268 lines
13 KiB
Plaintext
268 lines
13 KiB
Plaintext
Copyright (c) 1988 by Phil Hansford. This article is
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is licenced for free non-commercial distribution only.
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** MAGICK 5 -- CHAKRAS AND MEDITATION **
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According to East Indian philosophy, man possesses seven
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major *chakras* or psychic centers on his body. Each of these
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forms a bridge, link, or energy transformer; changing pure
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(higher) energy into various forms, and connecting the four
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bodies (ie. spiritual, mental, astral, and physical) together.
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The chakras are located along the nadies (a network of psychic
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nerves or channels) and follow the autonomic nervous system
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along the spinal cord. Chakras correlate with major acupuncture
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points along the 'governing vessel meridian' (acupuncture term).
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The seven major chakras are connected together by three major
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nadies which are parallel and near each other. The middle nadi
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is called *sushumna* and it has neutral characteristics. The
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nadi on the left (ie. nearest your left hand) is the *ida* nadi
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which has yin characteristics. On the other side of sushumna
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(nearest your right hand) is the *pingala* nadi, having yang
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qualities.
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Chakras are visible to clairvoyant sight as varously
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colored rotating circles or funnels. In the East they are
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described as petaled flowers or lotuses. Sources disagree on the
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colors.
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The first chakra, located at the base of the spine at
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the perineum is the *root chakra*, muladhara. It primarily
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relates to the element of earth and to psychic smell.
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The second chakra, known as the *sacral center*,
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svadhisthana, is located above and behind the genitals. Its
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dominant element is water, and it is related to psychic taste.
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Third of the chakras is the *solar plexus*, manipura,
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located at the navel and corresponding with the emotions and
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with the element of fire; also with psychic sight
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(clairvoyance).
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The *heart chakra*, anahata, is the fourth chakra,
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located over the heart and corresponding with the element of
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air, and also with psychic touch.
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The fifth chakra is the *throat chakra*, vishuddha,
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located at the base of the throat (thyroid) and corresponding
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with psychic hearing (clairaudience).
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The remaining two chakras are very important. They
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relate mostly to elevated states of consciousness. The *frontal
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chakra*, (or 'third eye') ajna, the sixth chakra, is located
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between, and slightly above, the eyebrows. Ajna is the center of
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psychic powers and can produce many psychic effects. Meditation
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on ajna is said to cure nervousness.
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Finally, the *crown chakra*, sahasrara, located atop the
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head, (pineal gland) is the seventh chakra. It is referred to as
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the thousand-petaled lotus and corresponds with astral
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projection and enlightenment.
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There are also many minor chakras throughout the body.
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Each chakra has a sound (letter) and a pitch which is sometimes
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used to invoke it.
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THE TATTVAS
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Some occultists prefer to describe the magical elements
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as tattvas according to the Eastern system. Notice that these
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symbols and colors are generally different than the western
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symbols and colors for the elements.
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element tattva tattvic symbol
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======= ====== ==============
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earth prithivi yellow square
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water apas silver crescent
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fire tejas red triangle
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air vayu blue circle
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(spirit) akasa black oval
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YOGA
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Yoga originated in India. It is a physical or mental
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discipline designed to condition and invigorate the mind and
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body. There are many kinds of yoga, but they may be generally
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divided into three main types...
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Hatha yoga -- affect the mind through the body using
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physical exercises; improve physical health and endurance.
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Raja yoga -- affect the mind through mental training;
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improve concentration.
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Mantra yoga -- affect the mind through chanting and
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affirmation; achieve relaxation.
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MEDITATION
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This is a much touted area of the occult. There are many
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meditation techniques, and many claims made for the benefits of
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meditation. Basicly, meditation has two functions -- relaxation,
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and perhaps, improved concentration. There are two main types...
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1) concentration meditation (focusing),
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2) insight meditation (mindfullness).
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Most kinds of meditation are the concentrative type. One simply
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focuses his attention upon a single physical object (such as a
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candle flame); upon a sensation (such as that felt while walking
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or breathing); upon an emotion (such as reverence or love); upon
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a mantra spoken aloud or even silently; or upon a visualization
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(as in chakra meditation, see below)...Concentration meditation
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is, simply put, a form of self-hypnosis.
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A mantra (or mantrum) is one or more words or syllables
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which are repeated -- often chanted -- aloud...A simple yet
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powerful mantra is to vibrate the mystical word 'OM'. This
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mantra has long been associated in India with the godhead/unity.
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Use it to aid in tuning into universal vibrations which promote
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feelings of harmony, peace, and well-being. Use it before magick
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ritual to 'get into the mood' and afterward to 'dismiss the
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forces'. You vibrate a mantra by saying it slowly aloud in a
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lower-pitched voice than your normal speech, and a more or less
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constant pitch as well. Let the sound fade at the end of the
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mantra. A powerful one such as 'OM' will seem to vibrate the air
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around you. It should be vocalized for 5-10 seconds and repeated
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a number of times with a few seconds rest between each
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vocalization. Chanting of mantras may cause slight dizziness
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from hyperventilation.
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The other main type of meditaiton -- insight meditation
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-- is the analysis of thoughts and feelings in such a way as to
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cause realization of the subjectivity and illusion of
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experience. This is done in a effort to attain trancendental
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awareness. Such statements as, 'This body is not me', fall under
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this category. Buddhist meditations are usually of this type.
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CHAKRA MEDITATION
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There is a special type of concentrative meditation
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which we will call 'Chakra meditation'. This is basicly
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Kundalini yoga -- the practice of causing psychic energy
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(kundalini) to flow up sushumna, energizing the various
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chakras along the way. The practice, considered dangerous by
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some, will produce deffinite physiological sensations and
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psychological effects if continued long enough. It should not
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be attempted by epileptics or persons with an unstable mental
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or physical condition, or with heart disease. Certain drugs and
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medications, such as those used to treat epilepsy may retard
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progress. Although the technique is very simple, it may
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eventually produce powerful results. Results may at first appear
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hours after the practice during sleep. As each chakra is
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energized by this practice, it is said to add occult powers
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(sidhis), until at last the crown chakra is reached, and with
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it, full enlightenment is attained. Sometimes kundalini awakens
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all by itself.
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To practice this chakra meditation, you simply
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concentrate on the chakras, beginning with the root chakra, and
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moving progressively up, as you visualize psychic energy from
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the root chakra traveling up shushumna and vivifying each higher
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chakra. As we mentioned the chakras have certain properties
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associated with them, so that this type of visualization may
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'raise consciousness', promote astral projection, and other
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things -- once you have reached ajna and eventually the crown
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chakra. You might typically meditate in this fashion for 15
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minutes to a half hour a day. It might help to practice some
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hatha yoga or other physical exercise in an effort to make the
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spinal cord 'more flexible'. Diet may also affect the process.
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The technique is also similar to the Tibetan 'Tummo' meditation.
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The rise of kundalini is sometimes experienced as a 'vibration'
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or buzzing, as light, or as heat.
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HEALTH AND DIET
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Certainly the way you treat your physical body will
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affect your mind. In magick you want an alert mind. Therefore,
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your body must be as healthy as you can keep it. Take care of
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your body. Exercise regularly. eat a good diet (with vitamin
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supplements), and do not consume anything which will have a
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negative effect upon the mind. Drugs, smoking,, and alcohol
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should be restricted, or eliminated. (The mind can create any
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condition which a drug can create.) A good rule here is
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moderation in what and how much you consume. (Most of this stuff
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is pretty obvious isn't it.) You may also want to cut down on
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sugar and processed foods. Many occultists advise dietary
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changes, expecially the non-eating of meat. We cannot deny the
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physical, psychological, and spiritual effect which all foods
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have. This effect may be described as the 'heaviness' factor of
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foods. Various foods are so ranked in the chart, lighter to
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heavier...
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1. lettuce and other greens.
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2. fruits and most vegetables.
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3. wheat, rice, and other grains.
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4. nuts, beans, and other legumes.
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5. cheese, dairy products, including eggs.
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6. fish, seafood.
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7. chicken, poultry.
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8. beef, pork, other red meats.
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Note that meats, especially red meats are the 'heaviest' foods.
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Generally, foods which are harder to digest, or which are higher
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in protein are 'heavier' than those which are not. Animal
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products are heavier than plants. Foods high in carbohydrate
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(candy, bread, starch) are heavy. However, the 'heaviness' of
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foods is not directly related to the amount of caleries.
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What this means is that for various reasons, the
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heaviness of food in your diet will affect your magical
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experiences. You may be able to increase your psychic
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receptivity ('energy level') by eating lighter foods, or by
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eating less. Conversely, emphasizing heavy foods in your diet,
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or eating larger helpings, may help to 'bring you down to earth'
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should you 'rent the veil' too much. These are generalizations,
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of course, and it may take a number of days of dietary change
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before you notice much effect. I do not advocate radical dietary
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changes, excessive fasting, or malnutrition. Your good health is
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far more important in magick than any temporary effect you get
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from prolonged starvation. A change in diet will sometimes only
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produce a temporary effect, until the physical body adapts to
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the change. Healthy natural foods and lifestyle make it easier
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for us to be healthy, but ultimately, good health is a mentual
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quality (attitude).
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THE FOUR-FOLD BREATH
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With physical exercise too, moderation is advised.
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(You should be cautious, or not attempt it if you have a
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respiratory or heart condition. Check with your physician if in
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doubt, and don't overdo.) One of the most useful physical
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exercises is pranayama, or controlled breathing (actually a type
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of hatha yoga exercise). For this and any other calesthentics or
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hatha yoga which you might choose to do a 'kitchen timer' is
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suggested (many of these aren't accurate for under three
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minutes, but are helpful for longer periods).
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The main purpose of pranayama is to relax the body and
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mind. There are many kinds of pranayama, but a simple one called
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the 'four-fold breath' will suffice. This consists of four short
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quick inhallations, then four short quick exhallations; then
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repeat, continuing until the allotted time is used up. It will
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take about 1 1/2 seconds for the four inhallations, and about
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1 1/2 seconds for the four exhallations; or about 3 seconds for
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the complete in-out cycle ('rep' for repetition). There should
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be no strain of any kind during your pranayama. You will
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probably notice a slight dizziness, particularly at first, since
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the effect of pranayama is to hyperventilate. Try sitting back
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in a chair with your eyes closed when you do your pranayama.
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Begin a minute a day for the first week and gradually increase
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up to about five minutes a day. If you do the pranayama befor
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your magical activity, it will help you to get 'into the mood'.
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It is also an excellent aid to relaxation and tension release.
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Pranayama should not be done during heavy air pollution. Other
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exercises you might consider are hatha yoga, calesthentics,
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walking or jogging.
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REVIEW QUESTIONS
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1) What is a chakra? List them.
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2) Name the three major nadies. Which nadi is hot?
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3) What is pranayama?
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BOOK LIST
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Arthur Diekman, The Observing Self.
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W.Y. Evans-Wentz, Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines.
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Sandra Gibson, Beyond the Mind.
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King and Skinner, Techniques of High Magic.
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Swami Sivananda, Kundalini Yoga.
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John Woodroffe (pseud. for Arthur Avalon), The Serpent Power.
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========
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Phil Hansford, 4/88
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Mysteria
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(818) 353-8891 (modem)
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P.O. Box 83
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Tujunga, CA 91042
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