First Steps in Mastering the Chakras Stephanie Eldringhoff, M.A., LMFT, DCEP 1611 116 th Ave. NE #212 Bellevue, WA 98004 www.stephanieeldringhoff.com Phone: 425-681-1170 email: stephanieeldringhoff@earthlink.net Based on work co-created by Stephanie Eldringhoff and Lynn Mary Karjala 2014 Stephanie Eldringhoff, M.A., Lynn Mary Karjala, Ph.D. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 1 Presentation Outline Introduction: What is a chakra? Location of the chakras Physiological and psychological correlates A simple method for balancing the chakras More bells and whistles 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 2 Objectives On completion of this program, participants will be able to: accurately identify the locations of the seven major chakras describe the physiological and psychological correlates of the seven major chakras describe at least five methods of clearing and balancing the chakras 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 3 2014 ACEP Conference 1
Introduction The chakras are the major energy centers of the body; metaphor of meridians chakras as the major cities, acupoints as the towns and villages, and meridians as the roads. They are vortices of energy that spin clockwise and counterclockwise at multiple levels as they metabolize our life experiences and bring new life force to us. They carry our history; family legacies and patterns; and cognitive, emotional and physical habit patterns. Some say they carry our karma and past life experiences. Always remember that chakra clearing doesn t have to be complicated or difficult to produce significant, positive changes in every aspect of a person s life. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 4 Chakra Locations The Chakra Bill of Rights 7 th To have spiritual connection, to feel it and believe it 6 th To see and know deeply to trust wisely and safely 5 th To speak, hear, be heard and listen clearly, to remember with clarity, compassion and integrity and communicate with same 4 th To love, be loved, feel, know and remember love 3 rd To manifest, create, action with united energy of all chakras 2 nd To thrive, be creative, delight 1 st To survive, be here in the now regardless of history (yours or FOO), to be good enough 6th Third Eye Forehead 3rd Solar Plexus 1st Root 7th Crown 5th Throat 2014 Stephanie Eldringhoff, M.A. 4th Heart 2nd Sacral 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 5 Physiological and Psychological Correlates Each chakra has connections to various organs and glands within the body. Each chakra also has psychological correlates. If you are familiar with these correlates, they can help you identify deeper meanings and additional aspects related to the issue at hand. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 6 2014 ACEP Conference 2
The Front and Back Chakras When you treat the chakras you are treating the biofield as well. The root chakra projects energy front, back and downward. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 7 Crown Chakra (Seventh) Top of the head The right to have a spiritual connection Physiological: Pineal gland (or pituitary), upper brain, central nervous system; biorhythms Psychological: Connection to spirit, fulfillment of one s purpose, masculine divine, father, bliss, attachment; apathy. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 8 Third Eye Chakra (Sixth) Center of the forehead The right to see and know deeply Physiological: Pituitary (or pineal), face, ears, lower brain, base of skull, central nervous system Psychological: Understanding, belief, intuition, sight (both physical and psychic), imagination; confusion, illusion. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 9 2014 ACEP Conference 3
Throat Chakra (Fifth) At the hollow of the throat The right to speak, be heard and listen Physiological: Thyroid, throat, neck, ears, mouth, shoulders, immune system Psychological: Communication, artistic expression, the ability to speak one s truth; inability to speak up for oneself or to listen, self-righteousness 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 10 Heart Chakra (Fourth) In the small dip of the sternum between the nipples, or 2 finger-widths above the nipples The right to love and be loved Physiological: Thymus, chest, arms, hands, lungs, heart, blood and lymph flows Psychological: Love, joy, compassion, forgiveness, empathy; grief 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 11 Solar Plexus Chakra (Third) Midway between the navel and the bottom of the sternum The right to manifest and create Physiological: Pancreas, adrenals, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver, gall bladder Psychological: Personal power, control, selfcontrol, self-discipline; anger, frustration, powerlessness, shame 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 12 2014 ACEP Conference 4
Sacral Chakra (Second) Centered 2 inches (3-4 finger-widths) below the navel The right to thrive Physiological: Womb, genitals, kidney, bladder, low back, gonads Psychological: Sexuality, creativity, generativity, self-concept; jealousy, guilt 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 13 Root Chakra (First) The perineal area and just over the edge of the torso front and back The right to survive Physiological: Adrenals, feet, legs, bones, large intestine, perineal floor Psychological: Basic survival, safety, groundedness, mother, tribe, feminine divine; insecurity, lack of groundedness, lack of desire to survive, fear 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 14 A Simple Method of Balancing and Clearing the Chakras The convention is to clear negative feelings and beliefs starting at the top with the crown chakra and moving downward, and to instill positive feelings and beliefs starting at the root and moving upward. Focus the breath through each chakra, like an accordion, breathing in new energy and breathing out/releasing the energy of the problem state. Breathe in and out of both the front and back chakras at the same time. Focus your thought on releasing the problem state from the 7 th to the 1 st chakra and then instilling the desired state of feeling, belief or action from the 1 st to the 7 th chakra. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 15 2014 ACEP Conference 5
One Simple Method: Breathing the Chakras 1. Tune your mind to the problem. 2. Give it a SUDs (Subjective Units of Distress) rating or simply notice the intensity of the issue in your body sensations. 3. Choose an action verb statement (e.g., Releasing this or Healing this ). 4. Focus on the 7 th chakra and begin conscious breathing, as if the chakra has its own respiration. You can touch the chakra with one or both hands if it helps to sustain the focus. 5. Repeat the action verb statement and take four conscious breaths. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 16 Breathing the Chakras (cont.) 6. Turn your focus to 6 th chakra. Touch it with one or both hands if necessary. Repeat the action verb statement. Take four conscious breaths. Consider the image of an accordion so that your focus is breathing in and out of both front and back of the chakra. 7. Repeat step 6 for the 5 th, 4 th, 3 rd, 2 nd and 1 st chakras. 8. Pause and notice your feelings, thoughts, sensations about the issue. What is your current SUDs rating regarding the problem? 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 17 Breathing the Chakras (cont.) 9. Choose a positive state that you want to cultivate opposite to the problem state a feeling, thought, action or physical response. Put that desired state into a statement: I am now feeling or I believe now or I will now do. 10. State that positive intention out loud. 11. Turn your focus to the 1 st chakra and begin breathing through that chakra from front and back and down to the core of the earth. With each breath in, bring the healing state into your core, and release what ever remains of the problem state on the out breath. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 18 2014 ACEP Conference 6
Breathing the Chakras (cont.) 12. Continue the process in Step 11 with the 2 nd through the 7 th chakras, breathing in and out both the front and back of the chakra like an accordion. 13. Pause and notice your feelings, thoughts, sensations about the problem issue and your positive intention. What is your current SUDs rating regarding the problem? To what degree have you embodied the desired, positive intended state? 14. Choose a small action to take as soon as possible to support the new state that is opposite to the old problem state. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 19 More Bells and Whistles Once you understand the basic concepts, you can build on the basic approach and make it more elaborate. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 20 More Bells and Whistles: Additional Points to Clear In addition to the seven chakras, it may be useful to clear other points on the body as well. Examples: Chin shame Hara physical health, body s center of gravity Spleen immunity; digesting memories, thoughts, beliefs, emotions, physical responses 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 21 2014 ACEP Conference 7
More Bells and Whistles: Other Methods of Treating the Chakras Tapping Holding with one hand Holding with two hands (e.g., as in AIT) Spinning Counterclockwise to release problem states Clockwise to instill positive qualities Using a pendulum 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 22 Other Methods (cont.) Visualization Example: visualize column of white light descending toward the top of the head, person sitting in a prism (or person as the prism), white light separating into its component colors and filling each chakra from crown to root, then recombining into column of pure white 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 23 More Bells and Whistles: Checking Progress In the beginning, you and your client can simply use intuition to determine how long to treat each chakra. As you gain more experience, however, you can use other means to check your progress. Examples: Pendulum Muscle testing 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 24 2014 ACEP Conference 8
More Bells and Whistles: Customized Treatment If you are trained in muscle testing (MT), you can create a customized treatment sequence for any given issue. Use MT or self (surrogate) MT to determine which chakras need to be treated for that particular issue and which do not. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 25 Cradling the Chakras An example of a more complex approach combining several of the bells and whistles: one component of this technique is connecting the chakras by activating the central nadis. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 26 Chakra Central Nadis (Chakras Meridian System) Shushumna Pingala Ida Shushumna Ida Feminine, lunar moves in figure 8s up body Pingala Male, solar moves in figure 8s down body Shushumna Vertical Nadis, Kundalini route, up & down body 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 27 2014 ACEP Conference 9
Evaluation Please answer the following evaluation questions: Where are the seven major chakras located? What are the physiological and psychological correlates of the seven major chakras? Describe at least five methods of clearing and balancing the chakras. 3/30/2014 2014 ACEP Conference 28 2014 ACEP Conference 10