Cicero - Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition_Part 01

TheTheoricus Grade 299
This exercise should be practiced at fixed periods of time every day. Twice a day is
best, and for no more than ten minutes at one session. Do not force the breathing-all
effort should be mild and unhurried. The entire process should be simple
and enjoyable.
As the lungs attune to the rhythm, they gradually communicate it to the rest of the
body. Within a short time the entire body will be felt to vibrate with the cadence,
thus instilling a powerful current of spiritual energy with the body and mind.
In addition to this, rhythmic breathing is a discipline that trains the Will of the
individual. Many students would like to skip over such simplistic yet laborious
exercises as this, wishing to jump headlong into more advanced work. Perseverance
and determination are required to comply with the curriculum presented
here. It is precisely this type of exercise that pits the student against his/her own
inertia and indolence. Those who persist will profit greatly in the long run.
The Fourfold Breath explained in Chapter One is an excellent example of a rhythmic
breathing technique. The Theoricus can now expand on this method by
adding certain visualizations:
Inhale
Full Hold
Exhale
Empty Hold
Waxing Moon
Full Moon
Waning Moon
Dark Moon
The student may wish to experiment with several different fourfold visualizations:
the four quarters of the day (dawn, midday, dusk, midnight), the four seasons
of the year, the four Elements, the four Qabalistic Worlds, the four letters of
Tetragrammaton, etc., the list goes on.
Itis essential that whatever rhythm the student chooses, be it the Fourfold Breath,
a ten beat count, or any other, the practice should be maintained for the prescribed
ten minutes. The rhythm itself is responsible for the assimilation of vital energy
from without, and the augmentation of the divine life power within.
It might be helpful in the initial learning stages to employ an electric metronome
attached to a timer. This can be adjusted to the correct length of the practice session,
loudness and speed of the rhythmic beat.o