The Labyrinth Project NEWSLETTER...consciously with the chakra centers to help unblock chakra...
Transcript of The Labyrinth Project NEWSLETTER...consciously with the chakra centers to help unblock chakra...
“The chakras profoundly affect your spirit, mind and body. It is through the chakras that these aspects of your being are connected and can be aligned and balanced.” ~ Carolyn Shola Arewa, Way of Chakras
What Are Chakras?
I am the first one to admit that I am not an expert on chakras. I am familiar
with them and with the body’s energy centers in general, but I have not
specifically done chakra work. I plan to remedy this lack of education because
the more the learn about them, the more fascinated I am!
The word chakra means “wheel” in Sanskrit and refers to cone-shaped
vortices of energy which spin and vibrate within our energetic body. Humans
have many chakras (energy centers). Seven of the major chakras radiate out
from different points along the spine forming a vertical axis and are connected
to and regulate the various aspects of our body, mind and spirit.
A Bit About Quantum Physics
In order to understand what chakras are and how they work we need a little knowledge about quantum
physics. Science has finally proven that everything that exists is made up of energy. This is nothing new, it’s
something Socrates and the ancient rishis in India knew thousands of years ago. Quantum Physics says that as
you look deeper into the workings of the atom, you see that there is nothing there (i.e. matter) – just energy
waves. It turns out an atom is actually an invisible force field, a kind of miniature tornado that emits waves of
electrical energy (vibrational frequencies). Those energy waves can be measured and their effects seen, but
they are not a material reality. They have no substance because they are just electricity.
Our body, of course, is made up of atoms and these atoms are continuously giving off and absorbing light and
energy. Every cell in our body is lined up in such a way that it has both a negative and positive voltage, inside
and outside. This is what the Chinese call ‘Chi,’ a natural force of life energy that can be directed and used in
various ways. For example, It is believed that this is the energy used in hands-on healing. This brings us back to
chakras, the energy centers in our body that make up our energy field that, in turn, governs the wellness of our
mind, body and spirit.
The Labyrinth Project NEWSLETTER
July-August 2017 Issue 12
Welcome to the July-August issue of the Labyrinth Project newsletter. This issue focuses on the use of labyrinths in Chakra work.
Chakra Colors
The chakra energy centers act as pumps or valves, regulating the flow of energy through our body’s energy
system. The functioning (or malfunctioning) of the chakras can impact our health and well-being so it is
important to know that that chakras can slow down or close off and that they need to be cared for in order to
function smoothly. You will notice that each chakra has an associated color and that the chakra/colors are
numbered moving from the bottom up:
7. Violet – Crown (Spiritual connection)
6. Indigo – Brow/3rd eye (Imagination/thought)
5. Blue – Throat (communication/creativity)
4. Green – Heart (Love / balance)
3. Yellow – Solar Plexus (Transformation)
2. Orange – Sacral (Movement/connection)
1. Red – Root (Foundation)
Practitioners who work with chakras have many different ways of monitoring and caring for their energy
centers (mostly involving focused meditation) in order to keep them functioning efficiently. One of the lesser
known ways of working with chakras and keeping them healthy is the focus of this month’s newsletter: using
the 7-circuit labyrinth as a walkable chakra mediation path.
The Chakra system is rich with symbolism drawing not only on color and sound, but also on the mystical quality
of the number seven, believed to be a number of transformation and vision. In medieval times, the number 7
was seen to correspond to the seven visible planets and can also represent the seven days of the week, musical
notes, harmonic chords, and of course, the seven circuit labyrinth.
Walking the Rainbow Path
The classical labyrinth, an ancient meditative tool, can be used to help us connect more
consciously with the chakra centers to help unblock chakra pathways in a way that facilitates
finding balance and experiencing the labyrinth on a deeper level. Notice that the paths of the
7-circuit labyrinth, numbered 1 through 7, plus the center, can correspond to the numbered
chakra pattern.
With labyrinths, we count the circuits from the outside-in. A circuit is the number of times the
path moves around the center of the labyrinth. Any 7-circuit labyrinth will work. Each labyrinth
path corresponds to the colors of the same-numbered chakra center. Also, Notice that you
don’t walk these paths in numerical order, from 1 to 8, the way you would work with chakras
on their own.
In a 7-curcuit labyrinth the sequence of the labyrinth paths are: 3-2-1-4-7-6-5-8 as you walk inward toward the
center. When you exit the labyrinth, you walk the pathways in reverse: 8-5-6-7-4-1-2-3. The chakra points will
be worked in the same sequence as the labyrinth is walked.
Working with Chakra/Labyrinth Meditations
There are many different levels at which we can work with chakras. The most basic work is focused on ensuring
that each energy center is open and working optimally. How well a chakra works is dependent on how open it
is. Psychologically, the chakras take us through our emotions and experiences. Painful experiences and strong
emotions can cause us to unconsciously close or block the chakra associated with it. Like everything else,
emotions are energy! Fully opened and functioning chakras influence your entire being and can result in greater
spiritual awareness, psycho-emotional development and improved physical health. We can use a simple
visualization on each chakra to ensure it is open and functioning while walking the labyrinth meditatively. Here
is a very basic sample meditation you can try:
Chakra cleansing labyrinth walk visualization:
At the opening of the labyrinth, pause, breathe, ground.
Remember to walk at your own natural pace.
We enter the labyrinth on the 3rd
path (Solar Plexus-Yellow) – As you walk visualize the
area of your solar plexus and visualize a bright, sparkling yellow light spinning clockwise.
As it spins, visualize it becoming brighter. It will spin at its own pace, not too fast or slow,
and will stay the same size. As it becomes brighter the light will heal any unwanted energy
accumulated at the chakra and allow it to open fully. Keep this visualization throughout
the walk on this particular (3rd
) path. At the turns, the paths change number and color.
Follow the same process for the rest of the other chakra-paths using their respective
colors:
Labyrinth Path
Color Chakra
3 Yellow Solar Plexus
2 Orange Sacral
1 Red Root
4 Green Heart
7 Violet Crown
6 Indigo Third Eye
5 Blue Throat
Center Sacred Center/ Axis Mundi
Once at the center, take your time. Stay as long as you need to. When you are ready,
begin to make your way back out of the labyrinth along the path.
Again, walk at your own pace. Focus only on putting one foot in front of the other. Simply
notice any thoughts or feelings you may have. Don’t judge anything that may come up.
Upon leaving the labyrinth, pause, breathe, give thanks.
Afterward you may want to journal about your experiences.
Note that Finger labyrinths can also be used. It can also help to have a labyrinth (finger or walking size) where
the paths are colored to reflect the colors of the chakras. If using a walking labyrinth you may want to use visual
cues for the color of each path. You can line each path with a ribbon the color of the chakra the path is
associated with, use colored rock to line the paths, use colored mulch or even colored flags! People who have
combined the labyrinth path and chakras in this way have reported that the effect of physically walking the
chakra meditation is extremely powerful and effective.
ABOUT THE LABYRINTH PROJECT The Labyrinth Project was created to promote and support community wellness throughout Amador County. It is supported by Northern California Mental Health America, a 501c3 nonprofit program using Proposition 63 funds, through the Mental Health Service Act with Amador County Behavioral health. The focus of The Labyrinth Project is to promote personal wellness and stress reduction by introducing the benefits of labyrinth walking through workshops, presentations and labyrinth walks. Labyrinth Facilitator: Marla Vander Meer (209) 256-3750
Web sites: Labyrinthos www.labyrinthos.net The Labyrinth Coalition www.labyrinths.org PAX works www.paxworks.com Peaceful Endeavors www.peacefulendeavours.com The Labyrinth Shop www.labyrinthshop.com The Labyrinth Society Labyrinthsociety.org The Wellfed Spirit-labyrinths www.wellfedspirit.org Veriditas Veriditas.org The World-wide Labyrinth Locator labyrinthlocator.com Facebook: The Labyrinth Project of Amador County Children and the Labyrinth Global Healing Response Labyrinth Community Journeys Labyrinth Makers Forum Veriditas Labyrinth Group The Story Path for Children Information The Labyrinth Society The Labyrinth Society – Global Group Recovery Labyrinth Project Discover Labyrinths Labyrinthos Find us on Face Book! The Labyrinth Project now has a Face Book page! Find us under The
Labyrinth Project in Amador County. Here you can find out what is going on with The
Labyrinth Project, activities in our area, and learn more about labyrinths.
EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Friday, Aug. 11 & 18; Sept. 8 & 22: Labyrinths for Stress Reduction Group at Sierra Wind, 2:00 to 3:00p.m. Other special monthly events to be announced! Check our facebook page or give Marla a call! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Back Issues Available:
Get this monthly newsletter and back issues for free!
Call Marla at 209-256-3750.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Labyrinth Project support services are available AT NO COST! Schedule a presentation, workshop, labyrinth walk, labyrinth event, or labyrinth building consultation. Talks, workshops and walks are offered with a variety of focuses and can be tailored to your specific needs. For more info. Contact Marla, The Labyrinth Project Coordinator @ (209) 256-3750. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Do you have ideas for labyrinth talks, classes or walks that you would like to participate in? Suggestions are welcome!
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COMING NEWSLETTER TOPICS:
September – October 2017~ Sacred Center November – December 2017 ~ Highlights
from the Labyrinth Society Annual Conference.