Imagine a world without light. I know it can be really hard, right? Without this fundamental element there would be no sight, no plants, no animals, no life; just a cold, dark, lifeless, void. The Christmas season is the time to contemplate the birth of The Light of the World, and the Chanukah season is a celebration of miraculous Divine Light.
As Christ said, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12)
Light is fundamental to both spirituality and science, and the concept of plasma is a bridge to understanding this critical source of light that fills the cosmos.
Plasma, Light, and Spirit
Plasma, derived from the Ancient Greek word “plásma” meaning “moldable substance,” represents one of the four fundamental states of matter alongside solids, liquids, and gases. Plasma creates the energy field that brings forth most light.
Distinguished by its high concentration of charged ions and electrons, plasma exists as the most prevalent form of ordinary matter in the universe. While most commonly found in stars, including our Sun, plasma also pervades the vast spaces between galaxies and galaxy clusters.1
Intense quantum light generates ‘weird’ electron behavior © Provided by Earth
Like stars that pulse with ancient light, plasma dances through the cosmos as nature’s most ethereal state of matter. This luminous sea of charged particles, positive ions and negative electrons swirling in a cosmic ballet, mirrors what mystics have long described as the subtle energy that animates all living things.
Plasma illuminates the heavens and flows through the northern lights in shimmering waves. Some believe a similar force flows through human beings, a kind of bio-plasma that ancient traditions called: Qi, Prana, Life Force, Vital Energy, and even the Soul.
In this view, we are not merely flesh and bone, but beings of light and energy. Our consciousness is carried on waves of a plasma-like force that transcends ordinary matter.
As plasma links the physical and ethereal realms in nature, being neither solid, liquid, nor gas, perhaps it offers a glimpse into how our material bodies might commune with the intangible realm of spirit.
From the sacred fires of temples to the electric currents of life itself, plasma’s radiant dance may be the very language through which consciousness and cosmos speak as one.
“Plasma is conscious, and it responds to consciousness.” -Dr. William Levengood
The concept of human consciousness and its potential relationship to quantum phenomena remains a subject of scientific investigation and philosophical debate. Some researchers even propose that consciousness might interact with quantum fields through electromagnetic forces which are also a form of light. This hypothesis has been explored in the context of near-death experiences, where individuals report perceptions that appear to transcend ordinary sensory capabilities.
The precise relationship between electromagnetic fields, which are mediated by photons, and consciousness presents an intriguing area for further research.
Light: The First Act of Creation
Interestingly, this interconnectedness begins with light itself; in Genesis 1:3 “God said, Let there be light, and there was light”, showing that light was the first act of creation. Modern physics has shown us that light is indeed fundamental to the structure and functioning of the universe. Life has a non-linear dimensionality; life is so much more than what we know it to be through our five senses. It’s like a perennial flower that returns to bloom in the multiverse.
Our conventional understanding of life and death might be merely a limited perspective, bound by our three-dimensional experience. What we perceive as the end might simply be a transition, a shift in consciousness that our earthbound minds cannot fully comprehend. Our life and everything about it does matter because ‘agape’ love is timeless as well. When you peel all the faces of God away you are left only with love.
The Symbolism of Light and Chanukah
Chanukah (Hanukkah) is the Jewish eight-day, wintertime “festival of lights”, celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, special prayers of praise and thanksgiving, and traditional foods, including potato pancakes called latkes.
The Chanukah candles represent the light of the Divine, and one should spend time in close proximity to these lights, being still and listening carefully to what the candles convey. What might we learn from the flickering flames? The candlelight exudes a mystical energy that connects us to centuries of tradition.
Both Chanukah and Christmas are holidays that bring light and joy during the darkest days of winter.
“Joy is prayer, Joy is strength, Joy is love. She who gives with joy gives most.” – Mother Teresa
The Christmas Story
One of my favorite passages in the Bible is the prayer Mary recites when she finds out she is going to give birth to baby Jesus. Called The Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55), the prayer begins: “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices.”, but this is so much more than a simple prayer of praise.
What courage and strength it must have taken for young Mary to trust in the Lord so completely. Mary proclaims the Lord’s greatness with characteristic humility and grace: “Because He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaid; For behold, henceforth all generations shall call me blessed; Because He who is mighty has done great things for me.” With these words, Mary reminds us of the essential link between humility and holiness.
“Where there’s hope, there’s life. It fills us with fresh courage and makes us strong again.” – Anne Frank
Christmas can be a day that brings us into our spirit. For Christians, we proclaim Christ is born, and for those of other faiths, or no faith at all, Jesus was a great man who taught us all how “to love one another.” That’s why we should give gifts, to celebrate the birth of our Jesus, not because we need or want material things.
Christmas isn’t just a time to give gifts, decorate our homes, or to go to parties, although it certainly can include all of these if the festivities are to first and foremost honor Christ’s birth. It is a time to spend with our families, friends, brothers and sisters of the world, and other creatures as well, to love one another, and to celebrate birth – new beginnings, filled with endless possibilities, and most of all, a new commitment to love and be the light to everyone and everything around us.
“The most telling and profound way of describing the evolution of the universe would undoubtedly be to trace the evolution of love.” -Pierre Teilhard de Chardin
The Christmas story captures the heart in a way that transcends all human understanding. Images of angels, a young mother, of shepherds, a stable, wise men, and royal intrigue certainly makes it captivating, but think for a moment about God coming into the world without even a place to be born. As the story is told, Mary and Joseph ran all around the town of Bethlehem and eventually baby Jesus was born in a humble stable.
The book of Matthew, which is the story from the perspective of Joseph, depicts his deliberations about what he should do with his pregnant wife-to-be. I believe since the very beginning,
God has demonstrated humility and an understanding of simplicity.
The True Meaning of Christmas
The understanding of God through the Gospels has had such an impact on my life that without it there would be a deep emptiness in my soul. The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation of God in Jesus, who is the self-revelation of God to the world in human form. As the early church father, Irenaeus of Lyons, suggested- “God became human, so that we can be God.”
“The visible world is the invisible organization of energy.” ~ Heinz Pagels, former executive director, New York Academy of Sciences
As human beings, we have the ability to move beyond basic self-centered consciousness, and to truly see others, and bring love and goodness to all the world and the entire cosmos (a Greek word meaning EVERYTHING), in both small and big ways.
Be hopeful, be kind, and as Pope Francis says, “seek truth, beauty and love.”
Whether or not you celebrate Christmas by taking the time to welcome God into our world through the innocence and purity of a newborn baby, may you strive to live with your feet on the earth but your heart already in heaven, seeking to bridge heaven and earth with your love.
Wishing you a Joyous Christmas, Winter Solstice, Chanukah, and a Happy New Year to you all.
May our prayers be our words in deeds, and may our earth be made very peaceful because of Him, and because of each one of us.
With Love,
Donnie and Jen
About the Author:
Donald R. Yance is the founder of the Mederi Center. A Clinical Master Herbalist and Certified Nutritionist, Donnie is renowned for his extraordinary knowledge and deep understanding of the healing properties of plants and nutrition, as well as of epigenetics, laboratory medicine, oncologic pathology, and molecular oncology. He is a professional member of the American Herbalists Guild, National Association of Nutrition Professionals, Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, and the Society for Integrative Oncology.
References:
1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plasma_(physics)
Thank you Donnie! A masterpiece of a reflection!
Happy Christmas to you and Jen, your family and collaborators at MEDERI.
Forever grateful and with love,
Nino