ON FIRE & WATER

"Fire and water...which, as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey is
                     loathesome in its own deliciousness. And the taste
                     confirm the appetite. Therefore, love moderately."
                     --William Shakespeare


Shakespeare was obviously no Tantrist. And there's no reason to put the
above quote in, other than it keeps running through my head when I think
fire and water!! Tantric yogis and Yoginis know more about solar and lunar
energies, so that hopefully as they kiss, th ume. Anyway:

WATER.

According to the GARUDA PURANA (*Literal meaning of the Puranas is the
"Antiquities; Garuda = Eagle is Sanskrit), "Water nourishes and sustains
the spirit as well as the body. Water is high among the elements, as it
purifies and uplifts the individual from the mundane to the transcendental.
Mountain water, spring water, and rainwater collected are highly beneficial
and considered noble by the wise."

Tantric traditions on drinking water conform neatly with modern medical
recommendation s. Drink pure water; thus those of us on the Holy Coast are
unfortunately left with the option of buying or collecting our own, as the
tap water here in So-Cal has the consistency and color of toxic waste :(
~!

As the physical body is primarily made up of water, practicing the
Matsyasana (fish posture) and meditating upon becoming one with the water
assists in gaining control over the watery elements of the body. In Tantric
tradition, water is linked to the sense of taste. On this, I'll say no
more, sin ce as a triple Scorpio water is the last thing I need more
of!! ;)

Water, though, has powers of purification, for mind as well as body. Many
traditions, eastern and western, use water for ceremonies and rituals, such
as baptisms, ritual purification, healing (i.e., Ganges, Lourdes, etc.) and
such. Water, used in bathing, has spiritual and erotic as well as simply
hygienic qualities.

Not to sound like a broken record, but again, the intent and will involved
 in the practice are all-important in its ultimate meaning. Absolutely
 nothing wrong, from a Tantric point of view, with simply jumping in the
 shower every morning--in fact, I would highly recommend daily showers, or
 one is unlikely to be welcome at any higher forms of Tantric practice (the
 Yogini has been hit with goofy stick this morning, apologies, Namaste).

 One should *always* bathe before practicing Hatha Yoga, before Pranayama,
before meditation, and most especially before Tantric sexual
union--however, that is an art all its own. If one is perform ing a ritual
cleansing, one should start with the head, working down to the feet. Always
maintain the same order when bathing ritually. Mild, natural soaps and
loofas are recommended to cleanse the body. Maintain control and order,
recognize within yourself that you are purifying as well as washing.

I have a close friend who spent several years in prison. He tells me that,
for months after his release, he took baths instead of showers, relishing
the privacy and unrestricted time; for him the simple act of bathing was
automatically transformed into an act of great joy and expression of
freedom. Those who have been in the military or prison will understand. The
restriction of privacy and time have an effect on the psyche. I will accept
no bad jokes about soap-dropping at this point: this is quite serious.
Those of us not in the military or inside the walls take our simplest
freedoms for granted. Don't. Give yourself time and privacy, and recognize
them for the luxuries and the gifts that they are. For *Freedom * is the
key word here. Time and privacy are sacramental in and of themselves.

Cold baths or showers produce a sudden charge of negative ions, which
invigorate the body, and produce a psychic regeneration. Hot baths or
showers relax, and cause the physical and Subtle Body to expand.
Physically, hot water also opens the skin's pores, allowing toxins to
escape, purifying the internal physical body.

The washing of hands and feet is a part of many cultures. In the Christian
New Testament, Mary Magdalene washe d the feet of Jesus with her tears and
dried them with her hair; thus adding a beautifully personal touch to the
custom of the times: showing respect to an honored guest by the washing of
the feet. In India, it is still customary to wash both hands and feet
before entering the inner part of a home. In most eastern traditions,
washing the hands and feet before prayer is not only customary, but
obligatory.

Prior to lovemaking, ritual bathing will purify the physical and Subtle
 bodies, leaving the rest of the world behind, so to speak, not only
 cleansing the vehicle (the body), but sloughing off any tensions or
 disturbances that arise during the day, with the conscious action of
 refusing to allow intrusion on the sexual act by any other concerns or
 bothers.

 In the Hindu tradition, Visnu is Lord of the Waters; his consort or
Sakthi, Laksmi, is called Eternal Mistress of Prosperity. Bathing in
streams, the ocean, natural sources of water, are said to be particularly
condusive to evoking Visnu and Laksmi; but eve n if it is a private tub or
pool, the mantra EH-VANG, recited, calls upon the waters to carry the
spirit back to Visnu, its source, for replenishment. EH-VANG also relates
to the male/female principle, or fire/water in merger. Remember, the four
waves of Bliss, or the four stages of the Yogini's climax, belong to Visnu
and Laksmi, who rule the watery/somatic/lunar/female/yin, even as Lord Siva
rules the fiery/transcendental/solar/male/yang sentiments.

Many Yogis share an idea with Swedish sauna users: rema ining in a tub of
hot water, or even a hot tub (traditional Japanese and Chinese devices for
both bathing and sex; despite many peoples' belief that hot tubs or
Jacuzzi's are modern inventions), the Yogi dives into or pours upon himself
extremely cold water. Thus, his senses are relaxed and then awakened,
expanded and contracted, bringing his physical body into harmony and
sharpening his mind for concentration.

As for bathing after lovemaking, Tantric texts advise the couple to wait at
 least an hour before so doing: this allows the sexual secretions, charged
 saliva, and even perspiration produced to be absorbed, and/or exchanged
 and absorbed.

As our bodies are composed mainly of water; and as the human body can
survive only an extremely brief time without water, as opposed to food,
which can be done without for extended periods, and as the earth itself is
mainly water broken up here and there by continents, this element is worthy
or honor for its symbolic and spiritual, as well as its physical qualities.


"One should bathe the body with running water; then apply perfumes and
                                     ointments. This type of bathing should
                                     be combined with breath control. The
                                     effect is to destroy both inner and
                                     outer dirt and make a person fit for
                                     spirituality." --Laksmi Tantra.

FIRE:

Fire has been afforded spiritual or occult qualities since pre-historical
times, and most myths and traditions, both eastern and western, recognize
some element of the sacred in fire.

The myth of Prometheus, steal ing it to human beings (Greek tradition), is
well-known: the Greeks equated the gift of fire with the gift of culture.
The discovery and use of fire is charted, whether literally or
metaphorically, on the walls of many caves by prehistoric humans. As the
ability to control fire elevated these primitive ancestors above the
animals, it was endowed with sacred qualities.

One of the earliest Hindu deities, Agni, dates from the Vedic period. He is
the fire-god, and Hindu-Vedic traditionalists still perform dail y
Agni-Puja, or worship to Agni to this day. As the son of Dyaus (*heaven*)
and Prthivi (*earth*), he is accorded the place of the *first* god. Agni is
older brother to Indra, ruler of this realm, and guardian of the earth.

Surya, the Sun, is also equated with fire, particularly the fire of solar
 energy. He personifies fire in a threefold way: as the Sun itself, as the
 flash of lightning, and the sacrificial flame. The inner fire is Surya in
 the power chakra, and he is related to the mundane digestive fire (note,
 tho, without this 'mundane' act human beings would not survive) and the
 sense of physical sight. Surya's wife, Ushas, the Dawn, drives away the
 dark, symbolic of ignorance, and unites herself with the fire of Surya.
 Mitra, called 'the solar friend' represents to Hindus the exalted quality
 of brotherhood, honor, and friendship born of loyalty which is beyond this
 realm and absolutely sacred. Siva, in his androgynous Rudra form, is the
 Lord of Celestial fire. Siva, in all his forms, being the Destroye r/
 Transcender is specially related to fire, which has the power to level all
 creation and allow for new forms of creation to begin.

Fire is associated with erotic love and sexual desire in many ancient
traditions of both east and west.

Tantric texts call fire the origin and the end of all phenomena. Modern
cosmologists have theorized about 'fire' as the main element at the moment
of the creation and the destruction of every star.

With the advent of Christianity, many ancient traditions of sacred fire
wer e suppressed; with the advent of modern science, fire became replaced
by electric energy. People who are lucky enough to have homes with
fireplaces perhaps recall, on a Jungian archetypal level, the holiness of
fire--lovers often curl up in front of an open fire; everyone enjoys being
warmed by the heat and light of a fireplace or campfire. Fire has long been
a source of inspiration for Yogis, Yoginis, artists, poets, lovers, and
mystics of all stripes. A particularly potent combination for lovemaking is
a fire built on the beach; symbolizing the union of the fiery and watery
elements. Unfortunately, in modern times, the Beach Patrol is all too
likely to have other ideas.  :(

Eastern traditions hold that there are two fires: inner and outer, and that
both are sacred. The meaning behind the symbolic depiction of Agni as
two-headed is that he is Lord of both inner and outer fire. His vehicle is
the ram, which would seem to have astrological as well as other interesting
significances. The inner fire is the vita l principle that, when stimulated
by Pranayama, scientific breathing techniques (*See Prana text on file
here, for more info*), blazes up to consume the impurities of mind/body/
spirit. The inner fire, drawn upward from the solar plexus/power chakra,
can be stored in the heart chakra, inflaming the emotions, blending erotic
and transcendental love; when drawn into the forehead or third-eye chakra,
it manifests as clarity and delight, and enables flashes of intuitive,
non-physical 'seeing.' When drawn downwa rd, into the root and male/female
chakras, the inner fire manifests as awakened Kundalini, who flashes up the
spine like lightning: liquid fire, hot and cold at once. The main place of
the inner fire, of course, is the solar plexus/power chakra, from which it
blazes up to unite the solar energy with the down-flowing lunar energy,
travelling through the physical and Subtle bodies, empowering consciousness
and transcendence.

Fire is a potent meditative tool. If you do not have access to a fireplace,
or it's impractical for you to build a fire on the beach or elsewhere, the
flame of a candle can be used. The care and consideration in handling
purely physical fire should be given to the transcendental aspect of fire
as well. Meditate upon fire as an actual being, as a teacher or guru to the
Self. Priests and Yogis in India to this day offer sacrifices of food to
the fire, even offering part of each meal before it is tasted.

Look at the fire, try to merge with it. Focus your attention on the dancing
flames, thei r patterns. If a candle is being used, focus the eyes and the
mind on its small flame, 'seeing' it grow and leap ever higher. Meditate on
the power chakra, 'see' the sun within the Subtle Body burn all physical
impurities and bodily problems, mental doubt and confusion, and psychic
obstacles. Fill your entire body, physical and Subtle, with the sacred
flame, become one with it. The seed-syllable RANG is the Mantra of fire.
Repeat it aloud or silently, after watching the fire for some time. When
the solar ra ys of the inner fire are drawn into the third-eye chakra,
visions of spiritual realms are attained: one of the 'occult' powers of
Siddhi.

The heat of fire stimulates the Kundalini (see Kundalini text on file here,
for further details). In fact, Tantric Yogis and Yoginis have traditionally
sat in meditation before fire, taking it in and merging until the flames
die out, leaving only glowing embers. Then, drawing close, the Tantric Yogi
or Yogini exposes the genital area to the glow of the embers, achieving
radiant, erotic energy therefrom.

Firelight vibrates at different frequencies, according to its color.
Tantric teachings say that fire is both communication device and oracle.
When precise vibrations of firelight are internalized, the various powers
of Siddhi result.

The Gheranda Samhita relates a specific meditative technique to be used
when contemplating the outer fire, in order to develop and gain control
over the inner fire:

    "While breathing in through the right nostril, mentally repeat RANG 16
t s, while contemplating the solar chakra. Retain the breath, repeating
RANG 64 times, then expel the air through the left nostril, during 32
repetitions of RANG. Next, fix the gaze on the tip of the nose and see the
inner crescent moon between the third-eye and Lotus-Crown as reflected
there. Repeat the process in reverse (*i.e., breath intake through left
nostril, repeating RANG, etc.), and see the subtle nectar flowing from the
reflected moon run back through all the bodily channels, purifying and
revitali zing them."

Ideally, the outer temple, or sanctum, should have some means for an outer
fire to be built: in modern days, this would likely have to be a fireplace,
unless one is lucky enough to own a stretch of private beach, or enough
land so that a fire can be built and tended and lovemaking occur before it.
If this isn't possible, light many candles and sticks of incense. Allow the
firelight to play over your body and that of your partner, shadowing and
illuminating by turn. This is a powerful spiritual energizer, as well as
stimulating on a purely physical level. Allow the inner fire of passion to
transform physical desire into spiritual fulfillment.

"As sparks fly upward from the blazing fire, from the depths of the
                     Imperishable arise all things, and to the depths of
                     the Imperishable they in turn descend. To the fire,
                     whence one came, whence one was born." --Mundaka/Chan
                     Dogya Upanisad.

        "The Kundalini lazes up at the navel center, burning up all psychic
obst ormed." --Chanda Maharosana Tantra.

HA-THA. EH-VANG.

D. Yogini Padma Ushas Suryananda, other sources as cited.