Chakra Journaling Journey By Silvia Mordini
The Chakras are an inner and outer map of transformation. These are archetypal and energetic maps that are as metaphorical as they are very real and embodied. Everything we see, taste, touch, feel, and do can be interpreted through the gateway of the chakras.
We will learn how to tap into these sacred energies through journaling in order to gain insight into healing our psyche, emotions and well-being.
Begin by taking a 3-minute meditation. Then move forward in an easeful way journaling for each chakra. You could do a chakra per day or flow through all of them at one sitting. You could even arrange it so you do the lower chakras day 1, middle chakra (the heart) on day 2 and on day 3 journal the
Allow whatever is arising to settle in you. Some way of shaking off whatever feels confining or uncomfortable, and some way of owning and drawing strength from the aspects of the writing that felt empowering and authentic and courageous. Love yourself, love your day, love your life! Silvia
CHAKRA WRITING PROMPTS
ROOT • If I really believed in myself I would...(and I would stop...)
• If I felt safer and more secure I would... (And I would stop...)
• What am I afraid of people knowing about me?
• If I knew I wouldn't fail I would...(And I would stop...)
• If I knew the world could 100 percent support me in the life I desire I would...(And I would stop...)
• How do I define integrity?
• What is my personal honor code? Have I compromised it?
SACRAL • How do I define creativity?
• Am I a creative person? Do I follow through on my creative ideas?
• List 5 ways you could better nurture your creativity.
• How often do I try to change my habits or routine?
• What new patterns have I adopted this past year?
• How am I different today than I was a year
Until I lose weight, finish my book, or get a promotion?
• Do I spend a lot of time on something that’s important to someone else, but not to me?
• Would I be happy to see my children have the life I’ve had, more or less?
THROAT • Is it easy or hard to be truthful?
• How can I express myself more honestly and openly?
• Am I able to admit when I am wrong?
• Is there a myth in my life that I have perpetuated? Something not really true?
• What makes me lose control?
• How do I define healthy communication?
• What am I not saying?
• How do I demonstrate healthy listening?
• Am I balanced in the time I spend talking and listening?
• Could I take a day of silence per week? Or eat one meal per day in silence?
• Do I have a tendency to exaggerate or embellish facts to support my point of view?
• If I could show you my truest self you would see....
BROW • What beliefs do I continue to accept that I know are not true?
• What attitudes do I have that disempower me?
• What am I not being?
• What am I not giving?
• What am I not receiving?
• Do I know I need to change but continually postpone it?
• Do I make excuses for not moving forward in my life?
• Have I tried to experiment with my conditioned (habitual)
However, meditation is not as common within Buddhism as most believe. There is a large assumption “that Buddhism and meditation go hand in hand”, but the majority of Buddhists have focused on “cultivating moral behavior, preserving the Buddha’s teachings (dharma), and acquiring good karma”(Braun 2014, p.1). Meditation and Buddhism are often assumed to be one and same, but this is also not true. As Buddhism has gained popularity among lay people it’s practices have changed Buddha’s teaching of the middle path has adapted to meditation being “possible in the city” rather than with monks in jungles and caves (p.4). As seen in Burma, in less than 75 years Buddhism and meditation were able to grow “from a pursuit of the barest sliver of the population to a duty of the ideal citizen” (p.5). While meditation is not the core of Buddhism it has encouraged the growth of Buddhism as it’s practice of mindfulness has been inspiring an approachable model (p.6). Meditation and mindfulness are easily manipulated to secularization, but still have significance in Buddhism and following the patterns of your
One view of Buddhis... ... middle of paper ... ... tation is nothing other than the intention to wake up” (p 74). I like how meditation begins and ends with your intention, you do not have any set time or order. Meditation is all in how you want to practice it.
...as are a key part of our body is evident. They provide us with creativity and inspiration. Our chakras also keep the body motivated. When a child asks where the soul is, many answers may be thrown at him, but one that is hardly mentioned is the chakras. In my eyes, chakras are as much of a viable answer as saying that the soul is located anywhere else. Whether chakras are real, or whether they are a state of mind, there is one concrete fact, and that is the fact that they improve our lives. With the fact that chakras improve our lives, Buddha once said “To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.” Chakras; gateway to the soul, gateway to enlightenment.
Now that the chakras have become New Age parlance, there are many interpretations of their meaning and function being bandied about. While this popularity is making the chakras a household word, it is also spreading a lot of confusing, conflicting, and often erroneous information. It is important to realize the chakras come from an ancient tradition, which many New Age teachers have barely explored. Here is a brief summary of the development of the chakras historically.
Meditation is an age-old practice that has renewed itself in many different cultures and times. Despite its age, however, there remains a mystery and some ambiguity as to what it is, or even how one performs it. The practice and tradition of meditation dates back thousands of years having appeared in many eastern traditions. Meditation’s ancient roots cloud its origins from being attributed to a sole inventor or religion, though Bon, Hindu, Shinto, Dao, and later, Buddhism are responsible for its development. Its practice has permeated almost all major world religions, but under different names. It has become a practice without borders, influencing millions with its tranquil and healing effects.
As these few tales reveal, my memories of writing are strongly connected with the intense emotions I felt as I grew up. They are filled with joy, disappointment, boredom, and pride. I believe that each of these experiences has brought me to where I am today. I can only look to the future and hope that my growth will continue, and my writing will reflect those changes within me. As a writer, I have grown immeasurably and will continue to so long as I can find some paper and a pencil.
Over twenty-five hundred years ago, Buddha Guatama practiced meditation and came to what is known as “The Four Noble Truth,” an important principle in Buddhism (Elder, 2010). This principle informs the reader of what suffering is and how affect is. This is a great example of how valuable meditation is- on the very first session ever recorded, the awareness that came from it would later be the foundation of a new religion. This proves how powerful meditation can be. Furthermore, some form of meditation can be found in various religions. Although the styles, techniques, and ideology behind the meditation can vary per religion, personal transformation is the key goal (Modi, Singh, 2012). Today, in Western society, mindful meditation (a form of meditation) has grown in popularity, used for relaxation and to help treat those who suffer from mental illness’ and mood disorders. Viewed as alternative medicine for the mind and soul, it is beneficial for our emotional and mental
Once the writing is done, this is where the fear comes alive. It’s the fear of failure, disappointment, disapproval, and maybe even success. Collin Brooke and Allison Carr say, “The ability to write well comes neither naturally nor easily.” (Failure Can Be an Important Part of Writing Development 63) This statement is something I wish I could let myself believe. I have a preconceived notion that writers are born, not made. That my brother, a fellow writer, will see more success than myself. Why would anyone ever care what I have to say about anything? These are the fears and insecurities that limit me from growing with my process. Brooke and Carr also say about writers, “...they are the ones who are able to make mistakes, learn from them, and keep writing until they get it right.” (63) If I could challenge my process, I would challenge myself to do exactly what this quote says. My first draft always has to be the perfect draft, but this is unrealistic. I limit myself before I even start with this ideology. My hope for my process is to challenge myself to take more risks, write more drafts, and fail so I can at least say I tried. I may even challenge myself to get a head start on some of those due dates...
When these and other questions and uncertainties emerge, you need to flip thorough hundreds of blog posts or books to unearth what you want to know. Several concerns, and doubts awaken in our minds when we start meditating. Unfortunately, there is no book to answer them all. Especially this can be a problem, if you live in an area, where no qualified consultant or mentor is available to help you. On the other hand, it is possible, that you discover a meditating course close to your place, but you don’t have time or you don’t find enough commitment to go there and try
How can your feelings affect you while writing? Is it good to express yourself in your writings? Many authors use their writings as a way to free themselves or escape from the real world. An example of this is Charlotte Perkins Gilman who wrote a short story named The Yellow Wallpaper (1892). In this short story, the author used her own experience with her depression after giving birth to share how she feels. Gilman shows in her writing how the perception of the society influences in a women illness, in which the best solution was isolated her.
There are a lot of things that people do to relieve pain, stress and emotions, one of them being writing. Simply writing down their thoughts can be relieving to them and a healthy way to let out anything that they might not want to tell others. Things that influence a person’s writing varies from emotions and their personal experiences. However, these experiences can be hard for some people, which can result in a huge conflict in their writing. Although, sometimes it has a negative connotation, many times it does not necessarily mean that it changes a person 's perspective. Often people learn good things from bad experiences, to prevent others from happening to them as said by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in her story “The Yellow Wallpaper” or
1. I will discover stronger avenues of meditation through reading. I will read several books on meditative techniques.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). (2010). Health info. Meditation: An introduction. Retrieved from http://nccam.nih.gov/health/meditation/overview.htm
Meditation is good, safe and cost-effective. Actually its free. The only real expense youll have is really a meditation pad, which is not especially necessary-a minimum of from my experience. Meditation has existed for five,000 years, and it was initially a non secular element of yoga.