When we think of ceremony, we’re often reminded of sacred spaces adorned with elaborate fabrics, smoke rising from ornate vessels, lush meals or the soft flicker of candlelight. We often think of people gathering and dressing up to honor or mark a special occasion or threshold of some kind – weddings, graduations, funerals, rites of passage. We may think of religion or spirituality, gatherings around certain belief systems or particular practices that unite a group of people in a way of life and devotion.
These are all a few aspects of ceremony – and there are of course so many others. One thing that does unite ceremony across traditions is the notion of sacredness – a space and a gathering which is sacred, honored, and often calling in some aspect of the beyond-human realm.
So what does the breath have to do with ceremony? It is with us in each moment of our lives; to say that the breath is ceremony would be akin to life being a ceremony… and so it is.
The Breath has been acknowledged and honored throughout traditions and the history of mankind as a sacred force connecting us directly to Spirit. More than simply a physiological process that keeps us alive, the Breath is a mystery unfolding, a map to our inner wisdom and higher understandings of the order of life, a medicine for our physical, emotional, and energetic bodies.
We can see this connection between breath and spirit clearly in the language used to describe it in various tongues. A few examples:
In Ancient Greece, the word “Pnuema” means both “Breath” and “Spirit”.
In Ancient Sanskrit, the word “Prana” means “Breath”, “Spirit” and “Life”.
In Latin, the word “Spiritus” means “Spirit” and “Breath”, of which respire (to breathe) is derived.
In Ancient Egypt, the word “Ka” was that which animates life and is translated as either “Breath” or Spirit”.
The Japanese word “Ki” translates as “Spirit” and “Life Force Energy”, that which animates one’s life (Breath).
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has been practiced for over 5,000 years, the word “Qi” or “Chi” refers to both “Breath” and “Life Force Energy”.
In Hawaiian, the word “Ha” means “Breath of Life” and “Spirit”.
In Quecha, the word “Samay” means “Breath” and “Spirit”.
In Lakota, the word “Ni” means “Breath” and “Spirit”….. And on and on we go. We see a similar pattern across languages throughout history.
It is important to understand the way that those who have walked this Earth long before us related with the breath and with the spirit of Life and nature – as these are all intertwined. Indigenous people lived a life intrinsically connected to the Earth, the elements, and the nature of life and death – they did not carry this avoidance of death like we do in our modern culture. Our breath is undeniably our connection to life – as a baby is born, it takes its first breath upon entry to the world, and when a person dies, their last breath is what they leave behind just before they go on.
Ancient peoples possessed quite an advanced understanding of spiritual principles and the ways that we are connected the the Earth and the elements (and spiritual realms) – the breath being a primary part of this. The Yogis of the Himalayan region are the most widely known for developing pranayama practices for life extension and for achieving altered states of consciousness that bring one in contact with Spirit and the Divine – but in truth, we can see these kinds of advanced practices present in cultures all around the world. These people understood that through utilizing our breath correctly, we can attain knowledge and wisdom beyond what is available in “normal” consciousness. Visions, messages, insights and ecstatic experiences in direct connection with Spirit are all available through the breath – and this has been an inherent part of spiritual practice throughout history.
But beyond simply achieving ecstatic or unified states in one’s own consciousness, the breath is a connecting force between all beings as well. And if you think about it, it is truly logical – the air you breathe has been breathed by all beings throughout time. The oak tree, the dinosaurs, your ancestors, all plants and animals and humans have been vessels through which the air you now breathe has passed. The breath in your lungs now carries the wisdom of the ages, the mountains and canyons, wild winds and storms, the wise Sequoias and vast oceans.
Its rhythm mirrors the cycle and the flow of life, the heartbeat of being. The breath is as a wave, flowing in and out, ascending and receding. Just as we are born and die, as life comes and goes, the breath reminds us that release and rebirth are always here, constantly present. In this way, the breath is a direct portal to the fundamental nature of the Universe.
This, of course, has been known by shamans, healers, yogis and mystics throughout history and across the world for millennia. I share this simply to remind us all that we are in no way uncovering some great new knowledge through our work with conscious connected breathing, or any type of breathwork. We are humbly walking on the shoulders of giants as we reawaken this ancient knowledge within our bones. Shamans and healers throughout time have connected with the essence of Life and all beings – plant, animal, mineral, elemental, and spirit – through the sharing of One Breath and its teachings of unity and interconnection. The breath has also been understood as a primary element in any healing journey – as its quality drectly reflects one’s state of health and well-being. If someone’s breath is shallow or irregular, it often points to stress, fear, anxiety, a dampening of the inner fire, or a number of other ailments often stemming from emotional or spiritual causes.
A deep and full breath, however, shows the presence of a strong life force and creativity, inner power and purpose, calm and centered energy and often a grounded magnetism in one’s life pursuits. You can think about this in your own life: doesn’t a full and healthy breath contribute to your own sense of well-being? When you feel sick and “off”, don’t you normally notice a change in your breath quality? And as we all know, health is the greatest wealth – when we fall sick in some way, the most important thing is always to regain our strength again. It is often in these moments where we finally turn our attention to the simple things like our breath – noticing how breathing more fully and deeply can actually bring stuck and stagnant energy to the surface to be cleared and the body restored.
What is so beautiful about the breath and its role in spiritual practice throughout history, is that the breath is the medicine and the sacrament itself, the portal itself directly to Spirit. No intermediary is needed; no priest, no substance, no complicated set of rituals or prayers. What is required is a commitment to self-mastery and to being present in the body, to opening one’s channels to let the life force flow through in a way that opens the gateway to expanded states. In the ancient yogic traditions of India, pranayama practices were used to open one’s connection to Samadhi – in Buddhism the breath is part of the path to Nirvana. In Sufiism, the breath was a bridge to ecstatic states and a direct line to God. Shamanic traditions work directly with the breath as an offering of prayer and as a medicine, a direct line to the spirits of the land while engaging in healing work for their community. The unifying factor among all of these – Breath as a direct portal to Spirit/God/the Divine/Universe.
So what has changed in our modern world, that we are so much more disconnected from these teachings and understandings around the breath and our inherent connection to life and to all beings? I supposed we can’t blame the modern world; all evolution can simply be seen as what it is: a change in consciousness and new layers of learnings that we are all moving through.
I believe we are in a period of great remembrance at the moment, and that it is no coincidence that Breathwork is appearing now so prolifically in the Western world. We are remembering our connection and we are waking up to the knowing that our medicine is within us; there is nothing to fear as we are connected into the cycle of life from now until forever, as we always have been. What the breath can open within our consciousness cannot be put back, and this is a divine gift for all who are ready to receive it.
I choose to work with breath as a ceremony because I believe that it is vital for us to return to the practice of intentional connection with Spirit and with nature, to our roots and remembrance of the mystic within each of us. Why is this so important? Simply put: because we are more than we are made to believe. Yes, we are humans walking this Earth in a modern world – but there is so much more available to us than what we’ve been told. Our inner connection is a connection to all wisdom, all healing, all remembrance – and this can be accessed through the breath. A ceremonial space simply creates a context and connection for Spirit to enter – we are not in a spiritual exercise class, but a sacred practice and opening.
Does this mean that sacred connection with the breath is limited to a “ceremonial space”? Of course not. And ceremony does not need to be elaborate or especially not dogmatic. It is a subtle shift of intention which opens the channel for divine guidance, protection, and a remembrance of something greater. Setting space for ceremony is an offering of humility, of inviting in support, and honoring the sacred experience it is to connect with the ancients, the powers of nature, and the vast well of wisdom that lives within our own beings.