Sex of the Breath
See Breathwork Self-Assessment for self-inquiry and journal prompts
“With each breath, we interact and change the polarity of the mind that surrounds the body as a personal atmosphere, and draw the mental-connection in and out of the body which is the physical manifestation of the mind. Those who learn to consciously breathe, are able to maintain a higher level of awareness through the positive and negative cycles of each breath. Those who learn to control the cycles of the breath, learn to control and focus the mind.”
— Allan Cronshaw {see The Tree of Life and the Divine Marriage}
In the same way that an embryo is formed through the interaction of fluids and is continuously surrounded and supported by fluid in utero, our bodies are surrounded by a field of etheric energy — the Mind that is the unseen source of our physical manifestation — which continually directs and sustains life.
With each inhale, the energy from the etheric field of the Mind is pulled into the body. This current descends through the inner central pathway, drawn through the upper centers of the head -Crown, 3rd Eye, Throat- and into the lower centers of the body -Solar Plexus, Sacral, Root.
When the body functions in harmony, the breath moves through the core like a synchronized wave. The diaphragm descends as we inhale, gently massaging and putting pressure on our organs, creating a responsive expansion in the pelvic floor. On exhale, the diaphragm and the pelvic floor gently rebound and draw inward. A complete breath has 360 degree movement throughout the entire core. This coordination of the diaphragm and pelvic floor acts as a pump for energy and blood circulation while linking the upper and lower, front and back dimensions of the body.
From the perspective of the body as an expression of the Mind, shallow breathing reflects fragmentation within the whole system. This division between upper and lower is often experienced as an overemphasis on the experience of life through the lens of perception and thought via the brain, with often unintentional suppression or neglect of the emotions and sensations of the body.
Posture, stress, emotional holding, muscle strength and weakness, all become factors in our conditioned breathing habits. The more aware we become of our breathing throughout the day, the more these mechanical tendencies can gradually be repatterned. When more oxygen and Light are drawn in, the vibrational frequency and consciousness of the body is raised, and the breath becomes a bridge between spirit and matter. As we clear blockages and elevate beyond mechanical habits, the energetic capacity of the body increases and we become a clearer pathway for the energy from our Soul-Self to move through us. Sensitivity begins to awaken throughout the whole body, and from there, we can start to strengthen our internal connectivity and generate more energetic charge.
Many of the common restrictions that interfere with the free flow of energy are so familiar that we no longer notice them. Chronic tension in the jaw, shoulders, diaphragm, abdomen, pelvic floor, and hips limit the body’s natural movement, reducing both blood and energy circulation. However, the physical is only a partial glimpse of the full reality — at a deeper level, we have to uncover and explore what these physical restrictions are reflecting to us at the level of Mind. When these blockages are released, breathing can become less something we are doing and more something we surrender to. The head-process of conscious breathing is released and the body begins to align with the rhythmic movement of life force energy — the unseen energy that weaves the matrix of our reality. {See Allan Cronshaw’s Plato — The Physicist & Mental Womb — Subsequent Soul Birth}
From The Tree of Life and Divine Marriage:
In many ways each incarnation of the Soul can be rightly portrayed as a Breath of the Soul. In the same way that each breath is unique to all the other breaths, we have each arrived at our present station in life by virtue of many Soul-breaths. In the same way that our physical breath begins with the taking in of oxygen through the nostrils in the head, and this oxygen enriched breath is then brought down into the lower body — in a Soul-Breath the (spiritual) consciousness of the upper three kingdoms brings higher spiritual vibrational-impressions into that Soul’s lower earthy natures where — under the right conditions — the higher impressions can become infused with their opposite polarity of the lower three kingdoms, and brought together in the Common Ground of the physical body and consciousness where each of the upper heavenly kingdoms are able to directly interact with their opposite lower-earthly kingdoms that are an opposite polarity. And this is of the utmost importance: In the same way that our heart has two halves that must work together to maintain the body in a healthful condition, each of the upper three spiritual centers (chakras) have a lower half — and no real soul-advancement can be attained, until the upper and lower halves are functioning together.
— Allan Cronshaw
This Feminine-Reflective earth domain is the Womb of Mother-God — the realm of embodiment and experiential growth. We reincarnate here in order to develop through the power of the lower feminine centers. The density, division, limitations, and contrast experienced through the nature of this realm provides the resistance through which consciousness gains traction, generates momentum, and evolves. This is why the themes of descent into the lower realms, the underworld, darkness or transformation via death, are so common in mythology and Scripture. They are an allegorical portrayal of our true reality. Our Essence-Self, the fragment of Soul that incarnates here, descends to the physical realm — maintaining a continuous connection to our higher Soul-Self through the seven spiritual centers that are continually receiving and transmitting energy.
By the age of 7, this Essence is suppressed by conditioning and the false personalities that have developed in response to the world around us. With our limited natural-man perspective, it can be easy to demonize this process — to blame life events for our inner divisions and fragmentations — but this process of expansion and fragmentation is an integral part of our evolution and is mirrored in the dynamics of cellular division. We began as a single cell — part of our father, part of our mother and part of the soul — this is the blueprint for the Divine Pattern that continues throughout our development. From this union of opposites, division occurs as part of the necessary manifestation of complexity. Cells divide, specialize, differentiate, and come together as part of a coherent whole that is greater than it’s beginning. Alpha to the Omega.
During early childhood our consciousness differentiates into roles, identities and reactions that allow it to orient and process the density and contrast of our life experiences. Beneath the layers of personality and association, our Essence remains undeveloped. In this state, the energy received from the Soul-Self is used to maintain the compartments and inner divisions of Mind that feed our narrow perception and keep us stuck in the limited vibration and level of thought that blocks us from perceiving true reality.
“After He drove the man out, He placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”
Genesis 3:24
Just as the laws of biology ensure the process of cellular division, the Laws of this realm ensure that certain divisions and fragmentation must occur for the greater purpose of our development. These divisions of Mind are not just barriers keeping us from the fruit of the Tree of Life, but rather serve as a means of testing our capacity to receive higher currents of energy and our ability to reconcile the innate paradoxes of this reality. {See Allan Cronshaw’s The Enigma of the Law of Octaves}
We incarnate into this realm in order to expand, divide, differentiate, and eventually reintegrate. Our work here is not to escape the feminine realm of embodiment, but rather to develop it. The objective is to transform the body-Mind so that it becomes the holy ground — a consecrated temple capable of fully receiving and expressing the Being of Light that is our Soul-Self.
When the body is approached as sacred, breathing becomes an act of communion. There is the inhale-drawing in, the exhale-return, and the pause or point of consciousness that exists in the transition from one to the other. Each breath is an interaction between the physical body and the etheric-Mind that surrounds the body like the atmosphere of the Earth. In their mechanical condition, the lungs are operating at the level required to sustain the physical body. At a higher level, the breath can be used to directly influence our states of consciousness. Different patterns of breathing techniques can be used as control valves to effect the positive and negative currents of energy, altering the state of the body-mind.
The more consciousness you can bring into the body during breathwork, the more profound its impact will be. Expand your awareness beyond the lungs. Feel your ribs widening in all directions, the subtle movements that arise as your spine responds and organs shift. Done this way the breath begins to massage the tissues, awaken sensation, and restore communication between areas that may have become disconnected through habit, stress, injury, or emotional suppression — what is unconsciously done as a basic respiratory function becomes a whole body experience. Feel the shifts of energy with each breath, look for heat, vibration, movement. The body communicates, receives and expresses through sensation, and these physical sensations are a doorway into the etheric dimension.
Awareness itself is transformative — it brings Light to the unconscious and creates a magnetism in the body that gradually reorganizes and aligns us towards coherence.
Each inhale draws the Mind into the body and each exhale is an opportunity for release and integration. This continual cycle of receiving and expressing, descending and ascending, connects us to the greater rhythm of Creation.
Breathwork Practice Notes:
Troubleshooting: If you have difficulty focusing with breathwork, or it feels impractical to fit into your day consistently — start small. Even one minute of conscious breathing each day is better than none.
Developing internal focus involves gradually training the body to become more comfortable with stillness. Race mind, intrusive thoughts, or difficulty concentrating often come up when we begin bringing awareness back into the body. This is a natural response when we have spent so much time avoiding or overriding the deeper sensations and signals our body gives us.
It can be helpful to begin with something small and attainable. Start with one minute per day for a week. Then progress to five minutes, then ten, then twenty, adjusting the pace according to what works for you. There is absolutely nothing wrong with starting small and slowly expanding your time range.
Habitual Tension and Movement: Holding in your stomach or gripping the pelvic floor are two common habits that inhibit natural breathing movement. Many people unconsciously tighten these areas throughout the day in response to stress, posture, social conditioning, etc. Observe yourself throughout the day and gently release unnecessary tension whenever you notice it. Allow the abdomen to soften, the pelvic floor to respond naturally to the rhythm of the breath, and the diaphragm to move freely. The goal is responsiveness — a body that is relaxed enough to receive and participate fully in the flow.
The body is meant to be moved by the breath. Because people are so accustomed to sitting still and remaining stationary, there is often quite a lot of built up tension that may seem “normal.” In a natural belly breathing pattern (which is the foundation for most breathing practices, except reversed breathing), the belly expands on the inhale and the pelvic bowl gently tips forward. On the exhale, the belly comes back to center and the pelvic bowl comes back to neutral (maybe with a slight tuck in the tailbone). As the breath rises into the upper chest, the shoulders naturally follow, and the head should have a subtle movement as the rest of the body is moved.
You can play with intentionally exploring the opposite countermovement as well. Breathing in, rounding your back as you inhale, pelvis tipping backwards. This creates a seated cat-cow type rhythm: the spine rounds back as you inhale, while the upper and lower body move forward… then the spine arches forward on the exhale as the upper and lower body drift back. This is a good way to begin involving the back and spine in the breathing process.
Suggestions for Breathing with a Partner: Conscious breathing with a partner brings the etheric fields into deeper states of connection. When practiced during intimacy, synchronized breath helps bring together the upper and lower spiritual centers of the body, creating a more coherent whole-body experience. Outside of sexual interaction, breathing together regularly gives those centers, as well as the animal natures of the body, an opportunity to meet and interact in an intimate way, without necessarily leading towards sex. This can be done fully clothed or skin to skin. You can experiment with breathing in unison, or in an alternating rhythm: one partner inhales and the other exhales, etc.
The yab-yum position (the traditional tantric position shown below) is ideal for this kind of work. Pillows or supports can be used to make it more comfortable if needed. If yab-yum is too difficult, come as close together front-to-front as you are able, while holding hands or placing a hand on each other’s heart.
Breathing together back to back, with bodies touching, creates a different relationship between the energy systems of the body and can be experimented with. The nervous system is how the brain communicates with the entire body, and while we generally don’t focus on the spine to the degree that other paths do, it is still an important energy pathway.
Breathing Exercises:
There are a countless number of potential breathwork patterns — all for different purposes. I highly recommend “The Science of Breath” by Yogi Ramacharaka, for a wide variety of exercises and information about the importance of breath in the development of consciousness.
Below are the breathing techniques that I would specifically emphasize for regular practice:
4/6 Breathing: Inhale to the count of 4, exhale to the count of 6 (5/10 is another good rhythm). If you have a hard time keeping track of counting, just try to generally make your exhales longer than your inhales. Throughout this exercise focus on breathing in and out through the heart center — feeling Love in the heart.
As you breathe in, bring the breath all the way down to the pelvis, let your belly round and relax, expanding the pelvic floor gently. With your exhale, gently draw in your belly and pelvic floor.
If you feel comfortable with this breathing, advance the practice by gently curving your neck downward during your inhale (chin to chest) and lifting it back upward with the exhale. Let the movement flow naturally with the breath like a wave through the body. This motion coordinates the movement of the head with the diaphragm and pelvic floor — downward (inhale) and upward (exhale) — bringing the body into further alignment. The gentle pumping also assists in the flow of Cerebral Spinal Fluid.
Longer exhalations activate the parasympathetic nervous system — the branch responsible for rest, recovery, and restoration. Inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth with an audible sigh, further signals calmness by stimulating the vagus nerve. Over time, these breathing patterns can influence heart rate variability (HRV) — a measure of the time variation between your heartbeats. Higher HRV is associated with adaptability and resilience in the nervous system, reflecting the balance between sympathetic (“fight or flight”) and parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) activity.
This article from WebMD has general information about HRV: What Affects Your Heart Rate Variability?
This type of breathing is good for bringing the body-Mind into a balanced state for any sort of internal work — emotional processing or self-reflection, developing and increasing energy sensitivity, any type of Receiving (polarity healing, past lives, intuition, empathy, certain types of sacred sex, etc.)
Double Inhale – Long Exhale: Two quick inhales and a long exhale. First inhale into the belly, second inhale into the chest… then a long exhale. Repeat through 10 cycles, or as long as needed.
This is a good technique for a quick reset. Especially during times of stress, anxiety, or whenever you are having difficulty regulating your emotions/reactions.
Reverse Breathing: Opposite of the natural diaphragm/pelvic pump.
In Reverse Breathing, the lower abdominals inward and pelvic floor in pulled up on the inhalation. Everything relaxes on the exhalation, with a gentle downward expansion in the pelvic floor. On the inhale, imagine you are condensing a ball in the center of your lower abdomen, around the area of the sacral center.
Keep your inhale/exhale even, or experiment with dominance in one or the other.
This breathing technique is used to cultivate the field of the lower centers. The downward push of the diaphragm combined with the upward push of the pelvic floor on inhale builds energy in the lower abdomen and pelvic bowl, which is like energetically stoking a fire. This energy then rises up and circulates through the rest of the body. Push the energy up from the perineum, to the crown, through center of the body — not the spine.
This is a good starting exercise for anyone who is working on feeling energy, as it’s very stimulating to the body, without being stressful. As your body becomes more sensitive and begins to open up, you may feel shaking/trembles as the energy moves upward. It can be a good breathing pattern to boost any sort of energy work — magnetizing the energy centers, sensitizing the body and etheric field, Light healing, certain types of sacred sex, etc.
Polarity Breathing: alternating nostrils
Relax the belly and jaw. Take a deep breath. Begin through the left nostril, hold your right nostril closed and breathe out to a count of 10. Then, still through the left nostril, breathe in to the count of 5
Switch, holding down the left nostril now as you exhale to the count of 10. Still breathing through the right nostril, inhale to the count of 5
Continue alternating with full diaphragm breaths.
It is perfectly normal for this to take some time and regular practice. When you are comfortable with the pattern and count of this breathing, you can advance it by inhaling to the count of 5 and then holding to the count of 5 before you exhale. *Holding the inhale (positive) amplifies the energy.
In Tantric traditions polarity breathing is called the “solar and lunar breath.” On a physiological level, you are alternating between each nostril, actively and equally engaging the left and right sides of the brain.
Polarity breathing can help bring balance to the energy in the body and clear blockages, especially when practiced alongside other body-cleansing and balancing methods. As restrictions are released and the body becomes a clearer channel, polarity breathing can super charge the internal energy pathways and the etheric-field. This raises the vibration of the body, strengthens the etheric field and the magnetic centers of the body, and is an effective technique during certain types of sacred sex.
The breathing pattern in the video below is slightly different than what I outlined above, but it is a great example overall and breathing counts can be adjusted according to what is more comfortable for your body
Breath of Fire – The Breath of Fire comes from Kundalini Yoga. It involves quick inhalations and forceful exhalations that are a result of pumping the lower abdominals. The faster your pace and stronger your exhalations, the more effective this exercise will be. It can be a strenuous pattern to maintain — starting small and building your capacity or doing it in cycles like the video below is a good way to begin conditioning the body.
The Breath of Fire is very powerful for “burning” through blockages, increasing sensitivity in the body, activating the lower centers, clearing the etheric field, and overall energizing and magnetizing the body.
Connected Breath: Go at whatever pace you choose, but have no pause between the inhale and exhale.
This breathing can be combined with 4/6 breathing to induce heightened states of consciousness. I don’t feel comfortable giving a timeframe — each person needs to experiment at their own pace, with what works for their body. I will suggest starting with 5 minutes of the Connected Breath and alternating to 4/6… and experimenting from there.
The connected breath is used in the practice of Rebirthing, which is a body/energy healing technique that brings emotional, mental, and energetic blockages to the surface. There can be intense physical experiences — hot/cold sensations, cramping, etc. It is something that should be well researched before undergoing. Below is a good video to begin with:
Cleansing Breath — complete and forceful exhales
Begin by taking a deep breath down to the lower belly (from the nostrils), then exhale forcefully and completely, from the mouth through pursed lips. Hold for a moment and then exhale a bit more. Do this through at least 5 cycles.
An alternative would be to exhale in strong short bursts until you reach the point of feeling like your lungs are empty… holding… and then exhaling a bit more.
This exercise is very stimulating to the lungs, can increase lung capacity, and pushes out stagnant air — practice it when you’re sick to keep the lungs active and healthy.
It is a good breath for any sort of transition — getting ready for an activity/exercise, bringing your body back into balance after dysregulation, or whenever you’ve noticed you’ve spent too much time in a state of shallow breathing.
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