The Redwoods of Gaia: A Metaphysical Primer

By Kathleen Chan

In The Redwoods of Gaia, author Kathleen Chan, defines the broad scope of metaphysics to include the study of spirituality as well as other dimensions of reality postulated by astrophysicists in their most recent findings. Her terminology is clear, concise, and meaningfully described. The a priori First Cause, she states, is the sentient cosmic intelligence operating throughout the entire universe. It is everywhere, within and without.
The giant redwood tree found only in certain fog drenched areas in the United States is but a metaphor for each of us as individuals ever expanding in our intellectual understanding of the nature of reality. Although inhabiting separate bodies, we, in our essence, are connected to one another as members of our species, just as the giant redwood is to its grove.
She explains how the developing hominid brain with its neurological complexity afforded evolving hominids the ability for abstract thought, speech, language, and art. Man in his early evolution was much more than a bipedal tool maker. Man had the capacity for executive mental functioning, ethical decision-making, altruism for his fellows, and a deep connection to the intangible cosmic intelligence residing in the universe. She pinpoints the time frame in which this humanization occurred with the genus, Homo, the dawn of Homo sapiens. This is where the gift of an individual sentient soul was given to each member of humanity.
The reader may find some of the contents of this work a bit controversial, but hopefully it will help the reader begin his quest for what it means to be human. After all, are we not a species contemplating our own existence? Then, the final question must beto what end or purpose? If we look inward as well as backwards into our time as an evolving species, we may find some intriguing answers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 23, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503563285

Kathleen Chan

The author, Kathleen Chan, had always felt that her life’s purpose was to help others find their true selves and to begin their spiritual quest for the truth of their existence. Having worked as a licensed clinical social worker for twenty years, she has seen healing occur when her clients were able to connect with their deeper, inner core—that is, their souls. She began her own spiritual quest in 1986 when she joined the Aquarian Foundation. Now in her 70s, she felt it was time to share what she has learned through the many years of clinical work and as a student of metaphysics. She lives in a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona.

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Copyright © 2015 by Kathleen Chan.

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015906135

ISBN: Hardcover         978-1-5035-6327-8

               Softcover           978-1-5035-6329-2

               eBook                978-1-5035-6328-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Figure 3, 4, and 5 were illustrated by Kersly Miñoza.

Rev. date: 04/20/2015

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

PART I: SCIENCE AND RELIGION

Chapter 1: The Study of Metaphysics

Chapter 2: Is Science Finally Discovering God?

Chapter 3: The World’s Religions…Common Threads

PART II: MANKIND’S JOURNEY

Chapter 4: Hominid Evolution and the Stone Ages

Chapter 5: The Neolithic Revolution

Chapter 6: Civilization

PART III: THE TRUE SELF

Chapter 7: The First Cause

Chapter 8: The Human Soul

Chapter 9: Seven Bodies/Seven Planes of Consciousness

Chapter 10: Soul Evolution

PART IV: CONCLUSIONS

Chapter 11: Threshold Time

Chapter 12: Planetary Evolution

Acknowledgements

Selected Bibliography

DEDICATION

In memory of Popo, Jongie,

Grandparents Leen & Lan Gok

INTRODUCTION

A t the foot of Mount Tamalpais in Marin County, California, stands one of the most pristine redwood groves in the world. It is called Muir Woods named after John Muir, the renowned naturalist. A grove of ancient trees thriving in abundance, they stand tall as if holding their own secret conclave. In their midst, one senses the unity of nature. These ancient redwoods not only have immense root systems, but their needles absorb the moisture from the San Francisco Bay Area’s fog each morning and evening. They stand a hundred to more than two hundred feet tall, centuries older than the founding of our country in 1776. Some are as old as 800 years. As their needles fall downward to the lower ground, they emit an aerosol that is anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, thus keeping the ground free of microbes that might undermine their growth. A pungent, invigorating scent from their essential oil permeates this miraculous g rove.

A walk through Muir Woods is indeed an uplifting experience. For others, peace may be found within deep meditation, going inwardly until the noise of the ego’s inner chatter is stilled. Within that inner peace, we find a sense of balance, harmony, and complete stillness. But for those of us unable to meditate in this manner, communal prayer may afford us that same experience. Wherever you find your sacred space to do your inner work, it is important you do so regularly. And why, you may ask? Because when we connect with our innermost being, beyond sensation, thought, or feeling; we experience our true intangible self. In our walk through Muir Woods, to the sound of ocean waves, or to the beating of our own hearts; we truly come to know ourselves, as well as to what existed before and to what shall come to us as a species in the future. Somehow, in this calm state of awareness, we connect with something far greater, something infinite and beautiful. Let us explore the facets of this phenomenon.

PART I

SCIENCE AND RELIGION

CHAPTER 1

THE STUDY OF METAPHYSICS

I t was the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384 – 322 B.C.), who coined the term, metaphysics. He did so only to differentiate it from the study of physics, the nature of the known physical world. In fact, as a close source has told me, Aristotle devoted a separate section to express his musings about the supernatural, the unseen and unknown, calling it metaphysics, that which is beyond the physically observable w orld.

Over time, the term metaphysics has come to mean the study of the structure of reality as well as the origins and processes maintaining our universe. The early Greek philosophers postulated what our reality might be, and what underlies our observable three-dimensional world. They concerned themselves with being versus non-being. We call this inquiry ontology. So, metaphysics is indeed a broad field, comprised of two subdivisions, ontology and cosmology.

Studying reality is difficult, given the fact that our five senses do not always observe things that are minute or extremely large, such as galaxies, baffling our comprehension. The Greeks did not have the modern technology that we have today and the advantage of the scientific method of hypothesis and verification to judge what was real or what was merely hypothesized. But what they did accomplish was to begin a discourse of describing reality beyond what our five senses