Sharing is Caring, but only in New York

As half of the sister team at Healing Hands of Reiki, I invite anyone in the NYC area to join us for Reikishare in the new year. HHOR Reikishares meet once a month on the second Monday. Our dates for the beginning of 2010 are February 8, March 8 and April 5. We gather at 7 pm.

Each Reikishare consists of a meet and greet, meditation, sharing (everyone gets a turn on the reiki table receiving reiki and helping to give reiki to others).

Space is limited to ten participants, so please call (646-355-7934) early to reserve your place. Light refreshments are served. The cost is $20.

Hope to see you there!

Energize me

It seems to me that one of the main reasons that many writers don't complete their projects or take forever to do them is that they lack the energy for sustained sessions at the keyboard.  Most writers work at something other than their novel and real life can be exhausting.  Still there are ways to boost your energy level that have nothing to do with Red Bull or other over the counter pick-me-ups.

First, learn to feel the energy field that flows around you.  Yes, we're talking about the aura.  Sit up straight in a firm chair with your feet firmly on the floor.  Rub your hands together vigorously for a couple or three minutes.   Your palms should be warm and possibly tingly.  Spread them apart slowly, keeping them parallel to one another until there is about six inches between them.  Then slowly (again) move your hands together.  At some point you should feel resistance to bringing your hands together, like two opposite poles of a magnet repelling.  This is a very subtle energy, so don't expect to get knocked over the head with this sensation.  When you can feel it slightly, cup your hands a little like you a holding a ball.  How big a ball do you have?  Try to expand it by pulling your hands apart like you are pulling taffy, then try to make a bigger ball.  With practice this should be easy to recognize and to do.

Now to build energy for stamina.  Sit comfortably with your back straight and your feet on the floor.  Inhale and imagine your body drawing in white light instead of oxygen.  Breathe deeply, pulling air into tanden rather than the lungs.  The tanden is the gravitational center of the body believed to be the true energy source inside the body.  As you exhale, imagine this white light spreading out through your aura invigorating your whole body.  Make sure your breathing is deliberate--in through the nose and out through the mouth.   While you're at it, you can repeat an affirmation of your choosing about your skill, prowess and creativity as a writer, but that's up to you.     
   
I've talked before about kundalini energy and its ability to rise through the chakras.  You can help it flow by activating each chakra by chanting its sound in order.  The AM sound should be like ohm as in bomb (not am as in lamb).  The sounds are:

root--lam

sacral--vam

solar plexus--ram

heart--yam

throat--ham

brow--om

crown--silent aum

Chant each sound seven times, visuaizing the energy from that chakra increasing with each repetition, before moving on to the next.  When you get to the crown chakra it's more of an internal vibration than an actual sound.  Let me know how this works for you.

Heading in the right direction

The crown chakra is the last of the major seven and is seated predictably at the crown of the head.  It is the portal of spirituality, divine guidance and psychic ability.  Body parts associated with this chakra are the pituitary, pineal/cerebral cortex and the skin.  The colors of the crown chakra are violet and white.  Crystals that work well with this chakra are clear quartz, amethyst and diamonds.  Scents are rosewood and frankincense.  Someone with a balanced crown chakra has greater spiritual potential, is able to find and follow bliss.  Someone with an unbalanced crown chakra can suffer from depression, obsessional thinking and confusion.

 To stimulate the crown chakra, try prayer. visualization or meditation.  One of my favorite meditations for chakra balancing comes from Laurelle Shanti Gaia.  Try Infinite Spectrum every day for a week and see if you notice a change.

The eyes have it

We are now at the penultimate chakra, the brow or third eye chakra, that, not surprisingly, can be found between the physical eyes on the brow bone.  This chakra is indigo in color and governs issues of intuition, imagination, dreaming and wisdom. Opening and expanding the third eye is a pursuit that leads to greater psychic abilities and a deeper connection with the divine.  Crystals that aid with brow chakra work are lapis lazuli, azurite and especially amethyst.  Hyacinth and violet are two scents associated with this chakra.  The brow chakra's element is that of light energy.   


A person with a balanced third eye chakra has a healthy sense of ego, presience, ability to learn and think creatively. Someone with an unbalanced third eye chakra can be short-sighted and prone to nightmares and learning difficulties.

Clearing your throat

The throat chakra is one of the most important for writers and other creative folks. The throat chakra governs communication, creativity, and self-expression--everything a growing writer needs. The throat chakra is located at the base of the throat and is linked to the thyroid, neck, ears, and teeth.  It's color is blue; crystals that resonate with it are turquoise, agate, sapphire and sodalite (my favorite).   Scents are myrrh and chamomile.

Not surprisingly, a person with a balanced throat chakra is able to organize, accept situations as they are, communicates easily.  Someone whose throat chakra is out of whack is perfectionistic, unable to express words and emotions.  Sounds to me like when the dreaded internal editor is working overdrive.

So the next time you're feeling writer's block, maybe it's your throat chakra that needs clearing.  One way to do this is to find a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down.  Imagine your body relaxing part by part, from the soles of your feet up to the crown of your head.  Imagine a pool of deep blue at the base of your throat (the chakra).  Is the color muddy or clear?  Does the chakra spin and if so easily or sluggishly?  Focus on the chakra until the color runs clear and spins easily.

I often find when I am clearing my chakras that I feel the urge to lie down and if I do lie down I fall asleep.  If this happens to you, pay attention to what you dream.  Often it will have to do with the issue causing the block.   

Testing . . . testing

Now we've reached past the halfway mark in talking about the chakras, let's have some fun.  I don't vouch for the reliability of any of the following, but I found them enjoyable, if that means anything to you.

Click here for a cool chakra test.  You can also find more ways to open and expand the chakras.

Here's another quiz.

If you've got children, you might appreciate Selena's goddess pages for another quiz.


Or you can take the chakra test.  Below are my (not surprising) partial results.

The Artistic One

You have scored  100% Expression  - Your dominant Chakra is the "Throat or Blue Chakra"

The "Throat or Blue Chakra" is where the energy for communication and self expression originates from. It is located - as one may easily assume by its name - in one's throat. And this is the chakra which is most developed in you at this time.

Depending on your percentage score, there is always more room for development. When this chakra is under-active, you may stop speaking, become introverted and shy, and not be willing to communicate and express yourself. In many cases this may be due to your fear of speaking the truth. If over-active and out of balance with your other chakras, you may tend to become domineering, and also distance yourself from others. Your talents can suffer greatly when this chakra is out of balance.  What is most important is to find balance amongst all 7 chakras.

The Heart of the Matter

The heart chakra is the fourth of seven and needs little explanation.  It is located in the fenter of the chest, near the actual heart.  It is the dividing line between the lower chakras (base, sacral, solar plexus) and the upper (throat, brow, crown).  The energy of the heart chakra affects the lungs, the heart and the thymus.  The color of the heart chakra is green (or a soft pink).  Both pink and or green stones resonate with the heart chakra including calcite, jade, moonstone, rose quartz, and malachite.  Aromatherapy scents are bergamot, Melissa and rose.

A person with a balanced heart chakra is compassionate, understanding, loving, able to fall in love easily.  Someone with an unbalanced hear chakra is fearful, co-dependent, and dreads both commitment and betrayal.

To expand your heart chakra:  Get into a comfortable seated position with your back straight and your feet on the floor.  Close your eyes and breathe deeply (to a count of three).  As you inhale imagine that you are taking in bright, healing, loving light.  Exhale just as slowly, imagining that energy spreading throughout your body, more and more with each breath.  Let your energy go down to the Earth through your feet and up to the heavens through your crown.  When you are ready, come back into yourself and open your eyes.  You should feel calm and more relaxed.