Why do I invite people to connect with their chakras?
I work in the field of psychotherapy, then why do I invite people to connect with their chakras? That is a spiritual exercise, done in yoga classes, why make it an adjunct to therapy, or an undertaking in its own right?
Chakras are energy centers along the spine. Each chakra is tied to certain functions. Working with the chakras helps in clearing that energy or intensifying it or regulating it as needed. Also connecting with the energy of specific chakras aids not only in the functioning of those areas that it governs, but also helps in promoting balance and harmony within different aspects of the individual.
Ideally it helps one to connect with Spirit/Higher Self/ Divine intelligence too and bringing that wisdom into one’s day to day life. Working with chakras makes it easier to listen to your inner guidance and navigate interactions and relationships from that perspective.
In a sense it is a truly holistic view of the individual as it marries the transpersonal aspect, a spiritual understanding of consciousness with the somatic aspect, because the chakras are located in the body along the spine.
Wikipedia in talking about the history of psychology says “Distinctions in types of awareness appear in the ancient thought of India, influenced by Hinduism. A central idea of the Upanishads is the distinction between a person’s transient mundane self and their eternal unchanging soul. Divergent Hindu doctrines, and Buddhism, have challenged this hierarchy of selves, but have all emphasized the importance of reaching higher awareness. Yoga is a range of techniques used in pursuit of this goal.”
I attempt to bring the wisdom of Yoga and Upanishads by inviting people to connect with their own wisdom and eternal unchanging Soul through the work with chakras. If participants do not want to work with such lofty goals or do not believe in Souls, they are still welcome to target greater awareness into their lives and improve their lives in that way.
Each chakra has under its purview certain areas and objectives. The root chakra addresses issues of safety, security and belonging. The second chakra deals with desires and their fulfillment, with pleasure, a sense of well-being, emotional regulation and finding one’s place in the world. The third chakra is about personal power, impacting others and the world around you, the ripples you create in the work you do or your hobbies and interests, but energy going outward and its consequences. The fourth brings one into a more expanded sense of self where the concerns widen to include others, love and service enter the picture. The fifth is about expression, communication and creativity, relating to others through vocalization and other mediums of communication. The sixth is about intuition and Self-understanding. The seventh is about connecting with our higher purpose and with Spirit.
Essentially we are Souls having a human experience in our current lifetime. We are Love, Peace, Joy, Wisdom, Abundance and Beauty, because we are children of God. But we mistakenly identify with our mortal bodies and our conditioning from our current lifetime. We thus lose our way and struggle to get self-esteem, acceptance, position in society, security in relationships and so on. When all the time these qualities are true nature our essence. The work with chakras helps in shifting the focus, as well as the locus of control, from the external to the internal. Connecting with our own power, strength, love, kindness, acceptance, divinity we are able to overcome our personal issues and become a support to others.
The paradox is that the deeper we go within, the easier it is to be with others; and the more we offer to others the more fulfilled we feel within.