Chicago Gnosis Podcast

Dream Yoga and Astral Travel 02 Who Dreams?

Although it might seem incredible, the reason why we do not objectively perceive the internal worlds is due to our psychological conditioning. Likewise, what little we do experience of dreams is filtered or obscured by our own subjective perceptions. Even though we assume we are awake, in reality we are always dreaming, since our mechanical ways of reacting to daily life merely reflect our unconscious tendencies manifested in sleep.

The question becomes: what exactly are dreams? How do we become aware of them in the moment? What practices allow us to experience realities beyond the body? By transforming our consciousness in the vigil state, we expand our perceptual range and no longer travel unconsciously throughout the astral world.

Resources and References:

https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/who-dreams

Dream Yoga and Astral Travel 01 Fact and Fiction

The intricate study of dreams is the experiential investigation of nature’s multidimensionality. In the astral plane (eternity or oneiric universe), one is governed by different laws, including elasticity, teleportation, and levitation, whereby the soul can fly through walls, explore distant lands, and freely travel throughout space. However, directly perceiving these higher realities, internal dimensions, or "heavens" depends upon training our consciousness, so that it awakens during physical sleep and even after death.

Discover the facts and fictions of astral projection, lucid dreaming, out-of-body experiences, awakening consciousness, and dream interpretation.

Resources and References:

https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/fact-and-fiction

Spiritual and Mental Health | Trauma and Spiritual Healing

"To change one's life is really to change one's own reactions towards it."  —Samael Aun Weor, The Revolution of the Dialectic

Trauma is a process that causes the consciousness to become trapped in conditioned reactions, repetitive thoughts, and painful emotions. Spiritual methods of healing can empower us to become free from the prison of suffering through profound meditation and superior actions. Through this work, we can study the reality of our own life experience to comprehend the causes, effects, and remedies of trauma.

Resources and References:

https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/trauma-and-spiritual-healing

Spiritual and Mental Health | Practical Methods for Inner Balance

Rates of mental illness are increasing in our contemporary society. While modern medicine can address physical concerns, many patients seek comfort in spiritual traditions for mental and emotional wellbeing. Despite the historic divide between psychology and religion, more mental health professionals are recognizing the value of integrating spirituality with treatment. By complementing professional help with Gnostic techniques such as meditation, individuals can actualize, develop, and sustain a state of inner equilibrium despite personal obstacles.

Resources and References:

https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/practical-methods-for-inner-balance

Cultivating Virtue, Conquering Vice 03 Strategies for Mind Training

All religious traditions speak about the need for cultivating virtue and conquering vice. Yet what are the practical techniques to do so? Discover how to master the science of meditation for deep and lasting personal change.

Resources and References:

https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/strategies-for-mind-training

Gnostic Gospels | Gnostic Mysteries of Chastity

While sex is abundantly discussed and showcased in our contemporary society, few people understand the mysteries of chastity. The secret of this mystery was captured almost two thousand years ago in the Acts of Thomas, whose language, drama, and narrative encodes an esoteric teaching regarding divine or upright sexuality. Through the writings of Samael Aun Weor, we can elucidate this practical knowledge for achieving purification and reunion with divinity.

Resources and References:

https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/gnostic-mysteries-of-chastity

Gnostic Gospels | The Esoteric Christian Tradition

Since their discovery, the Gnostic Gospels have challenged millennia-old beliefs, assumptions, and theories about Christianity’s foundations. Gnosticism, the esoteric or hidden knowledge of Christian dispensation, offers revolutionary perspectives for understanding Christ and the role of personal, experiential knowledge of divinity. Learn how to approach these enigmatic scriptures and interpret their cryptic symbolism through the codes in which they were written: Kabbalah and Alchemy.

Resources and References:

https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/the-esoteric-christian-tradition

Spiritual Awakening | Yoga for the Aquarian Era

Many profess that humanity is in a new age, yet few have capitalized on its revolutionary energy for the benefit of others, demonstrated by the universal prevalence of moral, psychological, and social decay. This divine zodiacal influx has the potential to transform, yet one must be educated and dedicated to specific disciplines for its direction and mastery.

Awaken this spiritual force through Aquarian Yogas: Mantra (sacred sounds, chakras, and powers), Raja (royal meditation), Jnana (scriptural study), Bhakti (devotion, prayer, and worship), Karma (selfless service), Kundalini (sacred sexuality), Nordic (runes), and Yantra (Tibetan rites for rejuvenation). Through accumulating and transmitting the Aquarian influence, we empower our spirituality and positively impact our communities.

Resources and References:

https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/yoga-for-the-aquarian-era

Cultivating Virtue, Conquering Vice 02 Processing Life through the Three Brains

“The balanced and harmonious function of the three brains results in the saving of vital values and, as a logical consequence, the prolongation of life.” —Samael Aun Weor, Fundamentals of Gnostic Education

Learn how to use the experiences of your everyday life to grow spiritually. This lecture covers practical approaches to developing self-observation by working with the three brains.

Resources and References:

https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/processing-life-through-the-three-brains

Spiritual Defense 03 Guidelines for Spiritual Warriors

Discover the qualifications and practices of a genuine spiritual warrior: one who identifies, comprehends, and eliminates inner vulnerabilities, realizes selflessness, and embodies unwavering compassion for those who suffer―especially one’s enemies.

Resources and References:

https://chicagognosis.org/lectures/guidelines-for-spiritual-warriors