by The Essence of the Elements
The difference between this exercise and previous ones in the astral series is subtle. In reality, it introduces a new framework that we will illustrate at the end of the practical section.
As always, we begin with the Fire Element:
- Sit comfortably in your favourite āsana and breathe naturally.
- Imagine that the etheric essence of Fire surrounds you, permeating the universe on all sides. By “etheric substance,” we refer to the essence of the Fire Element in its subtle form. As this essence comes closer to you, it gains the density of material fire, producing an immediate sensation of warmth within you.
- Along with the sensation of body heat, you start to feel the heat surrounding and permeating the entire room where you are meditating, as if you are enclosed in a very hot environment.
- Once you gain control over the Element, as it manifests its maximum effect, slowly dissolve it back into the universe, returning it to its subtle state.
For the remaining elements, follow the same procedure as outlined above.
- With the Air Element, one realises that the environment in which it condenses creates a sensation of lightness, liberating one from the constraints of gravity.
- The Water Element manifests in the environment like a cold mist, particularly around one’s body, creating an intense sensation of cold.
- The Earth Element initially appears as a shapeless, grey mass; as it approaches the body, the matter turns brown. The sensations experienced are cohesiveness, pressure, and a gravity so intense that one feels crushed and pulled towards the floor.
In this exercise, we begin to experience the elements not just as sources of specific sensations perceived through our senses, but as realities in their own right. Now, we are aware that we share the same fundamental substance as the elements we are working with, and we recognise that the world around us is made up of elements in various combinations and at different levels of density. Our goal here is to evoke the essence of these elements—their etheric or subtle state—which gives rise to their physical, gross state.
In Hindu teachings, the subtle and gross aspects of the elements are referred to as tanmātṛa and mahābhuta, respectively. Tanmātṛa represents the potential or essence, while mahābhuta signifies the final manifestation of these elements. We have already discussed this in relation to the second Step practice about partitioning the negative aspects. The current exercise marks a significant turning point in our experience with the elements, as we can now interact with them objectively, focusing on their etheric state. This paradigm shift is fundamentally crucial for the further development of Hermetic practice.
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