In this issue you will find:
1) Excerpt from "Practical Uses of Breathing"
2) Excerpt from "Schizophrenia"
3) Introduction to the Birthpath


1) Excerpt from "Practical Uses of Breathing"
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(c) Alfred J. Parker (written in the mid 50's)

I cannot stress too much the importance of deep,
rhythmic, consciously positive breathing. The deep
and positive breathing warms the blood and quickens the
mind, giving physical power to a depleted body. Proper
breathing tones up the system and strengthens the eyes.

Observe how the lowly snake by inhaling through the nose,
retaining the breath, and exhaling through the pores of the
skin is able to create an entirely new skin covering every
ninety days. The breathing is the most vital physical
function. One can go without food for months, and
live for days without water, but ten minutes without breath
is all that is necessary to cause death.

One cannot spend too much time in reflecting upon the
function of breathing. It holds a lesson far too profound
to grasp in a short time and it contains one of the
greatest secrets of life; do not consider it lightly.
Remember the scriptural quotation: God "breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living
soul." Genesis 2:7 One cannot develop physically,
mentally, and spiritually without the knowledge and
application of the breathing. Increase your breathing
and you increase your stamina.

Deep breathing does not necessarily develop greater
intelligence, but it does give power to one's thinking
capacity and the emotions, and it develops
greater positivity.

The energy extracted from the oxygen through breathing
holds a power that is unlimited in its influence, but to
utilize it requires knowledge of how to direct it, in the
same way that it requires knowledge of self-control in
order to govern and direct the emotions.

There is a close relationship between the function
of breathing and the conscious mind of humanity. The
first represents the divine power of life. The second
symbolizes Conscious Intelligence: the Word. If
you are a thinking person, you will find a very pro-
found lesson contained herein.

(Editor's note: Constructive, happy, peaceful thinking
is essential to gain the most from the deep rhythmic
breathing.)

When your mind is tired and you feel sleepy, inhale as
much breath through your nose as your lung capacity
will permit. Retain the breath until you count six and
then exhale slowly. This will awaken the mental faculties
and make you feel alert. Do this breathing at least three
times in succession.

(Editor's note: Inhale the breath slowly through the
nose concentrating on relaxing the back of the throat.
As you breathe in push the abdomen forward and expand
the ribs. Then, lift the chest and collarbone while still
breathing in. The abdomen will automatically go inwards
slightly. Then relax the head and the shoulders.
When exhaling, allow the collarbone, chest, and ribs
to relax. The air will expel automatically. Then pull
the abdomen in slightly to expel any remaining air.
Relaxation of mind and body is the key to benefitting
from deep breathing.)


2) Excerpt from "Schizophrenia"
    (c) Alfred J. Parker
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(. . .continued from last month's issue)

Mind, an Abstract Power

If I were to ask the question: "What is mind, its origin,
and pattern?" I would probably get as many answers,
and none of them would be logical and basic. We know it
is an abstract power, not a physical appendage that
grows, because the mind grows only through experiences
and education. The mind is not the brain cells, although
the brain does record the impulses; i.e., it transposes
impulses to a mental picture and to the senses and
centres of sight, taste, touch, smell, feeling, awareness,
and concept. Thus are the abstract powers of mind
reduced in vibration or transposed through the brain
within the limits of thought, practical analysis, and
deduction. No one knows what he or she may be
thinking minutes ahead, hours and days notwithstanding.
Yet, there must be a reason for thinking anything; and
the reason is not a chemical phenomenon because
chemistry is only an effect, not a cause.

There are many degrees or planes of mind from the
lowest, most primitive type to that of the highest
spiritual philosopher; yet all embrace what is termed,
"intelligence," a quality that is almost indefinable in
terms although manifest in quality of thought,
personality, and action, and in its attraction of other
minds upon the same plane of thinking. In a logical
discussion of mind, one must raise one's sights
above and beyond chemistry into the power of mind
itself, which is within the orbit of cause rather than
effect. It would seem that effect must contain the
reason of its being within itself, for reason and cause
of being must be identical although manifesting in
duality. Reason must always have its proof in being,
and there can be no being without reason.

(. . .to be continued next month)

3) Introduction to the Birthpath
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Everything in life has a reason for being, a purpose. As
the abstract reason becomes a finite, tangible
expression, that reason reveals itself in nature through
the law of growth. For example, when an acorn under
proper conditions eventually grows to become an
oak tree thousands of times the size of the seed
itself, the seed has fulfilled its purpose.

In the human species, reason becomes seeded with the
first breath of life on a specific date. The birthpath,
calculated from the day, month, and year of birth,
reveals the path in life for each person to walk and the
lessons to be learned. The potential indicated by the
birthpath consists of qualities to be developed through
one's thinking and the resultant actions. These qualities
are inspirational, technical, or a combination of both.

The birthpath indicates in what way each person can
best serve to make the world a better place in which
to live. That potential expresses through mental
development through the use of language, the "mental
soil" through which each person unfolds his or her
purpose. The power of the word expressed through
language unfolds the experiences and circumstances
that make up the pattern of life. Each thought is a
living energy. A name must be harmonized to the
birthpath in order that the way a person thinks and
acts unfolds the potential step by step and day by
day to become accomplishment and attainment.

A name with opposite qualities to the potential
does not allow the balanced, natural expression and
unfoldment of that potential. It creates the many
expressions of frustration, unhappiness, and lack
of fulfilment which result from desiring one thing but
attracting something else. The result is
turbulence and stress projected into one's
experiences in life.

To reach one's highest potential requires effort and
self-discipline. The foundation for mental growth
comprises certain mental attributes: individuality
of mind; an understanding of oneself and others;
constructive, confident, self-expression and
happiness; system, order, and thoroughness;
inquiry and analysis; responsibility for others; depth
of perspective; justice for all; and humanitarian
ideals of service.

There must be an ideal for living, a recognition that
nothing worthwhile is gained without effort. There
is an important role for you to fulfil. You can make
a difference!