I want to begin this talk by reflecting on the atmospheres of the planets in our solar system. Each active planet is besieged by enormous cyclonic storms—megastorms that can persist for hours, weeks, months, years, or even centuries. A prime example is Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, a storm that has raged for over 300 years. Twice the size of Earth, it’s the largest storm in our solar system.
But why discuss planetary storms when our focus today is on kindness?
Many of you are familiar with the occult adage that Man is a microcosm of the universe, and indeed, he is. For those with the ability to perceive the subtle bodies of a human being, it’s evident that the bodies of men and planets function virtually identically. This connection stems from the Law of Correspondences. The atmosphere surrounding a human being, often referred to as the aura, is the stage for cyclonic storms that can rage for moments, hours, days, or even decades. In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, these storms are known as vrittis, or whirlpools.
Please not be misled by the term whirlpools. They are not bathtub phenomena–or the eddies one sees in rivers and streams. The vrittis in the human energy field are forces that are the equivalent to the most devastating storms on earth. In Greek mythology, there is a sea monster named Charybdis, a massive whirlpool that drowns men and destroys ships. It is often pictured as an enormous maelstrom with rows of razor sharp teeth. Charybdis serves as an allegory for the constant peril we face as we navigate the massive maelstroms in our auric field. Countless people fall victim to the vrittis—and are metaphorically devoured by the great cyclonic storms of the mental and emotional bodies.
We’ve all seen the devastating aftermath of tornadoes, hurricanes, and cyclones on the news. Some of you may have experienced them firsthand. The aftermath reveals uprooted trees, demolished homes, destroyed vehicles, businesses reduced to rubble, and tragically, the loss of life. These physical storms leave scars on the Earth and human civilization, but the storms within our mental and emotional bodies leave equally profound scars and devastation on the human aura.
The matter that makes up the auric field can be thought of as soft tissue, susceptible to damage or disfigurement. Just as physical trauma can leave a person physically disabled, mental and emotional trauma can leave a person mentally and emotionally disabled, with effects that linger long after the storm has passed. Consider, for example, the impact of unresolved grief over the span of a lifetime due to an unexpected loss.
At any given time, a person may be grappling with 60 to 100 such storms within their mental and emotional bodies. 60-100 is normal. Can you imagine that? These storms arise from our experiences—our thoughts and feelings. They are unresolved anger, grief, conflicts, resentment, loss, thoughts of vengeance, unfulfilled desires, unmet needs, and more. They are an ongoing record of our tragic and unresolved experiences in human form. While these storms may begin in the conscious mind, they move into the unconscious, where they continue to torment and torture the individual and often become the special focus of the psychologist.
Our connections with others can trigger new storms, amplify existing ones, create additional disturbances alongside the old ones, or even help the vrittis subside completely. These storms can also be passed from one person to another—communicated much like a virus spreads from one person to another–even through generations. When someone is able to calm or dissolve the vrittis in another’s consciousness, they can be considered a light-worker. I use the term "light-worker" because they dissipate these violent storms in the auric field, allowing the Light of the Self to shine more brightly. This person might be a caring mother, father, friend, teacher, psychologist, counselor, or even a perfect stranger offering wise counsel.
Though many of us believe in the immortality of the soul, the soul’s powers can become corrupted or perverted. Consider the example of an innocent young child: their experiences shape the nature of their consciousness and ultimately form their character and temperament. The powers of the soul, which are virtually identical in all people, can become twisted and perverted by systemic abuse from caregivers, misfortune, broken dreams, societal conflicts, and other adversities. Eventually, the powers of the soul can become corrupted and repurposed to inflict harm—as in the case of Vladimir Putin, Saddam Hussein, or Muammar Gaddafi.
It’s unsettling to think that the soul can be damaged, but the truth is that the soul itself can often be crippled by these storms, not just in this lifetime but across many lifetimes. These storms enshroud the Self for kalpas—vast periods of time beyond calculation. When we interact with others, we should remember that we either contribute to the storms within their mental and emotional bodies or help calm them. Kindness, then, is not just a virtue but a necessity in the face of these invisible battles.
Feels right. I believe there is ancestral carry-over of emotional turmoil and I have experienced the positive influence of kindness on health and well-being. I am currently studying the influence of music and sound therapy in healing.
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