Fulcanelli's La Mystere des Cathedrales is an important work that details the alchemical meanings of the many curious carvings that appear in cathedrals, such as Notre Dame, Paris. While the work is very learned, citing many references and thinkers, what amazes me is that it fails to address the very meaning of Gothic Architecture as it stands – namely the vaulted ceilings that are its crowing achievement. To elevate this discrepancy, I give you these thoughts on the matter.
In the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, the human body is described as a psycho-physical system consisting of a network of subtle channels and energy centres;
There are 72, 000 subtle energy channels in the body, but three principal ones; the central channel, running parallel to the spine, and the right and left channel, which run either side of it. The right and left channels coil around the central one at a number of points to form a series of "knots." Along the central channel are situated a number of "channel wheels," the chakras or energy-centres, from which the channels break off like the ribs of an umbrella.
Take a look at this view from inside the Chapter House, from inside the Lincoln Cathedral. It visually reflects, in stone and mortar, the description of the chakras given above.
Now take a look at this view of the vaulted ceiling of Notre Dame Cathedral. Does it not also bare a similarity to the description of the central channel with its many energy-centres and branching side channels? Indeed it does.
With this in mind, I decided to create a series of diagrams to show how the layout of many gothic cathedrals accurately conform to the placement of chakra points within the human body.
Diagrams of Amien and Pote Cathedrals with chakra overlays.
By placing the symbol for the Heart Chakra (Green) at the centre, or crossing, of gothic cathedrals, some interesting correspondences occur. For instance, the yellow Solar Plexus Chakra, which is situated just above the navel in the human body, appears adjacent to that area known as the nave in gothic cathedrals. We can also see that the Throat Chakra, which is commonly connected to powers of communication and relaxation appears in the region where the choir sits. The acoustics of both the human body and the great cathedrals obviously account for this common situation of type.
Finally, I draw your attention to this diagram, which completes the set. It shows the correspondence between the right and left channels to the aisles running down either side of the central aisle/channel.
Chartres Cathedral with chakras overlaid.
This is proof, if any were needed, that the body is a temple.
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