Elemental Meditation
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Meditation and visualization are a vehicle wherein one is able to accomplish higher levels of conscious perception. In the Jewish tradition of Kabbalah the elementals play a significant role. For example, Chaim Vital wrote in the name of the Ari:
“Regarding created beings, there are four elementals and their pneumonic is alef-reish-mem-ayin which stands for 'aish' [fire], 'Ruach' [wind], 'mayim' [water], and 'afar' [dust]. They are themselves an expression of the four letters of the the tetragrammaton as explained in the Zohar (Vaera 23b). From these four elements, which are hinted to by the four letters of the Tetragrammaton, all of physical creation was brought into existence.”
It is through the absorption and projection of the elements that certain metaphysical forces are drawn towards manifestation. All of existence is a conscious thought, expressed as energy and coalesced through vibration as matter. We may consciously create our own reality via conscious intent. However to do so requires being in attunement with the elemental forces. Following is a meditation and visualization exercise based on the elementals:
1) Absorbing Fire:
Sit comfortably and imagine yourself in the center of a sphere of fire (nothing exists but you and the sphere). Inhale, imagining that this fire is drawn into your body… Imagine that you are hollow and you are being filled with fire… Keep count of how many breaths (with a string of beads) it takes you to become filled with fire.
While you are inhaling an element imagine the desired characteristic which corresponds to it. Mentally fix it and emotionally fix it. Once you have completed this stage, visualize yourself (inside & out) glowing red. Now you are ready to project the element. Exhale upon the object, glowing with it… With each act of exhaling count again with the beads. You must exhale exactly as many times as you inhaled.
2) Absorbing Air:
This is done the same as with Fire except you will inhale air and see yourself as expanding with the Air. You will have the sensation of growing lighter. There will be no temperature change.
3) Absorbing Water:
Same above method. Imagine the sensation of coldness filling you. Become heavy but fluid, feeling the weight of movement.
4) Absorbing Earth:
Same manner as the others, Imagine the sensation of weight, feel loose soil pouring in like sand in an hour glass. Do not imagine clay earth as this has water in it. Do not imagine temperature change.
1) Absorbing Fire:
Sit comfortably and imagine yourself in the center of a sphere of fire (nothing exists but you and the sphere). Inhale, imagining that this fire is drawn into your body… Imagine that you are hollow and you are being filled with fire… Keep count of how many breaths (with a string of beads) it takes you to become filled with fire.
While you are inhaling an element imagine the desired characteristic which corresponds to it. Mentally fix it and emotionally fix it. Once you have completed this stage, visualize yourself (inside & out) glowing red. Now you are ready to project the element. Exhale upon the object, glowing with it… With each act of exhaling count again with the beads. You must exhale exactly as many times as you inhaled.
2) Absorbing Air:
This is done the same as with Fire except you will inhale air and see yourself as expanding with the Air. You will have the sensation of growing lighter. There will be no temperature change.
3) Absorbing Water:
Same above method. Imagine the sensation of coldness filling you. Become heavy but fluid, feeling the weight of movement.
4) Absorbing Earth:
Same manner as the others, Imagine the sensation of weight, feel loose soil pouring in like sand in an hour glass. Do not imagine clay earth as this has water in it. Do not imagine temperature change.
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