The Sword-Bridge

Inevitably there comes a point upon the Inner Path where further advancement seems quite impossible and all past efforts an utter waste of time. Everything has become a dead end and a dead loss... Whatever degree we undergo, a corresponding change will take place in us, perhaps for better, sometimes for worse, but always for a distinct difference in consciousness as a result.

Chasms of Consciousness

What in fact has happened, is that we come to the point where nothing but some marked alteration of awareness will provide us with opportunities for making progress along that particular Path. It is as if while walking along a road, we came to a river and had to proceed by boat, swimming, building a bridge, or flying across. The Path would be the same, but the means of keeping to it quite changed. This happens when we come to spiritual 'standstill points' where we must either be prepared to change our methods of consciousness and get past the apparent barrier, or wander forlornly around the same circles again, looking for some other outlet. All outlets from those circles would actually present the same problem in various ways.
When we come to these 'Chasms of Consciousness in spiritual Dimensions, the first decision must naturally be wether or not to attempt a crossing, and the second issue is the nature of the transition. The Great Abyss for instance is crossed by the Sword-Bridge, to symbolize the necessity for physical death, the passage of the soul being represented by the Line of Light along the edge of the Sword. Liberated from flesh by the point of the Sword, the soul flies Lightward by way of the Lightline towards the hilt, where it comes safely to the Hand of God which wields the Weapon. The principles of this aplpy to all chasm-crossing. We must be prepared to 'die', or part from our existing formalization of ideas which bind us to materialized beliefs, so that we may follow the path of pure power straight to its spiritual source beyond the confines of consciousness from which we would emerge into fresh fields of illumination.
Unless we are ready to sacrifice the 'body' of our ideas on the Point of the Sword, and send their 'soul' Inwards to Light, we shall cross no chasms to gain new life among the splendours of resurrection. In other words, when we come to an Inner Space our working consciousness cannot span, we must sacrifice whatever fixed formulations (or bodies) we hold our ideas in, while projecting their 'souls' or principles Inwardly towards the Light of Truth for rebirth in another form (or body) which is suitable for life in conditions pertaining to the other side of the chasm.
In some ways we do this all the time. For example if we follow an idea so far in words that it will go no further with much gain of meaning, then we might cross a chasm with it, and sacrificing the 'word body' resurrect the idea in a 'music body', a 'sculpture body', or perhaps a 'mathematical body'. We have retained the 'soul' of the same idea all along the line, but re-incarnated it in various forms to express it in different dimensions or conditions of conscious existence. The same principle applies to ourselves throughout our differing incarnations as materialized mortals. We get from one life to another across the Depths of Death, much as we follow a Lightline over any other Abyss.

Crossing the Abyss

In the spiritual dimensions of existence where Initiates of the Mysteries may be classed as inhabitants, very considerable alterations of consciousness indeed may be required between one side of an Abyss and another. So marked a change in fact, that it might almost amount to a reversal of polarity or entire revolution of nature. This is not unlike the phenomenon of what was called 'conversion', or the acceptance of quite different values, by what could be termed a 'standing jump' usually precipitated by some impacting event. One might perhaps be justified in thinking of this as being kicked or shot over a chasm. Such a drastic change, however, is not 'instant evolution'. We may become different beings from an expressional standpoint, but we do not become immediately better or more highly evolved souls just because we have crossed chasms into other conditions of consciousness. Man does not reach Godhood with even his wildest leap. The Lightning-Flash symbol from top to bottom of the Tree shows the instantaneous contact of Divinity with Humanity, but the spirally winding Serpent clearly indicates the upward Path of an evolving human soul. The down-pointing Sword symbolizes our means of bridging the gaps between our differing states of awareness by voluntarily sacrificing one formation of consciousness for another via the Line of Inner Light.

From 'William G Gray - Inner Traditions of Magic'

Exercise

Whenever you are faced with a challenge, try the following. With deep relaxed breathing (as always) see a dark deep chasm preventing you from going on, the chasm is the size of your issue and across is steady ground. Then visualise a big majestic Sword or wizard-like Staff, representing your current spiritual progress. If the Sword/Staff is big enough to act as a draw bridge, let it fall in place and become the bridge, and you cross the chasm and overcome your challenge.
I'm using this now for when I'm about to lose my temper or patience with something and it has worked out amazingly so far, during the afternoon of the first day I was starting to do this, my best friend who I had fallen out with for a few months contacted me and we are buddies again for which I'm truly grateful beyond words!

Image information:
1. Anime still of a protagonist flying across on a huge sword
2. Lancelot crossing the Sword-Bridge
3. Man jumping across chasm
4. Kundalini Kabbalah Tree of Life
5. Lightning Flash Kabbalah Tree of Life
6. Gandalf holding his illuminating Staff & Sword across a chasm facing the balrog demon
7. Guts from the anime Berserk with his huge demon-slaying sword standing victoriously on a pile of his overcome challenges