Walks of the Elements

One of the ways to experience and become more aware of the elements is through a series of walks and corresponding breaths. These are also very useful to do prior to doing the purifications of the elements. These walks and breaths can be considered a gross means to connect with the elements through movement, form, mudra, and breath. By combining all these the aspects, the elements are very easily experienced. Through refinement and attention, their depths can be explored further and and understanding can unfold. In addition to being methods to connect to and experience the elements, they also provide a very real way to affect the personality. In this manner they cam be a means to balance as correctives, and for complementary personality development. From another point of view, they will be applicable toward both Universal realization and greater function. They are very useful therefore on several levels.

The direction of walks, movements, and spins has functional elements. Toward the left, or counterclockwise tends toward the "unwinding" or going higher. It can generally be considered as receptive or feminine. Movement to the right, or clockwise goes more solidly into matter or manifestation. It can generally be considered as masculine or positive. The breaths are in the same manner, the left nostril receptive and the right positive. Both nostrils therefore tend to be more balanced. The strong inhalation tends to lift up or raise to the higher, while the strong exhalation tends to bring down to earth more solidly toward manifestation. Accordingly, hands and palms up tends toward receptivity, while hands down expresses positivity into earth.

These walks, movement, and breaths, and their combinations are the basis for a course. To experience them, you will have to try them and do them. Talking, reading, or thinking about it does not get the job done. So if you want to experience them and know - then do it. Pay attention to your awareness, consciousness, solidity, tenderness, and breath as you feel your way. There are also the walks and breaths of the planets and the prophets. These go into depth on the experiences of the Sun and Moon, and all the planets. They are also means of perfection of the personality. They also open the way for greater realization and function as a larger body. They breaths and walks of the Prophets provide a method of attunement to the particular prophet, both as the person was and the being now is, and also a means to see, know, and experience from that point of view - or absorption in and identification from and as that being.

It is sometimes helpful and interesting to sound a tone and see how it changes with these different movements and breaths. HU or AUM both work nicely; but obviously you could use anything. You may also try these with some of the sacred phrases or words such as Ram, Abwoon, Yahuva, Ahura, or Allah. If you explore these areas enough you will get a working understanding of form, movement, and breath on certain levels. In order to be able to discern or delineate these changes and functions, you will need to be able to concentrate, pay attention, and be observant. You might want, or need, to try them several times to get a more clear experience and sense.

With all the breaths, when one nostril is indicated, it is helpful to cover the other one to help "prime the pump". After a few breaths done in this manner all you need do is concentrate on that nostril and the emphasis will be there.

See a video of the walk

The walk of water is a soft, fluid walk. It is done with a breath in and out of the left nostril; heavier on the out breath, as water running down hill; and the in breath as a natural response. The walk is done in 4 steps, beginning on the right foot. The hands and arms are on the right side, and fluidly raid up toward the shoulders - something like dipping a bucket in a bottomless lake and raising the bucket. This is done on the in breath. Then the arms are carried to the left side and dropped down while the hands are turned over - something like poring the bucket out. This is done with the out breath. The movement is toward the left - counterclockwise. See a video of the walk

The fire breath is upward in the right nostril, sharply stronger on the inhalation, with an out breath as a response. The movement of fire is done in either three or five steps. Start on the right foot and step once, then step on the left foot, and then instead of a right step, hop slightly on the left. At the same time, inhale sharply through the right nostril, lift the right knee, and holding both hands on the right side, slap/brush the right palm up past the left; the hands being vertical. The next step down is on the right foot. Then step on the left foot and exhale, and repeat the little hop and motions and breath on the right foot, or extend it to five steps with the first step being the down step of the right foot. The turn of this can be done either to the left or right. Try both. There are different effects. They both burn. Pay attention. See a video of the walk

The air walk and breath is done highly and lightly. The arms are held up in the air, above the head, loosely and extended. The breath is in alternate, random, or both nostrils. The movements start by feeling one being blown by the currents of the air around you until the air blows through you and you with it. The breath is high and shallow in the head. See a video of the walk

Ether is the refinement of breath without any motion or movement in itself. Therefore it is stationary, attuned to that from which the elements come and to which they return. Put your attention on your ideal of the Divine and breathe love. This will help you tend toward a refinement of breath. It is done in both nostrils. Breathe in the nose, out the nose. Refine the breath. Breathe love. Feel your refined self merging with your ideal. See a video of the walk

The next step is to combine ether with all the other elements to gain the effect and experience of the next higher level or harmonic of the element. You may also find it helpful to do the following practices.

1. Sound one of the Divine phrases or names (see above) after walking each element.
   
2. Pay attention to your awareness going through all the breaths and movements from heaviest to lightest.
   
3. Do the breaths while sitting.
   
4. Put the corresponding color on the awareness/breath. Meditate on them to experience more of the reality of the elements.
   
5. Feel the changes in personality, strength, receptivity, etc. with interacting with other people or in other situations in the world, by consciously using the breaths.
   
6. Walk uphill and down hill using different breaths. See what is easier or more balanced. Then try breath through the feet to impel and breath through the head to pull one.
   
7. Combine the breaths and walks of various elements. See how this affects your perception, personality, and awareness.
   
8. Use the walks and breaths of each element prior to doing a purification of the same element.
   
9. You can also use the walks and breaths and a refining of them as a remembrance practice in itself (as well as with remembrance practices). Start with the densest breath and move toward ether. After each walk, breathe love and experience the highest you can of that level. Remember yourself being there and as it. Put on the breath the feeling of the Divine with love. Experience, Remember. Add a sacred name or phrase. Do this again with each element and walk. On finishing these, start again with just the breaths while sitting. Earth to ether, and refining your breath in love experience to sound, feeling, and being from where it comes. Identify with and remember.