Basic Esoteric Daily Practices

Esoteric Daily Practices
~By Vijayakumar Alagappan

Appropriate patterning, or ritual conduct, is the foundation of a healthy life. Esoteric Daily Practices promotes healthy organization of the energy channels and the seating of the prana, or internal winds. You may want to fine-tune this practice for your constitution. In order to do that, consult a beginning book about Siddha Practice, the Esoteric science ( Tantric life science ).

This version of practices has been shortened and simplified.  If you are being advised by a Siddha doctor, or you have a Guru from wisdom tradition, that person will give you more detailed instructions based on your constitution and sadhana.

 

Remember that Esoteric Daily Practices is ritual. Try to directly experience the rhythm you are establishing in your life. As you are practicing Esoteric Morning Practices feel that you are honoring your self, your body and God by participating in this daily ritual.

Morning
Wake up by atleast 5 AM to 6 AM.  If you can’t manage this at first, work your way into it. You can train yourself to wake up at this time naturally.

The Sun activates the pineal gland to send messages to the adrenal glands to release adrenal cortisol, which wakes us from deep sleep.

Before opening your eyes or getting out of bed, sense the energy of the day.
Rub your palms together quickly to generate energy and look at your palm for your palm to absorb the over night stored prana energy from your eyes, then gently energize your face, head, arms and hands with long, smooth strokes. Repeat this sequence until you have gently massaged your entire body, including your feet.

Check through your nostril(dominant)
Step out of the bed, touch the ground with the leg dominant side.
Evacuate your bowels. You can train yourself to do this at this time.
If your digestion is normally sluggish, drink a glass of warm water (fresh ginger, optional).
Wash your hands, and splash cold water on your face. Scrape your tongue with scraping tool available at pharmacy or yoga studio (dont use plastic one). Brush your teeth with mild, natural toothpaste and a soft toothbrush (if can with twigs like neem twigs etc.).

Take a slow walk in the fresh morning air for 30 to 45 minutes.
In the bathroom, dry brush your whole body. Use a natural bristle brush. Vata types should be particularly careful to stroke downward and without too much force. Pitta types should also use strokes that are less intense. Kapha types can use more vigorous back-and-forth strokes.

Perform Oil Bath—self-massage with gently warmed coconut oil + sesame oil + mustard oil / castor oil. Spend 30 to 45 minutes massaging the oil into your skin with long strokes, including ears, face and neck. A drizzle of warm oil may be poured on the crown of your head if you are planning to wash your hair. If your constitution is mainly kapha, you should perform oil bath only one to two times per week. You may want to use one of the massage oils formulated specifically for a kapha constitution. If you are experiencing high vata or pitta, you may want to use sesame oil or coconut oil respectively. Massage your body with oil only on lunar days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday)
Take a shower. Use Shiyakai or natural soap. Pad yourself dry.
For normal cold bath pour water from top to toe while humming.
Eat breakfast. Follow the natural dietary instructions for your constitution..

Evening
Shower after work if the day has been stressful, or especially hot or humid. A bucket shower is great at night. The sheets of warm water from the bucket are much more relaxing than a typical shower.
Eat dinner no later than 7 pm or 3 hours before you go to sleep (fruits or light meal like chapati). Follow the dietary guidelines for your constitution.

Go for a slow walk daily for 30 to 45 minutes if you missed in the morning.
Stop watching TV, using the computer or reading at least an hour before bed (9pm). Instead, spend some quiet time with your loved ones. Or sit quietly, linking up with your Guru or simply the larger cosmos and a sense of grace. You can also do Pranayama and Meditation.

Go to sleep by 10 pm to 11 pm, before you become exhausted, or even very sleepy because the oxygen level during this time will become lower to make you sleepy. Try to fall asleep with God, Guru or positive thought in your heart.

Note :The timing given above is according to Sun Rise 7am and Sun Set 7pm ( Malaysia & Singapore Time ). You may change the time by calculating your local Sun rise and Sun set time.