Ann Ree Colton
Encyclopedia
Ann Ree Colton founded the system of Niscience. Niscience is a word she coined meaning to know beyond academic knowledge. While the number of people who practice the techniques she taught and identify themselves as Niscienes is small, her influence is nevertheless significant, and her writings are often quoted. Many students of Alice Bailey
or H. P. Blavatsky find the somewhat abstract principles of their founders explained more simply and put in a more practical framework. Others who are interested in a bridge between traditional dogmatic Christianity and so-called New Age teachings find the deeper essence of both presented without the tangled doctrinal contradictions.
From age 33, she became well known for her spiritual gifts, and people from all walks of life sought her counsel. For a period of about 15 years her appointment book was crowded with sessions, from early in the morning until late at night. She saw tens of thousands of people with every conceivable problem. This experience gave Ann Ree a unique, remarkable insight into the human spirit and honed her telepathic abilities that eventually opened her consciousness to the Third Heaven Archetypes touched by St. Paul.
Not unlike another American clairvoyant, Edgar Cayce
, her gifts were both revered by many persons, and met with skepticism by others. The author of Edgar Cayce's biography, Thomas Sugrue, was among the many who heard remarkable stories about her. One of his interests in Ann Ree Colton stemmed from her spontaneous answers to his every question without the need to go into trance. Sugrue died before he could gather his interviews with her into a biography. Her chief student, fellow teacher, and husband of 31 years, Jonathan Murro, completed a book about her life, in what turned out to be a joint effort resulting in a combination biography/autobiography.
In 1951, a flow of ideas began to pour voluminously upon her. It became evident that she needed to conclude her work with individuals and to begin to work in a more impersonal manner, bringing a complete system that touched all persons. She said this system, Niscience
, came from an actual spiritual blueprint she called an archetype. These archetypes, she said, are not the archetypes described by Carl Jung
. The latter are reflections of the greater archetypes.
The system of Niscience is extensive and covers many spiritual practices, such as meditation, the speaking of mantrams, dedicated fasting, mandala creation, spiritual movement, and dream research, and also encompasses philosophy, science, art, and religion. She said the opening of the Niscience archetype was timed to the scientific age, when a great renewal of spiritual ethics, based on the teachings of the Lord Jesus, would be needed by humanity to properly cope with scientific discoveries. Ann Ree taught that humankind is to extend the essential truths of old paths, but move beyond many limitations gathered over a long descent into materiality. She often called these times "the chaos before a golden age." Ann Ree Colton died in 1984.
Her writings may be roughly divided into the following sections.
Three books cover overarching world themes in a prophetic vein. She called these the red books, requesting that their covers be colored red, and she said that they are the “last will and testament of the Masters.”
Three books covered material she wanted quoted in every Niscience worship service. She called these the white books, requesting that their covers be colored white. They include: a cosmogenesis of man's history from Edenic times; an explanation of the soul; and the story of Jesus, His disciples, and heaven.
Three books are on the subject of the inner kingdom and include detailed writings on nature, reincarnation, and death.
Her next writings, she said, were in a more scientific vein. They cover dreams, ESP, Kundalini, and the moving aspect of the Holy Ghost, which she called the Esse.
Other writings included biographical material, and subjects such as astrology, spiritual teachers, and the akasic records of Ikhnaton.
Alice Bailey
Alice Ann Bailey , known as Alice A. Bailey or AAB to her followers, was an influential writer and theosophist in what she termed "Ageless Wisdom". This included occult teachings, "esoteric" psychology and healing, astrological and other philosophic and religious themes...
or H. P. Blavatsky find the somewhat abstract principles of their founders explained more simply and put in a more practical framework. Others who are interested in a bridge between traditional dogmatic Christianity and so-called New Age teachings find the deeper essence of both presented without the tangled doctrinal contradictions.
Biography and teachings
Ann Ree Colton was born near Atlanta, Georgia in 1898. She showed unusual gifts from a very early age. At age 4, she gazed at the symbols on a stained glass and experienced a "knowing" of what they meant. She realized that when she concentrated on anything with a certain fixity, that it projected its meaning to her.From age 33, she became well known for her spiritual gifts, and people from all walks of life sought her counsel. For a period of about 15 years her appointment book was crowded with sessions, from early in the morning until late at night. She saw tens of thousands of people with every conceivable problem. This experience gave Ann Ree a unique, remarkable insight into the human spirit and honed her telepathic abilities that eventually opened her consciousness to the Third Heaven Archetypes touched by St. Paul.
Not unlike another American clairvoyant, Edgar Cayce
Edgar Cayce
Edgar Cayce was an American psychic who allegedly had the ability to give answers to questions on subjects such as healing or Atlantis while in a hypnotic trance...
, her gifts were both revered by many persons, and met with skepticism by others. The author of Edgar Cayce's biography, Thomas Sugrue, was among the many who heard remarkable stories about her. One of his interests in Ann Ree Colton stemmed from her spontaneous answers to his every question without the need to go into trance. Sugrue died before he could gather his interviews with her into a biography. Her chief student, fellow teacher, and husband of 31 years, Jonathan Murro, completed a book about her life, in what turned out to be a joint effort resulting in a combination biography/autobiography.
In 1951, a flow of ideas began to pour voluminously upon her. It became evident that she needed to conclude her work with individuals and to begin to work in a more impersonal manner, bringing a complete system that touched all persons. She said this system, Niscience
Niscience
Niscience is a religious movement of the United States. Its parent organization, the Ann Ree Colton Foundation of Niscience, was founded in 1953 by Ann Ree Colton. It is characterized as a combination of Christianity and New Age spirituality, and combines the teachings of Jesus Christ with an...
, came from an actual spiritual blueprint she called an archetype. These archetypes, she said, are not the archetypes described by Carl Jung
Carl Jung
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
. The latter are reflections of the greater archetypes.
The system of Niscience is extensive and covers many spiritual practices, such as meditation, the speaking of mantrams, dedicated fasting, mandala creation, spiritual movement, and dream research, and also encompasses philosophy, science, art, and religion. She said the opening of the Niscience archetype was timed to the scientific age, when a great renewal of spiritual ethics, based on the teachings of the Lord Jesus, would be needed by humanity to properly cope with scientific discoveries. Ann Ree taught that humankind is to extend the essential truths of old paths, but move beyond many limitations gathered over a long descent into materiality. She often called these times "the chaos before a golden age." Ann Ree Colton died in 1984.
Writings
During her lifetime, Ann Ree Colton authored 16 books covering a wide variety of subjects. Two nearly completed books were published posthumously in their entirety. Several collections of her remaining writings were organized and published by Jonathan Murro, who also incorporated his own writings in the same volumes.Her writings may be roughly divided into the following sections.
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- The Lively Oracles
- Vision for the Future
- Islands of Light
-
- The Soul and the Ethic
- The Human Spirit
- The Jesus Story
-
- Draughts of Remembrance
- Men in White Apparel
- The Venerable One
Her next writings, she said, were in a more scientific vein. They cover dreams, ESP, Kundalini, and the moving aspect of the Holy Ghost, which she called the Esse.
-
- Ethical ESP
- Watch Your Dreams
- Kundalini West
- The Third Music
Other writings included biographical material, and subjects such as astrology, spiritual teachers, and the akasic records of Ikhnaton.
-
- Prophet for the Archangels (Jonathan Murro, co-author)
- Galaxy Gate (Jonathan Murro, co-author)
- The Pelican and the Chela (Jonathan Murro, co-author)
- My Son Ikhnaton (published posthumously)