4. Breathing in Meditation

There are two fundamental shifts in perspective that you need to meditate effectively. You've already learned the first: recognizing yourself as consciousness, the higher Self, or awareness within the body. In this lesson, you'll learn the second shift—understanding breathing in meditation as a life-giving tool.

In the previous lesson, you discovered three realms of awareness that you, as consciousness, have access to right now. You can be in the present, which is where you are now, in your body, looking through your eyes and reading this post. You can be in the past, reliving or recalling a memory in the subconscious realm of awareness. Or, you can move into the future, where you create experiences to observe and bring to life.

Regardless of which realm of awareness you're in, one critical element ties them all together: life. In order for any of these realms to exist and be real, they need life energy.

In Sanskrit, there is a word for this life energy—Prana. Prana is the vital principle of life. It’s the magic that animates your memories, dreams, and imagination. It exists in every creation in the outer world, from your own body to everything around you.

If Prana is the magic of life, then think of breathing as the pump that keeps this magic alive. This is why the breath is such a powerful tool in meditation. For instance, if you're consumed by an anxious thought, you can take a deep, conscious breath and draw Prana—your life energy—away from the anxiety. The same goes for traumatic memories, difficult emotions, or present experiences that feel overwhelming, whether good or bad.

Using Breath to Alleviate Mind and Body Stress

Whatever you're experiencing in your mind or body can be alleviated or transcended simply by harnessing the power of your breath. This is how you can begin to settle the mind and challenge distractions in meditation. Understand that whatever consumes you—whether from the past, present, or future—requires Prana, the energy of life, to exist and feel real. Therefore, the next time you sit in meditation and encounter a thought, feeling, or sensation that doesn't serve you, simply return to your breath. Take a deep inhale and a clearing exhale, reminding your mind and body who's in charge. Challenge the realms of awareness to show you something truly worthy of your life energy.

Next week, you'll learn five important steps to kickstart your meditation practice, aptly named "The 5-Step Meditation." But if you want to get ahead of the other students, grab a copy of my book Meditate: Breathing into Meditation and Awaken Your Potential for a deeper dive into these lessons and more!

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Please note: Esoteric concepts are not meant to be taken literally or as absolute truths. However, they can provide valuable perspectives and context, helping our limited human minds grasp complex ideas.