The path from the second brain circuit to the third brain circuit (Yesod to Hod) is Path 19 on the Tree of Life and is called Resh. Resh is a Hebrew word meaning head. Since the third circuit is the Rational mind working from logic, "head" is appropriate here. The path from second to third circuit is one from Ego to conscious Rationality.

The third circuit opens up at about age 5 or 6 and is our learning circuit. This is why schooling has traditionally begun at age 6 when we begin "first grade" and our official intellectual studies. Although the third circuit actually begins to function at low levels at about age 3 or 4, it is completely under the control of the second circuit Ego at that time. This is where the Ego learns to control the Rational mind and even as the Rational mind increases in awareness, the Ego often (all too often) will keep its control of the Rational mind.

The opening of the third circuit varies in age from person to person and is open for many years, normally the rest of the persons' life, allowing continued training in school and college for most of a lifetime. If we worked on all our circuits as much as we (most of us) do on the third circuit, we would all be vastly improved in our mental and emotional states. The way we work on our third circuit (Rational mind) is to go to school. Schooling comes in many ways, but the manner in which the Rational mind is reached is by a focus on learning. When in school, we sit and answer to a teacher who keeps our focus on the subject for as much as an hour at a time. These methods of reaching our brain circuits through schooling and teaching techniques have been worked out through trial and error over many, many years. Similarly, Tantric methods for reaching the human brain have been worked out by trial and error over many, many years. The Tree of Life is a little unusual in that it does not seem possible to know so much about the human brain from just trial and error but we'll allow it because other alternatives are even more unusual.

Through this path, the Ego controls the Rational mind. When the Ego is damaged, the Rational mind can be forced to act according to the will of the subconscious Ego. Thus, Rational mind lends half- truths to the Ego emotional responses and control of people through cunning begins. We all know people who control with a mix of emotional and rational thought. They mix truth and fiction in such cunning ways you cannot penetrate their smoke screen of flawed questions that contain poison. "Have you stopped beating your children?" is a question which directly states you have been beating children yet, the questioner can back out easily be saying, "Let me rephrase that; you're misunderstanding me again." They know full well the questions or comments they ask and make are barbed and loaded with pain from the damaged Ego yet can cunningly cover up because they made a slave of the third circuit to produce a false cover they use both to hurt with and then hide behind. With practice, they will even forget that this is happening and believe they are behaving normally (just like everybody), totally joining with the second circuit Ego damage. This is a terrible and painful path which is run by a damaged Ego. The poisoned comment, the poisoned question come from this path.

The person afflicted with this poisoned mentality may not know it has happened. The Ego was damaged by the time this path was opened and they never knew any different. They can see that others behave differently sometimes but believe that how they feel is how everyone is and is "right"! When someone really works on changing it is sometimes possible to show them the poison in their intellect. Generally it is not possible and it will be required of them to move through this life in the pain they have and create, then reincarnate and try again. This is unfortunate and a true loss to humanity and themselves. People with poisoned third circuits normally are very intelligent and have a large amount of potential to do good. The Ego chooses to use the third circuit exactly because it is effective. Imagine how effective the third circuit would be if it worked from love instead of poison.

To cure this problem, you must first get the person (yourself if reading this) to recognize the problem exists. Most will not be willing or able to see they have a problem. They will further believe, if they recognize the problem, that they will be defenseless without that poison. Since the poisoned intellect has been involved in huge problems in the past they will refuse to stop the poison now and become defenseless. If they could realize the problems they had in the past came from this poison creating misunderstandings, perhaps they would be more willing to give it up. However, the Ego takes no blame. It is never at fault and everyone else is the bad guy. The Ego will not allow responsibility to fall on it. No, No, Never! Always the Ego looks for blame elsewhere. Therefore, you must work from the third circuit. Since the third circuit is poisoned by the second circuit, take a step away from the second circuit and work back and forth from the third circuit (Rational mind, meditation, focus) to the fourth circuit (sexuality, chemical change, esoteric energy).

Using a Tantric exercise and joining it cooperatively with the third circuit creates an area of observation the Ego finds difficult to poison until after the experience is over. When this happens and the person experiences spiritual values you must try to get them to hold on the these higher, unpoisoned truths and not allow the poisoned path to taint and degrade the pure experience. Once this happens (poisoned), the person will firmly back down, pouring more and more poison into the experience, teacher, teaching, and circumstances until finally even the first few really pure experiences become remembered as somehow poisoned in some way.

It will be common for a client, friend, or lover to make the initial attempt at Tantra and a strong sensual experience involving themselves in growth and healing when they are desperate from the pain of the poison they are living (and dying) in each day. They will be filled with pain, weakness, fear, and rage. They will do anything to get out of this. The problem is that once the misery is somewhat alleviated and they feel great (compared with before), the Ego poisons the system, telling them how wrong it is to feel this way through that technique. They will decide they are being "controlled" by the very learning process they once begged to have in their lives. Nothing will be good enough, all will be poisoned. There is no return for most of these because they have poisoned the very method that began to heal them. These people cannot live with wellness because it feels "wrong" and is not "normal" in their experience. From then on, they can only ingest poison. Stop being used--move on.

If you are willing to continue to try, this path (Resh) can feed knowledge to the Ego. The astrological sign of the path clearly indicates this through the illumination symbology of the Sun. The Sun is conscious energy, not robotic subconscious energy. The person with the problem must be willing to relearn new values consciously, to consciously live these new values, to work hard at repressing the past in favor of the future, and to practice, practice, practice, practice, practice, etc., Tantric techniques supporting this new future. Otherwise, go back to the end of the last paragraph and do accordingly.

Tantric techniques used to do this should be such that they cause the person to behave in a way that is totally different from their past. Pure spirit needs to be stressed and remembered. Don't allow poison to take root. Don't allow the person to back out of the exercises and planned work. Keep the forward movement going. It will astound you how much will go bad when one small piece is allowed to fall into the grasp of the second circuit Ego.