Many clients ask me how long it takes people to complete Franz Bardon’s steps in Initiation Into Hermetics, and I answer with the most honest response possible: “Most people never finish.
They may read it, even start a couple of steps, then put the book down and never seem to continue.” So, obviously, the biggest problem is consistency. I tend to think it’s part intimidation and part perfectionism. Regarding the former, the magical compendium of what’s
possible with Bardon work is full of what could be called paranormal abilities. It is intimidating, and it may even seem impossible. But it starts as most processes start: one step at a time.
Regarding perfectionism, readers can tend to think every exercise has to be perfectly mastered, in order, before continuing with others. And it’s easy to think the requirements to move on are more than they actually are.
Bardon gives brief mention to stretching and exercising, but these are key. And even if one is so overwhelmed by all the other steps, just exercising everyday is better than nothing.
Moreover, autosuggestion and impregnating food and liquid with affirmations is something that can be done in the course of a normal day, with no extra time used. Again, even if only this is employed, it is better than nothing.
I am not a Bardon purist. I would say some exercises are more important than others.
With the first three steps, I would say vacancy of mind, autosuggestion, and, later, the pore breathing with the elements are the most central to a good practice. These should become regular throughout the book, but just staying with these three for a good six months is solid.
That’s good practice. Readers tend to want to check things off their list in impatience. But patience is part of volition, willpower, and builds the strength of the astral body.
So, just do something everyday. This is life, and life can get in the way. Some days will naturally allow more practice times than others, depending on one’s other commitments like jobs, families, and so on. It’s a hard thing to fathom: doing less, but doing it regularly. There is no need to set the bar too high. In fact, I would encourage practitioners to set the bar low, but be regular. If a week or two runs by with no practice, simply take a breath, and resume practice.
The Zen Meditation
An exercise I like to give every client is the Zen meditation of 200 breaths. Sit in a comfortable spot and position, whatever that is. Breath in and out, that’s one. In and out, that’s two. Continue with this until you breathe 200 breaths. Do not worry how long it takes. Do this for at least 30 days in a row, if possible, even if it’s the only thing you do. After 30 days, the effects both mentally and physically will be noticeable. In fact, the effects will be so good that the practitioner will want to do them. So why not continue this exercise throughout the course of the book? This helps with vacancy of mind and the mental/spirit exercises of step 1. In fact, I would go as far as saying that this exercise can replace the spirit exercises in step 1, if time is limited for the practitioner. This exercise also builds willpower. The fact of climbing the
mountain, so to speak, of all 200 breaths should strengthen the will. This exercise will help increase the efficacy of all future steps, too.
Pore Breathing the Elements
The exercise of pore breathing with the elements that come later is also central, at least it was for me. Believe it or not, I spent two years just working the elemental breathing that starts in step 3 and continues in future steps in the astral level. I could have probably moved through it quicker. But I didn’t want to rush it. I preferred to take my time, because the exercises were fun and deeply rewarding. For me, this was magical equilibrium. I did not achieve magical equilibrium through only the soul mirror. The breathing of the elements increased my magical
equilibrium a good bit. However, it’s my experience that working through all ten steps gets optimal magical equilibrium, though,, with both the elements and the Akasha. That is the point.
And it’s the entrance point into achieving an integrated tetragrammaton, the philosopher’s stone, so to speak.
Another thing to mention is the power contained in the book itself. Initiation Into Hermetics is imbued with sacred energy. I can sometimes feel the pure power of it just holding it. Reading it, too, can shift some things. Sometimes, just knowing the theory and knowing the exercises can prompt a sort of unconscious doing of the exercises. It did for me. It felt like my system was working through stuff just reading it. So if you have read the whole book, as many people do before starting, or you have read the beginning sections, give yourself credit for that. It may already have begun to do magic on you.
Prayer
One other simple thing to do, even if it’s your only exercise, is to pray to Divine
Providence, which I prefer calling God. Talk to God throughout the day. Pray on your knees towards your altar or sacred space in your room before bed. I like the formula of “Praise, Thanks, and Ask.” Pray and give praise to God, then thank him for your many blessings, and finally, ask for what you want. Of course, though, there is no correct or incorrect way to pray, in my opinion. It’s also not important to use the word ‘God.’ It can be any word you feel
comfortable with using. The important part is to feel comfortable with your own relationship to your higher power. You can even pray to Bardon himself, and it’s my experience that he will give you divine help. Just pray, at least some.
Conclusion
Moreover, though, the main purpose of this article is to emphasize that freeing oneself from perfectionism does wonders. Simply do something everyday. I have given some ideas about exercises to do, but you certainly don’t have to do them all at first. Just do one or two daily, if that’s all you have time for doing. Yes, Bardon writes in an almost perfectionistic vibe.
But it is partly the time period he wrote in and the translation. He was against dogma of any kind, in any religion. So why be dogmatic about Bardon’s work itself? Just do what you can.
Check out my video below on this subject.
