Jared Foy

Even though Father John Romanides is slandered for saying noetic spinal fluid plays a role in illumination and theosis, saints like Father Arsenie Boca seemed to agree with him. He said: “In the brain function two endocrine glands: the pineal gland and the pituitary gland. These two glands produce hormones which they send through the bloodstream to all the other endocrine glands arranged vertically, with precise instructions for their operation. One of them, the pituitary gland, is sensitive to the conception of life which a person chooses as the norm for living; and according to that conception it sends, through messenger hormones, to its neighboring gland in the brain the impulse to produce its own specific hormones, which then direct the entire endocrine column in accordance with that conception. The whole endocrine column functions in one manner when you are in Christ's flock, and altogether differently when, in your outlook, you are in Epicurus’ flock. Scattered throughout our organism we have some seven or eight glands of internal secretion. The study of these glands is called endocrinology. The entire endocrine column functions in accordance with the conception of life which the person has chosen.”

Father John Romanides is criticized for saying our spinal fluid plays a role in noetic prayer. He claimed there’s a short circuit between the heart and mind that keeps us spiritually sick and trapped in the intellect. Supposedly, before the Fall, spiritual energies flowed all throughout the body. But now, they are stuck in the brain. This is what makes people slaves to sin. They are slaves to impulsive and passionate thoughts, illusions, and even imaginary gods, especially Christians who remain religious. They do not know God in their heart. They only worship their ideas about Him, and become Pharisees in the process. According to Romanides, religion is a symptom of our spiritual sickness. So, a saint is someone who has been cured of this condition. They’ve freed themselves from their intellect. They’ve repaired the short circuit between the heart and mind by praying unceasingly. They’ve met God within and become a true theologian. Apparently, this is what prostrations are really for. Maybe all of this sounds like nonsense. But what if it’s not? Satan, who loves to mimic God, seems to take the idea seriously. Satan’s mystery schools, which seduce people with half-truths, claim there is a psycho-spiritual “Christ Oil” the claustrum secrets. Then, it travels down the spine before going back up again. Yogis claim Kundalini energy is used to push it back up. Then, it activates the pineal gland, or third eye. People really do experience these so-called Kundalini awakenings. However, they are obviously a counterfeit of the noetic prayer. This is why monks say we should pay attention to where we feel spiritual heat is coming from: above, below, or within. The saints have similar sensations. They feel their spines turn into a pillar of fire. They weep. But they don’t get proud. They become even more humble. They don’t desire visions or the ability to work miracles. They just want to hide away in silence and stillness, and stay with God. They even begin to breathe deeper and slower, like some Yogis do. But they don’t remain an empty vessel for foreign spirits. They constantly refill themselves with the words Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God.