New Magical Development and Concentration

Exercises for New Hermeticists

Particularly Initiates and Zealots (or Novitiates) and beyond

By Jason Augustus Newcomb  2010. May be distributed freely for non-commercial purposes.

Elemental
The basis of these exercises is a practice that has been used by the Golden Dawn, the Hermetic
Brotherhood of Light, the Brotherhood of Eulis, certain Buddhist and Yogic traditions, and a variation has
been used as an exercise in the Philosopher level of the New Hermetics since it began.

But this new exercise has a much more powerful potential than any previous version as it uses specific
physical visuals combined with specific frequencies of sound, unique aromas, and induced feelings in the
body-mind that will align you with the energies of these forces more powerfully and quickly than ever
before achieved.

The purpose of this exercise is to connect yourself intimately with the energies of the elements. This is
an invocation of a sort, but only in the most general sense. By focusing on the elemental qualities while
inhaling the perfume of the element and listening to specially chosen sound frequencies you will be
creating a strong connection with the elements. By using a visual symbol as a fixation point for the eyes
and the mind you will alter your state of consciousness, and this altered state will be related to the
element. You are creating a multi-pronged anchor, but more importantly, once you have mastered the
technique you are creating access to magical resources and planes in a simple and nearly automatic way.

This exercise will also dramatically increase your concentration skills, your visualization skills and your
ability to produce altered states and their phenomena (such as astral projection etc.) This simple
exercise can be carried very far into higher meditative states and may produce paranormal phenomena
of various advanced sorts. But do not worry about that matter for now.

You will need tattwa images for the elements. These are the yellow square for earth, the silver crescent
for water, the red triangle for fire, the blue circle for air and the black egg for Akasha or spirit. Sub-
tattwas are unnecessary at this time. Even though they are of Indian origin, these tattwas have long
been used by European occultists as convenient sigils for the elements. The images included in this
paper can be used, or you can make your own. If you do not like the tattwas or want a very simple
replacement you could use the colored discs also included, black (or green) for earth, blue for water, red
for fire, yellow for air and white for spirit.

You will really want to use my tonal recordings for the elements and if possible use the appropriate
elemental incense. This will massively improve your results with this exercise over time and your results
with other tools.
To connect your work with the macrocosmic energies please try using the moon’s travels to organize
which element you will work with. When the moon is in Aries, Leo or Sagittarius use the Fire tattwa;
when in Taurus, Virgo or Capricorn, Earth; when in Gemini, Libra or Aquarius, Air; when in Cancer,
Scorpio or Pisces, Water. You may work with the spirit or Akasha tattwa whenever you feel moved to do
so, although the weekend days or Saturday and Sunday may be most useful times.

It may also be advantageous to use the tattwic elemental hours where possible though this is not as
essential. In this case you could work with spirit or Akasha when it comes up. These may be determined
by keeping a small set of symbols in your pocket, shuffling them and pulling one out. This will be the
element of this time. (You could also pull a tarot card, with the trumps as spirit and the lesser arcana as
the elements). Each element rules for two hours, in the order Spirit, Air, Fire, Water, Earth and then
back to spirit. So, you can find the best time for each element through pulling a card and then figuring
the cycle in this way.

Make note of whether this kind of calculation helps your work. Does it make your connection stronger?
Is it easier to connect with the energy?

Also make note of whether the moon is waxing or waning and the degree of the sign in which the moon
resides if possible and observe if there are more or less powerful times with each element in each sign
for you.

This exercise can be used as a variant method for the “Awareness Flow” in Synergistic Meditative Flows.
In this case you may wish to circulate the energy of the element specifically in the Bio-Energy flow, and
Visit the elemental realm during Visionary Flow. This can be an extremely powerful combination but see
to it that you are doing so in a balanced way. In other words, do it with ALL ELEMENTS if you do it with
one!

1. Tape the tattwa elemental symbol on a blank wall at eye level and sit 3 to 9 feet away from it,
making sure it is at a comfortable eye level and distance. If possible position the symbol in the
appropriate direction of the element in your temple. The symbol can also be on the floor if this
seems easier or better for you.

2. (optional) Conduct any opening work, Rosicrucian Love, Grounding and Centering etc. if you
wish. It is not necessary. (unless you are doing it with the other synergistic flows).

3. Take a few deep breaths and use your meditation anchor on an outbreath.

4. (optional) You may chant the appropriate sacred vowel sound and tone for a few minutes.

5. Stare fixedly with your eyes still at the tattwa symbol on wall for one minute or so counting
slowly to 30 while in between naming a quality of the element, whatever occurs to you, but
here is a list to start with. Many other words could be added.
 Earth: heavy, mass, solid, hard, still, stable, earth, dry, cool, collected,
manifest, body, physical action, work, house, bones, temple,
practicality, wealth…

Water: moist, liquid, cool, flowing, waves, tranquility, cleansing,

contraction, cooling, intimate, understanding, water, feeling, sensual,
tears, blood, friendship, sweat, emotion…

Fire: heat, flame, dryness, expansion, burning, fire, destruction,

creation, power, force, strength, creativity, values, will, desire, success,
passion…

Air: light, flowing, swift, wispy, wind, moist, warm, flight, change,
instability, thought, mind, motion, blowing, learning, ideas, stories,
intellect, beliefs…

So if you are working with earth you will say to yourself something like “One… Heaviness…
Two… Earth… Three… Solidity… Four… Stable… etc. (to dramatically increase your direct
connection with the element you could say “”One… I AM Earth… Two I AM Heaviness… Three I
AM Solidity… Four I AM Stability… etc.” Do this at your own risk). Try to use different words at
different times and notice how they shape your experience.

6. Do not worry if you lose count. This is not a counting exercise, it is a connecting with the
element exercise. After you reach 30 or feel you’ve stared long enough, close your eyes and
continue listing and counting again from one. Try to maintain the afterimage of the symbol for
as long as possible while deeply connecting with the symbol and its energy. The image may
disappear momentarily and then return, so do not give up prematurely. Try to extend it as long
as possible keeping track of the highest number you can achieve each day in your journal.

7. Open your eyes and stare at the symbol again, counting to 30 and listing qualities again for
another minute.

8. Close eyes again and hold onto the afterimage counting and connecting.

9. Repeat as long as you can and wish to.

10. Perform this exercise for 5-20 minutes every day if possible.

Be very relaxed and at ease in this. Do not let it become obsessive or tense. You will slip into highly
blissful states if you just relax and allow yourself to connect with these energies. It is okay to see other
afterimages along with your main one. Just ignore them and concentrate on your image and its energy.
If you start to experience a vision of some sort you will need to use your own inner wisdom to decide
the right course. If it seems related to the work, explore it. If it is a dream caused by fatigue, return to
the symbol, counting and connecting with words.
Planetary Practice
For the Philosopher Level (or Practitioners) and beyond

This same exercise can be conducted with the planetary powers. In this case the planetary days and
hours can be used for convenience. Astrological aspects with other planets in a quick horoscope drawn
up for the time can also be considered to connect more with the sidereal. Make note of anything
interesting that enhances or decreases results.

The basic exercise is identical except that you will use circles with the planetary (or Sephirotic if you
wish) colors on them instead of the tattwa symbols. You can also use the lineal symbols from the
Philosopher level exercise if you wish, or planetary talismans of various sorts, but it is recommended
that you begin with the simple colored circles as you will find them more immersive. Here are some
word concepts to get you started…

Moon : Ebb and flow, Cycles, Mystery, Cool light, Mother, Imagination,
Menstruation, Instinct, Subconscious, Astral, Emotion, Dreams, Trance,
Frenzy, Divine Madness, Clairvoyance, Oceanic…

Mercury: Systems, Reason, Mentality, Swiftness, Communication,

Messenger, (Logos,) Logic, Knowledge, Learning, Writing, Travel,
Science, Business, Medicine, Sales, Mathematics, Marketing, Universal
laws, Wisdom, Machinery of the Universe developing the mind

Venus: Love, Desire, Passion, Hierarchy, Aesthetic beauty, Nurture,

Creativity, Attraction, Gravity, Pleasure, Art, Luxury, Feminine Mystique,
Cosmetic, Erotic, Natural law, Sex Goddess, Love Goddess…

Sun: Logos, shining light, warmth, center, heart, love, harmony, ego,
self, balance, wholeness, compassion, loving kindness, youth and
beauty, peace, illumination, providence, beneficence, divine power

Mars: War, Vengeance, Justice, Strength, Force, Violence, Masculine

Mystique, Aggression, Athleticism, Competition, Power, Courage,
Stamina, Energy, Divine retribution…

Jupiter: Generosity, Abundance, Leadership, Vision, Favor, Good fortune

Luck, influence, Prestige, Expansion, Princely, Kingly, Royal, Father,
Ruler, Wealth, Divine Grace, Mercy, Karma…

Saturn: Structure, Limitation, Seriousness, Responsibility, The limit,

Serious, Society, Grandfather, Philosophy, Ancient, Titan, Death,
Reincarnation, Death, the Beyond, Demiurge, Eternity, Aeon, Immortal
God and goddess names could also be used, but with caution. This exercise can in many ways augment
and in some cases replace the “Invoking the Gods” tool which often makes certain aspirants
uncomfortable. To this list could also be added specific planetary angelic names such as:

Saturn – Tzaphkiel laiqpx

Jupiter – Tzadkiel laiqdx

Mars – Kamael lamk

Sun – Raphael lapr

Venus – Haniel laina

Mercury – Michael lakim

Moon – Gabriel lairbg

The binaural tone recordings for these exercises can be obtained here:

http://jasonaugustusnewcomb.com/store/nhnextgen.html

The New Hermetics Planetary and Elemental Incense can be obtained here:

http://shop.vendio.com/centerofchanges/category/3039/