Editing Raëlism (section)

== Practices ==

Raëlism involves a series of monthly meetings, initiations, and meditation rituals.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=20}} Where possible, Raëlians congregate with fellow practitioners on the third Sunday of the month.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=61|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=176}} It is the group's policy that these events occur in rented rooms rather than property that the Raëlian Movement itself has purchased.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=176}} At the monthly meetings in Montreal, Raël himself often appeared.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=50}}

[[File:Raëlians drawing with sand.jpg|thumb|left|Raëlians drawing with sand.]]

The main ritual in Raëlism is the "transmission of the cellular plan", in which a Raëlian Guide placed their hands upon another individual's head, through which the Guide is believed to receive the individual's cellular code and then telepathically transmit it to the Elohim.{{sfnm|1a1=Barrett|1y=2001|1p=392|2a1=Grünschloß|2y=2004|2p=433|3a1=Palmer|3y=2004|3p=59|4a1=Palmer|4a2=Sentes|4y=2012|4p=175}} Doing so denotes the initiate's formal recognition of the Elohim as the creators of humanity.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=59}} This is used as part of the "baptism", or initiation ceremony for new members joining the Movement.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=107|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=175}} Those in the Movement who hold the rank of bishop and priest are permitted to conduct these initiation ceremonies.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=58}} In some instances, when the necessary individuals are present, Raël touches the head of a Raëlian bishop, who in turn touches that of a Raëlian priest, who touches the head of the initiate to ensure the "transmission".{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=59}} These "transmissions" are permitted to take place on one of four days in the year that play a prominent role in the Raëlian calendar.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|pp=58–59}} The first examples took place in April 1976, when Raël carried out the "transmission" ceremonies of forty initiates on the [[Roc Plat]].{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=58}}

The Raëlian calendar begins with the [[atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|nuclear bombing of Hiroshima]] on August 6, 1945.{{sfn|Palmer|2014|p=186}} Each year after this date is referred to as "AH" or "après Hiroshima" ("after Hiroshima").{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=40|2a1=Palmer|2y=2014|2p=186}} The Raëlians celebrate four religious festivals each year, two of which mark Raël's claimed encounters with the Elohim.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=107|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=175}} These are the first Sunday in April, which is the date on which Raëlians believe the Elohim created the first humans; August 6th, which marks the day of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima in 1945; October 7th, which is the day in which Raël claims that he encountered the Elohim for the second time, in 1974; and December 13th, which is the day that Raël allegedly first encountered the Elohim in 1973.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=62}}

=== Sensual meditation<!-- 'Sensual Meditation' and 'Sensual meditation' redirect here --> ===

A major practice in Raëlism is "sensual meditation", something that Raël outlined in his 1980 book ''La méditation sensuelle''.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=174}}
Raëlians are encouraged to take part in this [[guided meditation]] or visualisation on a daily basis, with the intent of transmitting love and telepathic links to the Elohim and achieving harmony with infinity.{{sfnm|1a1=Barker|1y=1989|1p=201|2a1=Palmer|2y=1995|2p=129|3a1=Palmer|3a2=Sentes|3y=2012|3pp=174, 175}} In this, practitioners are often assisted in this meditation through listening to an instruction tape.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=61|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=174}} Sensual meditation sessions also take place communally at the group's monthly meetings, during which the assembled adherents sit or lie on the floor in a dimly lit room. They are then guided through it by a Raëlian Guide speaking through a microphone;{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=60}} the meditation may be accompanied by [[New Age music]].{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=115}}

Sensual meditation begins with a relaxation exercise known as ''harmonisation avec l'infini'' ("harmonization with the infinite").{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=60}} One stage of this process is "oxygenation", which entails deep breathing.{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=115|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=175}} Practitioners are taught to relax and then envision themselves expanding their frame of reference until the self becomes only a tiny speck within the universe.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=129}} They are then tasked with visualising the bones and organs of the body, and ultimately the atoms within the body itself.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|pp=129–130}} The guided meditation then encourages the meditators to imagine themselves being on the Elohim's planet and communicating telepathically with these aliens.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|pp=60–61}}

Palmer found that Raëlians varyingly described a sense of physical well-being, psychic abilities, or sexual arousal during these meditations and interpreted these as evidence that they were in telepathic contact with the Elohim.{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=130}} The goal of sensual meditation is to achieve a "cosmic orgasm",{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=1995|1p=110|2a1=Palmer|2y=2004|2p=60}} which is characterised as the ultimate experience a person can have.{{sfn|Barrett|2001|p=393}} Palmer quoted one senior Raëlian as describing the "cosmic orgasm" as "the sensual experience of the unity between the self and the universe".{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=60}}

=== Seminars ===
[[File:Raelian war protest.JPG|thumb|A Raëlian protest sign is raised at a political rally which demands the return of U.S. troops from foreign military engagements.]]

The Raëlian Church holds week-long summer seminars called "Stages of Awakening".{{sfnm|1a1=Palmer|1y=2004|1p=61|2a1=Palmer|2a2=Sentes|2y=2012|2p=176}}<ref name="The Sexual Messiah">[http://www.apologeticsindex.org/r12.html The Sexual Messiah], ''[[National Post]]''. 7 August 1999. Retrieved 3 June 2007.</ref> These involve daily lectures by Raël, sensual meditation sessions, periods of fasting and feasting, testimonials, and various alternative therapies.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=176}} Activities that have attracted press attention have included dressing in the clothes of the opposite gender as part of an exercise to play with the fluidity of gender expression,{{sfn|Palmer|1995|p=115}}<ref name="'Sensual seminars' and flying saucers"/> and observing one's own genitals and masturbating.<ref name="'GET UNDRESSED">{{cite news |last= McCann |first= Brigittee |url= http://www.calgarysun.com/perl-bin/niveau2.cgi?s=Lifestyles&p=78811.html&a=1 |title= Get undressed | date=9 October 2003 |newspaper= [[Calgary Sun]] |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061116014124/http://www.calgarysun.com/perl-bin/niveau2.cgi?s=Lifestyles&amp;p=78811.html&amp;a=1 |archive-date= 16 November 2006}}</ref>

Raëlians use these seminars as an opportunity to form friendships or sexual relationships.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=61}} Attendees wear white togas with name tags.{{sfn|Palmer|Sentes|2012|p=176}} In 1991, a French journalist attended a seminar, and taped couples having sexual intercourse in tents, something which was then much-publicized.<ref name="SusanJPalmer">Susan J. Palmer, [http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/csrpl/RINVol4No2/Rael.htm ''The Rael Deal''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050615085304/http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/csrpl/RINVol4No2/Rael.htm |date=15 June 2005 }}, ''Religion in the News'', Summer 2001, Vol. 4, No. 2.</ref>
Following these seminars, a second seminar, this time restricted to members of the Structure, takes place.{{sfn|Palmer|2004|p=61}}