Meditation is traditionally regarded as one of the most potent forms of realizing one's spiritual being, and in the process, one can live a healthy and aware life. Different people adopt different meditation styles, but if there's one universally acceptable mode of meditation, that has to be the Chakra Meditation.
Introduction to Chakra Meditation
Quite simply, Chakra Meditation refers to the process of balancing and energizing all the 7 energy centers (Chakras) in order to align the flow of energy through them. These 7 energy centers, or the Chakras, are:
1. Crown Chakra is situated at the top of the head. It is related to the 'thought' element, which governs our wisdom, knowledge, and consciousness.
2. Brow Chakra, also called The Third Eye Chakra, is situated between the brows on the forehead. It is related to the 'Light' element, which governs our perception, interpretation, and visualization.
3. Solar Plexus or Power Chakra located just above the naval region and related to the element 'Fire'. It governs our will power, autonomy, and metabolism.
4. Heart Chakra located at the center of the chest and related to the element 'Air'. It governs love, compassion, and relationships in our lives.
5. Throat Chakra governing your sense of creativity, resonance and communication skills is located at the base of the throat and related to the element 'Sound'.
6. Brow Chakra governing your power of imagination, visualization, and interpretation is located between the brows on the forehead and related to the element 'Light'.
7. Crown Chakra governing your wisdom and knowledge is located at the top of the head and related to the element 'thought'.
If you want to reinvent yourself and bring back those vitalizing moments in your life, then there's no substitute to Chakra Meditation. If these vital seven Chakras are rotating in sync, physical, mental, and spiritual well being is assured. Thus, you can safely conclude that Chakra Meditation is the key to overall health of your life, taken as a whole.
Chakra Meditation - The Process
Chakra Meditation is the sum total of the following three techniques:
1. Grounding Technique, which aims at making the body feel connected with Earth. You just need to visualize a root growing from your body and entering into the Earth. This requires intense focus and mental presence during the act of visualization.
2. Centering Technique, which aims at preparing your body to receive the benefits of Chakra Meditation. Just take three to five deep breaths and visualize relaxation of every body part from toe to crown. In simple words, just tighten and relax each body part from toe to the crown, and then visualize the act of centering a pot on a pottery wheel.
3. Relaxation Technique refers to the process whereby, the body feels relaxed by an act of visualization that suits an individual the best. Every individual is free to adopt his or her own relaxation method.
Here is one of the most common methods of performing Chakra Meditation:
a) Sit or lie down comfortably.
b) Every stress-causing factor should be addressed and effort should be made to reduce or eliminate the stress as far as possible. Start with loosening the clothing you are wearing. Identify other similar straining factors and eliminate them. And finally, close your eyes.
c) Take relaxing breaths - neither too fast nor too slow. Just give up your control on the breath, and let it flow naturally.
d) Start feeling every part of your body from toe to the head in that direction. While your eyes are closed, feel the earth you are lying or sitting on, or the bed you are lying or sitting on, feel the aura around you, feel the clothes you are wearing. Feel everything you'd have had your eyes been open. Visualize life in darkness!
e) Initially, your efforts will be met with stiff resistance from negative thoughts and emotions. Don't suppress them! They'll disappear with time and practice.
f) Feel every subtle inner detail and let your awareness travel freely from one body part to the other.
This exercise can be done at any time of the day and for any duration of time. However, the longer the better!