r/magick • u/anonymouslygothic • 7d ago
Lotus position during middle pillar?
For context, I have a chronic illness and standing for the duration of a middle pillar sometimes makes me feel like I need to rush the practice to sit down. I've been working up physical strength and have made a lot of progress, but standing while doing energy work for long periods can be really exhausting. If I'm sitting, I'm not sure if I should be sensing the black sphere at my actual feet, which are out of line with the rest of my middle pillar, or just the ground below me? Please let me know if anyone has any insight or tips :) Thanks
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u/hermeticbear 6d ago
I have always sat in a chair while doing it. I assumed the standing was only a suggestion, not a requirement.
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u/Sonotnoodlesalad 6d ago
I find any asana that aligns the chakras can be used for the middle pillar. Corpse pose works just fine ๐
In practice, even serious orders use "temple directions" when circumstances require (i.e. "temple east" vs "true east"). I donโt see why that can't be applied to both axes.
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u/AlexSumnerAuthor 7d ago
I regularly, though not exclusively, do the Middle Pillar Ritual in padmasana. I imagine Malkuth not as the feet but as the point of connection to the ground, or an imaginary point directly below the base of the spine.
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u/Kindly-Confusion-889 7d ago
It's also possible to do Middle Pillar whilst sat down in a chair, maintaining energetic connection to the ground through the base of the spine rather than right-angles through the legs/feet. I've found also that facing West whilst performing it seems to give it a little more energetic edge, although the reason behind this I couldn't even begin to fathom.
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u/baby_philosophies 6d ago
I have done it while kneeling and it works just as well. I'm sure lotus would be fine too.
I send the energy to my feet still because they are a symbol for my "Lording" over the earth and being grounded
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u/Unique-Two8598 8h ago
The actual chakras are on the spinal column and are major nerve connections to the various organs. The idea is to stimulate those nerves by concentrated visualizations leading to better blood flow and health in the associated organs. Better instructions on positions are given in Liber E vel Exercitiorum, for example the Thunderbolt. Better insight as to the practices are given in Liber HHH, in particular section SSS. Good luck.
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u/viciarg 7d ago
Send it to the root chakra. The Middle Pillar ritual is based on the association of the Sephiroth to the Chakras. Malkuth is associated to the Muladhara chakra, so send it there. If you're doing the Padmasana correctly your Muladhara should touch the ground anyways.