According to ancient Vedic tradition, the human body has seven main energy centers called Chakras, or Sanskrit for wheel. Chakras are situated along the central line of our body, from the base of the spine to the top of the head. When these energy centers are healthy and open, so are we - physically, mentally, and emotionally, in relation to self and others. But, when our Chakras are blocked through injury, illness or disconnection from others, we are blocked from being in flow as our best selves and we feel:
Throughout childhood and through our life experiences as adults, we accumulate response patterns and certain habits, which can sometimes create blockages in our Chakras. Take for instance, receiving criticism for our voice or the joy of singing repeatedly as a child. The surprise or pain associated with being rejected for a truly joyful self-expression might lead us to protect or even close down our fifth Chakra (situated at the throat) limiting our creative expression or ability to speak for ourselves. Fears and negative experiences can lead to long-term imbalances in our energy system that then manifest into challenges like stress, disease, insecurity or anger. Often we try to understand ourselves better through psychology and counseling by uncovering our repressed memories and emotions, which is an important part of healing, but the next step in completing that journey of healing is none other than our energetic system. This is where Reiki steps in. Chakra balancing treatments through Reiki restore the natural flow of energy to our energy system or energy centers. A simple way to grasp this is to understand how appliances work. For an appliance to work efficiently it should have the right amount of voltage passing through it. The human body's energetic system is very similar. If Chakras are blocked they can be reset just like a circuit breaker for a complete restoration of power, balance and energy. Thus, our bodies can command the right flows of "voltage" through our energy centers and the flow from the base of our spine to the top of the head and back down is unrestrained, offering what is known in many meditation and mindfulness practices as a fullness of energy cycling or kundalini flow. Chakra balancing tends to help with the following:
Improvements might occur after a short period of fatigue as the energetic body adjusts to new flows of energy and works to unravel the blockages accumulated over time. The seven main Chakras, from the base to the top: Root Chakra - represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded; located at the base of the spine by the tailbone Sacral Chakra – represents our connection and ability to engage with others and new experiences; located two inches below the navel Solar Plexus Chakra - represents our ability to step into our power, be confident and in control of our lives; located around the stomach above the navel Heart Chakra - represents our ability to love and be loved; located at the center of the chest just above the heart Throat Chakra - represents our ability to communicate and express ourselves; located at the throat Third Eye Chakra - represents our ability to focus on and see the bigger picture; located at the forehead between the eyes Crown Chakra - the highest Chakra represents our deeper connection to the cosmos or our relationship with spirituality; located at the very top of the head
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I was drawn to these principles from the very beginning of my Reiki journey when I received the Reiki Level 1 attunement in 1995. The wording of these principles are presented differently by many Reiki Masters. I have come to understand that it is in the original wording by Madam Takata that these principles retain their value most. Madam Takata was Japanese-American, born in Hawaii, who first introduced the spiritual practice of Reiki healing to the Western world. These principles represent orientations towards life and are, as I find them, intrinsically bound to many contemplative and mindfulness based spiritual teachings. Being a daughter, sister, wife, daughter-in-law, mother, friend, practitioner, and healer-counselor, worry and concern comes easily to me. I am sure for many of you there are different sources, which trigger worry and anxiety. For a moment take one worry and pay attention to how your body feels. Mine feels as if all the cells are huddled together, clinging to each other without any space between them. Worry has pushed everything else out of the way and cuts me off from my outer world in as much as it distorts my inner world. The act of worrying often has the side effect of closing me off from the very source of Reiki, which is both manifest within me and outside of me. Closed off from myself, I am quite literally unable to be an open channel for reiki energy flow. If Worry is the internalization of fear, then Anger is the externalization of it. Now choose a subject which evokes anger and watch your body, feel its response. Mine feels as if it is locked up. There is tightness within me my body is taut with tension. Again, I feel stuck and shut down. However after I slowly disengage myself from these emotions I feel breath flow in and out and I begin once more to feel an embodied lightness or openness to Reiki and to life. To clarify these two principles - Do not Anger Do not Worry - We are not asked to stuff our emotions or push them away. We are invited to look at these emotions, to feel them in our bodies, and to investigate their source. Perhaps this way we can acknowledge their presence and intervene consciously before they restrict us from lightness, openness and flow. The third principle of Reiki honors our parents and all those who teach us, so that we may lead honorable lives of gratitude. We can also include honoring our food, not wasting water, being kind to the earth, as these too are our elders and teachers. We can include gratitude for all experiences, blessings and opportunities that make up our lives. Consciously showing gratitude affirms our connection with the abundance of the Universe. The fourth principle - make your living honestly - reminds me to practice a livelihood to the best of my ability and to appreciate the diverse abilities of others, whatever they may be. The gifts we are here to share and build our lives through are as unique as we are, and should be valued as such. Honesty is being true to your self and showing up honestly in your life's work, though at times a difficult and undervalued process, is this very principle. The final principle urges us to be kind to every living thing, reminding me that I am not alone in my species and that I am a part of a grand cosmos. It reminds me that we are all equal and puts me in touch with the living essence of energy that flows through all beings, be it a tree, flower or an animal. As these principles are more like guidelines, the way in which we incorporate them into our lives rests within each of us, stepping into the tune of our unique and diverse life paths. We are gently reminded to draw that guidance from within, to nurture our own lighthouses. The principles of Reiki act as a gentle and loving foundation to our spiritual growth, emotional maturity, mental clarity and therefore to our holistic well-being. |
AuthorNeelam is a long-time Reiki Master, devoted to helping others heal, learn how to heal and live vibrant, wholesome lives. ArchivesCategories
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