Kriyas - Kundalini exercise

[agentx]

Hello. So I have a question referencing an exercise from Modern Magick by Donald Michael Kraig.

In the 10th chapter, page 446 he gives an exercise where you basically sit and inhale then exhale several times sharply using your stomach while visualizing your breath/energy traveling down and then back up and out of your body.

The result of this is something called kriyas, or a pleasurable, uncontrollable shake or shiver that in his case escalated to a fairly extreme level.

Has anyone done this exercise with success? Personal stories? If one is aware of any videos with someone demonstrating the proper breathing technique that would be very useful.

Thanks.

[Lady Dunsany]

I see he has borrowed a lot from something that has existed for many moons. The answer is yes, it is also called the Bellows Breath which is even more effective but you must start slow and build up.

[Odin]

I don't know how much you know about the practice of using the Kundalini.

I will tell the effects are very intoxicating once it starts to rise but with pleasure also comes some pit falls.

First it is best to get a teacher that can monitor your progress along the way and teach you how to control the rising of the Kundalini energy.

There have been instances that people that have raised the energy to fast and have ended up in insane asylums because the energy was raised to fast and the one practicing good not lower the energy back the base of the spine.

Years ago I experienced the raising the Kundalini on more than one occasion and at first the energy would rise very slowly, I was doing this on a daily basis after some time the energy just took off rushing up the spine and got caught up in the intense feeling,

I thank the stars who was watching over me that day when the energy reached just half way maybe a little further the energy was cut off pushed back to the base of the spine

I was told that I was abusing the gift and and when I became more responsible it would return

I can see how people can and do get caught up in the experience of raising the Kundalini.

There are people, practitioners out there that can in fact lower the Kundalini back to the base of the spine but people around you that you are in fact doing this practice just in case one does raise the energy to fast

As for the technique some call it Bellows Breath some call it belly breathing

Just a thought.

[Lady Dunsany]

I don't know how much you know about the practice of using the Kundalini.

I will tell the effects are very intoxicating once it starts to rise but with pleasure also comes some pit falls.

First it is best to get a teacher that can monitor your progress along the way and teach you how to control the rising of the Kundalini energy.

There have been instances that people that have raised the energy to fast and have ended up in insane asylums because the energy was raised to fast and the one practicing good not lower the energy back the base of the spine.

Years ago I experienced the raising the Kundalini on more than one occasion and at first the energy would rise very slowly, I was doing this on a daily basis after some time the energy just took off rushing up the spine and got caught up in the intense feeling,

I thank the stars who was watching over me that day when the energy reached just half way maybe a little further the energy was cut off pushed back to the base of the spine

I was told that I was abusing the gift and and when I became more responsible it would return

I can see how people can and do get caught up in the experience of raising the Kundalini.

There are people, practitioners out there that can in fact lower the Kundalini back to the base of the spine but people around you that you are in fact doing this practice just in case one does raise the energy to fast

As for the technique some call it Bellows Breath some call it belly breathing

Just a thought. Not only in insane asylums but their health deteriorated. It must be done carefully as if not could seriously put it out of balance. Bellows Breath, Belly Breath, Fanning the Fire it is all the same. Treat the kundalini as you would want to be treated with patience care and compassion.

[arkham]

Yes, this can be a dangerous exercise. You should balance all of your chakras before you start. To much energy release to fast can have painful and harmful results. Also if you aren't balanced before you start the energy could become blocked at one point and for it to clear the path on it's own could take years.

I had a spontaneous release when I was a teenager that felt like a red hot poker in my neck, it traveled up to that point and stopped,very disconcerting for someone that didn't understand at the time or know anything about it.

[agentx]

Thanks for the input. I had heard similiar precautions before from other sources though I hadn't heard the term belly breathing or bellows breath.

[Johanna]

bastrika or bellows breath is more of an advanced practice, so for the OP slow it down and focus on spinal breathing first.

First imagine a pathway form between your eyebrows dipping down a little to the center of your head, down the stem of your brain, down the center of your spine all the way to the base and back up to the start. The feeling of your breath should follow this pathway. With each inhalation start at the base of your spine and let breath and energy rise up with the breath your body should expand from your lower abdomen to you collar bone, going down sink down so til you breath out the end of the breath from your lower stomach and energy to the base of your spine. All this should be slow relaxed and sustainable. In your practice, you'll want to do this before and after bellows breath, work on the basic part a few weeks before you even add it.

Bellows breath is more rapid still sustainable using just the diaphragm, inhalation and exhalation are short and of equal length, but exhalation a little more forceful, don't do it more than a few cycles at first.

It's great to raise physical energy, don't do it in the evening if you don't want to stay up all night. Good winter time exercise to clear gunk out the lungs and make the body feel warm. I doubt you'll put yourself into insane asylum doing this, but probably shouldn't do it if blood pressure or vascular problems.

If you do induce kriyas stay relaxed go into relaxed breathing and just let your body move and enjoy the sensations, if it becomes alarming or you feel a release that seems troublesome simply tell yourself to stop, stay calm, do the spinal breathing and focus your attention on the descent of energy. You may release some pent up emotions and memories too, so again just go slow and make sure you have plenty of time to close and calm down.

[Lady Dunsany]

bastrika or bellows breath is more of an advanced practice, so for the OP slow it down and focus on spinal breathing first.

First imagine a pathway form between your eyebrows dipping down a little to the center of your head, down the stem of your brain, down the center of your spine all the way to the base and back up to the start. The feeling of your breath should follow this pathway. With each inhalation start at the base of your spine and let breath and energy rise up with the breath your body should expand from your lower abdomen to you collar bone, going down sink down so til you breath out the end of the breath from your lower stomach and energy to the base of your spine. All this should be slow relaxed and sustainable. In your practice, you'll want to do this before and after bellows breath, work on the basic part a few weeks before you even add it.

Bellows breath is more rapid still sustainable using just the diaphragm, inhalation and exhalation are short and of equal length, but exhalation a little more forceful, don't do it more than a few cycles at first.

It's great to raise physical energy, don't do it in the evening if you don't want to stay up all night. Good winter time exercise to clear gunk out the lungs and make the body feel warm. I doubt you'll put yourself into insane asylum doing this, but probably shouldn't do it if blood pressure or vascular problems.

If you do induce kriyas stay relaxed go into relaxed breathing and just let your body move and enjoy the sensations, if it becomes alarming or you feel a release that seems troublesome simply tell yourself to stop, stay calm, do the spinal breathing and focus your attention on the descent of energy. You may release some pent up emotions and memories too, so again just go slow and make sure you have plenty of time to close and calm down. This is the most important never attempt it at night, when I was a wee lass I did not sleep for days.

[Odin]

It's great to raise physical energy, don't do it in the evening if you don't want to stay up all night. this to the left is Johanna . quote

This is very true that is one of the things they told us while learning certain rituals that if done before bed time not a good thing and you will be up fully energized cleaning house making cookies wondering why no one else is up and why they won't talk to you and are grumpy for waking them up think it happened to me.

[arkham]

I would also do some research on where the chakras lie within your body. As energy awakens and moves upward each chakra must be ready to accept it and to slightly release some energy, if not you could "blow" one open causing alot of pain. Remember, DO NOT STOP HALF WAY!
A word of warning.
The energy could rise like a peaceful stream or a raging river, knowledge is key before you attempt something like this.

[Odin]

I didn't think we were going to get this deep into it but the first thing before any of this is a good balancing technique to balance out the energies as stated but first a good grounding technique ritual before any of this.

[Odin]

Each and every aspect comes back to the same thing ritual which is doing some thing in the same sequence

people do this ( ritual, sequence ) in the simplest form without knowing it, Get up in the morning take the dog out, come in put the coffee on Mon through Friday the week ends come and the same thing

so the same aspect goes with getting into the meditation mode, protection, grounding, breathing technique and then the Charkra work, and expand from there.

[patient46&2-8]

I am not familiar with any of the names of this technique, but it sounds similar to some of the Self-Manifested Chi exercises from Qi-Gong (Chi-Kung), and as such I would also recomend a Masters/Teachers supervision, and as I know how hard they can be to find (Isolated Enviroment!) I agree with the comments of caution and easy does it! I only post now because of the similarity in exercise's from different traditions - always facinates me, universal knowlage by many names...!

[Lady Dunsany]

You are right, there is a similarity. My kundalini went totally out of whacked when I was going through an illness. A kundalini therapist gave me Qi-Gong exercises and after a while it flowed on track again.

[Johanna]

Yes, patient- kriyas are basically same as self-manifested chi flow or formless forms, well the idea is your body and subconcious know what to release, balance and energize better than your mind. So using mind or intention to balance can be self defeating, yes to grounding. If you want to evolve got to shake up those routines and rituals! Okay, I will stay obtuse to actual techniques, better done with a teacher.

[Odin]

It is a ritual and as you start with the basics you add on or expand on to that ritual which aides in in the evolving aspect of self promoting self growth and it is the intent that is put into the technique that helps the evolution of that person

When practicing any form of magick or martial art as patient46&2-8 will completely know and understand that it is practicing the technique till almost pure perfection is attained and in any sport for that matter when one practices over and over one see where the technique needs improvement which aides in the focus of that person.

This why cata is practiced in martial arts and the ritual of the LBRP is practiced over and over again in specific order and shaking up the ritual,or the routine shows lack of responsibility

In every teaching that I had been involved in the first aspect that is drilled into the teachings is respect, responsibility and the intent and desire that is put into your ritual or practice.

[Johanna]

Spoken like a true ceremonial magician!

Not my area, it's a philosophical argument really sorry for getting way off topic, in practice I'm more shamanic or even chaote, so I'm thinking about this from your sports and martial arts analogy. I'm not into making up any crazy thing you want and proclaim yourself a master. Rituals can be a good learning tool, good for mental discipline. I think forms and rituals can be beautiful, the constant challenge of questing for perfection. But fights aren't predictable, neither is magic or life so we constantly have to adapt and I think training should reflect that too. So I'm not as extreme as Bruce Lee, but not as eloquent either, so here's a quote.



Too much horsing around with unrealistic stances and classic forms and rituals is just too artificial and mechanical, and doesn't really prepare the student for actual combat. A guy could get clobbered while getting into this classical mess. Classical methods like these, which I consider a form of paralysis, only solidify and constrain what was once fluid. Their practitioners are merely blindly rehearsing routines and stunts that will lead nowhere.
I believe that the only way to teach anyone proper self-defence is to approach each individual personally. Each one of us is different and each one of us should be taught the correct form. By correct form I mean the most useful techniques the person is inclined toward. Find his ability and then develop these techniques. I don't think it is important whether a side kick is performed with the heel higher than the toes, as long as the fundamental principle is not violated. Most classical martial arts training is a mere imitative repetition - a product - and individuality is lost.
When one has reached maturity in the art, one will have a formless form. It is like ice dissolving in water. When one has no form, one can be all forms; when one has no style, he can fit in with any style.
- Bruce Lee

[Lady Dunsany]

It is a bit of technique true, but the most important thing is do this slowly and carefully. I do not care how adept you say you are in any form of practice whether is is ceremonial, chaos or whatever. My kundalini woke up many years ago when I started being taught in the Astral Realm. Everyone has an opinion on how it should be done, martial arts or not. If you do not balance yourself and perform the right breathing and whatever it is you do to try to awaken it will be all for naught. The Circulation of light is an excellent way to not only balance your points but it teaches you correct breath, concentration and how to bring the white and red energy together. Everyone has their own way of doing this but after having done this for over twenty five years I think I have a bit of insight. Yes I am a ceremonial magickian and a conscious channel and by merging these together with the proper way of awakening I have not done too bad. Oh yes honesty and humility are important. The most important part is always breathe.

[Johanna]

Are you talking about circulation of the light in Taoist practice (from Secret of the Golden Flower)?

[Lady Dunsany]

Are you talking about circulation of the light in Taoist practice (from Secret of the Golden Flower)?


Yes I am. I have been an Alchemist for many years. The whole goal of an Alchemist is to eventually not only find the elixir of lifer but to live without the physical body and live in the real body. Hence the Circulation of the light. I hope that answer your question. Have a good day.

[Lady Dunsany]

I have performed this breathing exercise before.. You have to make sure that while exhaling, you draw your stomach back and up forcefully (using your diaphragm) to get the full effect. Once the rhythm was built up, it made me feel very warm!
The first time I did this I passed out. I of course have gotten better.

[Lady Dunsany]

Thank you for this. Beginners could benefit. I sometimes am so much in my own world I forget most do not know. I have to come out of the astral more often I guess.