D Carroll

Silence is the vestibule to the space of experiencing 

 

Silence is not the first language of God; Experiencing is the language of God.

D. Carroll

It has been said “God’s first language is Silence;” This famous quote has been attributed to St. John of the Cross and Father Thomas Keating, Keating elaborating further; “Silence is God's first language; everything else is a poor translation.”  Is It?

Is that the case? In many spiritual traditions the universe was created by God speaking, i.e. In the Bible, Genesis: and God said, “Let there be light,” … And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” … Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, these are just a few excerpts from Biblical creation. Then there is the word, Om (Aum), it is considered the elemental sound of the creation of the universe encompassing all of creation, existence, and consciousness. Another example from ancient Egypt is “Hu” (ḥw), it was the creative utterance, the deification of the first word, the word of creation. These are examples of God speaking for creation. The Bible makes a further point of it in John 1 King James Version;1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God, often referred to as the “Logos”. It certainly seems, with these examples, particularly with “in the beginning was the Word”, there was speaking/sound.

Science itself is theorizing the creation of the universe, came from a “singularity” (Oneness) and was created from an expansion called “The Big Bang Theory” (Cosmic Microwave background), originally and interestingly put forth by a Belgian Catholic priest, mathematician and physicist, Georges Édouard Lemaître.  Creation through the expansion of sound (vibration).

The cosmic microwave background is remarkably uniform over the entire sky, but tiny variations reveal the imprints of sound waves triggered by quantum fluctuations in the universe just moments after it was born. These imprints, appearing as splotches in the Planck map, are the seeds from which matter grew, forming stars and galaxies.

Universe Older Than Previously Thought                                Production editor: Dr. Tony Phillips | Credit: Science@NASA Planck spacecraft project.

Both spiritual philosophies and science put forth that creation came from sound.

So, can the documentation of spiritual philosophies and science putting forth creation came from sound be reconciled with the metaphors of “Silence is God's first language” and God’s first language is silence; everything else is a poor translation.”? I believe the answer is yes.

My answer may be considered nuanced, yet it broadens and still encompasses the concept of God’s language being silence and still one of sound/speaking/vibrations.

Rather than the metaphor of God’s first language being silence, that on its surface, is like a paradoxical Zen koan, it may be stated as God’s first language is experiencing. Words are birthed in and from experience. Experiencing also transcends words. It leads to silence, but does not originate in silence., experiencing cannot truly be put into words, words would be a “poor translation.”

As an example, consider the Grand Canyon or any personal awing experience. You could read the greatest word smith’s depiction of the Grand Canyon or see pictures and videos of the Grand Canyon that could be inspiring, or of any such event. Yet, these would pale compared to going and “experiencing” for yourself the Grand Canyon. It is the experiencing of it that goes so far beyond any words or pictures. In experiencing the awe, we would want to share the awe with others in words, symbols, or images and yes, it will be a poor translation of the experience, but one with hope for others experiencing. We would also resonate with others with such experiencing where words would not be needed.

 

 

From this perspective silence is not the first language of God; experiencing is the first language of God; everything else is a poor translation. Embrace the experiencing.

 

 

The expulsion from Paradise as an act of Love and compassion.

William Blake: The Expulsion. public domain

 

Many know the Biblical tale of Adam and Eve with God in the Garden of Paradise. The second version of humankind’s creation. In the beginning all was perfect and united, God spoke and walked with them in Paradise, and all was in union. God gave Adam and Eve only one requirement or caution, really: do not eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil for surely you will die.  This is not so much a commandment but a safety warning. Note: there were special trees in the center of Paradise, the tree of knowledge of good and evil and the tree of life. God’s safety warning was only for the tree of knowledge.

As the tale went, Eve ate from the tree and so did Adam: ^“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked…” (Genesis 3:7 KJV). The impact of this created the new feeling of being naked and with this, feeling ashamed, a feeling that they did not have before. Their saga continues with God walking through Paradise calling out their names and asking; “Where are you?”  I would write since God created all the universe and was omniscient, this would seem a puzzling and unnecessary question.

Fortunately, Fr. Thomas Keating pondered this question and gave his answer in his book: “The Human Condition” (1999 Paulist Press),   …“As soon as they fell into a discriminating mind by eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they became self-conscious; they experienced themselves not only as separate from God but also, because of their sin (missing the mark), as alienated from God.” (P.10-11)

As described, they became; self-conscious (how many of us have said I feel so self-conscious when feeling embarrassed or isolated from a group), separate and alienated from God. They had lost their union their Oneness with God and Divine Reality. That is why God asked them where they were.

Adam and Eve’s sad tale continues with their expulsion from Paradise. Why? For concern they would now eat from the tree of life. “And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...” (Genesis 3:22 KJV). This was an ultimate concern, not a punishment. The removal from Paradise now included the hazard warning that if they ate from the tree of life they would live forever, they could have before, but now, after eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, (duality/separation) if they missed the mark again and ate of the tree of life; they would forever be separated from the union with God and the Divine Ground.  It was to protect and save them. This was an act of love and protection not punishment.

Such an expulsion by God was not done out of anger and punishment, yes, loved ones would be upset when a child does a dangerous act but out of distress and for the safety of the child, from one who understands the consequences of the dangerous act. Think of it as a loved one locking up the medicine cabinet to protect a child. Afterwards, I would state that God was then explaining to them the consequences of their own action they would have to deal with, this was not his response to their actions. God then, in love, acted to prevent further harm to them; removing them from Paradise, now lost, and the tree of life. God, knowing the gravity of the danger, guards’ paradise to protect them. This is like incidents in our lives and of loved ones where it is often said; the damage is done, now what can we do to fix it. Keeping infinite avenues open to come home, if we choose.

This is not a tale of anger and punishment, it is a tale of Divine love, compassion, and reuniting. Humanity being given free will to know, understand, to be peers and choose to be friends of God. “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” John (15: -15 KJV)

Often the “fall” in paradise has been preached as sin, evil, unworthiness, and punishment from a wrathful God. Does that make any sense? The same God that is describe as all loving and compassionate. Fear and wrath separate us; love and compassion unite us. It is more about being unready, than unworthy.

Remember the “Prodigal son” in the New Testament Luke (15:11-32)? A family loved one’s leaves home (separates himself) to strike on his own and squanders his birthright and “falls”.  After many painful experiences and trials, he realizes his errors. After these difficult learning experiences, he humbly returns and asks to be taken in, even as a servant. His father runs to him embracing him as a son and friend, not a servant and has a huge celebration for his return. Sounds more like a God of love and compassion just as presented here in the garden of paradise.

God is not angry or punishing anyone, we are more than able to do that to ourselves. God, in love, has protected us from permanent separation. We are given infinite opportunities to grow, to experience, to reunite in that unitive Divine Ground that called God, through free will as a family member and as a friend.  This is the mystic’s journey.

As an epilogue to this different interpretation to humanities fall/separation from unity, I would direct the reader’s attention to the article’s image of Sir William Blake’s art: The Expulsion. Interpretations of Blakes depiction include that they are being gently led out by the Archangel, Michael. He provides the grace and guidance necessary to travel through the physical world, where they will be to return to a higher state of redemption.

 

Pre-dawn ocean, waves sighing as they caress the shore. Early morn spiritual light preceding the sun; feeling its warm gentle hand on my head in blessing, moving to my forehead in anointment, then – Oneness. In an ocean of light, as a drop of light in the ocean and the ocean in the drop. The body does sing electric! All is experienced in clear knowing. Joy, laughter, ecstasy, an ultimate intimacy with the Empyrean. A choir of light in eternal celebration of our destiny.

 

 

 

Faith; Part II: A lesson: Knowledgeable faith versus blind faith.  Knowledgeable faith beyond hesitation

Some Time back I wrote an article about Faith. Donald B. Carroll: Faith

 A brief recap: 

 Faith goes far beyond its name.  Like another small word; atom, describing such a small particle that it can only be seen with some of the world’s most powerful microscopes, yet, split this minute particle and immense power flows out. The power in the atom pales compares what is contained in faith.

There are dictionary definitions of faith; a firm belief in something for which there is no proof. Perhaps the Bible gives one of the better definitions of faith; Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11.1)

 The Biblical definition and General Semantics coming closer to the mark realizing that the being, the concept of faith transcends physical proof and embrace the greater reality of mind and spirit.  Here is one of the first steps to measure how much faith is applied, practiced in our personal lives.  For faith is an experience, it is living and growing, it is active, not passive, it is participating with each other and the universe acting on its power and concept.

In the first article I wrote of the knowledgeable experienced faith as in the parable of the Centurion.

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant [Luke 7 International Standard Version (ISV)]

public domain

Jesus and the centurion

“6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to tell Jesus, “Sir, stop troubling yourself, because I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 That’s why I didn’t presume to come to you. But just say the word, and let my servant be healed, 8 because I, too, am a man under authority and have soldiers under me. I say to one ‘Go’ and he goes to another ‘Come’ and he comes, and to my servant ‘Do this’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found this kind of faith!””

This Roman centurion did not just sit back and wait for the Master or the universe to stroll by and aid him; He Acted!  Even though he felt he was not worthy he participated and took action and, in his actions, he lived his great faith. Experienced faith.

The Centurion knew of Jesus, his spiritual philosophy, and his miracles, including healing, he was knowledgeable of him and, with that, believed. He acknowledged and understood, in his terms, this power, this spirit. He understood that balance of knowledge, trust, and authority combined with faith that makes it living and growing.

Ideally with these words and with remembering the knowing of faith we already have in our being we can incorporate them into our daily living and being, acting in faith and growing in faith.  In participation our faith will develop, will expand exponentially, like the splitting of an atom we can split open the word of faith into an ever-expanding transcendental experience of light for ourselves and others leading us to our ultimate destination of the Empyrean light.

This example is an important one. On occasion I have seen people, well intended, stop and say I have faith, and I am just going to sit here and wait for God to show me or give me a sign for what to do next.  I have been guilty of this misunderstanding of faith, in the past myself. To stop working and acting on faith, sitting back, and waiting to be guided. This is not going into the experience, the application of a living, active, act of faith. This is not participating with spirit, as the Cayce would term it; to become Co-creators with God.  To put it another way, if guidance is needed; get up and go, ask someone for directions, or go seeking a map.

Faith is not something that is passive; it is active living participation in our daily experiences and beliefs, which is how faith grows to move mountains.  It is even at the core of the act of communion.  The etymology of the word communion is mutual participation.

 Such lack of participation could be considered by another phrase we are probably familiar with; Blind Faith.

Faith Part II: The importance of trusting knowledgeable faith versus blind faith. Blind faith is a type of certainty that has one stop seeking.  Certainty can stop growth, evolution, certainty is not the same as trust. Trust is related to belief, hope and the knowing we have.  It aids in growing in a knowledgeable faith.

An example of the doubting of such knowledgeable faith could be the Greek myth tragic tale of Orpheus and Eurydice.  Orpheus was a son of a Greek muse (generally goddesses of inspiration of all the sciences and arts), his true love was Eurydice.  They married and she died shortly afterwards.  He was so in love and inconsolable over this he went to Hades (god of the underworld) to find her.  Orpheus was known for his divine music and charmed Cerberus, the three headed dog guardian of the underworld to pass though.  He then enchanted with his music and love, Hades, the god of the underworld, to allow him to bring Eurydice back to the world of the living.  The only caveat was that he could lead her out of the underworld, with her following behind, but he could not look back until they were in the living world. Orpheus agreed.

public domain

Eurydice be taken back to the underworld       

They traveled a long time on long roads and were nearing the living world and he worried that she was still following him.  As they came near to the living world he doubted and turned to see if she was there; she was.  Since he violated his oath, she was drawn back into the underworld.

This is a sad tale but a lesson of faith at the opposite end of the Centurion's faith.  Orpheus knew the Greek gods, he was part of them and their realms and even risk himself to negotiate for his true love, Eurydice, he had such knowledge. Then, even with all this knowledge, he lost faith and lost his love, falling back into the darkeness. Both the centurion and Orpheus had knowledge and experience to embrace faith; also, through mind and spirit. It brings faith beyond hesitation.

This is presented as example and differences between blind faith and knowledgeable faith and even the challenges of knowledgeable faith. Knowledgeable faith evolves and grows, and it is acted upon through our experiences. When such faith is then applied in an experience, the time for hesitation is past.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are I AM’s in the I AM. Our Fractal Nature

The awakening to Oneness

knowing ourselves to be ourselves yet One with the Whole

                                                                                       image: D. Carroll

A challenge in anyone’s spiritual journey, at some point, seems to arrive at our individual consciousness and one’s relationship with thoughts of God/Godhead/Universal Consciousness.  Am I separate? Who am I? What happens to me if I am one with Universal Consciousness? I am advised to surrender myself; will I still exist? These can be some of the disquieting thoughts of many who have been raised in a culture of separation reality of identification of I, versus not I, duality reality versus and non-duality reality.

In turning to both Religion/Spirituality, (consider religion as institutionalized spirituality, which unfortunately sometimes sacrifices the individual uniqueness of such experiences) and Science for answers, ultimately both sides have to answer; it is still a mystery.  In religion the mystery is considered unsolvable; one is often told to take it on faith.   The concept of faith transcends physical proof and embraces the greater reality of mind and spirit from the religious view; importantly, not a blind faith but a knowledgeable faith.  For faith is an experience, therefore observable and often repeatable, it is living and growing, it is active, not passive, it is participating with each other and the universe acting on its power and transmuting its concept into a known experience.

 In science consciousness and reality are generally viewed as mysteries not yet solved, possibly never to be solved. One may ask how science explores such questions as consciousness and reality.  Science does so in trying to understand what consciousness is and how and where the universe/reality exists and comes from. In each example there is no consensus. For consciousness tumultuous debates continue as to whether consciousness is Prime (acting as the fundamental ground of reality rather than just a byproduct of physical brain processes) or in other words, just an epiphenomenon (a subjective experience of conscious thought as a byproduct of the physical brain neural processes).

Religions commonly approach consciousness as an individual soul, an individual consciousness, an offspring and portion of God or universal consciousness, a unique yet unitive aspect of Godhead.  This explanation is interestingly akin to the discoveries by science of fractals. A fractal is described as self-similar shapes across different scales that can continually reiterate themselves in such a manner to create an infinite perimeter in a finite area. This definition alone illustrates the paradoxes (mysteries) in scientific inquiry, infinite perimeters in finite areas. Science has many examples of fractals; one can view such as Mandelbrot sets and Sierpinski triangles. Further, science states that they can be found throughout nature such as ferns, trees, leaves, lightning, coastlines, clouds, snowflakes, and seashells.  Nature fractals include those throughout the human body such as in the branching of lungs, blood vessels, and nervous systems.  It is also posited that DNA appears to be fractally based.

The comparison of Fractals in science and spirituality is inevitable, self-similar shapes with infinite perimeters in finite areas throughout nature.  Then universal consciousness with individual consciousness made in its own image, the infinite in the finite.  The individual I AM united with the great I AM.

For an interesting personal experience of fractals, from both perspectives, try, safely, placing two dressings room mirrors face to face to create a reflection of the mirrors reflecting each other and you “ad infinitim” within their frame.

                                                              image: Public Domain

I believe science and religion will, over time, resolve many of the differences with shared observations, though different perspectives.

The religious approach is more of an immanent, individual, internal process where science tends towards separate external observation.  As an example, the experiences of meditation (an internal experience); meditation in various forms have been in existence for thousands of years with its adherents extolling not only the spiritual experience of the practice but the physical health and mental the practice also provided.  Science saw these claims as subjective and anecdotal, primarily because they could not observe the actual workings of the experience, then the EEG (Electroencephalography) was invented in the 1920’s and further refined in the 1950’s. (And still is being refined) Now the experience of meditation can be observed and measured. Now science will say it is “real”.  It also was real for all those thousands of years before also, just not accepted by science because there was no equipment to measure it.  That did not make it spurious.

This example shows the limitations of both religion and science.  Religion, the spirituality of its purpose, is not easily measured, it is primarily an immanent consciousness experience, not easily repeatable or measurable, and this does not mean it is not real.  Science is bound by repeatable, observable, measurable evidence and limited by its need for equipment to measure.

As for the fabric of the universe and reality, in general, spiritual view of reality suggests that the universe is more than material, that it is primarily rooted in a deeper, spiritual dimension that governs existence, viewing the physical world as a temporary or subordinate experience to an eternal, spiritual truth. (Sounding more like the holographic theory) It emphasizes that true reality is found through conscious, divine (universal consciousness) connection. Spiritual perspectives emphasize that the ultimate, true nature of existence is divine and is both immanent and transcendent, rather than merely ordinary or temporal, that all life is interconnected, of universal unity; that "the kingdom of God is within you," making spiritual reality an internal experience of consciousness.

In science, physics, where Newtonian physics (mechanics) works on the surface, quantum physics (mechanics) is the most recent avenue to plumb such mysteries at a deeper level, finding evidence towards an ultimate reality that is connected; entangled, even doing so, still with no consensus and, if anything, finding more mysteries.  Many such physicist are noting that their results are sounding more like spiritual writings found in such writings as the Hindu Vedas, mystic Judaism and Christianity. (It does seem to me, in a wry irony, Newtonian physics is ceding to what can be seen as a physics of immanent reality analogous to spiritual reality.)

The perspectives of defining reality: Religion is fairly clear about; that it is primarily rooted in a deeper, spiritual dimension that governs existence, viewing the physical world as a temporary or subordinate experience. Science using observable measurable data is creating their own mystery of a deeper reality beyond its observing or measuring, other than it is “missing”; Modern physics only explains and observes about 4 to 5 % of the material (visible) universe (dark matter and energy make up the rest). They cannot measure or observe over 95% of the universe.  So, whether it is the Spiritual perspective of the science perspective it seems were a barely in engaging in true reality in our daily lives.

And why is this? Perhaps the best suggestion for this is from Aldous Huxley.

 “Each person is at each moment capable of remembering all that has ever happened to him (her) and of perceiving everything that is happening everywhere in the universe.  The function of the brain and nervous system is to protect us from being overwhelmed and confused by the mass of largely useless and irrelevant knowledge by shutting out most of what we should otherwise perceive or remember at any moment and leaving only that very small and special selection which is likely to be practically useful. According to such a theory, each one of us is potentially Mind at Large.

But in so far as we are animals, our business is at all costs to survive. To make biological survival possible, Mind at Large has to be funneled through the reducing valve of the brain and nervous system. What comes out at the other end is a measly trickle of the kind of consciousness which will help us to stay alive on the surface of this particular planet.”

“Most people, most of the time, know only what comes through the reducing valve and is consecrated as genuinely real by the local language.” Certain persons, however, seem to be born with a kind of by-pass that circumvents the reducing valve.  In others temporary bypasses may be acquired either spontaneously, or as the result of deliberate “spiritual exercises or through hypnosis…”

Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley p.8

Ultimately, here in the study of the nature of the universe and the study of ourselves the sciences and religions can begin to be reconciled. Both explore these natures from microscopic to macroscopic levels with all the paradoxes and mysteries encountered. The fractal concepts and examples in nature also beautifully illustrate such religious thoughts as everyone is a unique consciousness (soul) yet also one with God (Universal consciousness). It is something to ponder; a fractal Universal consciousness having infinite consciousness’s within it.  I Am’s In IAM.

Sciences and religions can be collaborative and synergetic in understanding nature.  To quote Albert Einstein; "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind".

And others:

To see a world in a grain of sand and a heaven in a wildflower. William Blake

Deism is the belief that nature and God are one and the same thing. If you study nature, you're getting insights about God.  Dr. Bruce H. Lipton

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. Albert Einstein

He who understands nature walks close with God. Edgar Cayce ECR 1904-2

 

The Mystic Journey

Whether it is felt in Rodin's; The Kiss, St. Teresa's Ecstasy, or Solomon's "Song of Songs".

The Mystic Journey is towards the Ultimate Intimacy. 

 

 

Fire and Light: The Transformation

Fire; physical consumption that lives; it consumes the physical,

 breathes oxygen and leaves ashes. Once the physical is consumed it

 dies, not its essence, its light.  Light: the eternal essence of fire, the

 true essence of ourselves, while the physical passes our light essence is

 infinite.  Think of starlight form 10 light years away.  The physical

 star my extinguish 5 years ago but we still see the light, and the light unites with all light continuing forever, as do we.

https://edgarcayce.org/events-and-programs/unlocking-the-future/ 

Please join me at this conference, Feb.7 through the 9th. I will be presenting Feb 8th, Saturday evening: "Unlocking the Future through the Keys of the Past". I will share the firm archeological evidence of a lost global civilization that validates the Cayce readings that describe just such a culture. A culture's whose purpose is just as important for our journey today to guide us forward. This archeological evidence shows that he was much more than a Psychic.

 The Destination

To Know Thyself to be Thyself, yet One with the Whole

The Journey

  I understand the battle; I am learning the peace.

 D. Carroll

Peace is more difficult.

 

Egyptian Obelisks Unplugged: The Lost Chord

By Donald B. Carroll

 

Ancient Egypt: that cradle of civilization still drawing the attention of millions of people with its megalithic monuments and the mysteries they still symbolize twenty-five hundred years after its demise as an ancient world civilization.  Egyptologists today consider that approximately seventy percent of the remains of this ancient culture are still buried under the sands of time and the Sahara Desert. [i]If the general public today was asked to give an example that represents ancient Egypt their answer would probably be first, the Great Pyramid, second the guardian of the Giza Plateau; the Sphinx and third the Obelisks. All three monuments continue to hold their mysteries and fascination over the millennium and the world.

Great Pyramid: D.Carroll personal photo

Sphinx: D. Carroll personal photo

Obelisk at Karnak: D. Carroll personal photo

Of these three iconic examples of the accomplishments of ancient Egypt in architecture and engineering the vast attention has been given to the Great Pyramid and the Sphinx.  Even with hundreds of years of exploration and research many questions remain on the dating, the construction, their purpose and possible undiscovered chambers along with unexamined known chambers and voids both in the great Pyramid and the Sphinx.  Obelisks, on the other hand, have been comparatively neglected.  This disregard is quite remarkable in the aspect that the engineering and architecture in the design of these obelisks is a feat that, in many ways, is as extraordinary as the Great Pyramid.

First, not to denigrate any of the incredible monuments and before the protests of such a comparison begin a brief look of the data should be reviewed.  The Sphinx is considered to be a monolithic monument carved from the Giza Plateau bedrock in situ and repaired through the millenniums with limestone blocks.  The Sphinx, the Greek name of this monument is not its original name, nor is Hor-em-akhet (Horus in the horizon), a name given to it by Thutmose IV during the New Kingdom dynasty when it was honored as a solar deity.  According to the Old Kingdom “Pyramid Texts” its name was “Hu” (PT 251, PT 697). Hu (transliteration) (ḥw) was the deification, the personification, of the first word, the word of creation, possibly representing the creator itself. [ii]

The Great Pyramid, transliterated as “Mer” in the hieroglyphs, both in engineering and architectural design is considered the most advanced of all the pyramids.  Originally it was four hundred and eighty-one feet in height and seven hundred and fifty-six feet to each of its four sides and cover with polished white Tura limestone.  There is less than two-inch, difference to the length of each of its sides, it is aligned to the four cardinal points and to this day, even with its thirteen acres footprint, is less than an inch of being perfectly level.  It is estimated that it consists of approximately 2,300,000 blocks with an average weight of two and one-half tons, with the largest blocks weighing up to eighty tons[iii].  There is nothing else like it in the world and modern engineers' debate whether it could even be recreated to its level of sophistication today, thousands of years later, with all of our modern technology.  The Great Pyramid, the last remaining wonder of the ancient world remains a wonder and a mystery still today.

Perhaps because the Great Pyramid is such a massive engineering and architectural feat with internal shafts and chambers that still can be explored and studied it eclipses the accomplishment of the creation of obelisks.  The Great Pyramid seems almost designed to send minds on flights on imagination, besides possibly being a tomb; other theories abound as anything from a place of initiation or an electrical power plant to being created by extraterrestrials. On the other hand, obelisks give an individual, in comparison, nothing to explore, nothing seems to be hidden.  What will be presented in this article is the evidence, hidden in plain sight, that Egyptian obelisks played a very significant role in their spirituality not only in symbolism but in functional purpose, commensurate to the purpose of the Great Pyramid.

Egyptian obelisks deserve similar awe and consideration in their construction and architectural design that the Great Pyramid elicits.  Egyptologists date obelisks back to the Old Kingdom to around the same period of the Great pyramid though some researchers theorize they go back to pre-dynastic times.  It has been considered that the first center for obelisks was Heliopolis also known in ancient times as On or Iunu; Iunu is translated as “Pillar City” [iv]. Ancient records document dozens of standing obelisks in Heliopolis though today only one obelisk remains standing as the rest were either destroyed by earthquakes, invaders or taken as trophies by foreign conquerors.  

Obelisks, primarily, were created out a single piece of red granite, predominately from a quarry located near Aswan Egypt. They were not created in sections, or blocks but as a single monolithic piece of granite.  In general, they range from a height of approximately ten feet to over one hundred and thirty feet.  In weight, this gives a range of approximately 30 tons to almost 1200 tons (the unfinished obelisk still in the quarry near Aswan).  To reiterate, for comparison, the Great Pyramid’s largest single blocks are estimated at just eighty tons versus an obelisk being a single piece of carved granite that is almost fifteen times that weight (1,200 tons).  That should give one pause for consideration in the creation, transportation and erection of these monolithic monuments. To this day how this was accomplished is debated with no firm answer of such great feats.

 unfinished obelisk By Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0 wiki commons

Some examples of these engineering miracles still standing or re-erected include:

The only standing obelisk left at Heliopolis erected by Sensuret I which is considered the oldest temple obelisk still upright at its original site. It is 68 feet tall and weighs 130 tons.

The obelisk of Thutmose I located at Karnak which stands at a height of 71 feet having a weight of over 140 tons.

Queen Hatshepsut’s Obelisk located at Karnak having a height of 97 feet and a weight of 320 tons. 

The obelisk of Ramses II located at Luxor temple which stands at a height of 75 feet and weighs an estimated of 250 tons.

The Egyptian obelisk now in Rome, Italy, in St. Peter’s square in front of the Vatican with a height of 82 feet and a weight of 365 tons. 

Finally, the tallest and largest of standing Egyptian obelisks is the “Lateran Obelisk” located at the Lateran Basilica in Rome with a height of over 105 feet with a weight of over 500 tons. [v]

 Vatican Obelisk By jeffwarder, CC BY-SA 3.0

This is a partial list of obelisks originally created in ancient Egypt that are standing today which gives testimony of the highly advanced skills of their engineers and architects.  Though these noted as standing, the unfinished obelisks still in the Aswan quarry should be distinguished with it height of more than 135 feet and a weight estimated of almost 1,200 tons. It was not completed apparently due to fissures that occurred in it, ruining its ability to be a pure monolith. What has to be considered is that, if the fissures had not occurred, the builders had every intent to move and erect this massive obelisk along with the means to do it. Other obelisks from this quarry had already been created, transported anywhere from 100 miles to over 400 miles, then erected at sacred sites and often erected in pairs in front of the entrances to their temples.

In researching the original purpose of obelisks and why the builders went to such great efforts in all the aspects of these massive monoliths, the information is scant.  There are probably less than a dozen books on obelisks and these books are mainly filled about the transportation of these monoliths by the Roman Empire, the resurrection of them by the Popes in Rome and the 19th century transportation to and re-erecting in foreign cities such as New York, London and Paris. All these books go into great detail about the engineering challenges and costs to accomplish all this, ad infinitum, but little is written or known about obelisks original purpose. They have been basically considered symbols of the “Sun Cult” of the Egyptian Deity Ra, monuments to Pharaohs, or possibly gnomons marking seasons or time of day and funerary memorials. Even with what is known there are ongoing discussions of their age, possibly being pre-dynastic, to the hieroglyphs carved on their sides being added later, not an aspect of their original creation.

To address this dearth of knowledge of Egyptian obelisks it is important to begin with their original name, rather than the Greek term of obelisk as they are known today. The Greek term, obelisk, means roasting spit; the ancient Egyptians called them Tekhen or Tekhenu which is translated as “To Pierce the sky” or heavens; to rise up in brilliance.  The Tekhen (Obelisk), shaft represented a frozen ray of light from the sun and its pyramidion capstone (Benben stone) represented the Bennu bird, the Egyptian symbol of spiritual rebirth and resurrection, where the Greeks found the genesis of their Phoenix; a much different meaning then the Greek “roasting spit”. [vi]

This Egyptian symbolism of their Tekhen is similar to the symbolic representation of their pyramids. The pyramids also symbolized frozen light with the same Benben capstone at the top. Pyramids were considered stairways or ramps of light a place where heaven and earth came together; a site of glorification (the horizon) where the Ka and Ba, aspects of the soul, could be united creating an Akh or Akhuu; a radiant being of light. The Egyptian Ka represented their eternal connection to their god that had to be reawakened for spiritual rebirth and resurrection for the unity with their god.  The Ba was the individuals own unique persona of the soul manifested in physical existence.  The Akh (Akhuu) can be considered as the reuniting of god consciousness with the individual’s consciousness. While the uniting of these aspects, the Akhuu radiant being of light, represents such a unitive spiritual enlightenment. This was the goal of all Egyptians, not just the pharaohs. [vii]

The Egyptian Musuem, Cairo: Ka symbol

D. Carroll personal photo

Egyptian Ba: Abydos, Egypt. D. Carroll personal photo

Pyramids (Mer), the Sphinx (Hu), and Obelisks (Tekhenu) also represent the significance the Egyptians had of light and sound in their spiritual philosophy and cosmology. The Sphinx, as noted earlier was the material manifestation of the sound of creation and later, in the New Kingdom, was considered a solar (light) deity guarding the Giza Plateau.  The pyramid, as described by an Egyptologist; …the original appearance of the pyramid when most of its surface was newly covered with smoothed white limestone.  The reflected light must have been so brilliant as to be almost blinding. …In one sense the pyramid may have been a giant reflector, a stone simulacrum of sunlight and a window to the sky…” [viii]. The symbolic representation continues; (Pyramids)…many indications they were symbols of the sun.”[ix] Obelisks had a similar symbolic representation, though rather than a figurative image of a star or sun to facilitate one becoming a radiant being of light, they depicted one single ray of light and still sharing the same Benben capstone of spiritual rebirth and enlightenment; to pierce the heavens and rise up in brilliance whereas the pyramid was light that was a window to the sky.

Sound appears to be incorporated into the design of the Great Pyramid itself.  Though there have been no definitive scientific acoustic studies done on the interior architectural chambers sound projection and resonance, many including this researcher, who have been inside the Great pyramid note its ability to project and amplify sound. This author can also personally speak how sound travels and resonates inside the Great Pyramid and of very significant resonance while in the Great Pyramid coffer and sounding a note with three witnesses present. Dr. Robert Schoch in his book: Pyramid Quest writes that he and researcher John Anthony West did their own sound experiment with Mr. West chanting in the King’s Chamber while Dr. Schoch was in the subterranean chamber.  Dr. Schoch writes that even with poor hearing he could hear Mr. West Chanting. [x]

In these examples of Ancient Egyptians incorporation of light and sound in their philosophy and monuments, this leaves the obelisks. Their physical representation of a frozen ray of light with the Bennu bird of spiritual rebirth and resurrection at its apex is accepted; but what of sound? That is their aspect that has been hidden in plain sight.  At the Karnak site there is the top portion of an obelisk; this section is approximately 36 feet in length, estimated to weigh almost 100 tons and is attributed to the female pharaoh Hatshepsut. This section was mounted horizontally on stands. Though not a well-known this obelisk section could create a sound when struck. This researcher personally experienced this phenomenon several times during several visits to Karnak.  By putting one’s ear at the pyramidion point while another would go to the other end a simply slapped the far end of the obelisk with their hand a tone could be heard.  A tone that travelled 36 feet through 100 tons of granite! Fortunately, besides this researcher’s personal experience a television documentary; The Mystery of the Sphinx, narrated by Charlton Heston, released in November 1993 records this exact tone creation by this obelisk. (For those interested it can be still found on YouTube: Mystery of the Sphinx - YouTube and this is recorded in it at 48:42-49:05).  Unfortunately, though well-meaningly, in April 2022 this obelisk portion was re-erected by engineers and architects at Karnak, so this phenomenon can no longer be experienced. 

Obelisk section at Karnak that emits a tone when struck. 

D. Carroll personal photo

Same obelisk section as above. Re-erected April 2022

D. Carroll personal photo

This documented occurrence of a tone being created through an obelisk by striking it provides the evidence of sound creation and its concurrent symbolism in the construction and design of obelisks. It also provides the evidentiary clues to the original purpose of obelisks and why they were erected in front of the entrances to temples.

The use of sound in the design of ancient sacred sites is neither unknown nor unexpected; designs of ancient sites around the world have incorporated sound in their projects.  There is even a field of study called archaeoacoustics to examine them. This presented research provides evidence of the high level the Egyptian civilization brought such acoustics to their sacred sites.

Pairs of obelisks erected in front of Egyptian temples and often not quite the same height or dimensions.  In such a case it would be expected that then the pair of obelisks would not have the same tone when struck and it is through this aspect that the incredible advancement in design and engineering of these ancient Egyptian comes to light, in this case of sound. Having the paired temple entrance obelisks emitting two close but distinct tones when struck is the key to their purpose. Imagine a pharaoh, priest or initiate coming to the entrance of a sacred temple and standing in contemplation between the paired obelisks before entering. Then the two obelisks being struck with an instrument such as a leather bag filled with sand causing each obelisk to emit a tone. The individual between the two obelisks would hear one tone in the right ear and a slightly different tone in the left ear. Today, modern science shows that such an experience creates what is call a binaural beat.  A binaural beat is created by the brain processing the two slightly different and separate tones, one in each ear, and interpreting the difference between the frequencies of the two tones as a third tone. This occurs in the area of brain called the super olivary complex.  In the internal creation by the brain of a third tone, a chord is formed; in musical theory three notes comprise a chord.

Why this occurs, according to neural science is: “Located in the brain stem, the superior olivary complex is the first part of the brain that processes sound input from both ears. The superior olivary complex synchronizes various activities of the many neurons in the brain. This complex responds when it hears two close frequencies and creates a binaural beat, which changes the brain waves. The synchronization of the neural activities across the brain is called entrainment.”[xi]  As an example, if the human brain is receiving a tone (frequency) of 440hz, the musical note A over middle C in one ear and a tone (frequency) of 432hz in the other ear the brain processing creates an internal third tone of the difference of the two external tones; in this case a tone of 8hz that effects the brain neural activities and is evidenced of the EEG.

What has brought binaural beats to the attention of modern-day scientists and medical researchers is the potential effect of binaural beats has on the brain in particular the synchronization of brain neural activities as evidenced in changes of brain EEG recordings; specifically in keeping the frequencies of the two external tones to a difference of 40 hertz (Hz) or less.  The interest being because what has been discovered about brain activities entrained to this narrow span of frequencies. Generally, five different brain waves have been identified:

Delta wave – 0.5 – 4Hz

•             Theta wave – 4 – 8Hz

•             Alpha wave – 8 – 13Hz

•             Beta wave – 13 – 30 Hz

•             Gamma wave – 30 – 100 Hz

Delta wave patterns are considered to represent dreamless (non-rapid eye movement (REM) sleep).

Theta wave patterns are considered to represent REM sleep, creative states and deep meditation.

Alpha wave patterns are considered to represent a state of relaxation, a sense of flow, a light meditative state.

Beta waves are considered to represent a normal, standard waking state.

Gamma waves are considered to represent improved cognitive processing, memory recall, learning and attention to detail. [xii]

In the example given above of the two external tones creating an internal tone in the brain of 8Hz, this tone borders on putting the individual between a Theta and Alpha state of meditation, what some would allude to as higher consciousness. 

This science background provides what would possibly transpire when paired obelisks that are actually being struck. Egyptian hieroglyphs also provide further evidence that the obelisk purpose were to be struck to create such tones. It was noted earlier that an obelisk was named a Tekhen.  The identical word, Tekhen, was also used to mean; to strike or beat as a drum. The only differences in the hieroglyphs was instead of a depiction of an obelisk a depiction of an arm was used.  The hieroglyphs essentially seem to be providing instructions on the use and purpose of an obelisk; to beat or strike them to create a tone.

The evidence that an obelisk produces a tone when struck, that they were erected in pairs in front of temples, that the hieroglyphs use the same word, Tekhen, with a small change in its determinative to translate as to strike or beat like a drum and that slightly different tones being received through each ear create a binaural beat and can put an individual into a meditative state, provides compelling indications that this was all designed purposefully to create a “higher consciousness” state prior to entering a sacred temple.

Obelisk Hieroglyph E. A. Wallis Budge: 

An Egyptian Hieroglyph Dictionary

To strike as a drum Hieroglyph E. A. Wallis Budge: 

An Egyptian Hieroglyph Dictionary) [xiii]

It is not difficult to picture a pharaoh proceeding down the avenue of sphinxes from Karnak to the temple at Luxor and standing between its two original obelisks at its entrance as they were struck to prepare the pharaoh, through brain entrainment, to enter the temple in a meditative state for a prepared ritual that’s culmination would be advancing to its “holy of holies”. This preparation would be particularly apt for Luxor Temple, a temple that was not dedicated to a specific deity or pharaoh.  A temple that Egyptologist R. A. Schwaller de Lubicz studied, in great detail for 12 years and publishing an exhaustive work; The Temple of Man and an abridge work; The Temple in Man, on the esoteric meanings and purpose of Luxor Temple, considering it a temple for the birth of the divine human.[xiv]  This purpose is ideally fitting in that the spiritual goal of ancient Egyptians was to unite their Ka and Ba and in so doing become an Akh (Akhuu) a radiant being of light and what an enhanced way to begin such a ritual journey than having the brain entrained into a meditative state at its beginning then by binaural beats created by standing between the entrance obelisks while they are being struck. What is being described here is a process designed by the Egyptians for creating a meditative state to reach a spiritual higher consciousness, an enlightenment, that has been the purpose and similarly described by religious philosophies around the world all sharing a goal to become spiritual radiant beings of light.

Obelisk at entrance to Luxor Temple

D. Carroll personal photo

"Photoshop" Twin Obelisks at Luxor Temple

D. Carroll personal photo

This postulation of the purpose of Obelisk is not unprecedented at ancient sacred sites; recent studies of the Megalithic stone circle site of Stonehenge have reached similar conclusions for one of its purposes. One research study on the acoustical properties of Stonehenge; The Sounds of Stonehenge, by Dr. Rupert Till a professor at the University of Huddersfield along with Dr. Bruno Fazenda an associate professor in Acoustics at the University of Salford came to the conclusion that the acoustic design at Stonehenge, in its configuration at approximately 2200 BCE, (In the same era of the construction of the Great Pyramid) would put participants within the stone circles in meditative states. Their study found that chanting or drum beating, as examples, could create a resonance inside the stone circles, depending on the participants’ position, could induce a Theta or Alpha increased brainwave state. Specifically, they write:

“These low frequencies are very similar to the brainwave frequencies of alpha and beta types of activity. It is possible that those around the edge of the stone circle would have chanted at the speed of the percussive sounds or sung long notes with a vibrato wobbling at 5.2Hz, in time with the music, in order to entrain their brainwaves to the music, to make the dominant frequency of their brain activity slow to a theta pattern, typical of deep meditation, hypnosis or trance. This is a similar state to the hypnogogic or twilight state between waking and sleeping, and the eyes would be shut for this practice. In the centre a different frequency could have been produced by modal vibration and echoes, one of 10.4Hz, still associated with closed eyes and meditation, and to some with healing. 10.4Hz is associated with alpha wave brain activity, a more active state. It may be that at the centre, a leader was able to stay alert because of this alpha state, continuing to drive a rhythm along and communicate with those at the edge of the stone circle, as they gradually became lost in a deep reverie” [xv]

Though Doctors Till and Fazenda could not state whether this effect at Stonehenge was purposely designed or coincidental, the experience at the site occurred in any case. Fortunately, another research study soon after Doctors Till and Fazenda’s work provided evidence that Stonehenge was constructed and designed to create such brain entrainment result. A Royal College of Art research team led by Paul Devereux and Jon Wozencroft investigating the possibility of stones at different Neolithic sites were chosen and dressed with acoustical qualities in mind, with a musical (tonal) function producing sounds, when struck, similar to drums, bells, and gongs, possibly with a hammer. In 2013, their team was able to test the theory at Stonehenge with the actual stones—these tests confirmed the stones’ acoustical qualities! As a side note that aids in supporting there results faint hammer symbols have been found carved in some of the stones.

The results of the research teams studying the acoustic of Stonehenge, showing that the sounds created within the stone circles had the ability to put the participants in an altered/meditative state of consciousness, and the further evidence that stones at Stonehenge were purposely chosen and dressed for their acoustic qualities lends credence that the Egyptians in creating obelisks and placing them in pairs at the entrance to their sacred temples in the same period, like the builders of Stonehenge, understood the acoustic of stones and the effect on mental states, thus purposely designing them and placing them to have similar consciousness altering effects.

This researcher’s hope is that further studies pursue this evidence of acoustical brain entrainment through binaural beats created by tones of paired obelisks. At this time with no originally paired obelisks together such a study would have to be done through computer recreation or dimensional modeling, both which are in the realm of possibility. 

As a postscript there is a curious poem by a well know 19^th century British Victorian poet; Adelaide Anne Procter, titled The Lost Chord.  It is about an organist idly practicing who inadvertently who struck a chord that brought the Organist into a spiritual state of higher consciousness and connection with the Divine.  It makes one pause, whether through science, ancient sacred sites or poetry that such a spiritual experience can be induced through sound and brings an elegant synthesis to human consciousness.

 

A lost Chord by; Adelaide Anne Procter (Public Domain)

SEATED one day at the organ, I was weary and ill at ease, and my fingers wandered idly Over the noisy keys.    

 I do not know what I was playing, or what I was dreaming then, But I struck one chord of music, Like the sound of a great Amen.            

It flooded the crimson twilight, Like the close of an angel’s psalm, and it lay on my fevered spirit, With a touch of infinite calm.   

  It quieted pain and sorrow, like love overcoming strife; It seemed the harmonious echo                         from our discordant life.           

 It linked all perplexed meanings into one perfect peace, and trembled away into silence as if it were loath to cease.               

I have sought, but I seek it vainly, that one lost chord divine, that came from the soul of the organ, and entered into mine.             

It may be that Death’s bright angel Will speak in that chord again; It may be that only in heaven I shall hear that grand Amen. [xvi]               

---

[i] Zahi Hawass: Egypt discovered only 30% of its antiquities: Zahi Hawass: Egypt discovered only 30% of its antiquities - EgyptToday

 

[ii] Egypt: The Egyptian God, Hu (touregypt.net)

[iii] The Complete Pyramids 2008 pp.108-109 by Mark Lehner

[iv] The Meaning of Obelisks 1977  p.5 by Labib Habachi

[v] Moving the Obelisks 1991p.59  by Bern Dibner

[vi] Obelisks: A History 2009 p. 13-15 by Brian A. Curran (Author), Anthony Grafton (Author), Pamela O. Long  (Author), Benjamin Weiss (Author)

[vii] The Complete Pyramids 2008 pp.23-24 by Mark Lehner

[viii] The Complete Pyramids 2008 p. 35by Mark Lehner

[ix] . The Complete Pyramids2008 p.34by Mark Lehner

[x] Pyramid Quest 2005pp.323-324 Dr. Robert Schoch and Robert Aquinas McNally

[xi] Written by WebMD Editorial Contributors; Medically Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on April 12, 2021 https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-are-binaural-beats

[xii] Binaural Beats for Behavior Modulation and Brainwave Entrainment | Knowing Neurons

[xiii] An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary Vol.II 1978 p. 887 by E.A. Wallis Budge

[xiv] The Temple in Man 1977 pp. 11-12, 33 by R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz

[xv] .” Conclusions | Sounds of Stonehenge (wordpress.com) Till and Fazenda 

[xvi] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Chord

D. Carroll personal photos cannot be used without permission of owner and credit citation.