From My Bookshelf Series
The Vibrant World of Thought-Forms: Ancient Wisdom for the Modern Minds
Books feel like vital companions on my journey. Each month in "From My Bookshelf," I'll share one that truly resonated – perhaps sparking reflection, offering comfort, or shifting my perspective on themes close to my heart like healing, consciousness, and creativity. Excited to share these discoveries and connect through the ideas that move us!
I recently discovered a cool and interesting book called "Thought-Forms" by Annie Besant from 1975 that has shifted my understanding of our inner lives. I read it during a difficult period, one of those seasons of change that seem to arrive when we least expect them.
What if your thoughts were actual things?
Besant presents a fascinating perspective: our thoughts aren't simply abstract concepts confined to our minds. They create actual forms of subtle energy, shapes and colors that exist in the space around us.
When we experience anger, we generate sharp, red formations that go outward. When we feel love for our kids, we create flowing, rose-colored forms that surround them with nurturing energy.
I've started to observe my thought patterns more carefully now. While picking up my kid from school, another parent stopped their car in the middle of the street, blocking traffic, to let their child get in. Their child still had quite a bit of a walk to get there. As irritation began to rise, I paused and considered, "Do I want to fill this space with unpleasant thought-forms directed at this stranger?" The awareness itself created a shift. (Disclaimer: I am not able to be THIS mindful all the time. It’s hard!)
What hits me most about this concept is how it transforms thinking from a private, insignificant activity to something of great responsibility. If our thoughts truly create energetic patterns that persist beyond our minds, then tending to our inner thoughts becomes as important as our outward actions.
We affect each other in hidden ways
Perhaps the most interesting part of Besant's book is how these thought-forms extend much further outside of ourselves.
When my daughter moved out for college, I found myself consumed with sadness and worry. A good friend who is very much into these type of concepts gently reminded me that my anxious thoughts weren't serving either of us, that I could be sending negative energy to her.
This perspective changed my approach to my negative thoughts. Instead of worrying, I tried to visualize sending out positive, loving energy. That visual made me feel warm and safe. Whether connected or not, the practice brought peace to me and, hopefully, to her too.
This isn't just old ancient wisdom, I believe. I’ve been hearing a lot more about how our thought patterns create neural pathways that influence not just our own perception but also create energetic fields that others can sense subconsciously. Sort of like when you walked into a room and immediately felt strange tension in the air?
Music creates energy patterns
Besant also suggests that music creates distinct energy patterns. Different composers generate unique shapes and colors in the subtle realm around us.
This explains why we resonate with certain types of music while finding others not so much. When we "feel" the difference between musical styles, according to Besant, we are simply perceiving the various energy patterns they create.
Wisdom gathered through years
After five decades of life's inevitable ups and downs, divorce, child leaving home, career changes, health challenges, I've come to understand that how we perceive our experiences often matters more than the experiences themselves.
When I was struggling with fibroid in my uterus and was loosing so much blood, I thought: "What thought-forms are you creating today?" It helped me remember that even in vulnerable moments, I could choose the quality of energy I generated.
Looking back now, I see this idea connects with many different ways of understanding the world. Buddhism talks about being mindful of your thoughts, while quantum physics shows that simply watching something can change it. Isn't it cool that both ancient spiritual practices and modern science are pointing to the same thing? They all suggest that our awareness and thoughts might actually shape reality more than we've realized!
A simple evening practice
If you find this concept meaningful, consider this gentle practice:
Before sleep tonight, take a quiet moment to imagine what shapes and colors your thoughts created throughout the day. Were they mostly bright and harmonious, or did they tend toward darker, more jagged forms?
Then set an intention for tomorrow. Perhaps focus on creating thoughts of appreciation whenever possible. I visualize these as golden, expanding spheres that rise upward, bringing lightness to spaces I enter.
After exploring different spiritual practices through the years, I find the ones that work best for me are often the simplest. Being mindful of the energy we create through our thoughts can transform not only our own experience but potentially the experiences of those around us.
Have you encountered these concepts before? Or perhaps noticed how certain people seem to shift the atmosphere of a room just by their presence? I would value hearing your reflections.
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Thank you for spending time with these thoughts today. Connection makes this space meaningful – feel free to share this post, leave a heart ❤️, or add your own perspective in the comments below. I appreciate you being here on this journey with True and Authentic.
