Sleep and magnetism
[The Dialogues of G. de Purucker, Theosophical University Press, 1948, 3:6-9]
Student – ... We have been told that it is best while sleeping to have the head turned towards the north. ... It seems rather remarkable to me, because according to our teaching, I understand that the head [has] similar polarity to the north pole, in which case they should repel each other. So if magnetic conditions reign over such things, one ought to sleep less well ...
G. de P. – [W]hen you put two magnets together, it is the north pole of one magnet which must be presented to the south pole of the other magnet in order that the two shall hang together or cohere. ... Therefore the two north ends are pointing in the same direction, and thus do not repel each other. Just so is it with the human body sleeping in bed with the head to the north. The man's positive pole, his north pole, his head, is then pointing to the north pole of the Earth, and thus it receives the magnetism coming from the south pole of all objects immediately contiguous to or touching his head. ...
That is the reason why the 'north pole,' so called, should be pointed to the north. It is also the reason why a man should have his north pole, his head, also directed to the north. It is because the influence, the magnetism, coming into his north pole, his head, comes from the south pole of the magnet, whatever it may be, visible or invisible, with which his head is in immediate connection. The distance between north pole and head of sleeping man may be small or may be long. But this distance is composed of matter or material things between the north pole and the human head, and thus is like a series of magnets one pendant from the other, in a shorter or longer chain of magnets. In all cases the north poles all point in the same direction to the north pole of the Earth. ...
[T]he ideal way to sleep ... is the head to the north or northeast – but best of all is to the north – and the body somewhat curved in bed, with the knees more or less drawn up, not uncomfortably so, and with the feet pointing to the south. ... [This] is also said to be the position of the unborn child in its antenatal sleep. [T]he theory is – and it is a fact – that all electro-magnetic energies move in spirals or circles. That is their perfect way; and the body lying in the bed thus curved with the head pointing preferably to the north, and with the knees more or less drawn up and the feet pointing south, offers every opportunity for the natural magnetic circulations of the Earth to have freest passage through the body, without undergoing an unnecessary resistance.
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