Impermanence by Thich Nhat Hanh

Nothing remains the same for two consecutive moments.
Heraclitus said we can never bathe twice in the same
river. Confucius, while looking at a stream, said:
"It is always flowing, day and night"

The Buddha himself implored us not just to talk about
impermanence but to use it as an instrument to help
us penetrate deeply into reality and obtain
liberating insight. We may be tempted to say that
because things are impermanent, there is suffering.
But the Buddha encouraged us to look again...
Without impermanence, life is not possible. How can
we transform our suffering if things are not
impermanent? How can our daughter grow up into a
beautiful young lady? How can the situation in the
world improve at all?

We need impermanence for social justice and for
hope. If you suffer, it is not because things are
impermanent. It is because you believe things are
permanent. When a flower dies, you don't suffer much
because you understand that flowers are impermanent.
But on the other hand, you cannot accept the
impermanence of your beloved ones and you suffer
deeply as a result.

Aware of impermanence, you become positive, loving
and wise. Impermanence is good news. Without
impermanence, NOTHING would be possible. With
impermanence, every single door is open for change.
We can look at impermanence as an instrument for
our liberation.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nhat Hanh is a vietnamese buddhist monk and the
author of dozens of books.In 1967, Martin Luther King
nominated Thich Nhat Hanh for the Nobel Peace Prize,
saying: "I do not personally know of anyone more
worthy of this prize than this gentle monk from Vietnam.
His ideas for peace, if applied, would build a monument
to ecumenism, to world brotherhood, to humanity!"

Going with the flow

Swimming in circles by Dick Sutphen

I recently read about a woman who needed to clean out her fish bowl, but could not find a container in which to place her two goldfish. So she filled up her bathtub with a couple of inches of water and placed the fish in the tub.
After cleaning the bowl and returning for the goldfish, she found them swimming in a corner of the tub in a circle no bigger than the fish bowl.

Compare yourself to the fish in the tub. Do your fears and habits and the patterns of your life keep you swimming in a small circle?

Or do you live dangerously, exploring the potentials of your existence?

Margaret Stortz says, “It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.”

When making a new decision about your life, Osho advises, “... don’t choose the convenient, the comfortable, the respectable, the socially acceptable, the honorable. Choose something that rings a bell in your heart. Choose something that you would like to do in spite of any consequences.”

If you’re swimming in small circles and life isn’t as fulfilling as you want it to be, consider your level of aliveness. Aliveness is excitement, enjoyment in doing what you do. It’s that blood-pumping exhilaration, challenge, joy, stimulation, and pleasure that makes life worth living.

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The Eighth Chakra

The eighth chakra sits above the 7th chakra about two feet. It is the energy center of divine love, of spiritual compassion and spiritual selflessness. It also is the chakra that holds your karmic residue -- those energy patterns that you have held on to for more than one lifetime. When the eighth center begins to open up and expand, a new spiritual awareness begins to take shape. The individual begins to sense himself or herself as part of a larger community of people. This chakra is the gateway to other ideas, concepts and abilities. This center enables the individual to achieve out of body projection, spiritual perception and spiritual wisdom. I use the word spiritual here because these abilities and ideas are larger than the self and the earth. They go beyond the mundane and are concerned with healing of the planet and the self in regards to the Universe and ALL-THAT-IS.

Because karma is involved here, any kind of healing that can bring out and clear past life trauma or patterns will help the individual. However, keep in mind that as soon as you do clear away any of these old patterns, the individual will experience an acceleration in spiritual abilities. It would be a good idea, in a week or so, after such a healing, that you follow up with a Foot Chakra clearing, to facilitate the passing of these more intense energies. As this chakra clears the individual will pass much more spiritual energy very quickly and is apt to become overwhelmed easily. A good healing mantra to use with this center would be the phrase MA-AH-ZOD. This phrase can help to clear karmic residues out of this center. Focusing or chanting this phrase to yourself while doing a healing will assist you in pulling the energy down that you need to process the chakra. Another mantra for this chakra is DEE-EE-OH. This mantra helps the chakra to open and become more aware of these new spiritual energies that are passing through it. Mantras are very important when working with these spiritual energy centers because a mantra will unlock the energy needed to complete a healing on these levels.

The eighth chakra does have a color associated to it and it is what you consider to be ultraviolet light. Unfortunately you are unable to see what ultraviolet light looks like (at least not with your conventional vision). However, to give you a way to perceive ultraviolet light in a mundane sense, you could imagine a very deep violet light being interpenetrated with spiraling bands of green in it.

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Chakra balancing by Phylameana Lila Desy

Having your chakras balanced is important. Open and balanced chakras allow your life energy to flow naturally. An energy medicine practitioner trained in manipulating the energy flow of energy can assist you in getting misaligned chakras back to functioning properly. It may take one or more appointments with a practitioner to get your energy levels up to par. To maintain balance there are a variety of healthy actions you can take to help keep your chakras open and functioning properly.

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Crown chakra

The Crown Chakra is associated with the color violet or white. We use the seventh chakra as a tool to communicate with our spiritual nature. It is through this vortice that the life force is dispersed from the universe into the lower 6 chakras. It has been referred to as our "GOD SOURCE" - but this terminology might be confusing to anyone who equates God with religious dogma, because of this I choose to call it a spiritual connection or communicator. This chakra is often pictured as a lotus flower opening to allow spiritual awakening in an individual. The crown chakra could also be considered the well intuitive knowing is drawn from.

Chakra Seven - Associations

• Color - violet, white
• Sanskrit Name - sahasrara
• Physical Location - top of head
• Purposes - intuitive knowing, connection to one's spirituality, integration of the whole
• Spiritual Lesson - spirituality, living in the NOW
• Physical Disfunctions- mystical depression, diseases of the muscular system, skeletal system and the skin, chronic exhaustion not associated with physical ailments, sensitivity to light, sound, environment
• Mental and Emotional Issues - discovery of the divine, lack of purpose, loss of meaning or identity, trust, selflessness, humanitarianism, ability to see the bigger picture in the life stream, devotion, inspiration, values, ethics
• Information Stored Inside Crown Chakra - duality, magnetism, controlling patterns, emotional feelings (joy, anger, fear)
• Area of Body Governed - top center of the head, midline above the ears

Brow / Third eye chakra

The Brow Chakra is associated with the color indigo. It is also often referred to as the "third eye" or the "mind center." It is our avenue to wisdom - learning from our experiences and putting them in perspective. Our ability to separate reality from fantasy or delusions is in connection with the healthfulness of this chakra. Achieving the art of detachment beyond "small mindedness" is accomplished through developing impersonal intuitive reasoning. It is through an open brow chakra that visual images are received.

Chakra Six - Associations

• Color - indigo
• Sanskrit Name - ajna
• Physical Location - center of the forehead
• Purposes - action of ideas, insight, mind development
• Spiritual Lesson - understanding, reality check point, detachment, open mind
• Physical Dysfunctions- brain tumors, strokes, blindness, deafness, seizures, learning disabilities, spinal dysfunctions, panic, depression
• Mental and Emotional Issues - fear of truth, discipline, judgement, evaluation, emotional intelligence, concept of reality, confusion
• Information Stored Inside Sacral Chakra - seeing clear picture (symbolic or literal), wisdom, intuition, mental facilities, intellect
• Area of Body Governed - brain, neurological system, eyes, ears, nose, pituitary, pineal glands

Throat chakra

The Throat Chakra is associated with the color sky blue. This chakra is our will center. The healthfulness of the fifth chakra is in relation to how honestly one expresses himself/herself. Lying violates the body and spirit . We speak our choices with our voices (throats). All choices we make in our lives have consequences on an energetic level. Even choosing not to make a choice such as in repressing our anger (not speaking out) may manifest into laryngitis. We have all experienced that "lump in our throats" when we are at a crossroad of not knowing how to speak the right words in any given situation, perhaps even stuffing our own emotions. A challenge of the throat chakra is to express ourselves in the most truthful manner. Also to receive and assimilate information. Seek only the truth.

Chakra Five - Associations

• Color - blue
• Sanskrit Name - vishuddha
• Physical Location - throat, neck region
• Purposes - learning to take responsibility for one's own needs
• Spiritual Lesson - confession, surrender personal will over to divine will, faith, truthfulness over deceit
• Physical Dysfunctions- sore throat, mouth ulcers, scoliosis, swollen glands, thyroid dysfunctions, laryngitis, voice problems, gum or tooth problems, TMJ
• Mental and Emotional Issues - personal expression, creativity, addiction, criticism, faith, decision making (choices), will, lack of authority
• Information Stored Inside Throat Chakra - self-knowledge, truth, attitudes, hearing, taste, smell
• Area of Body Governed - throat, thyroid, trachea, neck vertebrae, mouth, teeth, gums, esophagus, parathyroid, hyperthalemus

Heart chakra

The Heart Chakra is associated with the color green or pink. This love center of our human energy system is often the focus in bringing about a healing. Thus, the words "Love Heals All" have great truth. Hurtful situations that can effect our emotional being are divorce or separation, grief through death, emotional abuse, abandonment, adultery. All of these are wounding to the heart chakra. Physical illnesses brought about by heartbreak require that an emotional healing occur along with the physical healing. Learning to love yourself is a powerful first step in securing a healthy fourth chakra. The "wounded child" resides in the heart chakra.

Chakra Four - Associations

• Color - green, pink
• Sanskrit Name - anahata
• Physical Location - center of chest
• Purposes - emotional empowerment
• Spiritual Lesson - forgiveness, unconditional love, letting go, trust, compassion
• Physical Disfunctions- heart conditions, asthma, lung & breast cancers, thoracic spine, pneumonia, upper back, shoulder problems
• Mental and Emotional Issues - love, compassion, confidence, inspiration, hope, despair, hate, envy, fear, jealousy, anger, generosity
• Information Stored Inside Heart Chakra - connections or "heart strings" to those whom we love
• Area of Body Governed - heart, circulatory system, blood, lungs, rib cage, diaphragm, thymus, breasts, esophagus, shoulders, arms, hands

Solar Plexus chakra

The Solar Plexus Chakra is associated with the color yellow. This is the area which defines our "self-esteem". The personality that develops during puberty is housed in this chakra....otherwise known as the "EGO". Anyone experiencing dysfunction of the third chakra is having difficulty obtaining or maintaining his/her own "personal power". This intuitive chakra is where we get our "gut instincts" that signal us to do or not to do something. Strong self-esteem is required for developing intuitive skills.

Chakra Three - Associations

• Color - yellow
• Sanskrit Name - manipura
• Physical Location - solar plexus
• Purposes - mental understanding of emotional life
• Spiritual Lesson - acceptance of your place in the life stream. (self-love)
• Physical Dysfunctions- stomach ulcers, intestinal tumors, diabetes, pancreatitis, indigestion, anorexia/bulimia, hepatitis, cirrhosis, adrenal imbalances, arthritis, colon diseases
• Mental and Emotional Issues - self esteem, fear of rejection, oversensitivity to criticism, self-image fears, fears of our secrets being found out, indecisiveness
• Information Stored Inside Sacral Chakra - personal power, personality, consciousness of self within the universe (sense of belonging), knowing
• Area of Body Governed - upper abdomen, umbilicus to rib cage, liver, gallbladder, middle spine, spleen, kidney, adrenals, small intestines, stomach

Sacral chakra

The Sacral Chakra is associated with the color orange or red-orange. I usually visualize the Sunkist orange that has been dyed to attract the produce buyer, or the orange red of an evening sunset when I'm focusing on spinning my second chakra. This chakra often offers us the opportunity to lessen our "control issues" and find a balance in our lives, teaching us to recognize that acceptance and rejection are not the only options in our relationships. The process of making changes in our life stream through our personal choices is a product of second chakra energy. A well-functioning second chakra helps one to maintain a healthy yin-yang existence.

Chakra Two - Associations

• Color - orange
• Sanskrit Name - swadhisthana
• Physical Location - lower abdomen to the navel
• Purposes - emotional connection
• Spiritual Lesson - creativity, manifestation. honoring relationships, learning to "let go"
• Physical Dysfunctions- low back pain, sciatica, ob/gyn problems, pelvic pain, libido, urinary problems
• Mental and Emotional Issues - blame, guilt, money, sex, power, control, creativity, morality
• Information Stored Inside Sacral Chakra - duality, magnetism, controlling patterns, emotional feelings (joy, anger, fear)
• Area of Body Governed - sexual organs, stomach, upper intestines, liver, gallbladder, kidney, pancreas, adrenal glands, spleen, middle spine

Root chakra

The Base or Root Chakra is associated with the color red. This chakra is the grounding force that allows us to connect to the earth energies and empower our beings. Focusing one's attention on the color of a cherry popsicle or a juicy red apple can help bring our energetic body "down to earth" and in alignment with our physical body when we find ourselves energetically fleeting or in other words....."spacing off."

Chakra One - Associations

• Color - red
• Sanskrit Name - muladhara
• Physical Location - base of the spine
• Purposes - kinesthetic feelings, movement
• Spiritual Lesson - material world lessons
• Physical Dysfunctions- lower back pain, sciatica, varicose veins, rectal tumors, depression, immune related disorders
• Mental and Emotional Issues - survival, self esteem, social order, security, family
• Information Stored Inside Root Chakra - familial beliefs, superstitions, loyalty, instincts, physical pleasure or pain, touch
• Area of Body Governed - spinal column, kidneys, legs, feet, rectum, immune system

Going with the flow

The chakra system

Chakras

Chakras are subtle energy centers from the Sanskrit word meaning "wheel of light". They look and feel like spinning discs and spheres when you turn your senses inward. The seven major chakras run in a line from the base of the spine to the top of the head and -in western medicine- are associated with a gland in the physical body. They interact with the physical body through two major vehicles, the endocrine system and the nervous system. Each of the seven chakras is associated with one of the seven endocrine glands -hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenal glands, reproductive glands: ovaries or testes- and also with a group of nerves called a plexus. Thus each chakra can be associated with particular parts of the body and particular functions within the body controlled by the plexus or the endocrine gland associated with that chakra. They are more dense than the aura but not as dense as the physical body. They are aspects of consciousness. Understanding the chakras allows you to understand the relationship between your consciousness and your body and to thus see your body as a map of your consciousness. When you feel tension in your consciousness, it is reflected in the chakra associated with that part of your consciousness experiencing the stress but also in the parts of the physical body associated with that chakra. The tension in the chakra is detected by the nerves of the plexus associated with that chakra and transmitted to the parts of the body controlled by that plexus. When the tension continues over a period of time or to a particular level of intensity, the person creates a symptom on the physical level. That symptom actually serves to communicate to the person through their body awareness what they have been doing to themselves in their consciousness.

10 easy ways to ground yourself by Kris Cahill

Grounding makes it easier for you to manifest what it is you want in your life. It enables you to release energies that get caught in your body, in your "inner-landscapes" but are not yours. It helps you to heal yourself by letting go of harmful energies that could have a negative effect on your body. Grounding is a wonderful way of making you feel more relaxed, of dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, pain and fatigue as it makes your body feel calmer, safer and more balanced. It is also a very good way of letting go of the past. Moreover, it does not have any unpleasant side effects.

There are some easy ways to ground yourself.

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Practical applications of energy medicine, by Francesca McCartney

Presently, energy medicine is practised in many forms. The following is a brief list of energy medicine applications:
1. Meditation / Prayer.
2. Acupuncture.
3. Chi gong or Qigong.
4. Reiki / Therapeutic Touch.
5. Homeopathy.
6. Biofeedback.
7. Intuitive Medicine.

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Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis

"The scientist knows that in the history of ideas, magic always precedes science, that the intuition of phenomena anticipates their objective knowledge" (Gauguelin, 1974, p.3).

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