And the Wheels Keep on Turning...

Now that modern science and quantum physics can empirically prove what spiritual and philosophical wisdom have been telling us for thousands of years; many of the ancient gnosis and traditions are being revisited…and the customs and practices of the indigenous people and sages around the globe are being brought into the forefront and taught to others.

 One of the basic tenets of new science, and ancient wisdom, is that everything, all matter, is energy. Energy that vibrates at varying frequencies combined with attention from a conscious observer is what creates everything that we experience. What we used to think of as solid matter, we now understand is constantly vibrating energy; this includes the physical body. And our bodies, as well as everything else, emanate electro-magnetic fields, also known as auras.

The human electro-magnetic field, or aura, surrounds our physical body and is generated by swirling and whirling energy vortexes or points within and around our physical form known as chakras.

Chakra is Sanskrit for wheel of light or wheel of energy. These are points within the body where energy flows through and can sometimes get clogged or stuck.  And this always will result in physical symptoms, such as illness or dis-ease. We actually have hundreds of chakras all throughout our body, but there are seven of them that run from the base of our spines to the crown of our heads. This central line that travels up the spine is known as the Sushumna Nadi, this is an energy channel which connects the root chakra that lies at the base of the spine to the crown chakra at the top of the head. Connecting the earth to the sky.

Each chakra has a corresponding color, musical note that it resonates to, a corresponding organ(s) and/or gland, an esoteric or elemental correspondence; as well as many other ways in which it corresponds to the physical and the metaphysical. Even though it is far beyond the scope of this paper to examine each chakra in depth, still we can get a basic idea of what they are, where they are, and what they do; and how to keep them spinning in balance.

The root chakra, known in Sanskrit as Muladhara, is located at the base of the spine. It is a deep red, spinning (when healthy) in all directions, and is how we are able to ground ourselves. It is associated with the element of earth. Centering, grounding, rooting, all of these are elements of Muladhara. This is our foundation keeping us rooted to the physical plane (Muladhara Chakra, 2010).

The second is the sacral, in Sanskrit it is known as Svadhisthana. This is located midway between the naval and the base of the spine, right above the tip of the coccyx.  It is the color orange and is associated with the element of fire, creativity and creation, and it rules over our sexual and reproductive organs.

The third chakra is our naval chakra or solar plexus, known in Sanskrit as the Manipura. It is located slightly above the naval and its color is bright yellow. Associated with the element of water, this chakra rules over our kidneys (Kazlev, 2006), and is associated with motivation and purpose.

The fourth chakra is the Anahata, the heart chakra. This is in the center of our chest and radiates green. Anahata is the seat of our emotion and is the midway point between the lower three chakras and the upper three.

Vishuddha is our throat chakra. It is located in the middle of the throat, where an Adam’s apple would be. The color is blue and it is associated with communication and self expression (Judith, 2002). If there is an energy block here it would be felt as an inability to express oneself clearly.

The sixth chakra is called Ajna in Sanskrit; this is known as the third eye. The color of indigo, it is located in the center of the forehead and is related to the pineal gland. This is where melatonin is secreted, which regulates sleep, as well as the release of HGH (Human Growth Hormone); this is what controls many of the facets of aging. With intention, it is possible to activate the pineal gland to release HGH. There is no better wrinkle cream.

Sahashara is the seventh chakra located at the crown point of the head, where an infant’s soft-spot would be. This is associated with the pituitary gland, also known as the master gland because it regulates the efficiency of the other glands in the endocrine system. It is usually thought of as being a ultra-violet in color. Like an extremely bright black-light. Is always connected to the pineal gland and is our connection to the divine, and is also the knowledge that the divine is what we are, there is no separation. It is the connection between these two chakras that helps us to see that clearly.

Our chakras are our organizing centers for the reception, assimilation, and transmission of life energies. They form the coordinating network of our entire mind/body system, in our third dimensional reality along with the higher dimensional realities of our spiritual selves. The chakras are the master programs that govern our lives, loves, learning, and illumination. They regulate and control our flow of prana, also known as chi, which is the vital living force behind all living things. The most vital thing that we can do for ourselves, each other and for our world is to keep our chakras in balance and healthy at all times. The best way to begin this process is by simply being aware.

REFERENCES:

 

Judith, A. (2002). Wheels of Life: A User's Guide to the Chakra System. St. Paul,

Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications.

Kazlev, M. A. (2006, December 5). The Door of Life. Retrieved November 20, 2010,

from kheper.net: Transformation-Evolution-Metamorphosis: http://www.kheper.net/topics/chakras/Door_of_Life.htm

Muladhara Chakra. (2010). Retrieved November 20, 2010,

from tantra-kundalini.com: http://www.tantra-kundalini.com/muladhara.htm

The Path of Kundalini

At the base of our spines it lies sleeping and dormant, curled and coiled around Muladhara. It is Kundalini, the great and powerful serpent of Shakti. It lays waiting either for grace or for the being that it is in to awaken it by becoming conscious of consciousness. There exist many methods of awakening the Kundalini such as meditation on the chakras, certain types of yoga, and energy transmission from one whose Kundalini is active (shakti-pat).  The word Kundalini is a Sanskrit word which means coil. It is symbolized as a coiled snake and lies dormant at the base of every human’s spine forming a three-and-one-half looped coil (Effendi, 2009). These days, as Eastern wisdom is becoming more available in the West, more people are learning about  Kundalini, but for a very long time it was  familiar only to the spiritual seekers, yoga practitioners  and mystics for the most part.

 First it should be seen that the awakening and the journey within of the Kundalini is not the same thing as spiritual enlightenment or Self-realization (two words pointing to the same). It also is not a prerequisite; many people have awakened completely, remembering fully their true nature and their Kundalini slept through the whole thing and is still zonked out! Enlightenment or awakening is simply remembering what we are. It actually is the most simple and obvious thing in the world; once it is clearly seen, that is.

            

That said, oftentimes awakening your Kundalini will result in complete Realization, but it is not necessary. However, it is an amazing beyond words experience that will transform one’s entire being and will most assuredly bring about transcendence of some kind.

            

There are at least six-billion ways that it is possible for this to occur. In a sense we are all unique, we are one consciousness perceiving through more than six-billion nervous systems and interpreting what we perceive through more than six-billion brains. In this way, no two experiences could be exactly alike. Sometimes it happens very quickly; all at once energy may be felt shooting up the spine. And the opposite can also be true; it sometimes is a long and drawn-out process.

            

So, what is it that actually happens? Well, in order to understand the process, we will first need a basic introduction to our chakra system. Chakra is a Sanskrit word which means wheel. They are actual energy vortexes that move prana (life force energy) through our bodies along energy channels, known as nadis. There are thousands of these wheels spinning throughout our physical body and our energy field (aura). But for the purpose of our investigation we will look only at the seven primary chakras. Each of these is plays a vital role in the health of the physical body because they regulate and control our glands. And on the level of consciousness, they connect our physical bodies to our etheric bodies, as well as to the higher dimensions (Khalsa, 2001).

            

The serpent begins its journey by awakening and moving from where it has been coiled around our root chakra. Red is the color here at our base and this also is identified with stillness.  Located at the base of the spine or perineum, this is our connection to the Earth’s energy. Muladhara being healthy allows us to stay grounded and balanced.

            

The next chakra that Kundalini will cleanse, balance, and electrify on its upward trek is known as the sex chakra or Sacral or Swadhisthana. It is located at the between the lower abdomen and naval, and when balanced is our source of creativity and sexuality. It is orange and as Kundalini moves through one generally experiences deep feelings of being in the flow and enhanced feelings of well-being will abound.

            

We now reach the brilliant yellow Manipura. This is our power chakra (Judith, 2002). It is to be found at the solar plexus and governs metabolism and digestion. When this chakra is out of balance one might experience lethargy and shakiness as well a diminishing of self confidence. As the Kundalini energizes this chakra, often an enormous increase in intuitive knowing will take place. Those first three chakras are referred to as the lower chakras and relate to earth energy and the elements.

            

At the middle point Kundalini will encounter Anahata. Our fourth chakra is the heart. It isn’t located at your physical heart; it is actually right in the middle of your chest. It is a beautiful, whirling wheel of gleaming green. Relating to unconditional love and acceptance, when fully open, Anahata will free one from the chains of ego (Jones, 1997).  It also rules our emotions and is the meeting point of the earthly energies of the first three and the multi dimensional, spiritual energies of the last three.

            

Vishuddha is the first of the higher three chakras. Located in the center of the throat, where an Adam’s apple would be, the fifth chakra that Kundalini will ignite governs our ability to communicate our truth clearly. It also is in charge of our thyroid and parathyroid glands. It exudes the energy of blue, a very bright blue. As the serpent engages Vishuddha in its energetic dance a purification of the mind will take place, as also will a process of rejuvenation. This is known to the sages as the fountain of youth for that reason (Andov, 2007).

            

We have finally made to what Descartes referred to as the seat of the soul. The third eye is also called Ajna, is a very deep indigo, and is right between your two physical eyes (Farr, 2003). The really amazing thing is that in that exact spot deep within our brains, located between the left and the right hemispheres on the corpus callosum is actually an eye. Known as the pineal gland; it has the entire cell structure of a human eye. Thought by many scholars to be a vestigial eye; this is an endocrine organ which got its name because it is shaped like a tiny pine cone. When healthy, this little gland is about the size of a grape and is our connection with our psychic abilities and higher perceptions (Russa, 1998). As we get older our connection with the Universal force fades due to socialization and conditioning; as well as the fluoridation  When this happens the pineal gland begins to atrophy, shrinking up like a shriveled raisin. When Kundalini reaches it the actual gland physically plumps back up into a grape, but the most marked effect is the dissolution of the illusion of separateness and a clear seeing of higher Truth.

            

Now that our snake has opened our third eye and activated our pineal gland; the next stop is the biggie, ladies and gentlemen.  The crown chakra explodes with the blinding purplish, silvery white almost non color of the brightest blacklight ever imagined. Sahasrara greets Kundalini with an explosion of consciousness akin to the big bang! This is Realization of the Absolute and the true meaning of yoga. The purpose of this is the joining of our Divinity with our physical selves. After this occurrence, everything is still the same but seen from a different place; from a different consciousness. Indeed, this is one of the most miraculous methods that consciousness employs in order to evolve.

            

As stated earlier, no two experiences will be exactly the same but there are several similarities shared by many. It is fascinating to note that this is becoming more and more common. There are numerous accounts from all sorts of people, spiritual seekers and skeptics alike, describing spontaneous Kundalini awakenings leading them to spiritual enlightenment.

            

Some of the most common symptoms of this include tingling or tickling and heat moving up the spine. Sometimes the actual cleansing of the chakras is felt. When Kundalini reaches the upper chakras, especially at the third eye there is often a sensation as if the brain is being washed with energy (Mehta, 2010).  Sometimes there is a headache or pressure in the area of the third eye, if the pineal gland was extremely calcified, the headache would be worse than if you had a healthy pineal gland.

           

 Often there is some discomfort because the body isn’t really accustomed to housing such massive energies, but that does not last as our bodies, (and our minds), adjust to this very quickly. It is, after all, a return to our natural state and that carries with it the deepest peace and beautiful states of ever deepening bliss and awareness. It is often said that our truest and most profound purpose on this Earth is to remember that we are all one Divine being, separate from nothing, even while we are in individual bodies. We have reached the end of the search only to find out that what we have been searching for all along is actually what we are. We are that.

Namaste.

 REFERENCES:

 

Andov, P. (2007). Extraordinary Powers in Humans. Victoria, BC, Canada:

Trafford Publishing.

Effendi, I. (2009, June 29). What is Kundalini? Retrieved December 6, 2010,

from Padmacahaya: International Institute For Inner Study: http://www.padmacahaya.com/Kundalini/Kund1.html

Farr, G. (2003, June 28). The Pineal Gland. Retrieved December 6, 2010,

from BecomeHealthyNow.com: http://www.becomehealthynow.com/article/bodyendocrine/737

Jones, B. a. (1997). Chakra Workout For Body Mind & Spirit. St. Paul, Minnesota:

Llewellyn Publications.

Judith, A. (2002, May 30). Manipura - The Power Chakra. Retrieved December 6, 2010,

from The Llewellyn Encyclopedia: http://www.llewellyn.com/encyclopedia/article/254

Khalsa, R. D. (2001). Chakras: The Steering Wheels of Life. Retrieved December 6, 2010,

from Kundaliniyoga.com: http://kundaliniyoga.homestead.com/chakras.html

Mehta, A. (2010). Kundalini Awakening Symptoms. Retrieved December 6, 2010, f

rom AnmolMehta.com-Mastery of Meditation: http://www.anmolmehta.com/blog/2008/01/03/kundalini-awakening-symptoms/

Russa, J. (1998). The Truth of the Third Eye. Retrieved December 6, 2010, from

Everything Under the Moon: http://www.everythingunderthemoon.net/the_third_eye.htm

For the Love of Yoga...

        

Here in the West, when we think of yoga, we often think of it as a fitness program. Well it can certainly whip you into shape...but it is much more than that. Sometimes the word yoga calls to mind visions of ancient yogis twisted and contorted into pretzels and sitting in mountain top caves in the Himalayas. This image of yoga has been slowly, but surely changing over the years. In recent times, however, because of the global evolution in consciousness that is happening now, more and more people are awakening to ancient truths, often thanks to modern technology. With the internet came instant access to any information one could ever want. In order to understand yoga one must look deep beyond the words of the definition.

The definition of yoga encompasses all levels of consciousness and existence. In Sanskrit, it means “to yoke or join together, integration of the entire being”. Another good word, used by yoga master, Pijya Swamiji, to express this is “union”. This means to unite all aspects of our being; as well as “union between the limited self and the divine self” (Swamiji, 2011). The goal here, though, is not actually to unite us with anything; it is to show us that we are already united. It helps us to balance all of the systems of the body, from a cellular level, and energetic level, to an emotional level, and a mental level by doing this we reveal the truth of our nature, which is spirit.

The earliest archaeological verification of the existence of yoga is found on stone seals which have been dated back to around 3000 B.C. (Tibetan Life, 2011). Many scholars believe that it was in existence far earlier than that; some have traced its beginnings all the way back to “Stone Age Shamanism” (Tibetan Life, 2011). The oldest known Yogic scripture is the Bhagavad Gita (Lord’s song) and was created in 500 B.C. This text is devoted entirely to yoga, and is told as a conversation between the prince, Aujuna and the Lord Krishna.

In the Gita, there are three facets to be brought together within a being to lead a yogic lifestyle: Bhakti, or loving devotion, Jhana which is contemplation and knowledge, and karma, which has to do with selfless action (Tibetan Life, 2011). The Gita then unifies the three. Another very important yoga text was Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra. He wrote this sometime close to the second century. The intent here was to standardize the classical definitions of yoga. Raja Yoga is the yoga of self realization (Kundalini is a form of this) and in his sutras, Patanjali expanded this underlying principle into Patanjali’s Eightfold path of yoga. These are also well known as the eight limbs of classical yoga. They are:

1.      Yama, which means social restraints or ethical values;

2.      Niyama is personal observance of purity, tolerance, and study;

3.      Asanas or physical exercise and poses;

4.      Pranayama which is breath control or regulation;

5.      Pratyahara or sense withdrawal, usually to prepare one for deep meditation;

6.      Dharana means concentration of the mind;

7.      Dhyana which is meditation;

8.      Samadhi which means the ecstatic union with source energy. Some forms of Samadhi involve a complete loss of body awareness. It is complete immersion with source energy.

Yoga didn’t really come into public awareness here in the West until 1924 when Paramahansa Yogananda came to the west, from India, with his teachings of Kriya Yoga, otherwise known as the yoga of self-realization. Kriya yoga differs by definition from asana practices in that kriyas are dynamic rituals, movements; whereas asanas are usually static poses held for differing amounts of time or numbers of breaths. Vinyasa or flow yoga means that every movement is flowing and your movement is dictated by the flow of the breath.

There are varying definitions of yoga, different disciplines, and different types. There are different ways to practice and slight intentional differences also, but the fundamental meaning stays the same throughout. The ultimate aim or goal of any kind of yoga is (re)union with the divine self within us all; complete self-realization.

 References:

 

Swamiji, P. (2011). Yoga Definition. Retrieved from: http://www.parmarth.com/yoga_def.html#

Tibetan Life. (2011). Where did yoga oringinate? Retrieved

 from http://www.tibetanlife.com/where-did-yoga-originate.html

       

redwood...

I am a giant redwood tree.

My roots are grounded so deep that they wrap around the Earth’s core in an eternal, energetic bear-hug. They are unshakable and unbreakable in their strength and stability, giving me the ability to stay firmly anchored in the now.

My Self, my trunk ascends far, far, far into the heavens. Always growing, always learning, always reaching higher and higher. Reaching the sun’s fire and going far beyond.

From this perspective, my Higher Self can see all possibilities. All opportunities. And nothing anywhere can be seen or sensed, but beauty, abundance, life, and love.

My branches stretch and bend in every direction. Unfolding into other dimensions and other realms, playing joyfully like a child with the magick that sparkles and abounds everywhere.

Swaying with the wind, grooving and moving to the deep, primal rhythm of forever.

Although they flow gracefully in the breeze, my branches are strong. Very strong. Strong enough to carry the world home, strong enough to withstand any storm. Strong yet flexible enough to adapt to change.

I am a giant redwood tree and my spirit Is, always has been and always will be.

I am a giant redwood tree and my spirit is your spirit is everyone’s spirit.

I am a giant redwood, and I Am peace, serenity and love, living from a place of gratitude For all that and To all that is.

As a giant redwood tree, I can clearly see through the veil to the oneness that we truly are.

contemplation

The oscillation between  fascination and  fabrication...sparking the flame of creation....

raising the vibration....the reverberation of the resonation...once and for all ending the illusory separation....

the annihilation of the trepidation reveals the eternal elation, which is what we are.....

All of the searching comes to cessation with the realization that it was... 

just spiritual masturbation.....all along....for fun....helping us evolve into maturation... 

as a whole species....one love one nation...looking at everyone with adoration....seeing myself within all manifestation....never again needing validation.....because I remember what we are.