Have you ever wondered where is your soul or your spirit? Some people may believe it is some ghostly form that abides deep within their chest, while others, who take on a more realist approach, may say that the soul or spirit is just a concept or idea that is created in our brain. Either way, the question of the soul is one that has been long pondered, especially regarding its location in the physical world.
It’s believed that the pineal gland, with its midline yet mobile position, is the seat of the soul, the place where all thoughts are formed, and the focal point of the third eye. Because of its individualistic properties, the pineal gland is said to be the focal point where inputs to the body unite.
Let us take a deeper look at how this small little gland has garnered the reputation as being the host and seat that so graciously holds our souls.
The History of the Pineal Gland
First discovered by Galen of Pergamon, the pineal gland shot to fame in its spiritual representation when French philosopher René Descartes said it was the seat of the soul, or ultimately, where the soul resides.
He believed that it held an important place in matters of the soul because it functions in body movements, memory, and the creation of thoughts and imaginations.
Descartes further went on to state that the pineal gland is the seat of the soul because he falsely believed that only humans had a pineal gland and that animals did not possess one. This was further motivated by his belief that only humans have souls and that animals, or other living creatures, do not possess souls. He was, however, incorrect on these counts.
Pineal Glands in Animals
Descartes was greatly disproved in his beliefs that animals did not possess a pineal gland, because it has been found that nearly all vertebrates possess a pineal gland.
However, his theories may have been true about the pineal gland being the seat of the soul, as it is a long-standing belief that animals, specifically dogs, can easily see into the spiritual realm and are able to see spirits that appear in the physical realm.
Although this hasn’t been scientifically proven, many people believe that dogs can see spirits, souls, or ghosts by certain behaviors that they exhibit, such as chasing after something invisible, whimpering even though no one is there, and trying to protect their owners when no obvious danger is around.
This also further links into the idea that the pineal gland is linked to the third eye, the sixth chakra, or the third eye chakra, which when opened, allows one to achieve greater intuition and to see into the spiritual plane. This can further be seen through a physical manifestation in some animals, predominantly reptiles, having the gland visible on their foreheads.
Such animals who have the gland exposed on the top of their heads include the monitor lizard and some species of iguanas.
The Light and the Dark
From the time babies are born, parents are encouraged to keep them in the light during the day with sounds and movement all around them and to keep things quiet and dark at night. The reason for this is because of a little hormone called melatonin which is released and governed by the pineal gland.
The pineal gland is part of the endocrine system and is responsible for monitoring our natural day-night cycles, and when it comes closer to nighttime, our melatonin levels increase. This is when our brains slowly shut down and we are able to turn in for the night.
The pineal gland, which is shaped like a small pinecone, begins showing up as white on an x-ray as one ages, as a result of accumulated calcium, fluoride, and phosphorus deposits. This glow that appears right in the center of a brain x-ray may be enough to cause even those who are doubtful that this little glowing gland houses something greater than this physical world can comprehend.
The pineal gland is responsible for our circadian rhythms, which controls our 24-hour cycle, and the highs and lows our body and internal processes follow during this time. Through our circadian rhythms, we experience the sensations of being tired, falling asleep, maintaining our sleep, and feeling alert and awake.
Perhaps the idea of the pineal gland being the seat of the soul could also stem from the fact that, physiologically, it is able to detect night and day, or light and darkness, just as our eyes are able to do so. The pineal gland’s ability to detect lightness and darkness could also further lean to the spiritual inclination of seeing the good and bad in every physical form.
What Would Happen if the Pineal Gland Stopped Working?
If the pineal gland becomes impaired or stops functioning for any reason, it may affect many other internal balances and homeostasis within the body. First, sleep may be impaired, which may present itself as insomnia or even jet lag.
The pineal gland also aids in the development of the reproductive organs, as well as in the production of different hormones that maintain the reproductive cycle in both men and women. While it is important for certain spiritual functions, if it is impaired, mediumship and other spiritual abilities may be affected in varying degrees.
Conclusion
Whether the soul is made of a mist-like substance or is housed in a tiny gland within our brain, we can’t deny that our brains and mental processes play a big role in understanding and even conceptualizing the fact that we have souls. It is through this fascination that the pineal gland continues to be the focus of much attention in understanding the human physical and spiritual composition.
