HOD: The Sphere Of Glory
Identified by Kaballah as "the Sephirah Hod," this Sphere of Aura-energy encompasses the Left Hip, Buttock, Thigh, Knee, Leg and Foot; any or all of which can become 'sore' or traumatized by a crisis over ONE'S PERSONAL PRESTIGE, "GLORY," FAME OR CAREER.
That we each DO in fact have in-born 'talents' or skills that we could base a happy career upon is a fundamental detail of healing all Hod-related crises. Methods of locating those traits, talents and natural predilections which can be turned into new career-avenues vary, from 'aptitude testing' to astrological analysis.. though any method used should take advantage of the current actual INTERESTS of the individual (rather than any impersonal form of 'career-placement services' that merely try to fill existing job-vacancies!)
Oftentimes Hod-related crises are merely pointing-out the 'surfacing' of new levels of CAREER RESPONSIBILITY or work-related Skills.. and the crisis passes in a few days, once the stress of the new situation has passed. It is long-term (chronic) conditions or injuries to this region only that should be viewed as a 'proof' that a whole new career-direction is needed.. or busy 'surfacing' to be recognized.
Like all Branches of The Tree Of Life, Hod connects us with FOUR LEVELS of the Spiritual Hierarchy or "chain of command." Anytime your search for Holistic Synthesis or Wholeness points to this Sephirah, there is a strong probability that YOU WILL NEED TO CONTACT THIS CHAIN OF COMMAND IN SOME WAY before your crisis or problem will resolve itself completely. The Four Levels of this Branch Of Life are:
The Physical Level of Hierarchy in all Sephiroth is the same; ASTROLOGICAL INFLUENCES and/or THE "I CHING" LIFE-CALENDAR. For any event involving this Sephirah that began suddenly and has not diminished since then, the Life-Calendar is probably the source of the influence; you should be able to see the pattern clearly (including when to expect it to end) by reading the Year-Hexagram from that Calendar. Any PROCESS that seems to be EVOLVING into ever-changing forms over a long period of time is probably due to ASTROLOGICAL CHANGES affecting one's place in the world around you, as reflected by Planetary Changes. Note that you will need both a Natal (Birth) Horoscope AND a Transit Chart for the current year, in order to understand these Planetary Cycles. The Planet MERCURY directly governs this Sephirah in Astrology.
The Science of Hod is most-often called "Past-Life Recall;" the ability of the mind to surface a specific set of 'memories' (or maybe they should be called 'prophecies' or even FANTASIES) about one's life.. that literally 'reshape' one's life into complete "lifestyles" or 'reincarnations.' This process is both marvelous and little-understood by most westerners, but the principle is very simple indeed. To understand Hod, consider the findings of "Kirlian Photography" (the electro-photographic effect.) By passing electricity through the photographic plate exposed to a plant-seed, for instance, Kirlian Photography can reveal THE COMPLETE, FULLY-GROWN PLANT that is 'potential' within it. That "potential form" is the ONE 'Incarnation' that seed is capable of. Human beings, however, may contain not one but DOZENS of Potential Forms built-into our Aura or "energy-body;" each of which can surface as 'us' during specific phases of our lives.
Using either hypnosis (a VERY suspect procedure, by the way.. for it is usually MOSTLY hypnotist-planted 'suggestions' that the subject 'recalls;') or the non-hypnotic 'Akashic Memory Meditation' described fully in PAST-LIFE REGRESSION one can tap into the pool of "life-potentials" of the individual Soul, and literally 'read it' one 'page' at a time. This "Past Life Regression Therapy" has helped thousands of ordinary people find the source of troubling 'memories' that have literally "haunted" them perhaps for decades.
In Asia such 'memories' are generally accepted as FACTUAL DATA, while many western 'authorities' consider them at most "allegorical stories" RESEMBLING one's potential developments. Kaballah merely calls them 'the Pool of Potential' and refers to Hod where they are stored as the "womb of potential" in which we grow. However one chooses to define them, the "lives" glimpsed at Hod certainly DO surface for us all from early childhood onward.. in fact most of our favorite childhood 'Play' is little more than "past-life dramatization" being rehearsed for possible reliving in future years.
Whatever brought you here to Hod is part of this "identity-pool" of memory-predictions; and there is SOME 'life-potential' trying to get recognized and INTEGRATED into your current self-definition (for you NEED it in your coming phase of life.) Whether through simple "fantasy" or Past-Life Therapy, you need to find the specific Life that is surfacing, and help it MANIFEST for you in healthy, happy ways. Your Hod-related problem or crisis may not end until this has been done.
Most western societies know of the great "Spiritual Intermediaries" who caretake our relationship with the Great Spirit, and refer to them as "Archangels." Asian societies normally call them "Boddhisattvas" and will need to turn to their own cultural traditions for guidance in contacting the right Bodhisattva for their Hod-related problems.. though ANYONE can call upon ANY Spiritual Authority and get useful results. The Archangel of Hod is named "Raphael," and he connects us with our Creator in the form called "Elohim Saboath" which is Hebrew for 'The Great Mother WITHIN' or ANIMA, THE FEMININE POTENTIAL WITHIN EACH SOUL.
The Angelic Order (or lineage of Devic Spirit-Workers, if you prefer) who serve this Sephirah are called the "BENI-ELOHIM" or 'Children Of God;' and they represent the God-Child we were each created as. When we contact the Archangel Raphael and ask him to help us with our talents and skill-development, it is to our inner Beni-Elohim that this help comes.. and it is just possible that we may not "recognize" his help for what it is BECAUSE IT ARRIVES WITHIN OUR CHILD-IDENTITY first. Most of the time this is perceived as a form of "PLAY;" some type of 'fantasy' or 'daydream' in which we "imagine" ourself doing something that we (currently) do not know how to do. But in fact, that is the FUTURE speaking to us about our own future "fame" and Glory.
To contact the Archangel of Personal Glory in the most direct way possible, jot-down the names just mentioned and then click-on KABALLAH-CIRCLE RITES where a reliable, long-used Ritual Meditation is listed.. and simply perform it as shown, inserting the proper names where prompted. This will trigger as much immediate Spiritual HELP for your problem or crisis as possible right now.
Repeated contact with this Archangel (asking each time for yet MORE clarity about your Skill-development and more details on how this will solve your current crisis or condition) over a period of days or weeks may prove extremely useful.. though in the long-run, YOU will have to actually begin the process of learning and practicing the new 'game' before it will turn from fantasy to FACT.
The "Aspect" or FORM of the Creator contacted here at Hod is called "ELOHIM SABOATH" in Hebrew Kaballah, and ANIMA, the World Mother within us each, according to Jungian Psychology.. and is the Spiritual Agency who gives us each the urge and ability to nurture, caretake and gently "mother" those we love. This skill and "identity-trait" MAY be rather deeply hidden-away in our psychic 'closet' and need a bit of coaxing to surface for us to study and integrate. The process of coaxing this stuff out of ourselves is called "Akashic Memory" is Asia.. though it is best know to western peoples as 'past-life regression.' Akashic Memory is the specific skill or trait of the God-Aspect of Hod.
Once one has "found" Anima the Inner "womb" which houses your own personal potential and integrated 'her' into your own personality, one gains access to the entire spectrum of "feminine personality traits" (or Right Brain-Lobe Functions, if you prefer.) These include INTUITIVE UNDERSTANDING of other people's unique "forms" (the ability to see-into other people's potential,) as well as Telepathic skills (instantly understanding what others are THINKING or doing;) as well as Empathy (sharing the EMOTIONS other people are feeling.) All of these traits are part of EVERYBODY'S potential as beings.. though it is only those who Integrate them who 'know' this.
This 'feminizing' phase of self-development may occur for any of us (regardless of our gender OR our gender-preference sexually) at the time when we are entering into a relationship or lifestyle which will call upon us to NURTURE other people and 'mother' them while they grow. Many healers, therapists and educators (as well as parents, naturally) experience this Anima-integration.. and learn through it how to genuinely Nurture those they are here to care for. Elohim Saboath, the Great Mother-Spirit who is our Anima-within, is the prototype and Guide for us all in this journey.
Called BASTET (or 'Bast' the Cat-headed goddess) in the ancient Egyptian "paut Neteru" or Great Company of the Gods.. and considered the goddess of "Nurturing" who helps us 'incubate' or develop whatever traits our lives currently need.. the God-Aspect of Hod has always been associated with Birth and Rebirth. You may think of Bastet/Elohim Sabaoth as the 'midwife' who helps you give 'birth' to yourself, as needed. Bastet's symbol, the CAT, is associated with curiosity and mental 'prowling;' two famous traits of Hod.
It should be noted that all Metaphysical, Mystical traditions teach that Anima the Inner Mother must eventually be 'wed' or merged with ANIMUS the Inner Father who gives us the traits of the LEFT-Brain Lobe and our masculine potentials of self. To understand "him" click-on FURTHER DATA SEARCH.