Energy Breathing

            A sea of precious spiritual energies surrounds us. The air, for example, contains such energies, a fact attested to by most major spiritual traditions. The Hindu notion of prana, which means breath in Sanskrit, refers to the energies carried by the air. The Hindu word for soul, atman, also means breath in Sanskrit. The Latin spiritus means both breath and soul, and forms the root of related English words like spirituality, respire, inspire, and expire. Numerous other languages and traditions similarly affirm the close relationship between the air and soul energies, the air acting as a reservoir of energies: Arabic ruh, Hebrew nefesh, ruakh, neshamah, Greek pneuma, Chinese Taoist ch’i, the Christian Prayer of the Heart, Gregorian chant, the Sufi zikr, and the Yoga of pranayama. In ordinary, automatic breathing, however, only a small amount of these energies remain with us after we exhale.

Intentional energy breathing enables more of the energy to be drawn into us from the air and to stay with us, fueling our spiritual practice and strengthening our soul. In this special form of conscious breathing, we direct our attention to the energies in the air we breathe, rather than simply to the physical sensations associated with breathing. We intentionally draw the energy from the air into us. We can cast our attention as a “net” to capture the energy and carry it into us as we inhale. Alternatively, we can use attention as a “filter” placed in the nostrils to release the energy as the air enters the nose. As we work on becoming aware of the energy in the air and drawing it into us, we discover an unmistakable and wonderful flow of energy in our breath, strengthening our energy body. But this energy flow is never automatic; it requires intention and attention to separate the energy from the ordinary air. Spending time every day on this energy breathing practice proves invaluable in establishing our energy body, giving us a sturdy vessel for presence and for deepening our path.

At first your perceptions may not be refined enough to experience the energy in the air. In this case, use your imagination and practice as if fine particles of energy were entering you as you breathe. Work at this as part of your sitting meditation. If, after practicing energy breathing for some period each day for a week or two, you still find the energy flow elusive, please drop the exercise and consider returning to it again at another time. But bear in mind the many spiritual traditions affirming the presence of soul-related energies in the air. If this is possible for other people, it is also possible for you. As your other spiritual practices and perceptions deepen, your ability to contact and absorb the energies in the air will grow apace. Then this vast reservoir of energies will begin to strengthen your inner life and make it more real.

See Also Casting an Energy Net and Breathing Energy

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