Meditation and visualization are very effective ways to connect with Hekate and Her different aspects, work on your relationship with Her and deepen your knowledge of Her mysteries. They don’t require specific or elaborate tools, difficult or complex rituals, years of experience in the magical/spiritual world. All you need is a quiet room - especially if you are a beginner - a comfortable seat and practice.
This post is specifically dedicated to all the devotees who are unfamiliar with meditation or are willing to improve their skills starting from the basics. It includes the work of two members of the Meditation Group, a project launched within the Torchbearer Boot-Camp and mentored by the Sanctuary of Hekate Potnia Theron which practice is based on meditation, visualization and astral journey.
(This is the second post dedicated to the Meditation project. If you missed the launching of the Sacred Grounds of Hekate and our beautiful astral landscape, please check the first post out!)
The breathwork exercises, fundamental for any meditation, are written by Anne Hilty while the first Meditation Exercise is written by Catherine Archer.
Breathwork Exercises - Anne Hilty
Breathing techniques are immensely useful for meditation, visualization, active imagination, and journeying or hedge-riding into an astral or Otherworld reality. There are many, and we can practice them as an exercise without altering our state of consciousness, so that when we do, we’re skilled and it comes naturally.
The simplest form: inhalation to a count of 4, holding breath in for that same count, exhalation to another count of 4, and holding the emptiness of our lungs for the same count before breathing in once more. When we notice we’ve become distracted (a natural human condition), we congratulate ourselves for noticing and immediately return our focus to the breathing once more.
Other techniques (suitable to magical practice / non ordinary consciousness):
Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth with lips pursed to a narrow opening (should take twice as long as inhale), and repeat;
Breathe in through one nostril while holding the other closed, then breathe out through the second while closing the first, and continue;
Place one palm on your abdomen over your navel, and the other on your lower back at about the same level; as you breathe in, focus on your hands being pushed out by your breath as if an accordion or bellows;
As you breathe slowly and steadily, imagine the air as a golden, iridescent light traversing through your respiratory system and causing your body to glow; you can imagine this glow as warmth, power, health, energy, magic, fortune, or whatever you choose, as it pervades all cells in your body;
Breathing slowly and steadily, envision breathing into your lowest chakra or energy center at the base of your torso (either tip of spine or base of your pelvic bowl); on the next inhalation, envision breathing into the pelvic bowl itself, filling it with air; on the third, into your navel region; the fourth, into your solar plexus; the fifth, into your sternal region / center of chest; the sixth, into the base of your throat; the seventh, into your head;
Combine the above with our perceived spectrum of color: first breath / base of torso: red, second: orange, third: yellow, fourth: green, fifth: blue, sixth: indigo, seventh: violet;
As you breathe, envision the air entering the base of your body and traveling upward to exit through the crown of your head;
Breathe in and out 3 times slowly; on the fourth time, as you exhale envision your energy plummeting down your spinal cord, out of its base (your ‘tail’), down-down-down deep into the earth’s core; hold it there for a count of 3-4, then as you inhale, envision using this breath to draw up the earth’s core energy into your spinal cord, and as you hold it there for another count of 3-4, envision it as white-hot energy;
As you breathe, slowly and steadily, envision breath entering and exiting your body not only through your mouth and nose but through your entire skin’s surface, breathing through your pores;
Breathe rapidly and evenly, while seated and focused (give yourself an object to focus on, such as a candle flame or a magical icon); don’t hyperventilate, but breathe in (through your nose) to a count of two and immediately out again (through your mouth) to a count of two, and so on, without pausing between inhalation / exhalation; this is to raise energy and to shift into a hyperalert state;
As you walk or otherwise engage in activities of motion, match your breathing to your movement; e.g., when walking in public, inhale on one step, exhale on the next, and so on, using the movement to guide the breathing and vice versa;
Practice mindfulness regarding your breathing; become more aware of how you’re breathing throughout normal daily activities, and become practiced at steady, slow, deep breathing no matter what you’re doing;
Do short breathwork exercises as you go about your day, taking a 5-minute break on occasion to practice one of these techniques; weave it into your day, every day.
Meditation Exercise for Improving Visualization Skills - Catherine Archer, devotee of the CoH
Visualization exercise - Catherine Archer
Here is a simple exercise that can help build your visualization skills:
Select a simple object that you can hold in your hand, such as a candle, a stone or crystal, a plain chalice, cone of incense, etc. All the better if the item is sacred to Hekate or one of Her symbols. Just ensure that the object is relatively plain and simple, rather than ornate or complex (as you get better with visualization, you can choose more complicated objects to use in this exercise).
Hold the object in your hands and simply study it. Identify how the shape feels, its color, texture, size. Turn it over in your hands and study it from every angle for a few minutes.
Place the object in front of you where you can easily see it and assume a comfortable meditative position. This could be sitting on the ground or pillow with your legs crossed, or in a chair with feet flat on the floor.
Close your eyes or let them go gently out of focus. Breathe in for four beats, hold the breath for four beats, breathe out for four beats, and hold for four beats. Continue this “box breathing” technique for a few minutes.
Once you feel centered, open your eyes and breathe peacefully while gazing at the object with gentle eyes. Study it closely for a few minutes.
Close your eyes and continue peaceful breathing while visualizing the object for several minutes.
You may end the exercise if you wish, or continue to alternate between studying the object with open eyes for a few minutes and then closing your eyes and visualizing the object. Over time this will improve your ability to see images in your mind’s eye.
You can use this exercise for more complex meditations as well, using objects like tarot cards, paintings, or other complicated/esoteric images. Simply study the image as closely as you can while breathing, and then place yourself in the scene when you close your eyes. Walk around the image in your mind’s eye, and even outside of the edges of the image to discover new lands.
In the coming weeks I will be posting more about the work of the Meditation Group: more exercises and visualizations by our members, an interview to David, who created the servitor spirit for the astral space and more.. If you want to join the Meditation group, get in touch!
The Sacred Grounds of Hekate Potnia Theron Map by Simoni
Please DO NOT share the map outside the CoH website
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