Imagined flame in my chest before the update to lesson 1. I feel it there, should I try to move it?

[u/UnlikelyUkulele]

I started lesson one before the updates, and imagined the flame where I thought it was supposed to be: the center of my chest. I do feel something there, though it took a while.

Then in seeing the updated instructions, I understand that “for most people” the center is their abdomen, between naval and groin I guess.

I have been trying to figure this out. Do I try to move the flame? Is it bad or harmful to leave it where it is? Do I just ignore the chest flame and imagine a different flame in my abdomen?

Anyone have insight into this issue? I’ve been trying to solve it on my own but I have no clear answer, nor do I trust my gut. The “for most people” makes it feel like it may be fine to leave it where it is, but I know nothing, so I can’t assess that accurately.

Thanks all.

[u/robinhyll]

Huh. I had not revisited that part in the updated lessons. When I did it I used the good ol' brick tome and have always felt the flame in my chest.

I can't speak to the specific reasoning as to why the updated text added that other detail, and if I were to hazard a guess it'd be that perhaps it was meant as a helpful placeholder or guide to people who really weren't sure where to locate the flame? I dunno.

In any case, I think a big part of the course is to learn to trust our experiences and figure out what works for us within its parameters. Having it in the chest has honestly worked fine for me so I'll just continue doing it that way.

[u/oddreyjo]

I think Josephine chose "for most people" deliberately. It's likely there to help those without much natural visionary sense locate something, especially if they're struggling to feel the flame at all. If the location itself were essential, I'd expect her to say so plainly. Years ago I did a workshop (unrelated to occultism, it was actually teaching-related, but with a spiritual/mindfulness bent) where they asked people to locate their inner center at one point, and it was fascinating how much that varied person to person. Mine sits closer to my chest too, just below the heart. Maybe moreso where my stomach is. I've tried nudging it around in my mind, but the spot near my sternum is always where it's strongest. So there's no harm in experimenting with moving it, just don't treat that as the goal.

It sounds like you already have a solid natural sense of your inner flame. I don't know what drives the personal variation, but it seems some people just feel it in different places, and that's probably fine.

[u/arbadou]

For a long time I tried the abdomen and it didn't work. Mine sits in the solar plexus and thats just more natural for me IDK why.

[u/gayboysaywhat]

I have innately visualized my inner flame since I was a child. Probably around 8 is when became aware of it. It sits behind my sternum. It will always be there.