The Body-Mind-Spirit Connection and the Chakras
The understanding of the connection between body, mind and spirit has been known in the Far East for millennia, but has only recently come to the West. Traditional forms of medicine such as the Ayurvedic (EYE-your-VEE-dik) from India, Qigong (CHEE-gung) from China and Reiki (RAY-key) from Japan are all based on the connection between the energy centers of the body being tapped into for both health and vitality, and more mental powers and spiritual understanding.
The chakras are swirling energy centers in the body that contain certain type of energy. The three lower chakras are the root, navel and solar plexus chakras and are situated at our buttocks, bellybutton and the point just under our rib cage in the center of our body. Each of these is related to our body and our connection with our self and our needs. A strong root chakra will give us everything we need, such as food, water and shelter; it is literally as well as figuratively the foundation of our bodily existence.
Our navel chakra, also known as the sex chakra, controls our desires, sexual and otherwise, and our ability to create and procreate. In conjunction with the solar plexus chakra, the seat of our willpower and personal power, we can satisfy our desires and achieve our worldly goals.
The 4 higher chakras are the gateway to the mind and spirit. The four are the heart, throat, third eye and crown chakras. Moving the energy up from the 3 lower chakras through the solar plexus chakra can give the heart chakra a good massage that can open us up in terms of body, mind and spirit. It improves circulation and ‘listening to your heart’ and acting upon what you know to be right. This in turn can lead to better relationships with others and with the soul or spirit.
The throat chakra enables you to speak from the heart from a place of truth and authenticity. The throat chakra links the heart and third eye chakras, so it allows you to also speak your higher truth and wisdom as you tap into your intuition and spiritual aspects. The third eye chakra is depicted as being just above the bridge of your nose, between your two eyes. The mantra to chant while meditating is OM, a sound that resonates and helps bring us in tune with the universe.
Once we have a strong body and mind, it is easy to access our spirit in order to achieve our higher self. The crown chakra is the culmination of our spiritual accomplishments. It also allows us to connect with the universe and for the universe to send healing energies to us.
Moving energy from the lower to the higher chakras connect bod, mind and spirit into a balanced and unified whole that can transform your life.
