The power of ritual
By Jimmy Henderson FRC
The pathway to divine revelation by way of
the mind was hidden in ritual by the old masters until candidates were
ready to understand and appreciate their true meaning. In other words, it could
be said that ritual is a symbolic
representation of the great truths regarding man, soul, God and
reality.
Normally, divine revelation only takes place during meditation, an altered state of consciousness in which our brainwave patterns are
slowed down by means of physical and mental relaxation. In this state the subconscious mind opens, and we experience a 'mindfulness' in which the God-mind can be more easily accessed.
The effect of the solemnity, focus, actions and gestures of a ritual, which is full of symbolism, is such that
it can also produce a similar introspective state of mind, one which also allows for access to the subconscious mind and the transfer of inspired thoughts
and hidden truths.
The aim of ritual is therefore to prime our minds for the inflow of sacred knowledge
and divine revelation. However, this normally requires a certain preparedness and state of readiness
in which the mind is gradually unfolded through guided study and discipline, as would be provided within the framework and teachings of fraternal
organisations based on the ancient mystery schools.
This readiness can be explained firstly as
being fully open to new knowledge and experiences. A closed mind and a critical, judgmental attitude
will certainly not be conducive to spiritual revelation. Second, the mind
should be clear and not cluttered with emotional or psychological baggage from
the past. Strong negative emotions such hatred, intense anger and festering
resentments will block any subtle impressions from the deeper levels of the mind.
In other words, in order to experience the true power of ritual, an initiate should have a reasonable level of emotional wellness and be able to maintain a
relaxed, peaceful state of mind which will allow him/her to hear the whispers
of divine revelation as they pass through his/her subconscious mind.
Ideally, the images, symbols and gestures of the ritual will impress themselves upon the fully receptive mind, pass through and resonate with their hidden meanings existing in the subconscious, and lead to powerful emotional or spiritual experiences and revelations of truth.
Jimmy Henderson is a cognitive scientist, metaphysician and well-known author. His books are available on Amazon.com and through his website www.jimmyhendersonbooks.com
