As Above, So Below: Rest In Deep Mystical Awareness

Journey inward through this mystical Yoga Nidra practice, inspired by the Hermetic wisdom of the Emerald Tablet and the universal truth of Oneness. Begin with gentle breath and body awareness, then drift into a vivid visualization where the ancient words of the Tablet echo like a mantra in the cave of the heart.

Whether you remain awake or fall asleep, the words and imagery are offered to your subconscious, guiding you into stillness, intuition, and a deeper cosmic connection.

This session weaves together deep relaxation, symbolic visualization, and poetic readings—from Sir Isaac Newton’s translation of the Emerald Tablet to closing verses by Rabindranath Tagore.

A rich, worldly soundscape supports the journey, featuring music by Samuel F Johanns, Christian Bodhi, Dream Protocol, Luminous Presence, Arizona Guide, Aar Music, and Bineleyas, shared with gratitude.

Photo by Joshua Sortino.

Transcript

Before you close your eyes and lie down for this awareness practice,

Look around the space you're in,

Noticing as many details of the space as you can,

Objects,

Colors,

Life forms,

Objects,

The light,

The smells,

The temperature.

Now notice how your breath is moving your body,

Maybe the chest or ribcage or belly are moving to the breath.

We'll begin seated as I share the inspiration for our practice today.

Then we'll ease into lying down.

Start with a slow breath in through the nose and release out through the mouth.

Release.

Another slow breath in,

Gather your attention and out through the mouth.

Release all distractions.

One more slow breath in through the nose and out.

And let go of any effort in the breath.

Let's awaken within ourselves a recognition echoed by sages,

Ancient texts,

And even modern science,

That life is not merely connected in parts,

But woven together as a whole,

So deeply unified,

In fact,

That some have called it the one life.

One life,

Seamlessly connected,

A oneness.

This one life moves according to certain principles,

And as we come to realize them,

We begin to understand not only life itself,

But our true place within it.

When we learn about how this one life works,

We can apply it to ourselves and vice versa.

This is the doctrine of correspondence,

Which is one of the universal laws in metaphysics.

The idea that the microcosm reflects the macrocosm.

In other words,

The individual,

The human,

Reflects the universe,

The divine.

You may be familiar with the saying,

As above,

So below,

As within,

So without.

That saying is shortened and comes from the Emerald Tablet,

Which comes from the Hermetic tradition,

A mystical philosophy,

Not a dogmatic tradition like organized religions can be,

But experiential,

Mystical,

A tradition that invites inquiry,

Intuition,

And insight.

Though its exact origins are unknown,

The earliest surviving version of the Emerald Tablet comes from an Arabic text dated around the 6th to 8th century CE.

Some believe its core ideas were developed earlier,

In ancient Egypt or Greco-Roman Alexandria.

It was translated from Arabic into Latin in the 12th century,

And then from Latin to English in the 17th century by Sir Isaac Newton,

The well-known scientist.

Newton secretly studied alchemy,

Believing that such knowledge had in it deep truths about nature.

As above,

So below,

Comes from the following.

That which is below is like that which is above,

And that which is above is like that which is below,

To accomplish the miracles of the one thing.

This doctrine of correspondence is one of the keys for understanding the hidden structure of reality.

In today's session,

I'll guide you into deep relaxation,

And then we'll come back to the entire Emerald Inscription when you are relaxed and receptive.

We'll then close with an excerpt from a poem written by the Indian mystic Tagore.

Poetry comes from a deeper place within us,

From a place of intuitive realization,

Where we see the parallel between what is above and what is below,

What is within and what is without.

At this time,

Find a comfortable position,

Lying down.

You can lie on the floor if you'd like to stay more alert,

Or on a soft surface like a couch or bed if you'd like to drift into sleep with mystical wisdom.

Either way,

Your subconscious mind will absorb the words and the meaning of the texts.

Lie down and release the arms,

The legs,

The head.

Make any adjustments you need so that you're comfortable and not concerned with moving the body.

Close the eyes.

In Yoga Nidra,

You release all the surface layers of who you are,

All the layers that are constantly changing,

And instead function on that deeper level of awareness.

The unchanging,

Ever-present level of awareness.

Through listening,

Through feeling,

You will experience yourself as pure awareness.

Operating at that deeper level will open your mind and heart to the wisdom of the Emerald Tablet,

So that you may come into deep oceans of wisdom in your waking life.

Mentally say to yourself,

Whether I remain awake or fall asleep,

I will listen to the voice guiding my awareness.

Let the eyes relax.

Let the face relax.

Now the scalp,

Ears,

Neck,

Shoulders,

Arms,

Chest,

Belly,

Back,

Glutes,

And legs.

Become aware of the whole body,

And take a deep breath in and out.

Feel a sense of calm run through the body,

Each breath soothing you more deeply.

Let the breath relax,

And simply notice the breath flowing in,

Flowing out.

Become aware of far-away sounds,

As far away as you can,

Without trying to name the sounds or consider their sources.

Just notice a sound,

And move on to the next.

Now notice sounds that are closer,

Maybe in the building,

And now the room you're in.

Become aware of your body.

Notice the points where the body is touching the surface below it.

Become aware of the stream of air that naturally flows through the body,

Flowing in,

Flowing out.

Now that you're relaxed,

It's time to call up a purpose for practicing today.

Your intention,

Or your sankalpa.

This practice is shaped to help you open to mystical traditions,

In order to get closer to knowing your true self and the one life that you are a part of.

To experience oneness with life.

So let's begin with a shared intention.

Choose a positive,

Present,

Tense statement that resonates with you.

Maybe something like,

I open to my mystical self.

I open to mystic realizations about my true nature,

About life itself.

I am one with all.

Repeat your sankalpa three times to yourself,

With feeling.

Relax a little bit more.

Relax your face,

Head,

Arms,

Chest,

Belly,

Back,

Pelvis,

Legs.

Let's guide the silent witness within you,

Your awareness,

Through different points in the body,

To relax more deeply.

Let your attention move to the different areas as I name them.

Notice the area,

Any sensations there,

And mentally repeat the name of the body part you become aware of it.

Right hand,

Right wrist,

Right elbow,

Right shoulder,

Right armpit,

Right waist,

Right hip,

Right thigh,

Knee,

Calf,

Shin,

Ankle,

Right foot.

Left hand,

Left wrist,

Left elbow,

Left shoulder,

Left armpit,

Left waist,

Left hip,

Left thigh,

Knee,

Calf,

Shin,

Ankle,

Left foot.

Chest,

Ribcage,

Belly.

Now the whole front of the trunk.

Now the back,

Upper back,

Right shoulder blade,

Left shoulder blade.

Now both shoulder blades.

Now the middle back,

The lower back,

The tailbone,

The whole spine.

Now the whole back.

Back of the head,

Top of the head,

Forehead,

Right temple,

Left temple,

Both temples.

Right eyebrow,

Left eyebrow,

Both eyebrows,

The space between the eyebrows,

The nose,

Right nostril,

Left nostril,

Both nostrils,

Upper lip,

Lower lip,

The mouth,

The tongue,

The cheeks,

Jaw,

Chin.

Now the right leg,

The left leg,

Both legs together,

The right arm,

Left arm,

Both arms together.

The whole back of the trunk.

The whole front of the trunk.

The entire head.

Now the whole back of the body.

The whole front of the body.

Now the whole body.

The whole body.

Notice all the parts of the body that are touching the surface below.

Notice the upper eyelids,

Lower eyelids,

The line where they meet each other.

Now the upper lip,

Lower lip,

And the line where they meet each other.

Now the right nostril,

Left nostril,

And the tips of both nostrils.

Follow the breath.

The ingoing breath running through the nostrils.

The outgoing breath.

Shift your awareness to the space between the navel and the throat.

Feel the breath moving through this space.

Inhaling,

Trace your breath from navel to throat.

Exhaling,

Trace your breath from throat to navel.

Awareness of the natural breath.

No effort in the breath,

Just awareness.

At this time,

Awaken the feeling of heaviness in the body.

Feeling every part is very heavy.

So heavy you feel the body sinking into the floor.

Now awaken the feeling of lightness in the body.

Feeling every part of the body become weightless.

So light that you feel the body floating up.

Now feel that the body is becoming larger.

As if it's being inflated.

Now feel the body become smaller.

As if being deflated.

Now see if you can experience the feeling of getting larger and smaller at the same time.

At this time,

Become aware of the blood running in the veins.

Now the heart beating in the chest.

The throbbing of the heart.

At this time,

Imagine that you're standing in front of a cave.

Notice the entrance to the cave.

And walk through it.

The cave is dark.

But in the distance,

You see a light glowing.

Move towards that light.

There you find a circular room of the cave.

On the walls are pictures of great sages,

Saints,

And scientists.

All of whom recognized the oneness of life.

Feeling inspired by this,

You sit on the cave floor,

Close your eyes,

And become still.

A sensation of deep peace,

A deep harmony,

Envelops you.

From within you,

You hear the emerald tablet echoing in the cave of your heart.

Let each phrase echo through your awareness,

As if like a mantra.

Allow your consciousness to absorb the words and the meaning behind them.

Allow your intuition to work on each sentence,

Each word,

Each understanding.

Letting the sensation of oneness fill your entire being.

The Emerald Tablet 1.

Tis true,

Without lying,

Certain and most true.

Tis true,

Without lying,

Certain and most true.

2.

That which is below,

Is like that which is above.

And that which is above,

Is like that which is below.

To do the miracles of one only thing.

3.

That which is below,

Is like that which is above.

And that which is above,

Is like that which is below.

To do the miracles of one only thing.

3.

And as all things have been and arose from one by the mediation of one,

So all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation.

And as all things have been and arose from one by the mediation of one,

So all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation.

4.

The sun is its father,

The moon its mother.

The sun is its father,

The moon its mother.

5.

The wind hath carried it in its belly,

The earth is its nurse.

The wind hath carried it in its belly,

The earth is its nurse.

6.

The father of all perfection in the whole world is here.

The father of all perfection in the whole world is here.

7.

Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.

Its force or power is entire if it be converted into earth.

8.

Separate thou the earth from the fire,

The subtle from the gross,

Sweetly with great industry.

Separate thou the earth from the fire,

The subtle from the gross,

Sweetly with great industry.

9.

It ascends from the earth to the heaven,

And again it descends to the earth and receives the force of things superior and inferior.

10.

By this means you shall have the glory of the whole world.

And thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.

By this means you shall have the glory of the whole world.

And thereby all obscurity shall fly from you.

11.

Its force is above all force,

For it vanquishes every subtle thing and penetrates every solid thing.

Its force is above all force,

For it vanquishes every subtle thing and penetrates every solid thing.

12.

So was the world created.

So was the world created.

13.

From this are and do come admirable adaptations,

Whereof the means or process is here in this.

14.

Hence,

I am called Hermes Trismegistus,

Having the three parts of the philosophy of the universe.

Hence,

I am called Hermes Trismegistus,

Having the three parts of the philosophy of the whole world.

15.

That which I have said of the operation of the sun is accomplished and ended.

That which I have said of the operation of the sun is accomplished and ended.

Let the words continue to echo in your being.

You don't need to understand them intellectually.

Just notice how they move through you.

Continue your awareness of meditation in the cave,

Absorbing peace and harmony.

As you now hear the mystical words of Tagore echo within you.

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day,

Runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth,

In numberless blades of grass,

And breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean cradle of birth and of death,

In ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life,

And my pride is from the life throb of ages,

Dancing in my blood this moment.

Find yourself sitting in the cave in meditation.

Gently rise and walk toward the cave entrance,

Carrying the wisdom of those who came before with you,

As you enter into your wisdom,

Your realizations.

Bring your awareness back to the physical heart.

Feel it throbbing in the chest,

The stream of life running through your veins.

Become aware of your limbs,

Trunk,

Head.

Remember your sankalpa,

Your intention for today's practice,

And repeat it as best as you can,

Internally,

With feeling.

Through this practice,

We've experienced ourselves as awareness.

We've allowed ancient words,

Ancient realizations to echo in our hearts.

We've prepared ourselves to accelerate our spiritual evolution as individuals living in an intricately connected life.

We are one with that life.

As you continue to open your heart to this oneness,

The direction of your life will be one that is ever enlightening,

Ever peaceful,

Ever harmonious.

At this time,

Bring your attention to the breath as it moves your trunk.

Feel the palms of your hands,

The soles of your feet.

Notice your mouth and lips.

Become aware of your arms and legs.

Now,

Aware of the whole body.

Once again,

Become aware of the sounds around you,

And in the distance.

Begin to make small movements with the hands and feet.

Take a few deep breaths.

You might bring the knees into the chest and give them a squeeze.

Roll to the right side.

And gently rise up and come back to seated.

You'll hear me count down from five to one to signal the end of the yoga nidra practice.

Five.

Four.

Three.

Two.

May your journey be filled with rich insights and deep love.

Namaste.