by Projection of the Elements outside the body
The soul training exercises of Step Four enabled us to attract and condense the Elements in various degrees of intensity within our organs and bodily parts. This practice enhances the body’s elasticity and allows us better to manage the pressure from the accumulation of Elements. Additionally, Step Three exercises on releasing life energy gave us an insight into how to outwardly release attracted energy from the universe. Given this wealth of experience, the externalisation of Elements exercises should not pose difficulties, provided we have adequately prepared to reach this stage.
The instructions for practising are pretty simple:
- Sit in your favourite position or āsana.
- Begin by accumulating the Fire Element through your lungs and pores, always exhaling emptily.
- When your body temperature increases to an intense level, it indicates sufficient accumulation of the Element. At this point, the accumulated heat should be released into the surrounding environment via the solar plexus. It is essential to avoid straining the muscles of the upper abdominal wall during the process. The objective is not to forcefully expel heat but rather to enable its natural flow during exhalation. By eliminating tensions that accumulate on a psychic and muscular level, you can “transit” the Element towards the exterior until you feel the heat entirely diffuse into the room.
- Repeat the operation a few times until you clearly perceive the increase in heat in the room with your physical senses. The exercise can also be performed outdoors; in this case, with the help of your imagination, you must “limit” a space that contains the heat generated.
- The exercise must be repeated in the same manner with the remaining Elements, in the sequence of Air, Water, and Earth, while perceiving the corresponding externalised Element’s lightness, coldness, and density or gravity. One can manage the sequence based on personal commitments, such as dedicating a day to each Element or completing everything in a single session if sufficient time is available and the will to do so exists.
- After the practice involving manipulating Elements, it is advisable to dispose of the accumulated Elements safely. In his work, Franz Bardon proposes two methods for doing so. The first method involves dispersing with the imagination the Element throughout the universe, allowing it to dissolve in all directions. The second method consists of using imagination and willpower to contain the Element within the confines of the room for a limited period. This is to avoid any potential side effects that may result from interactions with Elementaries, subtle entities that operate on the Elements.
The choice of the solar plexus as the outlet channel for the Element is not without purpose. The solar or celiac plexus is a complex nerve network in the upper abdomen. It is primarily composed of celiac ganglia, which are nerve bundles that form part of the autonomic nervous system and which innervate the digestive tract and abdominal viscera such as the oesophageal sphincter, stomach, small intestine, liver, and pancreas. These ganglia, distinct from both the central nervous system and the intrinsic digestive system control, have earned the name “abdominal brain.” They act as communication organs between the brain and the abdominal organs, transmitting impulses to the viscera and releasing information on their functioning. This bidirectional function explains why mental states characterised, for instance, by anxiety and intense emotional reactions can cause nausea or other digestive disorders.
On the energetic level, the solar plexus finds its correspondence in the Maṇipūra chakra, which is depicted as a ten-petalled lotus and referred to as the “city of the gem” in Sanskrit.
This chakra is associated with the Fire Element and, through its subtle constituents, is linked to various physiological processes, such as digestion and metabolism. It is also connected to the adrenal cortex; by producing steroid hormones, the latter plays a critical role in maintaining the equilibrium of electrolytes and glucose in the body.
Maṇipūra is the chakra responsible for transforming food into energy through the Fire Element and the related organic functions. This energy is then radiated via prāṇa, the energetic current of the petals, in the three bodies – physical, etheric and mental. This process also plays a crucial role in forming the sense of self. Additionally, the chakra serves as an entry point for solar and spiritual energies. Its dual function reflects the intermediary role of the celiac plexus in the physical organism. Notably, it ensures that individual and cosmic consciousness align under favourable conditions, providing a prelude to the objective perception of one’s being and the abandonment of false ideas of an ego existing per se.
The externalisation practice, as proposed by Bardon, plays a critical role in the transition from the individual to the transpersonal. Inhaling and exhaling the subtle principle of an Element through the solar plexus enables one to acquire a breath of universal scope, which integrates with objective experience. But even without going that far, this exercise leads to a greater degree of self-confidence and a sense of purpose in one’s life. It counteracts the adverse effects of an imbalanced chakra, which could result in digestive disorders, weight gain, and diabetes. By engaging in this exercise, an individual can effectively mitigate the debilitating effects of a weak chakra, helping them maintain sound health and overall well-being.
Rispondi