How do chakras and life force energy fit with LDS beliefs?
LDS leaders have also used terms like "spiritual radiation," "intelligence" and "divine immanence" instead of the world's vocabulary that includes such terms as "Chi", "life-force energy" and "auras." Scientists use yet other terms for these electromagnetic fields and their subtle energies such as "Bio-energetic field," "Zero-point energy," and "corona discharge." Whether called Zero Point Energy by science or intelligence or the light of Christ by religion, they must be the same life-giving, governing power that fills the universe. John A. Widtsoe wrote, "The intelligence spoken of by the prophet [Joseph Smith] corresponds fully with the [universal] energy of science." (Joseph Smith as Scientist, 141) It seems that science and religion are using different terminology to describe the very same essence! "The parallelism is complete. The holy spirit, in "Mormon" theology, corresponds with the ether of science." (Widtsoe, Joseph Smith As Scientist, 142)
I have learned over and over that all truth fits together. God doesn't distinguish between scientific truth and religious truth because it is all His truth.People are usually surprised to learn that chakras are spoken of in the Bible. A chakra is a swirling vortex of unseen subtle energy. Scientists speak of them as step-down transformers for higher frequency subtle energies in the human bioenergy field.
Biblical prophets such as Ezekiel and Daniel use the Sanskrit word for "chakras" which is "wheels" when they speak of them. Ancient traditions teach about these main energy centers being vertically aligned in the body.The book of Ezekiel says the prophet saw wheels going "up and down" the body "as a rainbow." (See Ezekiel chapter 1) Every color and location that Ezekiel mentions for the vertical colored "lamps" he saw match the location and/or color of the ancient tradition's chakras. Furthermore, that prophet taught that the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels!
Energy Medicine's healing techniques, commonly called 'energy work,' help create an organized environment for the chakras/spirit so that the body's innate intelligence can then heal on the physical level as well. God creates all things first spiritually before they manifest physically on the earth. (Moses 3:5) It is no surprise then, that one can first cleanse the chakras, the inner vessel that 'houses' the spirit, to effect change on a physical condition or illness. No wonder energy healing modalities are considered spiritual healing processes. John A Widtsoe wrote, "The explanation of the mysteries of nature will be greatly simplified when the Mormon doctrine of the position of intelligence in universal phenomenon is clearly understood by scientific workers." (Joseph Smith as Scientist, 130)
I am extremely grateful for Rapid Eye Technology http://rapideyetechnology.com/directory/tamara-laing-mret-p-870.html. This was the modality that made amazing differences for our daughter time and time again. Her NAMI support group was amazed at the quick turnarounds she made at appointments of R.E.T.. I am also very grateful for other tools in the field of Energy Medicine that God has blessed us with. My daughter has certainly been blessed by appointments with a gifted cranio-sacral therapist, and by Rapid Eye Technicians who combined their sessions with Reiki, Quantum Touch, therapeutic grade Essential Oils and Christ-centered Theta Healing. The premises behind these fit with Christian and LDS beliefs (although I have altered details on how I practice them to fit precisely with those beliefs.)
The Bible shows a plethora of support for principles of Energy Medicine, which I discuss in the book I am writing. In addition, new fields and discoveries in science offer much validating evidence. For example, science has discovered that forgiving others and ourselves actually affects our DNA. The discovery that DNA can change is of immense importance. The new scientific field of Epigenetics supports teachings that we can consciously use our emotions to affect our DNA and our immune response.Our thoughts, emotions and feelings affect us physically! We are no longer victims of our heredity. Bruce Lipton teaches that with this knowledge we become masters of our health rather than victims of genetic circumstance. Understanding this can give ill people great hope.
Additionally, exuding feelings of forgiveness is paramount to health. I learned firsthand that forgiveness spoken out loud affects my physical health. It also worked a miracle for my daughter. Her entire countenance and life changed in one 2-hour appointment based on forgiveness work spoken out loud in present tense. That miraculous appointment for stress management with Jan Graf in St. George, Utah included another Energy Medicine technique that is also found in scripture. It is instructive about the reality of light and darkness around us, and is taught by ancient and modern prophets. This second technique was used by every one of the most helpful energy facilitators my daughter met with. Explore this website to learn more about that type of immense help.
All of the above topics and more are addressed in my book. I firmly believe that energy work fits with the gospel of Christ!
Click here to view a video of Tamara on chakras https://Vimeo.com/ondemand/TamaraLaing
Does the Bible mention our Energy system?
One’s Energy system has 7 main energy centers known as ‘chakras. ’ The word "chakras" is from Sanskrit meaning " wheels." Each wheel is an Energy center, a spinning vortex located down the center of one’s body. Ezekiel chapter 1 is the most obvious reference. The prophet saw in vision 4 creatures with the likeness of a man having wheels of colored brightness up and down. Ezekiel said "the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels" and "their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps...." Ezekiel said one wheel was like the color of a beryl (a green gem), and above their head it was the color of the terrible crystal and above the firmament over their heads it was the color of a sapphire stone (deep blue.) The color of amber was seen above the loins and from the loins downward "I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about." Those colors seem to match the location and color of the 7 main chakras!
Their appearance and work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. Wherever the spirit was to go, they went. They had dreadfully high rings which were full of eyes. All of that fits with the literature on chakras. Verse 11 has a cross reference to D&C 77:4. "Q. What are we to understand by the eyes and wings, which the beasts had? A. Their eyes are a representation of light and knowledge, that is they are full of knowledge; and their wings are a representation of power, to move, to act, etc."Apparently, the "dreadfully high rings" contained light and knowledge, precisely what one would expect concerning the rings of the complete circuit of energy. D&C 93:29 teaches us that intelligence is the light of truth. D&C 88 teaches that the light of truth shines and that it is the same light that quickens our understandings. Quantum mechanics tells us that at levels well below protons and electrons there is mostly space. And that in that space -what exists? Information. The First Presidency has written, "There is a universally diffused essence which is the light and the life of the world... which proceedeth forth from the presence of God throughout the immensity of space, the light and power of which God bestows in different degrees to ‘them that ask him,’ according to their faith and obedience." (Improvement Era, Mar 1916, 460 quoted by Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Apr 2005, 8)
Those who can see subtle Energy systems also write of a cord connecting our Energy body/physical being to our "Source" in heaven. Eccles.12:6-7 says "Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." In other words, when the silver cord that connects our Energy system from a heavenly place to our physical being is loosed, our spirit returns to God. That fits fine with my belief system.
Some people’s minds seem closed to new ideas, yet the Lord says we are to "be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle... Of things both in heaven, and in the earth, and under the earth. (D&C 88:78-79) I can think of few other subjects to study that purport to be in all 3 of those places other than our complete system of energy. (Some of our Energy centers are located a few feet under our physical feet, or "under the earth.") I feel fine learning about my Energetic body which is above, on and below the earth as long as I stay firmly planted on the rock of Christ which is His gospel. (See D&C 11:24) Orson F. Whitney wrote, "[The gospel] embraces all truth, whether known or unknown, it incorporates all intelligence, both past and prospective. No righteous principle will ever be revealed, no truth can possibly be discovered, either in time or in eternity, that does not in some manner, directly or indirectly, pertain to the gospel of Jesus Christ."