Just reread "The Magickal Revival" for the first time in quite a while. I noted the following in a discussion of the Chakras
The subject of the chakras was one that concerned Crowley deeply, as it has concerned other occultists. He conducted extensive research into the main chakras as well as noting certain no less mysterious centres that are not described in the standard textbooks on Yoga. In a letter (dated 1916) to a Brother named Keefra, whose actual identity is not known, Crowley wrote:
"I was very interested in your remarks on the three lower chakras, and after you had gone spent some time exploring."
there follows several paragraphs on AC's exploration of these three lower chakras, some of which might be tongue in cheek.
"The anal lotus is of eight petals, deep crimson, glowing to poppy colour when excited, the centre being of a rich Rembrandtesque golden brown.
This lotus contains a certain mystery of the Apana-vayu [vital airs]."
If I am not mistaken Grant is here referring to a letter in the Warburg OS20
http://warburg.sas.ac.uk/fileadmin/images/yorke/YorkeOS1-OSE21.pdf
has it yet come to light who exactly this 'Keefra' was?
The sun god of marijuana. 😉
Possibly Keef Rich Ards? Anyway, Crowley was "right" in the sense that the sevenfold Chakra system is just one of many, but most westerners in his day were under the impression that 7 was a fixed number. I have read of some systems identifying 13, perhaps more, and my own experiences led me to identify two between the brow and crown chakras, one at the top of the head in front of the crown and another between that one and the brow. There also seems to be one more between the throat and Visshudi than the 7 system allows for. There may be more.
Hi William,
Yes, this "Brother named Keefra" is an interesting puzzle, and the discussion of these lower chakras even more so. The date of the letter as well, August 1916, in the middle of his time in America; seems strange for the timing of such considerations, somehow....
I'm inclined to think of AC's involvement with Ratan Devi and his enthusiastic expression of what a great lover she was, perhaps here was the basis for his research. But surely, he would not have communicated with Ananda K. Coomaraswamy in any such terms as 'Brother' Keefra ?!
(Am still not familiar with Kaczynski's 'Perdurabo', if there's no clue there, then who knows.)
Reading the passages again, it did cross my mind that some of what he was saying might be tongue in cheek, but in whose cheeks exactly ? 😀
"In Hindu and tantric traditions and other systems, chakras are energy points or knots in the subtle body. Chakras are part of the subtle body, not the physical body, and as such are the meeting points of the subtle (non-physical) energy channels, called nadiis. Nadiis are channels in the subtle body through which the life force (prana), or vital energy moves. Various scriptural texts and teachings present a different number of chakras. There are many chakras in the subtle human body according to the tantric texts, but there are seven chakras that are considered to be the most important ones. ... However, there are those who believe that chakras have a physical manifestation as well. Gary Osborn, for instance, has described the chakras as metaphysical counterparts to the endocrine glands. Stephen Sturgess also links the lower six chakras to specific nerve plexuses along the spinal cord as well as glands."
-Wikipedia
Try these on for size ...
Or these ...
That's the first time I've seen OM and AUM described as different mantras - they're usually variants on how to pronounce the original Sanskrit.
The Bailey teachings go into a lengthy description of how the two ponunciations vary; one replicates (or at least "symbolizes") the creative process; the other signifies the absorption of matter into spirit. It's the olde 0=2 versus 2=0 concept.
hmmm… no brown lotus...
The Three chakras that he was refering to might be three of the tala chakras.