Esoteric Christianity 07 Well & Ladder of Jacob

Explains the secrets behind the story of the woman and Jesus at the Well of Jacob, Jacob's Ladder, the Jacob's Stone Pillar, and Jacob's Struggle with God.

Slides (with quotes and references) found at the course home: https://gnosticteachings.org/download/esoteric-christianity-course.html

Reviews the three primary souls of kabbalah:

1. נפש Nephesh – Animal Soul
2. רוח Ruach – Thinking-Emotional Soul
3. נשמה Neshamah – Spiritual Soul

All three souls can be translated literally as 'breath' or 'wind.'

Explains the esoteric meaning of the Hebrew letters ו Vav, ז Zayin, and ט Teth.

In the second half, the lecture explains the importance of breathing and meditation, quoting from the Philokalia.

Since the intellect of those recently embarked on the spiritual path continually darts away again as soon as it has been concentrated, they must continually bring it back once more; […] some teachers recommend them to pay attention to the exhalation and inhalation of their breath, and to restrain it a little, so that while they are watching it, the mind, too, may be held in check. – Philokalia, St Gregory Palamas, In Defense of Those who Devoutly Practice a Life of Stillness

Restrain the drawing-in of breath through your nostrils, so as not to breathe easily, and search inside yourself with your nous so as to find the place of the heart, where all the powers of the soul reside. – Philokalia, St Symeon the New Theologian, The Three Methods of Prayer

Single people must transmute the seminal liquor with deep breathing, keeping the lungs full thirty seconds or more. – Samael Aun Weor

And by the רוח ruach of your noses your [sexual] waters were gathered together, your flowing waters were lifted up like a pillar, and the depths [of Yesod] coagulated in the sea of your heart. – Exodus 15:8