Where to Begin...
Now that you know what magic is... What?! You didn't read it?! Well, c'mon then! Click the link over there and read that first. OK. Ahem! Now, where was I...? Now that you know what magic is, you need to know where to begin in order to do magic.
The first things you must develop are concentration and focus. This is typically done through different types of meditation exercises.
In addition to concentration and focus, you will want to begin learning to raise energy and then to manipulate the energy that you've raised. Once you are done working with the energy, you will need to "ground" the excess energy (send it back to the earth) and then center yourself (basically re-aligning your personal energies and re-affirming your "position" within the Universe).
Meditation and Visualization
(Lesson 6)
The reason that I have approached both of these subjects at one time is that each seems to support the other. Meditation naturally aides in proper visualization and visualization can help to focus the mind, thereby being itself a form of meditation.
Meditation can be defined as a technique or a process by which one can relax both the mind and the body. There are many benefits that may be reaped from the practice of meditation. Our main interest in meditation pertains to its more metaphysical benefits.
However, even those who aren’t into the metaphysical benefits of meditation can benefit from its practice. Some of the more “tangible” benefits of meditation are that it increases oxygen and blood flow and works toward relaxing the body and the mind. All of these things are beneficial in reducing the effects of stress and increasing energy levels.
As to the metaphysical ends, we benefit by achieving a sense of inner peace. Meditation works to still the mind and the body and helps us to become more grounded.
It helps us to focus the mind, as well. Certain meditation techniques work toward stilling the flow of random thoughts, otherwise known as the “stilling the inner dialogue.” Free from these distractions, we are better able to concentrate on matters at hand. This quiet state of mind is often associated with the Zen concept of being in the “here and now.” This ability to focus the mind is a very valuable tool for those of us that practice magic.
On a more spiritual level, meditation opens the mind to “illumination,” or inspiration from Spirit. The improved mental focus can help us to better understand certain spiritual concepts and can help us to become more aware of both the inner and outer universes.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the particulars of meditation.
The first things to consider when you begin meditation are the place and the time. At first, you will want to find a place that is quiet and where you can be fairly certain that you will be free of any interruptions for up to 15 minutes or more. As you become more experienced, this won’t be as important, as you will eventually be able to meditate virtually anywhere.
The best time to meditate will vary from person to person. For most people, working will put a limitation on the availability of time. This will normally leave only the morning or the evening hours. Both have their advantages. In fact, some people choose to meditate both in the morning and in the evening. So, needless to say, there is no right or wrong time to meditate, it all depends upon individual preference. It has been suggested, however, that a rhythm should be established. In other words, meditation should be done regularly at the same time of day, whether it be every day or every other day or even once per week.
Morning meditation is helpful in that it allows you to gather your energies and focus on the day ahead. On the other hand, evening meditation can allow you to “wind down” from the days events and shrug off any tension that may have built up during the day. It has even been suggested that stopping for a couple of minutes, in the middle of the day, to breathe and reflect is helpful in reducing stress.
Once you have determined the best place and time for meditation, you can begin working on the basic fundamentals.
Begin by taking up a comfortable position. Sitting is preferred for beginners, but lying down is entirely acceptable. If you can find a cushion on which to sit, this may also help. You may either sit on the floor with your legs crossed and your hands on your knees or in a chair with your feet flat on the floor and your hands on your knees with the palms facing down. The best position is one that will provide the most comfort. However, you don’t want to be so comfortable that you will fall asleep!
When sitting, it is important to remember to keep the back straight and the head and neck erect. Some suggest visualizing that there is a string attached to the crown of the head, which is being pulled upward. This can be very helpful in maintaining the correct posture.
If you are going to conduct your meditation lying down, avoid crossing the legs and try to keep your arms at your sides.
Once you have found a comfortable position, try to establish some sort of rhythm in you breathing. Some people do this by counting heartbeats or by counting seconds (ex.: “1-one-thousand, 2-one-thousand,” etc.). Find a rhythm that is comfortable for you. The idea is to breathe in and fill the lungs, hold it and then, breathe completely out (ex.: inhale for 3 counts, hold for 1, exhale for 4, hold for 1…).
Before moving on to more complex methods of focusing or concentration, it is important that your breathing pattern can be maintained at an even, steady rhythm. The rhythmic breath should be the sole focus for a week or more, or until such time that you can maintain the rhythm for an extended period of time without directly concentrating upon it.
While you are working on the rhythmic breath, try to allow any thoughts that come into your mind to flow freely, pay them no heed. By ignoring these extraneous thoughts, often referred to as the “inner dialogue,” you will eventually begin to experience their interruption less and less. This process is known as “stilling the inner dialogue.”
After you have mastered the concept of rhythmic breathing, you can move on to more advanced exercises in visualization and concentration. As I have already stated, visualization can be used as a form of meditation. You may also choose to meditate upon a particular phrase (normally one with some kind of philosophical intent) or a particular sound, color, taste, smell, etc. Basically, anything can be used as a focus for meditation, so long as it meets whatever needs you may be experiencing at a given time. More meditation techniques will be detailed after we look at visualization.
What is visualization and how is it applied in magical practice? Visualization is the act of creating within the mind, or the “mind’s eye,” an image or picture of something that may or may not be tangible or visible to the physical eyes in an unaltered, waking conscious state. In other words, using the imagination to “see” an image of something, be it a symbol, a person, an object, what have you, even though it might not be physically present. Now, most people do this only within their “mind’s eye.” However, it is entirely possible for some people to “externalize” a visualized image in such a way as to make the image perceptible to their physical eyes. This, however, is not our current focus. Let’s just stick to the basics, shall we?
As to its application in magical practice, good visualization techniques are key to working effective magic. In fact, it can easily be stated that most spells depend almost entirely on the fine art of visualization.
The easiest way to begin is to find a fairly simple object that you can easily study and memorize, for instance, a chess piece or a die, so long as it is nothing too complex. Something with very little detail and no inherent symbolic meaning is best. I often use a lit candle.
Once you are sure that you have sufficiently studied the object, close your eyes and establish your rhythmic breath, concentrate on what you remember about the object you’ve been studying. It’s very likely, being that you’ve been staring at it for a while, that the image of the particular object will automatically take shape in your mind. If not, be patient. Concentrate on “seeing” the object in your mind, until you can perceive a vivid and accurate representation of it. If you have trouble visualizing the object, open your eyes and study it some more and then go back and attempt to visualize it again.
If it takes a while, don’t get discouraged, keep trying and you will eventually achieve the image. Work toward keeping the image in your mind for several minutes at a time. Again, if any thoughts come into your mind, let them flow and pay them no heed. If they interrupt your concentration, do not get discouraged, simply re-establish the image and continue to concentrate. Keep in mind that stilling the inner dialogue is not an easy task and that even a small amount of success is still a success.
Once you have mastered that object, move on to other ones. Eventually, you will want to move on to more complex and detailed objects, you might even want to try it with people and places.
Another possible exercise is to take a picture of a person or an object and tear it in half. Look at one of the halves and try to complete the picture in your mind.
When you get fairly proficient at visualizing tangible things, try visualizing things that you’ve never seen, such as imaginary creatures (one’s you haven’t seen pictures of) or imaginary fruits and vegetables. The key is to use your imagination.
Eventually, you’ll want to try visualizing with your eyes open. You should still be able to see things in your mind while your eyes are open. It’s just a matter of concentration. This ability will be very useful when you find yourself in situation where you are unable to find privacy but you desire to cast a quick spell.
In time, visualization will come naturally. Chances are, that you will find you have been doing it all along and just never realized it.
There are probably an infinite number of meditation techniques. I will try to touch on a couple of the basic ones.
One method is to employ visualization to hold in your mind the image of a mystical or spiritual symbol in order to delve into the significance of the object. For instance, deity or archangelic forms may be used. Runes or Tarot cards may also be used in this manner.
Another method is scrying. This is done with the eyes open, with the gaze concentrated upon a specific symbol or image. A mirror or other reflective surface may also be used. The Tarot can also be used in this technique.
As I stated briefly above, any stimulus of the five physical senses may be used as a focus for meditation, also.
Although we tend to focus a great deal on stilling the inner dialogue, many forms of meditation seem to be directed at provoking the flow of thoughts. The difference is that the thoughts or “dialogue” that we are provoking by performing such meditations are of a more specific nature. For example, if someone had problems controlling his temper, he might focus his meditation on things that provoke thoughts about being calm, rational and in control.
Following these basics, you should be able to tailor a meditation program to suit your own needs. Remember, true knowledge is attained only through experimentation. If a particular method doesn’t seem to be very effective, make some changes and try again.
Psychic Energy
(Lesson 7)
Conventional science tells us many things about energy. It tells us that energy is constant, that it can neither be created nor destroyed and that matter is basically energy vibrating a very high rate. From this statement, we can easily gather that energy is all around us. But, we aren’t here to talk about electrical energy or kinetic energy or anything that conventional science has been able to measure, thus far. We’re here to talk about psychic energy. Psychic energy is still energy. So, many of the same scientific rules apply to it as would apply to electricity or any other type of energy. However, to tap the vast potential of psychic energy, we need no wires, generators or batteries, we need only the knowledge and the will of a magician.
Psychic energy comes from the natural universe that surrounds us. We can draw this energy from the green growing things, from the rocks, from the wind and the waves, even from the very earth beneath us. We draw psychic energy from the Sun, Moon, stars and planets. This magical energy that permeates the universe is that spark which quickens all living things.
Our task, then, is to realize the potential of this vast wellspring of energy. To do so, we must learn to sense the subtle and sometimes not so subtle flows. We must learn to release the energy that resides within us, so that we can become a conduit of psychic energy. By become such a conduit, we can manipulate the energies of the universe and direct them in accordance with our will.
The Energy Body
Now, let’s take a look at the energy body. What this term refers to is that part of all living things that is composed completely of energy. It is called the energy body because it doesn’t exist separately from the physical body, but rather it surrounds and penetrates it and actually mimics the physical form. In fact, the energy body extends several inches out and in all directions from the physical body. This is what is often referred to as the “aura.” With some training and practice, this portion of the energy body can be felt and often seen.
The Energy Centers or “Chakras”
Within the energy body, there is a multitude of “openings” – for lack of a better word, or energy centers. Eastern philosophy refers to these energy centers as “chakras.” Chakra is a Sanskrit word that basically translates to “wheel.” The energy centers are referred to in this manner because they manifest as whirling vortices of energy. Though there are a multitude of these points that can be found on the human body, most magical systems only concern themselves with the seven major chakras, which are located along the center of the torso, and the four minor ones, located in the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
Each of the major chakras corresponds with certain biological, psychological and spiritual functions. Each one is also associated with a particular organ and is assigned a color. In truth, there is a whole host of correspondences that go along with the chakra system, however, for now I will list only those that are of immediate necessity. We will go into greater depth on this subject in later lessons.
The first chakra is located directly between the legs, half way between the genitals and the anus. It rests half inside and half outside of the body, so that when sitting in a “lotus position,” it actually makes contact with the ground. It is through this chakra that we can connect to the earth and ground ourselves when we start to lose focus or when our energies are “out of sync.” Because of this, it is often called the “Root Chakra.” It is blood red in color and is associated with our survival instincts.
The second chakra is located just below the navel and completely inside of the body. Its color is the same bright orange that can be seen in the burning embers of a fire. This chakra is associated with creativity and sexuality.
The third chakra is located half inside and half outside of the body in the region of the solar plexus. Its color is that of a brilliant yellow sun and it is associated with personal power.
The fourth chakra is located in the region of the heart. It is centered in the chest and resides half inside and half outside of the body. Its color is the green of healthy growing plants and it is associated with love and compassion.
The fifth chakra rests just outside of the body and in front of the throat, at the level of the “Adam’s Apple.” Its color is that of the clear blue sky. It is associated with communication.
The sixth chakra is located just above and between the eyes. It, too, is half inside and half outside of the body. This chakra is often referred to as the “third eye.” It is so named because it is associated with the seeing of visions, foretelling of the future, etc. Its color is deep indigo or violet.
The seventh chakra is located at the crown of the head. It is half outside of the skull and half inside. This chakra unites us with Spirit and it is through this avenue that we receive messages and inspiration from Spirit. The color of this chakra is the most brilliant white imaginable.
All of these energy centers are bound together by a single column that is often seen as being rooted in the earth and extending infinitely into the heavens.
The chakras at the hands and feet are usually seen as balls or spirals of white light. The chakras in the hands are the ones that we will be using, both to sense and to send energy. The ones in the feet are used in conjunction with the root chakra to help in grounding exercises and also to send unwanted energy back to the earth.
Exercise 5: Middle Pillar Exercise
Now that we have a good understanding of where everything is, we can get into our first exercise of this section. This exercise is often referred to as the “Middle Pillar Exercise.” It is used to open up the chakras, which helps to raise our energy levels. This exercise can also help in attaining an alpha state, which is basically the trance-like state that is used for magical work.
This is a sort of meditation exercise, so you’ll want to find a nice quiet comfortable spot where you won’t be disturbed.
Start by sitting in a lotus position (i.e., “Indian style”) or standing with your feet firmly planted on the floor, about shoulder width apart. You should be sitting or standing straight with you head held erect and your shoulders back, but not in such a way that you are uncomfortable.
As with any meditation, start with the rhythmic breathing and try to clear your mind.
This is also a visualization exercise. When visualizing the chakras, try to “see” them as balls of colored light, about the size of an orange or a grapefruit. Take your time and try to get a good image of each chakra.
As you exhale, begin visualizing the first chakra. Try to feel how it connects you to the Earth. If you want, visualize “roots” in the color of the first chakra extending from the chakra, down the legs and deep into the earth. Feel the tension flowing out of your body and down, into the Earth, while warm, revitalizing Earth energies surge upward into your body. When you are ready, move on to the next chakra.
As you inhale, visualize a shaft of light extending from the first chakra to where the second chakra should be located. On the next exhale; start to visualize the second chakra. Repeat this step for the rest of the chakras, remembering to keep the previous parts of the visualization in the minds eye.
When you reach the seventh chakra, imagine a surge of energy pouring forth from that chakra like a fountain of light. Feel the connection that exists between this chakra and the “Light” of the universe.
Each step can be repeated as many times as needed. If you don’t feel that you are getting the visualization “good enough” that you can maintain it throughout the exercise, you can remain at that level as long as you need to. Remember that visualization is not always easy for everyone. Some people take to it easier than others, but with practice it becomes easier.
The procedure can also be done in the reverse order, for more of a “grounding” effect. In time, you may be able to go both directions at once. Also, as you learn more about each chakra and its properties, you can start to work with the associated energies as you visualize each one.
Sensing Energy
Now that we have a basic understanding of what it is, we must learn what psychic energy feels like. For each person, the sensation will be a little bit different. Some people will feel the energy as a warm tingly feeling. Others will feel either coolness or pressure. Sometimes it will even be felt as being similar to the feeling of forcing together the opposite polls of two magnets.
Over time, you will learn to feel energy with your whole body. However, to begin with, it is easiest to try and sense it with your hands.
Exercise 5a: Sensing Your Own Energy
To get a sense of what psychic energy feels like, it is probably easiest to try to feel your own. As you’ve been living with it your entire life, you’ve likely never noticed your own “energy field.” However, noticing it only requires that you focus and pay attention.
Begin by pressing your palms together. Gently rub your hands back and forth (“Karate Kid” fashion), until you begin to feel the heat of friction building. Now, slowly move your hands apart – just about a half an inch, at first. Focus on the space between your hands and try to notice the sensations that build in that space. Once you are able to sense the flow of energy between your hands, try moving them farther apart. Experiment by moving them back and forth to different distances to see how far apart you can move your hands before you become unable to sense the flow.
Exercise 5b: Directing A Flow of Energy at Your Hand
Once you have that down, try to direct a flow of energy from the tips of your fingers. To do this, hold up your left hand as if you were going to do the previous exercise. Take your right hand, with fingers together, and point it at the palm of your left hand. Again, you will want to start with a very small distance between your hands. Now, try to envision the chakra at your solar plexus glowing and vibrating with energy. Will that energy to travel up your body to you shoulder and then down through your right arm and out through your fingertips. Once again, when you start to notice the flow of energy, move your hand a little farther away. You will also want to move your right hand up and down, slowly, so as not to fan the air at your left hand, and try to feel the movement of that “beam” of energy across your palm.
Exercise 5c: Sensing The Energy Of Another Person
Now that you have an idea of what psychic energy feels like, you should be ready to try sensing the energy of another person. This will be done in much the same way as the previous two exercises. In fact, the only difference is that you will be with a partner and instead of using your own hand, you will be using the hand of your partner.
First, have your partner hold his or her hands out with palms facing skyward. Now place your hands, palms downward, about a half an inch above your partner’s. As in exercise 5a, each should try to sense the others energy. Try to notice the difference between the right and left hands. Traditionally, the left hand is the receptive hand and the right is the projective, so you might notice a stronger sensation on your left hands.
Once you are satisfied with that, move on to exercise 5b. Have your partner hold up either hand so that it faces you. Then, try directing energy at the palm of his or her hand. When they are able to sense your energy, try moving your hand around as in exercise 5b. When you are satisfied with this, change rolls and let your partner become the sender while you try to sense his or her energy flow.
Grounding and Centering
You should now have a basic understanding of what psychic energy is, how it feels and how to project it. You might also notice that your hands feel strangely warm and tingly or you might just have a sort of generally “unbalanced” feeling. This is natural. When you are working with psychic energies, especially those of other people, your energy body may become slightly unbalanced. If you feel “jittery,” unable to focus or concentrate, have trouble sleeping or even experience surges of emotion, this generally indicates that you have taken on excess energy. This will often happen after casting a spell. Even though we have directed our energies into the working, there is almost always some residual energy left over and it is fairly typical for the excess to remain with you after the spell is cast. This can cause the symptoms listed above. I have even heard of instances where people have become physically ill after a working.
At the other end of the spectrum, it is also possible to over extend one’s energy body. If you suddenly feel very run down and tired, for no apparent reason, you may have depleted your energy. Typically, this is either because your energy was already low, due to a recent illness, etc., or you may have just bitten off more than you can chew. Another possibility is that you have left yourself open and you are “bleeding” energy. There is one other possibility, also – someone could be deliberately draining your energy, basically stealing it away for his or her own benefit. This is fairly common, though unlikely to be too much of a problem at this stage in the game. However, we will discuss more on the subject of what are commonly known as “psychic vampires” in later lessons.
As was stated above, in many ways, psychic energy works in similar ways to electricity. For example, just as someone might use a lightening rod to route the extreme excess of electrical energy, found in a lightening bolt, away from a building and into the ground, a magician uses certain techniques to send excess psychic energy into the ground. And, just as someone might use a battery charger to bring life back into an old car battery, a magician uses certain techniques to “recharge” his energy body after it has been drained of energy. In addition to grounding the excess and “charging his batteries,” a magician also has need to bring the focus of his energies back to the center of his being. This is known as “centering.”
All three of these requirements are easily met through the use of a few techniques that fall under the category of “grounding and centering.” One such technique should already be a part of your daily practice. The Middle Pillar exercise is an excellent sort of “cure all.” It is a good idea to begin and end any magical work with this exercise, as it serves as an excellent method for generally balancing one’s energies. Done from the “root” up, it will help to bring lowered energy levels back up, and done from the “crown” down, it will help to earth any excess energies. It can also be of use in centering, but one of the exercises that follows is a bit more effective, as it appears to have been designed specifically for that purpose.
Exercise 6: Grounding
The main focus of learning to ground yourself is to reestablish your connection to the earth. If this can be done, the rest will pretty much come automatically. As was said earlier, grounding can be accomplished effectively through the regular use of the middle pillar exercise. However, there are also a few other techniques that are worth noting. These techniques are much simpler and require less time and effort than the M.P.E. All that is required is that you have a firm grasp of visualization and good awareness of your own energy body and the energies that surround you.
The easiest way to ground is to find a nice spot of clean, unpaved earth or natural stone. Take off your shoes and sox and stand barefoot on good ol’ mother earth. This can also be done in a seated position or even lying flat on your back. Now, imagine that you have roots growing out of the parts of you that are in contact with the earth. If you are standing, the roots extend from the “root” chakra, down your legs and out through the chakras at the soles of your feet. If you are sitting or lying down, they come directly from the “root” chakra and go into the earth from there. Feel your roots spreading out and digging deep into the earth. Now, feel all of the excess energy and any negative energy that you might be storing up draining out of you and down into the earth. Let it all go. The earth will take it in and change it into something useful. As you release the excess and the bad energies, begin to feel the refreshing and revitalizing energies of the earth flowing up from your roots and into your body, recharging and restoring you. When you feel that your energies are back to normal, you are done. At this point, it is a good idea to thank the Earth and possibly make some sort of prayer or affirmation in accordance with your chosen path.
This exercise can actually be done anywhere. Obviously, it isn’t always possible to be in direct contact with the Earth. However, it is good do it that way every now and again. This will help you to reaffirming your connection with the earth and with nature, which will make it easier to ground yourself when you are inside of a building or otherwise unable to touch the earth.
Exercise 6a: Centering By Way of the Cabalistic Cross
As with the previous exercise, the desired effects can passably be achieved through the use of the M.P.E. However, the M.P.E. isn’t nearly as effective as a centering exercise as the Cabalistic Cross.
This exercise is derived from the practices of the Hebrew mystical system known as the Cabala (or Qabalah). Those with a Christian upbringing might recognize part of what is known as “The Lords Prayer” in the translation of the Hebrew words that are used in this technique. I use this technique because it is very effective and it seems to be the only one of its kind – at least the only one that I have found. I have seen it duplicated and modified, but none of these versions seems to be quite as effective.
To begin, stand and face the East. Place your feet together and your let your arms hang loosely at your sides. Close your eyes and establish your rhythmic breathing pattern. Visualize a grapefruit-sized ball of intense white light just above the crown of your head. With each inhale; let it grow stronger and brighter until it is almost unbearably bright.
Once the image is fully developed, as you exhale, intone the Hebrew word, “ATOH”(Thine is).
Inhale and raise your arms to shoulder level, with your palms upward, so that your body forms a “T”. At the same time, visualize a beam of white light, emanating from the sphere above your head, shooting through the center of your being and extending into infinity below your feet.
Now, visualize a ball of light in the space between your feet. As before, let it grow stronger with each inhale. Once this is established, intone the Hebrew word, “MALKUTH”(the Kingdom).
As you inhale again, bring your right hand up to your left shoulder. At the same time, visualize a ball of red-tinged light where your hand is resting. Once this visualization is established, intone the Hebrew phrase “VE GEBURAH”(and the Power).
Inhale and bring your left hand up to your right shoulder. This time, you’ll want to visualize a ball of blue-tinged light. Now, intone the Hebrew phrase, “VE GEDULAH”(and the Glory). As you do so, visualize a beam of white light, beginning and ending in infinity, passing between these two spheres, from left to right.
At this point, lower your head and let a ball of light materialize over your heart chakra, where the two beams of light intersect. Intone the Hebrew phrase, “L’AULAUM VOED”(to Eternal Ages). Allow this central ball of light to expand and grow until it completely engulfs your body. As it grows, visualize it getting brighter and brighter until is so intense that you can barely stand to look at it. Hold this image for a little while, then allow the sphere to condense down until it is just a several inches thick, brilliant white outline that surrounds and contains your entire being.
The Cabalistic Cross should be worked with for several days or weeks until it is perfected, then it can be used as a centering exercise as needed.
Alternate Methods of the Cabalistic Cross
Once this exercise has been perfected, there are some alternate methods that can be employed more quickly. They can also be used when a lack of privacy is a problem, as you will not be waving your arms about. Both methods can be done standing or sitting comfortably. Note: if sitting, it may be necessary to visualize yourself in a standing position.
The first is similar to the Catholic method of crossing oneself. First, begin the visualization of the crown center as described above (by now, this should come with out too much concentration). Now, bring together the thumb and first two fingers of your right hand, and touch them to your forehead while silently intoning, “ATOH”.
Next, touch them to your heart, while visualizing the beam passing through your body and the ball of light at your feet, and silently intoning, “MALKUTH”.
Now, touch your left shoulder while visualizing that ball of light and intoning, “VE GEBURAH”.
You will then “draw” a line of light from that shoulder to the right one and visualize the blue ball of light, while intoning, “VE GEDULAH”.
Finally, clasp your hands in front of your heart, at the point of intersection and complete the visualization while intoning the final phrase, “L’AULAUM VOED.”
Still another alternative would be to close your eyes and visualize the entire thing. Working the whole of the operation within the confines of “inner space.”
You are now well on your way! By this time, you should have a fair understanding of the energy that makes magic happen. You have learned how to sense energy and how to project it. You have learned how to balance your energies and how to raise them. You have also learned how to ground and center yourself when you’ve lost focus or just taken on too much excess garbage. It may seem like a lot to remember, but if you keep practicing, it will soon become a part of you and you’ll be doing it with barely a thought.