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Breathing as Spiritual Practice: Experiencing the Presence of God — Occult Philosophy

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Breathing as Spiritual Practice: Experiencing the Presence of God

Name: Breathing as Spiritual Practice: Experiencing the Presence of God
Price: 12.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Author: Johnson, Will
ISBN: 9781620556870

✍️ Johnson, Will

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4.6

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Will Johnson's insightful work, "Breathing as Spiritual Practice," delves into the profound connection between breath and divine presence within Western religious thought. Initially curious why individuals from Christian, Jewish, and Muslim backgrounds sought Buddhist meditative retreats, Johnson embarked on a journey to explore their own sacred texts. He unearthed compelling evidence that practices akin to Eastern meditation exist within Genesis, Jewish ruach teachings, and Sufi poetry, offering a direct, palpable experience of the divine. This book provides a pathway for seekers to reconnect with these ancient, indigenous methods of spiritual awakening.

Johnson, Will

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Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“Will Johnson sounds a clarion call for integration to a fragmented world. Ever the quintessential body and breath awareness teacher, Johnson skillfully brings together the three monotheistic religions by way of a spiritual practice common to all. Interwoven with his own candid, sometimes poignant, personal experience, Johnson offers a message of hope to all of us, wherever we find ourselves in our desire to be present to what is.”

— Antoinette Voûte Roeder, author of Poems for Meditation and The Space Between

🏛 Inner Traditions International 📅 2019 📖 160 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781620556870

Fun Fact

Johnson's "Breathing as Spiritual Practice" is a revelation, adeptly bridging the perceived gap between Eastern meditative techniques and Western religious thought. It excels at illuminating forgotten spiritual technologies within Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, offering a practical path to direct divine encounter. Those seeking intellectual debates on dogma may be disappointed, as its strength lies in its experiential focus. This work stands as a crucial text for anyone looking to deepen their faith through embodied practice, firmly establishing breathwork's indigenous place in Western spirituality.

📝 Description: Breathing as Spiritual Practice: Experiencing the Presence of God

A guide to meditative breathing practices in Western religions and how these practices provide a direct experience of God - Reveals how Western spiritual traditions, such as the Book of Genesis, the Jewish teachings of ruach, and the poetry of Rumi, contain hidden instruction for meditative breathing practices - Explains how breathing practices can bring all of us, including Christians, Muslims, and Jews, closer to a direct experience of the palpable presence of God - Provides guidelines and best practices for meditative breathing through a personal journal of the author's own meditative retreat Surprised by the number of attendees from Western spiritual traditions at his Buddhist retreats, Will Johnson wanted to understand what drew them to this type of spiritual experience. He found many devoted Christians were in search of a more direct experience of God beyond faith alone, so he began exploring what breathing practices could be found in the sacred texts of Western monotheistic religions. Johnson discovered that, like their Eastern counterparts, Western traditions speak of gaining direct access to God via the breath. After experimenting with these teachings during a 10-day retreat at a desert monastery, he discovered that each of us has the potential to open up to the presence of spirit in every breath. In this book, the author offers a close look at the importance of breath in each major Western religion, including the Jewish teachings of ruach as life-giving spirit in the form of breath and the Islamic poetry of Rumi, which describes breath as essential for cleansing the soul. He then ties each breathing tradition to the Book of Genesis, sacred to Christians, Muslims, and Jews alike: " And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being." Just as God blew life into Adam, every breath we take--if we follow the breathing practice of surrendering completely to inhalation--can open us up to the presence of God. Through his own contemplative journey, Johnson shares his experience of striving to surrender to the fullest presence of God through each breath. As he takes the reader step-by-step through his own breathing practice, the author explains his physical and mental techniques for meditating successfully through breath and provides helpful guidelines to get the most out of meditative retreats. Johnson also offers deep reflections on how these shared practices of experiencing God through the breath transcend religious differences.

📑 What's inside

Introduction
Day One
God in the Desert Foundational Breathing
Day Two
In Spiritu Entering the Silence
Day Three
In God's Image Breathing God
Day Four
From My Head to My Belly Releasing the Neck Breathing Prayer
Day Five
God Is What Happens When I Disappear
Day Six
Healing the Separation Breathing Sensation, Vision, and Sound
Day Seven
Dark Nights in the Desert Breathing God's Names
Day Eight
Living on Air, God Breathes Me
Day Nine
Walking in God's Footsteps
Day Ten
Dreams of Peace
Afterword Guidelines for Going into Retreat
Acknowledgments
Index

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Johnson presents a compelling case for the ubiquity of breath-centered meditation in Western lore, effectively mining Genesis and Sufi poetry for hidden meditative techniques. The work succeeds in validating the spiritual curiosity of those who seek Eastern methods while honoring Western roots. However, readers seeking rigorous academic theology or strict dogmatic adherence may find the comparative approach too loose or syncretic. It is not suited for those who view religious traditions as mutually exclusive rather than complementary. While the premise is intriguing and the tone inviting, some might find the synthesis of distinct theological frameworks overly generalized. Nevertheless, it remains a valuable resource for spiritual explorers willing to look beyond traditional boundaries to discover the universal language of breath.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who feel a disconnection between their Western religious heritage and the contemplative depth they crave will find profound solace in this text. It is ideal for those who have explored Buddhist retreats but long to root their spiritual awakening in the indigenous wisdom of their own traditions. Johnson offers a gentle invitation to reclaim the 'sacred breath' as a tangible bridge to the divine presence within Genesis, Jewish ruach teachings, and Sufi poetry. This book empowers seekers to bypass cultural barriers and access direct spiritual experiences without leaving their foundational beliefs behind. It serves those yearning for a palpable, immediate connection to God through the ancient, forgotten mechanics of breath, providing a practical pathway to reconnect with the sacred rhythms hidden within Western thought.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you are a seeker within a Western spiritual tradition yearning for a more direct, embodied experience of the divine, or simply curious about the esoteric depths of your own heritage, this book offers a profound and practical guide to sacred breathwork.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Johnson presents a compelling case for the ubiquity of breath-centered meditation in Western lore, effectively mining Genesis and Sufi poetry for hidden meditative techniques. The work succeeds in validating the spiritual curiosity of those who seek Eastern methods while honoring Western roots. However, readers seeking rigorous academic theology or strict dogmatic adherence may find the comparative approach too loose or syncretic. It is not suited for those who view religious traditions as mutually exclusive rather than complementary. While the premise is intriguing and the tone inviting, some might find the synthesis of distinct theological frameworks overly generalized. Nevertheless, it remains a valuable resource for spiritual explorers willing to look beyond traditional boundaries to discover the universal language of breath.

❓ Frequently asked questions

No, quite the opposite. Johnson's research reveals that Western traditions themselves contain their own rich, indigenous breath practices for spiritual connection, which have often been forgotten or overshadowed.

The author argues compellingly that by engaging with these meditative breathing techniques, individuals can cultivate a profound and palpable sense of the divine presence, moving beyond intellectual understanding to felt experience.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Western Breath Traditions

This book unveils the often-overlooked meditative breathing techniques embedded within the foundational texts of Western monotheistic religions. It meticulously reveals how traditions like Genesis, the concept of ruach in Judaism, and the poetic expressions of Rumi, all contain sophisticated instructions for breathwork that foster spiritual connection.

Direct Divine Encounter

Johnson argues that these rediscovered breathing practices offer more than just contemplation; they provide a tangible, direct experience of God's presence. For adherents of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, the book illuminates a path to move beyond mere faith and dogma into a deeply personal and felt encounter with the divine.

Practical Meditative Guidance

Beyond historical revelation, the author furnishes readers with clear, actionable guidelines for integrating these practices into their lives. Drawing from his own intensive meditative retreat, Johnson shares best practices and insights, making complex spiritual techniques accessible for personal exploration and transformation.

📜 Historical context

While meditative breathing is often associated with Eastern traditions, Johnson's work positions itself within a lineage of Western mysticism that has always sought direct divine communion. It aligns with historical currents where figures like Hesychasts or Sufis used embodied practices, re-establishing breathwork as a vital, indigenous component of the Western spiritual quest, bridging ancient wisdom with contemporary yearning.

📚 Glossary

Ruach
Mysticism
Meditative Breathing

📔 Questions to reflect on

Reflect on your own spiritual tradition. Are there any practices or scriptural passages that, in light of this book's premise, might suggest a connection to breathwork?
Consider a time you felt a profound sense of presence or connection. How might breath have been involved, consciously or unconsciously, in that experience?
If you were to dedicate a short period each day to focused breathwork, what intentions would you set for experiencing the divine or deepening your spiritual awareness?