“One with the Sublime in Your Spine” – A Breath Technique
If you can breathe in and out, you can meditate.
We’ve now heard this over and over since this journey began, right? Every single person can meditate! No exceptions!
If you can meditate, you can tap into a power or something greater than yourself.
And if you can do that – you can experience oneness with everything – by communing with the sublime within your innermost being. So, what do we mean by that?
Let’s explore this a bit.
The sublime is a simple way of acknowledging there is something greater than we are. We may call it the power of LOVE, compassion, or the Universe itself. Some might use the word Spirit, or God or Buddha or Allah, or a favorite saint, or so on.
We are all at different places in our own inner journey to living a deep, full, and rich life, however we envision that to be.
You might be someone more comfortable substituting the word “Divine” for “sublime” or using “God” if that is your preference. It doesn’t matter. Anyone of any persuasion, spiritual or philosophical tradition, or background can meditate and connect to something greater or bigger than they are. And always remember, you are the best judge of what is meaningful for you, Just as there are many ways of praying – there are many ways of meditating. There are many paths on the same journey inward. And to connecting with a power greater than we are.
The word “sublime” denotes qualities of greatness – and evokes high moral, spiritual, ethical, intellectual, metaphysical, and aesthetic aspects and standards that are inherent in that greatness and in ourselves as well. It calls forth that which is supreme inside of us and outside of us. It is a subtle and beautiful word for me, but if it doesn’t speak to you, write in a different word, right here, right now, in this document.
When we meditate, we connect with the Supreme, with the essence which is at the heart of LOVE. There is nothing higher. Or better than to have love permeate every aspect of our lives and essence. When we live our lives from the fertile ground of love, everything changes, and we know that despite challenges, life is worth living.
We have all heard the expression that, “It is better to have loved and lost, than not to have loved at all.” Right? Would you agree?
We will take our meditation up a notch so that we can begin to inhabit that sublime realm and states of bliss more frequently.
It’s really a very simple technique you can add to your routine if it speaks to you. So many different meditation traditions teach a variation of it…
This is all you need to do…
Close your eyes…
Bring your awareness to your breath…
Breathe in and out through your nose calmly and gently, not forcing it in any way, just letting it flow on its own…
Follow your inhalations and exhalations for a while…
Then gradually begin to slow your breath down… It will begin to do so on its own…
Continue for a few more moments... And then…
Visualize your breath traveling up from the base of your spine, or the core of your being, as you inhale – coming to rest at your Third Eye – that point between your eyebrows.
Pause – and then visualize your breath traveling back down to the base of your spine or your core – as you exhale.
Pause – and begin the process of journeying upward once again. Then reverse once more – traveling back down the spine – and up the spine in this manner for a few minutes…
Just let it flow…
Don’t worry about visualizing if that is harder for you. Just let it flow, up and down with a slight pause each time…
Breathe up the spine as you inhale – and down the spine as you exhale…
After a while, let go of this practice…
Breathe quietly, in and out of your nose for as long as you wish afterward. Find, establish, and follow your own gentle rhythm…
Waves of peace and deep relaxation will envelop you with this practice… Enjoy them! And if you don’t feel it right away, you will over time.
Try a few cycles of this technique in the beginning, then work yourself up to a few minutes of the practice. There is no need to time anything, just let it flow…
Let it flow, and don’t judge it…
Do this practice for a few minutes. gradually, increase the amount of time you spend doing it, but always remember the simple rules of meditation:
Meditate or pray in any way that feels good to you after you end this simple breathing technique. You might add an affirmation, or an inspiration reading, or you might choose to just simply sit in silence.
Yes, it’s really that simple…
In time, you’ll feel this sense of oneness with the sublime within you more regularly. You’ll know this, because you will find yourself more peaceful and less reactive to people and circumstances around you.
Reflection/Journaling Questions:
How was this practice for you?
Which practices have you resonated with and why?
Which ones were more difficult, challenging, or less interesting and why?
Can you see a pattern of brief, simple practices that you are ready to more fully embrace and make yours? Is there anything you would add to them to make them more personal?
NEXT
If you can breathe in and out, you can meditate.
We’ve now heard this over and over since this journey began, right? Every single person can meditate! No exceptions!
If you can meditate, you can tap into a power or something greater than yourself.
And if you can do that – you can experience oneness with everything – by communing with the sublime within your innermost being. So, what do we mean by that?
Let’s explore this a bit.
The sublime is a simple way of acknowledging there is something greater than we are. We may call it the power of LOVE, compassion, or the Universe itself. Some might use the word Spirit, or God or Buddha or Allah, or a favorite saint, or so on.
We are all at different places in our own inner journey to living a deep, full, and rich life, however we envision that to be.
You might be someone more comfortable substituting the word “Divine” for “sublime” or using “God” if that is your preference. It doesn’t matter. Anyone of any persuasion, spiritual or philosophical tradition, or background can meditate and connect to something greater or bigger than they are. And always remember, you are the best judge of what is meaningful for you, Just as there are many ways of praying – there are many ways of meditating. There are many paths on the same journey inward. And to connecting with a power greater than we are.
The word “sublime” denotes qualities of greatness – and evokes high moral, spiritual, ethical, intellectual, metaphysical, and aesthetic aspects and standards that are inherent in that greatness and in ourselves as well. It calls forth that which is supreme inside of us and outside of us. It is a subtle and beautiful word for me, but if it doesn’t speak to you, write in a different word, right here, right now, in this document.
When we meditate, we connect with the Supreme, with the essence which is at the heart of LOVE. There is nothing higher. Or better than to have love permeate every aspect of our lives and essence. When we live our lives from the fertile ground of love, everything changes, and we know that despite challenges, life is worth living.
We have all heard the expression that, “It is better to have loved and lost, than not to have loved at all.” Right? Would you agree?
We will take our meditation up a notch so that we can begin to inhabit that sublime realm and states of bliss more frequently.
It’s really a very simple technique you can add to your routine if it speaks to you. So many different meditation traditions teach a variation of it…
This is all you need to do…
Close your eyes…
Bring your awareness to your breath…
Breathe in and out through your nose calmly and gently, not forcing it in any way, just letting it flow on its own…
Follow your inhalations and exhalations for a while…
Then gradually begin to slow your breath down… It will begin to do so on its own…
Continue for a few more moments... And then…
Visualize your breath traveling up from the base of your spine, or the core of your being, as you inhale – coming to rest at your Third Eye – that point between your eyebrows.
Pause – and then visualize your breath traveling back down to the base of your spine or your core – as you exhale.
Pause – and begin the process of journeying upward once again. Then reverse once more – traveling back down the spine – and up the spine in this manner for a few minutes…
Just let it flow…
Don’t worry about visualizing if that is harder for you. Just let it flow, up and down with a slight pause each time…
Breathe up the spine as you inhale – and down the spine as you exhale…
After a while, let go of this practice…
Breathe quietly, in and out of your nose for as long as you wish afterward. Find, establish, and follow your own gentle rhythm…
Waves of peace and deep relaxation will envelop you with this practice… Enjoy them! And if you don’t feel it right away, you will over time.
Try a few cycles of this technique in the beginning, then work yourself up to a few minutes of the practice. There is no need to time anything, just let it flow…
Let it flow, and don’t judge it…
Do this practice for a few minutes. gradually, increase the amount of time you spend doing it, but always remember the simple rules of meditation:
- Trust your intuition
- Do not judge your practice
- Move at your own pace
Meditate or pray in any way that feels good to you after you end this simple breathing technique. You might add an affirmation, or an inspiration reading, or you might choose to just simply sit in silence.
Yes, it’s really that simple…
In time, you’ll feel this sense of oneness with the sublime within you more regularly. You’ll know this, because you will find yourself more peaceful and less reactive to people and circumstances around you.
Reflection/Journaling Questions:
How was this practice for you?
Which practices have you resonated with and why?
Which ones were more difficult, challenging, or less interesting and why?
Can you see a pattern of brief, simple practices that you are ready to more fully embrace and make yours? Is there anything you would add to them to make them more personal?
NEXT