Breathe in me Breath of God - A Practice (Nov 2019)

Doreen explores the relationship between breath, spirit, and wellness with a 10 minute meditation practice.

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This post was originally published on Christians Practicing Yoga.

What if you could be in the presence of Holiness all the time? Doreen explores the relationship between breath, spirit and wellness with a 10 minute meditation practice to help you bring awareness to the Holy Spirit operating in you like life-giving breath. Before you begin, gather a pen and paper. Find a quiet place to sit for 10-15 minutes. Settle into a comfortable seat with your head, neck and trunk lined up - perhaps support your back against a wall or back of chair with a towel behind your waist so you can stay upright. Then begin this audio. Enjoy!

Transcript: What if God were as close as your next breath? What if awareness of your breath was being with God in Holy connection? Now, consider the words ‘inhale’ and ‘exhale’. “Hale” comes from the same root as hearty, health, wholeness. Wholeness and spirit and breath are deeply intertwined. Breath and spirit can be a metaphor of and an analogy for the Holy Spirit who gives us life.

Scripture In Genesis 2:7 we hear: Then the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath or spirit of life, and man became a living being. In John 20:22 we hear: And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Preparation Slowly roll your chin down to your chest, then roll right ear toward right shoulder, chin to chest, left ear toward left shoulder. Repeat 3-5 times slowly, staying in the front half circle, (not rolling your head back because it could cause trouble). Then return your head to neutral. Shrug your shoulders up and down a few times. Circle the shoulders.

Settle in Now, place your hands gently on your belly and chest and rest them there. (At any time if they become uncomfortable, switch hands or place them in your lap.) Notice your breathing and begin to gradually deepen and steady your breath. Begin to establish diaphragmatic breathing; breathe through your nose (if able), Breathe comfortably deep, steadily, evenly in length in and out and quietly.

Sense the inhale and exhale. Sense the balance of in and out, in and out. Cleansing and nourishment, like two parts of a whole. Both necessary for being in Life. Now, sense the in-hale as in-spire and the ex-hale as ex-spire -- ‘spire referring to spirit’ in both aspects of breath. Each inhale is infused with spirit, health, nourishment each exhale is also infused with spirit to cleanse & release tension. The taking in and letting go, releasing what is no longer necessary; make room for more life. Watch the breath a while…. sense the Holy Spirit moving in you.

Inquiry How does it feel? Is there texture? Moisture? Coolness or warmth? Is it comforting? (Or not – that is useful to know too.) Is there any restriction in your breath pattern? Allow yourself to explore your relationship with both physical breath and the subtle energy that rides in the breath. Can you sense the holiness even if you cannot see it? ... like wind – you can’t see it but you can feel the effects.

What is it telling you? Begin to wonder about a situation in your life that might have some questions around it. Without getting too wrapped up in thinking about it……Just place it in your awareness and allow the Holy Spirit to breathe with you and it…. Do this for 5-10 breaths. Then release the situation and return to just watching the breath. Kabir, a Middle Eastern mystical poet said: “Student, tell me, what is God? God is the breath inside the breath.”

Coming back outward Sense yourself sitting quietly, feel your feet. Wiggle your hands; take a deeper breath. Cup your palms over your eyes and blink a few times to come back outward slowly.

Reflection Then spend a few minutes writing about or identifying any feelings you experience when relating to your breath as the en-spirited flow of God's life-giving love both to you and through you.