Two Glues
The Luminous Body has two primary glues that keep it connected to the physical body.
1) Electromagnetic field.
This is the electromagnetic field that surrounds the body and is generated by the nervous system. If the spinal nerves were laid down end-to-end, they would create a single strand that would wrap around the globe three times. The central nervous system goes up and down and generates electrical activity. This electrical activity moves clock wise around each source, called the right hand rule. This is the same field that is around the earth, traveling from the North and South Pole flux lines, called the Van Allen Radiation belt.
This electromagnetic field is the primary glue that holds the luminous body to the physical body. The electromagnetic field collapses when the electrical activity in the brain ceases; the aura of the person is then gone.
However, just because this field is no longer in existence, doesn’t mean the luminous body detaches and journeys back to spirit. Many earth traditions require that the physical body not be moved or touched for 40 days in order for the luminous body to complete its journey home.
2) The Chakra System
The second glue is the chakra system, which secures the luminous energy field to the spinal column. The chakras are like giant screws and are the second system that holds the luminous body to the physical body. As the time of death approaches the chakras loosen and eventually disengage; the luminous body is then free from the physical body. During the Final Rites we release every one of the seven bodily chakras, separate the luminous body from the physical, and seal the chakras so that the soul cannot reattach itself to the corpse again. (Detail, Alex Grey Painting - used with permission © Alex Grey)
As the senses close down, the luminous body begins to close in on itself, like a doughnut going through its own hole up to the 8th chakra. The 8th chakra expands to the shape of a translucent egg that is holding all 7 chakras within it. There can be a “glow” to this orb hours after death. Eventually the 8th chakra or wiroccocha will go about its business of creating a new body. The wiroccocha has then shed the identity of the last 40-70 years and shifted its identity to one that is defined by infinity.
It is possible that the luminous orb may stay connected to the physical body even if the person is buried in a grave. If the physical body is cremated before the luminous body disengages, it may haunt the places or people it had an attachment to.