|
Extended Chakra Systemand the relatedEndocrine-Sensory Glands
Medical science has explored in considerable depth the role of the endocrine glands related to their hormonal functions. However, it has virtually ignored their role as sensory units. On the other hand, metaphysical science has focussed much attention on the chakra system, but has been reluctant to explore in any great depth their interrelationship with the endocrine glands. If ever there was a need for cooperative research involving medical science and metaphysical science, it is in the realm of the endocrine glands and related chakra system. In order to more fully understand how we, as human beings, function, it is vitally important that we expand our knowledge of these two interrelated systems.
ChakrasChakras are sensitive to incoming energies in a manner similar to way that our eyes are sensitive to patterns of light, or our ears are sensitive to sound waves. There are, however, two important differences between the sensory information received through the chakras and related endocrine glands, and the sensory information received through our familiar five senses involving sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch:
The 7 Primary ChakrasTraditional metaphysical science teaches that there are 7 primary chakras associated with the body. Starting at the top of the head, these chakras are generally referred to as the Crown chakra, Brow chakra, Throat chakra, Heart chakra, Solar Plexus chakra, Sexual chakra, and Base chakra.However, a significant aspect of the mutational changes which many Light Workers are undergoing at this time involved the activation of additional chakras.
The Chakras Located Above the BodyIn the book, Bringers of the Dawn, by Barbara J. Marciniak, the Pleiadians indicate that 5 additional chakras, which are located outside of the body, are in the process of being activated. In this frame of reference, the 8th chakra is located slightly above the head. Chakras 9-12 are generally considered to be located well above the head. However, these extended chakras essentially transcend our time-space continuum, and thus the idea of "location" is not particularly meaningful.In this section, we are not going to address these out-of-body chakras to any significant degree. However, a brief example may provide a general sense of some of their functions. Many of the Light Workers, at some point in their awakening process, begin to hear high-frequency energies. These energies come in through the chakra which is located just above the head. Much of my own planetary energy work involves energies which come in through the two chakras beyond the chakra above the head.
The 3 Additional Chakras in the Head and NeckThe 5 additional chakras outside of our body are only part of the story, however. There also are 3 additional chakras in the head and neck area which are in the process of being activated in the Light Workers. In a few of the Light Workers, this activation process is already completed. One of these new chakras is located just above the Brow chakra, one in the nasal area, and one between the Throat and Heart chakra.This adds up to a total of 15 chakras, with 10 being directly associated with the body, and 5 being located outside of the body. Of these 10 chakras that are associated with the body, all except for the Base chakra function in conjunction with one, or in some cases a pair, of the endocrine glands. The remainder of our discussion regarding the chakras will focus primarily on the 9 chakras that have a direct interrelationship with the endocrine system.
The Structure of a ChakraA chakra is structured in the form of a cone-shaped energy vortex, or spiral. Within this structure, there are actually two spirals, with one spiraling in the clockwise direction, and the other in the counter-clockwise direction. In the case of a chakra which functions with a singular endocrine gland, such as the Pineal or Pituitary, the two energy spirals are concentric, and the apex of the dual spiral is directed toward the gland. In the case of a chakra which functions with a paired endocrine gland, such as the Thymus or Adrenal glands, the two spirals are slightly offset from each other, with one apex directed toward each of the individual glands of the pair.There are various specialties within the field of alternative medicine which deal with the energy configurations of the body. Among these disciplines there seems to be a general consensus that left side of the body is associated with the female nature, and the right side the male. I personally prefer the term "nurturing", rather than female; and the term "activating", rather than male; as I believe these terms are more descriptive of the energies involved. Regardless of the terms used, however, the two sides of the energy body seem to be polar-opposites. With this in mind, it seems significant that the dual spirals of a chakra are also bi-polar, with the one directed toward a gland on the left side of the body spiraling in the opposite direction as the one directed toward a gland on the right side. In the case of some of the chakras, such as the Heart chakra and Solar Plexus chakra, the spirals are bi-directional, in that they extend out from the body both toward the front and toward the rear. In other cases, they are uni-directional, and extend out in only one direction. For example, the Brow chakra extends outward only toward the front. There is yet another distinguishing characteristic. Some of the chakras are able to transmit energies, as well as receive energies. Others are only able to receive. This will be discussed in more detail later as we focus individually on each of the chakras.
Endocrine Glands
Within the endocrine system, there is a command structure that is
hierarchial in nature. Although the Pituitary gland was for a long
time considered to be the "master" gland of the endocrine system,
more recent studies have demonstrated that the Pineal gland
modulates certain activities of the Pituitary.
Within medical science, the list of endocrine glands continues to grow. It was not too long ago that controversy still existed as to whether of not such glands as the Pineal and Thymus are truly part of the endocrine system. Unfortunately some of our medical research techniques are not yet very well refined. A typical approach in determining the function of a gland is to remove the comparable gland in a non-human animal, and see what happens. This is akin to determining the function of a steering wheel in an automobile by removing it, and then observe what happens when we drive down the road! Some of the endocrine glands discussed in this book, such as the Sinuses, are still not considered by medical science to be part of the endocrine system.
Description of the Endocrine Glandsand the Related Chakras
Pineal Gland and Crown ChakraComparatively little is known within medical science regarding the Pineal gland. One reason for this is that it is located virtually in the center of the head, and is thus not easily accessible. Rene Descartes, the 17th-century French scientist-philosopher, believed the Pineal to be the "seat of the soul".
The Pineal gland is located between, but just slightly above the
brain stem and the Cerebellum. Its shape is similar to that of a
small foot without the toes. It is suspended by a stalk, which
corresponds to the manner in which an ankle is attached to a
foot. Its size is slightly less than a half inch across the base of
the foot. Functionally, it is divided into two segments. The
anterior, or front part of the foot is involved with the hormonal
functions. The posterior, or heel is associated with the sensory
aspects. The internal layer of the heel is heavily populated with
photoreceptor cells, very similar to those found in the retina of the
eyes.
As indicated previously, the Pineal is the master gland in the command structure of the endocrine system. Thus, much of its work is accomplished through the other glands. The Pineal itself is known to secrete two hormone-like substances: melatonin and serotonin. Injections of melatonin are known to induce sleep. And during normal periods of sleep, the melatonin levels in the bloodstream have been found to be higher than during the waking state. Thus, it appears that the Pineal has a direct role related to the circadian rhythms of the body. The Crown chakra is like an energy cone that extends upward from the top of the head. The focal point of the cone is directed downward, through the fontanel, to the Pineal. This chakra is able only to receive energies, not transmit energies. The Crown chakra, functioning in conjunction with the Pineal, is the primary communication link between the soul and the brain. In the section entitled, "Soul and Oversoul Structures", it is indicated that at its essence level, an oversoul is actually a geometric structures, constructed of Light. The cumulative memory of the oversoul is stored gossamer-like filament within these structures of Light geometry. Information can thus be transmitted from the oversoul (or the soul) to the brain via the Crown chakra, in the form of patterns of light. The photoreceptors in the Pineal are sensitive to these light patterns, and convert them to nerve impulses, which are in turn transmitted to the cortex area of the Cerebellum. Since the Crown chakra functions similar to an eye, and since it is the primary communication link between the soul-self and the human-self, this chakra is sometimes referred to as the "Eye of God". Similarly, in Egyptian mysticism, it is referred to as the "Eye of Horus". In discussing the Pineal gland, we indicated that it is the "master gland" within the hierarchial command structure of the endocrine system. In like manner, the Crown chakra is intended to be the "master chakra". In other words, it is intended that the soul-self be master over the human-self. Unfortunately, in our humanness, we sometimes let some of our other chakras take charge!
Hypothalamus Gland and Forehead ChakraThe Hypothalamus is a pair of glands which reside on the lower extremities of the Cerebral hemispheres, just under the Corpus Callosum. Together they form the floor and side walls of the 3rd ventricle of the brain. They are thus in direct contact with the Cerebrospinal fluid system. The structure of the Hypothalamus includes very extensive nerve networks.The chakra which is associated with the Hypothalamus extends outward from the center of the forehead, about an inch above the Brow chakra. It has not traditionally been recognized within metaphysical science, and thus has not been given a name. We have termed it the Forehead chakra simply because of its location.
The primary function of the Forehead chakra, working in
conjunction with the Hypothalamus, it the facility of mental
telepathy. Thought exists as patterns of light.
Throughout history, some of the mystics (Light Workers) have
been able to observe these "thought-forms" with their inner
senses. There is a very interesting book by Annie Besant and C.
W. Leadbeater
Within the Hypothalamus is a large population of photoreceptor cells, similar to those found in the Pineal. Like the Crown chakra, the thought-form patterns of light are received through the Forehead chakra, where they are directed to the photoreceptor cells of the respective Hypothalamus glands. These cells in turn translate the light patterns into nerve impulses which are sent on the cortex areas of the respective Cerebral hemispheres. A fundamental difference between the Crown chakra and the Forehead chakra is that the Forehead chakra can transmit as well as receive. Thus, mental telepathy can function in both directions through the Forehead chakra and respective Hypothalamus glands.
In Germany, in 1924, Hans Berger was attempting to discover the
nature of mental telepathy. In his efforts, he detected very low
level electrical voltages present at various locations on the surface
of the head. These voltages are oscillatory in nature, and are in
the range of approximately 1 to 25 Hertz. This discovery
launched the beginning of biofeedback research which has
emerged much more actively during the past 3 decades.
The so-called "mind-altering" drugs function through the pharmacology of Hypothalamus to artificially alter the states of consciousness. It is no wonder that overdoses of such drugs can virtually destroy some of the neuro-networks located in the Hypothalamus.
Pituitary Gland and Brow ChakraThe Pituitary Gland, also known as the Hypophysis, is located just in front of the Pons, a unit of the brain stem, and is approximately a half inch in diameter. It is cradled within a cavity of the sphenoid bone in very much the same manner as an eyeball fits into an eye socket of the skull. Like the Pineal, it consists of two primary sections; a posterior (rear) lobe known as the Neurohypophysis, and an anterior (front) lobe known as the Adenohypophysis.The Neurohypophysis connects directly to top of the brain stem via the Pituitary stalk. This stalk is filled with a bundle of nerve fibers which interconnect to the ganglia of the Hypothalamus. Similar to the Pineal, these nerve fibers originate in photoreceptor within the posterior wall of the Neurohypophysis, very much like the photoreceptors within the retina of the eye. The Brow chakra extends outward toward the front from a point midway between the eye brows. The focal point of this chakra is directed inward toward the photoreceptor cells in the Pituitary. The Brow chakra, functioning in conjunction with the Pituitary, is traditionally referred to by mystics as the "third eye". Through the third eye, many Light Workers are able to perceive such things as the auric field of individuals, which appears as light of various colors surrounding the body. Since the Brow chakra is tuned to 5th dimensional energies, the third eye provides vision into the 5th dimension.
Sinus Glands and Nasal ChakraThe Sinuses are essentially paired groups of cavities located in the vicinity of the nose and eyes. They are usually subdivided into four groups: frontal, ethmoidal, sphenoidal, and maxillary. The frontal sinuses are located immediately on each side of the third eye. The ethmoidal and sphenoidal are imbedded within the bone structure of the nasal cavity. And the maxillary, the largest of the group, and located just behind the cheek bones. The Sinuses which function as part of the endocrine-sensory system include and ethmoidal and maxillary subgroups.The Sinuses are normally considered to be simply cavities, rather than glands. However, the interior walls of the Sinuses are covered with mucus membranes, which include sophisticated cell structures. The reason that they open to the nasal cavity is that their function requires access to the in-breath of air. Embedded within the membrane structures on the interior walls of the Sinuses are chemoreceptor cells which sense particles suspended in the air that we breath. This is why many people feel their Sinuses react when the air is full of pollens. In recent years, there has been significant interest in the impact which the ionic content of air has on our overall attitude. Generally the negative ions are believed to have an exhilarating effect on our attitude, while the positive ions tend to cause depression. It is through the endocrine function of the Sinus glands that the ionic content is perceived and translated to hormonal releases which affect our attitude. The chakra which functions in conjunction with the Sinus glands is another one of the chakras which has not yet been acknowledged by metaphysical science. Because of its location, we have termed it the "Nasal" chakra. To locate the two focal points of this chakra, one may place a finger on each side of the lower flange of the nose, and locate the gentle depressions in the bone structures which exist at those points. The nasal chakra extends outward toward the front of the face. It is one of the chakras that is capable of receiving energies, but not transmitting energies.
Thyroid Gland and Throat ChakraThe Thyroid gland is located in the throat area. It is in the shape of an "H", folding around the front side of the trachea where it joins the lower part of the larynx. Thus there is a primary lobe of the Thyroid on each side of the trachea.The Throat chakra functions in conjunction with the Thyroid gland. This chakra is bi-directional in that it extends outward toward front, and also outward toward the rear of the throat area. It also is able to both receive and transmit energies. Within the two lobes of the Thyroid we find a very interesting cell structure. It consists of closely packed spherical-shaped "follicles", some of which are as much as one millimeter in diameter. The interior of these follicles is filled with a colloidal liquid, and the interior surface of the follicles has a profusion of minute hair-like extensions protruding into the liquid. This structural concept of hair-like protrusions into a liquid is also found within the Cochlea, which is the sensory unit of the inner ear. Within the mechanism of the ear, sound waves are translated into vibratory movements within the liquid, which in turn create slight movements of the hair-like projections. These in turn are translated into nerve impulses, which are transmitted to the brain. Mystics have long associated the throat chakra with the function of clairaudience. The similarity of cell structures within the Thyroid and the inner ear certainly supports this notion. Like the other endocrine glands, the Thyroid has an important role related to hormone secretions. However, our primary focus for this discussion is on its role as a sensory receptor.
Thymus Cervical Extensions Glands and the High-Heart ChakraThe Thymus glands consist of two separate lobes which reside just above, and in contact with the heart. They are protected on the front side by the sternum. Although the left and right lobes of the Thymus are similar in function, they are not exactly symmetric with respect to each other, primarily because of their need to compensate for the lack of bi-lateral symmetry of the heart.Attached to the upper extremity of each of the main Thymus lobes, is an elongated lobe which extends virtually to the lower extremity of the Thyroid glands. These have been considered to be simply extensions of the Thymus glands, and are referred to as the "cervical extensions". In actuality, however, these two extensions are a separate pair of glands, with functions that are distinct from the primary Thyroid glands. At some point in the future, when more is learned about their function, they will undoubtedly receive their own unique name. Just as medical science has essentially ignored the Cervical Extensions, so also has metaphysical science ignored the associated chakra. This chakra is located where the Clavicle bones (collar bones) join the upper end (Manubrium) of the Sternum. For lack of a better term, we have elected to refer to this chakra as the High-Heart chakra. Like the Throat chakra, it is bi-directional, and thus extends outward both toward the front and toward the rear of the body. Although the hormonal functions of the Cervical Extensions have not yet been identified, one fact that is known is that there are a large number of nerve fibers which originate within the Cervical Extensions. These link into the sympathetic nervous system. We may thus assume that these glands, functioning in conjunction with the High-Heart chakra, perceive and transmit sensory impulses to the Cerebrum. At this point I would like to indulge in some speculation which I believe is well-founded. Let me begin with some background information.
A long-time friend and mentor, Derald Langham, was a geneticist
with a doctorate in both genetics and the humanities. Through
his understanding of genetics, he evolved a general systems
concept which he termed "Genesa".
In the human form, the original zygote is located near the focal point of the High-Heart chakra, which Derald termed the Genea- zero point. The embryo, and later the fetus build out all of the features of the human body from that point of origin, utilizing the blueprint contained in the genes. In the Overview, we mentioned the mutations which are taking place in the DNA structures of our genes. It is my belief that these changes are being directed by intelligent impulses of energy received through our High-Heart chakra. These impulses are received by the receptor cells within the Cervical Extensions of the Thymus, where the information is translated into instructions for the pharmacology within the glands. I believe that it is this pharmacology which generates hormones and perhaps other substances which alter the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) within our genes. Derald became intrigued with the geometry associated with a cube, since this seemed to be fundamental to the structure of life forms. This led him to the development of geometric structures which are related to geometric structures of our Light body. Derald observed that the geometric center of our Light body also coincides with the location of our original zygote, at the focal point of the High-Heart chakra. In the section entitled, "Patterns of Creation", we discussed the concept of Virtues, and indicated that every sentient being is endowed with a dominant Virtue within the structure of the oversoul. Virtue is an aspect of intention. The focal point for the embodiment of Virtue, and the expression of intention, is closely related to the High-Heart chakra, and the associated Cervical Extensions of the Thymus gland.
Thymus Glands and the Heart ChakraIt has only been within the past decade or so that the Thymus has received much attention within the medical community. In fact, some of the older reference book do not even list the Thymus glands as part of the endocrine system. But with the advent of AIDS, and other related disorders, the Thymus has attracted much interest in relation to the crucial role it plays in the immune system of the body.The predominant cells within the interior of the Thymus are epithelial-type receptor cells, which are similar in structure to the chemoreceptor cells in the taste buds of the tongue. Just as the Brow chakra corresponds to the sense of sight, and the Throat chakra corresponds to the sense of hearing; the Heart chakra seems to correspond to the sense of taste. Since the four primary sensations involved in taste are sweet, sour, salt, and bitter; it is interesting to ponder the possibility that there may be correspondences between these four sensations and the feelings which we experience through the Heart chakra. Like the Throat and High-Heart chakras, the Heart chakra is bi- directional, extending both toward the front and the rear of the body. It is capable of both receiving energies and transmitting energies. As indicated previously, the Thymus glands have attracted considerable interest in recent years because of their role related to the immune system of the body. It is interesting to note that some of the therapists, such as Louise Hay, who are having success in helping to strengthen the immune system, focus primarily on learning to feel more love for oneself. The focal point for our experience of love, and other related feelings, resides within the heart chakra.
Adrenal Glands and the Solar Plexus ChakraThe Adrenal glands are a pair of glands which also are sometimes referred to as the Suprarenal glands. One is located on the top of each kidney. Each gland, in itself, consists of two segments. The outer portion is known as the "cortex", and the inner portion is referred as the "medulla".The cortex is involved primarily with the pharmacology aspects of the gland, and produces a family of substances known as steroids. Unfortunately, steroids are probably best known for their inappropriate artificial use by some athletes to enhance muscle building. The Adrenal glands also are well known for their production of adrenaline. Adrenaline energizes the muscles of the body, and especially the muscles of the circulatory and digestive systems. The medulla is the portion of the Adrenal gland which is involved in the sensory function. It is heavily populated with chromaffin nerve cells, which are connected into the spinal nerve system via the Coeliac ganglion. This ganglion is located in the area of the body generally known as the Solar Plexus. The chromaffin nerve cells are essentially chemoreceptor cells, which have similarity to the chemoreceptor cells found in the olfactory glands. The Adrenal glands function in conjunction with the Solar Plexus chakra. Like the Throat and Heart chakras, the Solar Plexus chakra is bi-directional, extending outward toward the front and the rear of the body. The Solar Plexus chakra also can both receive and transmit energies. It is sometimes through colloquial expressions that we gain insights into various aspects of our human experience. We sometimes hear the expression, "I have a gut feeling that ...". This would seem to be a way of expressing a feeling derived through the Solar Plexus chakra, and related Adrenal sensory system; a feeling that may not necessarily be supported by the rationale of the conscious mind. Another colloquialism that we occasionally hear when one perceives that something is awry is the expression, "I smell a rat!" Or if we are going to check our feelings about a situation, we sometimes say that we are going to "smell out the situation". This expressions would seem to be an unconscious acknowledgement of the similarity between our sense of smell, and our perceptions derived through the Solar Plexus and related Adrenal sensory perceptors.
Sexual Glands and the Sexual ChakraAs we have considered the various glands of the endocrine system, a consistent pattern has emerged. In each case, there is one section of the gland that is involved primarily with the hormonal functions of the endocrine system, and there is another section that is involved with the sensory aspects. This is true whether it is a singular gland, such as the Pituitary, or a pair of glands, such as the Thyroid, Thymus, and Adrenal. In some cases the structural separation of these two functional units within a gland is quite distinct, and in other cases it is much more subtle. In no case is the separation as distinct as it is in the sexual glands.Reference books on the endocrine system normally list only the gonads in conjunction with the sexual glands. The gonads consist of the paired testicles in the male, and the paired ovaries in the female. However, the gonads are only that aspect of the sexual glands which are involved in the hormonal and reproductive aspects. The sensory aspects of the sexual glands are incorporated into the genitalia; or more specifically, the penis in the male, and the clitoris in the female. Thus, the sexual glands are unique compared to the other glands of the endocrine system, in that the hormonal function involves paired glands, and the sensory function involves only a singular gland. As is well known, the tip of the penis and the clitoris is heavily populated with tactile-receptor nerve cells. These nerves connect into the spinal nerve system via the Mesenteric ganglion, which is located in the lumbar region of the spine. The sexual glands function in conjunction with the Sexual chakra. Like the Heart and Solar Plexus chakras, the Sexual chakra is bi- directional, and can both receive and send energies.
Base ChakraThe Base chakra has an important function related to the Sacrum, and more specifically to the so-called Kundalini energy. However, it is not involved in the sensory aspects of our human experience in the same manner as the other chakras of our body.SummaryThe basic characteristics of each of the endocrine-sensory glands is summarized in summarized in the following table.
Chakras and Related Endocrine-Sensory Glands
|