"The
etheric body is the vital-energy body which interpenetrates
all so-called space-form, relating, feeding, and sustaining
the many informing lives within the One Life."
This
quote from "The Nature of the Soul" by Lucille Cedercrans
describes the esoteric view of the etheric body and its
relationship with the etheric web of life. Science appears
to be steadily working towards the same conclusions
As early as 1935 H. Saxton Burr and F.S.C Northrop proposed
the existence of a regulating field around life-forms
in a paper titled "The Electrodynamic Theory of Life",
which Dr. Harold Saxton Burr called L-fields, "fields
of life".
"The pattern or organization of any biological system
is established by a complex electro-dynamic field which
is in part determined by its atomic physiochemical components
and which in part determines the behaviour and orientation
of those components. This field is electrical in the physical
sense and by its properties relates the entities of the
biological system in a characteristic pattern and is itself,
in part, a result of the existence of those entities.
It determines and is determined by the components."
Measurement by modern electric instruments developed in
the last few years has "revealed that man - and, in fact,
all life forms - are ordered and controlled by electro-dynamic
fields which can be measured and mapped with precision."
And that all living organisms have electric fields which
govern their growth and decay.
As H. S. Burr (one time professor at Yale University)
stated, "So far as our present information goes, there
is unequivocal evidence that wherever there is life, there
are electrical properties." As an example, Burr points
to the human body. Its molecules and cells are always
being torn apart and rebuilt with fresh material from
the food we eat. But thanks to the controlling L-Fields,
the new molecules and cells are rebuilt as before, and
arrange themselves as the old ones. The body's L-Fields
"serves as a matrix or mould which preserves the 'shape'
or arrangement of any material poured into it."
Burr proved that the L-Field can be influenced directly
by external phenomena by measuring the voltage gradients
of a number of trees over a period of 30 years. He found
that the L-Fields of the trees fluctuated with sunlight,
darkness, sunspots, magnetic storms and moon cycles. From
this we can extrapolate that human L-Fields are similarly
affected. "The field of a living system is an ordered
pattern which represents the universe. It can be argued
therefore, that the universe is an electrical field and
that everything that exists in it is a subsidiary or component
part of the total field." Thus "we are fully justified
in regarding the fields of life as the instruments of
physical evolution, of which, on this planet at least,
the human nervous system is the masterpiece."
Cleve Backster went on to discover that this energy field,
which serves as a communication link between plants and
other animate forms, is not within the different known
frequencies AM, FM, or any form of signal which we can
shield by ordinary means ....... and distance doesn't
seem to impose any limitation.
However, it appears this is not new knowledge, but rediscovered
wisdom of the ancient world.
A similar concept exists in the Huna Code of Hawaii, which
dates back long before the days of European settlers.
The basic tenets of Huna, which is not a religion but
more a sacred way of living, can be summarized in these
words: "no hurt: no sin," where the Huna concept of "sin"
is doing something hurtful. Their living philosophy is
"serve to deserve," that is, be of help and service to
others in order to feel worthy of good things in your
life.
Part
of their tradition refers to "aka bodies", which bear
a distinct relationship to the concept of living fields.
The kahuna or priesthood of ancient Hawaii talked of the
three selves of man, each having exact duplicates, which
they referred to as aka bodies. The Huna Code states that
around each person is an original blueprint or pattern,
printed on transparent material, which fits each of the
three selves in every detail. This aka substance forms
a sort of invisible pattern or aura around each of the
three selves, keeping the blueprint intact, but capable
of changing shape temporarily to form a connecting thread
between the basic self, the middle self, and the High
Self.
Aka is the Hawaiian Huna word for the energy substance
which surrounds us and connects us to each other. It is
how information and mana (life force and energy) travel.
All contact, whether in the physical or on another level,
involves the exchange of threads of aka material or energy.
Ongoing relationships will build cords, and energy and
information is exchanged along these cords and connections.
Since aka has an adhesive quality and stretches without
breaking, when contact is made between two people, a long,
sticky thread is drawn out between the two like a silver
spider-web, and a connection is made between them. Further
contact will add other aka threads which are braided together
into an aka cord creating a strong rapport, but with casual
contacts the cord will soon disappear. Similar aka cords
exist between the three selves and higher spiritual patterns.
As these connections give access to inspiration and natural
healing energies, the aka cord must be kept strongly braided
between the three selves in order for them to work harmoniously
together.
The High Self contacts us of its own accord in our sleep,
making use of the connecting aka cord. Our thoughts of
the day, with our plans, hopes, fears, loves, and hates,
are examined, taken as duplicate thought-forms, along
with some vital force which is stepped up to a higher
"voltage" and is used by the High Self to construct a
shadowy body which will materialize as part of our future.
Such thought-forms were described by the kahuna as "seeds"
which were vitalized by the High Self and grew into actualities
of the future.
The same idea is echoed in the ageless wisdom, through
its past associations with the Upanishads and the lore
of India where 'The Thread Soul' relates to this same
idea of the cord or aka shadowy thread:
"All
force, whether of mental, astral, or etheric nature, reaches
the consciousness of an individual, or a group, via the
etheric lines of force which connect him or it with its
originating source."
(from
"The Nature of the Soul")
(Lucille
Cedercrans - Author of "The Nature of the Soul")
More
recently, Rupert Sheldrake, in his book "The Presence
of The Past", proposed the idea of morphogenetic fields
in his Hypothesis of Formative Causation. These are structure-creating
fields unique to each single concept that co-exist within
a nested hierarchial relationship that can act as a unified
field of extreme complexity, such as would be necessary
to sustain human life.
These information fields are responsible for all varieties
of objective existence both natural and man-made, as well
as the more subjective aspects of talents and skills.
By organising the basic physical material at a molecular
level, such as DNA, they provide the ability to continue
a tradition so that new skills and achievements are more
easily accomplished by future generations because the
strength of the fields are increased by use and are also
completely adaptable to new sets of prevailing circumstance.
Sheldrake works on the assumption that the morphogenetic
fields contain all information concerning the structure
and form of each organism, including "inanimate" material.
These fields have a holographic structure, which means
that the corresponding information is theoretically omnipresent
in the universe and can be called up accordingly. The
morphogenetic fields are not essentially electromagnetic
and are presumably on a plane other than space/time. In
this way they differ significantly from Saxton Burr's
L-fields.
The existence of such a plane transcending space/time
has even been postulated as an inevitability by some physicists.
David Bohm, in this connection, refers to a "holographic
universe" and defines the two areas of existence as having
an "implicit" (folded-up) and "explicit" (unfolded) order.
It is obvious that there are remarkable similarities between
these morphic fields, the Huna concept of aka threads
and bodies, and the vedic concept of the Thread Soul.
However Sheldrake doesn't limit his perception of morphic
fields to life on this world, but sees all creation as
a unified process:
"The hypothesis of formative causation, in the spirit
of the philosophy of organism, regards the morphic fields
of systems at all levels of complexity as fundamental
rather than as derivative from the known fields of physics.
From this point of view, the matter fields of quantum
physics could be regarded as the morphic fields of particles,
nuclei, and atoms. But just as the different kinds of
subatomic field cannot be reduced to each other, neither
can the morphic fields of holons such as cells, plants,
and societies be reduced to each other and still less
to the fields of subatomic particles. Rather, there are
nested hierarchies of fields: the fields of molecules
contain those of atoms, nuclei, and subatomic particles;
the fields of cells contain and embrace those of molecules;
and so on."
"A natural extension of the morphic field approach
would be to regard living ecosystems as complex organisms
with morphic fields that embrace the communities of organisms
within them, and indeed to regard entire planets as organisms
with characteristic morphic fields, and likewise planetary
systems, stars, galaxies, and clusters of galaxies. Certainly,
stars, galaxies, and galactic clusters can be classified
into types or species. From the present point of view,
the individual examples of each type are organized by
morphic resonance from previous similar systems."
This is borne out in James Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis,
that "...the biosphere is a self-regulating entity with
the capacity to keep our planet healthy by controlling
the chemical and physical environment." Gaia is a metaphor
for "the web of Life", a fundamental world view of many
native traditions. Lovelock proposed that the earth was
a living, self-organizing entity, and called it Gaia after
the Greek goddess of creation who became the earth itself.
Plato alluded to a similar concept when he wrote: "We
shall affirm that the cosmos, more than anything else,
resembles most closely that living Creature of which all
other living creatures, severally or genetically, are
aportion; a living creature which is fairest of all and
in ways most perfect."
It is also one of the fundamental ideas of esoteric lore
that all existence is dependent on a web of basic etheric
material, as demonstrated by these two quotes from the
theosophical writings of Alice Bailey.
"The individual etheric body is not an isolated and separated
human vehicle but is, in a peculiar sense, an integral
part of the etheric body of that entity which we have
called the human family; this kingdom in nature, through
its etheric body, is an integral part of the planetary
etheric body; the planetary etheric body is not separated
off from the etheric bodies of other planets but all of
them in their totality, along with the etheric body of
the sun constitute the etheric body of the solar system.
This is related to the etheric bodies of the six solar
systems which, with ours, form a cosmic unity and into
these pour energies and forces from certain great constellations.
The field of space is etheric in nature and its vital
body is composed of the totality of etheric bodies of
all constellations, solar systems and planets which are
found therein. Throughout this cosmic golden web there
is a constant circulation of energies and forces and this
constitutes the scientific basis of the astrological theories.
Just as the forces of the planet and of the inner spiritual
man (to mention only one factor among many) pour through
the etheric body of the individual man upon the physical
plane, and condition his outer expression, activities,
and qualities, so do the varying forces of the universe
pour through every part of the etheric body of that entity
we call space and condition and determine the outer expression,
the activities and qualities of every form found within
the cosmic periphery."
(Alice A Bailey - Esoteric Astrology)
"The etheric body has been described as a network, permeated
with fire, or as a web, animated with golden light. It
is spoken of in the Bible as the "golden bowl." It is
a composition of that matter of the physical plane which
we call etheric, and its shape is brought about by the
fine interlacing strands of this matter being built by
the action of the lesser Builders into the form or mould
upon which later the dense physical body can be moulded.
Under the Law of Attraction, the denser matter of the
physical plane is made to cohere to this vitalized form,
and is gradually built up around it, and within it, until
the interpenetrating is so complete that the two forms
make but one unit; the pranic emanations of the etheric
body itself play upon the dense physical body in the same
manner as the pranic emanations of the sun play upon the
etheric body. It is all one vast system of transmission
and of interdependence within the system. All receive
in order to give, and to pass on to that which is lesser
or not so evolved. Upon every plane this process can be
seen."
(Alice A Bailey - A Treatise on Cosmic Fire)"
The origins of Theosophy lie in the early literature of
the East, which includes some of the oldest extant religious
works in the world. The ancient Rig-Veda has about 250
hymns dedicated to Lord Indra, the king of the gods in
Indian mythology, and in the Buddhist text Avatamsaka
Sutra, which originated in India in the early centuries
after Christ, Indra's Net is described as a net with a
jewel at each intersection, each jewel reflecting all
the other jewels of the net. The net can be envisioned
as a kind of spider's web in which each node or gem reflects
all the others within a kind of holographic fractal.
"Far
away in the heavenly abode of the great god Indra, there
is a wonderful net which has been hung by some cunning
artificer in such a manner that it stretches out indefinitely
in all directions. In accordance with the extravagant
tastes of deities, the artificer has hung a single glittering
jewel at the net's every node, and since the net itself
is infinite in dimension, the jewels are infinite in number.
There hang the jewels, glittering like stars of the first
magnitude, a wonderful sight to behold. If we now arbitrarily
select one of these jewels for inspection and look closely
at it, we will discover that in its polished surface there
are reflected all the other jewels in the net, infinite
in number. Not only that, but each of the jewels reflected
in this one jewel is also reflecting all the other jewels,
so that the process of reflection is infinite."
(Avatamsaka Sutra)
This concept has recently become a popular metaphor for
universal structures such as the internet. Tim Berners-Lee,
the particle physicist and "inventor" of the World Wide
Web, used the metaphor of Indra's Net to describe the
power potential of global communication made possible
through this interpretation of the internet: "an infinitely
nested and interrelated monadology in which each singularity
reflects and embodies a boundless totality."
Bringing things up to date, in the last decade there has
been much speculation in quantum physics about the existence
of a subatomic field of infinite size which exists in
so-called empty space consisting of pure quantum energy.
This is the Zero Point Field which connects everything
to everything else like a vast invisible web of energy.
"Science now views our material world as illusionary,
as nothing but a sea of sub-atomic particles constantly
moving across the background of this sea of energy. All
of what we consider as our real world is nothing more
than electrical charges interacting with this Zero Point
Field."
"One discovery is that every molecule emits its own unique
frequency, which is used for communication. French scientists
have shown that you can record the frequency of a molecule,
play it to another molecule and the signal itself can
take the place of chemicals in initiating biological processes.
New evidence shows the brain's conversations with the
body might also occur on the quantum level, with waves
and frequencies, rather than with chemical or electrical
impulses alone. In fact, studies in America on humans
and animals show that the cerebral cortex responds to
certain limited bands of frequencies."
"As incredible as it seems, it appears that when we see
things, we are reading information from the Zero Point
Field on a quantum level and our brain 'reads out' this
information to create the images we see in front of us.
Some scientists have gone as far as to say that our memories
don't sit inside our heads at all. Our brains are simply
the retrieval and read-out mechanism of the ultimate storage
medium - The Field."
"As this giant energy field operates outside of space
and time ..... the idea that there is absolute time and
space has to be replaced with a truer picture of a universe
which exists in one vast 'here' where 'here' represents
all time and all space at a single instant."
"..The Zero Point Field might operate as a kind of 'collective
consciousness' (and) ..it follows that humans can affect
the world around them outside of space and time. "
(Lynne McTaggart - The Field)
Or in the words of Albert Einstein: "Field is the only
reality, there is no physical matter, only denser and
denser fields."
We
can end as we began, with another relevant quote from
Lucille Cedercrans' "The Nature of the Soul":
"A
man is an aggregate of energies, held together in time
and space, via his etheric network, informed by an individualized
spark of Logoic consciousness, and with all other men
is a center or focal point through which Logoic Purpose
is finally worked out into manifestation. Thus, we say
humanity in its sum total is the Planetary throat center
through which the Word of God sounds forth in time and
space."
And
finally, this piece from Chief Seattle, apparently said
when surrendering "his lands" to the American military
in 1854:
"This we know: All things are connected like the blood
that unites us. We did not weave the web of life, we are
merely a strand in it. Whatever we do to the web, we do
to ourselves. We love this earth as a newborn loves its
mother’s heartbeat. If we sell you our land, care for
it as we have cared for it. Hold in your mind the memory
of the land as it is when you receive it. Preserve the
land and the air and the rivers for your children’s children
and love it as we have loved it."
References:
Lucille
Cedercrans - "The Nature of The Soul" - publ by Wisdom
Impressions (http://www.wisdomimpressions.com)
Harold
Saxton Burr M.D. - "Blueprint for Immortality: Electric
Patterns of Life Discovered in Scientific Break-through"
- publ by C.W. Daniel
Cleve
Backster - see "The Secret Life of Plants" by Tompkins
& Bird - publ by Perennial
Huna
- Max Freedom Long: "The Secret Science Behind Miracles",
"Recovering The Ancient Magic", and "The Huna Code In
Religions" - publ by DeVorss & Co
Rupert
Sheldrake - "The Presence of The Past" - publ by HarperCollins
(http://www.sheldrakeonline.com)
James
Lovelock - Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth - publ by
OUP
Alice
A Bailey - "Esoteric Astrology" and "A Treatise On Cosmic
Fire" - publ by Lucis Trust - (http://www.lucistrust.org/lucispub/)
Lynne
McTaggart - "The Field: The Quest for the Secret Force
of the Universe" - publ by HarperCollins
(Copyright:
© Mo Hone 2004)
