The Human Aura
The Earth's Awareness

A further Level of Consciousness interacts with our energy system. This is Level Eight, the Level of the Earth's Awareness. In computer terms, each higher Level includes more "hardware" or equipment than the previous Level. Each Level out to Level Seven appears increasingly lIke an egg or three-dimensional oval around the physical body (Level One). Although Level Eight includes far more information and prana than the lower Levels, It is all in the form of "software" or dynamic energy and appears lIke a sphere or small sun.

Level Eight is called KARMA. Its functIon is to stimulate our experiences. This function may be subdivided into three categorIes:

1. experiences to enable us to increase our consciousness
2. experiences to enable us to lose non-consciousness
3. experiences which increase the energy of the Level Eight frequency in others.

Level Eight determines our ability to fulfil the functions of all our other Levels.

The Levels are a way of describing the aura in terms that avoid Sanskrit and other difficult or confusing references. Some terms, however, have no direct English language equivalents. Karma is one of these. It may be briefly defined as the experiences, precisely targeted to our needs by the planetary awareness, that cause us to grow. Every action, thought, word and deed - performed without awareness - is the consequence of a chain of causes arising from previous unconscious actions. Each and every Karmic event is the initiation of a seemingly inevitable sequence of effects that continues to shape our lives over years, or even lifetimes, to come.

Karma is a natural focus of energy in our lives. It is a process that is profoundly beneficial and entirely necessary for our growth and progress as conscious human beings. Karma is neither determinism, nor fate. Our reactions to the difficult (or pleasant) situations that arise in our lives govern the outcome of events and consequently the rate of development that we enjoy. There is no "Good" or "Bad" Karma. Karma is a mechanism designed to challenge our sense of perspective and develop our ability to conduct the energies that generate harmony, power, freedom, health and love in our lives.

Chakras

Strategically positioned in this magnificently designed powerhouse, the human aura, are the centres or focal vortices called chakras. This is another one of those weird words (!) that do not translate directly into English. It actually means "wheel" , so-called because the mouth of the chakra rather resembles a spoked wheel, or perhaps a flower with petals outspread.

Students of Yoga or Theosophy may have heard of the Seven Chakras. However, to speak of seven chakras is again rather misleading, for there are actually many, many chakras, of which the principal seven are the most important from the point of view of health and self-development. Authorities disagree which are the seven most important chakras. Many Eastern sources speak of the seven that coincide with the first seven that are used in development by The School. Theosophical teachings ignore the usual second chakra, substituting the chakra over the spleen - deeming, no doubt, that anything to do with sex is to be avoided at all costs... Some western teachers like to work with the chakras located below the feet.

Chakras are Energy Processors. Each chakra takes the shape of a helical vortex, spinning out through the Levels to create a vase-like structure that has real, measurable properties and definable functions in our system. The prime attribute of a chakra is that it can accept Information and Prana from without, in order to process and combine these energies into the patterns of Consciousness. It can also transmit Information, or Prana, or Consciousness back to the world outside.

Each of the first seven chakras (known as chakras 1 to 7) govern specific organs in the body. We shall look at the function of each of these chakras, according to the teaching of The School, in the next section of this article.