This is all really helpful advice. I've been doing half an hour of slowing breathing every day for a couple of weeks (better late than never) now and was finding my concentration erratic. Until yesterday when I noticed a ticking clock in the background that I could measure my breathing with. I could manage 10 seconds inhalation and exhalation AND with amost 10 seconds holding my breath between but 7 was more comfortable and I was able to do this for pretty much the whole time. I'll use the ticking clock a few more times until the timing becomes second nature. And I'll go back to it later to see if it's comfortable to lengthen the breathing to 8, 9 etc...

Hi Solstice,

Thanks you for the sentiment, truly appreciated. The blissful feeling actually came from experience with metamorphosis and work with Non-attachment non-disinterest. The general attitude which I adopted centers on positive carelessness and complete acceptance of circumstance. Tis a humbling thing when the world does not effect the mood. I would say that complete and utter acceptance of circumstance should be avoided; this allows frustration to build on a sub conscious level. But objectivity when done purposefully does benefit the perceiver. Another reason which motivated this attitude stems from work with vernacular prime on a daily basis. At one point in my life I did not use the concept of being for an entire year when speaking; strange observations make their way into the mind when action dominates our world view. Binocular in the land of the blind and all that jazz.

I feel ya on the small group situation; much more work seems to get done. I find it comforting that I can relate my experiences with magic to individuals of a magical nature. I have joined other forums and found much animosity because I practice chaos magic. Some of the explanations and advice given to novices on these forums made absolutely no sense save they might have a little psychological value when put into practice. Practitioners of other magical systems seem to not center their magical evolution on results, but instead on acceptance of beliefs with no purpose behind them. How can we measure our ability in magic if we do not use the results we gain as signs of our success?

I have done half an hour of passive meditation everyday for nine years, almost ten. Inhibitory means to achieving gnosis have always grasped my attention due to a passage in Carroll's work which said a lot of magicians have trouble gaining gnosis using inhibitory methods. I set out to make myself adept at this a long time ago because of Carroll's words. Most of my ritual work reflects inhibitory practices. This practice also bears much fruit when we consider the benefits of continued gnosis. I experience synchronicities on a daily basis as a result of this practice. One must maintain positive thinking when manifestation reaches this pitch, or the world could come undone. Sleight of mind does have inherent danger when not monitored, random evocation of conscious deliberation will most of the time keep things from trickling down to the sub conscious. Freeing emotions from consious association also aids the practitioner when considering accidental charging of intention.

I would agree that changing the time in which a ritual takes place will alter the results. I usually work at 4 in the morning, but dawn and high noon definitely have their advantages. When I perform rites at these times I experience much greater energy, the buzz of global consciousness if you will. I tend to sleep during these times though. I have borrowed from the symbolism of times of the day during ritual; dawn has aided me in works of rebirth while I find it easier to travel at midnight.

What do you go to school for? I attend college for business administration.

Humbly Chaotic,
~Anomaly~

Yeah- things are a bit quiet right now- but as people are getting into the book and getting to the classes- we keep getting more and more and will continue to pick up people. :) I gotta say though- I'd rather have a smaller handful of people who are serious (regardless of skill level) than hundreds who are just here for a "virtual coffee lounge"... So- thanks for being here and sharing with us- posters like you are definately valued here. :mrgreen:

Yeah- that half hour makes a HUGE difference doesn't it? :D Given everything going on around here I should probably make time for a morning and evening session, but even the one makes a big difference for me... Can't say as I've got the blissful feel because of it- but if things were calmer I know I would :D (Working, going back to school and little people to take care of... Yeah- a half hour is the minimum of what I really need LOL) Although I think I'm going to switch some things up here soon and throw that half hour onto the beginning of my day rather than at the end... (Yet another grand experiment- how the timing of the meditation during the day affects the overall result). 8-)

I very much enjoyed the concept of mathematical breathing - never thought to try it but doing it now it really does do alot to the synapses. The hyperventilation technique can be fun just for the hell of it =]

I like that Zen technique, I will try that out. Andrieh made a very good point when he said that people who do breathing exercises have less stress. I do a half an hour of passive meditation and breathe control a day and have very little stress in my life, almost a blissful feeling on a day to day basis.
There does not seem to be much traffic around here but we will fix that. I like this site; it is good to see a actual forum for Chaos Magician.

Thanks,
Anomaly

I'm new here but just a comment on breathing.

Back in my Zen days we would count each inhale and exhale up to 10. 1 on the inhale 2 on the exhale. Make sure you don't go past 10. Keep all other thought out of your mind. Do that for 15 minutes without losing track. That is pretty natural so mix it up and start counting 1 on the exhale and 2 on the inhale, start over at 10. Much harder. Next only count on your inhale. Never count more than 10, then start over with 1. Get to the point where you can do these without losing count for 15 minutes then try just breathing without any thought at all. If you can do that for 5 minutes you are doing well. :D

*raised eyebrow* No burritos for you. Although that'd make a hysterical youtube video.... "Ritual bloopers and practical jokes"..... :lol:

Now I am rally going to blow your mind... :)
To get the benefit here
you only have to be mindful of the time of the breaths, Meaning once you train yourself, to breath in this fashion..and remind yourself to return to this breathing
you can just keep breathing and doing other things.... the effect on the autonomic nervous system is to actually keep you calmer without extra time :)

fireballs out of our asses, easy, eat a burrido, light a match :) ok maybe not.

(((Hugs))) Thanks for the reminder. :D (I am SO bad at slowing down LOL) *sits down to meditate/breathe before bed*

Seriously- this is VERY helpful- I do my regular work, but I'm thinking I really REALLY need to add an additional general relaxation/stress relief meditation time on top of that on a daily basis. (Yes- I hear you saying "Duh- I could've told you THAT, genius" :roll: ) LOL

When do we get that extra three hours in our day? Is that before or after we learn to shoot fireballs out our asses? And- do we need to pre-reg for that? 8-)

Seriously though- thanks for sharing this :)