You Should See Me With a Crown
Reviewing the seven Chakras in seven weeks has been a fun project for me to get back into the swing of things. The Chakras inside our bodies are seven energy points that line up with our spinal cord and connect to some of our major nerve centres. You can find a list of the other Chakras posts I have written about here. The seventh Chakra I have left to cover is the Crown Chakra (Sahasrara in Sanskrit - ‘the thousand-petaled lotus’) located, you guessed it, on the crown of our heads. Actually, It is located just above the crown - hovering above us. This Chakra is our connection to the Universe, God, the Source, the Divine, a higher being, you can call it whatever feels right to you. Our Sahasrara is our doorway to pure consciousness and our higher self.
This type of thinking is pretty abstract, so it may take some imagination to visualize this concept if it is something you haven't considered before. To prepare to write about the Crown Chakra, I reviewed all my material from my Yoga Teacher Training. I also took some time to listen to some presentations by Deepak Chopra (Which coincidently appeared in my inbox as a free offering to listen to six half-hour presentations over six days. Thanks, One Commune!). Mr. Chopra spoke about the nature of reality and how, in the philosophy of yoga, what we perceive to be "real" (as a person, on this planet, spinning around in this universe) is instead just one point our spiritual entity travels on for a little while. This life that we are currently experiencing is, in effect, little more than a dream.
How does that work? If you can again extend your imagination, the concept is that our life force is currently residing in our human form. Our essence experiences this life through our movement, our senses and how our bodies and minds perceive it. But this isn't our only stop; this is just one dimension we can experience. And this experience is where we have an opportunity to learn and grow and become a little better than when we started.
So how does the Crown Chakra fit into that weighty concept? Even though our bodies feel like separate, individualized entities based on our limited senses, the essence of our "true selves" is still within us. That life force, with awareness, discipline, and focused effort, can still tap into its Source: The Cosmos/Universe/Divine Consciousness. The location of our celestial homing device is Sahasrara.
I mentioned in my previous post about the Third Eye Chakra that it is helpful to ensure that all of our Chakras are in balance if we want to connect with our Inner Wisdom more easily. The same goes for the Crown Chakra, its proximity to the Third Eye Chakra indicates that these two Chakras, in particular, support each other in maintaining balance. The list for maintaining our Crown Chakra is almost identical, so I copied some of this list from last week's post, with some modifications.
Tips for connecting with your Sahasrara Chakra:
Meditation. Meditation. Meditation.
Good sleep hygiene. Create a bedtime routine and stick with it. Try to go to sleep and wake at the same time every day - even on weekends. Try keeping a dream journal and record if you see any changes while keeping your Third Eye open and balanced.
Developing a healthy diet.
Having healthy thoughts and recognizing when you are operating from your ego and letting go of it.
Striving to balance your other Chakras.
Study sutras or scriptures and recite mantras that you can use daily to remind you to consider your life's purpose and understand your connection to the universe.
Yoga Moves:
Nadi Shodhana Pranayama (Alternate Nostril Breathing) - Connected to the two hemispheres of the brain, our nostrils are gateways to a charged energies reservoir. This breathing practice (Pranayama in Sanskrit) balances and activates the Ida and Pingala Nadis. Sit in an easy pose and start by forming a Vishnu Mudra with your right hand. (Fold your index and middle finger, and your ring and pinky fingers and thumb stretched out.)
Image thanks to: Balance Garden https://www.balancegarden.co.uk/blog/vishnu-mudra
Place the thumb on the right nostril, and inhale from the left nostril, hold your breath for 2-3 seconds. Now close the left nostril with the last two fingers and exhale from the right nostril. Keep your fingers in place and inhale from the right nostril, then close the right nostril with the thumb and then exhale from the left. That procedure is considered 1 round. (Breathe: In on the left. Out on the right. In on the right. Out on the left) Repeat the round for 5 to 7 times.
Sasangasana (Rabbit Pose) - From kneeling, bow forward and bring the crown of your head toward the floor. (It does not have to touch the floor.) Cup your heels with your hands by reaching back with your arms. Contract your abdomen strongly to lift your low and mid-back and your hips away from the earth. Keep your head low. Roll your shoulders away from your spine. If your head touches the ground, let it be a light touch rather than firm pressure down into the ground. Notice how your sides and back expand with your breath when your belly is against your thighs. After several breaths, lower your hips toward your heels, release your grip on the heels, and roll up through your spine to a seated position.
Vriksasana (Tree Pose) - Start with Mountain pose (standing straight), keep the feet hip-width apart. Extend your spine tall and fix your gaze forward at a focal point. Breathe in and lift the right leg and place the sole of your right foot on the left leg, inner thigh. The heel of the right leg can touch the perineum, otherwise, it can rest on the thigh, on the calf, or even have your toes resting on the floor and your heel balancing on your ankle initially. Lifting the torso upwards, take a deep breath & raise the arms. You can spread your arms, like tree branches, or your can bring your palms together overhead. If you can, take your gaze upwards towards the ceiling. Otherwise, find a still point just in front of you to focus. Stay here for 5 to 7 breaths and repeat on the other side.
Salamba Sirhasana (Headstand Pose) - This posture is so important to learn well. It is considered an ideal posture for stimulating the energy in the Crown Chakra. Due to the risk of a neck injury, it's essential to work your way up to this pose. If you haven't tried a headstand before, I recommend finding a good teacher to help you get there.
To practice a headstand, follow these steps:
Sit on the knees and grab opposite elbows to measure the ideal distance between them. Once you have the right distance between the elbows, bring the forearms to the floor directly beneath the shoulders.
Bring the hands together and interlace your fingers, making a basket. Make sure to keep the elbows in the same place during the entire pose and not move them inward or outward. The arms should form a triangle shape.
Place the head on the floor and the back of the head in your cupped hands.
Curl the toes, straighten the knees and push the hips towards the ceiling.
Walk your feet towards the shoulders.
Bring your right knee into the chest and then follow by also bringing the left knee to the chest, so the spine is straight.
Take a deep breath and bring your legs up, reaching towards the ceiling. Look at a focus point that is eye level. Keep breathing and hold the pose for as long as feels comfortable.
Savasana (Corpse Pose) - Lie comfortably on your back. Close your eyes. Bring your legs wide and allow your feet to flop open. Bring your arms by your sides and away from your body. Turn your palms toward the sky. Tuck your shoulder blades underneath you. Tuck your chin slightly into your chest. Make any small movements you need so that you are very comfortable and then become still. Take relaxed, natural breaths through your nose. Remind yourself as you are breathing, 'I allow myself to operate through my Higher-self. I let go of my ego. I trust the guidance from the divine energy. I am at peace.'
I presented some heady concepts here. If they rankle or conflict with your belief system, that is okay. From a purely physical standpoint, having a sense of connection and balance throughout your nervous system is like a logical and sensible course of action for overall good health. If embracing a healthful formula over a spiritual formula is more comfortable for you, I encourage you to embrace it instead. Regardless, I wish you success in your campaign for good health, mindfulness, and becoming a better human. Thanks for reading!