Using Psalms to Open the Chakras

Jewish texts, particularly the Torah, can be viewed through various lenses. The Hebrew word pardes, pronounced PAR-DAYS, which means orchard, is an acronym for P-SHAT, RE-MEZ, D-RASH, and SOD, the four primary lenses through which a text can be viewed. P-SHAT refers to the lens through which ones sees the clear meaning, RE-MEZ to the lens through which one sees the symbolic meaning, D-RASH to the lens through which one sees the comparative meaning (derived by comparing the text to others), and SOD to the lens through which one sees the mystical meaning.

The Book of Psalms, SAY-FER  T-HEE-LEEM, is filled with secrets, hidden secrets. Through the lens of SOD, however, some of the concealed can be revealed. Take, for example, Psalm 24:7-10:  

O gates, lift up your heads! Up high, you everlasting doors, so the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory?—the Lord, mighty and valiant, the Lord, valiant in battle. O gates, lift up your heads! Lift them up, you everlasting doors, so the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory?—the Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory! Selah.

“Gates” or “doors” are points of energy within the individual soul, which correspond directly to concentrations of energy in and around the human body. Known in Buddhism and Hinduism as chakras, they are often referred to as gates or doors. Opening them, particularly the Third Eye Chakra, located between the eyebrows, facilitates the flow of energy and the expansion of consciousness, which is brought on by the expansion of the Divine within, that is, the Drop of Light within. The “King of glory” is that Drop of Divine light, aware of the Ocean of Light from which it came and the right course of action to take even in the most difficult of circumstances such as a battle.

Let’s take a closer look at Psalm 24:7, which reads:

O gates, lift up your heads! Up high, you everlasting doors, so the King of glory may come in!

The Hebrew version contains nine words, corresponding to the nine chakras, though some say less, some say more: The Root Chakra (Muladhara), the Sacral Chakra (Svadhisthana), the Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura), the Heart Chakra (Anahata), the Throat Chakra (Visudha), the Third Eye Chakra (Ajna), the Crown Chakra (Sahasrara), the Soul Chakra (Vyapini), and the Spirit Chakra (Vyomanga). Reading from left to right, the Hebrew, even the first two words, can function as a powerful mantra to ease open the chakras.

SU (Lift up)  SH-A-REEM (O gates)  RA-SHAY-CHEM (your heads)!

V-HEE-NA-S-U (Up high)  PEET-CHAY  O-LAM (you everlasting doors so) 

V-YE-VO (may come in)  ME-LECH (the King)  HA-CA-VOD (of Glory)!