Alchemy Journal Vol.2 No.5

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Alchemy Journal Vol.2 No.5.
Volume 2 No.5 September-October 2001
ARTICLES
Three Gems of Alchemical Initiation: Part 1
The Alchemy in Spiritual Progress: Part 5
Alchemy: the Cosmological Yoga: Part 5
FEATURES
New Releases
Laboratory Notes
Alchemy Lectures
EDITORIAL
From the Editor
Submissions
Acknowledgements
Subscriptions
 Alchemy Journal Vol.2 No.5.
Three Gems of Alchemical
Initiation
Part 1: Powers of Transformation
by
Lynn Osburn
What is the alchemical laboratory? What is
alchemical spiritual development?
The alchemical laboratory can be any system
that cooks up alchemical energy.
Alchemical spiritual development depends upon
the consumption of useful power. The Taoist
alchemists have given us the best revelations about useful power. This alchemical manna comes in
three flavors in a paradox. Though the three flavors are different they are one and the same. And you
cannot have one without the others.
The Taoist alchemists called these powers
chi, ching
and
shen
. Chi, we will call
continuation power
.
Ching, we will call
creation power
. Shen, we will call
manifestation power
. One circulates Chi power;
one sublimates Ching power; one distills Shen power. Lu K’uan Yu, Taoist alchemist (born 1898) said
in
,
Taoist Yoga Alchemy and Immortality
, “You should sublimate the three precious elements, namely
the generative force [ching], (vital) breath [chi] and spirit [shen] to restore their original strength and the
foundation will be laid when these three elements unite; only then can immortality be attained.”
The concept of chi is more familiar to Western pilgrims than ching or shen. Ti Chi and the martial arts
are based on physical exercises that enhance the circulation of chi in the practitioner's body. Every
living being circulates chi power to continue existence. For humans breathing air into the physical body
unconsciously and automatically circulates chi. Lu K’uan Yu said concerning Gathering the
Microcosmic Outer Alchemical Agent, “The human body is like a rootless tree and relies solely on the
breath as root and branches. …The outer alchemical agent is produced by means of fresh air breathed
in and out…laying the foundation (chu chi).”
Alchemy Journal Vol.2 No.5.
You must become conscious of the circulating chi in order to
develop spiritual power. When you are conscious of chi circulation
you will become aware of your subtle body. You can apprehend
the subtle body by sublimating ching or distilling shen. Everyone
does these things unconsciously and automatically, but you must
become conscious of the sublimations and distillations. This is
much more difficult than becoming aware of circulating chi. So
circulation of chi is the initial alchemical gemstone. Indeed, many
people learned to circulate chi consciously through practices
taught by various esoteric schools. Some Rosicrucian societies in
the West and Hindu sects in the East have taught breathing
exercises that consciously circulate chi. Alchemy refers to
circulating chi as
inner circulation.
By
inner circulation
I mean that system of movement existing in
contrast and complement to the physical systems within the
human organism. There are the circulatory system, nervous
system, respiratory system and other biological systems that are
studied by biology and medicine. These biophysical systems
generate within their networks complex psychic systems that
precipitate behavior which is studied by the social and behavioral
sciences. The complex psychic systems congeal perceptions and
sentiments that direct the movement of the organism as a whole
be it fortuitous or disastrous.
Alchemically speaking the biophysical and psychic systems in the human organism have a subtle
counterpart that is necessary for them to exist. That subtle counterpart is the
inner circulation,
and it is
metamorphic just as the psychic system is a metamorphic condition generated by the biophysical
system.
The Emerald Tablet is the prima materia of alchemical initiation. Imbedded within this brief gem is the
process to initiate the
inner circulation.
The inner circulation is described in detail by the Taoist
alchemists and to a lesser extent the Hindu alchemists. The Rosicrucians in the West also taught the
separation of
chi
from the oxygen molecule in the breath of air in order to power the inner circulation
(Rosicrucians never called It
chi
.).
I have been practicing the inner circulation for over twenty years. It is as safe and natural as walking
and running. In fact practicing the inner circulation will stabilize energy imbalances of all kinds that may
afflict the microcosm of the operator.
The Emerald Tablet is the oldest Western text yet found that contains the breathing exercises that can
power the inner circulation with
chi
or Outer Microcosmic
quintessence.
The Smagdarine gem offers
much more than an esoteric breathing exercise. It’s a transcendental map that expands as the energy
of the inner circulation expands within the operator.
Alchemy Journal Vol.2 No.5.
Emerald Tablet:
‘Tis true without falsehood, and most real: that which is above is like that which is below, to
perpetrate the miracles of One thing. And as all things have been derived from One, by the
thought of One, so all things are born from One by adoption.
The Sun is Its father; the Moon is Its mother. The Earth is Its nurse; the belly of the Wind carries
It. Here is the essence of every Perfection in the world. Its strength and power prevail when
turned into earth; thou wilt separate the earth from fire, the subtle from the gross, gently and with
great care.
It ascends from earth to heaven, descends again to earth and receives the power of the higher
and the lower. By this means, thou wilt have the glory of the world. And because of this, all
obscurity will flee from thee. Within this is the power, most powerful of all powers. For It will
overcome all subtle things, and penetrate every solid thing. Thus the world was created.
Wonderful adaptations will emerge from this; It is the Way.
And for this reason, I am called Hermes Trismegistus, having the three parts of the philosophy of
the world. What I have said of the Sun’s operations is complete.
The first paragraph describes the unifying Principle in the universe. The ontology of One is listed to
help focus the pilgrim on the way of transcendence. The second and third paragraphs tell you where It
is and how to move It and what powered metamorphosis It will unleash when circulated.
“The Sun is It‘s Father; the Moon is It’s Mother,” says It is born in the
mysterium conjunctionis
of the
cosmic pair of opposites. “The Belly of the Wind Carries It,” says It is in the air. “Thou wilt separate the
earth from the fire, the subtle from the gross, gently and with great care.” tells one to separate the
subtle essence of It from the gross air. This is done gently and with great care, meaning no great force
is needed — just careful attention.
When It is separated from the air It naturally ascends and descends in sync with breathing in and out.
One rotation completes a circuit the Taoist alchemists called the “microcosmic orbit.” Rotating It
through the inner circulation generates power needed to transcend limitations. Perception expands in
scope as the operator practices the inner circulation once the floating Point at the center of the
forehead in activated. To initiate the inner circulation first find a quiet tranquil place where one can be
alone. Sit comfortably. Calm the internal noise. Use whatever meditative technique you’re familiar with
or just sit quietly for a few moments.
Alchemy Journal Vol.2 No.5.
The Inhalation: Place the tip of your tongue softly to the roof of
your mouth. Inhale gently and steadily through the nose.
“Imagize” a subtle force separating from the air you are breathing
in. Breath in until the lungs are full. The
gross
air travels on down
your throat into the lungs; pay no attention to it. Instead focus on
the image of a
subtle
force energizing above the nose. "Imagize"
It arcing from the forehead down to the base of the skull then
down the spine as the breath is drawn in. Pressing the tongue to
the roof of the mouth gives one a physical location, a kind of
switch, that helps initiate the sense of separation needed to “pare”
It from the air. Some people need a prayer or incantation to
invoke during initiation praxis. The
essence
thus separated is very
subtle in the early stages and too much attention and
concentration upon It will cause It to dodge your attention and
concentration like an impish sprite. At such times concentrating
on the invocation while breathing solves the problem. Here is the
prayer/incantation that I have used for years to steady the
inhalation separation: say quietly to yourself,
“Spirit descending
upon the air ignite the fire of life; energize imagination, inspiration
and vitality.”
It’s simple and exact in prosaic content parallel to the
process you’re initiating.
The Exhalation: Move the tongue to the bottom of your mouth just below the front teeth. Exhale
through your mouth slowly and steadily. Imagine the essence of It rising from the base of your genitalia
upward through the viscera up the center of your chest. At the throat the energy forks below your
tongue and then rises into the hemispheres of your brain. Exhale completely but don’t make yourself
uncomfortable in so doing. Here again an exhalation prayer/invocation can be helpful to keep the
circulation focused. Say quietly to yourself as you exhale,
“Body rising through the earth fortify the
water of life; manifest strength, determination, will power and health.”
Practice this operation as long as you like, however about twenty minutes time is necessary to get an
effective circulation going in the initial stages. The
spirit
descending is dry and cool; the
body
rising is
warm and moist. You may feel It pulsing gently in the groin region at the end of the inhalation. It will
expand pleasantly, a glow or cloud-like feeling in the brain field at the end of the exhalation. When you
can rotate It up and down feel It with your Will (fixed sulfur). See It with your Imagination (volatile
sulfur). Play with It your bird of Hermes.
In the beginning the inner circulation is a simple orbit. After some familiarity, you’ll find the direction of
rotation can be reversed. In fact the inner circuit can be used to sublimate
ching
the Inner Microcosmic
quintessence
to power further psychic and spiritual transformations that reveal other mechanisms that
enhance the microcosmic orbit. The remaining two gems of alchemical initiation will be revealed in
future installments
Lynn Osburn is co-author of
Green Gold: the Tree of Life, Marijuana in Magic and Religion
published by Access Unlimited. He is a freelance author living in California. For more information,
email
.
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