April 2 Class Summary -Heart Chakra-

Brief Discussion:

James: Tonight we are going to cover one of the most interestingchakras of all.. before we start, are there any general meditation questions? Lets take a couple of deep centering breaths...
Sunset: i have a question
James: go on Sun
Sunset: what do you do when you are sitting aligned and your legs still fall asleep lol
James: punt
Flowr: go with it :)
Sunset: well i don't unfocus
James: Actually, you sit as long as you can, then you can lean against a wall and straighten them.
Sunset: i feel like i turn into this big pile of nothing lol
Flowr: I think that's the point..?
James: Sun, there are things you can do to improve the area you are sitting to minimize that problem.
Sunset: hmm ok well i think part of that is the point flower..i know weare supposed to forget about the body right?
James: yes, but the body needs to be comfortable for that, not going to sleep from lack of circulation.
Alite: I do not think that meditation is forgetting about the body
Sunset: well i am trying to sit as aligned as i can...it just happens some of the time
Flowr: soft cushions?
James: You might want to try a softer cushion that supports your thighs.
Flowr: like on the couch?
Alite: When meditating one can be aware of the body even when focusing on the spaceousness of all that is
Citim: practice teaches function in form
James: You want to distribute your weight as evenly as possible in the shape of a V along your thighs
Sunset: ok i was sitting on a sleeping bag but i didn't have a pillow like i normally do
James: both would work best the pillow to sit on the sleeping back to cushion your thighs bag (sit up on)
Sunset: well actually i normally use this big long pillow that i had from when i was pregnant and another fluffier flat pillow ..that works best but at moments i feel alignment issues


Heart Chakra

The chakra being discussed this evening, is the fourth chakra, located in the center of the chest...the heart. The sanskrit word for this chakra is Anahata, meaning unstruck, which also is known..as the place of openness.

The heart is universally known as the center..the heart of matter, also known as the essence, core, the heart unites everything within and without between spirit and matter...the center of love ... integrating the entire being with a sense of wholeness and balance.

This chakra represents Shiva and Shakti together united in the eternal dance of creation united in the heart, in the form of Lakshmi and Vishnu the Preservers, ruling over the middle part of our lives with continuous flow and balance.

The love experienced in this chakra is different from the object oriented, more passionate, sexual love of the second chakra that is stimulated more by the presence of a particular person. The love that comes from this chakra..comes from within, it is not dependant on outside stimulation, radiating outward. The heart is the center of devine empathy, love, forgiveness, and affinity.

This chakra represents the one true relationship with everything else, and the interconnectedness of all relationships, continuously through the heart. The breath of life, the representation of prana..the energy of all living things..that perpetuates and weaves the tapestry of life...every relationship ... it is also know as the interface between the physical and mental realm.

Love is probably known as the most mystical and powerful word in the english language. Love is basic to all life, to all living things...when we fall in love.... this unifying force is larger than life.. you feel like you are walking on air...your cares seem lighter...you are lifted up. Love and approval are expressed in compliments, acknowledgement, praise, affection, and action. Love requires the coordination and balance of energy on many levels.

The gatekeeper of fear is imperative to understanding this chakra, used as a protective device, to balance the input and output of energy....ever protecting the delicate heartchakra's energy. The input and output of this chakra must be in balance for it to work appopropriatly, to little output will leave you feeling a life that is very alone, and too much will leave you depleated.

This chakra provides energy both pivoting upward and downward..supplying vital force to the other chakras. Learning to love requires us to be able to feel, communicate, have our own sense of self and ability to see and understand ..and integrate all of those things. The heart chakra is a yin chakra....the most profound love..is the love that is comfortable with letting things be as they are.

The difference between the heart chakra and the solar plexus resides in awareness, through the repetetive pattern of the lower chakras you come to find yourself in the place of stillness..the unstruck ...always beating...every supplying life center of all. As we move through the higher chakras learning becomes more complex, requiring higher memory functioning and integration,the heart is the interface, the interpreter of the thoughts the mind creates, the perceptions we form are given meaning here...creating the foundation of our character..brought together by thecohesive structure of realizing we are held in equilibrium by love.

In realizing that we are perfectly whole, that we are flawless, does that allow the heart center to come from a place of true openness..ever circulating the love of the devine. Bringing unity to all and through healing, forgiving, and expanding our awareness this chakra creates new levels of emotion, endearment and character to it's constant state of delicacy.

This chakra is associated with the sense of touch, for it is through touch we receive affirmation of affection, through a handshake, through physical contact we receive input of our relationship to what is around us. The rhythmic vibration of life is represented here, and the true importance of breath of life. The color associated with chakra is green, and is connected with the lungs, heart, pericardium, arms and hands. The planet associated with this chakra is venus...the planet of love, the stones are emerald, tourmaline, jade and rose quartz. The seed sound is Lam.



Brief Discussion:

Sunset: i was told by someone the most affluent healing stone for this chakra was rose quartz
James: We just finished the presentation on the 4th chakra but the exercise/meditation is still coming up after the discussion.
MyLady: I like green and pink stones blended together, actually tourmaline is very good for opening the chakras
Sunset: there are also some questions i can post that can help you think about how open you are to allowing the energy of love into this chakra
Rnbows: i used to wear a rose quartz heart..til it fell of one day..guess that meant i didnt need it for awhile
Sunset: tourmaline is a gorgeous stone
Earth: yes it is
Flowr: that'd be nice Sunset
Tendr: I very much like Hematite
Sunset: emerald is a classic stone of royalty.. perhaps they were always in need of healing as well
James: I liked the part about this chakra pivoting up and down.
Flowr: what is seed sound?
Sunset: lam. do you want me to post the questions here?
James: Yes Sun.. explain them first please.
Sunset3: these questions are located in a book called chakras and their archetypes uniting energy awareness and spiritual growth by ambika wauters
James: The purpose of these questions is?
Sunset: the two main archetypes for this chakra are the actor/actress and the lover to see how open your heart is to recieving and giving love..coming from a place of openness to deepen your capacity to love
1.) Are you able to be open and honest about yourfeelings with another person?
2.) How much love do you feel for yourself?
3.) Can you experience love for yourself when you are unhappy or lonely?
4.) Are you able to sustain a commitment through difficult times?
5.) Do you know how to stay with someone through the unpleasant and hard times when communication is blocked because of blame or resentment?
6.) Can you be detached enough to allow your loved ones to be themselves?
7.) Does your love help you to honor your commitment to work things through when you feel unsure and vulnerable?
8.) Can you be true to your feelings in a relationship without sacrficing or losing your sense of self?
9.) Can you love someone as they are and not expect them to change for you?
10.) Can you love yourself enough to be the way you are in a relationship?
Sunset: that's the end of the questions. i think those are good as a reflective tool. they are meant as a method of going inward
James: I agree.
Sunset: sometimes the greatest love we can receive is the love we fear or don't think we are worthy of
James: Saying no to many of these questions would suggest needing workon heart chakra then?
Sunset: this chakra is like kind of like the gates of the panamacanal. there are different ones that open and close at the same time
Flowr: I wonder if anyone can say yes to all.
James: We can aspire to.
Earth: well there were a couple i need to assess within
Sunset: well i think..when you can say yes to all. you realize the true inter connectedness of all relationships as one. i know i can't yet, but how amazing that kind of love is
Earth: i believe it is possible to love with a pure heart
James: indeed
Sunset: well it is already there earth in every breath we breathe....we breathe in the love of God
Earth: yes we do
James: Yes, waiting to flow when we stop blocking it.
Alite: When we can say Yes to all perhaps that is when we know the true meaning of unconditional love
Flowr: I hope the 'relationships' implied is meant in the broad sense.
Earth: and allowing ourselves to receive
Flowr: the broadest, that is.
James: I am sure it was.
Sunset: relationships as in with everyone flower..
Flowr: right, so gathered ;)
Sunset: from the very closest to you ..to the inter relation with every other living person..thing..
Flowr: good :)
Sunset: ok so how are you supposed to see past a road rage person into their infinte interconnectedness to the universal love?
Flowr: I think that chakra in balance is what I call my 'comfort zone'
James: Don't ask me those questions when I am driving in chicago traffic.
Flowr: hmm.. good deal. that too :-D
James: "do you love the driver who just made you miss that light?"
Sunset: i think sometimes..it is the greatest challenge for us to see the infinite spark of one we don't like..that's where i think we need to work on unconditional love
Alite: If someone has road rage at you, smile and pray for the driver that they will lose their anger
Flowr: good point Sun
Sunset: alite you are so good
Flowr: rather than hit the next pole.
Alite: Yes. They need prayer most of all
Sunset: maybe that is why we are supposed to pray for those who despitefully use us?
MyLady: the driver who made you miss the light might of saved your life... syncronicity in action... all is in perfect timing
Sunset: that is such a good comment gwen
James: so trueSunsetntwilight3: how trueA
Alite: Using positivity such as prayer and good intentions towards someone who could just be having a not so good day will help change their day to the better
Sunset: i think that the biggest part is opening ourself up to loving others instead of closing ourselves off. if you think of an infant..they cannot live without the love of their primary caregiver
James: Living life from a calm center can change everything. including interactions in tense situations like driving
Alite: I think it is part of our job as being part of each other to lift up others in love
James: When you are being mindful its less likely you will react unconsciously. And the middle finger is not a yoga mudra.
Alite: It begins with words and thoughts of kindness, which is centered from your Heart chakra
Sunset: what's a yoga mudra?
James: hand positon

Group Meditation:

Tonight in place of our normal ending meditation I have a healing meditation for the heart chakra. Its slightly abreviated, and is from the book Working With Your Chakras by Ruth White. Position.
Sit or lie comfortably, with your body symmetrically arranged, balanced, and relaxed.. Close your eyes and be in touch with the rythme of your breathing...

Bring the breath rhythm into your hear chakra - in the center of your body, on a level with your physical heart. Sense your heart chakra like a rose which is about to open... it has a delicate fragrance...its outer petals are spring green while within there is a promise of a delicate rosy pink...the colors are translucent, ethereal and yet the rose itself has substance...with each in-breath and out-breath the petals unfold, releasing more and more of its fragrance...the heart center colors surround you... as the center of the rose reveals itself, you see that the base of each petal has a delicate amethyst light and tinge...your heart center is pulsating and turning.... As its movementsfinds a steady rhythm and the color and light increase, reflect on people in your life who need healing... any situations which need deeper understanding... Do not allow yourself to pursue reasons, arguments or outcomes, just hold each person or situation in the light and fragrance of your heart center...breathing steadily, you will gradually become aware of constant pulsing rhythm in your heart center.. a rhythm which links to the central rhythm of the universe.. with the rhythms of earth and sea...with currents of air...and with the flicker of flames in a gentle, warming fire... You begin to feel healed and vitalized too... Experience this rhythm and healing as long as you wish... ~end