An interpretation of a set of meditations found in Taoism, Kundalini yoga, and other traditions. Here, we describe, after testing it ourselves, a version from "The Emerald Tablets".

This text seems to be related to a "predecessor" of the same name studied by major figures in our history, such as Plato, Aristotle, Isaac Newton or Carl Jung. It is an unusual and fascinating record of events and practices.

Translation of the Emerald Tablet which describes this meditation, allegedly written by Thoth, who some believe to be Hermes, and Enoch.

Desireth thou to know the deep, hidden secret?
Look in thy heart where the knowledge is bound.
Know that in thee the secret is hidden,
the source of all life and the source of all death.

This passage refers to common concepts of spirituality. The idea that the heart and relevant chakra, when our balance is not altered by the mind, connects us to the source of all consciousness, the origin of all prana/chi, of the the very breath of life and its flow.

See "The Inner Eye" for more details on the process of ending mental activity, and channeling a maximum amount of prana. Also see "Eckhart Tolle : The Power of Now". Both approaches allow us to express our consciousness fully, naturally, to align our levels of existence and tap directly into the purest flow of prana/chi.

List ye, O man, while I tell the secret,
reveal unto thee the secret of old.

The goal of this meditation, explicitly stated, is to control aging.

Deep in Earth's heart lies the flower, (a reference to structures derived from the Flower of Life)

the source of the Spirit
that binds all in its form.
or know ye that the Earth is living in body
as thou art alive in thine own formed form.

The text first describes here the principle known today as the "Gaia hypothesis", more and more plausible as research progresses. The idea that planet Earth as a whole functions as a single living being.

The Flower of Life is as thine own place of Spirit
and streams through the Earth
as thine flows through thy form;
giving of life to the Earth and its children,
renewing the Spirit from form unto form.

This is the Spirit that is form of thy body,
shaping and moulding into its form.

This passage describes form as the "product" of consciousness, flowing through the whole of planet Earth and living beings, from the center outwards. This is also known in various forms of meditation, with the process of "grounding", which allows individuals to channel a constant flow of "prana" from the Earth to the sky. This automatically happens when chakras are open and active, and the body as straight as possible and relaxed.

It is the core practice of all self-healing methods : a clean, balanced chakra system through which "something" flows. As above, so below, this flow literally comes from the constant interaction of the sun and the Planet. The Earth receives energy, maintains its own life, and oozes this energy out.

Next, the text presents the key to infinite physical life, and controlled "maintenance" of the physical body, similar to meditations oriental qigong and yoga masters advocate. Other traditions have slightly different variations of this same practice of "collecting prana" in half of the chakra system, then in the other half, in order to rebalance the whole subtle metabolism.

List ye, O man, whilst I give the secret so that
ye, too, shalt taste not of change.
One hour each day shalt thou lie
with thine head pointed to the
place of the positive pole (north).
One hour each day shalt thy head be
pointed to the place of the negative pole (south).
Whilst thy head is placed to the northward,
hold thou thy consciousness from the chest to the head.

Empirically, and in simple english :

1. Root, ground, open up chakras, and perform self-healing with your head pointing to the North, or East.
   Don't focus the flow, just let the prana pass through.
   
   One hour a day.
    
2. Do the same, with your head to the south, or west.
   
   For the same amount of time.

That's all there is to it. The alignment to cardinal directions seems to focus the flow of prana automatically, where it is needed. If alternating directions properly, one can fragment it in 30 minutes chunks, 20 minutes if needed. Less is not advised. This works, it seems, by partly, temporarily reversing the natural flow of prana through the subtle body. Somehow, it appears to literally reverse the biological clock. Visible effects include a softer skin, and hair pigmentation, after a few days.

My personal view is that the etheric body needs a certain structural harmony to perform at its best, and fully support the physical body, and that this balance is lost through our physical life time. This probably is one of the reasons why Buddhist monks tend to look healthy and vigorous until an advanced age, why they often appear "fresh" and dynamic.

This meditation is tightly interconnected to tantric sexuality, since a single climatic orgasm wastes days of practice and appears to destabilize the etheric metabolism. The full effect is achieved during the last few moments, and is deeply invigorating.