The Prophetic Telegraph - No.13
THE HOUSE OF THE
SOUL
A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION AND
RESOURCE DOCUMENT ON A LITTLE KNOWN TOPIC
Abstract: This paper shows that there is
mounting evidence for the existence of a sheath around our bodies, which under
certain circumstances may be seen as an aura of blue light. Whereas in the past
Christians may have fought shy of approaching this subject, because of the way
in which it appears in spiritualistic literature, now it seems to be necessary
to investigate it, because it is stated in the Bible, and in
the testimony of a reliable Christian witness who experienced
the death-state, and returned by the word of the Lord.
- - - - - - - -oOo- - - - - - - -
It was around Christmas
time in 1943. George Ritchie had died of double lobar pneumonia. But nine
minutes later, armed with an unforgettable experience of eternity, he returned
from the dead. He had walked and talked with Jesus through a series of
experiences, some of which were enthralling, others terrifying. In 1978, as a
practising doctor and psychiatrist, he put pen to paper, and told the tale of
those amazing nine minutes. His book is entitled "Return from
Tomorrow,"
and is a must for every Christian. Even after two or three readings it still retains
its sheer other-worldliness, and the powerful and loving influence of the
Master as He walked with George in another land.
One of the experiences
George had during those nine minutes (which to him seemed like hours) was that
of watching the behaviour of human beings in a bar, in which there were also
some disembodied spirits (like himself at that time.) Here is the extract from
Ritchie's book which deals with this scenario.
Gradua1ly I began
to notice something else. All of the living people we were watching were
surrounded by a faint luminous g1ow, a1most like an electrical field over the
surface of their bodies. This luminosity moved as they moved, like a second
skin made out of pale, scarcely visible light.
At first I thought
it must be reflected brightness from the Person at my side. But the buildings
we entered give off no reflection, neither did inanimate objects. And then I
realized that the non-physical beings didn't either. My own un-solid body, I
now saw, was without this glowing sheath.
At this point the
Light drew me inside a dingy bar and grill near what looked like a large naval
base. A crowd of pcople, many of them sailors, lined the bar three deep, while
others jammed wooden booths along the wall. Though a few were drinking beer, most
of them seemed to be belting whiskies as fast as the two perspiring bartenders
could pour them.
Then I noticed a
striking thing. A number of the men standing at the bar seemed unable to lift
their drinks to their lips. Over and over I watched them clutch at their shot
glasses, hands passing through the solid tumblers, through the heavy wooden
counter top, through the very arms and bodies of the drinkers around them. And
these men, every one of them, lacked the aureole of light that surrounded the
others.
Then, the cocoon of
light must be a property of physical bodies only. The dead, we who had lost our
solidness, had lost this "second skin" as well. And it was obvious
that these living people, the light-surrounded ones, the ones actually drinking,
talking, jostling each other, could neither see the desperately thirsty
disembodied beings among them, nor feel their frantic pushing to get at those
glasses. (Though it was also clear to mc, watching, that the non-solid people
could both see and hear each other. Furious quarrels were constantly breaking
out among them over glasses that none could actually get to his lips.)
I thought I had
seen heavy drinking at fraternity parties in
Twice more, as I
stared, stupefied, the identical scene was repeated. A man passed out, a crack
swiftly opened in the aureole round him, one of the non-solid people vanished
as he hurled himself at that opening, almost as if he had scrambled inside the
other man. Was that covering of light some kind of shield, then? Was it a
protection against . . against disembodied beings like myself? Presumably these
substance-less creatures had once had solid bodies, as I myself had had.
Suppose that when they had been in these bodies they had developed a dependence
on alcohol that went beyond the physical. That became mental. Spiritual, even.
Then when they lost that body, except when they could briefly take possession
of another one, they would be cut off for all eternity from the thing they
could never stop craving.
We accept that George
Ritchie was an honest observer, and that he was not mistaken in any way in what
he saw during his out-of-the-body experience. Then it is clear that he was
given the revelation for a purpose, and we do well to analyse it and ask the
Lord why He wants us to know about these things just now. Our Lord would not
have given him this experience for no reason. Neither would He have given it
just for George Ritchie's spiritual education. And as to Ritchie's integrity,
the book bears the stamp of a true child of God giving an honest testimony.
What he saw was a thin blue sheath of
light that
seemed to be an enclosure, a cocoon, a protective shell, in which the soul of the person
resided. But under the influence of excessive alcohol, one or two men were seen
to develop a split which started at the crown of the head, and travelled
downwards to the shoulders. Clearly this was parallel to a gash in the flesh of
a human, it was never intended to be that way, but brought about by
disobedience, by men abusing their bodies in a manner never intended by God.
This had allowed the ingress of spirit-beings, the souls of those who once had
lived. The implications of this for all servants of the Lord involved in
deliverance ministry are too great to be side-tracked. However, in these notes
we shall not seek to draw conclusions, but rather to present facts.
The next question to ask is
whether the Bible gives any further light on the subject. Like so many things,
when you first start out, you get nowhere, and this often results from an
inability to read and understand the original languages of the Bible.
Translators have done their best to present the true meaning of original texts,
but have never been wholly able to bring over the subtle nuances of meaning,
neither have they always understood the point of what they were translating.
This goes for all of us as well, even if we have a smattering of ability at
Greek and Hebrew. The present writer has just a little, and finds it very
useful, but relies mainly on the excellent works of Wigram, in the four volumes
of Lexicons and Concordances in these two languages.
It seemed almost by chance
that one day recently I was reading an ancient commentary on Daniel by Barnes,
and the marginal note showed that in Daniel 7:15, it should read, "And
I Daniel was distressed in my spirit in its sheath." It was not 'chance' but clearly the
leading of the Lord, particularly as it happened fairly soon after a second
reading of Ritchie's book. The Lexicon and Concordance produced the evidence.
The Hebrew (and Chaldee) word for sheath only occurs twice, once in Daniel, and
the other in Chronicles, as follows -
1 Chron.21:27 "And
the Lord commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath
thereof."
The Hebrew word for sheath
is NADAN, and its Chaldee counterpart in Daniel
Another reference which gives
us information about the sheath is Job 27:8. The word 'sheath' does not occur,
but it reads as follows, "What is the hope of the hypocrite,
though he hath gained, when God takes away his soul?" An
examination of the Hebrew for 'takes away' yields a further clue. It should be 'draws-out'. When God draws out his soul. It
gives the impression that God is taking something out of a case. Is the case
the body, or is it the sheath, or in some way that we do not properly
understand, is it both? Ritchie could not tell us what happened to the blue
cocoon when a person died. He was only allowed to see the live humans and the
disembodied spirits. The Hebrew word is SHALAH, and it is noticed that in
another inflexion it is used of the 'afterbirth'. This is most helpful, because of
the way in which the afterbirth is withdrawn from the womb. How interesting
that the Book of Job is considered to be the earliest of the O.T. writings. The
truth about the soul within its sheath was understood in very ancient times.
The next passage to consult
is Ecclesiastes 12, the famous 'geriatric poem.' At the moment of death Solomon
tells us that "The silver cord is loosed, the golden bowl is
broken, the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel is broken at the
cistern." Some people speak of the silver cord as a 'spiritual
umbilical cord'. But what of the other symbols? Does anyone know what
they mean? Are they just additional pictures of the same event, using perhaps
four expressions current in those days? Or is there something else to learn?
Finally we are told that the body returns to the dust, and the
spirit returns to God who gave it.
When Moses wrote Psalm 90,
he gave us a further clue. After our '
Maybe there are other
references which would help us in this enquiry. It would be good to hear from
those who read this paper, so that a fuller text may be prepared at a later
date. Please keep us informed. [Feb.1999 note:- No one has ever communicated
further information on this subject since writing these notes in Feb.1988.]
In the early fathers, there
is a useful passage in Justin Martyr, in his first apology, chapter 20, which
reads as follows, "Let even necromancy, and the divinations you
practise by immaculate children, and the evoking of departed human souls, and
those who are called among the Magi, Dream-senders and Assistant-spirits
(Familiars), and all that is done by those who are skilled in such matters -
let these persuade you that even after death souls are in a state of sensation;
and those who are seized and cast about by the spirits of the dead, whom all
call demoniacs or madmen - - - ." A footnote in the edition
from which this is quoted tells us that Justin was not the only one in ancient
times to believe that there was a form of possession, not by demons, nor by
fallen angels, but rather by the ingress of departed human spirits. It should
be added that because the above text is quoted without context, Justin is by no
means ADVOCATING those practises he mentions, but merely using the existence of
them to prove a point.
In passing we might recall
that in the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16, after Lazarus died,
he was CARRIED AWAY to Abraham's bosom. The Greek word Apophero
occurs elsewhere in the N.T. as follows, each reference helping us to
understand a little more about the angels carrying away the spirit of Lazarus.
1 Cor.16:3 "And
when I come, whomsoever you shall approve by your letters , these will I send
to CARRY AWAY your liberality to
Rev.17:3 "So
he CARRIED me AWAY in the spirit into the wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting
on a scarlet beast, full of the names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten
horns."
Rev.21:10 "And
he CARRIED me AWAY in the spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me
that great city, the Holy
Finally, we are including
information extracted from books and encyclopaedias, relating to the findings
of scientists like Kirlian and Kilner which relate to the aura. By offering
these notes to our readers, we are by no means saying that we agree with
everything that is said, but it will assist further research if such material
is at hand for those who wish to study the subject.
AURAS
AN ARTICLE FROM "THE GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE
MEDICINE."
Auras are held to be of
tremendous importance in diagnosis. The difficulty is that not everybody is
able to see an aura, even some who have been working within the spiritualist
field for many years. But then, as André Tardieu wrote: 'Difficulties lie
in our habits of thought rather than in the nature of things.'
Dr Kilner of
Clothing makes no
difference to the emanation of the aura from the human body. Everybody has one;
although many religious paintings show it only around the head (where it is
easier to observe), it goes round the entire body. It is a light force, but
unlike light in the purely materialist sense of the word.
Each aura is extremely
personal, and reflects, in the colours which it shows, the character and
disposition of the person. Phrenosophists call this the edge of the entity
called Mind (with a capital letter this word means to them soul, intellect,
etc.).
An aura comprises different
layers, which on the accompanying diagram may be seen to be outermost, middle
and innermost. These have different colours. These colours are, for a
clairvoyant, indicative of the health condition as well as of the nature of the
person from whom emanates the aura. A sensitive person will sometimes back away
from a complete stranger, refuse to shake hands with somebody unknown. Have you
ever been in a crowded bus, train, plane or building, and found yourself
shuddering if an unknown person touches you? This is because their aura clashes
with yours; if you feel like that, it is lower than your own.
Sometimes you will meet a
person whom you admire, like, or even instinctively love, knowing that he or
she comes into your life for only a brief spell but that you can never hold him
(or her). Nevertheless you treasure that meeting, and never forget the warm
feeling you had. This is because you have found somebody with a very highly
developed aura whose presence near your own lifts you up spiritually, and who
can teach you higher things if you are able and willing to learn. Beware of
colours in your clothing; they cannot damage your aura, but wearing the wrong
mixture may 'tint' your aura because it reflects your mood of the moment.
Phrenosophists avoid wearing black, and usually avoid people who dress exclusively
in black, since this denotes utmost materialism and an undeveloped
spirituality. It is thought that wearing red or crimson and black together can
predispose a person to illness. The interesting thing about aura diagnosis is
that a tendency to disease shows up in the aura long before it shows up in the
body.
KIRLIAN PHOTOGRAPHY
AN EXTRACT FROM "AN A-Z OF ALTERNATIVE
MEDICINE."
(By Hafen & Fransden. Sheldon Press. 1984)
According to Lee R Steiner,
"Kirlian photography is a high-frequency, high-voltage photographic
process in which part of the human body is imposed directly onto film, which,
in turn, reproduces the electrical field changes that emanate from the human
body (or any other living thing, including plants and animals)."
The process was discovered
by a Russian husband-and-wife team, Semyon and Valentina Kirlian, in the1940s.
In an experiment, they found that a spark jumped from an electrode on the
equipment they were using to a patient lying close by. By placing a
photographic plate between the electrode and the patient's hand, they observed
that a luminescence followed the contours of the fingers, and that streams of
energy emanated from the patient's fingertips. The process was later refined by
the couple, and Semyon Kirlian described the results of the photography:
". . . galaxies of coloured lines, shining, twinkling; ghostly lights,
bright multi-coloured flares, dim clouds, blazing violet, fiery flashes."
From observing these phenomena the Kirlians found that the size, structure,
brightness, and colours differed from patient to patient.
At first It was thought
that this remarkable occurrence came from changes in skin temperature, but this
theory was disproved in time. The colourful phenomena were later termed an aura
or a corona, and it was theorized to have
been caused by an electromagnetic energy field occurring in a unified organism.
Later It was postulated that there are characteristic aura for different states
of health. Various mental states had a marked effect upon the quality and intensity
of the emanation of energy. Many times a break in the aura itself indicated the
presence of a physical abnormality. A disease condition of a specific organ
showed as a lessening and darkening of the aural light over the area suffering
the breakdown. Thus the Kirlians came to believe that the aura represents the
"inner body" and is a reflection of the ills or well-being of the
entire body and mind.
Others who use psychic
diagnosis/healing believe that there is a psychic anatomy as well as a physical
anatomy. This psychic anatomy is believed to exist in the form of energy
emanations that surround living things, and it is often referred to as the
aura. Those with psychic powers are able to use the aura to determine the
overall condition of the patient A healthy aura, according to those who
practice psychic diagnosis/healing, surrounds the entire body and is about a
foot in depth. In contrast, the aura of a sick person has gaps in places and
may manifest the predominance of one particular colour. One diagnostic method
categorizes the colours and their meanings as follows:
BLACK represents death,
destruction, depreciation, or a state that precedes a constructive phase of
life.
GRAY: represents boredom,
malaise, fear, or anger.
BROWN: represents one who exercises
or has enhanced physical abilities or one who has a state of how energy
GREEN: represents one who
Is undergoing change In the areas of attitude, belief, or way of life.
BLUE: represents
creativity, Imagination, self-expression, repression, or the feminine.
YELLOW: represents
Intellect, a change from the unconscious to the conscious, refinement, or a
growth of the mind.
PINK: represents Intuition
or Instinctive knowledge.
RED: represents emotions,
warming to life, intensity, or passion.
PURPLE: represents
spirituality or devotion.
GOLD: represents pure
Intuition, psychic prowess, self-knowledge, the masculine, cleansing or
healing.
WHITE represents the
highest spiritual attainment, purification, or enlightenment
These colours can be mixed,
layered, blotchy, or chaotic in the diseased individual. Often an orange colour
is seen going from the healer to the person being healed. This signifies a
feeling of warmth and attests that a healing is taking place by the transfer of
energy from the healer to the healee.
EXTRACTS FROM "EVERYMAN'
ENCYCLOPAEDIA"
Kirlian
Photography,
allegedly a process by which photographs can be taken of coloured EMANATIONS
from living objects. It is named after a Russian electrician, Semyon Kirlian,
who discovered it in 1939 while repairing an electrotherapy machine. The
process involves a photographic plate being placed between the object to be
photographed and a high-frequency electrical field. It is claimed that
emanations from all living things can be photographed in this way, the
resulting pictures showing brightly coloured patterns studded with streaks and
dots. Furthermore, the brilliancy of the colours and the patterns change
according to the mood and health of the subject being photographed. Using
Kirlian photographic machines, research is currently being done in
Aura, an emanation said to surround the
human body, particularly the head, and which is visible to clairvoyants and
other similarly psychic individuals. It has been described as a misty light,
shot with colours which change according to mood and the circumstances
operating at any given time. It is believed to be the prototype of, the HALO or
nimbus. Various aids for seeing auras have been employed; one such consists of
a pair of goggles fitted with special glass.
Astral
Body,
according to THEOSOPHY and other spiritual systems of religious thought, one of
several normally invisible bodies interpenetrating and extending beyond the
human physical body. The name derives from descriptions of it by clairvoyants
in which it appears to sparkle with millions of small particles like star dust.
It is believed to separate from the physical body during sleep and at death.
Astral
Projection, a
state, according to various spiritual systems of philosophy, which occurs when
the astral body becomes temporarily separated from the physical body, although
remaining attached to it by the astral or etheric cord. It is said to happen
during sleep and at other times when there is a lack of consciousness, as in
severe illness. It is one of the theories suggested as an explanation for the
psychic ability to see at a distance.
Astral
Spirits, animating
principles of the heavenly bodies. Many of the major older religions, such as
the Babylonian and the Mexican are permeated with astral beliefs, in which the
heavenly bodies are held to be deities or powers, each with its own sphere but
also exercising influence on human affairs. Moreover, not only religion and
mythology, but also metaphysics, as it developed among the Greeks, saw
analogies between the human soul and the astral divinities, using such
analogies as the basis for a doctrine of immortality. European scholasticism, the
renewed Platonism of Renaissance times, speculative thinkers like PARACELSUS,
and mystics like Jacob Boehme inherited and elaborated this tradition.
Belief in astral spirits
did not always easily accord with orthodox Christianity, and there were more popular
notions accommodating it to, or contrasting it with, orthodoxy. Among these
were the views that astral spirits were fallen angels, or human souls on their
way to heaven, or demons. The astral spirit of a witch, for example, might
appear in animal shape at some distance from her body. As physics developed
from older (meta)physical notions of moving spirits that account for the
motions of heavenly bodies, so also religious belief began to dismiss the idea
of astral spirits.