Breath Meditation
If we get no further with Feeling-Into, we can insert a Breath Meditation session, which is based on deep abdominal breathing. Through this, our organism is flooded with oxygen, and processes are set in motion that weaken the defense mechanisms so that unconscious contents can reach consciousness. Thereby, we can continue with Feeling-Into and further integrate the contents.
Preconditions:
- The basics of Feeling-Into and practical experience with it.
- No pregnancy and physical suitability.
Due to the potential for profound experiential content, I recommend calling in an experienced mentor for the first sessions who prepares us for it and accompanies us.
The Sitters
To make adherence to The Golden Rule easier for us, people can support us during our sessions.
The Tasks of the Sitters
Securing the Ritual Space
Examples:
- Intercepting an unexpected visit
- Adding fuel to a wood stove
Physical Support
Example:
- Offering a water bottle
Mental Support
In difficult phases of the session or if there is a tendency for the user to start fighting against their inner process, the sitters can lay their hand on the user's arm for support and thus suggest presence to them. To prevent possible distraction, this should only remain there until they can open themselves to their inner themes independently again.
Physical Contact Initiated by the User
Due to mental processes, the need for physical contact with the sitter may arise in the user. As part of the therapeutic process, we should always grant this.
No Verbal Communication
So that the user is not distracted from their inner process and can adhere to The Golden Rule, no verbal communication should take place between them and the sitters during the entire session. Especially in phases of the session where they are apparently going through difficult processes, the sitters are urged not to intervene in the user's inner process and to leave them to their self-healing. This can be very painful, but in the sense of The Golden Rule and the associated safety and salutariness of the methods, it is unavoidable. The session situation must be trained for this.
Spiritual Support
While the user undertakes their journey, we must mentally watch over them. If mental themes come up in us as sitters, we can close our eyes ourselves and apply Feeling-Into during phases in which they do not need our active presence. In this way, we can transform possible collective themes and support the user on their journey.
Basic Requirements for Sitters
Because small lapses in the sitter activity can already have a large impact, empathy, specialized knowledge, and much experience are required. Training for this consists of self-experiences with the methods, a transfer of knowledge, and one's own experiences as a sitter.
Integration Painting
Painting experiences helps us to process them. Music that is emotionally touching can act prominently and supportively here.
For this, we can use, for example, a large sketch pad and colored pencils.
We can hang up the painting and only take it down when it no longer holds any significance for us.
Fasting
Through fasting, psychological defense mechanisms are weakened, and adherence to The Golden Rule is facilitated.
This consists of:
- Eating nothing but drinking sufficiently. (12-24 hours before the session)
We can counter very intense feelings of hunger with fruits, fruit juices, a clear soup, or tea.
- No intoxicants. (at least one week before the session)
The sober state makes us more receptive to inner themes, which nourishes the healing process.
- Sexual abstinence. (4-5 days before the session)
Through this, our "inner animal" is strengthened, and we come into our power, whereby adherence to The Golden Rule is facilitated.
Breath Meditation (Practical Guide)
Fasting
So that the Breath Meditation can unfold its full potential, we should fast beforehand, as described in the previous chapter.
Preparation
For a Breath Meditation session, we need:
- Comfortable options for lying down; pillows, and blankets.
For those breathing, a cloth that we lay over the eyes to darken the space, to support an inward journey.
- For musical support or a guided Breath Meditation session, we can set up an audio player.
- So that we are not distracted by external sensory impressions and the inner process can come to light better, we should darken the room if possible.
The Breathing Phase
The Breath Meditation session takes place lying down if possible. During the entire meditation, we keep our eyes closed and remain mentally turned inward, just as with Feeling-Into. To help us mentally seal ourselves off from external sensory impressions so that the inner process can come to light and run its course, it helps to lay a cloth over the eyes and additionally darken the room.
The Breathing Technique
Inhale as deeply as possible and press the inhaled air out again as quickly and powerfully as possible.
We make no pauses between inhaling and exhaling or between the individual repetitions. The breathing frequency should rise, as in sports, to such an extent that the exercise becomes physically strenuous. This can be 5 to 10 breaths in 10 seconds. How long we breathe is individual. 30 to 45 minutes have proven to be a good starting value.
Guided Breath Meditation
Especially in our first sessions, it can be helpful if the breathing rhythm is prescribed. For this, we can fall back on audio recordings produced specifically for this purpose. Such as the album "Ananda Mandala" by Sri Krishnaraj (Chakra Meditation).
Experiential Content
The experiences triggered by the Breath Meditation can be accompanied by, among other things, feelings, psychosomatic symptoms, images, and memories. It is important that we allow the experience as a whole. For this, it is necessary to completely give up control and surrender ourselves, and let what happens happen (The Golden Rule).
Motivation
Since a Breath Meditation can become physically very strenuous with intensive practice, we need a certain devotion for it. We can draw this from the motivation that we view the exertion as a sacrifice for our healing.
Possible Side Effects
Symptoms such as tingling, an energetic current flowing through the body, cramping of the limbs, and the alteration of consciousness are attributable to the accelerated breathing and disappear by themselves upon returning to the normal breathing rhythm.
The Relaxation Phase
After the breathing phase, we can rest and apply Feeling-Into. The duration for this is individual and lasts as long as we need to process possible mental themes and to recover physically from the exertion.
The Strengthening Phase
If we have gotten hungry through fasting, we can now eat something. Afterward, we should proceed to the Integration Phase.
The Integration Phase
We use this for inner contemplation and for transforming the freshly activated themes. For this, we can apply Feeling-Into and Integration Painting.
The Aftermath
A large part of the healing process takes place not during, but after a session. The activated themes can make themselves felt through psychological and psychosomatic symptoms and can be further processed and transformed with Feeling-Into. In this way, we can draw from a single session for a very long time. Only when nothing new comes up in us over a longer period and the healing process stagnates should we think about the possibility of a renewed Breath Meditation session.
Due to the potential for profound experiential content, I recommend calling in an experienced mentor for the first sessions who prepares us for it and accompanies us. See the Services section for more details.