The Breath
MAN reproved me for my
interest in
New Thought creeds.
"The old religion I learned at
my mother's knee is good enough
for me!" he said. "It is good
enough for anybody!"
Yet this man's mother had always "enjoyed
poor health," as the old lady expressed it, and
the man himself was forever talking of his dis-
eases, his ill luck, his poverty, which he said he
had been enabled to endure only through the
sustaining power of the religion "learned at his
mother's knee."
It would be difficult to convince the man
that had his mother taught him the creed of the
"New Religion' he could have changed all these
unfortunate conditions.
Life-long ill health would have been impos-
sible for his mother, or for him.
The old fashioned religion allowed and still al-
lows a human being to breathe like a canary bird.
Little children go to Sunday-School all their
young lives, and grow up to be devout church
members, and never hear one word about the
importance of deep breathing.
Possibly you may think breathing lessons
belong to physical culture, and have no place in
religious teachings.
There is where you err.
In order to develop your whole being, you
must learn how to control body and mind
through the spirit.
Thousands of years ago, men who gave their
entire lives to the study of these things learned
the great importance of deep breathing as an aid
to religious meditation.
By this practice, systematically observed, the
body is calmed, the mind is brought into subjec-
tion, and the spirit rises into control.
And in addition, absolute health is achieved.
A large portion of our physical ailments
result from unused lung cells, and consequent
imperfect circulation of the blood.
Fill the lungs full--every cell--with fresh
air, two or three times daily, and do not over-
load the digestive organs, and sickness will fly
away to the dark regions where it belongs.
At least ten minutes morning and night
should be given to the breathing exercises.
Sit upright in a comfortable chair, alone, fac-
ing the east in the morning and the west at
night, because great magnetic forces comes from
the direction on the sun.
Have a window or a door opening to the outer air.
Place your hands lightly on your knees, and
close your eyes and mouth. Leave your spine
free, not touching the chair. Wear no compress-
ing garments or bands.
Inflate the chest and abdominal regions as
you inhale deep breaths through the nostrils,
while counting seven slowly.
Exhale while you count seven. Repeat this
exercise seven times.
Think as you inhale of whatever qualities you
would like to possess, and believe that you are
inhaling them. Select seven qualities--Love,
Health, Wisdom, Usefulness, Power to Do Good,
success, Opulence--will cover the average human
desires. The very unworldly will substitute
spiritual knowledge for opulence. Fill your
mind with the idea that you are drawing in these
qualities with your breaths, and exhaling all
that is weak or unworthy. After a few moments
you will be conscious of a security and peace
new and uplifting.
And after a few weeks of steady, persistent
practice of these exercises, you will find life
growing more beautiful to you, and your strength
will be increased tenfold, both physically and
spiritually.
The Heart of the New Thought by Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
Chicago : The Psychic Research Company, c1902.
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