THE BODY OF LIGHT







THE CHAKRAS



The word "Chakra" means wheel or disk. The major chakras are spinning centers, invisible to the human eye, which run along the spine.

The following lists the seven chakras, their locations, corresponding elements/color/gemstones, and keywords.





7TH CHAKRA


Location: Crown Chakra located at the top of the head. (Pituitary). Element/Color/Gemstone: Cosmic energy/Violet & White/Amethyst, Diamond. Keywords: Pure spirit, divine light, universal connectedness.


6TH CHAKRA


Location: Third eye, located in the middle of the forehead. (Pineal). Element/Color/Gemstone: Telepathic energy/Indigo/Lapis Lazuli, Alexandrite. Keywords: Intuition, channeled guidance. (OM)


5TH CHAKRA


Location: Throat. (Thyroid). Element/Color/Gemstone: Ether/Blue/Turquoise. Keywords: Communication, creativity, expression. (HAM)


4TH CHAKRA


Location: Heart. (Thymus). Element/Color/Gemstone: Earth/Green & Pink/Adventurine,Emerald. Keywords: Love, self-love, harmony, compassion. (YAM)


3RD CHAKRA


Location: Solar plexus. (Adrenal or splenic). Element/Color/Gemstone: Air/Yellow/Topaz peridot. Keywords: Personal power, self-confidence, strength. (RAM)


2ND CHAKRA


Location: Lower abdomen. (Lymphatic). Element/Color/Gemstone: Water/Orange/Carnelian, aquamarine. Keywords: Emotions, pride, sexual desire. (VAM)


1ST CHAKRA


Location: Root Chakra located at the base of the spine. (Gonads). Element/Color/Gemstone: Fire/Red/Garnet, Ruby. Keywords: Survival, grounding, physical energy. (LAM)





MEDITATION EXERCISES








MULADHARA MEDITATION


To start, find a comfortable position, preferably with your back straight, close your eyes and begin to breathe deeply through your nose without separation between inhalation and exhalation,and feel yourself relaxing. Take your time and let yourself become conscious of your body. After about five minutes bring your attention to your first chakra at the base of your spine. Then begin breathing in and out from your first chakra.

I want you to feel that on every inhalation the breath does not stop at the bottom of your lungs but that it continues flowing down all the way to the base of your spine. Without separation between inhalation and exhalation, breathe out naturally through your nose. On each exhalation feel as if the energy at the base of your spine is growing stronger. You will feel the energy as a heat and intensity which will become more powerful on each exhalation. As it grows stronger, visualize the energy there as a ball of fiery, red energy. Continue both experiencing and visualizing the energy growing brighter for two or three minutes. Move your consciousness downward untill it reaches the base of your spine and becomes centered in the ball of energy. Become the ball of energy and feel yourself being drawn downward into the Earth.

As this happens, pay attention to how you feel physically, emotionally and mentally. For some of you there will be profound changes on each level. Some of you will experience imagery associated with the Earth, imagery associated with the cycles of life, death and rebirth. Some report experiencing feelings of continuity and rapport with other life forms or feelings of security, partnership and belonging associated with Nature and Mother Earth.

After 10 minutes or when you are satisfied, take a deep breath through your nose and let your breathing return to normal, release the ball of energy at the base of your spine and the imagery associated with the first chakra. Then mentally return to the room and relax.




SVADHISTHANA MEDITATION


To start, find a comfortable position with your back straight. Close your eyes and begin to breathe deeply through your nose without separation between inhalation and exhalation and feel yourself relaxing. After about five minutes, bring your attention to your second chakra, right above your sexual organs. Then bring your breath to your second chakra. On each inhalation, feel the energy centered in your sexual organs increasing. You will feel it as a heat and intensity which will grow stronger on each inhalation. As it grows stronger, visualize the energy there as a ball of orange energy. Experience and visualize it growing stronger and brighter for about two or three minutes.

Next, feel your consciousness move downward until it reaches a point just above your sexual organs and feel your consciousness centered in that ball of energy. Become the ball of energy and feel yourself begin to radiate outward from that center through your body and then into the outer environment. Pay attention to how you feel physically, emotionally and mentally. You may feel bursts of energy running up and down your spine or through your body. These are called Kriyas in Sanskrit. They are normal; enjoy them. You might feel them as a warm current of energy, or vibrations flowing through your body. These sensations are associated with an increased energy flow. Pay attention to the changes you experience, observe them, but don't try to influence them. After a short time you will begin to experience imagery associated with the second chakra. Some of it might be sexual at first but if you don't identify with it or get attached to it, the sexual imagery will pass and it will be replaced with pictures associated with the creative process.

After about 10 minutes or when you are satisfied, take a deep breath, then let your breathing return to normal, release the ball of energy by your second chakra and the imagery associated with it and mentally return to the room and relax.




MANIPURA MEDITATION


Find a comfortable position with your back straight, close your eyes and begin to breathe deeply through your nose without separation between inhalation and exhalation, feel yourself relaxing. Become conscious of your body by paying attention to your breath for a few minutes. Bring your attention to your third chakra located just below the breastbone and begin breathing in and out from it. On each inhalation you will feel the energy in the solar plexus growing stronger. As the energy grows stronger, visualize it as a ball of golden yellow energy. Next, feel your consciousness move downward until it becomes centered in the ball of energy. Become the ball of energy and feel yourself radiating outward from it, from your body first and then into the outer environment.

You will feel yourself becoming watery and fluid. You will feel a profound empathy. This will permit you to feel compassion for the pain and suffering of others as well as for yourself. Surrender to these feelings and let them flow through you. After about 10 minutes, take a deep breath through your nose and let your breathing return to normal, release the ball of energy from your third chakra and the imagery associated with it, and mentally return to the room and relax.




ANAHATA MEDITATION


Find a comfortable position with your back straight. Close your eyes and breathe deeply through your nose without separation between inhalation and exhalation, and relax. Become conscious of your body by following your breath for a few minutes. Bring your attention to your fourth chakra at the center of breastbone. Then bring your breath to your fourth chakra. On each inhalation feel the energy centered in your heart chakra grow stronger. As it grows stronger, visualize the energy there as a ball of emerald green light. Feel your consciousness move downward until it reaches a point at the center of your chest and feel your consciousness centered in the ball of energy. Then become the ball of energy and feel yourself radiate outward from that center through your body and then into the outer environment.

Feel the love which radiates through the heart chakra and pay attention to how you feel physically, emotionally and mentally.

You will experiance a warmth that pulsates rhythmically from your heart and fills your whole body.

After about ten minutes, take a deep breath through your nose then let your breath return to normal, release the ball of energy by your fifth chakra and any imagery associated with it and mentally return to the room and relax.




VISUDDHA MEDITATION


Find a comfortable position with your back straight. Close your eyes and breathe deeply through your nose without separation between inhalation and exhalation, and relax. Become conscious of your body by following your breath for a few minutes. Bring your attention to your fifth chakra at your throat. Now, bring your breath to your fifth chakra. Feel the energy centered in your throat chakra growing stronger. Visualize the energy there as a ball of blue light. Visualize it growing stronger and brighter for about two or three minutes.

Feel your consciousness move downward until it is centered in the ball of energy. Now, become the ball of energy and feel yourself radiating outward from that center through your body and into the outer environment. Pay attention to how you feel physically, emotionally, and mentally.

After about ten minutes, take a deep breath through your nose then let your breath return to normal, release the ball of energy by your fifth chakra and any imagery associated with it, and relax.




AJNA MEDITATION


Get comfortable as before, close your eyes and breathe as before and relax. Become aware of your body by breathing as before and following your breath for a few minutes. Now, bring your attention to your sixth chakra, between your eyebrows. Then bring your breath to your sixth chakra. On each inhalation feel the energy centered in your third eye grow stronger.

As it grows stronger, visualize the energy there as a ball of indigo light. Visualize it growing stronger and brighter for about two or three minutes. Now, move your consciousness upward until it reaches a point between your eyebrows and feel your consciousness centered in the ball of energy. Now, become the ball of energy and feel yourself radiating from that center through your body and into the outer environment.

Pay attention to how you feel physically, emotionally and mentally. Feel your mind radiate in all directions at the same time. Feel yourself fill the room with your consciousness.

After about ten minutes, take a deep breath through your nose and exhale slowly. Then let your breathing return to normal, release the ball of energy by your sixth chakra and the imagery associated with it and relax.




SAHASRARA MEDITATION
When it comes to the crown chakra, no meditation is possible because a person doesn't exist as a separate being any longer but he/she is at one with the All.