The Breath of Spirit and the Spirit of Breath- A Mindfulness Lesson

Ryan C. Neal and 'The7Realms'
3 min readJun 8, 2024
Photo by Patrick Malleret on Unsplash

Breath and Spirit

Breath is often seen as the counterpart to the concept of Spirit. In many cultures and spiritual traditions, the word for “breath” is synonymous with life force or spirit.

For example, in Sanskrit, “prana”, in Hebrew, “ruach”, and in Greek, “pneuma”, all broadly translate to breath, life, spirit, or soul.

This linguistic relationship suggests a thoughtful recognition of breath as more than a mere physical process. It is also viewed as the essence of life.

From a metaphysical standpoint, breath is considered the bridge between the mind, body, and soul, connecting our physical existence with our higher consciousness.

Breathing in Mindfulness and Meditation in ‘The7Realms’

In “The7Realms’, breath serves as the cornerstone of mindfulness and meditation practices, acting as a conscious and subconscious force that bridges the transition between the mind, body, and soul. It is a natural act of the body with a natural rhythm. An intimate act of life that is uniquely both involuntary and voluntary.

In the mindfulness practice of “The7Realms’, breath acts as an anchor, for you to return to when the mind wanders. This simple, repetitive focus on the breath helps to

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Ryan C. Neal and 'The7Realms'

Healer of The Physical Man. Seeker of The Spiritual Man. Student of Christian Mindfulness and Biblical Meditation. Creator of ‘The7Realms’.