Foundational Incarnational Exercises David Spangler Foundational Incarnational Exercises Copyright © 2009 David Spangler All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. Edited by Jeremy Berg Cover Art by Deva Berg Published by Lorian Press 2204 E Grand Ave. Everett, WA 98201 Spangler/David Foundational Incarnational Exercises/David Spangler Private Edition Printed in the United States of America 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 www.lorian.org Contents IS-1THE STANDING EXERCISE............................................... 5 IS-2 SELF-LIGHT ......................................................................... 6 IS-3 ZONES OF IDENTITY ........................................................ 8 IS-4 WHERE STARS MEET ...................................................... 10 IS-5 THE SWEET SPOT............................................................. 10 IS-5 SPACE AND SPACIOUSNESS ....................................... 12 IS-6 BODYLIGHT ...................................................................... 15 IS-7 INCARNATIONAL LIGHT.............................................. 16 IS-8 SOUL LIGHT ..................................................................... 16 IS-9 SELF-LIGHT (Version Two) .............................................. 17 IS-10 GENERATIVITY............................................................... 18 IS-11 HOLDING (The LAP Exercise) ...................................... 19 IS-12 SELF-LAP .......................................................................... 20 IS-13 GRAIL SPACE EXERCISE .............................................. 21 IS-14 EMERGENCE ................................................................... 24 IS-15 LEVELS OF GOD ............................................................. 26 IS-16 THE FOUR FOLD BLESSING ........................................ 28 Foundational Spiritual Exercises INTRODUCTION In our Lorian classes and programs, much of our practical work revolves around doing exercises. Some of these exercises are simple mini- rituals; others are more reflective or contemplative. Some are intended to stimulate a particular kind of energy field around or within you, or connect you energetically with the world in a specific way. All are concerned with creating a state of mind, a felt sense, within you. In all cases of establishing connection with energies and forces emerging from states of mind or domains of life beyond the ordinary, five- sensory world we live in, some process of beginning and ending, opening and closing, and of respecting the natural boundaries between the differing worlds of consciousness is important. Equally important is the ability to stand in and hold one’s own identity, power, integrity, sovereignty, and wholeness. IMPORTANT POINT #1 The exercises you will be given in any of our classes are just suggestions. They are not cast in concrete. If you understand the purpose of the exercise, then you can feel free to redesign it and adapt it to your particular style and needs. Indeed, I encourage you to do so, so that you can make the exercise your own. An exercise is a living thing, filled with spirit, and it should blend with you in a way that honors and fosters your own spirit. In doing the exercise, it should emerge from you as much as from me and transform itself in any way that is needful in order for that to happen. It may contain elements that you may not wish to do or that seem too elaborate or just not your “style.” All I ask is that you understand and honor the purpose behind the exercise, the spirit it is intended to embody. Then feel free to change it or adapt it as you need. To paraphrase Jesus, you were not made for the exercises. The exercises are made to serve you. So try each exercise once as presented, but please feel free after that to modify the form of the exercise to configure it to your unique needs and style but in so doing be sure to retain the integrity of the basic objective and intent. 1 IMPORTANT POINT #2 If at any time in doing an exercise, you feel discomfort of any kind, tiredness, restlessness, or a sense that something is amiss, then stop doing it. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ve come into contact with something dangerous or harmful, only that for some reason which may or may not be evident, your energy in the moment is not or is no longer compatible with what you’re doing. Change your attention completely. Do something physical to shift and change your energy. Do something fun that makes you laugh, which is also an excellent way to change your energy. If in doing an exercise, you get an inner “No!” then please stop doing it. If you are in one of our classes, please let the teacher know. It may be a matter of timing, it may be that you are tired, or it may be that this exercise is not for you. As I said above, make the exercise your own. If need be, adjust it so you feel comfortable with it, or find a substitute. Remember, if this happens, it may only be a matter of timing or that you are tired. Unless you have a strong inner sense not to do so, I would recommend trying the exercise one more time later. If the sense of disturbance or uneasiness continues, then definitely this exercise is not for you. Either change it or find some equivalent or simply skip it entirely. In doing inner work of this nature, the rule “No Pain, No Gain” most definitely does NOT apply! BEGINNINGS There are many ways an exercise can begin, and the exercise itself may give specific guidelines. However, there are also some generic steps that you can and should take. • Make sure you have a suitable environment at a suitable time. When working with subtle energies or inner forces of spirit, you need to be able to pay attention and observe or listen without the distraction of your environment getting in the way and without feeling harried or rushed. • Take some time to quiet yourself. Same idea as above but in this case applied to your inner psychological environment. If your thoughts and feelings are harried or busy and divert your focus, your attention and energy will be scattered and unable to enter the exercise gracefully and 2 cleanly. • Be clear on your intent. Know what you’re doing and why. Rehearse the procedure a bit in your mind so you’re clear on what you need to do and what the objective is. You are going to give yourself to the exercise, so to speak, and see what unfolds, but you want to start from a place of clarity and understanding. In this way if the process of the exercise as you do it begins to move in unexpected directions, you can have a better idea of whether to go with it or to bring the process back to your intent and keep it on track. • Connect to what gives you a sense of security, groundedness, familiarity, and peace, a sense of being loved and supported. Any spiritual exercise can take you into the unexpected. It may bring experiences or energies that are wonderful and benevolent but unfamiliar nonetheless; or it may present you with more inspiration, stimulation or energy than you were expecting, all of which you will need to integrate when you’re done. You want to feel comfortable with this possibility, and that means feeling confident and safe as you proceed. • Do an energy check. This means making sure you feel good as you undertake the exercise. It’s much better if you feel rested and energize instead of tired; low physical, mental or emotional energy can affect the exercise and your ability to do it. After all, it’s a form of inner work and demands energy as much as any other kind of work ENDINGS There are many ways an exercise can end, and the exercise itself may give specific guidelines. However, there are also some generic steps that you can and should take. • Take a moment to collect yourself and for quiet reflection on whatever you have experienced. Don’t try to rush back into your everyday life and affairs. Give yourself a time of transition from the contemplative activity to whatever else you need to do in your day. After you’ve had a moment or so of quiet, then you may wish to record whatever you experienced in a journal or notebook. • Ask and inwardly fully intend that any and all doors to the subtle inner worlds opened during the exercise be appropriately closed or integrated into the wholeness of your everyday physical life. • Reconnect yourself to your everyday life, to your body, to your 3 surroundings. Affirm, honor, and give love to each of them. • Offer gratitude to any spiritual allies whom you may have invoked or encountered, or to any source you feel was helpful and enabling in the experience of the exercise, including your immediate environment. After all, it held you in its energies while you engaged with the subtle worlds. • Do an energy check. Are you all “back”? Does everything feel ok? Does anything feel off or strange? If so, attune to your inner source of benevolence and sovereignty, holding yourself inwardly in the presence of sacredness and the wholeness of your identity. Feel yourself fully entering the integrity and coherency of your unique life, grounded into the earth. Do something very normal and familiar and if possible, something that you enjoy and that brings you pleasure at being alive, in a physical body, and part of the earth. 4 BASIC EXERCISES OF INCARNATIONAL SPIRITUALITY IS-1THE STANDING EXERCISE This is a core exercise in the practice of Incarnational Spirituality. It’s an exercise of attuning to one’s own uniqueness, one’s own sovereignty. This exercise has physical, mental, emotional, energetic (or “magical”) and spiritual aspects to it. These aspects are designed to be done all at once, but I’ll present them as separate categories. Physical: The physical action of this exercise is simple. From a sitting position, you simply stand up. Be aware of the physical sensation and felt sense of standing. Feel the work of your body, the power of balance that keeps you upright.