Middle Pillar Ritual

[flesh canvas]

You're probably all familiar with the Middle Pillar Exercise ( http://www.feedback.nildram.co.uk/richardebbs/meditation/middlepillar.htm (http://www.feedback.nildram.co.uk/richardebbs/meditation/middlepillar.htm) ) from the Qabala. My question stems from experiences I have had while performing this exercise:

I have found that when I perform this ritual, it gets almost unbearably hot/humid (even with the a/c blasting)... however I do know that temperature changes are not uncommon during ritual... but thats not the only thing. Whenever I perform this exercise, I get terribly terribly light-headed as well as *sometimes* getting a headache verging on migraine. One time about a month ago when performing this ritual, towards the end, just before I started the "Circulation of the Body of Light", it went from mild discomfort to so bad that I almost *passed out* within a couple of moments. I saw stars, & became unbearably dizzy, light headed (like I wasn't inside myself anymore) & felt I might vomit.... I stopped immediately & sat down til I felt I could walk again, then I ate some bread & grounded myself. I felt much better after doing so, but remained pretty disoriented for the rest of the day. Yes, I'd done a complete banishing beforehand (I always do). I have performed this exercise since then & nothing so drastic has happened (however, I *always* experience the humidness & light headedness), altho today I did get a migraine from it (I stopped immediately so as not to have a repeat episode). So I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this, &/or has any ideas on what caused this?? This does not happen when I do any other meditation or ritual.

[RedRaven]

the only thing ive experienced thats close to what you describe is a few times i would do the MPR after the LBRP, of course, and i would get really dizzy from the energy and I would feel like ike about to fall over. of course, Im not sure how much of a difference it makes that ive modified the rituals. for the LBRP i use the english words and I changed the archangels to just Air, Fire, etc. Then for MPR I use the english names for the spheres of the middle pillar down my body instead of the hebrew names.

RR

[flesh canvas]

Yes, I do the MPR after LBRP as well... I have done both the "traditional" Hebraic version of both rituals, as well as my own adapted versions. The time I almost passed out last month was done in the traditional way, with the Hebraic names (both LBRP & MPR). I find my adapted version of LBRP "feels" better... but adapted versions I've tried of MPR have no noticable difference. I have tried with the English names of spheres as well as the names of the chakras (just to test it out, esp since I'm more inclined to Indian philosophy).

[acorn elf]

I have heard that if you don't ground or center properly before meditating that you can get really really hot and some people start rocking back and forth... is this you?

[flesh canvas]

I have heard that if you don't ground or center properly before meditating that you can get really really hot and some people start rocking back and forth... is this you?


No.

[acorn elf]

All right then ^^ I'm out of ideas. This problem is odd...I'm interested to know the answers

[flesh canvas]

...I'm interested to know the answers


*nod* Me too. :confused:

[Xander67]

Simon Jester has some neat videos of the Middle Pillar Exercise with a neat lecture on the Tarot cards... the video's are put together by members of the Golden Dawn.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=110692690&MyToken=d14a5ea1-1fdc-4eb2-89e6-c2605ca59747

[Andeora]

I've read that things like that sometimes happen and they can be a natural by-product of having large quantities of energy go through you when you're not used to that. It should theoretically be more of a beginner problem... not sure if that applies in this case or not, but perhaps the general principle is the same. I haven't had migraines myself, but it can be quite overwhelming... but it also usually feels like the greatest and most blissful experience ever. :floating:

[Xander67]

In case Simon's page takes too long to load, there is a page done in Israel Regardie's name which has a video demonstration of the full excersise as it is supposed to be done with correct pronounciations of the dieties and archangels.

http://www.myspace.com/isregardie

or you can just skip to the video itself.
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1682672

[petrus4]

(Yes, I know this post is 5 years old, but I figure it might help someone now, regardless)



I have found that when I perform this ritual, it gets almost unbearably hot/humid (even with the a/c blasting)...

That's just from the amount of juice you're taking in. The other night I ended up feeling as though I'd just got out of the shower after some chanting/invoking Kali Ma, and although it's summer here, it was night and fairly cool at the time. When you're taking in a lot of astral energy, Newtonian/corporeal physics basically translates it directly from astral to thermal; ergo, heat.

The Middle Pillar is hard core; it draws down a lot of energy. I found this page through doing a search for it, because I haven't been back to MW since early January, but for some reason I've remembered the MP over the last couple of weeks. I'm thinking maybe someone is suggesting I try it out again.

The MP isn't a ritual I do a lot though, to be honest, because I'm fairly sure that I read Uncle Al write somewhere once, that using it can actually do permanent damage to your ability to channel energy at all. Be careful with it.


Whenever I perform this exercise, I get terribly terribly light-headed as well as *sometimes* getting a headache verging on migraine.

I'm guessing here, but this sounds like you've got a problem or blockage with one of your cranial chakras; either the crown or third eye. There's some stuff here that might help:-
http://www.eclecticenergies.com/chakras/open.php


One time about a month ago when performing this ritual, towards the end, just before I started the "Circulation of the Body of Light", it went from mild discomfort to so bad that I almost *passed out* within a couple of moments. I saw stars, & became unbearably dizzy, light headed

It sounds like you're taking in more than you can handle. I'd probably stay with doing some lighter stuff for a while first; the QC is basically a miniature version of the MP, which serves more or less the same purpose, but is less powerful. Also, the fact that it focuses on sending energy into each of the specific points, is likely to mean that you'll end up more balanced, as well.

Invocation of your Godform can help, as well. They generally know not to send you more than you can handle, so that will gradually get you used to dealing with increasing amounts. I've found japa (chanting) good as well.


So I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this, &/or has any ideas on what caused this?? This does not happen when I do any other meditation or ritual.

Like I said, if I'm really trying to work up a good amount of current, sweating is fairly routine for me; that really doesn't bother me. From memory I might have got the light headedness thing a while ago, but it was a long time ago, if ever.

A good idea might also be to check your natal chart; planetary banishings during bad transits (or banishings of planets where you've got hard natal aspects) can also help. Banishing Saturn in particular will pretty much always be good for you.