Elemental Breaths

The following breath meditation comes from ancient Sufi and Hindu sources.

If the mind and thoughts are thought of as a wind, for most of us, most of the time
the wind is chaotic and ever changing. Breath practices can provide clarity and
stability to our minds. The elemental breaths provide a wonderful tool to provide
inner balance, and a way to connect and realize ourselves as a part of the whole!
They are best done with a metronome or the ticking of a clock to provide a steady
regular beat for timing.

Earth Breath- this is for groundedness and stability. The breath is in and out
through the nose and we will do it to a count of 4:6. Imagine breathing in and out
the stability and groundedness of the earth. Imagine the magnetic field of the earth
on the inhale draw it into you, on the exhale imagine your magnetic field being
drawn into the earths. We will do this 5x. Focus on the tip of your nose and
imagine your breath entering and leaving your body from this place and being
yellow in color as it sweeps in and out of your body.

You can contemplate your relationship to the earth element in your body, your
flesh and bones. Allow yourself to realize how this element is present all around in
the natural world, the soil and all that grows from it. Then realize how you are
interconnected through the food you eat bringing in new aspects of the earth
element to your physical form, and through your waste products giving back.
There is a flow of this element into you and out of you. This is part of the cycle of
life of the earth element. This breath helps to bring balance and healing to this
element inside and out.

Water- In through the nose out through the mouth. So the feeling of descent being
washed by the purifying quality of water. The sense of flexibility and fluidity, 5x.
The bridge of your nose, the color green.

Contemplate the water element, all the moisture and fluid in your body- your
water, lymph, spinal, synovial, and blood fluids. This element enters your body
through drinking and the moisture in the air, and leaves through your breath,
sweat, tears, and excretion. Again contemplate the flow of this element through
your being and your relationship to the water element inside and out. How your
health depends on balance and purity of this water element inside and in our
world. Again through this breath practice bringing purification to this element
inside you and in the world.
Fire- to build energy. In through the mouth and out through the nose. Feel the
rising quality as you do this. Imagine breathing in through the solar plexus and out
through the heart as you go mouth nose. I use this to help work with transforming
anger, 5x. The third eye, the color red.

The fire element is the heat and energetic processes in your body. Be aware of
how the food you eat is fuel and the slow combustion of this fuel gives you the
energy to be alive. You radiated the fire element back through your actions and
the heat in your body. Be aware how this element is present in your environment
and in the sun, how it also moves through you, how you are a dancing flame!
Bring balance to this element through this breath.

Air- the quality of expansion, letting go of conditioning, of being inspired, creative.

In and out through the mouth. Imagine on the exhale letting yourself go out,
beyond your thoughts, emotions, body out dispersing to the universe, on the
inhale coming back again, 5x. At your crown, the color blue.

The air element, all the oxygen you bring into your body through the process of
breathing, and carbon dioxide you give off. Your skin is considered another lung
and also breathes. Be aware of this element inside and outside of your body. How
clean is the air inside and in the environment. How does this affect your health.
Clean this element through this breathing practice.

Ether- inhale and exhale nostrils, no counting, very refined, 5X. Above your crown,
white, smoke, clear, or rainbow.

Be aware of the all pervading life in space. The aliveness that permeates every
atom of existence. Be aware of how important it is to how space room for the
different aspects of your body, and feelings. Is your body cramped and stress,
your life. Bring balance into the element of space through the practice of this
breath.