KAJAMA.COM NEWSLETTER

Mysticism of the Unseen, by Daniel Moler

(Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal.)

What does it mean to be a mystic?

Almost every human being seeks communion with some sort of creative power in the universe, whether it is called God or Goddess, Jehovah, Allah, Great Spirit, or Brahma. Science is no different, pursuing the origin of life through the intricacies of quantum mechanics or Big Bang theory. We all have a draw toward uncovering the mystery of existence, what is often called the Great Originating Mystery.

Is this connection to the unseen reserved for only priests or priestesses, monks or nuns? Are they the select few who get to experience the source of all creation?

What if it was the destiny of every human to be able to interact with the unseen force in the universe that seems to propel all life? Further, what is the goal of such a spiritual experience and how can it be approached?

Although there is no definitive answer to these questions, our ancestors have provided direction through various modalities of mystical participation with the world around us. Known as the Mystery Traditions, these modalities have been shrouded in secrecy and symbolism for millennia. It has only been the last century or so that the disparate spiritual practices of these traditions from around the world have come to light and surfaced in the global arena. I can now observe, study, and even take part in mystical practices from a Thearavada Buddhist in Cambodia. Likewise, a Shipibo medicine woman from the Amazon can touch base with my own spiritual paradigm and worldview. Thanks to modern technology and academia, most every human being has the potential to tap into spiritual practices that had been hidden for centuries.

Now, I'm a project manager at heart. In the daytime, I am coordinating dozens of teams to implement and deliver millions of dollars' worth of product to customers who expect high quality. If I stick to a textbook-style methodology of project management, those teams will fail. In order to stay relevant and provide value, sometimes you have to throw away conventional models, pull up your sleeves, and just find out what works in reality. It seems we are now in a place in our global spiritual culture where we can now do something similar. Likewise, in these Mystery Traditions, if we can uncover the best of what works from these systems, and perfect them, then we will provide a solid framework for the coming generations who seek answers to the mysteries of life.

The first objective, then, is to empower people to become mystics in their own right, rather than making the direct connection to the spiritual realm exclusive.

This is why I have always been drawn to shamanism. Shamanism is not a religion, but moreso represents a set of spiritual practices that is alive in most all religious traditions. A shaman normally serves the community by directly engaging with Spirit (God) through various interactions with the natural world. A good example of this is found all over Christian history, including the Old Testament with Moses and Elijah, as well as post-New Testament via the early Christian Gnostics. Also, Siddhartha Gautama's direct revelation of enlightenment under the tree, which spawned Buddhist philosophy. And so on. In essence, shamanism is the root of all spiritual traditions, including Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. Hence, every religion's origin is truly shamanic, because every religion started as a means of facilitating a direct relationship with God.

My own personal work and training in shamanism has encouraged a direct relationship with the unseen world. Instead of being beholden to some other person for my spiritual experience, I am now enabled to take full responsibility for my own direct mystical revelations. Shamanism does this primarily through its technique of engaging non-ordinary states of consciousness. Within that state of awareness that is not conventional, my mind can move into a space where it can then begin to receive visionary imagery and/or information that contribute to my spiritual purpose.

In my book, Shamanic Qabalah: A Mystical Path to Uniting the Tree of Life & the Great Work, I offer an approach to the Mysteries through the precise symbolism found in Jewish and Hermetic Qabalah (also seen as "Kabbalah") applied with the down-to-Earth techniques of indigenous shamanism. Why I have chosen to mix Qabalah with shamanism is a question which gets asked quite a bit, but my answer is always the same: because they are the same thing, just Qabalah has a refined system that can be more readily understood in a modern context than, say, indigenous symbols and ideas.

At its heart, Qabalah is a system of Judaic mysticism and is the very basis of understanding the Old Testament. "Qabalah" is a Hebrew word that literally means, "to receive," so it is a set of concepts and ideas meant to cleanse the soul to receive the experience of Spirit. Qabalah has evolved from being entirely Jewish-centric, and over time was utilized by many religious traditions across the planet: Christianity, Islam, neo-paganism, etc. Many scholars believe Jesus himself would have been trained in Qabalah, being raised Jewish and even impressing the priests at the Temple, and many of his teachings incorporate Qabalistic concepts if one is trained to spot them. Elements of Qabalah have even been found through the spiritual practices of cultures throughout the world.

In my own training in curanderismo (Peruvian shamanism) I found many references and correlations to Qabalah. So many, in fact, that they could no longer be ignored. Both shamanism and Qabalah are systems that aim to lift the veil of illusion that pervades our senses, to tap into the unseen forces in the universe around us. With the ecstatic and naturalistic techniques offered by shamanism and the precise symbolism of Qabalah, I began opening pathways into my own consciousness that have now made me confident of my own spiritual path...I am a mystic. I have the ability and privilege to connect with the unseen spiritual powers of the universe and gain the guidance I require to continue my own evolution toward liberty and happiness.

"Initiation, the Great Work," I state in the second chapter of my book, "engages with symbols in an unconscious way—via ritual—to reach the subconscious recesses of the mind."

The Great Work is the ability to reach into the subconscious mind and, through connection with the unseen, find one's true purpose as an individual in this life. Qabalah has a rich history of symbolism that cannot be ignored to any practitioner of the mystic arts, whether it be the high ceremonial practices of occult magick or earth-based spiritualities such as Wicca. The problem has been to take these high-brow concepts and make them accessible to those who may not want to go through the rigorous tomes of the Western Mysteries. Therefore, Shamanic Qabalah attempts to integrate academic occultism with the naturalistic execution of indigenous shamanism.

As with any process, if it becomes too difficult, take a step back and go back to basics. Utilize what works for your own individual practice yet be open to new ideas. The Mystery Traditions are chock full of wisdom, but none of it matters if we can't apply it to our everyday lives. The whole goal of having a relationship with the unseen universe is to have a better relationship with the universe that is seen.

Otherwise, what is the point?

In Shamanic Qabalah, I lay the groundwork for a shamanic practice based upon Hermetic Qabalistic symbolism. The backbone for this system is the Tree of Life, a composite symbol that acts as a schema of consciousness, as well as the inner and outer universe. Some say it is a map to God. Within the Tree of Life resides roadways and destinations (referred to as paths and spheres) that designate the stages of spiritual evolution and growth. Shamanic Qabalah teaches one to engage with the Tree of Life, through a shamanic elemental methodology. Whereas the Tree of Life normally appears as an inaccessible and often high-brow concept for some, I hope to make its concepts approachable and useful to anyone willing to give it a shot.

A mystic takes charge of their own spiritual legacy. A mystic needs no authority. It is my hope and wish that Shamanic Qabalah is a guide and reference to propel individuals to that level of confidence. Mysticism is our birthright and hopefully we can all entrust one another lift each other up to provide the best tools and practices at our disposal. We are in this together. The Great Work is all about discovering and living out our individual spiritual destiny, all while supporting others on their own path.

Article originally published in The Llewellyn Journal. Copyright Llewellyn Worldwide, 2018. All rights reserved.

I've heard that colors carry energetic powers, and that people can use them to improve certain areas of their lives. I am wondering if you could shed some light on this and tell me what colors might help with my love life and my health.

Leigha

Susyn:

Color therapy can have a powerful effect on our lives. Typically, we all have a favorite color, which may or may not change over time. This color preference can define where we are in our lives and what holds the most importance to us. For example, my favorite color has always been midnight blue, but at certain times in my life, I have been more enamored of red (when major life changes were happening) or yellow (when I was in a healing cycle).

Colors activate different aspects of our selves, and knowing what these are can help us live more effectively in the world. Our energy centers (chakras) vibrate to certain colors. If you have a block in one of your energy centers, it can create depression, worry or health issues. Using color therapy can help clear these blocks. For instance, if you find yourself worried or fearful, your intellectual chakra may be off balance. Wearing indigo, eating blueberries, or meditating with blue candles can help realign your chakra and eliminate the worry.

You mention your love life and health as two areas you would like to improve. Green (the heart) and orange (sexuality) can free blocks to love, while yellow (power) and red (physical) can improve your health. Wearing more of these colors, eating food of these hues, or meditating with colored candles could be helpful. You can also target a specific health issue by choosing the color associated with that part of the body.

Following is a list of the chakras, the colors associated with them, and the areas they rule.

The Root Chakra/Red/Life Force: Physicality, the lower body (legs, feet), the groin, male and female genitalia, and the root or base of the spine.
The Creation Chakra/Orange/Desire: Creativity, the pelvis, the reproductive glands, hips and lower back.
The Power Chakra/Yellow/Power: Spiritual source and empowerment, the stomach and middle organs of the body, middle back.
The Heart Chakra/Green/Love: Emotions, the heart, breasts, lungs and upper back.
The Will Chakra/Light Blue/Communication: Will and expression, the neck, throat, mouth and nose.
The Intellect Chakra/Indigo/Conscious Thought: Mental health, thought, intellect, the brain, eyes and forehead.
The Crown Chakra/Purple/Enlightenment: Spirituality, the third eye, connection to the Universe and one's developing soul.(Note: This Chakra is located just above the head and rules the spiritual aspect of one's life; it is not connected to any physical part of the body.)

*****

Oceania:

I invite you to loosen your belief that specific colors will improve your health and love life. In my view, that belief is too passive because it suggests that an external factor is going to have a greater impact on your health and love life than internal factors like self-awareness and your power to create what you want in your life. Consider yourself an artist and your life your work of art; no one can paint it FOR you.

External symbols can be powerful when they reflect our internal values and desires, but that means YOU must choose the colors and surround yourself with them. My impression of you is that you're passive in general, which may be why your love life and health need assistance. In order to enjoy a relationship, you must know who you are and what you want.

Aside from enjoying specific colors, I find it beneficial to embrace the full spectrum. A diet that includes food of every color is usually healthier than food that is white, dark or bland in color. Consider an array of fresh organic produce and note the potency and variety of color compared to that of a fast food meal consisting of burger, fries and a cookie.

When I moved into my home, every wall was white. I felt moved to paint every room a different color. The walls and drapes in my bedroom are midnight blue to create a soothing sleep space. The walls and furniture in my living room are bright yellows, oranges and reds to represent vibrant wakefulness. My kitchen is various shades of green to reflect my plant-based diet.

You might grab a bunch of color swatches from your local hardware or paint store and spend some time studying them like homework to see which you like best. Another way to experiment with color is through your clothing. I've organized my closet like a rainbow: one end holds my red shirts and the other my purple, and the other colors hang in between in rainbow order. As you wear different colors, make notes about how they make you feel.

In order to have an interesting, rich relationship, it is critical that you know yourself well from the inside out. Do not imagine that surrounding yourself with a specific color will bring on love and health unless those colors make YOU feel good! Just for fun, you might take the test at colorquiz.com and see if what it says about you rings true. If so, use the information to further develop yourself, but by no means merely accept what the test tells you! Finally, buy a big blank tablet and a box of Crayolas so you can do some messy scribbling and learn how different colors make you feel.

Astrea:

Many times in life we hear, "You will always have what you NEED, but not necessarily what you WANT." Your spirit must have needed to experience the feeling of leaving your human body, and the suggestion in the next chapter of Sylvia Brown's book was all it took to get you there.

Even though you hadn't read it yet, your SOUL recognized the title of that chapter as something it had been seeking, and your soul, knowing that you had that reference to read after your experience, got with it and out you went!

While I don't usually recommend her books, Sylvia Brown has a wide reaching and powerful effect on lots of people. A Gemini like you would be able to relate easily to her writing and put it to good use. Synchronicity - you gotta love it!

I like your description of "getting caught." That's exactly what it feels like, isn't it? One minute you're free and hovering above the room, and the next minute, ZAP! back down into your corporeal form you go!

As a little kid, I loved that "feeling of return." With practice, most of the time we can control that event, but sometimes, when our physical ears hear a distracting noise or something else occurs to knock us back into reality, back we go. With practice you will be able to control your return better.

I find it interesting that you were visiting your mother-in-law and not someone in your own genetic family. Evidently, you and your husband got married for reasons that are even deeper than love. His family's interest in "psychic stuff" will nurture your children in such matters and help them to grow into their own abilities.

You'll never have to be concerned that when your daughter visits them, she'll be discouraged from exploring her own psychic life and power. My parents encouraged me to develop my psychic senses in a time when it wasn't nice to even discuss such things in public. Heck, it's STILL not considered a great topic at the dinner table in some families!

Your kids will get to talk about it ALL and ask questions and read and study. This is going to give them such an edge in life! Talk with your husband about how you want to present this to your kiddos, so that you are united in your approach and ready to tell them their experiences are all natural and okay.

A word or two of warning: Geminis often have difficulty staying grounded in REAL LIFE. Don't get so strung out on your ASTRAL life that you neglect what you're doing here on Earth.

You are at the beginning of a long journey to learn where your power really lies. Try to be patient with this process and take your time.