Throat Chakra A poem by Daisy Lu

Transcription

1 Throat Chakra A poem by Daisy Lu I look outside my window my room is cold and I pull up my covers The world outside looks bare the leaves have already fallen to the ground the earth is prepared for hibernation and yet there is still life the birds are flying, searching for food people reluctantly putting on coats and hats, facing their days. Taking advantage of being alone in my house I put on some music the radio churns out poetry-turned-into-lyrics set to drum beats and ever-changing tempos some songs are strangers to me their words struggling to find a home within me and then the familiar words find their way to me I can feel what the artist was feeling, hear the pain in her voice as the words she sings touch me in different stages of my life. These are the words I will always carry with me when my own fail to express what exactly it is I am trying to say. 1

2 Checklist for the Week Read through the entire chapter about this chakra. Determine your deficiencies and excesses in this chakra. What needs healing? Wear the color or keep it prominent. Work with your Chakra guardian. Meditate on your original Mandala. Make a new Mandala after working with the Chakra for a while. Work with the affirmation. Work with the stones, foods, herbs, spices, incense, Go through the correspondences and work with the items that resonate with you. Work with your Tarot cards or Runes. Record Ronald s meditation in your own voice to listen to at least daily. Chant the Mantra using the Mudras, Tone. Journal your thoughts and emotions. Keep a dream journal. Perform the exercises and practices given in each Chakra section. Check the website. Check in on the Facebook page. 2

3 Other Suggestions and Thoughts on Working with the Chakras This Week 3

4 CHAKRA FIVE SYMBOLS AND CORRESPONDENCES Sanskrit Name: Visuddha Meaning: Purification Location: Throat Element: Sound Function: Communication, creativity Inner State: Synthesis of ideas into symbols Outer Manifestation: Vibration Psychological Function: Communication, Wisdom, Speech, Trust, Creative Expression, Planning, Spatial, Organization, Caution Emotions: Expansion, Healing Rights: To speak and be heard Identity: Creative Identity Orientation to Self: Self-Expression Demon: Lies Developmental Stage: 7-12 years Mantra: OM BUDDHAYA NAMAHA Vedic Astrological Association: Aquarius (Person bearing an empty water pot) and Scorpio (Scorpion). Vedic God Association: Brahma and Saraswati Affirmation: I openly communicate with all beings. Basic Movement/Exercises: gargle saltwater, sing, scream Archangel: Archangel Michael: Courage, Strength, Protection Essential Oils: German Chamomile (or blue chamomile), Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Spearmint, Catnip, Frankincense, Opopanax, Cypress, Geranium, Spruce, Carrot seed, Fennel, Myrrh, Peppermint, Tea Tree, Cajeput, Sandalwood, Hyssop, Lemon, Sage, Eucalyptus, Goldenrod, Mandarin, Orange, Rosalina, Benzoin, Basil, Linden Blossom, Petitgrain, Rosewood, Atlas Cedarwood, Vetiver, Rose, Jasmine, Elemi, Neroli, Ylang ylang and Bergamot. Herbs/Spices: Salt, Lemon grass, Honey, Ginger Flowers: Delphinum Incanum Stones: Blue Kyanite, Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite, Turquoise, Blue Lace Agate or Aquamarine Foods: Sea plants, fruits, juices, soups, sauces, (which bring together different elements like water and earth), and foods from different ethnic groups (The throat chakra encourages variety of foods.) Tarot Major Arcana: Magician, Hierophant (also Wheel of Fortune) Rune: Ansuz 4

5 CHAKRA FIVE SYMBOLS AND CORRESPONDENCES Glands: Thyroid, parathyroid Associated Body Parts: Throat, Vocal System, Mouth, Jaw, Parathyroid, Tongue, Neck, Shoulders, arms, hands,lymphs (Perspiration), Atlas, Menstrual Cycle Physical Dysfunction: Sore throat, stiff neck, colds, thyroid problems, hearing problems,thyroid, Flu, Fevers, Blisters, Infections, Herpes, Itching, Sores, Tonsillitis, Toothaches, OCD, Speech Disorders, TMJ, Hyperactivity, Melancholy, Hormonal Problems, Swelling, Hiccups, PMS, Mood Swings Color: Bright blue Sense: Hearing Seed Sound: Ham Vowel Sound: Eee Petals: Sixteen, all the Sanskrit vowels Sephira: Geburah, Chesed Planet: Mercury Metal: Mercury Corresponding Verb: I speak Yoga Path: Mantra yoga Herbs for Incense: Frankincense, benzoin, mace Minerals: Turquoise, aquamarine, celestite Animals: Elephant, bull, lion Lotus Symbols: Downward triangle, within which is a white circle, thought to represent the full moon. In the circle is a white elephant, over which is the Bija symbol, ham. The deities in the lotus are Sadasiva, a three-eyed, five-faced, ten armed form of Shiva, seated on a white bull, clothed in a tiger skin with garland of snakes. The Goddess is Gauri, shining one, consort of Shiva, thought by some to be a corn goddess. Gauri is also the name of a class of goddesses which includes Uma, Parvati, Rambha, Totala, and Tripura. Hindu Deities: Ganga (river goddess, related to purification), Sarasvati Other Pantheons: Hermes, the Muses, Apollo, Brigit, Seshat, Nabu Chief Operating Quality: Resonance 5

6 BALANCING THE FIFTH CHAKRA In the throat chakra, we interpret excess and deficiency by the quality of the voice, the ease of communication, and the flow of creativity. Excessive Characteristics: Deficient Characteristics: Talking too much or inappropriately Difficulty putting things into words Gossiping Fear of speaking Stuttering Speaking with a small, weak voice Difficulty being silent Secretiveness Excessive loudness Excessive shyness Inability to contain (keep confidences, etc.) Tone deafness Balanced Characteristics: Resonant, full voice Clear communication with self Good communication with others Good listener Good sense of timing and rhythm Lives life creatively 6

7 Open the Throat Chakra Cross your fingers on the inside of your hands, without the thumbs. Let the thumbs touch at the tops, and pull them slightly up. This mudra opens us up to compassion, generosity and love. It also opens us to better and clearer communication. It invites calm and enables new knowledge to be absorbed and/or relayed. We are now not only open to sharing energy and compassion, but thoughts and ideas as well. Concentrate on the Throat chakra at the base of the throat. Chant the sound HAM. 7

8 Mantra Chants Mantra: OM BUDDHAYA NAMAHA Fifth Chakra Mercury Times to do chants for week of Feb 12-19, 2013 Chant the Mantra 108 times each day, preferably at one of the times listed below for the most powerful Chakra activation. These are the times of the day when Mercury, ruler of the fifth chakra is also ruler of that hour. THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY MONDAY 10:50 a.m. 5:50 p.m. 7:50 a.m. 2:50 p.m. 9:50 p.m. 11:50 a.m. 6:50 p.m. 8:50 a.m. 3:50 p.m. 10:50 p.m. 12:50 p.m. 7:50 p.m. 3rd CHAKRA TUESDAY WEDNESDAY 9:50 a.m. 4:50 p.m. 6:50 a.m. 1:50 p.m. 8:50 p.m. 8

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10 Throat Chakra Self Recorded Meditation By Ronald Williams This meditation should be recorded in your own voice and listened to on a daily basis for the week we are working on this Chakra. In the future, whenever you feel a need to work with the fifth Chakra, spend time listening to it to help balance this Chakra Get comfortable. Breathe in and out slowly and deeply, letting go of all the tensions from the outside world. Think about the chakra that is being worked on today. Summon the guardian for that chakra. Know that they will keep this journey totally safe for you and guide you, helping you learn what lessons the chakra has for you. I cross my fingers on the inside of my hands, without the thumbs. I let my thumbs touch at the tops, and pull them slightly up. I allow my concentration to rest on the Throat chakra at the base of the throat. I chant the sound HAM. I relax into my seat. I allow it to fully support me. I become aware of the knowledge that there is only one person to communicate with. And that is me. My body takes in a deep breath, holds it for a beat then lets it go. Not only of the waste I do not need, but of the tension I carry. As my limbs relax and become warm from increased blood flow I remember the color blue. A warm summer day with fluffy white clouds The light blue of the sky. The warmth of the sun. My body lets my mind play in this warmth. As it goes on with my breathing. My deep, calm, smooth breathing. The clear blue sky filters the sunlight, As my throat chakra filters my communication. I find my spirit guide and we look for the source of the blue. I feel my shoulders relax with my attention on them. My mind travels up. Finding that it must narrow as my neck takes the blood from my body I understand that this narrowing to my neck is my center of communication. My speech. My words. My thoughts even to myself all pass to this point. Dreams, illusions, fantasies, creativity itself. Lives and flourishes here. This is where I become more than an animal. Even my pets can dream and love but they can not create. 10

11 My creation is my first attachment with my highest self. With my attention I open the light blue star that is my throat chakra. Trusting it to aid my communication with myself and the world. I trust my heart to do its job. Still I must express it. I trust my throat chakra to do its job. My exercise for it is attention. Attention that I am giving it now. The light blue star gives warmth to my thoughts. Gives meaning to my ramble of words Gives clarity to my being. I withdraw my thinking back to my hands. Resting in my lap Resting on my seat. All part of the world I return to. Clearly me. 11

12 Practices for the Throat Chakra The Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana) Lie supine on the floor, and if necessary, place a thickly folded blanket under your shoulders to protect your neck. Bend your knees and set your feet on the floor, heels as close to the sitting bones as possible. Exhale and, pressing your inner feet and arms actively into the floor, pushing your tailbone upward toward the pubis, firming (but not hardening) the buttocks, and lift the buttocks off the floor. Keep your thighs and inner feet parallel. Clasp the hands below your pelvis and extended through the arms to help you stay on the tops of your shoulders. Lift your buttocks until your thighs are about parallel to the floor. Keep your knees directly over the heels, but push them forward, away from the hips, and lengthen the tailbone toward the backs of the knees. Lift the pubis toward the navel. Lift your chin slightly away from the sternum and, firming the shoulder blades against your back, press the top of the sternum toward the chin. Firm the outer arms, broaden the shoulder blades, and try to lift the space between them at the base of the neck (where it s resting on the blanket) up into the torso. Stay in the pose anywhere from thirty seconds to one minute. Release with an exhalation, rolling the spine slowly down to the floor. Fish Pose (Matsyasana) Begin by lying flat on your back and stretching your legs along the floor. Place your hands just under your hips, palms down. Pressing down against the elbows, lift your chest upward, arching your neck backward and touching your head (if possible) to the floor. Press your tailbone down, and lengthen your hips toward your feet. Breathe deeply. Hold the position as long as it is comfortable, and then lift your head and return your spine to the floor. Breathe deeply again. If this pose is too difficult, you can place a bolster behind your shoulder blades and arch over that to loosen your upper spine. Even better, arch your back over a large exercise ball, stretch over the padded arm of a couch, or hang backward off the end of the bed, and feel the opening in your chest. Chanting and Toning The best exercise for vibrationally toning the fifth chakra and opening the voice is to make sound loud sounds, soft sounds, abstract sounds, focused sounds. Find a place where you won t feel self-conscious outside, home alone, or where you have permission to be noisy. Begin standing, breathing deeply, and making noise as your breath comes out. Let the noise be expressive of whatever is inside you at this time. Move your body to the sound, especially moving your head, neck, and shoulders. Let the sound grow really loud by using more breathe, but do not strain to the point of hurting your vocal chords. Now, begin to make the sound more melodious. Experiment with different vowel sounds, noting which ones feel easiest to make and where they resonate in your body. Experiment with different pitches sing high notes and low notes. Then take one vowel sound such as ah or ee and say it with different emotional expressions. Say it with surprise, fear, anger, sadness, resignation, delight, or any other emotion that comes to mind. Be aware of your body as you do so, noticing how these different emotional states are shaped when you make the sound associated with them. Then take a different vowel sound and repeat the process. Find the emotions and the sounds that have the deepest resonance for you. 12

13 The Sounds of the Chakras Since sound has a purifying effect on the energy body, chanting and toning are powerful practices for purification. Music in general, and chanting in particular, has been used by cultures worldwide to create spiritual states of bonding, joy, and clarity. To chant for long periods of time quiets the chatter of the mind, creating a deeper state of consciousness. There are many ways to do this, from simple toning to rhythmic repetition of words or phrases, call-and-response, and singing along with drums, instruments, or even recorded music. Mantras The word mantra translates as tool of the mind. Mantras are sacred sounds whose vibrations wake up the mind in a similar way to shaking someone s shoulder to bring them out of sleep. Chanting a mantra internally is an ancient method of meditation and a practice long associated with the chakras. There are far too many mantras and chants to list here, but there are good books and recordings of mantras available. The chakras are associated with specific mantras called seed sounds or bija mantras. These sounds relate to the element of each chakra and are visually represented by a symbol at the center of each of the first six chakras. When working with the chakras, some people find vowel sounds, which resonate in different parts of the body, more effective. You may find variations in the associations of chakras and vowel sounds, depending on your source. I encourage you to experiment with both seed sounds and vowel sounds, and see which works best for you. Chakra Seed Sound Vowel Sound 1. Muladhara LAM o as in oh 2. Svadhisthana VAM u as in rule 3. Manipura RAM ah as in father 4. Anahata YAM ay as in play 5. Visuddha HAM ee as in seed 6. Ajña OM Resonate on the mm sound 7. Sahasrara No mantra is given for this chakra To practice the seed sounds, focus on the chakra in question within your body, while sitting, standing, or holding a simple yoga pose. Rhythmically repeat the sound, imagining that the sound is stimulating the chakra like a stick hitting a wheel to make it spin. To practice the vowel sounds, focus on the chakra in question, take a deep breath, and tone each sound, holding it as long as possible, and then repeat it. Try to allow the sound to be full and resonant, supported by the breath, your mouth open wide. Let your whole body resonate as you tone, imagining the sound coming out through the chakra related to that tone. See if you can feel the resonance in different parts of your body. (It is common to feel more resonance in the upper body than the lower, as the upper body carries more breath.) You can also use any of these sounds as a silent mantra, uttered internally, as a meditation device for soothing or awakening a particular chakra. Simply choose a sound and repeat it internally throughout the duration of your meditation. The effects of this practice are best realized when used consistently over time. I suggest sticking to one sound for at least a month to really experience its effects. Speaking Your Truth - Healing Your Voice Writing Writing is a unique form of communication in that you can take your time, without interruption, crafting what you have to say. Writing can be beneficial even if your words are never read by another person, simply because it gives you a chance to express yourself fully, without having to rush or hold back. If you are angry, you can write anything you please without having to worry about its effect, and this can help dissipate your anger. If you are sorting out what you feel, you can let the words flow and see what emerges. If you have unfinished communication with someone who is no longer alive or unavailable for direct communication, you can at least write what you would say to him or her and finish that part of the conversation. To open 13

14 the channel of the fifth chakra through writing is to invite the deepest self-expression from your inner core. This stimulates your creativity. Automatic Writing If you have trouble writing, it may be that your virtual audience is too close that you are worrying too much about how your words sound, rather than just letting them flow. To bypass this, try the following exercise: Take a pen and paper and just write a word anything that comes to your mind. Then write another word stimulated by the first word, then another, and another. Don t worry about sentences, logic, or grammar. Allow the words to come one by one at first, and then in phrases or in whole paragraphs but allow them to come without aim or goal. Morning Pages Julia Cameron, in her popular book The Artist s Way, writes about an important practice for accessing the unconscious and freeing up creativity. She calls it The Morning Pages. This is a daily practice, done first thing in the morning, in which you write (by hand) about three pages or so, as a nonstop stream of consciousness. You can write about how you feel in the moment, what you see outside your window, what you dreamt about last night, or whatever is on your mind. Just let it flow, and it will release elements from your unconscious that can enhance your creativity and bring you more deeply in touch with yourself. Releasing Words of the Past Are there internal voices from your past that haunt you? Are there things you never expressed, or perhaps would rather not have said? Write them down on a piece of paper. Then say them one last time into the space around you. Pronounce that you are letting them go, and then safely set fire to the piece of paper. Take the ashes to a body of water (even your toilet) and release them. Further Writing Exercises Write a poem especially if this is unusual for you! Write a letter to yourself from the future. Put it aside where you will find it years later. Write a letter to your inner child, offering understanding for whatever he or she has experienced, and what you know he or she will become. Write a letter (that you would not actually send) to someone you re alienated from or a deceased parent, and get everything off your chest that has not been communicated. Prayers Prayers are a means of communing with spirit, your higher self, or God. Meditation is the listening part of the communication; prayer is the speaking part, even if you only speak silently from within your mind and heart. There are many kinds of prayers and many styles of praying. You can use standard prayers from your own religious tradition that have the power of being used repeatedly by countless people throughout the centuries. You can write your own prayers, or make them up from your heart in the moment. You can make symbolic offerings to leave on an altar or to burn or to give away. Whichever way you choose, to utter a prayer is to begin an important conversation. Prayers can be written on paper, cloth, walls, pictures, candles, rocks, trees, mirrors, or any other surface as a reminder of the prayer s intent. Tibetans use prayer flags, which are small pieces of colored cloth hung on a string, and on which sacred mantras or prayers are written. When the flags are hung outside, the prayers are carried out into the world by the wind and rain. Make up a prayer for each chakra. The purpose of the prayer is to focus your intention. What are the essential elements that you are seeking in each chakra, or that you wish to offer? (Not all prayers need to be asking for something.) They can be personal prayers, prayers for another s well-being, or prayers for the larger world in which we live. Find a place to write or express your prayers. Try using colored paper, or see the Additional Resources list in the final session for prayer flags with chakra symbols on them. 14

15 Communication without Words Words are only the tip of the iceberg in communication. The body carries everything that happens to you, yet it rarely gets to express itself, and all that tension remains stored inside. Without words, allow your body to move expressively. You can dance a particular story, a feeling that you are carrying, or a message of love. You can dance your prayers of hope or you can dance your despair. You can dance your oppression, and then create a dance of power. To dance is to communicate with and through your body and enter into a larger resonance with the world around you. Vow of Silence Listening is an essential and often overlooked component of communication. Yogis often take vows of silence for extended periods of time to purify their vibrations of audible sound and to better tune into subtle sounds. By avoiding speech, you can open up other avenues of communication, especially with higher consciousness. Begin by being quiet for a few hours, then try it for a whole day or longer. Music Take time to listen to music without doing anything else. Just sit still and really listen. What kind of nuances do you hear? What happens in your body? What emotions do you feel? What parts do you most resonate with? Listen deeply to a piece of music you know well and notice how much more you can hear in it. Then take a piece of music that you have never heard before and simply enjoy the experience of really hearing it for the first time. Neck Rolls The neck is the narrowest part of the body containing the seven major chakras. Much of the time, it filters the abundant flow of energy between the mind and the body. This causes it to be subject to tension and stiffness. Loosening the neck is an essential beginning for any work on the fifth chakra. Stretch your neck so that your head lifts up, away from your shoulders. Keeping the neck lengthened, tip your head to the right side, bringing the right ear toward the right shoulder. With your right arm, reach over your crown to the left ear, and add to the stretch by gently pulling your head more deeply into the stretch. Use your left hand to massage any points on your neck that feel tense. Repeat on the other side. Now, keeping your neck extended, allow your head to move to the right, then to the back, to the left, and then forward, so that you make a complete circle. Stop at any point during which you feel tense or uncomfortable, and massage your neck with your fingers as necessary. When you are done, shake your head side-to-side, and forward and back. Finish by releasing sounds from your throat. Then spend a moment in silence, simply feeling the effects of this exercise. 15

16 Final Assessment and Plan for Balancing Your Fifth Chakra Bringing about healing, balance, and transformation in your chakras takes time. Doing an exercise once may bring about an experience, but doing it repeatedly over time can bring about a permanent shift. Before leaving this section, take some time to make a plan for how you want to work on your fifth chakra. My strengths in this chakra are: My weaknesses are: My goals are: The best tools or exercises for this are: I make a commitment to: 16

17 Mandala Artwork At some point during the week, preferably in the first day or two, either after doing your guided meditation or doing chanting work or dancing, you will need to draw a mandala representing your emotions you experienced. A circle has been pre-drawn on the next page of this workbook to get you started. You will also need some colored crayons. The mandala art exercise is a way of anchoring our experiences back into our conscious world. Mandala is a Sanskrit word that means, magic circle. It is a symbol of life and wholeness. Mandalas have appeared throughout history in many cultures and religions and Jung often painted mandalas as an expression of his psyche. As an art form, they work as symbolic expressions of our inner being, and hold a psychic energy and healing power. This is not about creating a beautiful artwork. Many people immediately say but I can t draw! It really isn t about what it looks like, it s what your mandala represents that is important. Just as your dance or meditation unfolds organically and without force, so too, your mandala art is a spontaneous expression of your symbolic representation of the energy of your chakras. The images may be literal or you may find a color or a shape to represent the feelings you while working with each Chakra. This is playful ritual. Just let it unfold. 17

18 Mandala Artwork for Chakra Five. Title: 18

19 Reflections on Your Mandala Artwork After you have finished doing the mandala, please review the following questions: Title Give your mandala a title. Let this title come through spontaneously. It is best to go with the first name that comes to you. Feelings What are the dominant feelings or emotional energy surfacing from your mandala? Question What question is your mandala asking of you? Of what is it trying to help you become more conscious. Throughout this week, take time to meditate on your mandala, reviewing your question and responses. Evaluate how it might help to give meaning and direction to your life. 19

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