Hello again, the first exercise I am going to describe is a particularly powerful one. I need to add this might be considered unorthodox in some quarters, in fact it might even be seen as medically dangerous. But not to worry, I have been doing this for a while now and I can assure you, there is nothing wrong with me.
This exercise is called Yogic Fire Breathing
It’s a great way of reducing mental and physical tension, calming the mind and becoming aware of the body.
The Technique
I like doing this exercise in the morning, before coffee, it only takes a few minutes to do, and it’s fun. To start, lie down flat on your back, get comfortable and start breathing as fast as you can through your mouth. Breathe in an out deeply, and as rapidly as possible. Count 20 fast breaths, counting on every exhale, then stop and breathe at normal speed, 20 times through your nose. Then start the rapid breathing again for a count of 20. Stop and breathe as normal, remain lying on the floor.
Becoming intimate with the Tarot
By now, you will have entered an altered state of consciousness, which will probably last for a minute or two. During this time have a particular Tarot card at hand, a card that you want to learn about and understand on a deeper level. Take the chosen card, hold it above your head, and really look deep into the card. Observe all the intricacies and subtleties, feel as if you are falling into the card. Feel as if it is merging with you. Hold the Tarot image in your mind for a minute or so, and when your oxygen levels return to normal, the ritual is over.
What you will experience
An occultist might call this path working, some branches of psychology may call this imprinting, I like to call this Tarot Yoga. I would recommend doing this every day, for a week, with the same card. I have found that by doing this exercise it has increased my psychic abilities when doing Tarot readings. It also seems to make me dream about the Tarot and it’s possibly triggered some deja vu.
I would be very interested in feedback on Tarot Yoga and hearing some of your experiences. As far as I know there is no-one else experimenting with this, have fun and good luck.
Image by Luc Viatour
About The Author
Ewen is a Tarot reader, musician and hypnotherapist; he enjoys hill walking and tennis. To find out more about Ewen, check out his first post where he describes his personal interests and his plans for future posts.
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6 comments… Let's discuss
Interesting technique. I’m going to try it!
I teach yoga as well as read tarot cards and find that the yoga really aids in my readings. It centers, clears and helps to tap into the divine.
Thanks for writing this!
Theresa aka The Tarot Lady
Hi, thanks for the feedback!
I personally find that this technique is really good for going into a no-mind state. Just the other day, I felt really lethargic and I found that this helped clear my mind and lift my mood. Yoga is something that helps with stuff like that on a regular bases. Let me know how you get on with it.
I’m also going to be writing a few other posts that you might be interested in.
All the best, Ewen.
Actually, Ewen, your “Tarot Yoga” is not that unorthodox after all. As you mentioned, we “occultists” would call it “Path Working.” It’s actually a formula taught by The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and in that system it is called “Skrying in the Spirit” or (alternately) “Rising on the Planes.” What is unorthodox is the simplicity with which you described the use of pranayama (the yogic breathing) and preferring to lie flat on your back. I would recommend a book for you on this topic: A Garden of Pomegranates by Israel Regardie, edited by Chic & Sandra Cicero. That edition of the book also contains the Cicero’s writings about Skrying in the Spirit and you might enjoy it.
I like your blogs, btw.
- Darin aka http://www.twitter.com/thelemicwaves
Hi Darin,
Thank you for your feedback.
It’s been a while since I last read Regardie’s work. One of the major influences in my own understanding comes from The Art of True Healing. I found this to be an excellent book, and it naturally lead me onto the works of Osho and his meditation techniques, in particular, the Dynamic Meditation.
I’m glad you liked the post.
Ewen
I practice yoga as well… but not as I used to. I want to try this practice of tarot yoga though. Quite interesting. Thanks for sharing with us.
I was so excited to try this that I … well, I didn’t do the two cycles of breathing …
But I must thank you, Ewen. This will be beneficial to my Tarot class. My students mentioned doing a daily meditation on single cards and this will give them another possible approach.
Also, I wrote my first poem of the month off of your exercise. I drew the Two of Cups (RWS) and was drawn to the little house in the back, the ferocity of the lion’s face and the possibility that one of the ornate designs on the figure on the right could be a treble clef …
Thanks for the suggestion. I hope to stop by and let you know what my students think of this technique.