Pyramid power
Pyramid power refers to a belief that structures built in the shape of a pyramid can harness or amplify certain energies, leading to various benefits. This concept gained traction during the 1970s amid the New Age movement, which explored esoteric ideas and alternative beliefs. Proponents claimed that pyramid-shaped objects could preserve food and organic matter, enhance the healing process, and even sharpen razor blades. Some enthusiasts suggested that sleeping inside a pyramid could rejuvenate individuals. The foundation of pyramid power is often linked to the Great Pyramid of Giza, with some theorists positing that ancient Egyptian builders understood its potential to unlock immortality. Despite the intriguing claims, scientific validation of pyramid power remains limited, as many experiments conducted by enthusiasts have attributed observed effects to environmental factors or psychological influences rather than the pyramid shape itself. While pyramid power has its followers, it is often met with skepticism and is not widely acknowledged within scientific circles.
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Pyramid power
The theory that pyramid shapes generate unique powers
Pyramid power, while not a new idea, flourished during the 1970’s as one of the decade’s “alternative sciences.” Mixing the appeal of ancient mysteries with a significant do-it-yourself component, it claimed to tap into esoteric knowledge and cosmic energy sources.
The Egyptian pyramids have always fascinated lay people and historians. The many puzzles that still surround their construction, design, and meaning have given rise to a host of highly speculative theories. As far back as 1859, a pyramidology movement was founded by mathematicianJohn Taylor, who claimed that the measurements of the Great Pyramid of Giza were a key to foreseeing the future. In the 1930’s, the bodies of stray cats were found undecayed in the Great Pyramid. Neither phenomenon was of interest to science, and in fact, such topics remained in the shadows of even metaphysical speculation until the 1970’s.
However, with the decade’s growth of the New Age movement, which delved into esoteric knowledge from many sources, it was inevitable that some inquirers would seize upon the pyramids as a potential focus. Pyramid devotees claimed that any structure, large or small, built to the same proportions as the Great Pyramid could tap into biocosmic energies. Dead cats, seeds, and food were all placed in smaller pyramid shapes and said to be miraculously preserved. People, too, were urged to sleep within a pyramid to awaken with renewed energy and faster healing of injuries. Other purported effects of pyramids included keeping razor blades sharp, tenderizing meat, and even creating microwave signals that could—in the future as in the past—generate electric power.
At least two books were published during the 1970’s providing detailed directions for building and aligning pyramids at home and for experiments that could be conducted using them. Some theorists suggested that “pyramid power” was known to the Egyptian pyramid builders as the key to immortality.
Impact
The long-term impact of the pyramid power movement was minimal. In many ways, its do-it-yourself aspects doomed it. Unlike such disciplines as astrology and tarot, which deal with ambiguous predictions and the highly complex field of human behavior, checking the effect of pyramids on organic matter is fairly easy. Although few scientists ever bothered to investigate the claims, during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, pyramid hobbyists began to experiment with them. Most concluded that other factors—a dry microclimate or the power of suggestion—better explained the claimed results. The theory continued to have adherents, but they tended to be ignored by most in the New Age movement.
Bibliography
Dunn, Christopher P. The Giza Power Plant. Rochester, Vt.: Bear, 1998.
Flanagan, G. Pat. Pyramid Power: The Millenium Science. Reprint. Anchorage, Alaska: Earthpulse Press, 1997.