The "Mystery of Breathing"
© 2003
>> Bardon, in IIH the Mystery of Breathing heading (2001 edition p. 73) says "When you transfer a thought, idea, or concept, whether abstract or concrete into the air you are about to inhale, the Akasha principle of that particular air will accept that thought or idea and pass it on to the air substance though the electric and magnetic fluids." <<
In other words, the Akasha resident within all material substances is susceptible to mental impress. It will take on an idea that is projected into it and then express that ideation via the Electric and Magnetic Fluids and their Elements. As the Fluids pass the ideation to the Elements, the ideation is integrated into the material realm ("air substance"). This was Bardon's point in his assignation of oxygen to Fire, nitrogen to Water, etc., in that these are the avenues by which the ideation passes into materiality via the Elements.
>> Further, he says (p. 74) "The electromagnetic fluid charged with the idea or concept will lead the electromagnetic air tinged with the idea out of the bloodstream, through the astral matrix to the astral body and reflect it from there through the mental matrix to the immortal spirit." <<
And here, he is saying that there is also an "upward" effect of this sort of magic which is carried out by the "electro-magnetic air". This is the primary effect of the magic of breath -- its effectiveness upon the astral and mental levels of the individual (as opposed to the magic of food whose effectiveness is primarily oriented to the physical)
His phrase "electro-magnetic air" is a reference to the Air Element and its Fluidic charge *not the "air substance" or material air*. In other words, he's saying that the Akasha has passed the ideation on to the Fluids and Elements and now the *Air Element* is passing this ideation on to the astral and mental bodies via the Fluid it contains.
>> Based on the previous discussion under this subject and in the light of the above quoted material, I conclude that the Akasha principle, to which Bardon refers to (p. 30) as the fifth, primordial energy, is for all practical purposes of magic out of direct control of the magician. It does what it does, and the magician (again, for practical purposes) need not concern himself with it. <<
Quite the contrary. While one cannot "control" the Akasha (for instance, it cannot be accumulated such as the Elements and Fluids can), the magician *does* learn how to make use of its inherent properties. The Eucharistic magics of air, food and water are prime examples of how the magician can make use of the natural actions of the Akasha.
>> As Bardon puts it, Akasha passes the thought to the substance *through the fluids* <<
Yes. One can picture it this way: the Akasha directly manifests as the Fluids; the Fluids directly manifest as the Elements; and the Elements directly manifest as astra-physical materia.
>> and I add that it is through the fluids that the thought reaches air Akasha in the first place! <<
The mechanism of thought projection by the human mind, does involve the operation of the Fluids and Elements by nature, as do all other actions in the material realm. However, the Fluids and Elements are of minor importance in this regard since they act automatically. What's really important here is that the Akasha is capable of absorbing and subsequently manifesting a *thought*. Again, this happens automatically all the time, but the point here is that we can make *conscious and intentional* (i.e., magical) use of this natural mechanism.
>> Interestingly though, he describes the idea ascending to the immortal sprint, whereas I thought it should be descending into material world...? He says that idea is reflected from astral THROUGH mental and immortal - implying that astral level employs (controls) the other levels in action. <<
Let's take a closer look at what he said: "The electromagnetic fluid charged with the idea or concept will lead the electromagnetic air tinged with the idea out of the bloodstream, through the astral matrix to the astral body and reflect it from there through the mental matrix to the immortal spirit."
Let me translate: The *electro-magnetic Fluid* (which Bardon ascribes to the Air Element) holds the ideation passed to it by the Akasha. The electro-magnetic Fluid leads the *Air Element* along with the ideation, out of the *physical* bloodstream and carries the Element+ideation through the astral matrix (which connects the physical and astral bodies), communicating your ideation to your astral body. After penetrating your astral body, the *electro-magnetic Fluid* carries your ideation still further, through the mental matrix (which connects your astral and mental bodies) and communicates your ideation to your mental body ("immortal spirit").
The astral is *intermediate* between physical and mental. It is influenced by both AND influences both, but it does not "control"
>> In thinking of this, I remembered a meditation technique which pretty much instructs you to inhale peace and light and exhale defilements and frustrations. Obviously, this technique focuses more on repetition than on charging prior to inhaling. What are your thoughts on this, are 2 strong breaths better than 10 medium-charged ones? The latter is obviously easier to attain (though it takes more time) but if amount of wish being taken in can be simply quantified like this, it really doesn't make much difference, does it? <<
To quote Bardon: "Consequently, it is quite evident that it is not the quantity of the inhaled air that matters, but the quality resp. the idea impregnating the air substance." (p. 58 Ruggeberg 1971 edition). Bardon's version of the meditation you described can be found in Step Two, physical exercises.
My best to you,
:) Rawn Clark
27 Feb 2003