The Crystal Palace Within

In Daoist practices, the region of the brain bound by the pineal, the pituitary, thalamus and hypothalamus glands is called the Crystal Palace. The Crystal Palace sits between the left and right hemispheres of the brain and between the forebrain of reason and the hind brain of instinct. Many meditation practices mention the Crystal Palace, but some people have difficulty sensing it because these structures are inside the skull and cannot be touched directly.

Pineal Gland

The pineal gland is a cone-shaped gland located in the mid brain behind the thalamus and hangs from the roof of the back of the 3rd ventricle of the brain. Ventricles are the spaces in the brain containing cerebral spinal fluid.

The pineal gland is considered a master gland which is connected to and regulates the endocrine system which includes the following glands: the pituitary, hypothalamus, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, pancreas, and ovaries/testes.

Melatonin

The pineal gland, as does the GI tract and the retina of the eye, secretes hormones, known as melatonin. Melatonin is stimulated by darkness and inhibited by light.

Melatonin regulates sleep-wake and breathing cycles and our awareness of the time of day and the seasons, via the degree of light coming through the retina of the eyes. The more darkness in the environment, the more melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland. Vice versa, the more light, the less secretion of melatonin.

Balancing the pineal gland can relieve stress, insomnia, jet lag, breathing irregularities and depression.

Electromagnetic appliances influences, such as TVs, computers mobiles, electric blankets have been shown to decrease melatonin secretion.

Melatonin also decreases seratonin. So too little melatonin production creates too much seratonin, which can create agitated states and even psychosis. Too little seratonin can cause depression.

The Hypothalamus/Pituitary/Pineal Relationship

The pineal gland, shaped like a pine cone, hardens, degenerates and shrinks as we age, but there are ways to slow down this process. Meditation, regular good night’s sleep, quiet environments, relaxing activities, being in nature and reduced flouride intake, e.g. water or toothpaste, are some of the ways to keep the pineal gland young and vital.

With access to both the nervous and endocrine systems, the hypothalamus plays a central role in linking the two and in activating the pineal gland. It is also connected with the limbic system, a center for our feelings and emotions. The hypothalamus has the ability to affect most of the major systems and organ functions in the body as well as our emotions. Both the hypothalamus and pituitary regulate all of our basic survival processes including body temperature, hunger, thirst, fatigue, growth, sleep, weight, sexual function, pain relief, blood pressure, circadian rhythms, and stress responses.

The hypothalamus is about the size of an almond and is located just behind the optic chiasm. It secretes neurohormones that communicate with the pituitary gland, signaling the release or inhibition of key pituitary hormones, which in turn harmonize and activate pineal gland function.

The pituitary gland has two major lobes, which are distinctly different embryologically, anatomically, and functionally. Altogether, the pituitary is about the size of a pea; it sits below the hypothalamus, within the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone. Because the pituitary is enclosed by the sphenoid, it is highly sensitive to misalignments or restrictions in the movement of that bone. If you press your tongue to the roof of your mouth at the soft palate, you are pressing on the underside of the pituitary.

The anterior lobe of the pituitary secretes seven key hormones that are related to lactation, the release of testosterone and the production of sex, thyroid, and human growth hormones. The posterior lobe does not produce hormones, but stores and releases two important ones made in the brain: oxytocin and vasopressin. Oxytocin fosters maternal instincts, bonding between mates, trust, and sexual pleasure. Vasopressin influences circadian rhythms, the re-absorption of water into the bloodstream, and also stimulates paternal protective and caring instincts.

The hypothalamus communicates with the anterior lobe of the pituitary via blood vessels and connects directly with the posterior lobe through the pituitary stalk or infundibulum. The hypothalamus receives and integrates information from the rest of the body and then secretes the neurohormones that release or inhibit key pituitary hormones. By signaling and directing the pituitary, the hypothalamus plays a critical part in the endocrine system and is important in a larger sense for pineal gland activation.

The Fundamentals of Pineal Gland Activation

Balancing the Endocrine System

The endocrine system (hypothalamus, pituitary, and pineal glands) is a critical gateway joining both the physical function with spiritual experience. These glands use hormones (rather than the electrical impulses used by the nervous system) to effect changes in our body, emotions, cognition, and energy. Hormones are chemical messengers that circulate through the body via the bloodstream and coordinate critical body functions. They increase or reduce nerve impulses and can also act as neurotransmitters.

Spiritual Aspects of the Pineal Gland

Given its important role, it is not surprising that a healthy, activated pineal gland has been connected with spirituality for millennia. Its pineconed shape can be found in many ancient art and artifacts associated with enlightenment and immortality.

With its spines and spirals, the pinecone illustrates a perfect Fibonacci sequence, symbolizing growth and the unifying force that underlies creation embodied in an activated pineal gland.

Spiritual traditions associate and activate the pineal gland with the opening of the third eye of inner vision, insight and wisdom.

Scientific research has now validated the relationship between the pineal gland and vision. Comparative research into the anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry of the pineal gland and the eye retina across a wide range of animal species suggests that the two organs share evolutionary and developmental path.

Pineal light sensitivity is common across diverse species and in humans it is connected with the opening of the third eye.

Melatonin and the Spirit Molecules

During a spiritual experience, melatonin quietens down the body and mind, allowing access to higher consciousness. Both pinoline and DMT, secreted by a healthy, activated pineal gland, are psychoactive, causing changes in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition and behavior. Pinoline enables visions and dream states in the conscious mind and has been used by ancient cultures in their rituals. It assists in DNA replication and is said to resonate with the pulse of life at ~8 cycles per second.

DMT is produced in the pineal gland during deep meditation and extraordinary conditions of birth, sexual ecstasy, extreme physical stress, and near-death experiences. It also alters our dream consciousness when it is released into the bloodstream during the Rapid Eye Movement phase of sleep.

DMT links the body and spirit because of its relationship to visionary experiences and nonordinary states of transcendant consciousness. DMT is commonly known as the Spirit Molecule.

The Pineal Gland and Vibration

The activated pineal gland can also influence our experience through vibration. As with the heart, rhythmic vibrations can have a powerful effect on our cognition, emotions and physical state.

Intuitively we experience activation when we sense the effects that music has on our mood, memory, and physiology. In the early 1980s, the French musician Fabien Maman researched the effect of sound vibrations on cells; he found that sounds can destroy cancer cells and invigorate healthy ones. Today, it is common for parents to play classical music to stimulate brain development in their children before and after birth.

Rhythm entrainment, also called resonance, happens when two wave forms begin to oscillate together at exactly the same rate. When the hypothalamus and pituitary entrain with the pulsing vibration of the pineal gland, our whole system can shift toward harmony.

The North Star

Daoists believe that the North Star is the source of the original pulse. Vibrations from this star were crucial in the evolution of the first forms of life on Earth. It is said that Earth’s ability to support life is related to the planet’s tilt toward the North Star (rather than being oriented directly toward the sun). This orientation maximizes the habitable surface and optimizes the environment for plant and animal life.

According to Daoists, the North Star emits pulsing vibrations which affect and activate the pineal gland. When the pineal gland pulses in synchrony with the North Star, it receives cosmic information and relays it to the hypothalamus and pituitary through resonance. In turn, they send messages to the heart which communicates with the rest of the body through its own electromagnetic pulsing.

Magnetic Fields and the Pineal Gland

Besides being sensitive to light and vibration, the pineal gland activates in part due to exposure to magnetic fields. Studies with birds and other animals conclude that the pineal gland monitors magnetic fields and assists the body in orienting in space, by acting as a navigational center. This magneto receptive capacity also explains why geomagnetic storms and environmental stress can affect the pineal gland, leading to problems with circadian rhythms and melatonin secretion.

The heart generates a strong electromagnetic field that permeates the whole body. When the heart is activated with the high frequencies of love and compassion, its electromagnetic field is amplified and expanded. The pineal gland’s sensitivity to electromagnetic energy causes it to begin vibrating and activating in concert with the heart. As these two organs entrain together, their high vibration opens the third eye to greater inspiration, intuition, and inner vision.

Because of the pineal gland’s connection with spatial orientation and circadian rhythms, our perception of space and time often shifts when the pineal is in a highly aroused state. Such experiences have been mentioned by meditators and Chi Kung practitioners for millennia, and research is now providing explanations for these phenomena.

The Crystal Palace Within - Hypothalamus, Thalamus, Pituitary and Pineal

The Crystal Palace Within refers to the inter-relationship between the hypothalamus, thalamus, pituitary and pineal glands, because part of its structure is crystalline in nature. These small calcite crystals have piezoelectric properties that can respond to the higher realms of light. By activating these crystalline potentials within your pineal gland you open a portal to your Higher Mind, which can bring an influx of creativity, insight and solutions to personal and collective problems.

The pituitary relates to our growth and its health is also important for pineal gland activation. When it begins to vibrate in synchrony with the pineal gland, we are inspired to grow and renew ourselves both physically and spiritually.

With practice, it is simple to connect with and activate these spiritual glands through our awareness and intention. The location of the pineal gland is often described as the center of the head, as it is at the level of the eyebrows, above and behind the pituitary and hypothalamus. Behind the eyes, the optic nerves cross at the optic chiasm. Below the optic chiasm is the pituitary gland, which sits in the sella turcica of the sphenoid. Above and behind the optic chiasm is the hypothalamus.

The Crystal Palace Relationship with Light

All three glands of the Crystal Palace are extremely sensitive and responsive to light. Prior to 2002, science was aware of two forms of light receptors in the eye: cones (for color vision) and rods (for low light vision). In 2002, however, scientists discovered a third photoreceptor: cells in the retina that contain a light-sensitive pigment called melanopsin. These cells send messages to the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. The SCN is responsible for controlling circadian rhythms, which influence our sleep, alertness, hormones, temperature and digestive functions.

When the hypothalamus receives information about the presence or absence of light, it signals the pineal gland to activate and to start or inhibit cortisol and melatonin production. Variation in melatonin levels causes a cascade of changes in the SCN, pituitary, and retina. The pituitary also responds to light through its release of vasopressin, which influences the SCN to adjust our circadian clock.

In addition to the light detected by our eyes, studies now show that the whole body acts as a light receptor. Light shining on any part of the body can be detected, signaling the SCN and pineal gland to shut down melatonin production. Because there is so much ambient light these days, our systems rarely receive the deep relaxation that occurs in total darkness. Many people find that removing light sources from the bedroom can be helpful in optimizing sleep cycles, improving general health and powerfully stimulating pineal gland activation and rebalancing.

Sources Sol Awakening, Mantak Chaya

Michael J Robey

Psychic.gr

Psychic Medium / Psychic Investigator / Spiritual Counsellor

www.psychicgr.com