Your physical and psychological evolution, 
as well as your spiritual journey, are all reflected in the energies of your chakras.

Over the past few years, I struggled with sacral-iliac and pelvic floor problems. They were so bad that in 2015 I had to leave work for two months due to the pain. I saw doctors with various specialties from different countries around the world, physical therapists, massage therapists, cranial sacral therapists, and more esoteric healers. I found some treatments to be temporarily helpful, some to be hurtful, and some to be neither. My eventual healing happened through a combination of understanding the underlying emotional issues that were involved, increasing my physical strength, and Energy Medicine treatments plus daily energy balancing.

For reference, the sacrum is ruled by the second chakra so I became pretty interested in what it had to teach me. One day, I read this affirmation related to this chakra–“I deserve to enjoy life”–and I burst into tears. If you know me, you probably think I enjoy life, and I do. But, deep inside there was a part of me that didn’t believe I was supposed to be so happy and enjoy life. In fact, the story in my head from my childhood was “if you’re having too much fun, you’re doing something wrong or bad.” Another story was “You should be working all of the time.” And, “You should be helping others, not having fun.”

This revelation was at the beginning of my deep recovery. I can’t say that everything in my body behaves perfectly, but it is 95% better, and I am deeply grateful. I continue to explore the themes related to the second chakra, like creativity, spontaneity, and wonder. I work at staying connected to these important expressions of living and use energy medicine techniques to test and balance it.

What are the 7 chakras and why do they matter?

The seven chakras have been written about in ancient texts of Tantra and yoga as important subtle energy centers which coordinate the flow of prana (vital energy) through our body. The ancient mystics of India often illustrated the chakra system as brightly colored circles along the spine, arranged in spectrum order with Sanskrit symbols in their centers. Chakra literally means “wheel” or “disk”, and these power centers in the body receive and radiate energy.

As I wrote about earlier, it can be quite helpful to work on stabilizing and balancing chakras to maintain physical health and emotional well-being. A chakra imbalance can express itself in physical, mental, or emotional dis-ease. For example, a person often suffering from a sore throat or difficulty speaking and expressing herself could point to an imbalance of the fifth, throat, chakra. Not feeling seen in the world, particularly in the area of work, could point to issues in the third, solar plexus, chakra. Not feeling safe or supported could be related to the root chakra.

Energy can become sort of stuck in one or more of the chakras. This can be caused by stress, tension, lack of exercise, toxins in our diet, poor sleep, and air pollution – to name a few. Thankfully, Energy Medicine gives us powerful tools and techniques to clear out these blockages.

The more I learned about chakras, and the more I got in tune with my body, the more I realized you can feel them. Sometimes it can feel like a cool breeze, a subtle vibration, or a warm tingling sensation somewhere along your spine. You can sense it. And you can work with them.

Over the next two months in my Energy Medicine Classes, I will focus on one at a time. This is your opportunity to learn about each chakra’s characteristics, how to balance the chakra, and how to work with it so that it remains clear and working for your highest good. In addition, I offer private, one-on-one sessions for people to discover where they might need an energy boost.

Below is a description of each one of the chakras. See if you can identify an area where you might need extra care. Donna Eden, Founder of Energy Medicine, said that if she could do only one treatment with a client, it would be to work on the chakras. Come and find out what chakra work can do for you. Sign up for individual Energy Medicine Yoga classes or the whole month here https://tasting-mindfulness.square.site/.

Brief Description of the Chakras: (and class date)

1^st or Root Chakra—(Muladhara) The Urge for Life: Located at the base of the spine, this first chakra is associated with survival, grounding, and basic needs. When balanced, it provides feelings of safety, security, and stability. Imbalances might manifest as anxiety, financial stress, or feeling disconnected from one’s body. (August 6)

2nd or Sacral Chakra—(Svadhisthana) Childlike Wonder, Joy, Intuition, Sexuality and Creativity: The 2nd chakra is the seat of our natural innocence, our wonder, joy, and creativity. A balanced sacral chakra supports healthy sexuality and creative flow, while imbalances may lead to emotional instability or creative blocks. Faith and trust, delight and passion, aesthetic sensibilities, intuition, psychic abilities, and natural healing are all characteristics of this chakra. (August 13)

3^rd or Solar Plexus Chakra—(Manipura) Ego, Identity, and Power: “Who am I?” “What do others think of me?” “What is required of me?” “What do I want?” “How do I get it?” are all themes of the third chakra. Located in the upper abdomen, this chakra relates to personal power, confidence, and willpower. When functioning well, it provides strong self-esteem and the ability to make decisions confidently. Imbalances might show up as control issues, low self-worth, or digestive problems. (August 20)

4^th or Heart Chakra—(Anahata) Love and Connection: The soul embraces the body at the Heart chakra, making it the bridge for our natural, loving connection to others, to ourselves, and to the universe. It also carries the wounds and losses of broken love. Situated in the center of the chest, it serves as a bridge between the lower physical chakras and upper spiritual ones. A balanced heart chakra enables loving relationships and self-acceptance, while imbalances can result in difficulty with intimacy or excessive people-pleasing. (August 27)

5th or Throat Chakra—(Vishuddha) Integration and Expression: Sometimes referred to as the “Holy Grail” of the chakras, information from all the other chakras passes through the Throat chakra, which integrates this information for internal communication as well as expression in the world. Located at the throat, this chakra oversees communication, truth, and self-expression. It influences how we speak our truth and listen to others. When balanced, it supports clear communication and authentic expression. Imbalances may manifest as difficulty speaking up, fear of judgment, or talking excessively. (September 3)

6th or Third \ Eye Chakra—(Ajna) Sensory/Extrasensory Perception and Abstract Thought: The 6th chakra gives us perspective on how everything within us, and in our environment, fits and relates to everything else.  Seeing, hearing, and smelling fall within the domain of the 6^th chakra. With the 6th chakra, we are also able to transcend the world of thought. It is the chakra of sensory and extrasensory. Positioned between the eyebrows, the third eye chakra relates to intuition, wisdom, and spiritual insight. A balanced third eye chakra enhances intuitive abilities and mental clarity, while imbalances might cause confusion, lack of focus, or excessive intellectualization. (September 10)

7th or Pineal (Crown) Chakra—(Sahasrara) Soul and spirit connection with the cosmos is the theme of the Crown chakra. This is the energy center that places the self in the context of the bigger picture. Located at the top of the head, this highest chakra connects to spirituality, enlightenment, and universal consciousness. When balanced, it brings a sense of peace and spiritual connection. Imbalances may show as spiritual disconnection or, conversely, becoming too detached from earthly concerns. (September 17)

Review of all the Chakras and Celebration of the Fall Equinox (September 24)