Tag: Chakra

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Ajna Chakra

ajna1

Moving our way up from Vishudda Chakra..

Ajna, meaning to perceive and command.  Located between the eyebrows and is associated to the pineal and pituitary glands.  It is represented as a 2 petaled lotus, each petal of which can be use to signify the unity of dualities, namely, sun and moon, feminine and masculine, yin and yang..  The colour most associated with this chakra are indigo and purple.

Now we’ve moved on beyond the more tangible elements of earth, water, fire, air and ether as we’ve moved up the chakras, Ajna contains all of those but thus it’s gross element is light.  The purpose for working through this chakra is to help break through illusions and recognise patterning which may be present within us so we can see more clearly; enabling greater intuition and self-reflection.

A person who is balanced in this chakra exhibits characteristics such as:

  • Astutely intuitive
  • Good memory as well as dream recalling
  • Perceptive
  • Good imagination and is able to visualise

A person who may be deficient in this chakra may be:

  • Have poor memory or dream recalling
  • Insensitive or in denial
  • Lacking in imagination and ability to see the future
  • Problems when visualising, physically poor eye sight and/or poor projection

Remembering, life isn’t straight forwards and thus one can be deficient or excessive in any or all chakras (and thus helping us to highlight where our path is for this particular embodiment); so someone who may be excessive in this chakra may have:

  • Delusions
  • Obsessions
  • Hallucinations or nightmares
  • Difficulty concentrating

Good practices for balancing Ajna are to explore visual arts (by creating or observing however feels best), meditation, dream work, visualisations and working with memory.

 ..And next we’re going to infinity and beyond with, Sahasrara Chakra..

Namaste x

 

References

(1) Eastern Body Western Mind, Anodea Judith (Available at the Book Depository!)

(2) The Subtle Body: An encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, Cyndi Dale (Available at the Book Depository!)

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Vishudda Chakra

vishudda

Moving up 1 step from Anahata chakra..

Vishudda is translated to, pure or purification; it is the name for the throat chakra and it’s associated colour is blue.  It’s element is Ether or sound and the main aspect or purpose of Vishudda chakra is communication and creativity, it’s located at the throat area; it’s related organs are the vocal chords, mouth, throat, ears (very essential in some communications) and the thyroid/parathyroid glands.

The basic right developed with Vishudda chakra is the right to speak or be heard; I feel we’re undergoing massive transition in this with our current changing times – this and our abilities to express our creativity.  Expression requires freedom of speech and self in space and time; thus working with this chakra can be massively liberating.

Characteristics displayed in Vishudda chakra when it is balanced are:

  • Clear communication
  • Good listening and receiving skills
  • Freely creative and expressive
  • Sense of timing and rhythm

 Excess in Vishudda chakra can manifest in signs relating to the following:

  • Poor auditory comprehension, or simply an inability to listen
  • Gossiping or too much talking (talking as a defense)
  • Often interrupting, a dominating voice

Insufficiency in Vishudda chakra sometimes manifests as:

  • Introversion or shyness, a fear of speaking, often a weak voice
  • Difficulty expressing ones feelings
  • Poor rhythm, or tone deaf

If one is interested in healing at this chakra then practices which help to support the balanced characteristics all help, these could be things such as singing, chanting, story telling (if deficient), free and open-ended creativity, releasing shoulder tension, writing a journal or if in excess then practicing silence..

 

..Next, Ajna Chakra..

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Anahata Chakra

anahata1

Moving up from Manipura Chakra..

Anahata chakra, also known as the heart chakra; is located just below the sternum/breast bone.  The heart is considered to be at the centre of the body and puts out thousands of times more electromagnetic activity than the brain; you really have got to live in a cave these days to not have awareness of the heart’s connection to love and relationships (both with ourselves and others).  Anahata is associated to the element of air and thus also is related to the respiratory as well as the cardiac system; it’s representative colour is green.

The basic right of this chakra is to love and to be loved.

Some of the characteristics displayed if one is balanced in this chakra are:

  • To be loving and compassionate (to self and others)
  • Have a good immune system
  • Being peaceful and balanced
  • Empathic and altruistic

If one is working with issues in this chakra they may either have excessive of deficient energy, or both, and thus will potentially display:

Excessive energy

  • Demanding and clingy
  • Codependent and poor boundaries
  • Jealous
  • Unduly sacrificing

Deficient energy

  • Lacking empathy or excessively self-interested
  • Self-isolation, loneliness or depression
  • Withdrawn and fearing relationships
  • Judgmental, critical and/or intolerant

Due to it’s association with air and physical location in the body, good balancing activities for anahata chakra are breathing exercises or pranayama, journaling and potentially work on self-acceptance, emotional release and relationships.  Helping us to comprehend and thus open our hearts from a place which feels right, rather than feeling we “should” or “shouldn’t” love; loving where we feel works best for our journey and those we influence/are influenced by.

..Next to Vishudda Chakra..

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Manipura Chakra

manipura2

Moving up from Swadisthana Chakra to..

Manipura (mani = jewel, pura = dwelling place), also known as the solar plexus chakra.  It is depicted by the colour yellow and associated to the fire element; it’s located just above the belly button where it has it works with the digestive system.  Manipura is also thought to have governance over our muscles too, thus potentially a link to why it has a relation to power.

In terms of developmental work, manipura is associated with our power and transformation; power funnily enough coming back to the ‘power house’ of the core-muscles and the digestive fire, hence it is also stimulated when we use uddiyana bhanda (core lock) during our physical yoga practice.

Balanced characteristics of this chakra exhibit in a person as:

  • Having good self-esteem and confidence, being balanced through the ego
  • Being responsible and reliable
  • Having a good yet warm sense of humor
  • Possessing good self-discipline

Or perhaps if you feeling the fire or power struggles in life one may be exhibit excess, deficiency, or both, in this chakra; manifesting in things such as..

Deficient characteristics:

  • Low-energy and self-esteem
  • Poor digestion
  • Passive and unreliable
  • Victim mentality

Excessive characteristics:

  • Hyperactive
  • Overly aggressive, manipulative and controlling
  • Stubborn and competitive
  • Need to be right and have the last word

Of course, like anything, if you feel you could do with some help with some points listed above, that’s the biggest step towards achieving your own balance in life.  Yoga is simply one mechanism which can help you to get in tune with yourself and any issues you may be presenting; it’s about seeing the choice between being victim, perpetrator and empower-er of the life you love.

..Next is Anahata Chakra, at the heart..

x

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Swadhisthana Chakra

Svadhisthanaa

Stepping up from our roots at Mooladhara Chakra to..

Swadhisthana chakra is translated as the ‘self dwelling place’ chakra, it’s located between the naval and the genitals.  It’s main aspect is sweetness, the sweetness of love and life, flowing with our emotions; thus is also has a connection to the water element.  The parts of the body it  associates with it are the genitals, womb, bladder, circulation, tears, and kidneys (i.e. the more wet, or watery parts of us).

The purpose of development at this chakra is to assist our letting go and flowing with the movement of life; accepting what it.  Also, it is about our connection with ourselves and others, at times ‘reclaiming our right to feel'(1) our needs, desires, pleasure and emotions.

Some of the characteristics displayed if one is balanced in this chakra are:

  • Ability to change
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Has healthy boundaries
  • Graceful movement
  • Ability to experience pleasure

If one is working with issues in this chakra they may either have excessive of deficient energy, or both, and thus will potentially display:

Excessive energy

  • Sexual acting out or addiction and seductive manipulation
  • Ruled by their emotions (mood swings, drama queen, hysterical)
  • Poor boundaries, invade other’s boundaries
  • Oversensitive and/or emotional dependency

Deficient energy

  • Rigidity and frigidity in body and sex
  • Lack of desire, passion or excitement and denial of pleasures
  • Poor social skills
  • Excessive boundaries

Working with the swadhisthana  chakra means we look at ways we can assist our flow and connection within our bodies, emotions and relationships.  Helping to reclaim our right to feel, this chakra is first established between 6 months and 2 years of age.

 ..Next, we’ve got fire in our belly with, Manipura Chakra..

References

(1) Eastern Body Western Mind, Anodea Judith (available at the Book Depository with free delivery)

(2) The Subtle Body: An encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, Cyndi Dale (available at the Book Depository with free delivery

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Mooladhara Chakra

root

The Mooladhara chakra (it’s Sanskrit name), translated as ‘root’ chakra, is located at the base of the spine, close to the perineum.

The element of the root chakra is Earth and it is our energetic connection to the physical.  The parts of the body associated with it are the legs and feet, large intestine and anus, or more solid body parts such as teeth and bones.

The basic right of this chakra is the right to be here in this physical realm and the right to have.  Some of the characteristics displayed if one is balanced in this chakra are:

  • Good health
  • Well grounded
  • Feels safe and trusting in the world
  • Stable and prosperous
  • Ability to relax

If one is working with issues in this chakra they may either have excessive of deficient energy, or both, and thus will potentially display:

Excessive energy

  • Greed, hoarding material possessions
  • Lazy, tired and sluggish often
  • Obesity and overeating
  • Fear of change and rigid boundaries

Deficient energy

  • Restless, anxious and often fearful
  • Underweight and disconnected from their body
  • Poor ability to focus and exert discipline
  • Poor boundaries and financial difficulties

Working with the root chakra means we look at ways we can assist grounding and connecting with the physical body.  Helping to reclaim our right to be on this Earth, this chakra is established (during the womb and the first 6 months post being born).

..Next up, Swadisthana Chakra..

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The yogic chakra system

chakras

There are many different chakra systems used through out the world, in this series of posts I will describe the yogic chakra system, coming from India and Hinduism.  You may have heard of many other names, locations or numbers for the chakras (relating to their different interpretations).  In my opinion, all of these different interpretations are valid in their own right, and together give even more onus to the inference we can make about their relevance to the relationship between our subtle and physical bodies.  This leads me to be ever more curious and respectful to this subtle energy system which harmonise with the senses that arise from deep inside all of us.

In the yogic chakra system there are 7 major chakras (minor ones in the hands, feet, finger tips etc), each has their own symbol, colour, associated lotus flowers (containing a different number of petals for each), energy, sound, location in the body (and thus associated organs) and much more I wont go into now, with the hope to keep this simple!

Anodea Judith describes what a chakra is beautifully in her comprehensive book “Eastern Body, Western Mind” (1); ‘A chakra is a center of organization that receives, assimilates and expresses life force energy.  The word chakra literally translates as “wheel” or “disk” and refers to a spinning sphere of bioenergetic activity emanating from the major ganglia branching forward from the spinal column.’*

Hindu philosophy describes the chakras as subtle energy centres, which are inline with the spinal cord and the sushumna nadi (nadi being energy channel, of which we have many in the body).  The sushumna is the main energy channel and when clear of blockages and the chakras are balanced, it is intended to carry Kundalini energy from the Mooladhara chakra at the base of the spine up into the Sahasrara, or crown chakra, where the ego dissolves and our spirits become liberated and expansive.  Also to be noted here is the downward flow of our vital energy from the crown to the root chakra, which results in our physical grounding and the ability to manifest our dreams and intentions.  Thus balancing the chakras and clearing any blockages is important for our lives right here and now, as well as our overall spiritual growth.

In Anodea’s book (1) she discusses how our chakras are programmed via our personal development, even since being in the womb; hence her work here is to help adults re-balance their chakras based on the issues they may present.  It’s my feeling that our chakras are also programmed by our other or past lives, which helps me to accept why maybe you get some people who seem born with certain problems and disorders, as we are all pure and all deserve the same quality in the long run..

Kundalini energy is our core, connected energy, a universality in life.  In order to awaken Kundalini and allow it to flow through our the sushumna (and thus to our chakras) we generally need to undergo physical, emotional, spiritual and energetic transformations (hence the purpose of our being in our bodies now).  These transformation work to liberate and balance each chakra, opening it’s associated lotus and energy channel to allow the Kundalini to flow.

Yoga, Reiki and Meditation are methods we can use to help balance our chakras, helping to extend our consciousness beyond the physical realms, whilst realising and expressing our true nature physically.  It can assist us in releasing blocked energy and emotions, also in soothing physical and mental imbalances; ultimately helping us to be more centred and balanced beings with clear channels to facilitate the rising Kundalini.

In my humble opinion, there’s no need to rush this playing out and balancing of our lives, consciousness is alive through our crazy world of up and downs for a reason.  Life would be boring if everything was simple and perfectly at peace!  As it’s been described to me, life is but a play, hence why it’s good to have fun and a sense of humor as much as possible.  However, I also feel it’s good to have an awareness of these subtleties in life, so we may also let go of some of the resistance and judgement of ‘bad’ situations that happen to us.  Injoying the flow of life, which ever direction it takes.

Namaste, look out for the other parts in this series where I’ll take you on a journey through the chakras to accompany my 7 series spring awakening term at Brilliant Corners.

Week 1 – Mooladhara Chakra (root/base)
Week 2 – Swadisthana Chakra (sacral)
Week 3 – Manipura Chakra (solar plexus)
Week 4 – Anahata Chakra (heart)
Week 5 – Vishudda Chakra (throat)
Week 6 – Ajna Chakra (3rd eye)
Week 7 – Shasrara Chakra (crown)

x

* Please do feel to ask me for further clarification of the terms if necessary as that bit did get quite scientific!

References

(1) Eastern Body Western Mind, Anodea Judith (Available the Book Depository!)

(2) The Subtle Body: An encyclopedia of Your Energetic Anatomy, Cyndi Dale (Avaliable at the Book Depository!)