Hindu Essence of the Chakra In this article I am going to try to cover some basics on the Hindu/Tantric/Yogi names and meanings of the chakra's as requested. Please know that this is not my area of expertise my own knowledge was limited to basically the Hindu names and the associated elements and emotions, but I did do the research and I think have come up with some interesting things to share. I will post my references at the end of this article so those of you who wish may continue learning. In Ancient Hindu Teachings the Chakras are seen as beautiful Lotus Flowers, (Anahata) each with different symbols representing many things. As these Lotus move up the body the petals also grow in number as it ascends the life energy upward through our bodies energy centers. The Chakras also each correspond with an element, sound, breath, plane of existence and many more. We will cover just a few of these at this time. Hindu believe that through meditation/yoga, a person can activate the Chakras and awaken there life force energy which is called, "Kundalini." The Sanskrit meaning for Kundalini is, "coiled like a snake." This energy is said to lay dormant in the first Chakra, with very few people ever coming to the realization that it exist. As we raise our consciousness through meditation we awaken and activate this sacred energy, it moves up the spine clearing everything on its way and can sometimes be an extremely powerful physical presence. It is very important for a person to fully understand this energy before releasing it, for sometimes it can be overwhelming and uncomfortable for the novice practitioner. Below I have put together a quick (hopefully,) guide to the Ancient Hindu names and brief meanings of the Chakras, or Lotus Energy Centers. Although they are similar in many ways to the more modern new age Chakra meanings, the ancient meanings to me at least were much more in depth and the original names are beautiful. I will begin with the first Chakra (base or root) and work up to the seventh Chakra. Muladhara Chakra (base or root) Located at the base of the spine this Chakra is the root center of the physical experience. It represents Mother Earth, the four directions and four dimensions. The goal of this Chakra is survival and the human experience. It's plane is the physical plane, it has four petals and the element is Earth. Svadhisthana Chakra (sacral) In the ancient teachings the aspects of this Chakra are creation, procreation and family. It's vital breath is "Prana," is resides in the astral plane, has six petals and it's element is water. Manipura (solar plexus) This Chakra is considered to be the life force Chakra. It is the "seat of fire," in our bodies. This Chakra correlates to longevity, immortality and power in the ancient teachings. Its vital breath is "samana," it's plane is the Celestial Plane, it has ten petals and the element associated is fire. Anahata (Heart) The place of pure balance, this is what I perceive the meanings of this Chakra to be. It is the connection between the three lower Chakras to the three upper Chakras. This Chakra was said to help us release attachments to the physical world. It's vital breath is Prana. It resides on the Plane of Balance, it has 12 petals and is associated with the element of Air. Vishudda (throat) In Ancient beliefs this Chakra is the union of all five elements. Earth, Air, Fire and Water dissolve into Akasha (spirit.) It is also considered the Chakra of communication, with or without words. The vital breath is Udana, the plane of existence is human, it has 16 petals and its element is Ether (Akasha.) Ajna (Brow or Third Eye) Ajna represents the Conscience. There is balance between the solar and lunar energy bodies, it brings insight into the future and is the center of Clairvoyance. Sahasrara (Crown) This Chakra is known as "Lotus of a Thousand Petals." This is where immortality is achieved. It is said that here we can achieve a trance like state and enter the space between Hemispheres. The ancient teachers believed that by reaching a state of living in the Sahasrara Chakra you no longer will be confined by "human belief systems," you will attain an ascended state of awareness such as Buddha, Shiva, Shakti and many others who are believed to be Ascended Masters. You can achieve an ascended state of pureness. There is an abundance of knowledge that can be learned concerning the Chakras. Each have a story to tell in the Hindu/Yogi traditions I recommend researching them. Whether it be the traditional and ancient essence of the energy or the more metaphysical new age way of relating them to life the Chakras are a part of us and we a part of them, working with them, acknowledging them, and learning as much as you can will help you in every way to become a more balanced, peaceful person who can find serenity in every way. Dodie Clelland SAGAPS Case Manager/Investigator/ Sensitive References: "Stop, listen, breathe, you may just hear creation speak"
Hey everyone, as I was sitting here putting together the last article on Chakra's, I thought it would be a really good idea to post and ask those of you who are following our blog what you would like to learn/read about. Do you have any areas of interest that you would like us to explore? We are very open to suggestions and if we don't have the answers we will do our best to find them for you! So please let us know and we will try to accomodate all of your needs :) Blessings, Dodie Clelland SAGAPS Case Manager/Investigator Sensitive "Stop, listen, breathe, you may just hear creation speak"
Chakra Basics When I started on my spiritual journey about 15 yrs. ago I can remember just having this feeling or knowing that I had to change many things within myself in order to grow. I also remember feeling extremely lost! In the Metaphysical community there are so many good people willing to help, but sometimes the information can be overwhelming so I always tell people, start slow, take a step at a time and work on your own self so that you can create positive change in your life and in the lives of those around you. I mentioned in an earlier article that you should learn meditation and one of the best meditations (in my humble opinion,) that we can do for ourselves is clearing our Chakras. CHAKRA: The Sankrit word that means, "wheel" or "turning." Chakras are our bodies energy centers. When our Chakras are unblocked and clear they spin gently, constantly in a state of sending and receiving energy. When we keep these amazing energy centers clear they bring balance to our energetic bodies. Learning to clear your energy centers can open up a whole new way to experience your life on a daily basis. These are the basic seven Chakras, we will cover some of the others at a later time. 1. The root or base Chakra. This Chakra is located right at the base of the torso, the color associated with it is red. This Chakra is our basic survival, our connection to the earth, and our flight or fight responses all correlate to the Root Chakra. 2. The Sacral Chakra. This Chakra is located about 2 inches below the navel, the color is Orange. This Chakra is associated with our sexuality. 3. The Solar Plexus Chakra. This is located of course right at the solar plexus, the color associated with it is yellow. This Chakra correlates to our views of our "self",, our "ego",, it is where we feel those emotions of self esteem and self worth. 4. The Heart Chakra. The heart chakra is located at our hearts, the color of the Heart Chakra is Green (although some for obvious reasons see it as pink) and it is associated with our ability to love and be loved. 5. The Throat Chakra. This Chakra is located at our throat, the color is Blue/turquoise, it is correlated to our ability to express ourselves. To tell our own story and truths. 6. The Brow Chakra (third eye.) The Third Eye or Brow Chakra is located on the center of the forehead. This Chakra is about our inner and psychic vision, when it is open it brings amazing clarity. 7. The Crown Chakra. The Crown Chakra is located right about the top of the head in the center, it is white/violet in color and it is our "Spiritual Gate," so to speak, our communication with Divine. Keeping your Chakras clean and clear keeps you open and makes your sensitive/psychic abilities much stronger. You don't have to be elaborate to clear them, you can do a simple meditation where you just imagine your Chakras one at a time, focus on the color and imagine a bright spinning ball of light where each of the Chakras are located on your body. Take your time and focus on each one until you can see or "feel" the color, eventually you will actually feel the Chakra energy moving in your body. For those of you who are just beginning, please do some homework for me, I want you to just think about the Chakras, place into memory the colors and the placement of each one, then think about the role they play in different parts of our lives. In a few days I will post on here two different meditations (or else this will become a book!) These will help to clear the Chakras, but if you have the basics memorized it will be easier for you to focus when you actually try the clearings. These are just a few basic pieces of knowledge that I have learned throughout the years and of course there are many different opinions and variations, all I can say is that the beautiful people who have crossed my path and been my teachers were such a blessing and I trust in there visions, I learn something new everyday and am blessed by this. There is so much more to the Chakras than what is here but we can continue that in another article. Namaste, Dodie Clelland SAGAPS Case Manager/Investigator/ Sensitive "Stop, listen, breathe, you may just hear creation speak"
"HOW DO YOU MEDITATE"? While talking with a co-worker today on how excited I am about this new section to the SAGAPS site, and some of the myriad of topics I want to explore with others, she asked, "how do you meditate?". As you can imagine there is no one answer! I could only touch briefly on several ways I know to meditate from my limited knowledge and experience. I have benefited from several styles of meditation over the years. Yoga is one I have practiced and is commonly heard of. There are many books for beginners. You can usually find a Yoga class at any health club or community center. We even have a weekly Yoga group available at my work place. Using sound (soft music, trickling water), aroma therapy, staring into a candle flame, and my favorite "sleep", which is even considered a sustained form of mediation, can all be ways to reach that desired state of consciousness. As I have said before "it is your journey". You can experiment with many form of meditation and find which one you are more comfortable with. Meditation is a mental discipline by which one attempts to get beyond the reflexive, "thinking" mind into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness. Meditation often involves turning attention to a single point of reference. It is recognized as a component of many religions, and has been practiced since antiquity. It is also practiced outside religious traditions. Different meditative disciplines encompass a wide range of spiritual and/or psychophysical practices which may emphasize different goals-from achievement of a higher state of consciousness, to greater focus, creativity or self-awareness, or simply a more relaxed and peaceful frame of mind. The word meditationoriginally comes from the Indo-European root med-, meaning "to measure." From the root med- are also derived the English words mete, medicine, modest, and moderate. It entered English as meditation through the Latin meditatio, which originally indicated every type of physical or intellectual exercise, then later evolved into the more specific meaning "contemplation." Eastern meditation techniques have been adapted and increasingly practiced in western-culture. Evidence of the origins of meditation extends back to a time before recorded history. Archaeologists tell us the practice may have existed among the first Indian civilizations. Indian scriptures dating back 2500-3000 years describe meditation techniques. From its ancient beginnings and over thousands of years, meditation has developed into a structured practice used today by millions of people worldwide of differing nationalities and religious beliefs. If you have never meditated before, you may believe that it is a pleasant way of escaping from the world and its problems. Although it does lead to inner stillness, calm, or finding the silent place within, meditation is certainly not just about melting into bliss. Rather, meditation can be a powerful tool to help you focus clearly on your physical well being. Just as important, it also puts you directly in touch with universal energy "prana" - the life force that runs through all things. It is exactly what is needed to reach a level of consciousness for those seeking to sharpen there intuitive side. Meditation can improve your life in many ways; meditation sharpens and focuses your mental activity and keeps you alert at work, and at home, and in your relationships. It also enhances creativity and self-knowledge. So with that being said, hear are some simple guidelines to meditation to help you get started which I learned from my favorite book: DISCOVERING YOUR PSYCHIC POTENTIAL, by Julie Soskinto. 1. Find a quite, clean, airy, comfortable place where you will be undisturbed to meditate. 2. Take a bath or shower, at least wash your hands, and wear clean loose comfortable clothing. 3. You may want to use a focus object such as a candle, flower, or picture, a sound such as a mantra, or ambient music. 4. For the right posture sit in a chair or on the floor with your back supported. Place you arms on your legs with your hands in an open position. 5. Devote your attention to your point of focus: start with five minutes increasing the your time with practice. 6. No need to force your mind to concentrate, focus without effort. When thoughts intrude, don't push them aside but let them float by. If your mind wonders, return to its focus, no matter how often it escapes. 7. Meditate at the same time each day. Morning is desired, on an empty stomach. Meditating the last thing at night can cause you to fall asleep. If sleep is your desired result, there is another style of meditation for that. As I stated sleep is also considered a form of sustained meditation. Here is one of my favorite exercises for complete relaxation: It can last as long or short a time as you desire. Find a quite place to start. You may want to listen to some relaxing music to become completely calm, turn the music off. BREATHING IN THE LIGHT: 1. Direct your consciousness onto listening to your breathing. 2. Tune into the ebb and flow of your breath, and focus on the quite rhythm. 3. Let your breath take you to your inner calm, and consciously breath that stillness out from the core of your being. 4. Visualize you breathing as ripples on a pond, moving outward in increasingly large circles, or as waves of light radiating from your body. 5. Hold the energy and keep your focus-don't be tempted to "float away." After a while, as you breath, concentrate on the thought that every living thing breathes. Say to yourself "We all breath in light." Now let yourself become completely open to the universal focus of light. Stay with this feeling as long as you like. 6. When you are ready, gently lead your consciousness back into your physical body (paying particular attention to keeping your feet on the ground). 7. Finally, cross your arms and legs, as an act of closing. I like to use this exercise in what I call my "water treatment", it souths my body and soul (great for a fire sign!). I float in a pool of cool water, watching the ripples of light and water surrounding my body on the bottom of the pool, while repeating "We all breath in the light". So thanks for sparking this topic of which I was wanting to share!!! This ones for you Amanda ;} Now, I go to my favorite meditation - sleep!!! "Spread your wings" JulesSAGAPSCase Manager/investigatorSensitive
The Southern Arizona Ghost and Paranormal Society, or SAGAPS for short, is a science and data based research group. With that being said, we want to use any and all resources we have to help us find proof, one way or the other, for not only the mystery of "is there life after death" but also to possibly communicate with the otherside. Since obviously paranormal research and investigation is not an exact science, (if it were, we'd be able to contact ghosties at will), how can we not use the most powerful tool at our disposal...the human mind? My belief is that sensitives, psychics, and mediums DO have a place in paranormal research. With the decades of research and mounting evidence that the mind is capable of some very mysterious things; psychokinesis and telekinesis [1] [2], remote viewing (the US government had a program exploring the use of remote viewing for 25 years that had some very accurate results [3]), and mediumship (mediums frequently assist police from around the world [4] and clinical testing is being conducted by a well known scientist at the University of Arizona [5]), how can anyone claiming to be a paranormal researcher or investigator dismiss these things out of hand or not use every possible method to reach their goal? The philosophy at SAGAPS is that we use the sensitives in our group as a resource and I at least am proud to have them aboard. While we don't take their "feelings" about a location as gospel, if our equipment's data can support them, it's adds another piece of the puzzle. It's imperative that we get corroborating data to support their claims, if we don't, it's just another ghost story. While we have no categoric evidence, as of yet, that any of our equipment or our sensitives can detect paranormal activity, I dare say that the "debunkers" of the world have no categoric evidence that they don't. That's why we will continue to use all means we can to try and find the truth. Jeff Barkett SAGAPS Lead Investigator The boundaries which divide life from death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends and where the other begins?" ~Edgar Allen Poe 1844~
Spread Your Wings Psychic refers to an unseen force: it derives from the word psyche, which means of, or pertaining to, the soul, mind, or spirit. While I believe that everyone is psychic in some form and level, it is believed that to access psychic information, the seeker needs to be a clear instrument, which necessitates some kind of self-development or transformative process. Perhaps one of our greatest attributes is our curiosity, our desire to learn, to make our existence a life-long learning venture. In the future discussions we will explore some interesting questions about who we are and what it is to be inspired by our intuitions. There are many exercises out there available to assist in tapping into one's psyche. Listening to our psychic intuitions can assist us in our daily living. The gut instinct/intuition which tells us to turn right or left, or who may be on the phone, is an every day experiences for all of us. But do we listen to these flashes of thought? One can learn to rely on their inner knowing, to hear their intuitions, assisting them in the simplest of life's choices. Look for future postings of exercises in how one can enlarge and possibly use any psychic/intuitive talents you may possess to aid you in your own voyage of discovery. What you ultimately do about your gifts only you can decide. It is your journey. In the Greek story of the mortal princess, Psyche, she had to endure many tests and trials to prove herself worthy of being the companion of the god of love, Eros. When at last she is given the cup of immortality, she spouts butterfly wings, which are ancient symbols of the soul. This story suggests that in seeking unconditional love, we, too might be transformed. Spread your wings!!! Jules Whitney SAGAPS Case Manager/ Investigator Sensitive
Are You Psychic? As a Sensitive, I am always amazed at how many times I am asked this question. I believe that there are Psychic, Intuitive and Sensitive abilities in all people. Being Psychic is a very broad term for abilities beyond our five senses. We are all born with this natural "Sixth Sense." It is when we come to know it, live it, and have faith in it that it brings enormous change in our lives and in the way we percieve the world. So are you Psychic? Yes, I believe you are, but only if you choose to nurture it, acknowledge it and let it grow will you truly be able to use your abilities for change. There are many different types of Sensitives and the type of gift that may be strong in one person, may not be the same in another. Here is a list of some of the many different types of gifts you may possess, I like to call them the Clair's... Clair- French prefix meaning, "Clear." Clairvoyant: To visually see with the "minds eye." People who are Clairvoyant have very stong visual skills. Clairaudient: Clear hearing. People who possess this ability can recieve information through hearing from ethereal and spiritual realms. Clairsentient: To feel within the body. If you are Clairsentient then you can probably feel within or sense the physical make-up, personality, health conditions of an earth bound spirit and also that of people you come in contact with. Clairempathy: To feel within yourself the emotions and feelings of another person or spirit, sometimes taking them on as your own. Clairtangency: This is also known as Psychometry, (to touch) in essence this person can handle an object and recieve information on the previous owner. Clairscent: To pick up on different smells associated with Spirits, or from ethereal realms. Clairgustance: With this ability the person is able to taste without having anything in there mouths, it is usually associated with an earthbound spirit. These are only some of the gifts that we can possess, there is also remote viewing and channeling to name a couple but the list can get overwhelming. These gifts/abilities I believe can be nurtured in us all, if we truly want to do the work. Nurturing your gifts in essence just means to nurture yourself. I always tell people who are just starting on the path of recognition to start by learning to meditate. Meditation clears the mind, body and spirit. The clearer your own energy is then the clearer your gifts will become. Start small, ten minutes a day and slowly work into a longer session. Always ground yourself before you meditate. Learn about your body, all of your body, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Study, find out about your energy centers, known as Charkras and learn how to clear them and keep them in balance. We are ever evolving in our own energy and the more you dedicate yourself to you, the more you will be able to use your gifts to help those around you. Most importantly call upon your Divine sources to help you on your journey of discovery, they will help you remove blocks, and give you only the purest of information. They can also help you to understand your ego and keep it from interfering or taking over, for if this happens then you have no gaurantee that the information you are recieving is from a pure source. On a final note, believe in yourself, trust your own instincts, have faith that you are perfect in everyway and I can promise you will begin to see growth and expansion in your mind, body, spirit connection and the the road you begin to travel will be a great adventure! Namaste, Dodie Clelland SAGAPS Case Manager/Investigator/ Sensitive "Stop, listen, breathe, you may just hear creation speak"
Welcome everyone to the beginning of a great journey! We at SAGAPS believe there are many aspects involved in doing Paranormal Research. Yes, scentific evidence is our main objective, but we also know that there is a more spiritual side to investigating also, one that uses the gifts of our natural senses. Here on this blog we want to discuss this part of the process. Through these discussions we hope to plant seeds of awareness, help people who may not understand there gifts, or fear them, and just have fun! Knowledge is the key to understanding and undertanding alleviates the fear of things unknown, so join us on our journey of growth and dare to let your mind expand to new heights! Namaste, The SAGAPS team "Stop, listen, breathe, you may just hear creation speak"
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