"The Mystic's Journey - Part II"
by Rev. Christine 10/12/03Today we begin the adventure into the book of Revelation. Last week we went over the beginnings of our spiritual journey starting in Genesis. First the creation of mankind - the Adam consciousness; 2nd the separation of spirit as both male and female - Adam and Eve; 3rd the disobedience to choose or bite of the tree of good and evil or duality; 4th Adam and Eve become as physical form, and 5th they are exiled from the Garden of Eden or God consciousness, and 6th the soul’s journey begins. 7th the journey back to Eden, to the Tree of Life.
The Book of Revelation is the mystics path to the Tree of Life – the coming home: In Revelation 2:7; "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the Tree of Life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God." This is also the story that Jesus told of the Prodigal Son.
We have all ventured out to experience the separation, and now it is time to come home in union. We have experienced our inner consciousness of thoughts and feelings in our outer world journey. We are now ready for the inner spiritual journey. The Tree of Life is that which brings us home; not as we left in fear and ignorance but in wisdom and love of God – and as God. We shall be as the great masters that have gone before us.
The Book of Revelation is the vision that John the disciple had, in chapter 1:1-3 "The revelation of Jesus Christ; which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bear record of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."
It is the Christ consciousness that is speaking to John, and revealing to him the path, and for all those that can understand the message therein, and for those than can the time is now. The prophecy is that we shall all come to this point as we awaken and have ears to hear the inner Christ voice.
The number seven is throughout Genesis and the Book of Revelation. In Genesis the seven days of creation; six days of preparation or work and the 7th to abide in the new creation or rest, as on the Sabbath day.
It is also the seven senses of mankind; the 5 physical senses, and 2 spiritual senses of perceptions for inner listening and seeing. In Revelation we have the seven Churches, seven candlesticks, seven stars. Seven represents the perfect stage of one’s spiritual unfoldment. There are a total of seven parts to the vision in the Revelation of John. There are also 22 chapters ending with verse 21; for another seven of spiritual fulfillment.
The first part of the vision given to John is to record and send to this message to the seven churches of Asia. The spiritual meaning for Asia is the dawn, the within, the hidden or spiritual realm. The deeper meaning for the word church is consciousness, spiritual ideas, beliefs in individual consciousness. The seven churches represent a new state of spiritual consciousness, or mental attitude. The seven churches are steps or degrees of awareness through which all of us go before reaching the point of internal realization of God Self and brought forth "in earth as in heaven."
The churches are symbolic of the energy centers of our spiritual or energetic body; we call them chakras or power centers. These power centers run up the spine, and are representative of the Tree of Life, also known as the Kundalini energy. The traditional system has seven, although today we also recognize an 8th called the Thymus or upper heart. It is the expanded heart center of compassion that realizes love for all as our self.
These power centers when unenlightened are inactive as spiritual centers; fear, anger, selfishness, false beliefs all keep these closed down or blocked. The seven candlesticks represent activated power centers that are filled with light with spirit, and with love, wisdom and truth. The purified mind and heart. The seven stars are the seven messages of the angels of the churches. There is a spiritual message for each church to realize.
The first church is Ephesus, which concerns our prayer life, beliefs and desires. Our thoughts are still focused on the physical senses. We are trying to accomplish spiritual works through sense consciousness and the human intellect based on appearances. This is the base root chakra; here we release our false or human concepts of our world. We balance love and truth.
The second church is Smyrna which concerns our faith, understanding, and creative power. We are dependent upon the outer practices in place of true prayer of spiritual union. We must release the misuse of our thoughts in our creative power. This is the regenerative life chakra. Here we release our doubts, fears and worldly manipulation. We balance with love and wisdom.
The third church is Pergamos which concerns our ability to feel whole and be at peace. It is the solar plexus chakra of the intellect. Here we are believing in the letter of the law – or literal interpretation of that which is spiritual. The belief that the human intellect is the power, but without spirit it is nothing but a clanging symbol. It is the release of personal ego. Balance with faith and intuitive knowing.
The fourth church is Thyatira which concerns our spiritual inspiration, and freedom. It is the heart chakra. We are asked to release the personal sense of love for the greater love of God, for unconditional love rather than judgement of self and for everyone. We balance with love and forgiveness.
The fifth church is Sardis which concerns our spiritual power and joy. This is the throat chakra. The power of the spiritual word spoken which carries forth into our world of expression. We must give up negative self talk, and be conscious of speaking only that of truth. Balance with praise, prayer, meditation.
The sixth church is Philadelphia which concerns our unity with mankind. This is the 3rd eye chakra of true perception. We must give up belief in the appearance world, in separation, and stand in truth, and see and give thanks for the glory that is all around us. This is active faith. Balance with service in action.
The seventh church is Laodicia which concerns our love of God One with creative intelligence, and divine wisdom. The Amen or AUM. This is crown chakra. Here we are told to stay steadfast in our journey. The Christ stands at the door of consciousness, and those that have the ear to hear will open, and the Christ will come in. We balance with continued self-assessment.
I’d like us to take a the next few moments to connect these churches or chakras to our body.
1. The base root is red in color the sound of (UH).
2. The 2nd chakra is slightly below the belly button, its color is organ; the sound is (OOO).
3. The 3rd chakra is the solar plexis at the pit of the stomach and is yellow, its sound is (OH).
4. The 4th chakra is the heart, at the center of the chest, it is spring green, and its sound is (AH).
5. The 5th chakra is the throat, at the throat, it is blue, and its sound is (EYE)
6. The 6th chakra is the 3rd eye at the center of the forehead between the brow, and its color is indigo, its sound is (AYE)
7. The 7th chakra is the crown at the top of the head, it is violet, and its sound is (EEE).