Post by STORMDANCER on May 27, 2011 21:32:01 GMT
Stress will muck up magic faster than anything. If you are breathing under tension, your whole body resists the linking of mind, body, and spirit, and this can actually change the chemistry of your body. Likewise, tight clothing can restrict normal breathing patterns. If your belt cuts into your waist, you may breathe, only from the upper area of your lungs. If your shirt confines your chest in an uncomfortable way, you may be forced to breath from the middle part of your lungs. A robe, such as those used in magical ceremonies, actually frees your body from breathing restrictions, which in turn might hamper ritual or other magical applications, depending upon the theme.
Proper breathing brings oxygen to all areas of the body and ignites the energy centres, or chakras, with positive energy, which helps to reduce your level of stress. In occult philosophy, the breath is also associated with the spirit of God/dess and is believed to be charged by the Earth's magnetic field. Therefore, when you *breathe in and out, you are becoming one with the universe, not only physically but mentally and spiritually as well. Indian philosophy speaks of prana and the Chinese relate sacred breath to the chi. Free flow prana or chi in and around the body lessens stress and increases the body's defences against disease.
Many magical systems include holy breath. For example, in Pow Wow (German magical techniques for healing and magic), the practitioner always breathes in and out three times before beginning any technique, and then blows three times on the object or person at the conclusion of the work. At the same time, the practitioner envisions pure white light surrounding the object or person, followed by making an equal-armed cross in the air. This isn't just a bunch of motions without meaning. While breathing three times on the object or individual, the Pow Wow is connecting to spirit, reaching up to bring the holy breath of the divine into his or her own body and out his or her mouth to infuse the magic. The white light is that of purity and divinity, and those who practice repeated visualization find that if they add lots of light to their mental picture, the thing they desire will manifest faster. The equal armed cross helps the mind to visualize a closure to the work and keep the magic (or energy) from escaping.
Sacred Breathing Exercise 1.
Choose a time when you wont be disturbed. While standing, do three toe-touches or other stretch type exercise. Sit comfortably in your chair with a straight back. Rest your hands on your thighs, palms up. Make sure your feet are placed firmly on the floor.
Close your eyes and relax. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth as slowly and evenly as possible ( this gets easier as you continue). Try to take the same amount of time breathing in as breathing out. If it helps, trying breathing in to the count of four and then out to the count of four. This is called the rhythm of sacred breath. Practice breathing in and out letting yourself relax. Envision yourself surrounded by a pure, white light. Try this every day for a week, more if you are upset or working hard. Most magical people practice rhythmic breathing, meditation and visualization every day of their lives.
Sacred Breathing Exercise 2.
Follow the same instructions as in number 1 but, before you open your eyes, imagine every time you are breathing in that you are drawing a beautiful, white, healing light into your body. Every time you breathe out, imagine all the negativity of the day leaving your body. After a while you might feel a 'floaty' feeling: that's cool, you are now relaxed and moving into a deeper alpha state. You will know you have reached your objective when suddenly you feel at one with the universe. This incredibly pleasant feeling will wash over your body and you will feel love all around you. When you are ready, count from one to five, open your eyes, and shake your hands. If you can, do this exercise twice a day for a month.
Grounding and Centering
Magical breath is incorporated in the two Craft-related techniques called grounding and centring, which help to put you in the right frame of mind before (and after) a magical working. Grounding means to feel secure, to root yourself to the planet Earth, to bring nature into yourself, and yourself into nature. Centring means to find the ultimate, peaceful calm at the centre of your being, stretching out to the centre of where you are standing, out to the centre of this planet, into the centre of the universe. It is the still point - the absolute moment of calm when you feel like you are one with the universe.
The practice of grounding and centring comes in handy for a variety of circumstances, including relaxation, preparation for magic or ritual, and removing stress and negativity from the body. I always ground and centre myself before and after magical or ritual practice.
There are several techniques for grounding and centring including meditations that can encompass the for elements, the planetary energies, and archetypes ( Gods and Goddesses ). The act of grounding and centring itself can take only a few moments or blossom into a full meditation. These practices become easier each time you use them, and will enhance and strengthen your psychic and magical abilities. There is an added benefit to learning grounding and centring - anytime anyone treats you unfairly, or you lose your cool, or you feel that you are disconnected and lost, floating in this big universe all by yourself, practice the technique.
Use grounding and centering techniques;
* Before and after meditation.
* Before and after any spell casting procedure.
* Before and after ritual.
* When you are angry, upset, or sick.
* Each morning as part of your daily devotions. Some Witch's perform grounding and centring at the four sacred hours ( dawn, noon, dusk. and midnight).
Grounding and centring can be done while standing or sitting, and doesn't take very long to do. The more you practice, the faster you will be able to ground and prepare for magic by centring yourself _ sort of like a driver preparing to make the jump of his or her career into the magical waters below.
TO GROUND:
Take three deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. Close your eyes, Imagine that you are a tree and that your feet ( your roots) grow deep into Mother Earth. Feel the stable, secure energy of the planet.
TO CENTER:
Imagine that your energy is merging with that of the universe. Allow the sounds and smells of the world around you to pass through you, like you are floating in a magical pool. Let your concentration centre on your solar plexus area. Imagine there is a beautiful sun burning there ( some prefer to visualize a ball of light). Slowly, allow yourself to become one with the universe. This is the still point. Now you are ready for Magic and Ritual
Storm xxx
Proper breathing brings oxygen to all areas of the body and ignites the energy centres, or chakras, with positive energy, which helps to reduce your level of stress. In occult philosophy, the breath is also associated with the spirit of God/dess and is believed to be charged by the Earth's magnetic field. Therefore, when you *breathe in and out, you are becoming one with the universe, not only physically but mentally and spiritually as well. Indian philosophy speaks of prana and the Chinese relate sacred breath to the chi. Free flow prana or chi in and around the body lessens stress and increases the body's defences against disease.
Many magical systems include holy breath. For example, in Pow Wow (German magical techniques for healing and magic), the practitioner always breathes in and out three times before beginning any technique, and then blows three times on the object or person at the conclusion of the work. At the same time, the practitioner envisions pure white light surrounding the object or person, followed by making an equal-armed cross in the air. This isn't just a bunch of motions without meaning. While breathing three times on the object or individual, the Pow Wow is connecting to spirit, reaching up to bring the holy breath of the divine into his or her own body and out his or her mouth to infuse the magic. The white light is that of purity and divinity, and those who practice repeated visualization find that if they add lots of light to their mental picture, the thing they desire will manifest faster. The equal armed cross helps the mind to visualize a closure to the work and keep the magic (or energy) from escaping.
Sacred Breathing Exercise 1.
Choose a time when you wont be disturbed. While standing, do three toe-touches or other stretch type exercise. Sit comfortably in your chair with a straight back. Rest your hands on your thighs, palms up. Make sure your feet are placed firmly on the floor.
Close your eyes and relax. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth as slowly and evenly as possible ( this gets easier as you continue). Try to take the same amount of time breathing in as breathing out. If it helps, trying breathing in to the count of four and then out to the count of four. This is called the rhythm of sacred breath. Practice breathing in and out letting yourself relax. Envision yourself surrounded by a pure, white light. Try this every day for a week, more if you are upset or working hard. Most magical people practice rhythmic breathing, meditation and visualization every day of their lives.
Sacred Breathing Exercise 2.
Follow the same instructions as in number 1 but, before you open your eyes, imagine every time you are breathing in that you are drawing a beautiful, white, healing light into your body. Every time you breathe out, imagine all the negativity of the day leaving your body. After a while you might feel a 'floaty' feeling: that's cool, you are now relaxed and moving into a deeper alpha state. You will know you have reached your objective when suddenly you feel at one with the universe. This incredibly pleasant feeling will wash over your body and you will feel love all around you. When you are ready, count from one to five, open your eyes, and shake your hands. If you can, do this exercise twice a day for a month.
Grounding and Centering
Magical breath is incorporated in the two Craft-related techniques called grounding and centring, which help to put you in the right frame of mind before (and after) a magical working. Grounding means to feel secure, to root yourself to the planet Earth, to bring nature into yourself, and yourself into nature. Centring means to find the ultimate, peaceful calm at the centre of your being, stretching out to the centre of where you are standing, out to the centre of this planet, into the centre of the universe. It is the still point - the absolute moment of calm when you feel like you are one with the universe.
The practice of grounding and centring comes in handy for a variety of circumstances, including relaxation, preparation for magic or ritual, and removing stress and negativity from the body. I always ground and centre myself before and after magical or ritual practice.
There are several techniques for grounding and centring including meditations that can encompass the for elements, the planetary energies, and archetypes ( Gods and Goddesses ). The act of grounding and centring itself can take only a few moments or blossom into a full meditation. These practices become easier each time you use them, and will enhance and strengthen your psychic and magical abilities. There is an added benefit to learning grounding and centring - anytime anyone treats you unfairly, or you lose your cool, or you feel that you are disconnected and lost, floating in this big universe all by yourself, practice the technique.
Use grounding and centering techniques;
* Before and after meditation.
* Before and after any spell casting procedure.
* Before and after ritual.
* When you are angry, upset, or sick.
* Each morning as part of your daily devotions. Some Witch's perform grounding and centring at the four sacred hours ( dawn, noon, dusk. and midnight).
Grounding and centring can be done while standing or sitting, and doesn't take very long to do. The more you practice, the faster you will be able to ground and prepare for magic by centring yourself _ sort of like a driver preparing to make the jump of his or her career into the magical waters below.
TO GROUND:
Take three deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth. Close your eyes, Imagine that you are a tree and that your feet ( your roots) grow deep into Mother Earth. Feel the stable, secure energy of the planet.
TO CENTER:
Imagine that your energy is merging with that of the universe. Allow the sounds and smells of the world around you to pass through you, like you are floating in a magical pool. Let your concentration centre on your solar plexus area. Imagine there is a beautiful sun burning there ( some prefer to visualize a ball of light). Slowly, allow yourself to become one with the universe. This is the still point. Now you are ready for Magic and Ritual
Storm xxx
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