The Mother’s Breath
Reshad Feild
I can sow the seeds but you have to water
them with the breath.
The breathing practice I teach is based upon a natural rhythm which is sometimes called ‘the Mother’s Breath’. This is the rhythm of 7-1-7-1-7 and is based on one of the great cosmic laws of the universe, the law of octaves.
The practice entails breathing in to a count of seven, pausing for one count, and then breathing out to the count of seven and pausing for one count. The rhythm is the most important thing and not the precise amount of time it takes to unfold in each individual. Each person is unique and we should find the pace that is most comfortable for us.
For a while the rhythm may be difficult. If our breath is not in harmony with the pulse of the universe, it will take practice in order to come back to what is our true heritage. The womb of the moment pulsates at a certain rhythm and this is understood through the practice of 7-1-7-1-7 breathing.
We have mostly presumed the breath. Although there are further dimensions to this practice, the first step is to watch the breath, in gratefulness to be alive in each moment. We follow the breath as it comes in through the nostrils and back out again, getting used to the rhythm of 7-1-7-1-7.
Now we can start work with the placing of the breath. Within us there is something which is sometimes called the ‘cauldron’, which can be likened to the cauldron used in alchemy through which the transformation of the base metals are turned into gold. In this practice we center the cauldron in the solar plexus, and we breathe into this area.
When we breathe in, we breathe in not only consciously but, in a sense, selfishly. By this I mean we breathe in what we need for the necessary transformation to take place. We can breathe in earth energy, magnetic energy, color, vibrations from the mineral kingdom, the vegetable kingdom and so on. It is perfectly possible to breathe in from all directions at once, into this central point of the solar plexus. This should be a joyous experience, awakening wonder in the glory of being alive.
The next step has to do with the out-breath. We breathe in only to breathe out. What we have taken in on the in-breath needs to be given to the waiting world on the out-breath. And here, for the out-breath, we move our attention from the solar plexus to the center of the chest. At the same time we visualize our breath radiating out from that center in all directions, manifesting as Light. Each individual can add their own concepts of love and goodwill towards all of God’s creatures, from the planet to Mankind Itself. I often give the analogy of the heart center being like a lighthouse for all the shipwrecked seekers in the world.
Once again, the method of this practice is to breathe in for the count of seven all that we need in the transformation process. On the pause of one count we raise our attention from the solar plexus to the heart center, and then we radiate out in the form of Light to the count of seven, before pausing for one count. Then we repeat this cycle over again.
Little by little this practice becomes perfectly ‘normal’ and we find ourselves in the right place and in the right time, able to be more of service every day of our lives.
Reshad Feild