Gauging the Elemental Balance In Preparation for Step Three
© 2003
>> How can I be sure to practice SAFELY the 'elements breathing' exercises? I read in IIH that these exercises can be dangerous if not practiced with a good elemental balance. Do you know an exercise to test my own elemental balance. <<
The degree of balance required for the Step Three exercises with the Elements is rudimentary. In other words, you must have transformed your most important (i.e., most bothersome) negative character traits. The "test" of your Elemental balance is your progress with your Soul Mirror work of character transformation.
If you possess this *rudimentary balance* then the Element breathing exercises will support your continued work of character transformation and make it steadily easier. But if you have not successfully addressed your major negative traits, then the Element breathing exercises will make those traits worse. In such a case, the Elements will magnify your negative traits. This is another way of verifying whether or not you have achieved the proper balance to begin the Element breathing.
My best to you,
:) Rawn Clark
28 Apr 2003
>> I have a question for all of you, concerning the elemental balance. Since elements are associated with senses, if we had success with all the mental exercises of step 2, does that mean we have the elements equilibrated enough to switch to step 3 ? I would answer yes, but I'd really like to hear what you think as I'm not really sure. I think this test (to see if you are equilibrated) is much more accurate than using the soul mirror. What do you think of that ? <<
This alone is not a suitable gauge. Please look at what Bardon had to say about it in his very first paragraph of "Magic Psychic (Astral) Training (III)" [p.79 of the Ruggeberg edition and p.101 of the Merkur edition] --
"Before starting on the training for this step, the astral equipoise of the elements in the soul has to be established by introspection and self-control unless you wish to do mischief to yourself. If it is absolutely sure, that none of the elements is prevailing, you ought to keep working on the refinement of the character, in the course of the development, but you might as well go on to work with the elements in the astral body."
In other words, he suggests the Soul Mirror as the gauge, not one's success with the sensory concentration exercises. Remember, the Step Three work with the Elements is an *astral* exercise, as is the Soul Mirror work. The sensory concentration exercises, on the other hand, are *mental* exercises, and while they do impact the *astral* equipoise of the Elements, their main transformative value is in regard to the mental equipoise.
As always, in order to progress to the next Step, one must first master the exercises in *all three* sections of the present Step. Mastery of the sensory concentration exercises alone is not sufficient. One must also have progressed in the character transformation to the degree Bardon indicated (i.e., one must have transformed the strongest, most influential negative traits and *know* from the evidence provided by their Soul Mirror that "none of the elements is prevailing").
There is no "test", per se, of this other than your own self-knowledge. Either you know that you have achieved this rudimentary equipoise or you know that you haven't. It's really that simple. :)
My best to you,
:) Rawn Clark
06 May 2003