Introduction The Flame Meditation is a meditation in the Shan Theosophical Meditation System that utilises the energies of eight flames to cleanse, purify and balance the inner and outer bodies, enabling us to better understand, open up to and co-operate with Spirit, and spread the light. It is the daily 'spiritual shower'.
To help those new to meditation, Ananda guided a version of the Flame Meditation for beginners. She explained the reason for this version in the following quote:
'... the Flame Meditation is the first step in a meditation system , and when you are getting the eight flames one by one into you, you cleanse the aura, align the aura, and harmonise the aura with soul and Spirit. But this meditation is too strong for people who are new beginners at meditation - people who are not used to linking up to soul and Spirit. Instead we are going to do it in a new version where we are invoking the Heart of Christ instead of soul and Spirit and, from the Heart of Christ, we shall see the flames descending one by one.'1 Editor's note: You can replace 'Heart of Christ' with the 'Heart of the Universe', or with the heart of any Master you would like to ask to send you the flames.
[Please guide yourself through the meditation, which may last approximately 15 minutes, including relaxation.]
Relaxation Sit comfortably, either with a straight back (legs and arms uncrossed) or in the lotus posture.
Close your eyes and breathe consciously 'peace', in and out through your nostrils.
Just relax and forget all your worries, and all your daily problems.
In and out you breathe, you go deeply within, deep within.
Meditation You now visualise a heart above your head and this heart is the Heart of Christ, the Heart of Maitreya.2 [Mentally say the following sentences with an interval of approximately 1 minute:]
1. Heart of Christ send down unto me the white flame. (The white flame cleanses and purifies our aura.) 2. Heart of Christ send unto me the ruby red flame of redemption. 3. Heart of Christ send down unto me the orange flame of vitality and health. 4. Heart of Christ send unto me the yellow flame of illumination. 5. Heart of Christ send unto me the green flame of harmony and balance. 6. Heart of Christ send unto me the blue flame of mental purity. 7. Heart of Christ send down unto me the violet flame of transmutation and transformation. 8. From the Heart of Christ, now see the pink flame descend into you. It is the Love.
You breathe in the Love, and you breathe out all impurities of personality. At the end of the meditation, see the Light of the Heart of Christ envelop the Earth.
If you would like music to accompany your meditation, two suggestions are given below. To listen to the music, click on the arrow in the sound bar.
References 1. Ananda Tara Shan, Meditation using Flames from the Heart of Christ, The Theosophical Fellowship, 19 July 1989 2. Maitreya: The World Teacher, who represents the Love of God. He is known in the West as the Christ and in the East as Krishna and Maitreya Buddha. Love is the quality that the Lord Maitreya posesses more than anyone else - Divine Love.
Meditation music - 1: Original music by Benjamin de Murashkin Meditation music - 2 by the group 'Love of Maitreya' Images: Heart by Eva Rijs Flames by Melissa Antonsen