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Just some ramblings here. Basically, I had my hair long for 4 years. I cut it in Jan 2016. What followed was a strange perception of energy.
One of the major feelings that I felt, was I felt "spiritually naked" I had less intution. I couldn't pick up on vibes as much as I normally can. For instance, with long hair, I could pick up on the energy of an entire city or region etc.
When I was clean cut, I basically had no intuition. I also felt more hypersexual. This one I don't really understand. I guess I was more "Sexually acceptable" to women in general. I vibed more with the attractive women I went near.
With long hair, I have to be careful where I look. In a sense that, If I stare at people too long they get offended. From the years of 2014-2016, I walked a certain trailer (2 years) every so often. I was drawn to this trail by the lake, and other places like it for the years I had my long hair.
When there I would get complete calm and peace.
After I cut my hair, going to those places, I didn't feel it anymore. They say that hair is sort of an Antennae for perception I suppose. It receives different frequencies. I suppose this is true. Recently I've grown my hair out long-ish again, and I am starting to pick up on those "vibes" once again. Those calm vibes.
Whereas, if I had my hair short I wouldn't be able to "read" the calmness.
Hard to explain.
My energy levels fluctuate. I guess you could say I was more physically active with short hair. It's sort of like an entire body of energy. I notice my psyche and subconcious is more directed to wordly things.
Long hair I tend to keep my psyche and subconcious directed towards spiritual growth etc.
Hope some of this make sense
Some of this kind of thing can be autosuggestion, but I don’t have the experience of having short hair after long hair.
The traditional symbolism of long hair is found in most civilisations, western civilisation until the early 19th century being no exception. I do remember as a child that I wanted my hair long and felt “numbed” when I had haircuts. I am certainly different in the matter of sensitivity, since I have Aspergers – recently diagnosed by a specialised unit here in France. I keep saying to myself that I can’t imagine how other people feel (both emotions and the sense of touch). Aspergers / autism people are reputed to be hyper-sensitive, but not always in the same way.
Difficulties in my marriage from about 2013 made me look into the possibility of Aspergers, and it was the time I decided on long hair. Things have calmed down a lot with my wife lowering her expectations in terms of “being in love” and showing it. I have always been sensitive to explained feelings in places. My most powerful experience was in Oradour sur Glâne where the Nazis butchered the whole population in 1944 – I couldn’t wait to get away from the agony and sadness. But, I had short hair.
The entire sensation of having long hair is different, but the growing is slow. In my case 4 years from crew cut to mid-back. If someone touches my hair, even lightly, I feel it, but that could be all of us.
I have always been intrigued by the difference between western and eastern (Orthodox) monks. The former have their heads shaves in a symbol of slavery and obedience. The eastern Orthodox monk has long hair and a beard, and the ideas are quite different. The sensation on the scalp is increased by long hair, but it certainly depends on the rest of us, our philosophy of life, our psychological condition and sensitivity to spiritual things.
You write sincerely, and this is an interesting account of human experience that is difficult to describe. Some of us are matter-of-fact and others are more curious about things beyond everyday life. Diversity is essential.
Anthony
I am not a monk, but I am an Orthodox Christian. The Orthodox monks get tonsured and then grow out the beard and hair in order to show separation from the world. The idea is that living lives that are sacrificial and self-controled in obedience to and synergy with Christ are more important than keeping up with the latest trends, and beard and hair trendiness can be considered a form of vanity. For an Orthodox monk and layperson, having long hair can show detachment from the world. Living in the world but not being of the world is one of the most important themes of living an Orthodox Christian lifestyle, which is an every day choice. I am not going to continue further, but the reasons I havegiven for long hair amongst Orthodox Christian men suffice for the moment. Visiting an Orthodox Christian monastery is a great way to ask questions and research the topic. Calling ahead to arrange a visit is protocol, as well as taking a small donation of grain or pasta for the monastery will help smooth the visit as well, since the gift will aide the monastery directly. Happy researching.
I am an Anglican priest, but with great sympathy for the Orthodox. I would hate it if long hair on men ever becomes fashionable or "hip"! Many priests in my Church (Anglican Catholic Church) have beards and I am the only one as far as I know with long hair. I am not a monk either, but a diocesan priest.
Anthony
Why? I loved it back the late 1960s when long hair was fashionable.
I have lots of fond memories of those years, even with all the hassles I got.
What I actually meant is that I would hate to see long hair as a sign of conformity like short hair is now. I was only a child in the 1960's and only beginning to get a whiff of it in 1971 when I was 12. I managed to grow my hair to shoulder length before my parents insisted on my getting it chopped off. In those days, like now, it was a sign of difference, not conformity.
Anthony
Hi Anthony!
Thank you for your replies. I was not wanting to hit people over the head with Orthodox Christianity in my post, so I was trying to be very reserved in my tone. Sorry if it did not come across that way. I appreciate what you say about the counter-cultural movement in the 1960's and 1970's. In some respects the ideas in the counter-cultural movement were Orthodox in some small degrees such as saying no to consumerism, saying yes to being a steward of the environment, and being natural in what God gave a person (although admittedly God may not have been in the picture in some of the minds of the counter-cultural movement) such as hair and beard. It is easier to be yourself in a more relaxed environment where people still have their freedom of choice, which Orthodox Christianity does not deny existing at all.
The Peace Movement of the same time and the anti-Vietnam stance of it may not have been replicated exactly within Orthodox Christianity, due to many people being anti-communist and anti-war in general at the same time. Orthodox Christians in the U.S. do not generally fall neatly into
Republican-Democrat/Conservative-Liberal groupings due to the lack of a Christian Democratic or Christian Socialist Party like exist in most of Europe. There seems to be a general feeling amongst Orthodox Christians that inhabitants of a country should contribute alms to those in need, however the method in which they are distributed seems to be pretty easy going between direct and indirect contributions, with direct personal contributions encouraged. Alms-giving across borders is also encouraged, hence the aid given by the Orthodox Communion.
A further place to look into hair information regarding Orthodox Christianity if one cares to look (the priests and rabbis on the board may find it of interest) is in "The Pedalion" called in English translation "The Rudder", which is where the canons of the Orthodox Church are regarding anything and everything, including hair and what is masculine and feminine. A Bishop is the person in the Orthodox Church who makes decisions on canonicity and if there were a dispute regarding hair it would ultimately go to a local Bishop, and if needed would go to the Patriarch if things were really beyond the control of the Bishop. However there are Ecclesial Courts set up or Orthodox Church Councils to deal with important issues which would change or enhance Canon Law. Usually hair does not rise to that level (no pun intended) since it is pretty well defined within the Orthodox Church. Cultural modes of expression of male and female are taken into account when dealing with hair due to the vast diversity of human hair types. No one would expect a black person/African/person of African descent or origin, to have hair the same style to fit Canon in the same way that straight hair is figured in canon. Whether one is acting as a man or woman with their hair length or style seems to be the major difference in if the hair is canonical.
As always, with any statements I make regarding Orthodox Christianity, it is better for people reading this material to check with a local Orthodox Priest or monastic regarding hair or anything Orthodox. I am a Layman, and in the Orthodox Church, this is no mean thing, however, the proper people to pass this information by if possible are those I have mentioned. If one has a chance to hear an Orthodox Bishop talk or give a sermon, it is always a treat to hear as they are the Doctor's of the Church. In the current way that Bishops administrate their diocese, it is better not to contact them directly about such issues. If an Orthodox Priest cannot answer your question, he will probably direct you on to a better source to answer your question or get back to you as soon as he can. The Father's of the Church or the Saints are also good resources to turn to with such questions.
Sorry if this post went way off topic or went too far in depth, I am just trying to not beat people over the head, while thinking I might have. No offense intended to anyone by this post.
Happy 2018, be well :)
