Jewish Healing Meditation:

Ruach El Shaddai – Breath of Balance 

Introduction

There has been increasing focus over the years in various avenues for healing in addition to Western medicine. One avenue has been in the area of healing meditation practices, something for which I had somewhat shamefully never had much interest, as my general perspective had been that meditation in and of itself is a significant tool for healing oneself, and individuals healed through their own meditation practices will create a spill-over effect into their environment and in their interchanges with their fellow beings. However, out of curiosity, I attended an introductory presentation on “Pranic Healing” as formulated by the late Master Choa Kuk Sui, and decided to take the initial training. Attending this course impressed upon me the importance of more directly aiding the healing of others and challenged me to ponder what kind of approach would feel most comfortable for me. As a result of these musings, a formulation for a Jewish Healing Meditation came to me that I first published on my blog, and which I am now presenting below. It is a synthesis of three main sources: it borrows and builds upon some of the principles I learned in the Pranic Healing course, in conjunction with some tweaks to basic breathing, relaxation and stress management techniques I learned through my study of yoga, and further incorporates principles from the mystical Jewish tradition. In keeping with my own personal introverted pre-disposition towards internalized methods, intentional procedures and interventions, as such, are kept to a minimum and are all enacted silently within. While this may sound like New Age mishmash, I feel it is a very profound and effective technique founded in time-tested traditions, updated for our current circumstances whereby many elements of world spiritual healing cultures are melding, resulting in the emergence of new forms. I invite the reader to try it for themselves, approaching it with an open heart and mind, and come to their own conclusions.

The Theory

As is usually the case, there are many layers of meaning to these biblical Hebrew terms, “Ruach El Shaddai,” but for the purpose of this practice, “Breath of Balance” is a simple and appropriate English translation. As discussed in Chapter Six and portrayed in Figure 4 at the end of that chapter, comparable to the five layers of a being described in yoga, there are five levels of the soul enumerated in Jewish teachings. In the Jewish scheme, “ruach” is one level removed from the grossest level, nefesh. However, it is also the word utilized in Genesis designating the spirit/wind that hovered over the face of the deep at the beginning of creation. It is considered that when God breathed life into the nostrils of inanimate man, God was exhaling this “ruach”, breath, life force, comparable to the second layer in the yoga system, called “prana”. In yoga, “pranayama” is often translated as “breathing exercises”, because it is maintained that the essential life force of prana rides with the breath, and through breathing practices, one is also regulating the flow of this more subtle life force. The practice of Ruach El Shaddai/Breath of Balance incorporates and builds upon basic yogic breathing/pranayama practices, so “breath” is an appropriate term, although one should keep in mind that it incorporates the concept of prana/life force/spirit.  ​

While God the Creator is designated in Genesis as “Elohim”, at other points in the Torah, “Shaddai” is one of a few other interesting significant designations of a particular quality/function of God. A common conception to “Shaddai” is that it expresses a quality to the Creator whereby just the right amount of energy in form, quality and quantity was utilized in order to bring about the multitude of the forms of creation. Associated with this is the idea  of moderating energy to the extent of “that which suffices” to bring about the desired result; not too much, not too little, just right. There is a further elaboration to this quality that it applies not only to the initial creative function, but in keeping with the idea that “God is a Verb”, it also applies to the ongoing Divine function that continues to create and sustain the universe in just the right proportions. These two functions correspond with the designations in yoga as Brahma, God the Creator and Vishnu, God the Sustainer/Maintainer. While it may not be as explicitly recognized as such in the Jewish tradition, the Torah is replete with stories depicting the third aspect in yoga of Shiva, God the Destroyer/Dissolver. It is clear in the Torah that creation is not static, but dynamic, and that old forms constantly need to be dismantled to give way to new forms.

Another interesting aspect to the term “Shaddai” is that it shares the same root as the term for “breast” and thus carries with it the connotation of perfect nurturance, obviously also associated with breasts and female energy. “Shaddai” translated as “balance” is meant to incorporate the ideas that this quality of Shaddai contains these aspects of perfect nurturing that provides and maintains balance (that which suffices), but it is a dynamic, not a static, balance.

It is this “Breath of Balance” and the three associated functions described above that we are seeking to invoke in our healing sessions to restore balance where there is imbalance, in keeping with the kabalistic conception that our goal is to ascend the middle balanced pillar on the Tree of Life.

We are not “doing” the healing, we are merely invoking the Divine healing powers that exist to assist our subjects through the agency of our focused intent. Our intervention and manipulation are thus minimal, as is the possibility for any mistakes, as we are invoking powers and energies beyond us that work in perfect harmony and balance. We systematically invoke first the cleansing Dissolver aspect, to rid our subjects of the negative “dirty energy” and obstructions that are causing their imbalance; second, we invoke the rejuvenating Creator aspect to restore regenerative nurturing energy to heal our subjects; and last, we invoke the stabilizing Sustainer/Maintainer aspect to circulate, assimilate and maintain the renewed energy in our subjects.

The magic and effectiveness of this healing lies in the words, “focus”, “invoke”, and “intent”. We have been imbued with these gifts of being able to use our mind as an instrument of our individual consciousness connected to universal consciousness, to focus our attention and intent, and invoke powers that lie beyond our mortal limitations.

Any kind of healing can be addressed, whether it be physical, mental, or a combination. Positive qualities (virtues) can be nurtured while their negative opposites (vices) can be minimized. There is no need for the subject to be present or in close proximity or even aware of your efforts, although it may magnify the effect if the subject is made aware and thus can open up receptivity on their part, even to the extent of participating at the same time, if not the same place. While there may be a benefit to physical proximity and coordination of time (the healing session occurring at the same time that the subject is aware and receptive to it, and even following along in participation), we are working at a level where proximity, simultaneity, and cooperation are not essential, although helpful. Time and space are receding and being transcended, and after all, the subject is present with us all of the time on the planet earth. 

The Practice

1. Preliminary stage.  This can be performed lying down or sitting up, with the head, neck and trunk in a straight line. Begin with normal yoga breathing and relaxation, using diaphragmatic breathing and breathing only through the nostrils. For those familiar, this can be followed by normal yoga meditation or Jewish Yoga meditation if in the seated posture.

2. Focus on the subject of the healing.  After the preliminary stage has been established, bring the attention to the subject of the healing. It is advisable to always begin with oneself as the first subject, as there is usually some need to heal some aspect of oneself, and after healing yourself, you will be better equipped to focus your healing efforts on other subjects. Proceed with the following steps in a complete sequential set for each chosen subject. In other words, do all of the steps in sequence for a selected subject, then begin the process over again for the next subject. It is recommended to end the session with the planet earth as the subject, as there is always a need to assist our planet as a whole to heal and attain dynamic balance. The focus on the subject can be narrowed to a specific ailment or group of ailments, or just to the general energy level of the subject.

3. Elimination of “dirty” energy causing imbalance through focus on exhalation.  While maintaining attention on the subject and any specific condition or group of conditions, focus first on the exhalation, regarding the inhalation, which automatically occurs, as just a reloading and preparation for the next exhalation. With each exhalation, visualize all forms of “dirty energy” (negative energy/vibrations, influences, obstructions, depletions, congestions, weaknesses, stresses) that are the cause of the imbalance in the subject being released and flowing out of the subject. Being invoked by your intent and channeled by your exhalation, visualize the subtle, yet powerful, Great Force of Destruction/ Disintegration/ Dissolution removing all the “dirty energy” in a gentle manner which will not be harmful or shocking to the subject. Send to the vastness of the cosmos, which is capable of absorbing, dissolving, and recycling everything. If it is helpful, visualize a great Fire or Sun either suspended in the air, on the ground, on a sacrificial altar, or whatever image feels comfortable to you, and visualize that your exhalation is assisting to channel all of the dirty energy out of the subject and into that Fire or Sun for dissolution. Retain the focus with each exhalation simultaneously on the subject, any specified ailments, and the dirty energy flowing out of the subject and being dissolved. Continue this focus on exhalation/elimination/dissolution until you feel it is sufficient for now.

4. Introduction of healing energy to aid in the restoration of balance through focus on inhalation. Keeping the subject and specific condition in focus, now shift the focus to the inhalation, regarding the exhalation, which automatically occurs, as just a reloading and preparation for the next inhalation. With each inhalation, visualize flowing into the subject all forms of “healing energy” (regeneration, rejuvenation, positive energy/good vibrations, nurturance, health, relaxation) that can relieve and cure the distressed condition and restore balance.  Being invoked by your intent and guided by your inhalation, visualize the infinite resource of the subtle, yet powerful Great Force of Creation/Nurturance providing exactly the precise form, quality and quantity of healing energy needed to effectuate the healing process in a gentle manner which will not be harmful or shocking to the subject. If it is helpful, as before, visualize a great inexhaustible Fire or Sun from which is emanating healing energy in the needed form, quality and quantity, which your inhalation is assisting to channel to the subject for their benefit. Retain the focus with each inhalation simultaneously on the subject, any specified ailments, and the healing energy flowing into the subject to restore balance. Continue this focus on inhalation/rejuvenation/ nurturance until you feel it is sufficient for now.

5. Stabilize the newly introduced healing energy through focusing equally on inhalation and exhalation.  Now shift the focus to the subject as a self-enclosed entity. Focus equally on inhalation and exhalation which is creating a cycle/circuit of flowing energy within the subject. Being invoked by your intent and guided by your focus on this cycle of inhalation and exhalation, visualize the subtle, yet powerful, Great Force of Sustaining/Maintaining providing exactly what is needed to seal off the channels through which the dirty energy was earlier eliminated and through which the healing energy was earlier introduced. Circulate the newly acquired healing energy throughout the subject in a gentle manner which is not harmful or shocking. It will effectuate the greatest benefit for the subject by acting to stabilize this new healing energy and allowing it to be properly assimilated. Continue this focus equally on a circuit of inhalation and exhalation until you feel it is sufficient for now. The healing session for this subject is now complete.

6. Repeat with the next subject.  If you have chosen more than one subject, continue with the other subjects, repeating steps 2 through 5 for each subject in succession. Conclude with the planet earth as a whole for the final subject. Meditation can then continue, or the session can be brought to an end in the same gentle manner you would bring any meditation session to an end.

Om Shalom.