Source Text
These wise men believed that every star in the heavens, every element in the earth, and every function in Nature was represented by a corresponding center, pole or activity within the human body.
This is the home of the gods in man. It is termed up because it occupies the northern end of the human spine.
The same is true of the manna that descended to feed the Children of Israel in the wilderness, for this manna is a substance which comes down the spinal cord from the brain. The Hindus symbolized the spine as the stem of the sacred lotus; therefore the skull and contents are symbolized by the flower. The spinal column is Jacob’s Ladder, connecting heaven and earth, while its thirty-three segments are the degrees of Masonry and the number of years of the life of Christ.
In the brain there are a number of caves (ventricles and folds), and in them (according to Eastern legends) live the wise men—the Yogis and hermits.
It is these twelve convolutions which later send their messages by means of the nerves into the body below to convert the Gentiles, or preach the gospel in the middle earth. These twelve convolutions gather around the central opening in the brain (the third ventricle), which is the Holy of Holies—the Mercy Seat—where between the spreading wings of the angels Jehovah talks with the high priest and where both day and night the Shekinah’s glory hovers. From this point also the spirit finally ascends from Golgotha, the place in the skull. It is a clairvoyant fact that the spirit not only leaves but also enters the body through the crown of the head—probably giving rise to the story of Santa Claus and his chimney.
The Trinity in man lives in the three great chambers of the human body, from which they radiate their power throughout the three worlds. These centers are the brain, the heart, and the reproductive system.
In these three chambers dwell the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, who are symbolized by the three-lettered word, AUM. The transmutation, regeneration, and unfoldment of these three great centers results in the sounding of the Lost Word, which is the great secret of the Masonic Order From the spinal nerves come impulses and life forces which make this possible.
The two lobes of the cerebrum were called by the ancients Cain and Abel, and have much to do with the legend of the curse of Cain, which is literally the curse of unbalance.
Nursed grudges sometimes become very dangerous things. This person swore that when he met a certain man he would cut his heart out and throw it in his face. A number of years passed, his hatred grew, and at last meeting his enemy, he attacked him and fulfilled his threat. He was hanged for the crime, but the skull bearing the testimony to the brain, reveals a very interesting fact. The right half of the brain is under the control of Mercury—the planet of intelligence—and as a result of the crossing of the brain nerves at the base of the skull it rules the left side of the body. The left half of the brain, under the control of Mars—the spirit of anger and impulse—rules the right side of the body and likewise the strong right arm.
This cord is the flaming sword which is supposed to have stood at the gates of the Garden of Eden. The Garden of Eden is in the skull, within which is a tree bearing twelve manner of fruit.
AI Summary
The Occult Anatomy of Man by Manly P. Hall presents key insights from the Christian Mysticism tradition. The 10 passages above capture the essential teachings.
Core Themes:
- [To be expanded]
Key Passages: Highlights 1, 3, and 10 are particularly representative.
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