Category: Spirituality

Astragalus: A Wintry Herbal Infusion

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By Valerie A. Cody

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What Is a Nourishing Herbal Infusion?

An herbal infusion is similar to tea, but much stronger and more mineral-rich. The primary differences lie in both the amount of plant material used and the length of time the herbs are steeped.

With tea, we typically use a small amount of plant material and steep it for about 5–10 minutes. With a nourishing herbal infusion, we use one full ounce of dried herb and allow it to steep for eight hours or longer. This extended steeping time allows water-soluble vitamins and minerals to be fully extracted from the plant.

I have been working with nourishing herbal infusions since 2019, and what continues to reveal itself through this practice is how powerful consistency can be. These herbs work behind the scenes, strengthening the body slowly and intelligently, aligning us with the natural rhythms of the seasons. Astragalus, especially in winter, has become a reminder that true vitality is built through patience, nourishment, and reverence for the body as sacred ground. When we tend to ourselves in this way, we become a vessel capable of holding inspiration, guidance, and creative life force.

Nourishing herbal infusions are one of the most effective ways to deliver bioavailable minerals into the body. Unlike capsules or isolated vitamin supplements, herbs remain in their whole, natural form. They are simply dried and prepared in a way that allows the body to recognize and assimilate their nutrients with ease.

Through herbal infusions, we receive minerals such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper, potassium, selenium (and many more) in the exact combinations found in nature. This synergistic balance makes these nutrients easier for the body to absorb and utilize. Rather than extracting a single vitamin and compressing it into a pill, herbal infusions honor the intelligence of the plant itself.

What “Infusion” Means in Herbalism

In herbalism, the word infusion refers specifically to the method of extraction: using water and time to draw nutrients from plant material.

Other herbal preparations use different mediums:

  • A decoction uses water and prolonged simmering on the stove, often for roots and tougher plant material
  • A tincture uses alcohol to extract both water- and alcohol-soluble constituents

Herbal Infusions and the Body/Spirit Connection

When we work with organic herbs, we are working directly with what the Earth provides to strengthen and restore the body. Caring for the physical body in this way strengthens the spiritual body as well. We should never neglect the physical body as something “unspiritual” or unrelated to our soul. The two are deeply and magnificently intertwined, and to neglect one is to neglect the other. We must be vigilantly and vehemently against religious programming that deliberately turns us against our own bodies.

When the body is properly nourished, it becomes fertile soil for spiritual guidance to land, take root, and be expressed through our words, actions, and creativity. Nutrition, ritual, and herbal practice will work to support our capacity to receive and translate insight.

A Seasonal Practice: Astragalus is a Winter Herb

I want to share how you can create nourishing herbal infusions at home using herbs such as oat straw, chickweed, nettle, and astragalus. Each herb has its own rhythm and purpose. Today, our focus is on astragalus which is a deeply wintry herb.

Astragalus is a root traditionally used to strengthen vitality, immunity, and foundational energy, especially during colder months. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is considered a Qi tonic which is an herb that supports the body over time rather than forcing quick results. This makes it especially well-suited for the colder months, when the body naturally turns inward and benefits from conservation and nourishment rather than outward exertion.

Winter is a season of conservation, restoration, and deep nourishment. Astragalus mirrors this energy perfectly. It is warming, grounding, and best used consistently as a preventative ally rather than during acute illness. This makes it especially suited for long, slow infusions and daily winter rituals.

The Modulating Nature of Herbs

One of the great gifts of herbal infusions is their modulating effect on the body. Herbs do not force the system in one direction. Instead, they gently guide the body back toward balance.

For example, if an element within the body is lower than what is ideal, an herbal tonic will not overstimulate or push it beyond what is healthy. Herbs work intelligently, adapting to what the body needs in that moment. This is why many nourishing herbs are considered adaptogenic in nature. Because of this subtlety, consistency is essential. Herbal infusions work best when taken regularly, allowing their cumulative effects to nourish the body over time.

It is generally recommended to prepare nourishing infusions using one herb per batch, rather than mixing multiple herbs together. Each plant has its own mineral profile and energetic signature.

Use one ounce of a single herb per infusion. Density varies greatly. For example, one ounce of astragalus root looks very different from one ounce of oat straw, which is why measuring by weight is important.

Through regular use, nourishing infusions harmonize the body’s systems and support clarity, resilience, and vitality. The physical and spiritual bodies reflect one another, and neglecting the physical body on a spiritual path ultimately weakens both.

For women especially, this form of nourishment is profoundly restorative. These herbs work behind the scenes, at a cellular level, filling nutritional gaps we may not even be aware of. They support beauty, creativity, and connection in a way that is gentle and deeply effective.

Where to Get Herbs

One of the easiest ways to obtain herbs is by ordering from reputable online suppliers. Always choose organic herbs. I trust and use the following brands which can be found on Amazon: Frontier Co-op, Starwest Botanicals, and U.S Wellness Naturals. This is essential because the infusion process uses boiling water to fully extract nutrients and if herbs are not organic, that same process will extract pesticides and chemical residues into your infusion. Organic only.

Astragalus Profile

Botanical name: Astragalus membranaceus
Plant part used: Root
Taste: Mildly sweet, earthy
Energetics: Warming, strengthening, grounding
Seasonal affinity: Winter

Astragalus is a nourishing root traditionally used to support vitality, immunity, and long-term resilience. Rather than acting as a stimulant, it works slowly and steadily, building the body’s foundational strength over time.

Why Astragalus Is Ideal for Winter

Winter is a season of storage, restoration, and strengthening. Astragalus mirrors this rhythm. As a warming root, it offers gentle support to the immune system and helps the body adapt to seasonal stressors without forcing or overstimulating.

Astragalus is best used preventatively and consistently, rather than during acute illness. Traditionally, it is not recommended when a fever or active infection is present, as it is considered a “building” herb rather than one that helps release pathogens.

Astragalus lends itself beautifully to long infusions and decoctions. When prepared slowly, its minerals and polysaccharides are gradually released into the water, creating a grounding, subtly sweet infusion that supports the body over time. This makes astragalus an ideal companion for a winter infusion practice, when nourishment and consistency take precedence over quick results. Used regularly, astragalus supports endurance, balance, and vitality which strengthens the body in a way that is cumulative and aligned with the season.

How to Make a Nourishing Herbal Infusion

Ratio:
1 ounce dried herb : 1 quart water

Use a kitchen scale to measure the herb accurately. Once measured, place the herb into a one-quart glass jar. Fill the jar completely with purified, boiling water.

Cover with a screw-top lid and let the infusion steep overnight. Herbs require two things to release their minerals: heat and time.

The next morning, strain the liquid into another glass jar. Drink the infusion before coffee or food if possible.

Working with nourishing herbal infusions invites us into a slower relationship with our bodies and with time itself. Astragalus teaches this especially well in winter. Through regular, intentional nourishment, the body becomes resilient, receptive, and aligned with its own intelligence.

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The Legend is the Key

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By Valerie A. Cody

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The legend is the key, and the key is the legend. 🗝️🗺️

Tradition gives us the legend; self-study gives us the key. Through introspection, we discover that just as the words legend and key are synonymous to the cartographer, they are likewise inseparable within the terrain of our inner world. Both guide us. Certain enduring legends (whether myth, holy scripture, or word-of-mouth lore) consistently point toward the same essential truth: the power that resides within us.

The reason these two are ultimately one and the same is because the key itself is what I will call the Eternal Legend. Once this reality is recognized, its fragments begin to align effortlessly with the allegories embedded in our time-tested myths. We can observe this, for example, in the ancient alchemical legend of “turning lead into gold.” Within this vast, intricate, and beautifully orchestrated narrative, the alchemical laboratory is the human body itself, and the beakers and chemical reactions symbolize internal processes of transformation. Each element within each legend functions as a key, revealing the Eternal Legend – ready to be accessed by the conscious and spiritually attuned individual. I wrote more explicitly about this Eternal Legend: here.

This process of extracting self-knowledge through archetypal depiction is delicate. It demands a rare pairing of both healthy skepticism and openness. In practice, this means cultivating the ability to test ideas in the physical realm without abandoning the inner one. We must avoid being enamored with the fairy tale while also refusing to throw “the baby out with the bathwater,” so to speak.

Some may linger too long in the waters of imagination and risk dissolving into self-created delusion. Others may under develop the capacity for openness and discard wisdom along with the myth. Inner refinement arises from holding both capacities simultaneously and in balance.

Consider the following enduring myths found across cultures:

  • King Arthur and the Twelve Knights of the Holy Grail
  • Jesus Christ and the Twelve Disciples
  • Hercules and his Twelve Labors
  • Odin and the Twelve Aesir
  • The Twelve Gods and Goddesses of Mount Olympus

The number twelve symbolizes wholeness, cycles of growth, and the integration of diverse energies into a unified whole. Each legend depicts a journey through these twelve forces, externalized as disciples, labors, or deities. Hidden within these narratives are the elements of the Eternal Legend: the path of self-mastery.

Doppelmayr | Novus atlas coelestis, Nuremberg, 1742 (photo by Sotheby’s)

Through careful concentration, self-discipline, and fidelity to a single path, we distill the key that unlocks all other legends. Once we grasp the Key of Truth, it fits any legend (lock) that contains the same truth. Truth is singular, geometric, and not subject to opinion. This is not “my truth” or “their truth”—it is the singular and everlasting Truth. This mindset must be applied rigorously, and we must continually align ourselves with it.

Once the key of internal knowing is grasped, the repeating pattern becomes unmistakable. These legends are variations of a single story, threaded through cultures and centuries. Engaging with them inwardly, especially the tradition that first cradled us at birth, offers our greatest opportunity for self-initiation into the Eternal Legend.

The mythology of religion and legend functions as a natural form of protection for the Eternal Legend. Those who mock these symbolic containers of wisdom reveal, almost immediately, their inability to engage with what lies beneath the surface. In this way, the profane exclude themselves by default, as the disposition required for deeper understanding has not yet been cultivated.

Likewise, those who approach these stories purely literally also bar themselves from their deeper truths. While learning through legend often begins in childhood, seeding the subconscious with principles meant to mature over time, true understanding requires a later unfolding. These truths are designed to blossom through lived experience, reflection, and inner inquiry.

When myth is clung to only at face value, we witness a consciousness that has not completed this maturation. It remains fixed at the threshold, unable to look directly into the myth itself and extract the carefully concealed key.

We must choose depth over breadth and mastery over superficiality. When we resist the tendency to be a “Jack of all trades, master of none,” we begin to touch the essence of enduring wisdom. This principle is why, a few years ago, I wrote an Instagram caption reflecting on a phrase from the Rosicrucian diagram Of God and Nature: “Whoever learns one, learns all. Whoever learns all, learns nothing.” That caption can be read: here.

To journey toward the Eternal Legend, we must become fluent in the language of symbology. The study of symbols is, in itself, an initiation. Through archetypes and symbols, we learn to see beyond surface interpretations and access the enduring truth within sacred texts. This capacity is only available to those who are unsatisfied with superficial understanding. Such dissatisfaction arises from an inner orientation toward truth, a discomfort in the presence of obscurity. This surfaces as curiosity and becomes the driving force of the search.

To move toward the Eternal Legend, we must stoke the inner fire. This fire is the spiritual energy that allows us to burn through the surface of outward teachings and reach the living spirit beneath them – beyond fable, beyond nursery-rhyme meaning. Once reached, the core does not burn. It glows.

Spiritual fire consumes what is illusory and extraneous, but it does not consume truth. Truth is not flammable; only what is superfluous, ephemeral, or fraudulent is reduced to ash. This is why focused attention (especially in the beginning) is essential when studying a spiritual tradition. Scattered attention produces only smoke and confusion. Focused attention, by contrast, becomes concentrated heat: a precise laser rather than a wildfire burning indiscriminately in all directions.

This fire becomes our own source of light, illuminating the paths we must traverse. It requires no borrowed flame; we carry it ourselves, using it to fuel and illuminate our own unique purpose.

The legend and the key are one. Myths are living templates of human experience, and the legend is unlocked from within. The stories of old serve as vessels of remembrance, revealing how we may consciously participate in the Eternal Legend. Through deep engagement, sustained focus, and the disciplines that refine us, we awaken to a simple and enduring truth: the power we seek outwardly has always resided within.

Doppelmayr | Novus atlas coelestis, Nuremberg, 1742 (photo by Sotheby’s)

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The Kiss of the Authentic

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By Valerie A. Cody

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We are qualified to speak about that which we have experienced, alchemized, and solidified into wisdom.

When we set out on the path of self-realization, we are, in a sense, raising our hand and volunteering for challenge. We are not simply bestowed with higher attainments in life without the matching lesson, which must be learned in one way or another. Trials reveal, build, and refine the deeper layers of the self. So when we inevitably encounter difficulty, we face a pivotal choice. We can allow the circumstance to exert its force upon us, shaping us according to its strength and our lack of awareness, or we can use awareness to bring the situation under conscious command. Through awareness, we become the one who shapes. This process of meeting the obstacle, studying its nature, and working our way through it is how we grow into the self-realized individual.

Living this process effectively consecrates our life’s purpose with the kiss of authenticity. Without this essential element, we risk the hollowness that leads to contrived expression and eventual loss of vitality. Authenticity is the byproduct of lived experience, and lived experience must be integrated before it can be transmitted. This “kiss” is the energetic imprint of a person’s completed alchemical processing. It quietly slips past the viewer or listener’s rational mind to press gently into the subconscious, where the body recognizes truth before the mind can interfere. The tonality of this messaging can be whisper-soft, yet devastatingly accurate.

An innate sense for proper timing is necessary here. When we release the energy of a lesson before it has been fully realized, we do not embody the wisdom, and so the kiss is not present. We must come to understand the difference between embodied action and empty movement. Although “busy work” is mostly empty, it can still teach structure and consistency to someone who hasn’t found their deeper direction. That discipline becomes meaningful and useful when it is paired with a clear sense of purpose.

This “kiss” is rare in the modern world, as many hurry to share their insights before the lessons have been fully integrated. There is a reason for this. The gaining of wisdom creates an inner pressure, and that pressure is necessary to transform a person. Yet it is this very same pressure that creates the urge to express through the throat before the lesson has risen to the higher centers of the body. This is a test of the aspirant’s purity and willpower. The question becomes: Do you wish to gain recognition/favor, or do you wish to gain knowledge? Choosing to prioritize the former over the latter will cause one to lose both – as the potency of the lesson is not preserved, and so the would-be wisdom is scattered to the wind.

”Portrait of a Lady in Allegorical Guise, Holding a Dish of Pearls” by Pierre Mignard (17th century).

The utilization of proper timing grants the aspirant both the former and the latter. When we share work that has been kissed by authenticity, it is ultra-powerful and this exchange of distilled wisdom is one of the ways in which the human race evolves. This specific resonance within a message or creation is easy to recognize precisely because it is rare, like a pressure-formed jewel or pearl. This rarity is what gives rise to masterful literature, useful invention, legendary art, and powerful rhetoric. It reflects a refined dimension of the throat center: the precision of timing. Proper timing is neither late nor early—it is exactly “on time,” perfectly synchronized with both the Zeitgeist (the German word for “spirit of the time”) and the individual’s unique purpose. When this is cultivated to its highest expression, it can produce visionaries, capable leaders, and powerful speakers with the ability to shape collective reality.

With practice, we can become masterful in this distillation process. We create an inner environment that is prepared for it. Over time, we develop an intuitive sense for correct timing, and the more we engage with the process, the more familiar we become with the taste of truth. Through this, inner strength builds, and often the simple internal recognition of “not yet” is all we need. This willingness to wait displays true willpower and allows us to pass the “purity test” with increasing ease.

”Romeo and Juliet” by Frank Bernard Dicksee (1884).

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🃏House of Cards or Holy Temple?

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By Valerie A. Cody

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As we work with our earthly forms, we should ask ourselves: Are we building a house of cards, or a Holy Temple?

The House of Cards
A house of cards forms when we build our lives, our worldview, our spiritual practice, or even our bodies without first anchoring ourselves in truth. The unsteady “house of cards” metaphor reveals the inherent instability we risk when basing ourselves on anything other than alignment with Universal Truth and our individual purified will.

This unstable foundation may have an outward veneer that attracts interest or attention, but when we walk up to it, even the light tread of our slippered feet may be enough to shake it to the ground. This structure relies on sleight of hand, on smoke and mirrors that divert us from noticing its deformed fragility. Those who are drawn to them are also disconnected from integrity themselves, and so they delight in the spectacle without noticing its bizarre angles, its distorted walls, or the way it violently sways in the winds of truth. And those who build them separate themselves from the nourishing, glistening material of veracity. 

This kind of builder prioritizes the weak, false facade because it seems easier and faster to produce than the strong, steady, deep-rooted framework of the Holy Temple. The house of cards seems to thrive in a time when the art of paying close attention has withered. The skill of discernment, the ability to see the materials and methods used in this kind of construction is underdeveloped and atrophied. Few pause long enough to notice the warped floorboards…to open the doors and discover they lead nowhere…to take a second look out the window and sense something uncanny…to lift the decorative painting into the light and see that it is actually ugly. The house of cards fools many because the “fool” is content to be fooled.

The Holy Temple

It takes a desire to build with integrity and truth to construct a Holy Temple. It requires the willingness to sacrifice the pace, expectations, and easy applause of the masses. It demands an inner connection to what is true and an unwavering refusal to build upon anything less than the shining blueprint of one’s unique spiritual patterning. We all have an inner connection to truth, but it requires spiritual discipline, concentration, discernment, bravery and vulnerability to express it.

The spiritual aspirant builds their Temple in silence. They check their construction daily with a discerning eye. They do not allow emotional or egoic projections to solidify into the structure. They select only the finest materials. Everything has its place, so if a deviation occurs, it is immediately noticed and corrected with accountability and precision. These deviations are moments of disconnection from truth which are born of erroneous perceptions, emotional distortions, or spiritual delusion. All are symptoms of internal impurity.

The Holy Temple is balanced. Its walls are steady and beautiful from every angle. The Temple radiates harmony and healing, decorated with the curated artifacts of lived personal experience. Its structure sparkles with cleanliness and integrity, upheld by Ionic, Doric, and Corinthian pillars which represent wisdom, strength, and beauty in perfect proportion.

At the edge of the village, the aspirant builds their Temple from the ground up using their internal guidance system. To onlookers, the process seems strange. What are those materials? Why that floor plan? Why choose that plot of land?

This is reflected in the way that sites of ancient sanctuaries, temples, and even cities were said to have been chosen via “omens” such as lightning strikes or bird flight patterns. The teaching was that “God chooses the place, not the builder.”

To those who have not contacted their own inner point of everlasting truth, the Temple and the builder appear odd…until it is finished. 

When the Holy Temple is finally complete, its height…its materials…its undeniable beauty is mesmerizing to the once confused and gossiping onlookers. The truth of the matter is now immediately apparent and attractive. Now, dwelling within the finished structure, the Temple Master sits in command of their surroundings, unthreatened by storms, winds, or the footsteps of passersby. The integrity of the structure is sound and unaffected by external circumstances. The Temple is fitted with a specially coded lock, one that opens only for the truest seekers with the purest intentions. Any misshapen key fails, and so the Temple becomes a sacred fortress: solid, sovereign, and self-protecting for the builder who labored in truth.

This lock-and-key symbolism is, of course, also a reference to sacred sexuality. It speaks to the feminine aspect and responsibility on this path – her need to be fitted for truth, steady in her own architecture, and capable of discernment. For more on this feminine topic, I highly recommend the work of Claire Nakti.

And just as the house of cards attracts those who delight in ignorance, the Holy Temple calls to those who wish to align their own foundations in truth. To them, the Temple is a distant reminder. It is an invitation to rise.

We see this process echoed in the building of King Solomon’s Temple in the Biblical books of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles. As with all Biblical stories, we can learn the allegorical, metaphorical, and mythological message within the parables. In the narrative, Solomon does not design the Temple himself; he receives the plans from his father, David, who received them from God. This transmission from God to David to Solomon, is a symbolic depiction of DNA genetic patterning. Solomon receives the plans through his father because this is how exoteric teachings point toward an esoteric truth without revealing it outright to be distorted by the spiritually profane. 

Note: I only share the Bible verses below to show that the scriptures of Abrahamic exoteric religions point to esoteric truths using allegorical language and etymological symbolism. The outright words and public rituals are for mass consumption (such as during Catholic “mass”), and so are useful in that context. It is important that those who may be oriented into these traditions go deeper into the teachings in order to avoid being caught up in surface-level understanding. For this in particular, I recommend the teachings of Manly P. Hall.

📜1 Chronicles 28:11–19 (King James Version)

11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, for the courts of the house of the Lord…
18 …and for the chariot of the cherubims…
19 All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.

Notice the repeated use of the word “pattern.” I discussed the etymology of this word further in another post: 🍦here.

Certain spiritual ideologies expand on this idea by translating the construction of Solomon’s Temple into the process of perfecting the human energetic system, physical body, and soul. The emphasis on craftsmanship, geometry, and the sacred tools of measurement are used to guide the process of self-refinement.

Square: moral integrity
Compass: spiritual guidance and sacred boundaries
Level: inner equilibrium
Plumb line: uprightness and alignment with truth

These symbols remind us that a Temple (outer or inner) cannot be built or accessed without spiritual discipline, discernment, and a steady devotion to the blueprint placed within us. This is the same truth I wrote about earlier in this essay: each of us has a unique Divine blueprint. The actions required to build this Holy Temple can appear strange to others, because often the required actions will place us outside of traditional conformity and societal conditioning. When we follow Divine impulse, we act from a place of deep, wordless knowing. The fruits of that knowing often emerge only later, shaped by our faithfulness to the instructions we received long before we fully understood them.

”LOYALTY TO A UNIQUE CHARACTER” is written in Latin across the top of this document. Pulled from “General Ahiman Rezon and Freemason’s Guide.”

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🧶The Entwining of Consciousness

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By Valerie A. Cody

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A diptych is a two-sided altarpiece. One side depicts a deity or sacred scene, the other presents something more earthly, such as a self-portrait, an ancestor, or an influential figure like a patriarch or monarch.  The two panels are bound together by a hinge or spine, much like a book or a locket. Historically, diptychs (unlike the larger triptychs used for liturgical altars) were placed upon personal shrines within the home. During the late Medieval Ages and the early Renaissance era especially, commissioning a “donor portrait” diptych was common. These works of art represent, whether consciously or subconsciously, the seeker’s desire to fuse with the Divine. 


The Wilton Diptych, c. 1395-1399, displayed at the National Gallery in London. Commissioned by and depicting King Richard the 2nd on the left, and the Virgin with Child on the right.

The hinge of the diptych is both utilitarian and symbolic. Outwardly it’s just a joint, but symbolically it represents the “axis mundi.” It is the same motif we see in myths of a central pillar where heaven and earth meet. Specifically, I will be exploring the Nordic myth of Odin and the tree Yggdrasil below. In esoteric anatomy, this axis is the human spine: The subtle corridor where instinct can be transformed into insight and the Divine descends into form.

Placing a diptych on an altar is a physical reenactment of an inner reality. One side shows the Divine, the other the human, and the hinge becomes the meeting-point between them. It is the place where consciousness can move upward or downward without severing itself from the body. Like the nervous system itself, the “hinge” keeps us anchored while we reach upward. It prevents the seeker from dissolving entirely into transcendence, and instead supports the weaving of the heavenly and the earthly. The diptych becomes a symbolic mirror of this inner ascent, showing how human consciousness joins with Divine consciousness through a shared axis. This movement is an internal anointing: a rising, consecrating current within the subtle body.

Exoteric religions echo this inner process through outward sacraments. In Catholicism, a consecrated oil is placed on the forehead of worshippers as a sign of blessing. This is a symbolic reflection of an esoteric secret that happens within. The “inner oil” is a subtle essence recognized across spiritual traditions, it gathers and rises through the spinal channel, enlivening centers of perception as it ascends.

Even the Catholic term “chrism” reveals this esoteric heritage: it is related to Christos, “the anointed one,” and literally translates to “oil.” What is enacted externally as ritual anointing is a representation of the inner refinement and elevation of one’s own subtle essence.

 It is the sacred elixir:

  • the milk-and-honey fluid of the mystics
  • the Shekhinah descending and rising
  • the serpent-fire of the yogis
  • the pneuma carried up the ladder of Jacob’s dream

As the internal chrism rises, it anoints the brain (the inner temple) and opens the higher centers of vision and gnosis. This is how the seeker moves from belief to knowledge, from worship to union. Thus, the spine is the metaphysical hinge through which human consciousness weaves itself with Divine Will.

This ascent is the basis of many mythological journeys. For example, in the Nordic myth of Odin and Yggdrasil, Odin sacrifices himself by hanging himself upside down on the tree (named Yggdrasil) for nine nights. He does this so that he may gain the knowledge of the Nordic Runes. The understanding is that in order to properly intuit Divine knowledge (rather than be spun off into delusion), one must purify themselves. This myth is a good example of the internal annointing because Odin is hanging upside down, which mimicks the act of raising of the inner chrism.

The “Ascent Myth” follows this pattern:

  1. A lower world: Ordinary consciousness, instinct, matter
  2. A middle journey: Trials, purification, initiation
  3. A pinnacle or summit: Revelation, union with the divine
  4. A return: The enlightened hero re-enters the world transformed

This motif mirrors the movement of energy up the spine, from lower instincts to higher perception and finally to Divine union. The spine has 33 embryonic vertebrae, which alludes to why this number is used in certain fraternities to denote a “rise” in rank amongst one’s fellows.

The Feminine and The Masculine

Although the ascent of the chrism is a universal mechanism, the masculine and feminine bodies conduct this ascent in different ways. These differences are not oppositional but complementary expressions of the same spiritual physics. This is why we see symbolism in the form of the sun/moon or fire/water. 

In the masculine form, the generative essence gathers like pressure. It behaves alchemically like steam building within a sealed vessel: focused, upward-driving, and linear. This is why Hermetic texts describe the masculine path as the “fire rising.” It is the solar current that pushes toward illumination through intensity and disciplined direction. When conserved and sublimated, this pressure moves through the spinal axis as a concentrated surge. 

In the feminine form, the same essence does not accumulate as pressure but diffuses as luminosity. It spreads through the subtle body like light filling a chamber, illuminating her inner space before rising higher. The feminine stores life‑force in a more distributed, oceanic way; therefore, her spiritual ascent is not a push but a glow. It brightens the womb, the heart, and the imaginal centers before lifting toward the crown. The internal tide of intuition rises not through force but through fullness. Women are inherently generative and naturally retain more essence; because of this, she can often achieve this ascent without the same strict conservation required of a male aspirant. The ascent can feel spontaneous, almost trancelike, as she channels connections, ideas, or inspiration for art and poetry (her unique interests are a reflection of her own personal essence, genetic inheritances, and Will) — manifesting works that seem to emerge from a source larger than herself, flowing naturally from the wellspring of her preserved essence.

When this life-force is preserved (through purity of input, rest, love, intention, lowered overstimulation), its substance becomes the raw material of inspiration itself. It refines into completely unique ideas, concepts, inventions, and art. These creations are as singular and unique as a fingerprint. This is because the same generative essence that produces physical life (via pregnancy), when redirected inward, produces physical rejuvenation, as well as psychic, intellectual, and spiritual life. The life-giving essence is the same; only the direction changes. 

The diptych is a medieval spiritual device and its impact depends on how it is used. Through spiritual fidelity and consistency, we invite the Divine to enter and reshape our awareness. With pure intention, even the most modest object can reveal profound treasures to the worthy, truth-loving aspirant. When regarded merely as decoration, it may yield only ephemeral wisps of wisdom. When viewed as a symbol of our desire to weave our consciousness with the Divine, the diptych can inspire devotion to our internal ascent.

A page from the Aurora Consurgens, a Medieval alchemical manuscript. It uses visual symbolism to convey this mystery.

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🍦On the Development of Good Taste

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By Valerie A. Cody

Valerie

The following is the extended version of a caption I posted on Instagram today. There is a character limit on that platform and I had to omit some of the original text. Find it in totality below:

“Good taste” emerges from the two foundational qualities of discernment and aesthetic judgment. These qualities simultaneously sharpen the eye and refine the spirit. Through them, beauty becomes something we can learn to recognize rather than something we merely prefer and call “personal preference.” To gain aesthetic intelligence, we study both symmetry and anomaly in order to achieve a sense of context. Knowledge of symmetry allows one to recognize when something is out of alignment. Knowledge of anomaly helps one identify exactly what is out of place. Symmetry is a matter of mathematical proportion and is the physical representation of universal truth. For this reason, symmetry creates objective beauty. Humanity introduces deviation. Emotion introduces asymmetry. Evolution introduces variation. If we want to understand symmetry as Divine truth, we look to the Renaissance Masters and classical architecture. If we seek emotion, imagination or subjectivity, we look to modern art. This is why, on page 91 of my poetry book Slow Motion, I wrote, “Don’t look at modern art.” It was a playful exaggeration expressing this idea. I have shared this poem here:

Don’t glorify the future
Don’t look at modern art
The techniques of the masters, learn them by heart
Renaissance works still stand when pulled apart

Use the past for a proper frame of reference
Not these confounding scribbles on a digital canvas
Only a return to the truth can save us

Goddess, save the art world
God, save us from the screen
-art save the artist from the modernity scheme

In ancient times, symmetrical art and architecture were understood as a form of medicine. To gaze upon perfected form was considered therapeutic, a way of restoring inner harmony through outer harmony. Today, we readily accept that sound can heal—hymns, chants, certain frequencies, binaural tones—yet we have largely forgotten the healing power of symmetry itself. We recognize vibrational medicine in music but overlook the mathematics of beauty as a parallel form of spiritual alignment.

This is distinctly different from what many describe as “healing” through splattering paint or releasing emotion onto a canvas. Such methods are practices of emotional transmutation, valid in their own category, but unrelated to what I am referring to. What I am pointing to is the quiet, corrective effect of merely beholding art or architecture that carries divine proportion. Modern art, with its emphasis on emotion, spontaneity, and imprecision, serves a different function entirely.


⚖️ The first step in cultivating good taste is to immerse the mind in symmetrical perfection. Discernment then develops as an internal system of metrics, created through observation and reflection. This internal vetting naturally shapes our aesthetic judgment. It becomes a silent instrument of measure. Once this instrument awakens, we begin to recognize mathematical cohesion immediately, and a taste for this recognition emerges. What reflects proportion reflects truth, and those who are aligned with this truth instinctively resonate with it. This is why the word “integrity” refers both to structural soundness and to alignment with truth. And why the word “sound” itself is used to describe a “state of being in good condition, the quality of being based on valid reason or good judgment” and also “vibrations that travel through the air and can be heard once they reach the ear.”

Integrity, proportion, and beauty mirror a metaphysical pattern, the Platonic Form of order that underlies both art and existence. This connection alludes to the mysteries of fraternal societies that symbolically use the jargon of masonry to guide spiritual initiates. 🛠️


“Pattern” is the directive masculine principle, and matter itself is the receptive feminine principle. To quote Goethe, who said, “Architecture is frozen music,” vibration becomes form when pattern impresses itself upon matter, translating harmony into geometric structure. The masculine embodies, enacts, and impresses the pattern. The feminine is the substance upon which the pattern is received and revealed. The word “pattern” is etymologically rooted in “pater,” or father/patron/protector, while “matter” is rooted in “mater,” or mother/material/matrix. The word “matrix” literally translating to “womb” or “breeding female.” The interaction of pattern and matter reflects the sacred act of creation. To develop good taste is to consciously participate in this mystery, to train the senses toward the architecture of the Divine. 

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How To Connect With Divine Wisdom

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By Valerie A. Cody

Valerie

Even if we have never put words to reason, all of us can actually feel when we are consciously connected to Source Energy. If we were to reflect on life, I would guess that our favorite conversations, meetings, meals, workouts, etc., were all so amazing because we were connecting with Source Energy or we were witnessing this quality in another.

Abraham Hicks once said that trying to take action while disconnected from Source Energy was like trying to make toast without plugging in the toaster. Meaning, without that certain connectedness – the bread (our progress) would just sit there, waiting to be transformed. Link to YouTube video of this Abraham Hicks workshop recording: Here

For reference, in the context of the blog post and also metaphysics, “Source Energy” is the term used to describe what others may refer to as God.

I truly believe that our best work and most satisfying moments are a product of being connected consciously to Source, or being “plugged-in” per the Hicks analogy.

In my experience, some situations afford us an easier opportunity to connect than others. This is also common sense. Watching a beautiful sunset or engaging in an intellectually stimulating conversation – these can very easily turn into experiences of connectedness. While sitting in traffic might turn us off and cause us to subdue the inner wisdom.

Divine wisdom and guidance is always available to us. Though, there are certain patterns that may cause us to feel disconnected from this. Behaviors and compulsions such as: Overthinking, not following divine impulses, not knowing what a divine impulse is, allowing dogma to take precedence, not taking proper care of our physical body, being consumed by addictions, engaging in negative self-talk, as well as many other unique and individual ways of being.

We are divinely intuitive beings and extensions of Source Energy. We are immeasurably powerful and we can truly be, do, or have anything that our minds conceive. In metaphysical terms this means: If we have the thought or idea – then the path has already been paved. It is just the question of how well will we manage to get out of our own way and allow ourselves to follow the path?

If this concept is totally new to you, I urge you to reflect on some of your best moments. Journal about them and try to remember every detail. Is there a through-line?

How to Connect:

  1. Gratitude – This emotion is one of the highest on the vibrational scale of emotions. It is also one of the most easily accessible from some of the lower vibrating emotions such as fear. This means that it is easier to find something to be grateful for in moments of despair than it is to suddenly feel pure joy or bliss.
    Emotional Scale
  2. Mindfulness –  Find God in the moment. Take pleasure in the little things. Do daily activities with a certain care and awareness.
  3. Yoga – When we combine conscious breathing with physical movement, we create space inside our physical bodies for the divine to enter.
  4. Hobbies/Purpose – We can access our inner wisdom during moments of flow. Or, as sports has categorized this state of being “in the zone.” When we have hobbies or a purpose that make us forget that time is passing, we are dancing with the very energy that creates worlds.
  5. Meditation – I love this quote by Kelsey Grammer:

    “Prayer is when you talk to God. Meditation is when you’re listening. Playing the piano allows you to do both at the same time.”

    What better way to feel your guidance than to actually attempt to hear it? Meditation can be a practice of actively quieting the mind long enough for divine wisdom to subtly speak. The whole quote is applicable too because playing instruments can be another way of finding the flow and letting Source move through you.

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Hyper Focused Intuition

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By Valerie A. Cody

Valerie

I have found that the focus of energy is the source of personal power. As humans, we have the capacity to focus our mental energy. We can train our minds. Our thought patterns can either bolster or deter our progress in all areas of life.

Through focused thought, we can engage the power that creates worlds. This is leverage. This is momentum.  This engagement results in a hyper accurate, better executed, easier to produce outcome. 

Notice the two voices that run inside your mind on a daily basis.  (If you’ve never considered this concept, the following may seem odd to you.) The first voice is the one that we interact with all day long. The first voice is the running stream of thoughts in our own minds. We are thinking about plans, observations, the future, the past, other people, etc.

goddess

Now, Voice #2 is only noticeable when you make the effort to quiet Voice #1 by consciously deciding to focus on only the present. It may help to use the sound of your breath as a mental focal point.

Detracting focus from Voice #1 for a long enough to hear Voice #2 is the goal of meditation. This doesn’t take long, it only takes about 17 seconds of absolute focus to quiet Voice #1. The second voice is what you hear asking your thoughts to dissipate. It is the voice that you hear when your streaming thoughts are interrupted with a jolting “Oh yes, I am supposed to be focusing on my breath.”

hp

The second voice is our connection to Source Energy: The voice of intuition.

By the way, how do you know which voice is speaking? Your voice of intuition will be subtle, but it will always make absolute sense. It is typically emotionless (as emotion is usually connected to the ego). This is a voice of clarity, not confusion. Those moments when we know exactly what our next step should be and we cannot wait to take it – these are messages from Source translated by our intuition.

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My Greatest Version

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By Valerie A. Cody

Valerie

Dear Readers,

I am going to share with you the habits and lifestyle choices which I found (along my own personal journey) have led to the best version of myself.

Sleeping Regularly and Enough: Ladies and gentlemen, sleep is important. If you desire clear eyes, an agile mind, ambition, creativity, results from workouts, and ENERGY – you must rest. And you must rest at “normal” times. No, falling asleep at 1am and waking at 10am is NOT the same as being early to bed and early to rise. I did learn this the hard way and have no intentions of letting those habits creep back into my life. For my best life, I strive to be in bed by 10pm and awake before 8am.

Ben Franklin

Regular Yoga Sessions: For me, it is 5+ classes per week. This is my sweet spot. If I am doing yoga at this rate, I am likely doing everything else in life better and with more clarity. The practice of yoga can mean different things to different people. For me, that hour and a half during class represents meditation in movement; connecting with my body in a nonjudgmental way. The act of thinking of nothing beyond the asanas and my breath is truly what I strive for.

Positive Thought Patterns:  This year, I realized that the majority of my self-talk was negative. For example, while working out, my mind would race with uncertainty: Am I lifting enough weight? Doing enough reps? Is this going to give me the results I desire? I don’t look fit. This probably isn’t doing anything... Changing this mindset provided enormous relief. The point isn’t to be arrogant. The point is to soften these harmful thought patterns into a place of neutrality, and eventually our thoughts can be a voice of encouragement.

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Quality Over Quantity: I figured out my favorites. Favorite clothing brands and styles, favorite cosmetic brands, handbags, etc. I’ve stopped buying throw-away clothing because, in the moment, it was cute and inexpensive.  Instead, I’ve opted for pieces that may be higher priced, but will last longer and be more flexible within my wardrobe. How do you accomplish this? Try on all of the clothing you own and make three piles: Donate, Sell, and Keep. Learn what cuts/styles look best on your body. Learn what fabrics feel best against your skin. Next, become brand loyal to a handful of skincare/cosmetic lines and invest in your appearance without having an overwhelming amount of products that you never touch.

Reading: As in, actual books (not online articles). I made the promise to myself that I am going to read at least one page before bed.  If I’m tired, I can still convince myself to read only one page. Typically I end up reading about one chapter per night. It is important to me to always be learning, and making sure to read every night helps keep that goal in the forefront.

Meditation: I have two blog posts on this topic here and here. Seventeen minutes per day is what I require. Finding a quiet time of day to light incense or candles and listen to meditative music has become a regularly scheduled date with myself. Quieting our thoughts allows us to move on from momentum that is no longer serving us.

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Super Moon Spa Night

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By Valerie A. Cody

Valerie

If you gaze up to the sky tonight you will see something that has not been visible since 1948. Something that will not be seen again until 2034. You will see a super-moon. Super-moons themselves are not all that uncommon; we just had one on October 16, and after the November 14 super-moon, we’ll have another one on December 14.

However, the November 14 Moon becomes full within about 2 hours of perigee, so it’s going to look the biggest it has in nearly seven decades.

I like the way Mind Body Green describes the happenings:

The full moon is a time of positive opportunity if you use it correctly.  It can increase your positive energy or conversely, it can wreak havoc on your emotions. 
 
Since the full moon pours down a tremendous amount of energy, you must be in a calm state of mind to receive a positive effect. Remember that whatever is going on in your body, mind and spirit will be amplified. 
 
If you are angry, you will feel angrier or if you are happy, you will feel happier. During the full moon, the ocean swells and emergency rooms have more patients. The energy is very powerful so it’s important to direct it with positive intention. 
supermoons
 
In order to harness the power of positive energy and to create the calm state of mind referenced above, I’ve put together a list of ways you can enjoy an in-home spa night to celebrate the super moon.
 
1. Have a Bath. Both the moon and water are wrought with feminine energy. A woman’s natural (versus someone on the birth control pill) monthly cycle is 28 days. The moon’s cycle of waxing/waning is also 28 days. The moon is receptive of the sun’s light, which is why we can actually see it. The moon itself does not generate light at all. It only appears to glow due to its reflecting light from the sun. The ocean tides are also directly affected by how close or far the moon is from the Earth. I will be using a classic bubble bar from Lush Cosmetics called “The Comforter.” This one in particular is a favorite of many bloggers, so I picked it up while in Chicago.
 
 
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2. Exfoliate While exfoliating, focus on physically removing negative energies from your being. Focus on watching these negative thoughts swirl around and go down the drain. Any emotional blockages which make it difficult for you to express how you truly feel, negative self-talk which holds you back from evolving into your best version, and especially thoughts of you not being the creator of your own destiny; take back your personal power. I just purchased a new sugar scrub from one of my favorite brands, Tree Hut.
 
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3. Drink Tea Non-caffiniated herbal teas are a lovely way to wind down after a long day. My favorites for this time of year are the spicier, heavier flavors such as chai or ginger.
 
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4. Bentonite Clay Masque In the spirit of removing toxic energies, I could not forget to include the application of this masque. Bentonite clay has a very strong negative electrical charge. Since many toxins have a positive charge, the clay bonds to them. When it comes in contact with a toxin, heavy metal, chemical, or other impurity, the clay will envelop the toxin and release its minerals for the body to use. In addition, Bentonite clay also pulls hydrogen from cells, allowing room for oxygen. This helps with circulation, and overall skin tone and health. I’ve been using Aztec Secret Healing Clay for years now, and it still continues to be a favorite. Following the directions on the container, simply mix with apple cider vinegar until a paste is formed.
 
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