This isn’t a guided meditation by any stretch of the imagination. It’s mainly review and breakdown of the technique’s integral components. I don’t pretend to be an authority/expert on any of the subjects of discussion. Nor I’m initiated in any system or method. And neither affiliated with any organization or order. As a solo path-following individual, I use exercises like this for self-exploration, development, and healing. The reason behind this content is helping other like-minded individuals. Nothing more, nothing less. Having that clarified, let’s proceed with the first.

The Middle Pillar has a large number of applications. Besides healing the mind and the body, boosting vitality and strengthening the will, removing psycho-sexual blockages, balancing energies, centering the person, that includes things like reducing stress and anxiety. And substantially improving mood and creativity. Its primary purpose, however, is something a bit different. Increasing the mind’s awareness and perceptiveness of one’s own Genius. Or, Higher Self. According to many books, including Regardie’s One Year Manual, the same isn’t fully incarnated in the physical body, but rather overshadows the person.

What I believe is the best way to think of all that is thе following. Increasing understanding of the guidance, signals, and presence, of that which is a source of all brilliant thoughts and deeds, you’ll ever be capable of. 

Many people like to see the Middle Pillar as some of a reversed chakra meditation. Why this is is because it progresses in the opposite direction. Though following the same path. I.e., that of the arrow. Meaning it goes top to bottom. And not bottom to top. Another difference is that the Middle Pillar doesn’t work with 7. But with 5 energy centers. Those being the 5 sephiroth of the Tree of Life’s central pillar. The first needed to perform the Middle Pillar is some proficiency with the fourfold rhythmic breathing. The second, knowing the body areas where each sephira stays. Those practicing the Hindu System may find this easier if thinking of the same area occupying chakra. So let’s cover that quickly.

(1) Kether or The Crown — Sahasrara. A few inches above the head. (2) Da’ath, Knowledge, or Gnosis. — Vishuddha. The throat. Or the nape of the neck. (3) Tiphereth or Beauty — Anahata, the solar chakra. The lung and solar plexus area. (4) Yesod or Foundation — Svadisthana, the moon chakra. The genitals. And (5) Malkuth, G’uph, the Kingdom — Muladhara. — The lowest portion of your feet. The last isn’t entirely true. The reason is that Malkuth is placed in the feet, having its lower half somewhat within the ground, whereas the Muladhara chakra exists at the base of the spine.

This reminds us that the sephiroth don’t entirely correspond to the chakras. And vice versa. Hence there is a significant difference between both systems. Or at least there is to my knowledge. The sephiroth are part of the sophisticated system, that’s the Tree of life in its entirety. As components of it, they interact not just with the other 6 spheres. But also with the 22 paths in between. And to all that, there’s a virtually endless number of attributions and correspondences. From virtues, symbols, cultures, stones, plants, planets, zodiacal signs, tarot cards, gods/deities, archangels and angels and etc. Another significant difference is that the chakras are regarded as disks or wheels, whereas the sephiroth as something called galgalim. Meaning that besides, spheres, they’re also emanations and whirlings. Something to facilitate your visions when practicing the exercise.

For its purpose, it would be best to recognize them as spiritual, psychic centers. Ones which identically to bodily organs, serve various peculiar functions. So what the Middle Pillar does is awakening and charging those centers, forming a lighting shaft. How it does that is through the imagination and the appropriate holy names’ vibration. The first is for envisioning the spheres. The second for charging them with life or divine force. Or psycho-sexual energy. Depending on what you prefer.

The Middle Pillar employs several Hebrew God names. Yes, there’s a specific for each sephira. And in some more elaborate versions, a few and a prayer. Knowing them is the third required for this exercise. Now, whether that matches your religious inclinations and philosophical viewpoints, I have no idea. What I do know, however, are two things. The first is that this by no means should prevent reaping the exercise’s benefits. The second is how to think of those names. Rather than being frightened by or seeing them as mere words, I suggest acknowledging and appreciating them for what they are. Profoundly psyche-impacting holy names.

So to help with that here, I plug two quotes. The first is from the book The Art Of True Healing. The second, from the Middle Pillar’s second edition, which is edited and extended by Sandra Tabatha and Chic Cicero. 

Yet, if still feeling uncomfortable using them, I suggest assuming the following perspective. Seeing the name as somewhat identical to Sanskrit and chakra terminology. Obviously, not all people who work with chakras know Sanskrit. That, however, doesn’t stop them from doing the work and getting results. A suggestion heavily inspired by D. Fortune’s Mystical Qabalah. Saying it’s what Sanskrit is for the East there, she defines Hebrew as the holy language of the West.

There are many descriptions of how vibration should sound. Some could be confusing. Due to that, let’s cover the basics to meet whenever doing it. Be enthusiastic and excited, pronouncing the words with great passion, solemnity, confidence, and exaltation. Actually, you may also enchant them.

Do whatever it takes to genuinely and whole-heartedly immerse yourself in this endeavor. Consider it ultra-important. Appropriately vibrated, the names cause some of an inner tingling. Almost as making each cell, oscillating, because of their might. Eventually, you may also start knowing that all this resonates with the universe’s ends, doing the same with the planets and stars. I.e., causing them to tremble. This doesn’t mean speaking loud, disturbing your neighbors. It means doing things with substantial power and focus, triggering the desired inward effect. What I found helps with that is using earplugs. Besides blocking noises and distractions, they allow for higher concentration, making the whole vibration better experienced.

Simultaneously with the former, you want to fully exhale while envisioning the name vibrating within each sephira’s core/center. Loading it with life force, the latter increases the sphere’s intensity and power, making it more apparent. Supposedly, I think that could be seen as making or being your own orgone generator or device. Gathering the psycho-sexual energy, it delivers it straight to your power centers. Yet, as mentioned, I’m not versed in the mentioned traditions. And neither trained as a Reichian. So take this suggestion with a grain of salt. 

There are several postures for doing the Middle Pillar. (A) Standing in a straight line, with feet closed. (B) Seated in a chair. (C) Cross-legged or in full lotus. And (D) lying, in bed. That feeling most comfortable is also the one to use. I personally stick to the first. This is because forming a shaft doesn’t make sense when seated. Though it oddly does when building the entire Tree, which is a more sophisticated version of this exercise.

Do whatever it takes genuinely and whole-heartedly immerse yourself in this endeavor. Consider it ultra-important. Appropriately vibrated, the names cause some of an inner tingling. Almost as making each cell, oscillating, because of their might. Eventually, you may also start knowing that all this resonates with the universe’s ends, doing the same with the planets and stars. I.e., causing them to tremble. This doesn’t mean speaking loud, disturbing your neighbors. It means doing things with substantial power and focus, triggering the desired inward effect. What I found helps with that is using earplugs. Besides blocking noises and distractions, they allow for higher concentration, making the whole vibration better experienced.

Simultaneously with the former, you want to fully exhale while envisioning the name vibrating within each sephira’s core/center. Loading it with life force, the latter increases the sphere’s intensity and power, making it more apparent. Supposedly, I think that could be seen as making or being your own orgone generator or device. Gathering the psycho-sexual energy, it delivers it straight to your power centers. Yet, as mentioned, I’m not versed in the mentioned traditions. And neither trained as a Reichian. So take this suggestion with a grain of salt. 

Moving top to bottom, each sephira descends from the previous. What this leads us to is one question. Where Kether, the first comes/originates from. And how to actually start.

If utilizing other techniques of the same system, then beginning with a prayer, a Qabalistic Cross, and lesser pentagram and hexagram rituals would be most appropriate. If not, then the first two will do. Since this is all about the Middle Pillar and not the last, I won’t get into its intricacies. But only explain how to perform it in the briefest possible manner.

Go to the room for all your spiritual workings, and stand still, facing east, both relaxed and fully alert. Then envision your body growing, expanding through the building’s ceiling, getting Bigger than the city, reaching the sky, eventually nearing the space. More significant than the planets and stars, you start differentiating the galaxies, while all of a sudden, a dot of light begins descending from one of the universe’s ends. Getting closer and closer, it forms a sphere of white brilliance right above your head.

Using your right index or index and middle fingers, make a gesture of bringing some of the sphere’s light to your forehead or Ajna chakra. Then vibrate the word At-Toh, Meaning Thou Art. Then go vertically down to your genitals, repeating the same. Yet this time vibrating Malkuth. I.e., The Kingdom. Having the vertical, navigate to your right shoulder, vibrating Ve-Geburah. Meaning And the Power. And then horizontally across your upper chest, creating the horizontal line. There use the word Ve-Gedulah. What that means is And the Glory. Last, clasp hands before your chest, as if praying, vibrating the words, Le Oh Lahm Amin. I.e., Forever Unto the Ages. 

Once the Qabalistic Cross is built, you want to gather full attention, wholly focusing it on Kether. The first, topmost sephira that’s already above. Being your intrinsically purest part and known as Yechida, it’s where your own personal Logos or creative force originates from.

Feel the sephira whirling, pulsating, in its might and brilliance. Having a dinner plate diameter, somewhat Bigger than a soccer ball, it brightens everything around. Especially the top of your head. Vouchsafed by its presence, spend a moment acknowledging its very the best of you there’ll ever be. And then begin charging. How to charge Kether is by using the name Eh-he-yeh. Meaning I am, I shall be, and I exist. The students of the New Thought tradition, particularly of Nevile Goddard, will likely find doing this as very organic. The reason being is his well-known sometimes hours lasting “I am” meditation. The more you charge Kether, the more it intensifies, increasing its potency. Feel that nicely. Once more, appreciate it. And then proceed.

After charging Kether comes the time for moving to the next sphere. That’s done by imagining a descending light beam from Kether to your throat/nape of the neck. Or right above the larynx. Concentrating there, it forms another, a bit smaller sphere. Called Da’ath, this is the second center to be charged. The same has about a 4-inch diameter.

Charging this center is done with a god name borrowed from Binah or Understanding. The sephira right above it. That name is YHVH ALHIM. How it should sound is something like this. Yod-Heh-Vahv-Heh El-Oh-Heem. While Elohim means God or Gods, the former — Yod-Hey-Vav-Hey is what’s called the Tetragrammaton. How to think of it is as a symbol of God’s ineffable name. According to the ancient qabalists, the latter couldn’t be pronounced. Or at least not by a mere mortal without him or her going looney. What you want is vibrating it until fully charging Da’ath, having it pulsating and shining like Kether. Once that’s done, you’re ready for the next step.

After charging Da’ath, fully experiencing its presence and connection with Kether, you want to basically repeat the same. Yet one level below. Envisioning a descending lighting beam from Da’ath concentrating at your solar plexus, forming another sphere. Giving an exciting and warm feeling, its emanations slightly raise the area’s temperature. And that causes you to feel as if enlightened from within. 

Number 6 on the Tree, and third in the Middle Pillar, this is the Tiphereth center. And there are two ways of charging it. The first is by vibrating the Hebrew GOD name Yod-Hey-Vahv-Hey El-oah ve-Da-ath. Yes, unlike all others, this doesn’t fit into a 4 bar count. While YHVH we already covered, the second means Lord Of Knowledge. The other option for charging Tiphereth is using what’s known as the IAO formula. How that sounds is something like this. Eeeeh-Yaaaah-Ooooh. 

Besides easy to vibrate, IAO is also effortlessly implemented within a 4 bar count. All you need is slightly extending the O, making a 3 letter acronym fit into the four-bar count. And yes, you can also totally use IAO as a mantra whenever rhythmic breathing. Actually, it’s one of the best for that. Just like the Tree Of Life is one of the best symbols to meditate on. For those wondering, IAO is a gnostic god name. In itself, though, it also contains the myth of (I) Isis — Nature (A) Apophis — The destroyer. And (O) Osiris — The Redeemer. What that symbolizes is the principle of Growth, Destruction, and Redeeming or Resurrection. Or Birth, Death, and Rebirth. Needless, to say, use it until the sphere feels alive and then proceed.

Once the previous is accomplished, comes the time for imagining a third lighting beam. Projecting from Tiphareth to your genitals, there it forms the Yesod sphere. Charging this is done by vibrating the name Shah-dai el Chai. Meaning Almighty living GOD. And its “ch” in it is pronounced like the Scottish word loch. So vibrate it as many times as needed to charge this the fourth center. Really feel its presence. And continue with the last step.

Last but not least comes the lowest sephira inside both the diagram and the exercise. Number 10 on the Tree but 5th in the Middle Pillar, this is the Kingdom, Malkuth. Yes, the one we live in. Apparent, by now, completing the MP requires imagining a beam of white brilliance extending from Yesod concentrating in a sphere, at your feet. Meaning having one of its halves is inside the ground, the other above your ankles. Also somewhat smaller than Kether, its center appears at your soles. 

Once created and connected with all other centers, Malkuth has to be charged. How to do this is with the Hebrew GOD name Ah-Doh-Nai ha-Ah-Retz. Meaning Lord Of Earth. So vibrate it as many times as needed. Now, let’s move to the MP’s proper finishing.  

After completing the lighting shaft, you want to really feel its presence identifying yourself with it. Once that becomes customary due to regular practice, you want to add this extension. Continue rhythmic breathing, envisioning an energy buildup, growing within Malkuth, eventually shaping into a lighting ball. Once formed, it moves upward to Kether. Spending a few moments there, it goes down to your left shoulder, proceeding to your left sole, re-uniting itself back in Malkuth. This cycle and direction are substantial. So don’t skip nor neglect, but rather synchronize them with your breath. 

The proper way of finishing the MP, this is precisely what comes next. Performing different cycles with the energy to be synced with your breathing. Moving it upward on the inhale and downward on the exhale. I.e., breathing in when going bottom to top. And then out when doing the opposite. Or, top to bottom. Additionally, you can also introduce pauses/holds. That’s 4 counts at Kether. And another 4 at Malkuth. Rather than moving, then, the energy remains within those sephiroth.

There are several lighting ball circulations. Before that, though, let’s cover the stuff to apply whenever performing each. (1) Breathe deeply, with your belly, not rushing things, being maximally present with each breath. (2) Preferably do all four every time. And (3) know that this may cause some hyperventilating and dizziness. Not dangerous, that’s perfectly normal, especially during the earliest stages. So don’t be afraid. And neither force continuing. Merely stop when feeling the slightest discomfort, giving yourself time to adapt to the exercise. 

Partially covered, the first CBL moves the energy sideways. That means going down on the left, hitting Malkuth. And then upward on the right going back to Kether, creating lighting loops. The second is doing basically the same, yet front to back. I.e., going down before your face, belly, genitals, and knees. And then up to your hammies, butt, and spine. Forming another loop to cross the previous. The third CBL is called the fountain or shower of light. This is because it makes the energy “erupt” above Kether, falling down in 4 different directions, recollecting itself, back in Malkuth.

Regarded as the ascending spiral or the mummy, the last moves the light outside the body, sustaining a trace/ribbon as if forming a lighting capsule or even a cocoon. Not that common, as long as I know, that has another variation. Called the caduceus breath, that’s doing the same, but with two instead of one energy balls. Thereby creating a caduceus shape with their ribbons or traces. You can do what’s often regarded as the elevator going top to bottom and vice versa in a straight line. Always end/finish by bringing/directing the energy to your Tiphareth sphere. And then perform a closing Qabalistic Cross. Wrapping things up, that further balances the energies. 

Adding color is the next when learning the MP. The most standard way of doing that is by using something known as The Queen Scale Colors. So here’s how that goes. (1) Kether — White Brilliance; (2) Da’ath — Lavender or slight, less brilliant white; (3) Tiphereth — Golden; (4) Yesod — Purple or Violet; And (5) Malkuth — Olive;

Alternatively, you can also attribute Nature’s Forces/ principles of ancient philosophy to each sphere. Shown in The Art of True Healing, that goes is like this. (1) Kether — Spirit, Aether or Ether, White Brilliance. (2) Da’ath — Air, Golden Yellow. (3) Tiphereth — Fire, Burning Red. (4) Yesod — Water, Blue Marine. And (5) Malkuth — Earth, Russet. Something to note here is that I personally kinda see the second as a substantially reduced version of the elaborate revised or 5=6 exercise, and is to be found in the MP book. 

Mentioning the elemental colors reminds me of suggesting to check my latest track. Called The Middle Pillar, it’s inspired by this exercise. And its artwork depicts those last mentioned variations. Something I like to do for myself is making my art part of my journey. And my journey part of my art. So this and my previous track are both perfect representations of that.