Breath is vital to our living. Without breath we could not live. It is what keeps us alive!
In the Jewish and Christian tradition, breath is connected to Spirit. The Hebrew word, ruach, means breath, spirit. Ruach is sacred breath. When we pay attention to our breath, our ruach, we connect with the Great Spirit, the Sacred.
My spiritual journey has taken me into the realm of interspiritual practices. I have spent many years studying contemplative practices from many different religious and spiritual traditions. Through the exploration, I followed breath.
I began by learning from Buddhist and Yogic traditions how to be present to my breath. Yogic tradition teaches us different rhythms of breathing to help calm us, rejuvenate us, take us into a deep meditative state, and more. When I combined the rhythmic breathing of the yogic tradition with the quieting of the mind of the Buddhist tradition, I began to notice a Presence beyond myself, a Presence that gave me strength, that calmed me, that restored me.
I remember one particular hike I took with my father in the White Mountains of NH. We were hiking from Lafayette Peak over Garfield Mountain to Galehead Hut for the night. We came to a 6 foot wall that we had to free climb with 30 pound full backpacks. I’m not good with heights. Once at the top of that cliff/wall the path went up at a 70 plus degree angle. My body was shaking when I got to the top of the 6 foot cliff wall. I felt like a deer in headlights. My legs wouldn’t move. They felt like jelly. I wanted to lay down and cry.
Instead, I breathed. I breathed in and out at an even pace, counting in 7, out 7. I kept that rhythm until my heart calmed, my hands stopped sweating, my legs found their strength again. I kept an even rhythm as I stood and faced the extremely steep path ahead. Breathe in for 2 steps. Breathe out for 2 steps. Soon I found myself in full present moment with that Presence surrounding me, becoming my strength.
Breathe in for 2 steps. Out for 2 steps. In the breathing came words: In “I can do this.” Out: “With Your help.” In and out. Slowly I made it to the top of the cliff and extremely steep rock face. I looked back at what I had accomplished. I remember being clear that it was not me but the Sacred that had walked me up this path. Me and God, walking together, breathing together.
Breath prayer is simple. It has many forms. This week I invite you to begin with the simplicity of it: paying attention to your breath.
Find yourself a quiet place where you will not be disturbed.
Get comfortable.
Soften your eyes or close them.
Take a few deep breaths. Be present with the in and out.
With each in breath open your heart.
With each out breath release whatever is keeping you from being fully present with your breath.
After a few deep breaths, allow your breathing to be natural. Be present with the in and the out, the ebb and flow of breath. Keep your attention there, on your breath. Practice this for a few minutes. Notice as you keep your attention present with your breath that the background hum of your monkey mind begins to quiet.
When you are ready, allow your intuition, your awareness to notice in the Silence and Stillness of your breath the Presence that is with you. Breathe in that Presence. Breathe out your ego.
Your in breath becomes the prayer: Fill me with Your Presence
Your out breath becomes the prayer: until I am empty of all but You.
Breathe this Sacred Presence deep into your body mind spirit soul. Breathe it deep into your DNA. Notice as you breathe, as you fill yourself with this Sacred Presence, what happens for you? What happens in your body? What happens in your heart center?
When you are ready, release your breathing. Come fully back to the place you are sitting. Wiggle your toes and your fingers. Open your eyes. Thank the Sacred Presence for filling you fully this day and always.
As you become more comfortable with this version of the breath prayer, you can use it in the moment to calm, to recenter, to shift from automatic reaction to thoughtful response. You can use the breath prayer to help you conquer fears and challenges that arise as you walk your life journey.
The Sacred is always present, always ready to be at our side. Actually the Sacred is already at our side awaiting our noticing. Breath takes us quickly into that noticing.
May your breath connect you more and more deeply to the Sacred Presence in and around us. Blessings to you.
