3.3 Meditation

      The ability to meditate is absolutely essential to Occult development. Meditation permits the mind to operate on a calm, concentrated, intuitive level where the meaning of Occult symbols can be comprehensively revealed to consciousness. For example, the thrill, awe, and wonderment which characterize the numinous psychological experiences which accompany revelations concerning the meaning of the symbolism in the Tarot Trumps are best realized in a meditative state. These revelations can occur in dreams, but a meditative state permits a richer numinous experience.

      The purpose of meditation is to concentrate the conscious mind on a single point of reference and hold it there for an extended period of time. The single point of reference may be an idea, a Tarot card, a God, or anything whatsoever. The essential difficulty with meditation is to black out everything except the single point of reference selected to be concentrated upon. One of the mental functions which must be mastered in order to permit meditation is for the conscious mind to be aware of ideas that arise, but not to respond to them. It is as if an idea comes flowing into consciousness from nowhere and then bounces off the conscious mind back to nowhere. The conscious mind must learn to play a passive, but alert role.

      The length of time required to develop the mind so that it can create a good meditative state for itself is dependent upon the individual's basic psychological makeup, daily exercise regime, and diet. A guide for a minimum daily exercise criterion is to exert oneself until the pulse rate is double its normal rate for fifteen consecutive minutes. As for diet, absolutely no caffeine, nicotine, alcohol, or street drugs (marijuana, cocaine, etc.) should be taken. Even a small amount of caffeine (e.g., the amount contained in two cups of coffee) can have a significant impact on the smoothness of operation of the mind many hours after the caffeine is consumed. This deleterious effect of caffeine varies from individual to individual, and may not be noticed until one begins to attempt subtle mental exercises such as those involved in meditation. Caffeine has another bad effect in that it causes an imbalance in the physiological energy production configuration. For example, if two cups of coffee are drunk in the morning in order to provide a boost in mental and physical energy, then less energy is available in the evening. A diet tending towards vegetarian without caffeine and sugar, and with very little meat will tend to permit physiological energy to be distributed over a long time period. The balancing of proteins in a vegetarian diet is relatively easy to accomplish.

      The form of energy associated with caffeine, meat, and sugar is impulsive as in the IVth and XVIth Tarot Trumps, whereas the form of energy required for meditation is smooth and steady as in the IInd, IXth, and XIXth Tarot Trumps.

      In order to regulate heart rate and oxygen metabolism in the brain in a manner that permits meditation, a definite breathing rhythm must be established. The breathing rate must be slowed down by taking deeper and deeper breaths requiring longer and longer inhalation and exhalation times. This should be a progressive process starting with normal breathing and leading to a state in which each inhalation and accompanying exhalation requires a very long time period. Breathing should be done from the abdomen, and when properly executed the abdomen will rise and fall, and the chest will remain relatively stationary. When the breathing rate has been properly regulated, a very calm and somewhat hypnotized feeling will prevail. The entire body will feel very well integrated and perhaps a little heavy. After remaining in the slowed breathing state for the meditation period, the breathing rate must then be gradually increased until normal breathing is established. Some books on meditation recommend that meditative breathing be done through the nose with the mouth closed. For some individuals this can place undue stress on the heart. It is a point which must be worked out by each individual.