occultaspects:

fuckyeahyoga:

Forgotten Early Yoga Teachers in America: William Walker Atkinson

Perhaps the most significant early American yoga teacher was a Baltimore-born attorney named William Walker Atkinson. After experiencing a mental breakdown at the turn of the century, Atkinson found solace in the positive thinking school of New Thought. He promptly left the law to pursue a new career as a prolific New Thought author and exponent. Under the pseudonym “Yogi Ramacharaka,” Atkinson wrote 13 books on yoga between 1903 and 1909. The yoga offered by Ramacharaka was approachable and practical, an eclectic mix of self-help, positive thinking, theosophy, physical culture, and medical science. Quickly translated into other languages and distributed around the globe, these books influenced everything from the acting method of Konstantin Stanislavski, the practice of Reiki in Japan, and the writings of Carlos Castaneda. They even inspired a young woman later known as Indra Devi to travel to India and study yoga.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Walker_Atkinson

Source: yogajournal.com

chaosophia218:

Seven Chakras.

7) Crown Chakra – Cosmic consciousness, spiritual connectedness
The seventh (crown) chakra relates to consciousness and pure awareness, bringing knowledge, wisdom, understanding, spiritual connection, and bliss. It is the door of spiritual awakening, connection with our spiritual self. It allows us to see the bigger picture and live in the moment.

6) Third Eye Chakra – Ability to focus on and see the big picture
The sixth (third eye or brow) chakra relates to physically and intuitively seeing life clearly. It involves psychic perception, imagination, wisdom, interpretation and our ability to make resulting decisions. Our perspectives and true motivations are found here which direct our actions.

5) Throat Chakra – Ability to communicate
The fifth (throat) chakra is about expressing and receiving information, including symbolic and vibrational sensing. It involves communication, sound, creativity, and self-expression. Expression can take many forms from basic communication wants and feelings to a vast array of artistic expressions.

4) Heart Chakra – Ability to love
The fourth (heart) chakra allows us to love deeply, feel compassion and have a deep sense of peace and centeredness. It relates to our perceptions of love relationships with people close to us. The heart is also where the spiritual, true self resides. Moving away from ego, towards this awareness, fear is destroyed and a healing peace grows within.

3) Solar Plexus Chakra – Power center, confidence, emotions
The third (solar plexus or naval) chakra is the power chakra. It rules our personal power, self esteem, autonomy, and sense of purpose. It has to do with confidence and being comfortable with who we are. This is where we store our emotions. It is also an intuitive chakra, where we get our ‘gut instincts’.

2) Sacral Chakra – Sensation, pleasure, emotions, flow
The second (sacral) chakra is the chakra of creativity, healthy sexuality, and the desire and ability to feel pleasure. It is also associated with our emotional body, and deeply feeling our emotions. It has to do with our ability to be graceful, fluid, and able to accept change.

1) Root (base) Chakra – Foundation, security, groundedness
The first (root) chakra represents our foundation, security, sense of being stable and grounded. It is related to our survival, having our base needs met such as health, finances, family, and food. It has to do with our connection to our bodies and the physical realm.

Source: chaosophia218

metapsykhe:

“Hypnagogic State The hypnagogic state offers a unique concoction of relaxation, absorption, diffuse and receptive attention, ego dissolution, reactivation of recent memories as well as older ones, synesthesia, and hyperassociative and symbolic thinking. By outstripping the waking “I-Me-Mine,” this mode of consciousness can tap deeper sources of creative thinking and intuitive problem solving.”

—

Waking, Dreaming, Being by  Evan Thompson
(via johnsparker)

Imagination/Diaphane/Translucid

nv11:

I honestly think the idea of a Diaphane, as explained by Levi, is one of the most understated, underestimated, and underused ideas in western occult.

What is it? More or less it is our imagination, but understood to be more than just a faculty of perception. Instead the imagination is seen as the very foundation of our perception. You do not see the physical world, you imagine it in your mind. You do not perceive the astral either, you imagine it in your mind. The diaphane is like our own collection of symbols, images, ideas, associations, etc… Any and all signals–whether physicals, mental, or spiritual–are passed in and out through the diaphane, through imagination both conscious and unconscious.

Let us examine now the various points Levi makes about the diaphane, translucid, or imagination.

– Imagination, the diaphane, or the translucid (synonymous) is the faculty by which we perceive the spiritual and therefore exalt the intellect. Will is exalted through imagination by giving it power over the Universal Agent.

– It is through imagination that a magus can heal disease, change seasons, warn off death and raise the dead.

– Imagination is the vehicle by which our belief affects reality around us.

– Imagination + reason = genius

– It is vital for magick to increase the affinity of your diaphane with the great magical agent (train your imagination).

– The imagination creates our physical and non-physical perception. The only difference between a genius and a dreamer or a fool is that the creations of the genius are analogous to truth while the fool reflects through hir diaphane distorted perceptions (ignorance, confusion, karmic tendency, etc..).

– The difference between a true vision and a delusion is the clarity of the ray perceived by the diaphane. Trauma and mental constructs reflect the ray into a distortion and make the truth of the vision more difficult to perceive.

– Distinguishing between clear light and distortion is the job of the initiate.

– Dreams and visions are produced by the diaphane from the symbols always present in the astral fluid. Magick is the art of subjecting these forms to your will by the use of the diaphane.

– Spirits can be evoked into the astral space by the use of their symbol by the diaphane. Once brought into the space the spirit will control this astral form–which is perceived through the diaphane.

– Any idea put into words or symbols then becomes a living astral entity which travels through the diaphanes of other people when they perceive it. Through this the idea grows, evolves, changes with each perception.

– All actions, including ritual and mundane activity, are stored symbolically in the astral fluid and continuously affect our diaphane and through it our reality.

– The witches sabbath and astral travel occurs in the translucid.

– Vague, complex, or shifting patterns can be used to allow the diaphane to focus astral perceptions. Through this divination like scrying, coffee grinds, etc can be performed.

– For the wise magician to imagine is to see and to speak is to create.

– In daily perception the imagination is busy with sense impressions. Through techniques like trance and Gnosis it becomes more receptive to the spiritual and astral.

– Each person’s diaphane affects each other. Through this magnetism is experienced, affinity, affection, love.

– Symbols, incantations, and all other aspects of ritual are used to keep the imagination firmly in place where the will aims to direct it.

– Impressionable people have impressionable imaginations. They are useful in magick.

– Ritual magick is simply an intoxication of the imagination which produces profound effects on the magus.

– The more difficult or horrible the magical operation, the stronger the impact on the imagination. Other forms of intensifying the experience also work.

– Affect the imagination and it will in turn affect the nervous system, which will then affect the whole.

By the way this is all from just part 1 of dogma and ritual. I ran out of time on lunch so feel free to continue from part 2

justinbthemagician:

Mindfulness grants clearer perception of subtle forces. Mindfulness of breath grants insight into how the vital force enters and leaves. Mindfulness of the bodily sensations give one insight how the subtle forces flow through the body and out into the aura. Pranayama, yoga, chi kung exercises, etc supercharge that flow so you can better perceive the subtle sensations in your body. These are not bizarre experiences, you are feeling them right now you just don’t have the awareness that those emotions, aches, pains, tastes, throbs and beats are and have always been considered what the subtle force really is. it is the life force because it is the experience of being alive. That is what is flowing through you all the time. It is another reason why cold showers/baths are a part of Bardon. It along with the mindfulness and later concentration bring about those raw sensations and make them plain as day. You become intensely aware of your body and what you are experiencing.

That is why when you are taught to see auras or scry it gets you to look at your peripheral vision or almost cross-eyed. It gets you to actually look at things in a fresh way (it also kicks in right brain thinking). 

What is the condition of your aura/energy field/ sphere of sensation? Just “look/listen/feel” for it. Don’t daydream or imagine it, just experience it.

Concentration then grants you the ability to direct that awareness outwards towards a target at a distance. Kasina is great for this because it give you the illusion on the closed eyelids of there being a distance in the darkness. It also teaches with enough practice how to perceive the light sensations behind the eyes or in darkness to a finer detail. With even stronger training one can direct or “command” the images that appear. This skill is a delicate one though and is more akin to directed intent but not forcing. You can force imagery but it is weak and does not hold long. If one knows that and trusts that it will appear and allows it to form on it’s own it may take a bit but it will arrive with blazing clarity and hold for as long as one keeps the gentle “doesn’t matter-need not be” attitude along with a concentrated mind. A balance must be held. Keeping more on the sense of space and direction and allowing the imagery to unfold. One may be quite surprised if one familiar with runes or astrological symbols intends for one and allows it to naturally grow and unfold. Too often strong willed magicians force the imagery and get no where, but if they gave a more magnetic touch with the electric fluid force of faith they would find they held creation within them.

When an initiate acquires these two traits of meditation taught as foundation in Yogic schools then they begin to move the energy about, call up elemental qualities and increase or decrease their quantities. Form them into shapes and fill them with will and direction. Work with the subtle forces perceived from the Sun, moon and other astrological magical forces. They may find power spots and learn the sensations felt there and through imagination match that quality at will or through ritual.

One can then infuse with mindfulness and concentration objects and items to fill them with power.

This mindfulness also give one insight into the quality of health felt within, with concentration and imagination (the intending and allowing method) one can transform sensations of illness and weakness into vitality and bliss.

One can feel so filled with the vital force and with bliss one may find nature itself lovingly bends to your desires.

Nature of Tin & Lead in alchemy

tomasorban:

Of the Nature of Tin

Tin is a body clean, imperfect, engendered of ARGENT-VIVE pure, fixed, and not fixed clear, being white outwardly, but red inwardly, and of the like SULPHUR. Tin lacks only decoction, or digestion.

      Alchemical Tin is the Manipura chakra of the yogis or the Jupiter center of esoteric astrology. In the body its location is approximately at the level of the solar plexus. In the order of “cleanness” it is second out from the Sun center, according to Bacon. It is imperfect. Like its super-conscious expression (Argent Vive), the self-conscious (sulphur) expression through this center is white outwardly but still red within. What Bacon is inferring is that, predominantly, sub-conscious elements are still expressed through this center, or alchemically speaking, tin’s sulphur is yet naturally attached to salt-ish tendencies.

      In alchemy-speak when self-consciousness (sulphur) aligns its powers with super-consciousness (mercury or Argent Vive), the combination is called “white sulphur.” When self-conscious expressions are rooted in habitual sub-conscious tendencies or habit patterns, alchemists labeled this “red sulphur.” The effects within the personality complex show up as predominant tendencies toward pomposity, raw materialism, strong pride, and rigid conservatism, to name a few. These are some of the more base expressions exuding from an ill aspected Jupiter in a natal horoscope. This is the equivalent, alchemically speaking, of tin steeped in salt-ish tendencies, or as Roger Bacon says, “but red inwardly.” Bacon suggests that all that is needed to sublimate the finer tendencies within this center is “decoction,” or prolonged meditation. Meditation turns sulphur toward Argent Vive in ALL the metals.

(Cassiterite; Tin oxide)

Of the Nature of Lead

Lead is an unclean and imperfect body, engendered of ARGENT-VIVE impure, not fixed, earth and dross, being somewhat white outwardly, but red inwardly, and of such a SULPHUR in part burning. It has not purity, fixation, color, and firing.

      The alchemical metal lead is equivalent to the Muladhara chakra of the yogis and the Saturn force center of esoteric astrology. The following three metals: Lead, Copper, and Iron are very important forces centers. Commentary on these three calls for another adept’s insight into their natures. The mysterious Basil Valentine subsequently described these three force centers in the 1500s, 250 years after Bacon. His word choices are slightly different, but rather similar in spirit with Bacon. He wrote of Lead: “Saturn (Lead) is generated of little Sulphur, little Salt and much gross, unripe Mercury.”

      Both sages agree that the Mercury, or Argent Vive, (super-conscious) expression through this chakra is “unripe, impure, gross and dross.” The Saturn Center or Metal in the normal human is of an energy that is mainly concerned with practical, materialistic manifestations. The survival instinct is priority, especially so through those centuries of both authors. Survival is not that less instinctual in these current times, it would appear. For this center to express super-consciousness as a positive influence calls for a combination from the other two, Copper and Iron, to turn Lead. In Lead self-consciousness (sulphur) tends to focus on the sub-conscious (salt) needs for sheer survival where food, shelter, and safety are the primary issues. “Me first!” is the most important.

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Nature of Copper & Iron in alchemy

tomasorban:

Of the Nature of Copper

Copper is an unclean and imperfect body, engendered of ARGENT-VIVE, impure, unfixed, earth, burning, red (not clear), and of the like SULPHUR. It wants purity, fixation, and weight and has too much of an impure color, and earthiness not burning.

      Metal copper, equivalent to the Vishudda chakra of the yogis, is the Venus planetary center in esoteric astrology. Notice the “weight” hint again from Bacon connected with this emotional body, the seat of desires. Basil Valentine observed: “Copper is generated of much Sulphur but its Mercury and Salt are in equality.” Again, they both agree. And again, the super-conscious (Mercury, Argent Vive) expressions are not a priority when desires are steeped in selfishness, and ‘wanting’ purity and ‘weight,’ that is, love for anyone but the lower, petty self. Our base desires must be transmuted to be transcended, a difficult task at the very least. Only persistent ‘decoction’ (meditation) can turn this center by gently pulling down super-conscious influence. The steady process of disciplined meditation will affect the desire natire in a most positive way. Base, selfish desires seem to melt away when our passions are abated through meditation.

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Of the Nature of Iron

Iron is an unclean and imperfect body, engendered of ARGENT-VIVE, too much fixed, earth, burning, white and red not clear, and of the like SULPHUR. It wants fusion, purity, and weight and has too much fixed unclean SULPHUR and burning earthiness. What has been spoken, every Alchymist must diligently observe.

      Metal iron is equivalent to the Svadishthana chakra of the yogis and the Mars planetary force center in esoteric astrology. Notice that Bacon’s descriptions above for lead, copper, and iron are quite similar. Basil Valentine describes the Mars Center:“Iron is found to have the least portion of Mercury but more of Sulphur and Salt.” Iron, or the Mars Center, is the seat of human volition, the will-sex urge, according to Qabalists. In generic humanity this is probably the most virile influence in our daily lives. Our pseudo sense of self importance derives most of its false identity through the misaligned influence of this force center primarily, and from the seat of desires (the Venus chakra, or Copper) secondarily. These two combined energies create most of mankind’s woes, individually and collectively. Our misdirected will-sex urges and desires have brought our planetary environment and ecosystem almost to its knees through our seemingly unconscious need to self destruct. Master Alchemists write of the “Iron Key” in their manuscripts, recognizing the bare fact that to turn the energies exuding from this center is paramount to turning all the others. The squandering of the ‘reproductive force’ must be abated and turned into the healing balm which restores living tissue and musculature at the cellular level. Once again, meditation is the basic healing balm.

      All three modes of expression within each of these and the other metals must be balanced, purified, and sublimated by unification. Fully matured, “ripe mercury” (super-consciousness) must eventually flow and express through all seven force centers. When this is achieved, enlightenment may be forthcoming.

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