My family and I were in a group of eight Cape Townians, and we offered informal rituals of conscious intentions for ourselves, others and communities.We visited several Ancient Sacred sites along the Nile, including the pyramids, and Luxor., and called it Earth Healing.

And that is precisely what we what got: shifts in our consciousness, and how we perceive the world. We went around with a 17kg Lemurian Quartz, without specific religion or dogmatic agendas. We purely wanted to connect with the sites as they presented themselves to us. We looked, and felt with open minds and hearts. Our guides had incredible knowledge, and even though we in principle had no specific expectations, were blown away with the magnitude and subtlety of what we saw and experienced.

Divine Being

Stepping into the clearly defined antiquity of Ancient Egypt, and its landscape, revealed astounding insights about the modern world perspective we stepped out of. I always feel that the truth is hidden in plain sight, right in front of our eyes, if only we would bother to look, or learn to see clearly. Immersed in tombs, passages, temples and chambers in pyramids, and wandering, in awe, amongst fantastical pillars and obelisks and figures, engraved with mystical images of male and female humans, deities and gods, engaged in exchanges of mysterious rituals, cannot but enlighten the heart-mind of someone who seeks to confirm, or validate alternative world views. Awareness of Divine Being defined our particular Egyptian experience.

Fall from Love and Light, into duality

World systems and religion as we know it is characterised by a sudden rise of patriarchy, instated by Roman destruction of the female participation in spiritual matters, circa 300 AD. Up to this period the Egyptian civilisation displayed a distinct expression of the feminine, in harmonious balance of male and female priesthood. It’s Wisdom Teachings were famed, and many Greek thinkers, artist and philosophers sought out the Egyptian teachings.

In the Yoga lore there is an oral tradition of earlier epochs, much older than what is thought of in our time as ancient (i.e. the oldest printed traditions of 3 000 Bc.), times when there were balance of the masculine and feminine. In the Yoga system “healing” may be understood as the Sacred (Divine) Union of Dualities. Duality may be any apparently opposite aspect of the whole – for example, male and female. This is also the great yin-yang of the Ida and Pingala currents, which, when balanced, and activated, connects the practitioner to Bliss. Or transcend ordinary duality reality.

In the Yoga system this “whole” is most neutrally expressed as The Source. Everything that exists in the Universe is part of Everything, The Field of Existence. Separation of any of its parts from awareness of the Source, for example, disconnection from inner nature and the natural world, creates the delusion of a reality that are mutually exclusive dualities, spiritual and profane, dualities.

Union In Yoga, in OM

With the destruction of the “Divine Feminine” the world was plunged into the ignorance of the “undivine” i.e. dominating masculine, and the female rendered “undivine” too. In this duality the world fell into the unconsciousness of the male biased rule of commerce and religious of our era.

Interest in a return to Union, the One-ness, non-dual state, thought of as a return to Source – is creating a possible wave of change. Much evidence of a return to Universal Intelligence is evident in cutting edge culture and science.

OM as mantra is chanted as symbol of, and actual physical practice of the Sound of the Universe. To hum this sound is to vibrate with this sound, a physical and spiritual transformation, a healing force. I recorded a few of our group, on my iPhone, chanting at a sacred site in the Valley of Queens, Luxor:

Sacred Mystery – Secret School of Initiation

An initiate in the Egyptian Mysteries was also called an Adept, because the knowledge acquired involved the greater, unseen forces of the Universal Realm. This esoteric wisdom held great revelations, as it lies behind the immediate material and mental domains of Earth plane. Pharaohs were initiated during these secret, sacred rituals, and it is said by some that Alexander the Great, Pythagoras, amongst others, including Joseph from the Bible received such training. We know historically that Jesus was taken as a baby, to Cairo, to safety, but also to where Joseph had connections with the great wisdom keepers of the Mystery Schools.

To attain conscious connection to the “original One-ness”, in an actual experience, and not only as a conceptual or cognitive reality, demanded death of the ego. In Yoga the “unrealised self” is an unconscious person, in a state of consciousness sleep, of limited material being. Central to the Egyptian Mysteries was an awakening to “the whole being”, and practices and rituals with frequencies, or therapy with sound, olfactory, colour, light and darkness, activated the BodyMind to its harmonious potential of left and right side balance, harmonious being of inner or outer aspects, altered states of stimulated awareness to reveal the subtle, normally unseen worlds.

While there has been abuse of the power gained from the mysteries, there also has been an ongoing lineage of liberation, a paying forward of this Universal Power. Such greater co-creation is the foundation of healing non-duality – not a concept, or religion – a State of Being. While dualities are a natural, necessary expression of the whole, ignorance of the whole may cause any aspect of duality to dominates another. The video suggests that earlier Egyptian culture, with its mystery teachings, was a remnant of a glorious past of Higher Being, in touch with the Divine Realms.

Mythology and Middle Eastern Sci-fi on the Nile

A few days in close proximity of the pyramids impressed me with an overwhelming sense of an unfathomable sci-fi. Much research suggests a celestial purpose to the Great Sphinx and temple complex. Some say it was to resurrect the soul of the pharaoh Khafre, who built the last of the great pyramids 2 500 Bc. For me it seems there is more to the story than channeling the power of the sun god Ra! Khafre appeared to have had Divine Intentions of co-creation rather than personal power.

In the Cairo Museum is a fantastic sculpture of this renowned (possibly the last great Initiate-King of Egypt). His gaze emits a serene energy that emanates from from another realm of Grace. His hands reminded me of the Buddha sculptures I contemplated in Sarnath, India, transmitting Life Force via specific mudras. Khafre’s is depicted with a tight hand for holding the reigns, and an open hand of peace.

One of the members of our group was inspired to write about the being of Pharaoh Khafre upon observation of the stone carving: “In intimate embrace on your shoulders Horus, the celestial bird, gentily touching you with spreaded affectionate wings, enhancing your vision beyond the physical realm.” Jospeh Koetsier, scholar, writer and visionary entrepreneur.

Transcendence

My main takeway from this Egyptian experience, and from previous sacred retreats and travels to temples, is that every yoga class or meditation is a conscious act. There is a possibility, of health and happiness, every time we make the choice to be conscious. Literally a Life Path.

Yoga is about the interaction and integration of realms. To stand in that Light remains the central pillar of Yoga. We may not be able to achieve this all the time, but that is okay too, awareness of duality also reveals the possibility of non-duality. As the business and busyness of this materialistic era increase, it becomes increasingly clear that the only True Peace is in True Presence. Yoga manifests itself, in our Self, when in such a Moment, Here, Now. 

Which is not always easy to manage. Perhaps this is a value of suffering, and chaos – which may also show us humility and instil gratitude.

What can we do but stand in the light? 

Outer peace is the result of going within. With practice we can develop transformation of our personal reality, to help balance the individual aspects of one’s internal being that hinders personal growth. The sense is that tolerance of “the other”, flexibility, innovation, and surrender, with a detached logic and a warm heart – will connect us to Source. We frequently forget, and don’t make this Connection. In the Stream of Consciousness, and only that Stream, is True Peace. Heed this call, and Stand in the Light – in the Sacred Temples of our own BodyMinds!

Yours in Yoga and Music,
Cape Town,
January 2021.

Useful resources:

Podcast with Joseph Koetsier, whom I met, and travelled with in Egypt.

Ancient Egyptian research centre:
https://www.arce.org/resource/ra-creator-god-ancient-egypt

]]> https://johannkotze.com/blog/stand-in-the-light/feed/ 2 https://johannkotze.com/blog/limitation-vs-supernature/ https://johannkotze.com/blog/limitation-vs-supernature/#respond Tue, 07 Feb 2017 12:42:43 +0000 http://johannkotze.com/?p=5803 The “Body, Mind & Spirit”orientation of hatha yoga promotes personal healing as “the” method to troubleshoot and resolve any situation, on any level. Solutions suggested by the “thinking mind” alone are not considered as valid the thinking mind on its own is “disconnected from the whole”.

Holistic health, or absence of a holistic, systemic worldview, of an individual, society or ecology, is the answer to all the problems the world faces.

Disrespect or disregard, nature and human, on any level, constitute ignorance of the holistic bioenergetic* ecology of the universes. Connection to the “holistic energy” of the whole, includes our “spiritual heart”. When Spirit informs Mind the “thinking” is expansive, when thought is ruled by the ego it is limited. Holistic BodyMind is systemically holographic, the Universe Within contains Spirit (Infinity). Understanding of the “whole” systems helps bring balance of Body (World, and world in Space) Mind (Time) Spirit (Eternal). The material realm is manifested into the world as a physical aspect of energy. Acknowledging, and exploring that energy is what yoga consciousness is all about.

Supernature – consciousness and wisdom vs. knowledge and facts

Infinite potential (healing and whole) may arise from understanding infinite source (Oneness). Eternity is an expanded capacity, and its “timelessness”, can’t be understood by thought alone, yet it may be directly experienced in meditation. Such a mystical approach, when based in ordinary reality, includes rational reality, while limited “hard science” factual reality does not include the mysterious, unfathomable “whole”.

For the world the healthy way, perhaps the only way forward, is to balance realities, and manifest “more” of the infinite into the finite. Such healing is not “fixing”, which can’t actually work without wisdom from the Whole. Personal and global healing has to begin within, through inner transformation of a limited (partial) reality worldview.

Such a spiritual philosophy is neither irrational or emotional. Its an objective openness to a possible energetic supernature. Energetic as consciousness manifests as nature, yet it is not nature.  There is world, matter, and there is spirit, energy. Nor the thinking mind nor the feeling heart, in separation of the whole, has the capacity to understand the whole, or transform either aspect. This is the difference between technology as a tool vs. tech as master, science and religion as information and dogma vs. as knowledge as an aspect of wisdom and life force (spirituality).

Consciousness in a human being occurs when Matter and Energy converge, its an evolving functionality. When the Mind is open to the multi-dimensionality of Infinite Being the heart and body is received into a transcending evolution, or centropy. The upward spiral is a spiritual-creative renewal. It’s the opposite of entropy, the beginning of reality, ongoing electrification of matter, considered by some the only constant in the universe. In centropy everything is renewed, nothing is destroyed. In this sense “ego” is entropy, and “surrender” centropy.

Such a worldview is frowned upon by some rationalists, intellectuals, atheists and like. In this one I’m rather naive than cynical; there is possible liberty or redemption in that, at the very least, true joy.

How to use yoga to help release your limitations

Johann
7 February 2017

* Webster Definition of bioenergetics. 1: the biology of energy transformations and energy exchanges within and between living things and their environments. 2: a system of physical and psychological therapy that is held to increase well-being by releasing blocked physical and psychic energy.

ॐ

Anyway, move on, or rot and stink, the statement says. Be in the moment, in the present, let go, of past programming, fear, hatred, gripes, envies, the list goes on. Just let go. Our bodies remember these energies, just like we store them in the minds. Together they form an unhealthy allegiance polluting our being with unhealthy emotions and thoughts. When unchecked the unwholesome energy stays with us, locks our bodies into the un-well energy field, causing disease.

Chronic stress tightens our bodies, resulting in a severe bodymind state that has severe consequences for our nervous system, digestion, sleep, everything, A stiff, tight body is an unhappy place to be. And if we don’t transform theses energies the stress becomes imprinted on us. Release of stress, habitual, chronic stress, helps bring healing and a greater sense of well-being. As they say, “let go, let god”. Don’t worry.  Swami Venkatesananda also said “Turning away from God is disease, he who turns to God is at perfect ease within”.

Yoga helps us, much, to let go. We also, more often than we realize, require help in letting go of our mental, physical and emotional stress. So we sometimes require treatments that are holistic, works on many levels, addressing the physical, spiritual and emotional release. Always search out a therapist that is experienced, holistically minded, that is prepared to give you the time of day you deserve, that is happy to refer you on if required, have a kind heart, and someone you resonate with. In my opinion the therapy has to help the body unlock whatever trauma holds it “closed” – treatments may be gentle, or firm, but should not be severe.

Check out this interview with Dr John Upledger (inventor of CranioSacral Therapy) on crania work and bodywork.

The list I provide here is by no means exhaustive, and view it as a starting point to find a person to help your bodymind help itself. I prefer to suggest rather than recommend a therapy or therapists, every person has unique expectations and needs and so on. I do always recommend my clients to have either regular treatments, i.e. once a few weeks, like a haircut regular, and or 3 or more sessions in a series once a year. This is quite an essential practice, a lifestyle investment, not a luxury. I remind you that you have one body, and you everything you do, your entire life, in it.

This list is in no particular order of importance. The therapists I list are holistic, healing practitioners in areas of Stellenbosch and Muizenburg (where I teach), some work from both.

Natasha Wrightford
Neurosoma Myotherapist
Muizenburg & Stellenbosch
0823033150

Sandra Smit
Cranio Sacral
Muizenburg & Stellenbosch
084700690

Candice Jones
Holistic Massage
Energy Work
Stellenbosch
0848000448

Cecelia Britz
Reflexology
Stellenbosch
021 8864710

Dale Simpson
Body Stress Release
Muizenburg
0832617498

Robyn Lewis
Shaitsu
021 7881101

Tony Edwards
Shaitsu
Stellenbosch
0725850483

Anna Scheltema
Cranio Sacral
Stellenbosch
021 8866819

Dr. Chris Muller
Chiropractic
Stellenbosch
021 8874488

Enjoy your bodymind work!
Blessings,
Johann,
8 July 2014

My body and soul craved a yoga class.

After dropping Alexander at school on my bike I decided to not go home to work, to race instead to nearby Kalk Bay community hall. It was a cold, clear and beautiful morning, I was glad to just go to yoga. I was sure the impromptu decision was a good one, the bit of time to regain its internal balance was non really negotiable. Glenn’s class was, as usual, great, uplifting. I felt much better. Yet upon leaving class I realised that it wasn’t enough to put me back on track.

I considered a swim in Dalebrook pool opposite the yoga class venue, then didn’t feel like a potential miserably wet and cold ride back home, I didn’t even have a towel with me. It was still early and instead of going straight home to the office I went for a coffee. Which didn’t quite do the trick either. Psyching myself up to “push on” with the day seemed the only option. Cycling home past the St James I noted the clear ocean breaking into the tidal pool,  the water and light and a thousand memories of buoyant salt water called me – I thought what the heck and with great joy felt the pull of the coming experience.

I locked my bike and walked out on the pool wall, stripped to my boxers. It felt like time slowed down, I started to look and look at everything, time slowed down and everything I saw appeared brilliant. Inner balance suddenly came, all the emotions and physical challenges of an off balance rhythm cleared.

Pale winter sunlight broke though the thin cloud cover, in dazzling displays of light on the water. It felt like was inside a giant crystal. I sat on the wall and looked and looked at the green mountain range, right next to the ocean.  A few minutes of meditation and pranayama elevated the yoga class to high level of self practice. Diving in for the swim was awesome, sunlight reflecting off the water as if part of the water. I felt the brilliant natural high of connection with nature.

I went to yoga knowing its importance as a resource. I always, sooner or later, turn to yoga practice and/or nature for its healing powers. In this instance yoga helped me shift towards the necessary balance so that I could experience the additional healing force of nature. With all my systems invigorated and fired up by the cold water I didn’t even feel the cold air as I went back home on the walkway along the sea, underdressed as I was in a “t”. I felt good. That felt good.

Such is the healing power of yoga practice and nature.

Muizenburg,
27 May 2014.