Fear

I have been meditating on my Chakra’s for the past few weeks, using the symbolic lotus that represents each Chakra and chanting the corresponding sound. The results have been amazing, leaving me uplifted and energized.

During a more recent meditation, I felt particularly connected to the second Chakra, Swadhisthana, or Sacral. It’s located low in the abdomen and is often related to the sexual organs. The Sanskrit of Swadhisthana translates to mean 'self dwelling place'. It’s also the place where we hold onto emotions.

I visualised the crimson lotus with white crescent moon, then I saw the waves of the ocean under the moonlit sky gently lapping back and forth. Suddenly I was swimming in the ocean and there was a shark. It immediately sparked a feeling of fear. I quickly dismissed this thinking my mind had wondered off and I was a little annoyed that I had let this happen to spoil such a beautiful meditation. I continued on with the rest of the meditation raising the Kundalini up through all the Chakra’s. After the seventh and final Chakra, the Kundalini travels back down through the body stoping for just a moment at each Chakra, to finally rest at the base Chakra. During this process, again I saw the ocean under the moonlight sky at the second Chakra, then again I could see myself swimming and a shark attacked me. I knew then this had come up for a reason. I could feel the fear, I recognised it. So I acknowledged the fear and finished the meditation.

Remarkably, I felt calm. I took some time to contemplate this feeling of fear and realised it was a associated with the uncertainty of the future. The fear of not having control of current situations in my life. And the fear of not being able to receive and give the love I know I desire and deserve.

Working with the Chakra’s can produce incredible results. The body and mind will cleanse and balance leaving a positive awareness enabling the next phase of growth and development to continue the journey of life.

Breath II

Gustav Klimt, Love (1895)

It's the elixir of life. Without it we cannot exist.

At a recent yoga class, the teacher commented on how so many people come into the yoga space and focus on the breath. We leave our shoes at the door, we wear minimal clothing and forget about the outside world. For 90 minutes we leave behind our day-to-day titles and duties of parent, sibling, employee, entrepreneur or boss. For just a while, none of this matters. It's just about the breath and this one thing unites us all.

It's the one time we can be true to ourselves, be truly ourselves and not worry about other factors. It is amazing and beautiful.

This is so powerful. Something so simple, yet vital, can bring harmony. The transition and journey that yoga can take you on is simply breathtaking.

Breath

Gustav Klimt, Philosophy (1900)

It’s the elixir of life. Without it we cannot exist.

Most of us breathe without thinking about it. If we slow the breath down and consciously breathe - deeply, deliberately with each inhale and each exhale the benefits become apparent. The mind begins to calm, the heartbeat becomes more rhythmic and the panic disappears.

Fight and flight is a normal bodily response to situations of discomfort. But living in the 21^st Century with everything and everyone moving so much faster we bring this auto-mechanism response on more often than necessary causing us to feel stressed. Overstressed and exhausted. Burnt out and depressed.

Meditation helps us become aware of these situations before they get out of control, before they take control and create anguish and distress.