The Five Elements and the Polarity of Breath
All elements are present to a greater or lesser degree in nature’s creation, and again, in each element all the colors of the rainbow may be seen; yet in each, one specific color is predominant. Furthermore, the elements represent different characteristics. For instance the earth element has the tendency to settle, the water to flow onwards, the fire to rise, the air to expand, whereas the ether element is beyond definition. All these tendencies have in turn indirect influences upon the rhythm of the breath, as it flows day and night in attunement to those specific conditionings. This explains why persons of different temperaments may be harmonious at certain times and not at other times.
Specific vibrations of the elements also have great influences upon one’s character, as well as conditioning one’s daily state of mind. For instance, the earth element encourages stability; the water element has a subduing effect; the fire element awakens the tendency of excitement; the air element inspires peace.
The condition of the breath is also related to other major factors such as positive (jelal) and negative (jemal) polarities. The characteristics of a positive conditioning are courageousness, determination and creativity, whereas a negative conditioning could be seen as receptivity, self-sacrifice and resignation. These two polarities, called Shiva and Shakti in Vedantic terms, may be likened to the sun and the moon.
There is also a third conditioning (kemal), which arises from the simultaneous merging of the positive and negative polarities, resulting in the annihilation of the original nature of each, thereby creating perfect balance. Paradoxically, in material activities, this situation can also attract failure, consequently to the falling out of the specific characteristics of the positive and negative conditions.
Furthermore, one’s state of mind can also be influenced, when visualizing the flow of the breath seen in association with a chosen element. For instance, when the breath is visualized in association with the earth element, one is attuning to the positive and steadiness related to that element. When associated with the water element, one is attuning to the purifying nature and the adaptability of that element. When associated with the fire element, one is attuning to the exiting and energetic characteristics of that element. When associated with the air element, one is attuning to receptivity and peace. When associated with the ether element, one is attuning to the All-Pervading Energy.
Obviously, the physical and psychological abilities, of which one disposes, certainly offer a number of possibilities. However, any abuse or misuse of these, is contrary to the noble principles of mysticism and can never be of any profit nor of any spiritual value.
In every age, breath has been understood to be the source of energy, as well as the motivating impulse linking the two seemingly opposite polarities Matter and Spirit.
Obviously, nothing is more important than the quality of the breath flow. This life-giving energy can be visualized in any of the chakras along the Kundalini channels. It can also be focused at a distance, offering positive vibrations to those in need.
Hidayat Inayat-Khan
