yet how many times do we find ourselves judging others withoutunderstandingtheirreasonsforactingthewaytheydo?Andcanweeverbelievethatweknowsomeonewellenoughtomakesuchjudgements?There is an important difference, however, between judgement and

discernment.Whenwediscernthatsomethingdoesn’tfeelrightorappropriatetous,we’rerecognizingorseeingasituationonthebasisofourowntruth.Whilstour truthmay not agree with someone else’s perspective, we can nonethelesschoosetobeauthenticinexpressingourtruthinalovingway.However,whenwe judgesomeoneorsomething,weprojectourownviews

ontothatpersonorsituation.Toremindusoftheimplicationsofthistruth,Jesussaid,‘Judgenot, lestyebejudged’(‘Donotjudgeanotherlestyouyourselfbe

judged’).Whereas judgement raises barriers that often result in greater

misunderstanding and exclusion, discernment enables us to set appropriateboundaries. Understanding the difference between the two and embodyingdiscernmentratherthanjudgementistheninthsteponthejourneyofthesoularhero.

Thetenthstep:Honouringexperience

Each and every stepwe take in our quest to be soular heroes is crucial to thecompletion of our journey.Aswe become able to transcend judgementwhilstrecognizing discernment, we are enabled to take the tenth step, which is tohonourallexperiencewithoutcondemning,condoningorcolluding.ThisstepmaysometimesfeelliketheMissionImpossibleTVprogrammeand

films.Youmayrecallthatatthebeginningofeachmission,theintrepidheroesaretold,‘Yourmission,shouldyouchoosetoacceptit…’Wetoomaychoosetoacceptornot,andsomeofourspiritualmissionsmay

seem pretty impossible. But personally I don’t believe any of them are. AcommentbyMotherTeresaisoneIholdinmyheart–thatwearenevergiven,orindeedgiveourselves,agreatermissionthanweinfactcanaccomplish.Certainly,whatever itbrings, the journeyof thesoularhero isneverboring!

Everydayourhigher-selvesandtheCosmosofferusinteresting,intriguingandirritatingwaysofunderstandingandtakingthissteptowardsgreaterawareness.Honouringourexperiencesisbeingabletoacknowledgetheirpurpose,even–

andperhapsespecially–whenitiselusive.Honouringisawayofrespectingtheintentions of our higher-selves and recognizing the integrity of ourconsciousness.Honouring both our personal and collective experiences in thisway is not only fundamental to releasing our traumas, but also helps us toforgivebothothersandourselves,andthustoreconcilethepastandbecomeabletomoveforwardwithalighterheart.

Theeleventhstep:Thegoldenrule

Theeleventhandpenultimatestepofourjourneyisonethat,again,Jesussoughttoshowus.Ithasbeendescribedasthe‘goldenrule’,foritisthemostpreciousofwisdoms.Whenweareabletolivebythissimpleyetprofoundprecept,wetrulyembodyourwholenessaswerealizethatweareallone.Thegoldenruleasksustotreatothersaswewouldasktobetreated.

Throughout our history, the most traumatic events have occurred when wehave ignorantlyorwilfullydiscounted thishighestofguidance. Inevitably, thecosmicprincipleshavethenplayedoutthetit-for-tatimplicationsofourchoices.In theeternalNow, theuniverse is co-createdanew. In thismoment, asyou

readthesewords,youcanchooseforyourself.

Thetwelfthstep:Cosmicservice

Wearenowatthethresholdofthetwelfthstep,thetakingofwhichbringsustoourdestinationassoularheroes.Aswelookatourselves,wenoticesomething.Wedon’tlookanydifferentfromwhenwestarted.Butaswetakethisfinalstep,weseeourselvesforthefirsttime.Weseethatwearewholeandthatweareall-one. In the self-awareness of our soul, we understand at last, and withunconditionallove,theincrediblefragilityandyetawesomestrengthofourego-selves. And we know now how to transmute the small me-powerment of afearfulegointothegreatempowermentofself-realizedcosmicservice.Thetwelfthstepisourembodimentofthecosmicserviceofoursoul.

Thejourneyofthesoularhero

The 12 steps taken by the aspiring soular hero are more of a dance than ajourney,inthattheyarerarelysequential.Theyinvolveretracingourstepsaswebegintoembodythedeeperunderstandingtheybringintoourawareness.As in a dance, the lighter we are on our feet, the better. Such lightness is

expressed by taking the cosmic dance seriously without taking ourselvesseriously.Themorewecan laughat– andwith–ourselves, themorewecanopen ourmind, heart andwill to the rigours and challenges that lie along theway.But before we continue to spiral upwards as we remember our soul, let’s

reiterateourperceptionofthese12stepsofthecosmicdanceofwholeness:

Acceptresponsibilityforourchoices.

Chooseloveratherthanfear.

In-to-greatlightandshadowandseebeyondtheirpolarities.

ConsciouslyalignourselveswiththeflowoftheCosmos.

LiveintheNow.

RespecttheconsciousCosmosandallitsrealms.

Intuitivelylistentoourhigher-selves.

Expresslovingtruth.

Discernratherthanjudge.

Honourallexperiencewithoutcondemning,condoningorcolluding.

Enactthegoldenruleinthought,speechandaction.

Embodytheempowermentofcosmicservice.

Weliveinanunprecedentedtimeoftransformation,solet’snowlookathowwe may be of empowered service as we face our collective challenge toovercomethepatternsofhistoryandgivebirthtoanewcosmicage.

CHAPTER11

Community

Over the last few years, the Human Genome Project has sought to map thesequenceofourDNA.Amongstaplethoraofunexpectedresults,ithasrevealedthatthereisagreaterrangeofgeneticdisparityamongstanaveragefamilygroupofchimpanzeesthanamongsttheoversixbillionmembersoftheentirehumanrace.Ourphysicalfeatures,andtheracialandethnicattributesthatarethelynchpin

ofsomanyofourprejudicialfears,allarisefromminordifferencesbetweenusthattogetheronlyaccountforaminuteproportionofourentiregeneticmakeup.Tracingbackarchetypalgeneticmarkersthroughouttheglobalpopulationhas

alsoledresearcherstoconcludethattheearliestmodernhumansarose150,000to 200,000 years ago from a tiny group probably numbering only a fewthousand.Sincethen,ourcontinualinterbreedinghasrelatedeveryoneofustoeveryotherone–weareallbloodkin.Thehumanfamilyisbuiltonourfundamentalunityasarace.Itsrichnessof

expression arises not from our genetic heritage but primarily from theinteractionsofourpersonalitiesandthecircumstancesofourenvironmentsandculturaldiversity.Thethreeprimarywavesofconsciousnessthatformtheharmonicessenceof

our ego-selves comprise the biological template embodied in our genes, ourpersonalityandourenvironment.Itistheirinteractions,bothwithinusandwithothers,thatarethebasisofourindividualityandofthediversityofourcollectivehumanexperience.

Influences

Albert Einstein, Isaac Newton and Carl Jung were all advocates of theinteractionoftheSoularSystemwithhumanpsychology–theancientscienceof

astrology.Andasweexplored inChapter8,astrologyoffersprofound insightsintoourpersonalitiesandgenerationalandcollectiveinfluences.An ongoing 20-year study of children in the UK also considers that the

greatestdifferencebetweenhowindividualchildrenbehaveandinteractwiththeoutside world appears to arise from the variations in their personalities. Theresearchers have investigated childrenwith the same environmental influencesby studying siblings, both twins and those of different ages. They haveconcludedthatfrombirth,achild’spersonality is themostsignificantfactor indetermininghowdifferentindividualsrelatetosimilarcircumstances.Thethirdwaveofinfluencethatmouldsourhumanexperienceiscomprised

ofenvironmentalfactors,whichonpersonalandcollectivelevelsareincrediblydiverse. The family andwider cultural and ethnic heritage intowhichwe areborn influence us in ways both profound and trivial and on conscious andsubconsciouslevels.Aswematureandexplorelife,ourchangingcircumstancesthenformpowerfulwave-guidesforourinnerandoutergrowth.Or they may not, because, as we’ve seen, we may choose to retreat into

habitualresponsesratherthandealwiththenewchallengesthatweencounter.

Memes

IntheholographicCosmos,ourpersonalhumanjourneyisamicrocosmofthatof theentiretyof thehumanfamily.Eachofus isunique, forconsciousness isever creative. Yet ultimately we share a common heritage and a collectivedestiny.Weallexperience thechallengesand the joysofbeinghuman.Weallstrugglewithourfearsandcryoutwithlove.Weallhopeandwealldespair.Ourego-selves,however,offerus their individualperspectiveson thewider

worldbylabellingpeople,objectsandsituations.Suchlabelsincorporatefactualand experiential awareness but also assumptions, beliefs and perceptions. Themore complex are replete with psychosocial and organizational associations.Suchlabelsaretermed‘memes’.InthesamewaythatourgenesmakeupthespiralsofourDNAandthusform

the blue-prints of our physical body, the memes we embody make up thetemplateorworld-viewthroughwhichweemotionallyandmentallyperceivetheCosmos.Memes assemble our present reality from thememories of the past. Sowe

regularly attempt to familiarize the unfamiliar by attaching to such newsituationsandpeoplethememesofourembeddedawareness.Thelabelsweuse

are thus richwith associations. Sowhenwe encounter something or someonenewtous,wemay‘sumthemup’beforeevenknowingwhattheyarereallylike.Everyoneofusisbornintoacertainculturalheritagewhosememeticworld-

viewweinherit.Aswegrowasindividuals,ourawarenessexpandsandwemaythentosomedegreeorothereitherembraceorrejectthememeticnormsofthecultureintowhichweareborn.Ourown level of awareness, expressed throughour individual personalities,

ultimatelyformsthebasisforwhateverworld-viewweascribeto.

SpiralDynamics

Asahumanfamily,wearegrowingupindividuallyandcollectively.But,asinany family, the awareness of different members is at varying levels. Thedevelopmentofperceptiononbothpersonalandcommunallevelsisnotalinearprocessbutoccursinwaveswhoseinteractionsarecomplexanddiverse.InThe8thChakrasofar,we’veexploredsomeofthedynamicprocessesbywhichweasindividualsexpandourawareness.In an attempt to understand how disparate organizations and cultures as a

whole grow and develop, in the 1980s American psychologist Clare Gravespioneered an approach termed SpiralDynamics. Since then it has beensubstantiallydevelopedbyDonBeck,ChristopherCowanandothers.Thebasicpremise is tomodelculturalandgenericworld-viewsasaspiralofdevelopinglevelsofawareness.The model subdivides the world-views encompassing the totality of

contemporary human society into eight levels. Each embodies a psychologyparticulartothatlevelofawareness,elicitingcertainbeliefsandfeelings,social,economicandpoliticalgroupingsandculturalnormsofvalues,motivationsandgoals. Each, Beck and Cowan argue, emerged historically in response to lifeconditionsthatbecameprogressivelymorecomplex.However, importantly, thelevelsareneither rigidnor static.Essentially, each formsawaveof increasingawareness, and each incorporates the intrinsic characteristics of a wave in itscommencing,peakingandfallingawayphases.ThegenericattributesoftheeightlevelsofwhatiscalledtheSpiralDynamics

integrated–orSDi–modelaresummarizedbelow,basedonthebookbyBeckandCowanofthesamename.Beck and Cowan chose colours to label each level in order to render such

labels as neutral as possible and thereby minimize value judgements and

facilitate theappreciationofall eight levelsasauthenticexpressionsofhumanexperience. Indeed, the healthy expression of each of the eight levels isperceivedascontributingtothehealthofthewholespiralofhumanawarenessanddevelopment.

ThespiralofawarenessTheSDimodelconsidersthatalloftheeightlevelsareresponsestoincreasingcomplexityandcanbediscernedthroughouthistoricalprocesses.

TheBeige level is archaic and, like the focus of our own lower chakras, isdominated by the basicmotivation to survive.Whilst this level now involvesonlyasmallminorityofthehumanpopulation,itre-emergesintimesofextremestresssuchasduringwarorfamine.

ThePurple level ischaracterizedbytribalcommunitiesofextendedkinship.Itexpressesitsworld-viewthroughmagicandritualandistherebysustainedbyaprofoundawarenessoftheinterweavingoflifeanditsmystery.

The empires of old embodied theRed level of awareness, being authoritarian,hierarchicalandexploitativeofothers.Thislevelhonoursheroesandmythsandrequirescommunalevidenceofrespect.

TheBlue level isgenerallyconformistand loyal towhat isperceivedasgrouptruths.Dissidenceorheresiesarefearedandseenasbetrayal.

Individualistic and oriented to material success and personal advantage, theOrange level rebalances communal conformitywith regard for personal needsandrights,butoftenwithlessemphasisontheassociatedresponsibilities.TheGreen levelseeks tobalance theneedsof the individualwith thoseof thecommunityandoperatesfromahumanisticviewpoint.Theimportanceofpeopleingeneral,theirfeelingsandsocialcarearestressedandcommunalconcernsareemphasized.

These first six levels are deemed to form a first tier of awareness and areprimarily descriptive of historical world-views. The seventh and eighth levelsthen form the first two expressions of a second tier of awareness that is nowunfolding.ThesearetheYellowandTurquoiselevels.

TheYellow level of awareness is the first of a series of levels able to adoptmultipleperspectives.It isorientedtowardsintegrationandtakesprogressively

integralviewsof theCosmos.Generallyopen tochange, it ischaracterizedbysystems thinking,where thewhole is seenasbeinggreater than thesumof itsparts.

TheemergentTurquoiselevelisnowbeingembodiedintheworld.Focusedonglobalwholism, spiritual interconnectivity and the purposeful nature of life, itreconcilesheartandmindandisawareoftheholographicnatureoftheCosmos.This eighth level is emerging as the energies of the 8th chakra now becomeavailable to us.Unsurprisingly perhaps, its colour, turquoise, is the onewhichmany people who are accessing the 8th chakra are experiencing as thevibrationalenergyoftheuniversalheart.

HolographicspiralsSpiralsexist throughoutNatureatall scalesofexistence, fromthespiralsof

DNAwithinthecellsofallbiologicallifetothemajestyofspiralgalaxies.Theyareinnatelycreative,fortheircyclesaredynamic,expansiveandopen-ended.ThepsychosocialspiralsdescribedbytheSDimodeltakeusfromourpastto

our present level of development and reveal the potential of our future. Theydescribeoursocialevolutionfromthefamilygroupsofprehistorytothetribes,nations and empires of the last few millennia and the emergent globalcommunityofthepresentandfuture.Ourpsychologicalgrowthisalsoencompassedbythismodel.Ourindividual

and collective awareness has expanded from being egocentric to ethno-centricandisnowbecomingworld-centric.But, as Beck andCowan emphasize, our human family is comprised of all

theselevelsofawarenessatthesametime.As we begin to attain the interdependency characterized by our global

community, we need to be aware that this time of transition is truly a crisisoffering risk and opportunity. And we need to be aware of further insightsofferedbytheSDiapproachtochange.

SituationsA further aspect of the spirals of awareness proposed by SDi is that differentsituationalfactorsandstresslevelsengenderdifferentmodesofexpression.Forinstance an individual or a culture can operate on, say, theOrange levelwithregard to their own perceived community whilst operating on the Red level

regarding those they consider foreign.And in times of stress theymay revertfromtheOrangetotheBluelevelinrelationtotheirownpopulace.In thecaseof theawakeningofourownchakras, if the lowerpsychological

levels are imbalanced and not integrated as we move to higher levels ofawareness,remainingissuesalliedtothelowerchakraswillbereactivated.TheSDiresearchmaintainsthatthesameoccurswhenradicalchangeisimposedonpeopleandgroupswhoarenotyetreadytoembraceit.SoBeckandCowanarguethatsustainablechangecangenerallyonlyoccurin

small stages.Thus in theirownwork theyencourageprocessesof change thatrespectandmeetpeoplewheretheyareatratherthanattempttoimposeradicaltransformation, with its inherent risks of failure and regression. As such theyofferpractical assistance to supportpeople tomoreevolvedparadigms,butnomorethanhalfalevelaheadatatime.Acrossalllevels,bothindividualsandculturesarealsodescribedbytheSDi

approachasbeingpotentiallyopen,arrestedorclosedtochange.Whentheyareopen,thechoicetomovetoahigherlevelofawarenesscanbeoffered.Thisisastrategy that can be transformational. When they are arrested at a particularstage, evolutionary rather than revolutionary strategies are required.Butwhenthey are closed, transformation can generally only come about throughrevolutionary change in environmental circumstances – essentially forcingpeopletochangeorperish.

ConditionsThedynamicnatureoftheSDimodelallowsustoconsidernotonlythelevelsofawareness that people and cultures embodyand their potential for change, butalsotheconditionsthatneedtobemetifsustainablechangeistobeattained.There are six fundamental conditions for sustainable change according to

BeckandCowan.Asyoureadthroughthem,youmaywishtoconsiderhowtheyapplynotonlyoncommunallevelsbutinyourownlifetoo:

Thefirstwe’vealreadydiscussed:thereneedstobeopennesstothepossibilityofchange.

Thesecondisagainaholographicresonanceofourpersonalgrowth.Ifthereareresidual issues existing at a lower level, change at a higher level will beunachievable or expressed in an imbalancedway unless and until those lowerlevelissuesareresolved.

Therealsoneedstobedissonancewiththecircumstancesofthecurrentlevelofawareness, otherwise the opportunity to change will be ignored, denied ordisdained.

Fourthly, there needs to be an understanding of the underlying causes of suchexistingdissonanceandanawarenessofalternativestrategiesforitsresolution.

Whateverbarriers tochangeexist, theyneed tobe identifiedandappropriatelydealtwith.

Finally, with any degree of significant change there will almost inevitably beinitial confusion relating to the new way of being. During this period ofconsolidation,whenthenewmemesareprogressivelyembodied,thereneedstobeongoingsupportandvalidationforthenewlyemergentworld-view.

TheturningofthetideThe benefits of the SDi approach are its fluidity, dynamism and inclusion. Itsprocessesarerepletewithmetaphorsthatdescribethefundamentalnatureoftheholographic Cosmos: waves, streams, harmonics and resonance. It alsorecognizes the interplay between gradual, evolutionary change and quantumleapsinawareness.Overtheyears, thetheoryofevolutionhasbeensubstantiallymodifiedfrom

Darwin’sinitialpropositionandnowrecognizesthatgradualismispunctuatedbyrevolutionarychange.Ultimately,itistheinteractingcomplementaritiesoftheseforms of change that have, over the last four billion years, accounted for theemergenceofthehumanspecies.Ourentire racialhistoryhasalsoexperienced the juxtapositionofperiodsof

slowevolutionarychangeandrapidrevolutionaryleaps.Indeed,it’sdifficult todiscernanexampleofparadigmshiftsthathavenotbeenrevolutionaryinboththeirspeedandassociatedturmoil.Whilst the lessonsofhistory and theSDi researchhave shownus that such

shiftsareunsustainablewhenimposedonafixedmindset,theycananddoarisewhenthetimeandcircumstancesareripe.Theoldadagestatesthat‘Timeandtidewaitfornoman.’Ibelievethatwe’re

nowatthetimeoftheturningofsuchatide.

The8thlevel

Astrological influences not only engender the diversity of our individualpersonalitiesbutalsoinfluencehumanevolutionongenerationalandcollectivelevels. We saw in Chapter 8 how astrological Ages embody a three-foldinfluence andwe discussed how the emergentAge ofAquarius combines theseeding of the Aquarian energies, the peaking of the energies of the Age ofPisces and the falling away of the energetic Age of Aries. The astrologicalessenceofthisemergentAgeresonateswiththeeighthleveloftheSDimodel.Whilst this Turquoise level of awareness is embryonic, astrological indicatorsstrongly suggest that it may achieve critical mass in an exponentially shortperiodoftime.Asweasindividualschoosetoaccessthenewlyavailableenergiesofthe8th

chakraof theuniversalheart,webecomepioneersofsuchawareness.Andwebecome contributors in the attainment of the critical mass that supports ourcollectiveShiftofconsciousness.

Competetoco-operate

Oneofthekeyrequirementsforusoncommunallevelsistobalancecompetitivebehaviourwithco-operation.Theethosofcompetitionarisesfromaperceptionof the world as inherently comprised of scarce resources. Its fundamentalassumptionisbasedonawin-loseequation.Whilstrecognizingthatmanyresourcesareindeedscarce,co-operationaims

toarriveatwin-winsolutionstosituations.Buthowdowelearntoco-operate?Not everyone realizes that co-operation may be beneficial. On a personal

level,we’realllikelytohaveencounteredselfishandanti-socialbehaviourthatat least in theshort termhasgarneredmaterialbenefit.Therearemanygroupsand indeed countries in the world today that still perceive competition andaggression as more beneficial to their interests than co-operation. Yet globalchallengesmaybegreaternowthanatanyothertimeinourhistory.Sohowcanwelearnhowtoco-operatecollectively?Political scientist Robert Axelrod asked this question in the 1970s. He

challengedpeoplewhoplaygamesforalivingtodevisethebeststrategyforco-operationbetweentwoplayersasmeasuredbythebenefitsderivedin termsofmutualtrustandharmoniousrelationships.A key requisite of the game, however, was the inability of the players to

communicateandthusnegotiate.Undertheseconditions,notunusualinhumanaffairs,thestrategythatwonwascalled‘TitforTat’,orTFTforshort.

Thiswinninggamebeganby the twoplayers co-operating and its only rulewasthatafterthataplayerdidwhatevertheiropponenthaddoneinthepreviousround.Afterwards,Axelrodidentifiedfourcharacteristicsofasuccessfulstrategy:

Don’tbethefirsttooffend.

Alwaysreciprocate.

Respondtotheotherplayerratherthansecond-guessthem.

Dothebestyoucanforyourselfandthoseyourepresentwithouttryingtooutdotheotherplayer.

ReconcileIn the basic game, the assumed lack of communication between the playersdidn’t allow for anything other than the prescriptive tit-for-tat response to anoffence.However, if thatoffencewasn’tdeliberate,butamistake,notonlydidTFT respond with a further offence but the strategy became locked and bothplayerswereunabletoescapefromthecycle.When the strategywasmodified to allow for human fallibility and allowed

someoffencestogo‘unpunished’,however, itofferedtheopportunitytobreakfreefromacycleofoffenceandcounter-offence.TFTandothergameshaveshownthattit-for-tatresponsesareunabletoever

getoutofapatternofoffending.Themulti-generationaltragediesofsuchcyclescanstillbeseentodayintheBalkansandtheMiddleEast.Onlybybeingwillingtoforgiveadegreeoffallibilitybybothsidesorbybeingwillingtobecontritewillthepatternbebrokenandtheopportunityforpeaceemerge.Reconciliation,however, requires the intention todosobybothsides. Inan

atmosphere of mistrust and cynicism, little progress can be made. What isneededisacommitmenttohonesty,awillingnesstomovetowardsforgivenessandthedevelopmentofamutualattitudeofrespectandinclusion.In South Africa F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela brokered the end of

apartheid,withthesupportoftheinternationalcommunity,becausebothleadersembodiedsuchintentionandattitudes.Justiceiskeytothereconciliationofanysuchcycleandtothesustainability

of any settlement. To facilitate the process of forgiveness and reconciliation,

courts of justice were set up in post-apartheid South Africa to openlyacknowledge theabusesof thoseearlieryears,bring to justice theperpetratorsandreleasebothindividualsandsocietyfromtheirguiltandanger.SouthAfricawasfortunateinhavingvisionaryleaderswhowereabletosee

beyondtheapparentinevitabilityofthestatusquoandwerewillingtoembodytheaspirationsoftheirpeople.Whilst such leaders may be primary catalysts for transformational change,

they are now arising not only from the ranks of political parties around theworld.Forempoweredindividualsaccessing theenergiesof the8thchakraarenowdiscoveringtheirauthenticvoicesandbecomingtheseed-pointsofculturalandglobalchange.

Healthewhole

Inearlierchapterswe’veconsideredwaysinwhichwemayhealonapersonalbasisandinthelastchapterweundertooka12-stepjourneytowholeness.Theemerging understanding of the holographicCosmos and the lessons of historybothinformusthatthejourneytoourcollectivehealingmirrorsthatofeachofus.Asweheal theone,weheal thewhole.Everystep thatweneed to take tohealourselvesisastepthatneedstobetakensomewhereintheworldtoday.The awareness of the second tier of human development, the Yellow and

Turquoise levels, progressively embodies the perception of the holographicCosmos.The consciousness expressed through theYellow-levelworld-view isone that recognizes the innate flowofNature in all itsmiraculous abundance.Thefocusisonflexibilityandenrichmentofexperiencewithoutharmingothers.The interweaving and diversity of expression are valued and the totality ofcultures around the world is appreciated. Ancient teachings begin to bereappraised andhonoured, theEarth is reconsidered as a living being, sites ofsanctityare rediscoveredand thewisdomof theheart is re-embraced.There isopennesstolearningandtheacquisitionofknowledgeonanongoingbasis.Suchlearning is bespoke to each person; for some it is primarily intellectual, forothers experiential. It involves acquiring skills that are both useful andenjoyable. Change is recognized as being inevitable, fears relating to itsunknownsrecedeandsurfing itswaves isunderstoodasakeyrequirement forinnergrowthandcontentment.Tryingtoplanindetailisperceivedasbeinglessrelevantthanmakingthemostawarechoicesinthepresentmoment.Theawarenessembodiedby theYellowworld-viewisnonethelessprimarily

self-focused.AstheYellowleveltransitionstothatofTurquoise,atrulyglobalperspective and a more profound sense of community begin to emerge. TheholographicnatureoftheCosmosisrevealedanditsunderlyingunityisdirectlyperceived.ScienceandSpiritarereconciledinanexpandedworld-viewandthewholisticunderstandingofconsciousnessissought.Whilevaluingtheuniquenessofeveryperson,thislevelofawarenessaimsto

harmonize an empowered collective of individuals. It facilitates organizationsand institutions that are distributed, flexible and co-creative, and in which amultiplicityofstakeholdersactivelyparticipate.

Sharedvalues

We may now suggest what some of the shared values of the Yellow andTurquoise levels of awareness may be. There are eight such values, whosewisdom, I feel, is perennial – as right yesterday as it is today and will betomorrow.Astogetherwestepintotheuniversalheartofthe8thchakra,wearereadytoembraceandembodytheirwisdominourlives.Theyare:

Balanceofourrightsandresponsibilities.

Balanceofourneedsandourservicetoothers.

Equalityofopportunity.

Mutualrespect.

Authenticityandintegrityinallourdealings–truth,transparencyandjustice.

Inclusivity.

Compassioninactionbytreatingothersaswewouldwishtobetreated.

ReverenceforGaiaandallherchildren.

These values are especially needed at thismomentous timewhen change isnotevolutionarybutrevolutionary.Atthemostfundamentallyphysicallevel,weneedtotransformourindividualandcollectivewayoflifeinordertosurvive.

Community

Thelevelsofawarenesswe’vebeenexploringareopen-endedandthespiralofour individual and collective consciousness continues to evolve. In the next

chapter,we’lldiscusshowwe’renowbecomingabletocomm-unenotonlyasahumanfamilybutalsowithGaiaandthemultidimensionallevelsoftheCosmos.Asweawakentoourownhigherawarenessweareabletosee,perhapsforthe

first time, not only how far we have travelled along the path of apparentseparation,butalsohowtocomeHoME.

CHAPTER12

Re-member

For at least the last 5,000 years, geomancers have perceived the holographicnatureof theCosmosandhavesought toharmonizeHeavenandEarth,peopleand places, to bring well-being and abundance. Although different traditionshaveaccretedknowledgethathasbeenspecifictotheirowneraandculture,theyhavealladheredtothesameunderlyingcosmicprinciplesandallhonouredtheworldassacred.The intuitive insightsof those sages arebeing reevaluatedandexpandedby

the discoveries of wholistic science. The elements that are perennial anduniversalarenowbeingrecognizedasformingthefoundationsoftheemergingparadigmoftheholographicCosmos.To comprehend the Cosmos and our own placewithin it, such geomancers

have sought knowledge gained by the mind. Shamanic traditions, in contrast,haveemphasizedthewisdomoftheheart,andmysticshaveembodiedthedivinewillthatcreatestheworld.Now,forthefirsttime,wehaveaccesstothewisdomteachingsandspiritualtraditionsofourentirehumanfamilyandweareawareofallthreepathstounderstandingandenlightenment.In theuniversal heart of the8th chakra,we are able to bring together these

threeapproachesthatreflectthethreefundamentalaspectsofourselves–mind,heart andwill – to gain amore profound perception of theCosmos than everbefore.Asweembodytheenergiesofthe8thandhighertranspersonalchakras,we are able to connect directlywith thewider Cosmos and higher aspects ofourselves.WearebecomingabletocommunewithGaiaasalivingbeingandtore-establishaprofoundrelationshipwithherandhermultidimensionalrealms.

Learntolisten

Whenwemeet someone for the first time, thebestway forus toget toknow

themistolistentowhattheyhavetosay.Unlikeourancestorsandthepreciousfew primary peoples who still walk the Earth, however, most of us have notconsidered our planetary home, Gaia, as a living being.Whilst wemay haveappreciatedherbeautyandabundance,beratedhervicissitudesorbeenawedbyherpower,ourculturehasnotyetrecognizedherasbeinginnatelyalive.Ifwearetogettoknowheroncemore,weshouldlistentoher.Butlistentowhom?Asyoungchildren,wedooftenencounter thediscarnaterealmsofGaiaand

theirmanyvoices.Knownbymanynames–Faeries,Devas,Elementals,Angels–theyarenaturalandfamiliartous.Thatis,untiltheadultsaroundusdenytheirexistenceandconvinceustomistrustourownexperiences.Asparapsychologistsareprogressivelyappreciating,ifourego-mindisclosed

toanythingotherthanwhatwetermmaterialistic‘reality’,thenweareliterallyunable to see beyond its limitations. Therefore, if we are not open to thepossibilityofthepresenceofthesebeings,wewillbeunableto‘see’them.Whilstmostpeoplestillrefusetoacknowledgethispossibility,moreandmore

sane and well-grounded people, through their own direct experiences, arereconnectingwiththeserealms.

Devas

The termswe’ll usehere todescribe thesedifferent realmsare those thatmayalready be familiar to you. Geomancers and other sensitives perceive thatelementalbeingsexistonaethericlevelssuperimposeduponandabletointeractwiththephysicalplane.TheSanskritwordDevas,meaning ‘shiningones’, isoftenused todescribe

the beings who direct and guide natural forces and processes throughout theplanetaryconsciousnessthatisGaia.Whilst the adjective ‘devic’ is also sometimes used to describe the angelic

realms, Angels are generally deemed to be associated with humanity andanimals, whereas Devas are usually associated with plants and the elementalworld.From time immemorial, devic beings have consistently been reported as

rangingfromtinynaturespiritstogreatlandscapeguardians.Theyareassociatedwith the archetypal elements of Earth, Water, Air and Fire and the namesrespectivelygiventotheirrelatednaturespiritsaregnomes,undines,sylphsandsalamanders. Additionally, there are nature spirits associated with plants and

trees that are commonly known as dryads. A number of traditions perceive aseven-fold spiritual hierarchy of such beings, rising from nature spirits to theangelicrealms.My own understanding arises from the direct communication I’ve enjoyed

withDevas andAngels overmany years. It is that over aeons of time naturespiritsassociatedwithasinglearchetypalelementareabletoevolveintothosewhocombinetwo,threeorfourelements.ItisthesewhobecomethebeingswecallDevasandwhoareassociatedwiththespiritualandphysicalstewardshipofplaces and landscapes.They too are able to evolve further into the beingsweknowasAngels.

Communing

In my own experience and in working with thousands of people around theworld,I’vediscoveredsomesimpleprinciplesforcommuningwithsuchbeingsthatwe’llnowdiscuss.Tobeginwith, Imust stress that for each of us, our connectionswith these

realmsareexpressedindifferentways.Forsomeofus,ourinnervisionoffersusan insight–or inner-sight– into their realities.Othersmay feelor sense theirpresence.Yetothersmayheartheirvoicesonaninnerplane.Nowayisrightandnowayiswrong–eachisjustourway.Whateveryourownintuitiveexperiencingnaturallyis,Iwouldencourageyou

touseitfully,ratherthanattempttodevelopadifferentway–justasifyouwerea natural virtuoso on the piano, I’d suggest you practise to improve your giftratherthanturningyourattentionto,say,learningtheviolin.Asyoucontinuetoexplore,however,youmaydiscoverthatyourinnatewayofperceivingnaturallydevelopstoincludeothermeansaswell.Ifthathappens,letitevolvenaturally,ratherthantryingtoforceit.Oneother importantpoint is thatwhereasonthephysicalplaneappearances

are generally fairly fixed, on the mental and higher planes that nature spiritsinhabit,itseemsthattheyareabletochangetheirappearanceatwill.Theycandisplaythemselvesinformsthateitherreflectourownculturalbiasorthatbestconveystheirmessagetous.

Angels

With intention supported by practice and experience, we can directly connectwithallthedevicandangelicrealmsofGaia.

Wecandothiswhereverweare.WhilstthecountrysideisawonderfulplacetoexperiencetheincrediblebeautyofNature,wecancommunewiththedevicand angelic realms anywhere and at any time.The attunement onpage251 isofferedtohelpyoubeintheenergeticvibrationsofthe8thchakraandtheninthor earthstar chakra and thus to facilitate your connectionwith these realms ofGaia.The most important requirements for such connections are willingness and

openness.Aswithallgoodrelationships,therealsoneedstobemutualrespect,honesty,loveandgratitude.Thedevicandangelicrealmsembodytheseandsomust you if your relationshipswith these beings are to thrive and guide yourinnergrowth.Inrecentyearsmanybookshavebeenwrittenonhowtocommunicatewith

the angelic realms and there are fourArchangels,Uriel,Gabriel,Raphael andMichael, whose guidance and influence is paramount. Each takes spiritualresponsibility and guardianship for the expression of one of the archetypalelements on a planetary basis andMichael is also deemed bymany to be thespiritual guide leading and supporting the Shift of human and planetaryconsciousness at this time. As such he is a marvellous mentor for ourcommunionwith all the angelic and devic realms, and asking for his ongoingguidance safely andgenerously supports our exploration and communionwiththerealmsofGaia.WhenweneedinspirationandtheFireofcreativityandtruthtoflowthrough

us,Michaelwillalsohelpus.Whenweneed togroundan intentionor anoutcome,orour innerqueryor

issuerelatestotheelementofEarth,thenwemayalsoaskfortheaidofUriel.Wherewerequiregreaterclarityofthoughtorourquestinvolvestheelement

ofAir,wemayseekthesupportofRaphael.Andwhenwefeeltheneedforhealing,eitherofothersorourselves,orweare

connecting to the element ofWater, wemay call on Gabriel for strength andsupport.

Healingrifts

ThroughoutThe8thChakrawe’veundertakenajourneyofhealing.Andjustasthereareenergeticriftstohealwithinusandwithinourhumanfamily,sothereareriftsthroughouttheEarthwherewehavebeenresponsibleforpollutionanddestruction. There are also verymany places where the historical imprints of

humantraumashaveleftenergeticscars.Theresidualenergiesofthesecontinuetoaffectusbyholdingusinoutwornpatternsofbehaviour.Theirhealingisnowimportant toenableever-morepeople to liberate themselvesfromtheenergeticimprisonmentofthepast.The holographic and conscious nature of theCosmos reveals that our outer

environment reflects our inner state. We need to acknowledge this inherentresonance in recognizing suchenvironmental imbalancesand,with thehelpoftheangelicanddevicrealms,seekingtounderstandandresolvethem.In Chapter 7, we saw how the energetic meridians of Gaia can become

blocked. Whilst not generally harmful to the Earth herself, these imbalancedenergies can resonate with us in ways that are harmful to us. So let’s nowconsider how to diagnose and heal such geopathic stress with the higherguidanceoftheangelicanddevicrealms.

Geopathicstress

Our consciousness is expressed energetically through the coherence andinteractionsofelectromagneticfields. Imbalances insuchEMfieldswithin theenvironmentarethemainmechanismofgeopathicstress.Justoveracenturyagoourunderstandingofsuchfieldswasrudimentaryand

yetnowwehavebecomealmostwhollyreliantontechnologiesthatutilizetheirprinciples. Our environment is now suffused with the artificially producedenergeticwaveformsofsuchfieldstoanextentunthinkableevenafewdecadesago.Evidence continues to accumulate that being continually close to high-level

EMfieldssuchas thoseofoverheadpower linesandmobilephonesadverselyaffectsourhealth.Theseareissueswhichgeomancershaveappreciatedforsometime.The high number of electrical appliances in offices and homes almost

certainlycontributestoillhealth,especiallywhentheireffectsarecombinedinpeople who are already energetically stressed by other factors. Indeed, suchlifestyle-related stressmaybe a crucial factor in reducingour natural immunesystem to levels that are below the threshold for our body to naturally attuneitselftothesenewenergeticcircumstances.

Energeticimprints

Energeticdisruptionsarenotonlycausedbygeopathicstress.Whilstfewerofus

arelivinginolderhomes,newerhousesarenowveryoftenbuiltonlandthathaspreviouslybeenbuilton.Ourbuiltenvironmentisthuspervadedbytheenergeticimprintsofthepast.Suchresidualenergiesrangefromthemerelystagnanttothosethatcarrythe

imprintofprevioustraumassuchasbattles.Theymayalsobeassociatedwithavariety of sentient entities. Negative thought-forms and emotionally-chargedspirit presencesmay be attached to a building or associated with the land onwhich it is built.Given themultidimensionality of theCosmos, there are alsoplacesthatareessentiallyinter-dimensionalconnecting-points.Inattuningandaskingtheangelicrealms,especiallyMichael,forguidanceon

thecausesofgeopathicstress,ifyoubecomeawarethatanyenergeticdisruptionmaybecausedbyahistoricalimprintorasentientbeing,unlessyougainclearguidance that you are able to deal with the problem yourself and shouldappropriately do so, please call in someone with greater understanding andexperience tohelp.Whilst there isanopen invitationby theangelicanddevicrealmsforthosewhochoosetoempowerthemselvesinaccessingtheirguidance,thereisnoplaceforego-basedme-powermentattheselevels.

Geomanticdesign

ThefengshuipractitionersofancientChinaandthevaastusagesofIndiahaveknown the energetic principles of geomantic design for millennia. Theirtraditionsand the lesswell-knownunderstandingof theancientgeomancersofEuropearenowbeingrecognizedbyourcollectiveawareness.All such traditions aim to optimize the flow of life-promoting energies

throughthe location,orientation,shapeandlayoutofbuildings themselvesandtheirrelationshiptotheirsurroundinglandscape.Thetimingofeventsrelatingtoa building is also traditionally taken into account in order to optimize theprevailingastrologicalinfluences.Understandingandresolvingseriousorcomplexenergeticproblemsgenerally

takes years of experience and so a professional practitioner usually best dealswith the resolution of issues relating to such serious imbalances and sentientpresences.However,byunderstandingtheprincipleswe’veexploredinThe8thChakraandbyattuningtoourownhigherguidanceandthatoftheangelicanddevicrealms,wecanbecomeintuitivelyawareofhowtooptimallybalancetheenergiesandclearthespaceofourownhomes.

Spaceclearing

In this work, simplicity and a positive and loving intention are the keys tosuccess.Also,wemayconsiderwhereweareasmerelyaplacetoliveorwecanconsiderittobeourhome.Sobeforeyoubegin,settheintentionthathoweveryou’ve previously felt about the place in which you live, this gift of spaceclearingisforbothyouandyourhome.

Your first step inspaceclearingyourhome is toensure that it isclean, tidyand uncluttered. If it’s dirty, untidy or filled with ‘stuff’, its energies willinevitably become stagnant. Old clothes, photographs, books or anycollections that no longermeanmuch toyouor that youdon’t use areverygood candidates for decluttering. And don’t forget to consider the outsideconditionofyourproperty,yourgardenandtheentrance.

Thesecondandthirdstepsaretoattunethroughtheattunementonpage243to ask both your own higher guidance and Archangel Michael to helpdeterminewhatimbalancesmaybepresentinyourhomeandthenwhattodotoresolvethem.

If at this stage you discern imbalanced energies that are beyond yourexperience or expertise to resolve, please call in professional help. But beassuredthatthisisthecaseonlyforasmallminorityofhomes.

Whilst your guidance may involve your doing something physically tobalance the energies, and there are a number of books that offer traditionalsuggestions,moreoften thannotyoumaybeable to resolveany imbalancesolely on energetic levels. You may be guided, for example, to work withMichaeloroneoftheotherArchangelstocleansethespacebyvisualizinganenergeticshowerofrainbowlightcascadingthroughit,sensingthefragranceof aetheric flowers or placing a pyramid of golden light over the entireproperty.

ThefinalaspectofyourspaceclearingistoundertakeasimpleceremonyofyourownchoicetothanktheAngelsandDevasfortheirguidanceandtoask,withgratitude,forablessingonyourhomeandonallthosewholiveandvisitthere.This ceremonycanbe as simple as lighting a candle and sayingyourwordsoflovingthanks.Justallowyourselftobeintuitivelyguidedastowhatfeelsrightforyou.

Whenyou decide to leave a home, a final space clearing is very helpful. Itenablesyoutomoveonfreelyandbeopentothenewpossibilitiesinyourlifeanditallowsyourpropertytowelcomesomeonenew.I’veknownmanypeoplewho’vetriedtosellapropertywithoutsuccessuntilit’sbeenspacecleared.Undertakingaspaceclearingwhenyouarriveatsomewherenewalsoclears

the space of the imprint of previous owners or tenants and enables you toestablish a loving and caring relationship with your new home from thebeginning.If at any point during your space clearing you are unsure of your intuitive

guidance,youmaywish toconsiderdowsingaseitheranalternativemeansofattunementorasamethodofvalidation.

Dowsing

The ancient art of dowsing, where nonlocal awareness is utilized to discoverthings that are beyond the five physical senses has, over the last few years,enjoyeda resurgence.Whilstdowsingforwater,orwaterdivining, is thebest-known and most common use of dowsing skills, practitioners can attunethemselvestodowseforvirtuallyanything.Dowsingmayalsobeusedasameansofdiagnosis,fordecision-making,for

health,asameansofaccessingandvalidatingourownhigherguidanceandforspaceclearing.Theprocess involvesourenergeticattunement towhateverwe’reseeking to

find. It is similar to tuning a wireless or television to the wavelength of aparticular station. In the case of dowsing,we are thewireless andwhatwe’reattuningtotakestheplaceofthewirelessstation.Suchattunement is essentially the sameas thenonlocal awareness achieved

byremoteviewers.Asisthecaseforsuch‘atadistance’perception,ourbodiesmay pick upmore subliminal information than our consciousminds. It is theminute muscle reactions of our bodies that the ‘tools’ of the dowser thenmagnify.So,whilsttheusualtoolsareeitherpendulumsorhand-heldbentrodsofwood ormetal, the tool itself ismerely ameans of registering the attunedresponse. Any tool – or indeed nothing – can be used if it works for theindividual.Wecanalldowse.Andpracticewillincreaseourabilities.Also,dowsing,like

meditation,byrequiringustobecentredandstill,enablesustoattunenotonly

to our ownquiet voiceof innerwisdombut also to thevoiceofGaia and thewisdomoftheCosmos.

Calmandbalanced

Onceyou’vechosenyourpreferreddowsingtool,inordertobegintodowseyouneed to feel calmandbalancedphysically, emotionallyandmentally. Ifyouarefeelinganxious,youcancalmyourselfbytakingafewdeepbreaths.

The next step is to elicit a yes/positive and no/negative response fromyourpendulumorrods.Quietyourmindandaskonaninnerleveltobeshownfirsta‘yes’andthena‘no’.Ifyouareusingapendulum,theusualresponseisforittoswingclockwiseorcounterclockwise.Ifyouareworkingwithrods,theseshould be free to swing to the right or left. The pendulum or rods shouldswing oneway for ‘yes’ and the otherway for ‘no’.Repeat this step everytimeyouundertakeasessionofdowsing,foryoumayfindthatthedirectionofthe‘yes/no’responsessometimesflipsbetweensessions!

Practisebyfirstcheckingthedowsingresponsetoquestionsyoualreadyknowtheanswerstoandthenbyseekinganswerstoquestionsyoudon’tknowtheanswers to but can independently validate.Keep at it until your confidenceincreases.Onceyouareabletotrustyourdowsing,youcanthenmoveontoasking questions where dowsing may be the primary or only means ofobtainingananswer.

Also learn to ask clearly defined questions that can only elicit a ‘yes/no’response. Sometimes your dowsing tools may not respond. In this caseconsiderrephrasingthequestion.

Ifyouareseekinganswerstoquestionsthat involveothersorissuesthatarecontentious,yourfirstquestionsshouldbetoconfirmthatit’sappropriateforyoutodowseforthesereasonsatthistime.

If you are dowsing for something in particular,manydowsers usewhat arecalled ‘witnesses’ tohelp themto tune into the target.Witnessesareusuallysmallenoughtofitintothepalmofyourhandorbecarriedeasilyinapocket,for example a small bottle ofwater, ifwater iswhat you are attempting tolocate.

Whendetermining thepossibilityofgeopathic stress inyourhome,youcandowse for answers for its presence, location, type (e.g. water,electromagnetism) and strength.By drawing a plan of your homeon paper,youcanalsopendulumdowsetotraceanylinesofstressontheplan.

Tofurtherdevelopyourdowsingskills,thedowsingsocietiesinanumberofcountries, including Britain, the US, Canada and Australia, run courses forbeginnersthroughtoadvancedstudents.

Finally,ifyouaredowsingonapersonallevelandfeelthatyourrationalmindcangetintheway,youmaytryblinddowsingbyusingapendulum.Hereyouwrite on a number of pieces of paper the range of answers to a particularquestion.Thenyoufoldandshuffle thepapers insuchaway thatyoucan’tdifferentiate between them. Lay each out on a flat surface and hold thependulumovereachpieceofpaperinturn,whileaskingifthisistheanswerthatisforyourhighestgood.

Themoreyoupractiseyourinherentdowsingskills,thegreateryourenergeticsensitivityandconsciousresonancewillbecome.Andsowillyourability tohearthewisdomofGaia.

Gaia’sShiftingtoo

GaiaisalsoreadyingherselfforaShiftofconsciousnessandasweconnectwithherawarenessthroughtheenergeticportalsofthe8thandninthchakraswecanconsciouslyaidher(andourselves)throughthisprocess.GeomancersarenotingthisenergeticShiftofGaiainanumberofsignificant

ways inaddition to thephysicalshiftsofherclimateandsurfacefeatures.Thefirst is that the energy meridians that have previously been perceived asembodying polarity energies are now being seen as embodying a threefoldinterweaving of positive/male, negative/female and neutral/child. These triadicenergies are the equivalent of our mind, heart and will, and their activationreflectsourownactivationofthe8thchakraoftheuniversalheart.In Chapter 7,we discussed the 12-foldUnity grid ofGaia. Embodying the

ever-present‘memory’ofunityawareness,itisalsoawakeningatthistimeinthesame way as we are now able to access the higher chakras of our 12-foldtranspersonalawareness.ItsongoingactivationistoldinmyforthcomingbookThe 13th Step. When completely activated it too will embody the thirteenth

transformational wholeness of unity awareness – and is the Shift inconsciousnessthatisbeingprophesied.GeomancerRichardLevitonhas termed thegeomanticconsciousnessof this

12-foldactivationofGaiaanAlbion.Inancienttimes,thiswasthemysticnameofBritain.VisionaryWilliamBlakeusedthetermtodescribethecosmichumanbeing–ouroriginalstateandourfuturedestiny.Albions are the devic equivalent of the soular hero and such planetary

consciousnessisactivatedthroughhuman,devicandangelicco-operation.AsanAlbionfullyawakens,itembodiesthecosmictemplateofunityconsciousness.At its wholly activated level the dodecahedral Unity grid is a planetary

Albion.Holographically, all the 12 pentagonal divisions of theUnity grid arealso Albions in their fully activated states and so on at ever-smaller scalesthroughoutthelandscapesofGaia.

OurSoularSystemtoo

ThegroupsoulthatisourSoularSystemhasbeenguidedfromitsinceptionbycosmic beings known in some traditions as theElohim. Their role asmentorsandwatchersover the evolutionof consciousnesswithinourSoularSystem isexploredfurtherinThe13thStep.As we are beginning to access the transpersonal perception of our tenth

chakra,wearebecomingable toconnectconsciouslywith theElohimand theplanetarybeingsofourSoularSystem.Whilstastrologershaveperceived theirprofound influence for millennia, we are only now realizing that they arearchetypal aspectsofour soular consciousness.With this expandedawareness,wecannowcommunewiththeSun,Moonandplanetsinwaysthatenableustounderstandourselvesandeachotheratamoreprofoundlevelthaneverbefore.Over the portal of the ancient oracle at Delphi, Greece, was the injunction

‘Knowthyself.’AsweconnectwiththearchetypalconsciousnessofourSoularSystem,wecannowtrulyknowwhoweare.Indoingso,aswithourcommunionwith the realmsofGaia,wewillbegin

notonly tobeawareof thevastnessof theCosmos,but also to recognizeourtruespiritualplaceinitsco-creation.

Galacticawareness

Aswewalk– anddance– together towards the culminationof aeons and theShift of consciousness of the year 2012/2013, cosmic forces support and

illuminateourpath.InearlyNovember2003anastrologicalalignmentcomprisingtheSun,Moon,

Mars,Jupiter,SaturnandChironformedaperfectsix-pointedstarinthesky.Theresonance of this unique cosmic mandala, known globally as the HarmonicConcordance, with the emergent energies of the 8th and higher chakrassupportedeachoneofustowalkthejourneyofthesoularhero.Forty-fourdaysafter theHarmonicConcordancewas theDecember solstice

of2003.Thistwenty-thirddayofthetwelfthmonthofthatyearaddeduptoandembodiedthenumerologyof13(23being2+3=5,thetwelfthmonthbeing1+2=3and2003being2+3=5,addingup5+3+5=13).Thisshortestdayoftheyearinthenorthernhemispherecompletedthethree-dayperiodofthewintersolstice, when the rising Sun ‘stands still’ – the time of the rebirth of thesolar/soularhero.AndtheDruidsofancientBritain,whoselunarcalendarof13monthsof28dayseachtotalled364days,consideredthisdaywhichreconciledthelunarandsolaryearasbeing‘outoftime’.Thiswasalso theexactdayandyearwhen,after26,000years, theSunwas

aligned with Ophiucus, the thirteenth zodiac sign and thus the centre of thegalaxy.Thismomentwastheculminationofmyownhigherguidance,whichhadled

myfellowtravellersandmeonanextraordinaryinnerandouterjourneyaroundthe world. Now as we stood together in the great stone circle at Avebury,England,whichgeomancersconsidertobetheplanetaryumbilicalcordwiththegalacticcentre,welivedoutwhatIhadbeenguidedbytheElohimtodomanyyearsbefore– toconnectwithgalacticconsciousness toopenaportalof suchhigherawarenessonaplanetarylevel.Aswecontinuetojourneytogetherinthesecomingyears,theenergeticwaves

of succeedingplanetary alignmentsofourSoularSystemare actingas cosmicway-showersforourcollectiveleapinawareness.Wehavealmostunimaginablecosmic support at this time as the angelic and devic realms join with thepantheonofAscendedMasters toguideandfacilitateourpath.Withtheir loveand inspiration, at the cusp of the twelfth and thirteenth year of this newmillennium,willwebeabletotakethetwelfthstepofthejourneyofthesoularheroandembodyunityconsciousnessforourselvesandthusforusall?Idon’tknow.Formyowncontinuingjourneyisoneofdiscoveryaswell.Ionlyknowthateachofuscanmakethechoicetotry.Andthatisgoodenough.

CHAPTER13

HoME

Wehaveallchosen,at the levelofourhigherconsciousness, tobehereat thistime.Wehaveallundertakena journeyofaeons toarriveat thispoint,but it’stimetosetdownthebaggagewehaveaccumulatedandbefree.Wearetheoneswehavebeenwaitingforandhereandnowisouropportunity

tobethemasternavigatorsofourownconsciousness.Wecanbetheco-creatorsofourfuturedestiny,inalignmentandharmonywiththeflowoftheCosmos.Wearenotalone.Asweexpandourawarenesstothetranspersonallevelsthat

arenowavailabletous,notonlycanwechoosetoundertakethejourneyofthesoularherobutwecanalsoperceivethatjustasthesoularheroesofmythandlegendhadcompanionswhohelpedthemtofulfiltheirmission,sowetoohavesupportandguidance.Wearenowable toconnectdirectlywith thearchetypalaspects of our individual and collective awareness – spiritual guides includingtheassemblyofAngelsandtheAscendedMastersofallspiritualtraditions.Togetherwehavearrivedatthisthresholdoftransformation.Thechoiceswe

make,individuallyandcollectively,inthenextfewyearswilldeterminenotonlyourdestinybutalsothatofallfuturegenerations.TheChinesesageLaoTzuoncesaid,‘Thejourneyof1,000milesbeginswith

a single step.’ In every moment, every breath, every step, we can choosesomethingdifferentfromtheonebefore.Ifthenwechosefear,wecannowchooselove.Ifthenwechosetears,wecannowchooselaughter.Ifthenwechosedeath,wecannowchooselife.Ineverymomentweco-createtheuniverseafresh.Andeachandeveryoneof

uscanmakeadifference,nomatterhowsmallwemayfeelweare.For,asAnitaRoddickoncesaid,‘Ifyouthinkyou’retoosmalltobeeffective,you’veneverbeeninbedwithamosquito.’Dancingtogethertowards2012/2013,wecaneachawakenthe8thchakraof

the universal heartwithin us and undertake the journey of the soular hero. Indoingso,weempowerothersandourselves,inservicetoallourrelationsandinthefulfilmentofourcollectiveandcosmicdestiny.Aswe progressively awaken from our spiritual amnesia and re-member the

wholenessofwhowereallyare,wearenowabletocomeHoMEastogetherweareabletobringtobirththerealityofHeavenonMotherEarth.

Intheuniversalheart,Ire-member

thewholenessofmyself.

Intheuniversalheart,Ire-member

thewholenessofourhumanfamily.

Intheuniversalheart,Ire-member

thewholenessofGaiaandallherchildren.

Intheuniversalheart,Ire-member

thewholenessofourSoularSystem.

Intheuniversalheart,Ire-member

thewholenessofourgalaxy.

Intheuniversalheart,Ire-memberthewholenessoftheCosmos.

AsIre-memberthewholenessofmysoul,Idosowithlove,joyandgratitude

intheunityoftheOne.

Attunement1

BreathexercisesBreath is life. And the connection between our breath, our thoughts and ouremotionsisprofound.Yetourgenerallyshallowbreathingonlyutilizesabout10percentofourlungcapacityandresults intirednessandstress.Aswebreathemoredeeply,weliterallylivelifemorefullyandenhanceourgeneralwell-being.Herearethreesimplebreathingexercises.Thisfirstexercisecanbedoneanytimeandanywhere.

Stopforamoment.Ifpossible,closeyoureyestoaidyourfocus.

Focusingonyourbreath,takethreebreaths.

Foreachbreath:

Breatheinslowlythroughyournoseandasyoudoso,saytoyourself,‘Iam…’

Breatheoutthroughyournoseequallyslowlyandasyoudoso,addthenameofwhateverenergyoressenceyouchoosetoembodywithinyourselfatthistime,forexample,‘Calm,Peace,LovingTruth,Courage,Clarity,Love.’

For the next two exercises, it is easiest to sit on an upright chairwith yourhead,neckandback inalignmentandyour lowerbacksupportedby thechair.Closeyoureyestohelpattaininnerfocus.Thisexerciseisusefultobalanceyourselfbeforeundertakingameditation.

Placeonehandonyourabdomen.

Inhaleslowlythroughyournose,feelingtheairfillandexpandyourabdomen.

Continueslowlyinhalingasyouthenexpandyourchestandgentlyraise

yourshoulderstowardsyourears.

Exhaleslowlythroughyourmouth,whilerelaxingfirstyourshouldersandthenyourchestandfinallycontractingyourabdomen.

Repeatuntilyoufeelbalancedandatpeace.

This third exercise is useful to identify areas in your body which may beimbalancedandtosendthemhealing.

Inhaleslowlythroughyournose,holdyourbreathforamomentandthenexhalethroughyournoseequallyslowly.

Breatheinthisgentlewayforaminuteorsountilyouareabletosensetherisingandfallingofenergywithinyourself.

Whenyoudo,allowyourattentiontofollowyourbreathforafurtherminuteorsoandsenseifthereareanyareasofyourbodywheretheenergyfeelsstagnantorstuck.

Ifthereare,visualize(sense,orjustintend)thatasyourbreathflowsthroughyouitreachesthisareaanditsenergygentlydissolvestheblockage.

Asyouexhale,visualizethatthestuckenergyisbeingexhaledtoo.

Continueforafurtherminuteorsountilyousensetheenergyofyourbreathfreelyflowingthroughyou.

Attunement2

Personalchakrameditation

First,findaquietandcomfortableplaceandsettledown,preferablysittinguprightwithyourbacksupportedandbothfeetontheground.

Beginwiththebreath-balancingexerciseofAttunement1.

Whenyoufeelready,witheachin-breath,visualizeorsenseabeamofwhite-goldlightenteringyourbodythroughyourcrownchakra,andasyoubreatheout,sensethebeamoflightcontinuingdownyourspineandonintotheEarth.

Witheachbreath,sensethatanyimbalancedorheavyenergiesarebreathedoutthroughyourrootchakraandreleasedwithgratitudeintotheEarth.

Nowbreathethewhite-goldlightonlytothebaseofyourspineasyoubegintomeditatewiththeenergiesofeachchakrainturn,beginningwiththerootchakra.

Atyourrootchakra,visualizeorsensethewhite-goldlighttransmutingtoadeeprubyred.Betweenyourin-andout-breaths,focusonyourbodilysensesandfeelyourselfbecomephysicallyempowered.Asyoubreatheout,senseyourselfradiatingtheessenceoftherubylightandembodyingcourageousenergy.

Next,atyoursacralchakra,envisagethewhite-goldlightbecomingavibrantorangeand,betweenin-andout-breaths,feelyourselfembodyingvitalityandvigour.Asyoubreatheout,radiatetheorangelightofyourjoyousenergy.

Atyoursolarplexuschakra,visualizeorsensethewhite-goldlightbecomingabrilliantgoldencolour.Betweenin-andout-breaths,senseyourcreativityandtheexpressionofyourhighestpurpose.Asyoubreatheout,radiatethisgoldenlight.

Atyourheartchakra,envisagethewhite-goldlightbecominga

sumptuousgreenandsensethebeautyofthelovingandcompassionatebeingthatyouare.Radiatethisloveasyoureal-izethatyoucanchooseloveineverymomentinthought,wordanddeed.

Atyourthroatchakra,visualizethewhite-goldlightbecomingavividsky-blueandallowtheauthenticexpressionofyouruniquecreativitytoflowasyouradiateyourlovingtruthwitheachout-breath.

Atyourthirdeyechakra,envisagethewhite-goldlightbecomingarichindigoandsenseyourprofoundinnerwisdomandknowingthatalllifeisOne.Feelthisspiritualawarenessradiateasyoubreatheout.

Atyourcrownchakra,visualizethewhite-goldlightflowingupfromthebaseofyourspinethrougheachchakrainturn.Asitrisestoyourcrown,senseitbecominganexquisitevioletglowandasyoubreathein,fillyourselfwiththisbeautifullight.

Finally,asyoubreatheout,radiatetheenergyofyourdivineselftotheCosmos,sharinglove,joyandgratitudewithallbeings.

Attunement3

Universalheartandearthstarchakrameditation

First,findaquietandcomfortableplaceandsettledown,preferablysittinguprightwithyourbacksupportedandbothfeetontheground.

Beginbytakingafewdeepbreaths.Witheachin-breath,envisagethatyouarebreathingintheessenceofapeacefuljoyandallowittoflowthroughandfillyourentirebody.Witheachout-breath,allowanydistractionorconcerntobegentlyreleasedwithouteffort.Continuetobreatheinthiswayuntilyoufeelbalancedandatease.

Nowfocusyourattentionintheareaofyourheartchakraandbreatheintotheessenceofitslovingenergy.Asyoudoso,senseasphereoflightbeginningtoformhere.Youmayvisualizethisorjustsenseitsenergy.

Continuetobreatheintothesphereoflightandwitheachbreathenvisageorsensethesphereexpandinganditsenergybecomingbrighterasitgrowstothesizethatyouintuitivelyknowisperfectforyouatthistime.Asitexpandstobecomeitsperfectsize,feelitsessenceoflovingcompassionandfeelyourselflovedandnurturedforallthatyouare,withoutconditionorjudgement.

Nowenvisageorsensethesphereofheartenergygentlymovingupthroughyourbody,comingtorestatthealtermajorchakraatthebaseofyourskull,whereyourskullmeetsthetopofyourbackbone.Astheheartchakraresonateswiththeessenceoflove,sothealtermajorchakraresonateswiththeessenceofmind.

Nowsenseasecondsphereoflightbegintoformhere,withinthesphereofheartenergy.Againyoumayenvisageitorjustfeelitspresence.

Witheachbreath,senseitgrowinginsizeandbrightnessandfeelitsessenceofclarityandintuitivewisdom.

Envisageorsenseitcontinuingtoexpanduntilitbecomesthesamesizeastheheartsphere.Nowsensethetwospheresofheartandmindenergy

nestedwithineachothergentlymergingtogethertoformasinglesphereofheartandmindessence,theirenergiesbalancingandbecomingwhole.

Nowsensethecombinedsphereofenergymovingdownthroughyourbodytocometorestatyoursolarplexuschakraandconnectwiththeenergiesofyourwillandintention.

Begintofocusonyourbreathflowingintoyoursolarplexuschakraandenvisageathirdsphereoflightformingherewithinthesphereofheart-mindessencandagaingrowingwitheachbreathinsizeandbrightness.Senseitsessenceofhighestintentionandpurposeasitexpandstobecomethesamesizeasthesphereofheart-mindenergyandthenenvisagethespheresmergingtoformone.

Finally,sensethecombinedsphereofheart-mind-willenergymovingeasilyandgentlyupthroughyourbodyuntilcomingtorestmidwaybetweenyourheartandthroatchakras.Thisistheenergeticcentreofthe8thoruniversalheartchakra,theportaltothetranspersonalchakrasofyourunitychakraenergyfield.

Envisagethisportalopeningasyoubreatheintotheuniversalheartofthe8thchakra.Nowsenseapulseofenergyreachingupfromyour8thchakratoconnectyouwithyourhighestawareness,purposeandguidance.

Senseareturningpulseofenergyflowingthroughthe8thchakradownthroughyourbodytoapointaboutsixinchesbelowyourfeet.Thisistheninth,earthstar,chakra,whichyoumayvisualizeorsenseasavortexofenergy.Fromhere,pulsetheenergydeepintotheheartoftheEarthandsenseareturningpulseofenergyfromtheheartofGaiaupandthroughyourearthstarchakraandintothe8thchakra.

Continueinharmonywithyourbreathtopulseacolumnofenergyconnectingyour8thchakrawithyourhighestawarenessandthendownthroughtheearthstartoconnectwiththeawarenessofGaiauntilyoufeelbalancedandwellgrounded.

Atthispoint,asyoufeelappropriate,breatheintotheuniversalheartandcalluponyourhighestguidanceforre-memberingandhealingintothewholenessofwhoyoureallyare.

Whenyoufeelreadytocompletethemeditation,withdrawyour

awarenessandenergybackintoyourbody,offerthankstoyourhighestguidanceandanyspiritualguidesthatyoumayworkwith,andgentlycomebackintotheroom.

AsdiscussedinChapter9,youmayworkwiththismeditationtoreceiveyourownhighest guidance relating to thehealingofyourself andothers, to releaseany limiting fears that you embody and to perceive and ground your higherpurposeandwayforward.

FurtherreadingDonBeckandChristopherCowan,SpiralDynamics:Masteringvalues,leadershipandchange,BlackwellPublishing,2006

LynBirkbeck,DivineAstrology:Enlistingtheaidoftheplanetarypowers,OBooks,2005

JudeCurrivan,TheWave:Alife-changingjourneyintotheheartandmindoftheCosmos,OBooks,2005

JamesD’Angelo,TheHealingPoweroftheHumanVoice,HealingArtsPress,2005

MasaruEmoto,TheHiddenMessagesinWater,BeyondWordsPublishing,2004

ErvinLaszlo,ScienceandtheRe-enchantmentoftheCosmos:Theriseoftheintegralvisionofreality,InnerTraditions,2006

BruceLipton,TheBiologyofBelief,MountainofLovePublishing,2005

JamesLovelock,TheRevengeofGaia:WhytheEarthisfightingback–andhowwecanstillsavehumanity,AllenLane,2006

CarolineMyss,InvisibleActsofPower:Personalchoicesthatcreatemiracles,Simon&Schuster,2005

DeanRadin,EntangledMinds:Extrasensoryexperiencesinaquantumreality,HarperCollins,2006

DavidTame,TheSecretPowerofMusic,DestinyBooks,1984

EckhartTolle,ThePowerofNow,Hodder&Stoughton,1999

DesmondTutu,NoFuturewithoutForgiveness,Doubleday,2000

Websites

CollegeofPsychicStudies:www.collegeofpsychicstudies.co.uk

HeartMathInstitute:www.heartmath.com

MonroeInstitute–metamusictapesandCDs:www.newmind.com

DrAlfredTomatis–acoustichealingwork:www.tomatis.com

AbouttheAuthor

Dr Jude Currivan PhD is a cosmologist, healer, author and inspirationaleducator.

Growing up as the daughter of a coalminer, she is now based nearAvebury,England. Jude has experienced multidimensional realities and researchedconsciousness and metaphysics since childhood. She holds a PhD inArchaeologyresearchingancientcosmologiesandanOxfordUniversityMastersDegreeinPhysicsspecialisingincosmologyandquantumphysics.

Judehasworkedwiththewisdomkeepersofmanytraditions.Sheleadssacredjourneys worldwide including a series of pilgrimages to Egypt, South Africa,China, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Easter Island, Hawaii and Israel.Therevelatoryandtransformationalexperiencesofthesejourneysarethesubjectof her book The 13th Step, voted by readers of Kindred Spirit as the bestpersonaldevelopmentbookof2007.

JudeisalsotheauthorofTheWave,The8thChakraand,withDrErvinLaszlo,CosMos – a co-creator’s guide to the whole-world. A double CD of herteachingsandattunementsentitledHeart,MindandPurposeisalsoavailable.

Judeworksworldwideaimingtoempowerothers,raiseawarenessandfacilitatepractical and sustainable harmony and wholeness on personal and collective

levels. In addition to her writing and healing work she speaks regularly atconferencesandworkshops,andonTVandradioworldwide.

www.judecurrivan.com

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FormoreinformationontitlesfromHayHousePublishing,visitwww.hayhouse.co.uk/books

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