Elemental Pranayama
Respiratory Assimilation of Elemental Energy
Keywords
Pranayama, breath work, yoga, meditation, spirituality, crystals, lifeforce, qi gong, Taoism.
General Outline
Giftedness is a blessing yet onus — certainly that is my position as one who experiences an eccentric spiritual connection with Taoism. Taoism is a form of Chinese mysticism with a prehistoric origin, and seeks to connect with the inner workings of nature through mystic communion, acting as a precursor to esoteric wisdom such as holistic healing, inner alchemy, and tantric methodology. The Tao is both the source but also the universal essence of all things. As a shared existential quality, it has a connective function between the myriad facets of life. The Taoist utilises this connective potential for an inner attunement with the laws and principles of nature — the universe: reality.
My eccentricity is that I have a past-life connection with this path. The inner cultivation of former lives — to some degree — continuates within me today. Sometimes this allows for moments of communion with the ethereal substrates of nature, leading to the formation of esoteric method.
In this article I wish to share a blossoming of method, where the person may utilise respiration to assimilate the energy of a substance, in this case crystals.
The intention is not instructive but wishes to exemplify the crystallization of spiritual technique through preceding mystic communion.
My words do not represent Taoism as a cultural or traditional entity and reflect my own spiritual experience only.
Respiratory Assimilation
The breath works like a pump that enables the circulation of lifeforce, and hence the esoteric traditions of the world developed breathing methods to utilise this capacity for the salubrious and spiritual benefit of humankind. In the Indian traditions this is referred to as pranayama, after which I have named the following method.
During a period of long illness, nature provided me with the method of elemental pranayama. Through our breath we inhale desirable (or undesirable) energies from the environment and distribute these throughout the meridian system.
I noticed the respiratory assimilation of energy may also extend to different — very specific and intentional— sources. My experience here is foremost centred around inhaling the energetic quality of crystals and 1) allow for its natural effect, or 2) directing the energy untoward intended locations in the body.
The method may be applied to other sources as well, such as beneficial herbs. As my experience is mostly limited to crystals, I will limit my discussion to this source.
Cognition
Crystals are a phenomenon typically associated with new age spirituality, a cultural manifestation the general populace prefers to automatically disregard as a contemporary but superstitious attempt to meaning beyond the disappointing superficialities of modern materialism. Yet the use of crystals is prevalent not only in this modern form of spirituality, but also in its ancient and matured counterparts, such as the yogas of India and Tibetan Buddhism — the Taoist venerates jade.
When the untrained mind interacts with a crystal, it will feel nothing, safe but for the weight, temperature, and surface texture of the stone. The self-awareness of people is unrefined and does not extend beyond the gross. Meditation, however, is a discipline that cultivates the self-awareness. The self-awareness may reach levels refined enough, so that the mind may consciously palpate existence on a more ethereal and subtle level; some people have such a sensitive level of cognition naturally from birth.
The trained mind may experience a crystal contains a unique energetic quality that enters into contact with respective aspects of our psycho-energetic being, meaning our meridians as found in acupuncture, and chakras.
Chakras are ethereal “wheels” located along the length of the spine and are located in the head as well. They contain our potential for a respective range of thoughts and feelings, and human potential. A crystal exerts a respective transformational effect upon these aspects.
A fair bidirectional sceptical inquiry might propose that either such an experience is an illusion produced by the mind, or the self-awareness of the sceptic is too insufficiently refined to properly palpate this level of existence.
Respiratory Assimilation
General Effect
Traditionally, the benefits of a crystal are transmitted via touch or allowing the crystal to rest in water for a duration of time. The crystal will then transmit its quality unto the water; the water is then consumed (which can be combined well with the consumption method published previously). However, I propose an additional method, namely a respiratory one.
Simply enough, while the mind holds its attention on the crystal, the crystal is held under the nostrils. One then applies methods of meditative or yogic breathing, such as the abdominal breath.
With the abdominal method, the breath is deep and full yet simultaneously relaxed enough for the abdomen to rise on inhalation and fall on exhalation. It helps to rest a hand on the abdomen, as the increased physical awareness of this area assists in inducing the proper breathing.
This approach allows the crystal to exert its general, intrinsic effect; the method also strengthens our energetic bond with the crystal, increasing its benefit as we handle or wear it.
Directional Method
Guided by intention, a crystal’s energy may also be directed unto a desired location.
I have often used the shielding, grounding, and stabilising effects of the shungite stone, directing it towards chakras, organs, and the aura. I also circulate its energy through meridian systems popular in Taoist practice, such as the small heavenly cycle and greater heavenly cycle. I enjoy doing Qi Gong while first having assimilated shungite energy in the dan tian, a chakra located in the abdomen, and feel the distribution of shungite energy mix with my bodily energies.
Cross-functional Application
Whereas I found shungite to be universally applicable, specific stones are usually associated with specific chakras only. Chakras have respective colours that usually correspond with the colour of the crystal.
Though not in-depth, I have experimented with applying, for instance, a typical root chakra crystal such as red ruby to the crown chakra.
What I have found thus far is that this made the crown chakra more grounded and assisted in bringing the root and crown chakra in deeper contact with one-another.
Therapeutic Theme
When applying a crystal to a chakra, we may combine it with visualisation in order to be able to work with a therapeutic theme. E.g., the root chakra may contain insecurities and incompetence pertaining to our physical and material aspects.
Should you fear canines, you could visualise yourself calm and confident in the presence of a dog while breathing with a relevant crystal untoward the root chakra.
Trauma Evocation — A Critical Self-reflection
Research such as that of Willoughby Britton, PhD., indicates that there is a subset of people who suffer adverse effects from meditation methods, such as, among others, anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, and heightened sensitivity to sensory stimuli. [1] [2] The assumption that the general public is ready for esoteric practice might be unrealistic.
A potential anticipation of balance disruption in [this technique] may be trauma evocation. The directional method applied to a chakra could be trauma evocative, understanding the chakra as a storehouse of unprocessed emotion.
Seiji Komatsu | Author support:
Love the possibilities of even more uses for all the crystals I have! Beautiful. Thx!