In the original esoteric teachings of Christ, a sacred oil is said to be produced in the brain and, when consciously preserved and elevated, becomes the substance of transformation. When Christ declared that he would live for 33 years, he was encoding the exact number of steps—33 vertebrae—that energy must pass through on its ascension from the base of the spine to the higher centers of the brain. The final stage is symbolized by Golgotha, which literally means 'place of the skull' in the original language, signifying the completion of the spiritual journey where the life force is crucified and resurrected into higher consciousness.
This perspective was further elaborated by George W. Carey, an American physician in the early 20th century, whose publications linked biochemistry with biblical allegory. Carey taught that the 'Christ oil' or 'chrism' is a physiological reality as well as a spiritual metaphor, pointing to a union of science and mysticism within the human body.
The human spine is a living column of consciousness, holding both structural and spiritual significance. Anatomically, it is made up of 33 vertebrae: 7 cervical in the neck, 12 thoracic in the mid-back, 5 lumbar in the lower back, 5 fused into the sacrum, and 4 fused into the coccyx. While medical science often simplifies this to 24 movable vertebrae, many mystical traditions emphasize the full count of 33 as a sacred number, symbolizing wholeness and ascension.
In esoteric teachings, these 33 vertebrae form the “ladder” through which life force energy rises. Yogic philosophy describes kundalini as a coiled energy at the base of the spine that ascends through the chakras, each stage representing a new level of awareness. Freemasonry honors the 33rd degree as the pinnacle of initiation, a mark of mastery and enlightenment. Christianity echoes this symbolism: Jesus completed his life at 33 years of age, embodying the perfect union of human and divine. Across traditions, the spine becomes a metaphorical stairway to heaven, where the climb reflects the soul’s journey toward higher consciousness.
Seen this way, our anatomy is not just biological but initiatory. Each vertebra represents a step in the unfolding of human potential, a rung on Jacob’s ladder leading from instinct to illumination. The 33 degrees of initiation remind us that our body itself holds the key to spiritual ascent. By aligning with the spine as both structure and symbol, we participate in an ancient wisdom that bridges science, mysticism, and the quest for divine union.
Doctor of Holistic Health | Founder, House of Marcotte & Spatium Nexum
References
Barrett, K. E., Barman, S. M., Brooks, H. L., & Yuan, J. X. (2019). Ganong’s review of medical physiology (26th ed.). McGraw Hill.
Eliade, M. (2009). Yoga: Immortality and freedom (W. R. Trask, Trans.). Princeton University Press. (Original work published 1958)
Hall, M. P. (2003). The secret teachings of all ages: An encyclopedic outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic, and Rosicrucian symbolical philosophy. TarcherPerigee. (Original work published 1928)
Harper, K. (2010). The symbolism of the spine in esoteric traditions. Journal of Esoteric Studies, 18(2), 45–59.
Robinson, J. J. (2009). Born in blood: The lost secrets of Freemasonry. M. Evans & Company.
Carey, G. W., & Perry, I. (1918). God-man: The word made flesh. Los Angeles, CA: Fowler & Wells.
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