Merkaba Mysticism

• Merkaba (or Merkabah) is historically a form of Jewish mysticism, predating the more widely known Kabalah. It is based on the vision of the Chariot of God in the Book of Ezekiel. The mysticism of Merkaba was traditionally kept very secret. It could only be taught to one person at a time, and then only if he was known to be both wise and capable of thinking for himself. According to legend, one who spoke of the Merkaba carelessly would burst into flames. Merkaba mysticism is traditionally associated with the imagery of fire.
  
  

Eclectic Merkaba

• While the traditional Merkaba mysticism was explicitly Jewish, there is also an eclectic, modern Merkaba mysticism that mixes elements of Indian Yogic traditions and visualizations. Unlike the original Merkaba, these are not passed down in secret from person to person, but are widely available on the Internet. The main similarity between the original Merkaba and the modern version is in the use of visualization and imagery concerned with fiery light. In the modern Merkaba, this is the light of the sun, visualized as a golden sphere in the center of the body.
  
  

Merkaba Visualization

• The modern Merkaba visualization technique involves a coordination of mind and body. The practitioner engages in a series of deep breaths from the diaphragm, while making Indian hand-symbols or "mudras" and visualizing a blue sphere of "prana" or life energy growing in the belly. After a certain point in the visualization, the sphere of prana stops growing and turns from blue light into shining gold. The gold sphere of energy then expands until it completely encloses the entire body. The practitioner continues to breathe from within the golden sphere.
  
  

Alternative Merkaba Visualization

• Another version of the same meditation involves three spheres instead of one -- a gold sphere, a silver sphere, and a white sphere. The three spheres of light are visualized as rotating around each other. The spheres are thought to contain the spiral pattern known as the Golden Mean. The purpose of this version of the golden sphere Merkaba meditation is to achieve what is referred to as "spherical consciousness," an alternative to the "linear consciousness" thought to still exist in latent form in the standard modern Merkaba meditation.