Pineal Gland in Harry Potter

Tue Apr 5 15:38:18 UTC 2005

No: HPFGUIDX 127132

Date: Sun, 03 Apr 2005   From: "Catlady (Rita Prince Winston)":
I suppose the various times characters visit Dumbledore's office on
school business is part of the story rather than alchemical symbolism
(was it Dean who said that the Sorting Hat had told him that Harry had
killed a basilisk with that sword on Dumbledore's wall? So Harry is
not the only student who visits DD's office and converses with the
Sorting Hat). Is there an alchemical meaning to Harry smashing stuff
in Dumbledore's office in the end of OoP? 

Hans:
I think there probably is, but I haven't discovered it yet. I must humbly
admit that compared to the amount of symbolism I have NOT figured out, the
amount I HAVE figured out is very small. Just the main outlines I guess.
There will be many things I'll NEVER figure out in this lifetime as they're
too advanced. Jo's knowledge of alchemy is totally mind-blowing.

Rita:
To the portraits of deceased Headmasters?

Hans: 
Yes, that one I do know. That's easy because this is very similar to "The
Alchemical Wedding". On the Fourth Day Christian Rosycross and the other
candidates for the Alchemical Wedding go up "the royal winding staircase".
At the top they find the king and queen in all their glory. This is a future
picture of the married spirit and soul, the aim of the Alchemical Wedding.
After that they see the six royal couples who are later beheaded. They are
the grey king (Lupin) the black king (Snape) and the prince and princess who
are resurrected by their sacrifice. Then Christian Rosycross reports that he
sees a large number of "moving images" in the background. He says they
"moved as if they were alive". These are what I think the portraits of
ex-headmasters represent.

To explain this fully it would be best to paraphrase Jan van Rijckenborgh in
his commentary, "The Alchemical Wedding of Christian Rosycross". Chapter 7
of Vol. 2 explains that the pineal gland is filled with minuscule golden
crystals or granules, and that the surface of this tiny pea-sized gland is
also covered with hundreds of crystals. He says that these crystals are
related to memory, intelligence and mentality. A very intelligent person has
more crystals on the surface of the pineal gland than an unintelligent one. 

Whenever we think, these crystals or grains on the surface retain and
reflect thought-images and send them to the crystals inside the gland. The
pineal gland is therefore covered with countless tiny eyes which receive
thoughts and retain, reflect and radiate them.

The crystals on the INSIDE are related to the hereditary and karmic
condition of the person concerned. In other words: the past. Past images.
Past occupants of the office. A small step in logic, as I hope you'll agree.
These crystals catch thought-images which are the "moving images". Jo is
describing the activities of the pineal gland to us.

Rita:
I was taught that 'brow chakra' is Another Name for 'third eye chakra'. I
*think* that is what Catkind (see below) meant by saying: 
<< Actually, a lot of traditions have the crown chakra associated to the
pituitary gland and the brow chakra to the pineal gland. >> 
Were those traditions misled by something more alchemical than the physical
position of the first two eyes?

Hans:
You had me wondering so I checked. In liberating alchemy there are the three
chakras in the head: the pineal chakra, the brow chakra and the throat
chakra. I've used crown chakra just so it would be more familiar to people.
The pineal gland is the third eye because, as is demonstrated by Moody, the
third eye can see in all directions, even through the head. The many
instruments of observation in Dumbledore's office tell of the same thing.

I can see how the brow chakra would look like a third eye because it's
situated on the forehead. In that sense it is a third eye, of course. But
that's not the one I'm talking about. As a matter of fact the brow chakra is
also related to the consciousness-I, situated behind the forehead. In book 7
we'll see Harry being liberated in the consciousness-I and gaining the
eternal divine consciousness. I've explained that many times, and also in my
essay.

I wouldn't use the word misled. I'd say we're talking in different terms. 

Rita:
D'you remember a book called POWERS OF MIND by 'Adam Smith' (who
earlier wrote THE MONEY GAME and SUPERMONEY)? My recollection is that
he's talking about stress-related diseases -- 'fight or flight' --
sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems -- and he says
something about 'hypo' means 'under' and 'thalamus' means 'wedding
bed' in Greek, so the order to flee or fight comes from under the
wedding bed. "Very insightful, Dr. Freud."

Hans: 
I was told thalamus meant wedding chamber rather than wedding bed. The
alchemical wedding chamber. From the ridiculous to the sublime.

Thanks for your comments and questions.

"if I talk too freely about [if I believe in God] I think the intelligent reader, whether 10 or 60, will be able to guess what's coming in the books." JK Rowling

_____________________________________

Hans Andra 
see you at Harry Potter for Seekers 
http://www.harrypotterforseekers.com

Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com 