tonights discussion will be moderated for a bit then we will open for discussion Welcome to our lecture on Chakras by Drkmother =) OK, before i get started, let me give you a little background on me and why i want to do this for you. I have known for a long time that there are energy centers in the body, but didn't know how they work, so went and learned about chakras from a friend since the class was very helpful to me, i wanted to pass the information along so, i asked brmmy, and here i am, doing a #pathweaving for you =-) ok, first i want to do a quickie meditation... Close yuour eyes, and hold the position your body is in. Bring you attention to your body, the pose you are sitting, standing or lying in. Notice the parts of you that are touching the floor, which muscles are working to keep you in this position, where you strains and discomforts are. If you need to release tension, or rearrange your position now that you are aware of any discomforts, go ahead and do so. Continue to pay attention to bodily sensations as you open your eyes and continue with whatever you need to do next. Follow each movement with awareness, focused on the present, and when your thoughts wander, notice them wandering and bring them back, letting go of the impulse to judge yourself or get impatient with yourself. Just gently bring your attention back to the moment, back to the flow of the present. . The system of chakras is more than simply understanding, but of integrating that understanding into all of the workings of your life. the first question is usually "what is a Chakra?" Chakras refer to spinning vortices of energy created within us by interpretation of consciousness and the physical body. The idea originates with the ancient youga systems of India Technically, the word is from the Sanskrit language, and translates as "wheel" or "disk" There are seven major chakras within each of us, arranged vertically from the base of the spine to the top of the head, centered through the middle of the body. They correspond to glands of the endrocrine system, and various body processes, such as breathing, digesting, and procreating. Classically, they represent the elemental forces of earth, water, fire, air, sound, light and thought Chakras can be deficient (underdeveloped) or excessive (overdeveloped). Excess and deficiency are merely different ways to cope with an imbalance in the chakra. Deficiency is an avoidance, while excess is an overcompensation. Each chakra has a sanskrit name, a location, has certain stones associated with it, and a basic right. right now, i will briefly give some information about each chakra, then will open the channel for discussion. =) First Chakra: Sanskrit: Muldahara Meaning: Root Location: Base of the spine Element: Earth Main Issue: Survival Goals: stability, grounding, prosperity, physical health Malfunctions: Deficiencies: poor boundaries, frequent fears, inability to focus, difficulty in staying in the body (results in frequent illnesses, or being out of touch with the physical world) Excesses: clinging to security, hoarding posessions, fear of change, obesity Color: Red Celestial Body: Saturn Stones: garnet, hematite, bloodstone, lodestone Basic Right: to have Second Chakra: Sanskrit: Svadhistana Meaning: Sweetness Location: abdomen, genitals, lower back, hips Element: Water Main Issue: Sexuality, emotions Goals: Fluidity, pleasure, relaxation Malfunctions: Deficiency: fear of change, dull emotionally, stiffness, tendency to avoid pleasure, lack of sensuality in appearance and behavior, little or no passion Excess: overly emotional, radical mood swings, sexual addiction, constant need for pleasurable stimulation (entertainment, partying and/or social interaction) Color: Orange Celestial Body: the moon Stones: coral, carnelian Basic Right: To feel Third Chakra: Sanskrit: Manipura Meaning: Lustrous Gem Location: Solar Plexus Element: Fire Main Issue: Power, energy Maya^ is now known as Possum Goals: Vitality, strength of will, purpose Malfunctions: Deficiencies: problems with digestion and metabolism hypoglycemia addiction to substances that give the illusion of energy, such as sugar, caffeine, amphetamines or cocaine chronic fatigue obesity (the body's inability to properly metabolize your food) tight stomach (unless, of course, you lift weights, or something like that!) sunken diaphragm inability to get a deep belly breath fear of taking power, standing out, or taking responsibility Excesses: crave substances that are sedatives such as alcohol, tranquilizers, or opiates need to be in control, dominate others, or appear superior Color: Yellow Celestial Body: Mars & Sun Stones: Topaz, amber Basic Right: To act Fourth Chakra: Sanskrit: Anahata Meaning: Unstruck Location: Heart Element: Air Main Issue: Love Goals: Balance, compassion, acceptance Malfunctions- Deficiencies: difficulty breathing, collapsed chest, tendency towards depression, isolation, fear of interpersonal relationships, lack of self-esteem, profound mind-body seperation Excesses: give everything away, focus on others at the expense of yourself, codependence, living through others Color: Green Celestial Body: Venus Stones: Emerald, rose quartz Basic Right: To love Fifth Chakra: Sanskrit: Vissudha Meaning: Purification Location: Throat Element: Sound Main Issue: Communication Goals: Clear communication, creativity, resonance Malfunctions: Deficiencies: tight throat, knotted shoulders, voice has no rhythm or resonance Excesses: babbling (talking without saying anything) it's as if the mouth needs to be kept busy, but the words aren't engaged with the body or the deeper parts of out spirit Color: Bright Blue Celestial Body: Mercury Stone: Turquoise Basic Right: To speak Sixth Chakra: Sanskrit: Ajna Meaning: To perceive Location: Brow Element: Light Main Issue: Intuition Goals: Psychic perception, imagination Malfunctions: Deficiencies: insensitivity, headaches those with deficient Brow Chakras are the people who "don't have a clue" and need to be told explicitly what is going on Excesses: paranoid fantasies, nightmares, hallucinations, inability to appropriately respond to intuitive material (assuming a friend is mad at you, and acting on that, rather than checking it out first, for example) also, possibly being bombarded with psychic stimuli-- grounding and working with the Root Chakra (first chakra) will help control this) Color: Indigo Blue Celestial Body: Neptune Stone: Lapis Lazuli Basic Right: To see Seventh Chakra: Sanskrit: Sahasrara Meaning: Thousandfold Location: Crown of your head Element: Thought Main Issue: Understanding Goals: Wisdom, knowledge, spiritual connection Malfunctions: Deficiencies: depression, alienation, confusion, boredom, apathy, inability to learn or comprehend, inability to think for yourself, dependent on others' opinions, narrow-minded, rigidity of belief system Excesses: overly intellectual, heady, spacy, know-it-all attitude, holier-than-thou attitude, detached the spiritual or intellectual elitism is often very opressive Color: Violet Celestial Body: Uranus Stone: Amethyst Basic Right: to know . . there's a huge number of reasons why a chakra can be malfunctioning, most of which can be traced back to our childhoods programming from childhood experiences, and cultural values are usually the culprits. Basically, past pain or stress, whatever the source, affects the healthy functioning of our chakras. If you want to know more, go ahead and ask, and i'll do my best to answer, or, if i am clueless, i'll give suggestions and/or recommendations for reading material =-) that's about it for the lecture, and Spidey tells me i have lotsa questions waiting for me, so.... shoot! DrkMother sets mode: -m SpiderWlf grins...i got a few here.... cybr-bikr had to leave, is here to log, and wanted to ask how does one rectify a deficient Solar Plexus egads!!! i forgot something! i have 2 more questions, too =) all of the chakras should be spinning in a clockwise direction, and very fast when they slow down, stop or spin the wrong way, that's when the malfunctions show up werewabit is now known as VVlad so, to rectify the solar plexus, first, determine why you think it is deficient.. like, were you dominated as a kid? the next more of a comment, privateer had to leave, stayed for the log, and wanted to say he was very impressed, and wants to say thanks! =) *nod* that makes sense then, rather than getting energy from food, drugs, or whatever, focus on getting your energy from the earth-source, and getting your chakra to spin in the right direction it's not as simple as just saying the words, as we all know, but understanding where the malfunctions *start* is the most important step VVlad wonders about celestial body equivalences - are they historical or recent (New Age?) additions? so do the various chakras spin at the same rate? the incredibly-imbalanced-in-all-chakras-Possum wants to know if there are any meditiations or exercises that she can do to attain a better balance :) Honestly, i'm not sure. I mean, they had celestial bodies in ancient times, so I would assume they are historical, yet, the names of them would be newer =) malkuth: not necessarily. it all depends on where your strengths lie Vedic Astrology is VERY old...so, it could very well be historical if you are more of a caring person, then your heart chakra will spin faster than the rest but they should all spin very fast and radiate their energy ...in other words, the deficiencies aren't really there?.... Possum: there are meditations and yoga exercises for each of the chakras, as well as for all of them together as a unit what if you have both defieicnt and excessive traits for the same chakra? Faust: not at all... the deficiencies are there, sometimes in differing degrees (neptune was not discovered until late 19th century - I thought that was strange - and I hadn't run into celestial correspondences in my references) the unit thing sounds like what I need :) Where would I find more info? Spidey: very possible. or rather, probable Possum: /msg me later, `k? cool :) DM ... I have heard that "piercings" of body parts can screw with chakrak energy .. any thoughts on this? VVlad: like i said, i'm not sure about that DrkMother: in other words, when we are born, our chakras are all in uniform, but, through our existing on this plane, our very existance distorts these channels, causing side effects?.... my friend, mentor and teacher really didn't expand on the celestial bodies too much... just that their locations can affect the chakras VVlad: alot of coreespondences got updated, with the discovery of new planets , sort of "clarified with new info" :) Lord: it could be that the person getting pierced feels the need to connect with the chakra in the location of the piercing lol which chakra do you meditate with?... Faust: mostly. the only exception would be the root chakra, which is developed while we are still in the womb faust: i meditate around all of them. on different days, i feel the need to focus on one or another more VVlad....this is gathered information....Sanskrit was a dead language at the time of X... it is important to remember that each of the chakras must be taken as a whole. you cannot seperate one from the others for example, obesity is associated with the solar plexus, the heart, and the root chakras what is the impact of past lives upon the chakras.....or does an influence exist in that regard? so, you can't say it's specifically one or another, but must work on all of them notice any by-products? (vision, teleporting, projecting, healing).... malkuth: little or no impact. each life is a new slate what do you mean, Faust? ..Although it is concidered karma to work your chakras for gratification, many note "byproducts" from chakra meditation....(?)... DrFaustus is now known as FAUST you don't work the chakras for a gratification, but for a sense of self right, that wasn't the question, right?.... and, yes, when you are balanced in all of your chakras, you will notice that you will have "psychic" abilities you will get visions, be able to do healings, etc, etc if you can keep your chakras in balance, it is natural to want to help others do the same goood night to all of you but, it's not like, once your chakras are healed, balanced and spinning fast and bright that they will stay that way, you have to work on KEEPING them that way *nod* energy is constantly moving thru us, we are energy too bad.. I was hoping once I got balanced, I would just stay there :) Do you agree that Laya Yoga is a key to control the ebb and flow of the Chakra? i know from experience that, though I feel great when they are working properly, there is a tendency to fall back into the habits that keep my chakras sickly hmmm.... i've never heard of Laya Yoga Like Raja Yoga actually, i understood that Kundalini Yoga was a controlling factor for the energy flows Leadbeater mentions it in "The Chalras" cica 1927 there are 8 yogic paths, karmic yoga, jana yoga, hatha yoga, intral yoga, etc etc...each focusus on differnt things...all are w way to achieve union with divinity (yoga= union, to yoke) kewl!.... thanks, spidey =) How about the highest, neck, emissions? please elaborate, i don't get you, Down Well, as I understand it there are levels? levels to the chakras? levels to yoga? not levels, places or power-points on the body =) neck is a chakra....the highest, most vertical, is the crown chakra =) oh!!! i don't know that much about yoga, actually! so, samadhi? samadhi is union w/divinity =) I see the ultimate goal of yoga <-- Hindu, btw =) My parents are Hindu You know, that happens when they are from India i still think im wacked, i have deficiences and excesses in the same chakra!! the history of chakras to yoga, I do believe, is they are spiritual ambilical cords, concerting energy on a single chakra point raises that point's conscios level, objectively, astral projecting... so, i dunno where to start sometimes hey, Spidey, so do i, so does most of the world si?... faust, yuppers yes, faust if you do a certain type of yoga, it is associated with a specific chakra (for example, the Tantric Yoga is associated with the Sacral (second) chakra) The Hindu Yogis engaged in practising meditation and arousing kundalini for the purpose of elevating their consciousness ex. rising to higher planes. yeah drkmom, but i dont know whether to visualize and meditate on the chakra speeding up or slowing down oh, always speed the suckers up... they can never go to fast if they are excessive, you want to draw them in, but never try to slow them down well, tantric yoga focuses on kundalini....karmic yoga,f or example, doesnt really focus on kundalini per se...its the yoga of sacrfice..self-less giving...one reaches divinity thru doing senseless "good deeds" and actually, if you focus on speeding it up, it will naturally draw in drk, ah...i get it good point! thanks! spidy: thanks for asking my question Drk: Could I talk to you later on regarding this lecture, after I review the log? sure, just /msg me =) the trick is learning how to move in unison with your chakras.... hmm, id disagree, its getting your chakras to move energy in accord with your Will... no, i'd agree with faust, spidey... your chakras are the center of your being, you need to learn to work in balance with them thanks, DarkMother, for the nice lecture!.... the energy is not yours to turn off and on, you want to get it going at a nice rate, and keep it that way, so everything you do should be directed toward that ideal but, they are just..erm..power-houses, if you will, energy constantly moves thru them...ie you wouldnt want to learn to move WITH a deficient chakra, youd want to learn to correct it Spidy- and also using them to tell you when you should act/not act..... *grin* well, we agree on the outcome/goal faust, id agree with that, too ok, i see your point, *grin* true, mother, but you deal from a different level.... when you try to control the chakras, they bite back....causing dilusion and confusion.... no, you don't want to control the chakras, that's not what i said of course they do....the body rules us, thru yoga we learn how to control the body, and to see it ultimately as an illusion =) you want to direct them to the right spin (clockwise), and keep the energy flowing through them I was directing that to Spidey.... *nod* its an energy current but, that's what they are *supposed* to do brb..... clockwise from the body... another way to think of it is that it should be going up on the right, and down on the left thanks! if I am repeating, for give me, came in late, I often visualize a coil running from the top of head, to base of spine, chakras are colored points on this coil with a right twist much better description...now I get it. ok, tell you what... *horrors!* i'm outta cigarettes, so, i'm gonna bop on down to the corner and get some more. if you still have questions, /msg me, and i'll get back to you. should be gone about 10-15 minutes Drk: thanks for the class! I'll /msg you later for more info wonderful job.. thanks thanks drkmom!!!!!! great class!! Grimalkin: right, kinda like a ladder, with spinning disks in the points of the chakras drkmom, sorry late, but mondo tks SpiderWlf has to relog, she will see everyone on Wicca =) thanks! drkmom YES Thanks DrkMother, you provided much help and insight ok.. gotta go b4 the store closes... i'll leave the `puter on =-) Thanks you for showing us some sights along our path.