Tools of the Trade        Catherine M.     Working with Energy Whether you are interested in communing with the gods, magical spells, finding your inner spirituality or simply getting more in tune with the world, at some point you will be doing energy work of some sort. Over the next few months we are going to look at a variety of energy exercises designed to help you balance your energy, strengthen your control over it, and explore some of what you can achieve with it.         Dancing Ganesha, C10th, India     Mindfulness is the aware, balanced acceptance of the present experience. It isn't more complicated that that. It is opening to or recieving the present moment, pleasant or unpleasant, just as it is, without either clinging to it or rejecting it. ~ Sylvia Boorstein.

A few simple exercises A lot of the energy work I do involves the use of Mudras. A Mudra is a body position that helps to balance energy within the body through the use of accupressure points. Similar in principle to accupuncture, accupressure can be done at any time by yourself. The most basic set of Mudra exercises is the Dancing Fingers Mudra. This will balance your Chakras and help set your energy flowing smoothly. If you are having any emotional, intellectual, or physical issues, this will also bring your attention to them. The longer you can devote to a Mudra exercise, the greater the benefit - the Dancing Fingers provides the greatest benefit over a 15 minutes period or longer. However, even a few minutes is beneficial. If you have the time, let it go for as long as feels comfortable. If you can, sit in lotus, half lotus or cross-legged position. For those who have difficulty achieving this position, try using the Hanged Man - sit on a chair or the floor with the right leg extended comfortably. Fold the other leg so that the sole of the foot rests against the inside of the right knee. Whatever position you use, make sure you are comfortable - use a cushion or cahair or wall to lean against if you need to. Discomfit will negate the effects of the Mudra. Focus upon your breathing, keeping it nice and even. Try and inhale for a count of 5, pause a moment, and then exhale for 5. Breathe for at least 20 breaths, focusing on the count. This will calm your mind. Gradually start to focus upon each Chakra from the root upwards (use the chart to the right and article below to find your Chakras and what they are responsible for). Visualise them throbbing in time to the breath or your pulse. Once you feel ready, that is calm and peaceful and fully focused upon the exercise, begin to touch the tip of your thumb to each finger - on both hands at the same time - taking a full inhalation and exhalation for each touch (10 counts) or loger if you wish. Cycle through the four fingers at least five times. This is the Dancing Fingers Mudra.

Connecting with the Divine through Chakra Meditation By Franconian-Die-Drud There are many ways to connect with the Divine. Meditation is one method. Recently I have found that Chakra meditation brings me even closer to my personal definition of the Divine. This type of meditation allows an individual to open their minds to infinite experiences and endless possibilities. Chakra work allows an individual to look deep inside him/herself, exploring and balancing areas of one's health and consciousness that are limited by constraints of society and daily life. A Chakra, a Sanskrit word for disc or wheel, represents one of seven major energy centers in the body. These seven centers are related to the major nerve ganglia that branch off the nerve bundle in the spinal column. As we learn to balance each of these energy centers we gain a wisdom and power that awakens our spirit.            Muladhara, or the "Root" Chakra, is the first energy center. Located in the perineal area, this grounding Chakra affects one's ability to feel secure and satisfied. It represents a connection with the earth and an awareness of one's own body. Opening Muladhara allows one's self to be nourished, grounded and brings a greater awareness to one's physical body. Color Correspondance    red Elemental Correspondance    Earth Consciousness Correspondance    home    job    security    relationship with money    survival    nourishment - satisfaction of inner self    connection with self    connection with the mother earth Physical Correspondance    bladder    elimination system    prostate (in men)    skeletal system    lymph system    sacral plexus Endocrine Correspondance    Adrenal Glands Sense Correspondance    smell            Svadhisthana, or the "Naval" Chakra, is the second Chakra and the second stage of power. Located in the center of abdomen below the naval, the balancing of this Chakra affects one's ability to feel their emotions. It connects an individual with the ability to accept change, and connects the self to others by allowing for desire, sensation and movement. Color Correspondance    orange Elemental Correspondance    Water Consciousness Correspondance    food    sex    communication with inner self    body's wants    body's needs    pleasure    reproduction Physical Correspondance    sexual organs    reproductive system    lumbar plexus Endocrine Correspondance    Gonads Sense Correspondance    appetite    taste            Manipura, or the "Solar Plexus" Chakra, is the third energy center. Located in the solar plexus, this Chakra rules the individual's personal power and will. When open and balanced, this energy center brings self empowerment, spontaneity and energy to the individual. Color Correspondance    yellow Elemental Correspondance    Fire, the sun Consciousness Correspondance    power    control    freedom    ease of being    mental activity/body    personality, ego Physical Correspondance    stomach    liver    large intestine    skin    muscular system    solar plexus    eyes    face, figuratively Endocrine Correspondance    Pancreas Sense Correspondance    eyesight

Located in the center of the chest is Anahata, the "Heart" Chakra. This fourth energy center relates to self acceptance, relationships and our social identity. When an individual feels loved, they find a deep compassion, peace and centeredness; all signs of an open and balanced Chakra. Color Correspondance    green Elemental Correspondance    air Concsiousness Correspondance    love    relationships (with people close to your heart)    difficulty breathing Physical Correspondance    circulatory system (heart, blood)    lungs and chest area    cardiac plexus Endocrine Correspondance    Thymus, controlling immune system Sense Correspondance    touch, in relation to the person "inside" the physical body            Our Cornucopia Center, or Vissudha, is the fifth Chakra in this system of seven. Located at the base of the throat, Vissudha is associated with self expression, creativity and sound. When this chakra is open the individual is able to accept unconditionally the abundant mysteries of the universe. Color Correspondance    light blue Elemental Correspondance    Ether Concsiousness Correspondance    expressing    recieving    listening to intuition    abundance    creativity Physical Correspondance    throat    neck    arms    hands    brachial or cervical plexus Endocrine Correspondance    Thyroid Sense Correspondance    hearing            Ajna, or the "Third Eye" Chakra, is the sixth energy center. Located in the center of the forehead, this Chakra is related to self reflection, and identity. When this center is balanced it allows the individual to listen to their intuition and see things for what they really are. Color Correspondance    dark blue or indigo Elemental Correspondance    Inner Sound Concsiousness Correspondance    Spirit    spiritual identity    seeing intuitively Physical Correspondance    forehead    temples    cartoid plexus Endocrine Correspondance    Pituitary Sense Correspondance    extra sensory perception (clairvoyance, clairaudience, clairsentience)            Sahasrara is the seventh and final Chakra in this system. This Cosmic Consciousness is located at the top of the head and is associated with thought, wisdom and identity. When an individual achieves the opening and balancing of this chakra, a universal spiritual connection is formed - wisdom and knowleged surges through our spirit and body, and time and space becomes infinite. Color Correspondance    violet Elemental Correspondance    Ether Concsiousness Correspondance    unity    seperation    connection with the father sky    authority    realization Physical Correspondance    brain    nervous system Endocrine Correspondance    Pineal Sense Correspondance    Inner Light or White Light         There are many different ways of connecting with the Divine. Chakra meditation is just one mode of connection. As you continue on YOUR journey remember...we all have something inside ourselves waiting to surface. It is how we go about the process of awakening that allows us to graduate to the next level of consciousness.