Breath
Changes From Nostril To Nostril
In a perfectly healthy person the breath changes from one
nostril to the other in about
every two hours, but in poor health the breath sometimes remains in one
nostril for
hours and even days at a time—unless rythmic breathing is practiced. In
bad conditions
it is almost impossible to maintain rythmic circulation. Did you ever
observe the manner
of your breathing when the mind is aglow with some great idea or
engrossed with some
tremendous problem, how regular and quiet the breathing becomes? But
the motion is
perfectly rythmic.
The nerve currents are moving through the channels without the
slightest obstacle. The
mind at such moments is in a profound state of concentration, which has
been
accomplished by the regularity of the breath, which has, in its turn,
produced the regular
nerve currents.
We speak of watching a play or hearing a speech with "breathless
interest." Let us try to
emulate this lesson from nature: go to some quiet place, assume an easy
posture, in which
the chest, neck and head will be on a perpendicular line, and the
spinal cord will hang
straight down; then practice the slow, measured breathing, three or
four times a day, until
you have acquired the habit.
For the best results the exercises should be practiced daily,
and the breathing will become
as regular as the ticking of a watch, for one will have acquired
absolute mastery of it. Again,
a person who has not acquired this habit should begin by practicing
fifteen minutes at a time
—at sunrise, on resting at noon, at sunset and on retiring. After a few
weeks of such practice,
if it has been done with a desire to concentrate the mind, one will
notice that a change is
coming over his nerve. He will soon become calm and serene, less liable
to irritation and
disturbance from his circumstances.
If he continues to persevere the health will greatly improve,
wrinkles will disappear from the
flesh, which will become soft and almost transparent, indicative of
high thinking and clean
living. The voice will become soft; no real man has a harsh voice, for
the breath has as much
control over the voice as over the nerves; it not only creates the
rythmic nerve currents, but it
purifies and strengthens the nerves as well.
Discretion In Forming Class
Use discretion when forming a class in occult spiritual
unfoldment. First, select your people
carefully, choosing only those who are in harmony with you. Observe the
breathing exercises,
introduce low singing, in which all should join if possible. Enter into
no conversation during the
hour of sitting. I have seen whole circles disturbed and completely
spoiled for the evening by
one person demanding all the attention. Of course such a person lacks
self control and should
not think of sitting until he has learned it. When the above rule is
not observed some in a class
will develop, and some will only become tired out and will receive no
tangible benefit.
While in the class do not wear crepe for dear ones who have passed on.
In doing so, you
draw to you the spirits of those dear ones, who, when they see you in
crepe, realize that you
are sad and they will feel sad also. Why do you mourn for them? Do you
not know they are
happier now than you are? You certainly must know that they suffered
while in the body, and
you certainly did not want this suffering to continue; now that they
are free from pain, why not
send to them a thought of happiness? It will help them to progress on
and on in the spirit world.
They are in a happier condition than you are. Why weep forthem and wish
them back in the
flesh for further pain? Remember, as you think, so you attract to you
the class of spirits in
accord with your thought, and thus you make them feel as you do. Which
will you think for
them, thoughts of happiness and joy, or of distress and woe? Do all you
can to help these
dear ones, both in your thinking and your living and they, coming to
you, will make you feel
much happier than if they saw you in garments of mourning.
