Jacob's Ladder & the Higher Chakras

During a recent re-reading of Colin Bloy's book 'When are you coming out of that pub?' (published 1992), I spent some time pondering on his acount of the extended human chakras. It had started around thre time of the Harmonic Convergence in 1987, when many millions of people joined in the world-wide meditation. I quote Colin's words "I was on Glastonbury Tor and afterwards on checking the ley lines, sorry, dragon lines, it was to be seen that the 8 factor had moved to a 16 and shortly after, we were able to determine that the number of energy bodies around the physical body had increased to 16 and so had the number of Chakras, as well as the number of concentric circles in the column of light."

It was while pondering this that I was suddenly aware that there could be a link between these 'extra' chakras and the Qabalistic Tree of Life. If this is so it may be possible it may be possible to use this link in our ascent of Jacob's Ladder. Although Colin obviously takes this knowledge into account in his healing work, not much has been said about these chakras, in Fountain terms, since their discovery.

If we are to climb, however gradually, to the higher levels indicated by these chakras, we need all the help we can get. We are all becoming more aware that the assisstance and guidance of the angels and archangels available to us. Indeed, the angelic heirachies are more than willing to help us and the Tree of Life is basically about the angelic realms and heirachies.

A glimpse at the diagram shows the extended chakras and the Tree of Life (Jacob's LAdder) can be understood in relationship to each other. It is obvious that the various spiritual levels and the angels responsible for each one do correspond. It is here that the relevance for the upper chakras become most marked, moreover they are particularly applicable to our own time (which is logical), since they have a bearing on the present state of humanity and its relationship to the WHOLE. For example, Gabriel in his position on the central column is the Guardian of Spiritual Knowledge and on the same level is the chakra of Cosmic Unity. It would seem that these two concepts meet and match perfectly, since it is only the Spiritual Awareness of the unity of the whole that can actually raise human conciousness to the required level. The awareness of the Oneness, in turn, raises our consciousness to the level of healing and grace under the Guardianship of the archangels Gabriel and Haniel.

They stand like twin pillars on either side of our scent to the next level, that of archangel Michael. On his level we see the next chakra, the Cosmic Vortex of Creation. Since Michael is the Tiferet, or heart centre of the level of Creation, this match is particularly apt. There is also a synchronicity, or correspondence at the next 'rung' of the Ladder, with the chakra "Light as a Formative Force" on the same level as the Watchers. The Watchers according to Shimon ben Halevi, consist of the whole company of archangels at this creative level.

If we manage to climb so far, we find "Cosmic Form and Number" corresponding to the Holy Spirits of the Face and may be a little nearer to the understanding of Divinity as the Great Geometer. It is also singularly appropriate that "Cosmic Knowledge" should be at the same level as the Elohim. Supposing we reach that level, ben Halevi says we must then turn back to help others and the world. This is in line with the Buddhist teaching, the Chinese Kwan-yin and also with the angelic 'traffic' up and down Jacob's Ladder, as in the Old Testament story.

Those who journey beyond these chakras to "Cosmic Form and Number" will come nearer to understanding the words of Bernard of Clairvaux "What is God? He is length, width, height and depth". Roger Lawlor clarifies this for us writing; 'functioning at the archetypal level, Geometry and Number describe fundemental causal energies, in their interwoven eternal dance'. His use of the word 'dance' is inspirational, for there are times when we get a glimpse of this aspect of creation and can visualise at least a part of the process as choreography of the most elegant and beautiful kind. On philosophical geometry, Lawlor says that it "re-enacts the unfolding of each form out of the preceding one". This is true choreography. He continues, "It is a way by which the essential creative mystery is rendered visible".

It is not an accident that the mysterious beauty of melody and harmony and the creation of, say a rose, arise from the same principles of Form and Number. In our work with the Tree of Life and the upper chakras we are seeking that 'essential creative mystery'. In meditation, we seek it through what the ancient Egyptians called the Intelligence of the Heart