Five Elements 45 Years
(On the Purification Breaths of Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan and the Inayatiyya)
Earth, Water, Fire, Air. Four elements tied together by the fifth Ether. Though I have known most of these elements since my childhood days, it was encountering the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan in the late 1970’s that made them a precious part of my life. Known as the Purification Breaths these simple daily breathing practices have been a part of my life for 45 years and counting. As I continue doing them they take me deeper and deeper, create balance, and keep me healthy most of the time. Though it’s a “personal” practice, it also is universal. More and more, these days I feel the importance of doing these practices for the Earth and Gaia, as a Healing for Humanity. Starting by doing them for myself, the breath flows naturally to a wider world.
As a photographer and writer, a gardener and sometimes traveler I have the good fortune to tune to the actual elements. I live in the countryside with a garden and a view of the hills and mountains and the ocean is less than 3 kilometers away. My home is in Japan but looks much like the east coast Blue Ridge Mountains in my home birth state of Virginia. Doing these breathing attunements outdoors in the elements is a special blessing. But there also days when I do them in a hotel room looking out the window or standing on the platform before catching an early morning train. When I lived in Tokyo I mostly did them walking on my morning commute to the station.
I have shared these Purification Breaths at writers’ conferences, poetry gatherings, photography workshops, on Nature Meditation walks, and with a variety of activists as a way to tune to nature and awaken creativity. I also work as fashion model and like to think that this attunement to the elements aids my presence before the camera and the viewers of the resulting photos.
I happen to be a member of The Japan P.E.N Club. When I heard they had an “environmental committee” I thought to join that, but friends who were on the committee told me “all they discuss is nuclear issues” - important yes but not necessarily my focus. I believe it’s places like these that could definitely be enriched by these simple breathing practices and some other Nature Meditations in addition to their “harder” activism issues. I hope to reach out more to this kind of group and other venues. In the meantime, I keep up the daily practice as much as possible enjoying what it does to me personally, those around me, and those far and wide who need our positive energy more than ever.
Reference Notes:
"Elements Breathing Practice"
Earth
Breathe in and out through the nose
Water
Breathe in though the nose, breathe out through the mouth
Fire
Breathe in through mouth, breathe out through the nose
Air
Breathe in through the mouth, breathe out though the mouth
Ether
Breathe gently in and out through nose
4 or 5 breaths for each element or more if you like –
Note: when inhaling through the mouth, just slightly open, feeling the breath though the lips. Standing or sitting by an open window or outside is recommended.
“Salutations”
All productive Mother Earth, I humbly offer my homage to Thee
All purifying Water, I willingly offer my homage to Thee
All consuming Fire, I wholeheartedly offer my homage to Thee
All pervading Air, I gladly offer my homage to Thee
Oh Ether essence of All, I humbly offer my homage to Thee
(Related stories see the book Whisper of the Land)