If you are familiar with chakras, then you can tell from my logo that I love chakras. The rainbow-colored spheres within my logo are representative of the chakra system within the body.
If you are unfamiliar, here’s a quick lesson: There are seven energy centers called chakras (literally “wheels”) that store energy/life force/prana. They are along the spinal column and correlate to major nerve ganglia branching forth from the spinal column. Each has a different relationship to a gland in the body’s endocrine system. Each stimulates different organs and systems in the body. Hatha Yoga activates these energy centers releasing the energy that flows through the spine. Yoga helps these energy centers/nerve bundles to function correctly clearing blocks that may be there. Each chakra also is associated with a mental/emotional focus. In each newsletter I’ll highlight how you can work with a particular chakra to correspond with the season.
The sacral chakra is located in the lower abdominal area between the navel and the pubic bone. It is associated with the energy of the moon and the emotions of the body. (“Crescent Moon” pose was the highlighted feature this month!)
My opening section dwelled on going with the flow and detaching from the outcome. Learning to go with the flow and detach from the outcome is the hallmark of the sacral chakra. It is this very detachment that allows the Universe to do its thing—to create something greater for your life than you could ever imagine. The sacral chakra is also your creativity center. This chakra’s message is to quit holding on—detach and go with the flow so you can create the life of your dreams.
The point of detachment is just that—don’t direct how your dream will manifest because the Universe has plans bigger than your imagination. So why would you want to limit that? Detach! Aren’t you even a tad bit curious what the Universe will conjure up if it knew no bounds?
As you learn that you are simply along for the ride—one that works better without your struggling—you get out of your own way. As the opening section pointed out, when the Universe is given free reign, it will deliver. I am still in amazement at the explicit way it pointed me to my new studio location.
The Sacral chakra is associated with the element of water. I’m reminded of a reference to the childhood song “Row, row, row your boat” and a humorous analogy to ending the struggle that is pointed out in the song, as presented by Wayne Dyer. He pointed out that the song reminds you to row, row, row your boat—not someone else’s boat, but your boat. Focusing on your life and your plans will aide in flowing gently down the stream. The emphasis is on “gently” floating without struggle, and floating down the stream vs. against the current. Let the water take you where it may and your life will proceed “merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily” into your dream life—“Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily…life is but a dream!”—THAT is the sacral chakra at work, and you were given explicit instructions on activating this energy as a child.
It is when you were a child that you were detached from outcomes the most. As a child you are in the present moment by nature. As an adult, it seems you need to relearn how to be in the present moment. Your creativity was also the most unencumbered as a child. Ask a group of kindergartners how many of them can draw and they will not understand how ANY of them can not! So become like a child again, and row, row, row your boat gently down the stream…merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily—your life will be a dream!
New International Version (© 1984)
And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Be like a child and create your own kingdom of heaven here on earth—your joy, your happiness, here on earth.
There are several sacral chakra ways to be like a child:
- Let yourself laugh out loud with excitement whenever you can. The owner at my new studio, Awana Brewington, has an infectious giggle—she makes me smile from ear to ear whenever I hear her laugh, and that is often! It makes me happy just to be around her! Make others want to be around you too! That’s sacral chakra energy at work…that’s being your own larger than life, beautiful sensual, creative self!
- Be curious about everything! Curiosity helps you learn and grow. Not having an interest in things makes you stagnant.
- Have unbridled faith that everything is as it should be—read that to mean—quite worrying!
One of my favorite affirmations (because I needed it so much!) is:
The idea that something is wrong is easily lifted from me.
How many of you always feel like something is wrong? How’s that working for you? Not so much for me either!
- Trust first. Trust that you’ve done all you can when you’ve done your best. Trust that effort yields results every time. Trust that everything happens for a reason—even the lessons. Trust yourself, your instincts, your goals. Don’t let skepticism steal the juice from your life. Have faith, mentioned earlier, and trust in the bigger picture.
- Believe you are a creative being. Know that your creation is no less awe-inspiring or deserving than any other—even the well-known artist. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder—and your eyes should be on your side.
You are in serious need of stimulating this chakra when you take yourself too seriously, and can’t let that infectious laugh out to play! When you don’t have an interest in what is going on around you, or have a decrease in your creativity—this chakra is under-activated! When you can’t detach or let go of the past, call on the sacral chakra for a regroup! You need some orange!
The sacral chakra vibrates to the color orange. Want to add some childlike exuberance to your life? Add orange!
I’ve read that in times of stress or after a shock or surprise, wearing orange can help your body to return to a state of balance. (Source: Healing with crystals and chakra energies, by Sue and Simon Lilly.)
My husband and I have an orange wall in our living room—long story. It was supposed to be a “rag on” paint that was to result in looking rustic like a red/orange cave—Southwestern style. The vibrant orange wall that resulted was not exactly what I was looking for, but we stayed with it for these past few years; and I’ve come to appreciate the therapeutic value of orange. Coupled with prayerful Native American prints from Father John Giuliani of Christ in Ascension as well as John the Baptist, I find the orange backdrop to be very soothing to end my day with.
Orange will enable you to get out of the head—your “way too analytical” side—and flow with life. It seems counter-intuitive that to find balance, you let go, doesn’t it? But that’s exactly what happens because when you let go and go with the flow—wherever this water element chakra chooses to take you—you quit the struggle and you quit the effort. Let go of trying to control and be like water, pooling where you find easy comfortable space. Try adding the orange energy of the sacral chakra to your environment and see if you find your inner child, your creativity, your exuberance, your balanced life.
Breathwork and Visualization:
This breathwork can be done seated with straight spine, or lying down if that’s more comfortable. Begin breathing deep breaths way down into your belly. Feel yourself relaxing with each breath, releasing stress as your shoulders drop down with each exhale, relaxing your body into the surface it is resting upon. Do this for several breaths until you feel completely relaxed.
Begin to focus on your sacral chakra located in the lower abdominal area between the navel and the pubic bone. Bring your breath to this area, visualizing the color orange building in the sacral chakra into an orange energy ball.
Bring to mind a memory of when you were a child or when you witnessed a child filled with wonder and excitement. Connect to that magic. Feel the magic and sense of childlike wonder, faith, and enthusiasm that is found in the sacral chakra area. Let that feeling build into a big ball of exuberant, orange energy. Go on, it’s easy! No one is watching you! Just let go and know that you still have the spontaneous child within you! You will always be that young child. Don’t let an old person into your body!
Stay with this feeling for as long as you desire, adding a smile to your face.
Affirmations:
- I will always be that young girl / guy
- It is safe to have life easy and pleasurable.
- I allow pleasure, sweetness, and sensuality into my life.
- I allow abundance and prosperity into my life.
- I am enough. What I do is enough. What I have is enough. Who I am and
- I trust the Universe to give me everything I need for my growth
and development. - I am enough. What I do is enough. What I have is enough. Who I am and what I do is enough.
- I open myself to the beauty, joy, and harmony of the Universe and I enjoy it.
- I trust the process of life.
- I love myself exactly as I am right now.
- I rest in the knowing that I am guided in all that I do and all that I experience.
- I greet this day in joy, knowing that I am being guided to experience only the highest and best.
- I live my life joyfully today, knowing that all is indeed well. Life is good.
Sources:
Science of Mind May 2012 personal affirmations
Diet and Sacral Chakra:
Just as an under-active sacral chakra affects your exuberance and creativity in life, it also affects your joints making them stiff. Orange foods create flow in your body—releasing toxins and stress and adding lubrication to your stiff joints. Orange fruits: Oranges, peaches, apricots. Orange vegetables: Pumpkins, peppers, carrots. Other orange foods: Seafood such as shellfish, salmon. We can be attracted to orange foods when we need to release significant stress or toxicity. Make sure you drink enough liquids!
Source: Healing with crystals and chakra energies by Sue and Simon Lilly
Aromatherapy and Sacral Chakra:
Young Living Essential Oils™ for the Sacral Chakra: Forgiveness, Inner Child, SARA (if working through any type of abuse), Frankincense, 3 Wise Men Any of these oils will help balance and support this chakra, which deals with issues of our inner child and
relationship issues.
Also try: Sandalwood, bitter orange, myrrh, and vanilla.
If aromatherapy interests you, I use Young Living Essential Oils™ which are therapeutic, food-grade oils. Please inquire if you are interested in purchasing a favorite scent and I can add your request to my personal monthly order. Essential oils raise the vibrational frequency of the body. When the vibrational frequency of the body drops, we become more receptive to ill health: http://justalist.blogspot.com/2008/03/vibrational-frequency-list.html. Therapeutic-grade essential oils are great to have in your arsenal of health promoting natural products.
Gem therapy and the Sacral Chakra: Gemstones amplify the energy when placed in contact with your chakras. For those of you unsure on this subject, consider that it’s scientifically proven that everything is energy. Nothing is really solid. Why wouldn’t the energy of a stone work effectively with the energy in our bodies just as some research speculates that the energy of computers, cell phones, and microwaves may affect our bodies? At the very least, I find that holding a favorite stone is like a talisman for me, or a “worry stone”. As my favorite author, Wayne Dyer, likes to say, “If it’s a placebo effect, I’ll take two”.
Some Sacral Chakra gems are: Carnelian, Orange coral, Amber, Gold Topaz, and Fire Opal.
If gem therapy interests you, you can find a great selection at www.crystallinelight.com. I’ve known Jennifer, the owner, for many years and love her products (and her)!
Yoga poses for the Sacral Chakra: All yoga poses essentially activate the chakras. Some yoga poses to stimulate the sacral chakra include: Crescent lunge (Highlighted pose above), Butterfly pose, Pelvic tilts, and Goddess Squat, among others.
