Aligning Meditation with Ritual
-
A few months ago I started learning and performing the LBRP directly before my daily Heart Rhythm Meditation (HRM). My HRM consists mostly of 4 breathing techniques, each aligned to one of the 4 elements.
It came very natural to use the vertical line of the ‘white light’ cross visualization as a path for my breath to follow during upwards/downward breathing. I align the cross intersection with my heart when focusing on my heartbeat.
Recently I added the Archangel visualizations to the ritual and noticed correlations to the visualizations I was already using for the elemental breaths (with the exception of the angel itself being present).
So I’m thinking of further modifying each breath visualization to include the corresponding angel visualization and the appropriate quarter.
I’m also thinking of modifying the sequence of the breaths to line up with the order in the ritual after reading this statement on another thread:
@Jim Eshelman said
…the Names in the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram have nothing at all to do with direction and everything whatsoever to do with sequence…
Now I don’t want to assume that I fully understand the sequence based solely on the order of the names given in that specific part of the ritual which is why I’m asking if the below order sounds ok for my breaths:
Air, Water, Fire, and Earth.
I'd also like to explore the possibility of adding specific breathing techniques into the LBRP itself but don’t want to modify it until I have a much better grasp of it.
Any thoughts or advice? Have others here experimented with modifying their rituals/mediations and obtained positive results? Is this dangerous? Thank you in advance.
From the Heart,
Troy -
Just a thought... something I don't see mentioned much. The sequence of Elements around the circle in the standard Microcosmic pattern (Air, Fire, Water, Earth going clockwise from East) is the sequence of the elemental attributions to the chakras - Anahatta down to Muladhara.
-
@Jim Eshelman said
"Just a thought... "
Very inspiring.
I’ve gone from thinking about ritual & meditation modification to outright creation.
With a grasp of both macro and microcosmic correspondences a meditation could be formulated from an existing ritual or vice-versa as long as one understood the method/process/sequence of the form being used for the blueprint.
The new form could be designed to compliment the existing form in various ways:
Duplicating the method on the microcosmic would reinforce what occurred on the macrocosmic.
Continuing/ furthering (or even reversing) the sequence could also be done.
However, if one did not understand the form being used for the blueprint, the misunderstanding could likely pour into the new form.
This sounds like a good project for an occult school. Create a ritual from your favorite Buddhist, Vendanta, or Sufi meditation...
-
In my opinion meditation palys a large part in any ritual magic, since the ritual always need to be performed mindfully, with full attention. There is a direct analogy with Hatha Yoga, whereby one's attention rests in the posture whilst it is performed. The same goes for pranayama, of course; the attention is on the breath though its various stages.
Best wishes,
Michael.
-
Normal meditation-forms help to concentrate on breathing and mental balance, and as man/woman gets his/her breathing more balanced, he can channel more energy easier. A simple meditation can play a role of just preparing for ritual. it is also good after the ritual if willed, for many rituals make initiate extremely creative compared to normal situation. Meditation after ritual is really recommended IMO, especially if you want to keep a close touch to art with your working.
Initiate should keep a close touch on the quality of meditation, for some meditations, when done wrong, are said to go closer in killing the mind, as normal meditationforms can be said (at least in Tibetian- Buddhish contect) to be about bringing the light of mind to surface, and to remove the veils of the mind.
Of course the preparation can be for example just sitting on chair and being quiet, as long as you slowly start preparing in what you are soon going to do. Everyone has their ways.
Especially if the ritual is complicated, containing many stages, and taking a lot of energy and concentration, it is conciderable to prepare really well.
I usually start preparing for rituals (especially in invocation/evocations) about 45 minutes before, and it usually contains also meditation, but not everytime. Starting a ritual is fucked up if you have all the thoughts about everything un-necessary in your head. But that is a simplicity.
Find your ways, try different technics. If you decide to use meditation, try to find a right way to do it.
93