Third Lunar Cycle Breathing Practice
Fanning the Fire of your Will and Power (2 min)
Throughout this lunar cycle you are invited to stand comfortably and commune with Fire as you focus your mind placed in the center of your womb/hara. Root your breath down from here and give your offerings at the gateway of your second chakra, your pleasure portal.
Practice Guidelines
- Take a deep breath in, mouth closed. Use your abdominal muscles and activate your diaphragm to expel your breath out through your nostrils. Inhale slowly. Repeat this two more times, inhaling slowly between each exhale.
- Use your diaphragm as you did in step one, as the bellows fanning the flames of your breath but this time inhaling at an increase speed so that you equally inhale and exhale powerfully through the nostrils. Do this 9 times. (Only for a total of approximately 10 seconds. Note that if you do this for longer - even as short as 30 seconds - there are contraindications. See below.)
- Slowly and deeply inhale through the nose, and slowly exhale thoroughly through the mouth (with an "Ah" sigh or sound if you wish). Do this a few times or until you feel ready to repeat steps 1 and 2, or continue onward to step #5.
- Repeat the steps 1-3. Do this cycle two more times before moving onto step #5.
- Softly rub and gently massage your solar plexus area as you practice laughing big belly laughs for 30 seconds, or as long as you desire.
Activating and igniting the eternal flame within this way, with the fire of your breath, fuels the gyroscopic torus of your energy body. This practice has many physical benefits:
- It is said that the breath of fire burns away disease and karma, stimulating the solar plexus to release natural energy throughout the body.
- Cleanses the lungs and respiratory system, building its capacity, and increases vital strength as well as oxygen to cells, purifying blood in the process.
- Stimulates the solar plexus to release natural energy throughout the body and aid digestion.
- Raises the voltage of the nervous system and releases toxins.
- Stimulates a global alpha rhythm in the brain when practiced correctly.
- Strengthens and tones diaphragm and abdominal muscles and improves digestion.
- Warms the body, energizing and clearing the mind as well as increasing attention ability.
Before you begin:
Contraindications
Doing this practice in a slow and gentle way like this should be fine for everyone. Do be cautious if you choose to play with extending the duration, speed or intensity of this breathing practice.
Know that if you decide to do even a 30-second beginners Kapalbhati fire breathing practice, it is not advised if you are pregnant, or if you have high blood pressure, acid gastric issues, heart disease, or abdominal pain.
You should also stop or slow down if you feel dizzy or anxious.
Doing this practice in a slow and gentle way like this should be fine for everyone. Do be cautious if you choose to play with extending the duration, speed or intensity of this breathing practice.
Know that if you decide to do even a 30-second beginners Kapalbhati fire breathing practice, it is not advised if you are pregnant, or if you have high blood pressure, acid gastric issues, heart disease, or abdominal pain.
You should also stop or slow down if you feel dizzy or anxious.
Optional Integration
- Take another minute to sit in silent meditation observing the sensations this practice has awakened.
- If you wish, you may record some notes about your experience, express creatively from this place of awareness using pen, pencil or paint, dance and move your body through space, or work with your shamanic crafting to integrate your experience and to augment and embody the power of your dragon fire energy.
- You may explore using any mudra that calls to you at any given time. One we would like to bring your attention to for this practice is the Madhyama Mudra. Touch the tips of the middle fingers together infront of your solar plexus as pictured below. Keep your elbows out pointed away from your body. This mudra helps balance the flow of energy through this chakra, aids digestion, enables awareness of and connection to your personal power. Generally this is a great one to use when speaking your affirmations for this chakra and working with the energies of this Third Lunar Cycle.
