Meditating for Wisdom

Meditation for wisdom 

By Jimmy Henderson

Our inner being is a source of knowledge and power which we can approach daily in an attempt to answer many important questions on the meaning of life, on who and what we are, our ethics and morality, our world with its natural laws and so-called supernatural events and the existence of a higher spiritual reality and God. How we access this knowledge has been for many centuries the subject matter of science, psychology, philosophy, Theology and mysticism. I believe that these are ultimately all different approaches or paths to the same source of knowledge and revelation that is available to us deep within the levels of our own consciousness.

In this regard, we can make use of advanced techniques such as meditation. One such exercise, a visualisation called the “Oracle”, has proved to be extremely powerful. This particular technique was used extensively as a basis to my book "In Search of the Oracle" (2002) and is presented here. The technique is quite advanced and is recommended for those who have already performed inner work.

This is first an exercise in imagery and visualisation in which you use a very light meditative state to form a mental picture of an "oracle". This should be an old man or woman who symbolises to you, “God ", "wisdom ", "inner guidance" or merely a wise person whom you can trust and respect. A suitable simple imaginary context is also required for this visualisation, such as seeing yourself slowly climbing a mountain to visit this oracle who is seated in a cave, or on  a rock on top of this mountain. This exercise can be accompanied by suitable soft, background music.

After you have entered a meditative state, visualise yourselves initially standing facing the mountain and slowly beginning the climb towards the top. As you continue with the climb, note any vegetation, trees, flowers or rocks which spontaneously appear along the way. These images are placed there by your subconscious mind, and indicate that you have attained its cooperation during this exercise. 

Once you reach the top of the mountain, imagine the oracle sitting a short distance away in front of you. You should see yourselves moving towards him (or her) with your head bowed and pose your question simply and unambiguously. The answer will generally be short and will simply "pop" into your mind, but do not consider it immediately, but merely give thanks, walk backwards away from the oracle and descend the mountain. Once you have returned to your starting point, consider what was said and write it down for further interpretation. If you have more than one question, it will be a good idea to prepare them beforehand on paper, in which case, do not descend the mountain immediately, but merely withdraw from the oracle, write down the reply to the first question and then proceed to approach him or her once more for answers to the other questions (one at a time).

If you wish to gain maximum benefits from this visualisation exercise, return to it regularly over a few weeks or even months, and extend the context to include yourself as one of a group of  students serving the oracle, in which case you can continually return to where you left off on a daily basis and pose further questions as the opportunity arises. Once you have mastered the technique, you will begin to experience yourselves as actually becoming one with the oracle and receiving inner guidance directly, but this comes much later. 

Jimmy Henderson is a mystic and metaphysical teacher. This article is an extract from "In Search of the Oracle" , published by Jimmy and available online at htpps://www.amazon.com/Search-Oracle-Book-Spiritual-Philosophy-ebook/dp/B00LI91HHC/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456146680&sr=1-8&keywords=jimmy+henderson or through his website www.jimmyhendersonbooks.com

Indigo and crystal children

Indigo and crystal children

http://issuu.com/aneisdevida/docs/february_2016?e=13670524/32997893

Readers are invited to view my article on page 62 

Who are we?

                                    Who are we?

 ‘I turned my face away only for a moment, but in this moment I lost sight of my Father and my God. Living as we are, on the fringes of both the spiritual and material worlds, we fulfil a divine purpose, as active agents of God’s Will, by finding ourselves at the forefront of this battle to expand the light of His presence. Unfortunately, due to our present state, we have for the most part forgotten our true origins as a being of light and are not fully aware of this drama which is being enacted and in which we are active players. In this way we are caught up in a situation which we do not fully understand, with spiritual, intellectual and emotional tools which are presently inadequate. Fortunately, it is also true that we are now finally evolving more fully after living in ignorance and darkness for many eons. It is this history of which we must now speak’.

J. Henderson

                                             

When we look in the mirror we see a body. But is this really ‘us’ in the true sense of the word? The most common scientific belief is that we are only physical organisms and that the human mind is only a ‘phenomenon’ brought about by the activity of the brain. It is true that that which we see and experience is our body, and it is very easy to accept that this is who we are. However, this presents a difficulty (which has still not been satisfactorily resolved), in understanding how the brain, which is a physical neurological structure, can produce an inner experience in the form of self-awareness, or a level of consciousness which even our most sophisticated computers are unable to mimic.

The issue becomes easier to explain if we accept the possibility of a higher level of consciousness from which our present self-awareness originates, a conscious state which is merely being stepped down or mediated by our neural structures. There are obviously also philosophical problems associated with this idea, such as how a non-material substance (consciousness) can be taken up and transmuted by the brain structures. However, it is clear from everyday life that our physical bodies and (non-material) minds do affect one another, and until our research and technology has evolved sufficiently to fully explain this interaction, the latter view still provides the most practical benefits for our thinking. 

For example, believing in a higher world of mind and consciousness opens the door for a new view of mankind as multi-dimensional beings with an almost unlimited potential, and would explain our almost intuitive belief that we all have a deeper spiritual side to ourselves, a higher or more authentic ‘self’ from which our present ethics, morality and higher mental faculties are derived, that which, in religious terms, could be described as the ‘soul’. However, if we are intimately connected to a more perfect self or soul, how do we explain the present state of mankind, the greed, the thirst for power and the violent, destructive force of human actions? When contemplating this question of the nature of my true being, I was reminded of the analogy of the caterpillar and the butterfly.

In Nature insects often go through a larval stage, engage in a struggle for survival and later emerge from their chrysalis having evolved into adults. In the larval stage, the insect is very primitive and destructive, devouring all in its path. Only later, as it matures and the outer casing falls away, does the ‘inner being’ emerge, which is more perfect.

   

I was able to relate this analogy to ourselves, in that, in our casing of humanity, we also struggle to learn and grow. Like the insect larva, the ego of the undeveloped human being can also be very destructive, selfishly using and devouring everything in its efforts to meet its most basic needs. However, in line with the caterpillar analogy, we will also one day evolve to become a new being, full of light and power.

The limitations of our physical bodies and our imperfect minds suggest that we are still in the early stages of this process, and busy with the struggle that is necessary when the butterfly leaves its chrysalis and strengthens its wings in order to fly. In our own lives, this struggle translates into many painful and life-changing events, but also includes times which bring joy, happiness and success.

Sometimes we feel lost in a world which, on the surface at least, appears to be spinning out of control. However, if we look more carefully and deeply, we may see that, on a broader level, the Universe is still unfolding as it should, even if we are not able to understand the entire process at present. Being active participants and integral players in this ongoing drama, it is extremely difficult for us to step ‘outside of the box’ and find the universal perspective that is needed.

So how can we explain this idea of a more authentic (or higher) self in the light of our present human limitations and propensity for error? Many ancient texts, including religious scriptures, suggest that we have ‘devolved’ (or fallen) from a superior race of Man, far more perfect than today, one which was ‘of one mind ‘with the Father and part of the original plan of divine self-expression. This is discussed in more modern terms by the author Soozi Holbeche in her book, Changes (1997), in which she explains that we need to understand that we are actually spiritual beings having a human experience and not vice versa. In other words, at the centre of our beings we are still that original perfect creation, but due to a separation from our true or authentic selves, we are now clothed in our present (human) form with an accompanying loss of consciousness and understanding. Our goal in life should therefore be one of regaining this lost connection, and returning to a state of oneness with our true selves.   

Extract from ‘Living on the Edge of Darkness’ by Jimmy Henderson. Available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords in e-book format via his website

www.jimmyhendersonbooks.com

Latest artlcle-The Power of Ritual (Aneis de Vida magazine)

Latest article on the Power of Ritual in Aneis de Vida online magazine -see page 70

Complete e-book available from Amazon.com (Jimmy Henderson)

How we 'see' angels and guides and departed friends (an explanation based on psychological research)

Synesthesia -converting spiritual impressions into images 

‘Everything we experience in the outer world is a reflection of our inner states of consciousness’

Sri Gawn Tu Fahr

We all have the innate ability to translate impressions, sensations and feelings into colours, forms and images in our minds. This is not supernatural, or the stuff of fairy-tales. Look up ‘synesthesia’ in any good encyclopedia and you will see that this concept exists, although it is usually not well known outside of metaphysical circles. Sythesthesia is defined as the ability to translate one sense mode into another, and results from the close interaction   between mental and physiological processes.  

Due to the electro-chemical nature of our nervous system, our bodies are surrounded by an envelope which is extremely sensitive, much like the electromagnetic atmosphere of the Earth. As we know, disturbances in this atmosphere, such as that caused by sun-spots, can affect the conditions on the planet. In a like manner, subtle outside influences are able to bring about sensations, sense-impressions and ‘feelings’ in our bodies, which, by means of synesthesia, can be translated into images.

I am sure that many of you have experienced a sense of danger or discomfort in the past. Imagine this feeling giving rise to impressions of ‘spikiness’, or the colour red, or a vision of thorns flashing briefly in your minds. Similarly, consider the sensation of comfort or safety spontaneously producing a brief image of a ‘safe’ colour such as blue, or even objects such as ‘bubbles’ or ‘cotton puffs’. You will see that these images can all be symbolically associated with their particular feelings, and are simply generated by our subconscious minds in response to certain inner experiences. 

The actual images we see in response to impressions and feelings are very personal, shaped by our own backgrounds, beliefs and views of the world. For example, if one was bitten by a dog as a child, we may now associate danger with a nasty-looking dog, and this image could flash into our minds when we experience a sensation or feeling of danger.

Obviously, being able to automatically translate impressions and feelings into images requires some training and our minds have to be in a very relaxed state and sensitized to pick up the subtle cues, but it is possible. With practice, this skill can be further developed to the point where sensations and feelings produce images in our minds which superimpose themselves on our normal consciousness (something like a daydream), and become more complex, even taking on the form of humanlike figures. 

This skill can explain the ability of psychics and sensitives to see guides and even angels and archangels, as they are simply translating the characteristics of the spiritual energy (impressions) into familiar images that make sense in terms of their beliefs and frameworks of thinking. In other words, the 'presence', does not necessary look like that, but we have interpreted it symbolically in terms of our own understanding. 

Jimmy Henderson is a philosopher, cognitive scientist and metaphysician and the pubished author of a number of books an articles. See 'Jimmy Henderson' on Amazon.com, Smashwords and Barnes and Noble. www.jimmyhendersonbooks.com

Handling your thoughts and emotions on a daily basis

   

Handling your thoughts and emotions on a daily basis

By Jimny Henderson (MA Psychology, FRC)

We are faced daily with situations which affect us and threaten our peace of mind. Some are of a personal nature but many relate to the nation or even the world as a whole. For example, the high cost of living, unemployment, the spiraling crime rate, corruption, as well as global issues such as wars and political upheavals. Although it is important to take note of these issues, allowing your mind to continually fill up with negative thoughts and intense emotions such as fear, rage, anger, frustration and resentment, is not helpful to your emotional wellness and self‑development.

   At this point I wish to tell you a story, actually a parable from the East, one which explains this principle quite well. There were once two monks. One was quite old and the other a novice. One day, they were walking along the road and came to the banks of a river. Here they saw a beautiful young girl waiting to cross the river. She was a little afraid as the river was quite deep. The younger monk turned his head away and tried to ignore the young girl, as he was concerned that she would be a temptation to him. However, the older monk simply gathered the young girl up on his shoulders, carried her across the river and put her down on the other side. They then continued with their journey. After a short while, the younger monk could bear it no longer and gently challenged the elder on the issue. ‘Sir, we are both bound to our vows of chastity, was it therefore not a sin to have approached and gathered up that young girl at the river?’ The older monk looked at his novice in a puzzled manner and softly remarked. ‘I left the young girl at the river.’ ‘I see you are still carrying her with you’.

   An important part of emotional wellness is being able to maintain an inner stillness, balance and control which can be usually be achieved through meditation. As in the case of the novice monk, this is not achieved by pure will-power or by avoiding life’s important challenges, but rather by consciously being able to let go of unwanted thoughts and emotions, as demonstrated by the elder monk.

Jimmy is a cognitive researcher and metaphysician who is the published author of a number of books on the power of the mind. His books are available through his website www.jimmyhendersonbooks.com 

Latest magazine article on childhood trauma

Latest article on childhood trauma by Jimmy Henderson in online magazine (see page 78) 



http://issuu.com/aneisdevida/docs/december_issue