The journey towards self-realization is one of the most challenging yet essential paths we can undertake in life. Samael Aun Weor, one of the great masters of Gnostic Philosophy, warns us that self-observation is urgent and cannot be delayed.
He emphasizes that no one can achieve true self-realization without first learning to observe themselves — that is, without attaining full awareness of oneself.
According to Samael, self-observation must be applied with seriousness and depth. It is not just about annihilating the inhuman and negative elements we carry inside, but also about creating something new that has yet to be manifested. He teaches that we must work with the Seven Radical Fires, an important concept in his doctrine, which allows us to destroy undesirable psychic elements while enabling the creation of what has not yet been generated within us. Fire, as he explains, has the power to disintegrate, but also to create and recreate endlessly.
In his words: "I am speaking to you about Fire and the Doctrine of Fire, and the wonderful signs of AGNI-YOGA; the pure Christianity and exact Buddhism that you must strive to comprehend..."
One of Samael Aun Weor’s most impactful teachings is about the sleep of the consciousness. When we observe ourselves sincerely, we discover that, for the most part, we are sleeping spiritually. Our consciousness, which should be the highest aspect of our being, is immersed in multiple negative and undesirable psychic elements. To awaken from ignorance, we must first realize that we are, in fact, asleep.
As he states, "when someone observes themselves carefully, they discover they are sleeping." But, to achieve this understanding, one must conduct a deep self-examination, which, for many, is a crucial first step on the path of transformation.
Self-observation is not something that can be practiced superficially. Samael emphasizes that it requires extreme vigilance. What happens when we forget ourselves and identify with external and illusory elements of daily life? As he says, “if someone forgets themselves in front of a glass of wine, they end up drunk; if someone forgets themselves in front of a person of the opposite sex, they end up fornicating or adulterating, committing crimes against the Holy Spirit.” Forgetting oneself leads us to serious errors that take us farther from our true essence and spiritual realization.
We are constantly sucked into the trivialities of daily life, identifying with what is fleeting and unimportant. The daily afflictions — like losing a button or not receiving the expected payment — make us forget who we truly are and keep us in a deep state of sleep.
One of Samael Aun Weor’s most powerful lessons is about how we are constantly losing our psychic energy. He uses a simple yet profound metaphor: that of a "strainer full of holes." When we do not know how to seal our energy, it is drained by external influences, whether from people, environments, or our own emotional distractions.
"WE ALLOW OUR PSYCHIC ENERGY TO BE SUCKED OUT!" he warns. Without proper self-control, our vital energy is drained, and the process of creating our higher bodies — the Second, Third, and Fourth Bodies — becomes impossible. If we do not learn to preserve our energy and "seal ourselves hermetically," as he describes, we will hardly be able to reach the higher states of consciousness and spirituality.
The concept of the "Hermetic Seal" is central to Samael’s teachings. He teaches that in order to create the Second Body (the astral body) and advance to higher spheres of spiritual evolution, we need to learn to preserve our vital energy, without allowing it to be drained by the distractions of the three-dimensional world.
To do so, we must learn never to forget ourselves for a single moment. The "Hermetic Seal" is the practice of maintaining constant attention and alertness, avoiding identification with the trivialities and illusions of the material world. When we achieve this self-control, our vital energy accumulates within, enabling the creation of our higher bodies.
Self-observation is undoubtedly the first and most essential step on the path to self-realization. As Samael Aun Weor teaches, only by deeply observing ourselves can we realize that we are in a state of sleep, and thus seek to awaken to a new reality. This process requires constant vigilance, self-control, and learning to preserve our psychic energy.
The key to this process lies in not identifying with the small distractions of the world, with the illusions and external influences that constantly divert us from our true nature. By practicing self-observation, we can not only destroy the negative elements within us, but also create a new being, a new spiritual reality.
Ultimately, self-observation is the path that leads us to true freedom and self-realization, and it is through it that we can finally awaken and achieve the Supreme Bliss of Being.
