How to Open and Clear the Chakras

Body Work, Chakra Centers, EmBody Bliss, Empaths, Features, Spirituality, The Crown Chakra, The Heart Chakra, The Root Chakra, The Sacral Chakra, The Solar Plexus Chakra, The Third Eye Chakra, The Throat Chakra, Websites

As many of my blog followers know, I also write content for the amazingly brilliant, conscious fashion company, Lotus Effect.

Today’s article is all about understanding, opening, and clearing the chakras, and since this is Chakra Center after all, I felt it would be an appropriate blog share for today!

Enjoy!

Believed to be the centers for spiritual energy, the 7 Chakras are a crucial system for understanding the flow of personal life force. Not only do these center points hold specific energy in the body, they also flow back and forth between each other and represent a vital aspect of our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.

Each individual chakra has a specific purpose in the body, and can be blocked by unhealed emotions and trauma. When one of these energy centers is blocked, it messes with the balance of our entire system. Blocked chakras can lead to illness, as well as spiritual and emotional unrest. Understanding how to clear and balance the chakras is crucial for our overall health.

Knowing where these energy center points are located in the body, as well as their emotional components, is an important step in learning how to be in-tune with the body’s life force.

Here is a basic overview:

Root Chakra – Located at the base of the spine, the root chakra is where the body carries its survival energy. Issues of money, food, and stability are associated with this chakra. When opened and clear one feels grounded and at peace. The emotion that blocks this chakra is fear.

If you carry fear for your basic survival (this can include financial stress or eating disorders), it is important to work on healing your root chakra. The key to healing this chakra is surrendering to your fears and allowing them to flow through you (rather than resisting and suppressing them).

Color associated with the root chakra: Red

Sacral Chakra – Located about 2 inches below the navel and 2 inches in, is the sacral chakra. Related to the ability to give and receive, as well as sexual and creative energy, this chakra deals with pleasure, and is blocked by guilt. Because of social and religious programming, most people have blocks in their sacral chakra.

Feeling guilt related to receiving pleasure (of any form), creativity, or sexuality – or carrying emotional trauma related to sexuality, is an indication the sacral chakra needs to be healed and cleared.

Look at the things you feel guilty about in your life. Accept the reality of the events, and learn to forgive yourself. It is impossible for this chakra to be opened and balanced without self-forgiveness and acceptance.

Color associated with the sacral chakra: Orange

Solar Plexus Chakra – Located in the abdomen/stomach area, the solar plexus chakra deals with one’s sense of personal power and self-control, and is blocked by shame. Feelings of self-worth, self-confidence, and self-esteem are tied to this chakra.

In order to open and clear the solar plexus, it is essential to love and accept all aspects of yourself, including your mistakes.

Color associated with the solar plexus chakra: Yellow

Heart Chakra – Located in the center of the chest, just above the heart, the heart chakra deals with our joy, inner peace, and ability to love. This chakra is blocked by grief.

To clear and release the heart chakra, it is important to acknowledge, validate, and release all loss. Allow yourself to feel the pain of grief. Do not hold and suppress the sadness — let your emotions flow.

Color associated with the heart chakra: Green

Throat Chakra – Located in the throat, the throat chakra deals with the ability to communicate truth, and is blocked by lies – especially the lies we tell ourselves.

To heal and open the throat chakra, it is important to release all self-denial and lies – even when those lies are functioning as a coping mechanism. We cannot lie about our own nature. It is impossible to be able to communicate in a powerful way when one holds onto self-deluded lies.

Color associated with the throat chakra: Blue

Third Eye Chakra – Located on the forehead between the eyes, the third eye deals with the ability to focus on and see the big picture (as well as psychic vision and insight). This chakra is blocked by illusion. The greatest illusion of this world is the illusion of separation.

In order to heal and clear this chakra, it is crucial to release all illusion within ourselves and understand we are connected to all things. There is no separation. Things we think are separate and different, are actually one and the same.

Color associated with the thrid eye chakra: Indigo

Crown Chakra – Located at the very top of the head, this highest chakra represents the ability to be fully connected spiritually. It deals with pure, cosmic energy, and is blocked by earthly attachment.

Healing and opening the crown chakra requires us to let go of the things we hold on to most desperately, trusting the love and flow of the Universe/Source within us to be our ultimate fulfillment and bliss.

Opening the crown chakra is not about denying our desires or connection to the earth, it is simply about letting go of our grasp and surrendering to Universal cosmic energy (or God).

Color associated with the crown chakra: Violet

Opening and healing the chakras is about walking the spiritual path of self-awareness. It is not something that is done in one mediation, but rather a daily practice on the inward journey. By tuning into our emotional blockages and needs, we allow ourselves to expand, trust, and ultimately be set free.

What Everyone Needs to Know About Their Chakras

Chakra Centers, Features, Spirituality, The Crown Chakra, The Heart Chakra, The Root Chakra, The Sacral Chakra, The Solar Plexus Chakra, The Third Eye Chakra, The Throat Chakra

This morning I was browsing through Mindbodygreen and stumbled across this article by Deepak Chopra. Deepak offers a in-depth and unique perspective on the Chakras I just had to share! Enjoy!

Each of the seven chakras are governed by spiritual laws, principles of consciousness that we can use to cultivate greater harmony, happiness, and wellbeing in our lives and in the world.

The First Center: The Root Chakra

The root chakra, known in Sanskrit as muladhara, is located at the base of the spine. It governs your most basic survival needs. When this chakra is clear and energy flows through it freely, we feel secure and confident that we can easily fulfill our needs. However, blockage in this area can cause us to feel anxious and worried.

The spiritual Law of Karma governs the first energy center. On the physical plane, every action you perform results in a corresponding reaction. To maximize the possibility that your actions generate evolutionary reactions, you can use your body as a choice determining instrument.

Consider the possibilities in front of you and listen to signals from your body. These sensations generating from the root chakra are either comfortable or uncomfortable. Your body evaluates every possible decision in terms of its likelihood to meet your needs for safety or increase the level of threat you experience. The first chakra, which connects you with the earth, provides essential information as to the potential nourishment or toxicity that is available to you as a result of the actions you are taking.

The Second Center: Creativity Chakra

The creativity chakra, called svadhishtana, is associated with creativity in all its expressions. Located in the area of your sexual organs, the energy of this center can be used for biological reproduction. When channeled into higher energy centers, it fuels the creative force that enables you to paint a beautiful picture, build a business, or create a life of love and abundance.

The Law of Least Effort is lively in the second chakra. When your vital energy is flowing through your center of creativity, you co-create your life. The solution to every problem is rarely on the level of the problem. Rather, it comes from a deeper domain of creativity. Creativity is the process of taking the same raw material and creating different contexts and relationships between the components.

For example, when a composer creates a new piece of music, he is using the same notes in a new relationship with one another other, resulting in the emergence of something that did not exist before. The second chakra utilizes the raw material of the root chakra to create the world anew each day.

The Third Center: Energy Chakra

The energy chakra, manipura, is localized in your solar plexus. It’s the seat of your power in the world. When this center is open and flowing, you are capable of translating your intentions and desires into manifestation. When it is blocked, you feel frustrated and ineffectual.

The Law of Intention and Desire governs the third chakra. The seeds of intentions and desires reside in your personal soul. Nourishing the seeds you wish to germinate with your attention will lead to their full expression. It is important to be clear about your intentions so you are not surprised when they bear fruit.

The process of manifesting your desires is to first bring them into consciousness, followed by expanding your awareness through meditation, and finally releasing your intentions and detaching from the outcome. You can control your actions, however you cannot control the fruit of your actions. Keep your life energy flowing freely through your third chakra and the light and heat of your intentions will radiate on the world.

The Fourth Center: Heart Chakra

The heart chakra represents the unifying energy of love and compassion. Known as anahata, it is located at the center of the chest. The heart chakra is dedicated to overcoming separation and division. When the heart center is blocked, there is a sense of alienation from others. When the heart center is open and flowing, you feel connected at a deep level to all beings in your life.

The Law of Giving and Receiving governs the heart chakra. Love can take many different forms at different stages of life. The love of child for her mother is different than a mother’s love for her child. A friend’s love is different than that of a passionate lover or the love of a student for his teacher. However so, the common thread in each of these expressions of love is the impulse to unify—to overcome separation. This is the nature of the heart.

Every act of giving is simultaneously an act of receiving. Each time you welcome a gift into your life, you are providing the opportunity for someone to give. Just as a healthy physical heart receives blood from the periphery which it then oxygenates and pumps back out, your emotional heart stays healthy by receiving and giving love in all its forms.

The Fifth Center: Expression Chakra

The throat chakra, called visshuddha in Sanskrit, is the center of expression. When the fifth chakra is open and flowing, you have the confidence that you are capable of communicating your needs. When the fifth chakra is obstructed, a person will often feel that they are not being heard. In order to feel alive and empowered, it’s important that this energy center is clear. Blockages in this area are often associated with thyroid problems or chronic neck pain.

The Law of Detachment governs the throat chakra. An open fifth chakra enables you to express your truth without concern for censors or critics. This does not mean you say things that are intentionally hurtful or insensitive. On the contrary, people with open centers of communication are skillful in expressing their needs in ways that are life supporting. Anxiety over how people will react to your views does not arise when energy is flowing freely through the chakra of expression.

The Law of Detachment reminds you that you can choose your words and actions, but you cannot control the response to your words and action. When your intentions are clear, and your heart is open, you will spontaneously demonstrate right speech trusting that the universe will handle the details.

The Sixth Center: Intuition Chakra

The intuition chakra, known in Sanskrit as ajna, is located in the forehead. It is the center of insight and intuition. When this center is open, you have a deep sense of connection to your inner voice, and feel guided in your choices. When blocked, there is a sense of self-doubt and distrust. The opening of this chakra is usually associated with a clear sense of connection to ones dharma, or purpose in life.

The Law of Dharma or Cause and Effect governs the sixth chakra. You have within you a wise voice guiding you to express the highest aspects of your nature. Listen to this still inner voice, which is guiding you to manifest your full potential. Quiet the internal turbulence that is filled with the voices of others so you can identify the sound of your own soul. It has only one desire—for you to remember your essential nature as a spark of the divine.

The Seventh Center: Consciousness Chakra

The consciousness chakra, known as dahaswara, is visualized as a lotus flower at the crown of the head. When the lotus unfolds its petals, the memory of wholeness is restored. Remember that your essential nature is unbounded, and that you are spirit in disguise as a person. This is the full expression of yoga – the unification of being with action, of universality with individuality.

The Law of Pure Potentiality governs the seventh chakra. When your roots are receiving nourishment from the earth in the first chakra, your creative juices are flowing in the second, your intentions are empowered in the third, your heart is open and exchanging love with those around you in the fourth, you are spontaneously expressing your highest self in the fifth, you are in touch with your inner voice in the sixth, only then, does energy move into the crown chakra and you remember your essential nature as infinite and unbounded. The thousand-petaled lotus flower unfolds and you know yourself as a spiritual being temporarily localized to a body and mind.

The Yoga of Meditation The Upanishads tell us, “As great as the infinite space beyond is the space within the lotus of the heart.” From the time of your birth, you have been called to explore the world outside of you. Meditation is the exploration of your inner world. Yoga encourages you to be as familiar with your inner world of thoughts, feelings, memories, desires, and imagination as you are with the outer world. When you can move through both the inner and outer domains of life with freedom and joy, you fulfill the highest purpose of yoga.

Deepak Chopra, M.D. co-founded the Chopra Center for Wellbeing in 1996 with the late Dr. David Simon, who co-wrote this article and the book The Seven Spiritual Laws of Yoga. You can learn more by visiting the Chopra Center’s resource page.

Food & Wine Travel Writing: How to Travel the World, Drink Wine, and Get Paid for it

Online Classes/Retreats, The Solar Plexus Chakra

Who doesn’t want to eat and drink their way through Europe and get paid for it?!

As a sommelier and freelance writer who has worked in the wine industry for nearly 10 years, I developed a lot of wine contacts around the world. After college I decided to put my two skills to the test and spend a year living eating/drinking my way around Europe as a writer.

People always ask me how I was able to live in Italy, tour the best wineries and restaurants, and get paid for it! Trying to answer this question in a 10 min video proved to be difficult – I was only scratching the surface of the details that come along with the “how-tos” of travel writing.

In order to effectively help all you aspiring travel/wine writers get your foot in the door (and avoid all the mistakes I made along the way), I’ve developed a two week crash course on how to live in Europe, tour the wineries and restaurants, and get paid doing it!

This is a dynamic, face paced, class where you will receive in-depth info and stellar insider tips on:

*How to obtain a press release to major wine events (like Vino 100).

*How to acquire freelance writing gigs with newspapers and magazines.

*How to write a compelling query letter.

*How to sell your story, properly invoice, and tips on scheduling writing gigs to manage cash-flow.

*Wine 101 basics (how to read wine labels in Europe, basic tasting tips and techniques, and an overview of all major grape varietals/wineries in Western Europe).

*Travel writing basics (top 10 mistakes to avoid, how to be current, edgy, and develop a niche for yourself).

*And many more travel writing details!

*As a special bonus, I will give my personal European wine contact list to the first 5 people who register!

This is a crash course on all things to know about travel writing with a wine emphasis, and I am confident you will leave the class feeling ready to conquer the world of wine and traveling!

All for only $33!

Space is limited. I’ve had a lot of requests for this class but have to cap it at 40 people to make sure everyone gets enough of my time/attention. Register early to ensure a seat. This may be the only time I offer this!

Dates May 13th – May 26th

The entirety of the class will be held in a private Facebook forum. I will post daily info/videos/wine quizzes, etc., as well as be available to answer any questions you may have.

Click here to register.

Amanda Flaker is a freelance writer, teacher/tutor, editor, and creator of Chakra Center. She carries a BA in English Literature & Creative Writing, and heads-up the website’s online writing classes (Writing to Connect with the Elves and Discover your Bliss, Writing to Heal, and Writing to Develop your Intuitive Gifts). She lived and worked in Florence, Italy for a year as a freelance writer and has traveled extensively around Western Europe. In Portland, OR., she worked as a wine sommelier and wine buyer, dabbling in wines from all over the world.

Indulge in the Magic and Bliss of Tuscany!

Aromatherapy, Body Work, Chakra Centers, Features, Food, Online Classes/Retreats, Spirituality, The Crown Chakra, The Heart Chakra, The Root Chakra, The Sacral Chakra, The Solar Plexus Chakra, The Third Eye Chakra

Tuscany, Italy — October 4th – 11th 2013:

Get ready to lavish in luxury, learn about wine from the experts, experience traditional Tuscan cuisine prepared by Italians (raw and vegan style), steep in the magic of aromatherapy, healing massage, and energy work, connect with like minds, and experience your internal world through complete indulgence in your senses. This will be an exclusive,once-in-a-lifetime, full immersion retreat in the heart of Tuscany.

So often in the “spiritual community” we are taught to deny our selves. We make a conscious effort to fully activate and engage our upper chakras through meditation, prayer, out of body experiences, and fasting, but we neglect our lower chakras – we discount the purpose and power of our physical experiences.

We came into life in this physical dimension to experience it, learn from it, and expand. Denying the importance and role of our physical expression cuts off a major aspect of our purpose here, and rather than “setting us free” it often leads to repressed and blocked energy in the body.

It’s all about balance. We don’t want to over-indulge the physical, but often we need to create moments and experiences where we can fully allow our lower chakras a place to take center stage. When we activate and allow our lower chakras to do what they were designed to do, we can create bliss that is unparallel in any other dimension – we experience the merging of the physical and non-physical aspects of ourselves which – when fully charged – can allow the flow of energy through our bodies to cause a kundalini experience throughout our entire energetic and physical fields.

Activating bliss through our five senses is a total allowance of our physical and spiritual selves to come together in complete harmony in this 3^rd dimension – to give us permission to create and experience beauty; the bliss of such moments is often called “orgasmic” for a reason. It’s the closest we come to experiencing the fullness of our WHOLE selves in this dimension, and it is through our physical senses that these moments of creative and sensual pleasure are made possible.

Italy is a country where beauty reigns. It’s a place where culturally time is arranged to experience the poetry and magic of “la vita bella.” It’s an experience you don’t just live; you enter directly into the music of life. You allow the beauty of the physical world to seep into every cell of your body. It’s about indulgence. It’s about creation. It’s about experiencing the bounty and harvest of our energetic and spiritual work that has been transmuted into physical attributes: Wine, chocolate, living organic foods, music, aromatherapy, massage, and all things blissful. Italy is truly an immersion in the aesthetics of creation.

This retreat provides an experience, an opportunity to allow yourself to let go and fully surrender to the beauty within and
around you, filling your senses, your body, and your spirit with the majesty and magic of what it means to truly live, love, and luxuriate in bliss of being in a body of flesh and blood. It’s about losing yourself in present moment awareness and fully experiencing the gift of our physical world.

Here’s a lil’ taste of the magic we’re weaving together for you:

Five-star service and accommodation at a private Renaissance-style Tuscan Villa where wine can be sipped on the terrace over-looking the rustic vineyard hills of Chianti.
Exclusive winemaker’s dinner featuring world-renowned winemaker, Count Sebastiano Capponi of Villa Calcinaia Vineyards.

Luxurious intuitive bliss massage and energy healing to ground the magic into your physical body.
Hand-crafted, world-class wine from some of the greatest producers in Tuscany.
Private wine tour/tasting excursion to one of Tuscany’s most well-respected, bio-diverse organic wineries.
Tantalizing cacao ceremonies (Italian style!) to experience the bliss and gentle mind-altering/multi-dimensional affects of this magical and alchemical bean.
Traditional Tuscan cuisine prepared raw and vegan style by Italy’s most well-known and respected raw food chef and educator, Vito Cortese.
Sensual aromatherapy infused in every room of the house and custom blended for this exclusive retreat by certified, intuitive aroma therapist, Athena Ziegler.
Classes on how aromatherapy can assist you both spiritually and energetically.
Two fully serviced four course dinner parties at the Villa with food/wine pairing and live classical guitar (yes, you will have a professional waiter for these dinners!)
Wine 101 classes (including wine and food pairing, wine etiquette, and wine basics).
Raw food classes on classic Italian dishes taught by Vito Cortese using the freshest and most local ingredients birthed from the rustic soil of Tuscany.
Excursions in the medieval city of Florence.
Plenty of time to relax, soak in the magic, drink wine, eat amazing food, and enjoy the beauty of Tuscany.

Join us for an entire week full of world-class wine, living/organic Tuscan foods and luxurious self-pampering woven-in the intricate and alchemical magic of aromatherapy, energy healing, love, and unapologetic bliss. Our intention is to create a five-star experience of magic and pleasure that is deeply grounded in and experienced through your physical senses. It will be an otherworldly creation. Your only job is to show-up and surrender to the beauty. We’ll take care of the rest.

Pricing and registration will open Thursday, Jan. 31st. As this is the only exclusive, alchemical, luxury, five star retreat of its kind, registration is likely to go fast. Space is extremely limited. First come, first serve. If you are planning to come with a partner or spouse, or if you wish to have your own room, there is a limited number suites available with a queen size bed. All other rooms will be shared with single beds, so register soon to receive your preference.

We can’t wait to create magic and sip wine with you under the Tuscan sun!

Ci vediamo!

The Secret Life of Chakras

Features, Spirituality, The Crown Chakra, The Heart Chakra, The Root Chakra, The Sacral Chakra, The Solar Plexus Chakra, The Third Eye Chakra, The Throat Chakra, Websites

(Guest Blog from http://www.chakrahealing.com)

Imagine seven ‘wheels’ of energy spinning in your body along its centerline, from the base of your spine to the top of your head. These subtle energy channels each correspond to different areas of the body as well as specific life situations. They channel energy to where it’s needed, for optimal health and wellbeing.

In many ways the chakras are like intersections in a busy city. They channel traffic, and the traffic grid is designed to keep traffic flowing freely. But as we have all experienced, city traffic can easily become snarled. All it takes is one angry or insensitive driver blocking an intersection, and everything comes to a stop. Traffic ‘upstream’ from the blockage becomes an impassable domino effect of cars clogging the streets and blocking other intersections. And ‘downstream’, the streets are empty.

Check out the chakra chart below to understand your chakras better.

Imagine that scenario in your energy flow. If one or more of your chakras are blocked, they cause disturbances and imbalances on both sides of the flow. The result is stagnating energy that causes poor health, undesirable life conditions, unhappiness and a sense that nothing is going right.

You may have blockages or imbalances in several chakras, but it is often due to one major blockage in one chakra that then affects the others. Take a free chakra test to find out which of your chakras are blocked!

Now that you know how important the chakras are to your overall health and wellbeing, let’s look at individual chakras and the ways they affect the system.

root chakra symbol Starting at the bottom of the line of chakras, we find the first chakraor the Root chakra, located at the base of the spine. It corresponds to the physical body and connection to the Earth. Just like a foundation, it is concerned with the basics of survival: food, shelter, safety, comfort and belonging. You can tell if your root chakra is closed if you often feel stuck and sluggish; you experience unrelenting stress because of a belief that you must rely on external circumstances; you may have persistent financial problems and find yourself in a less-than-ideal career.

Just up from the root chakra is the Sacral chakra. This is the seat of kundalini energy, sexuality, pleasure, intimacy, creativity and the joys of life. This chakra is located just below and behind the navel. Looking at the body from head to toe, this is your physical center. If your sacral chakra is weak, you struggle with a healthy self-image; you experience difficulty allowing yourself to become emotionally and sexually intimate; you move from one relationship to another, desperately trying to find “the one” yet lacking the sense that you are worthy of love. Most notably, your libido is very low.

solar plexus chakra symbol Moving up, the Solar plexus chakra is the center of your personal power. Physically, it is located about two inches below the breastbone. It is the seat of your ego, willpower, passions and ambition. If your solar plexus chakra is imbalanced or depleted, you will find it difficult to take action on your dreams due to a sense of powerlessness and low self-esteem; you have very low self-worth, feel like a victim and often suffer from stomach issues and anxiety.

heart chakra symbol The fourth chakra is the Heart chakra, the center for love and spirituality. Love doesn’t mean only love for others; it also applies to self-love and self-acceptance. This chakra is located right next to your physical heart – which is why, when you are struggling in this chakra, you may experience heartache! If your heart chakra is weak, you have trouble with giving and receiving love and being compassionate; you hold grudges and become needy in relationships, and this often leads to anger and distrust. A weak heart chakra can be at the root of heart disease, asthma and allergies.

throat chakra symbol The fifth chakra is next in line. The Throat chakra is your communication center – your voice, your creative self-expression. The throat chakra is also responsible for truth, honesty and integrity. If you are unable to voice your opinions or true feelings; if you are known as the ‘quiet one’ and if you are frustrated because you don’t feel that other people hear what you have to say, your throat chakra is blocked. Throat and mouth problems are common.

third eye chakra symbol Your sixth chakra is the Third eye chakra (or brow chakra). It sits just between and above the eyes and it is responsible for psychic abilities such as intuition as well as your sense of purpose in life. Your third eye chakra is closed if you struggle with finding meaning in life and often ask yourself, “Why am I here? Why was I even born?” You have trouble making decisions and suffer from headaches and tension.

Finally, we reach the crown chakra located at the top of your head. This is the connection between you and the divine. It is responsible for spirituality and enlightenment. Your brain functions and central nervous system are controlled by the crown chakra. If this chakra is depleted or blocked, you will experience loneliness, insignificance and meaninglessness. You may feel a strong attachment to material possessions and achievements (and define yourself according to them) and a disconnect from the spiritual side of life. Headaches are common.

Now, this list of problems can be overwhelming and depressing, if you suffer from more than just a few. But remember, you most likely have a blockage in one primary chakra that causes imbalances in the rest. That’s why it is important to find out where the main blockage is and what caused it. Then, with simple knowledge and exercises, you can become like a helpful police officer guiding traffic at a snarled intersection and restore the free flow of energy in your body.

When the seven chakras are in balance, life feels good and all is as it should be. This small introduction to the seven chakras is just the start to that journey.

The word chakra means wheel in Sanskrit. This is because each of the chakras is connected to the next in what appears to be a vertical line up the body. They also create loops of energy that surround your body. Generally, the 7 chakras are classified from the bottom to top of the head in an ascending manner. Each chakra has a corresponding color that make an ascending rainbow.

Quantum Empowerment 101

Quantum Empowerment, The Solar Plexus Chakra

Quantum Empowerment: An Introduction

Through the hustle and bustle of our day-to-day lives, we often forget to stop and check in with ourselves. We are programmed not to ask why and to become complacent with what we are given. However, I have discovered complacency breeds a diplomatic surrender of empowerment. Quantum Empowerment is all about taking your power back by discovering, understanding, and mastering the principles of the Universe you interact with every day.

What is Quantum Empowerment?

Quantum Empowerment is the term I use to describe living a conscious, enlightened lifestyle. Throughout my lifetime, I have heard countless amounts of people say, “What difference does one person make? Even if I change, it doesn’t matter because everyone else is just going to do what they want to do. I’m too old and too set in my ways to change now.”

I am here to let you know everything you do, think, and feel matters; but more importantly, I am going to show you ways to effectively take control of your life and craft your experiences in an expansive, evolved manner. The first step to becoming quantumly empowered is to get informed.

Education

I have always been a strong proponent of education, but what I think is even more important than formal education is the unquenchable thirst and desire for knowledge. When we learn the ways we function within our reality, we learn how to expertly craft the experience.

That doesn’t necessarily mean life becomes hiccup free, as we all discover the lessons of our experience in a variety of ways. Nevertheless, life’s bends in the road become much more manageable when we are aware of how everything works.

It’s similar to baking a cake; if you don’t have the recipe, you can still make the cake, but you’re probably going to have many more mishaps than if you’d had the directions from the beginning. The best way to become empowered is to dive in and research…with discernment.

Founding Principles

There are two primary quantum mechanics principles I have found to be inescapable in the explanation of any type of phenomena or interaction: quantum entanglement and nonlocality.

Quantum entanglement is the quantum principle through which atoms, cells, objects, and living organisms cannot be separated. Nothing is free of quantum entanglement. Things which are quantumly entangled should have, at some point in history, shared a link, common origin, or communication. Because atoms, cells, and physiological architecture can all be traced to the same root source, especially human DNA, quantum entanglement permeates our entire existence. This means every piece of existence affects one another in a profound, instantaneous way with every thought form, feeling, or action. The physical manifestations of these connections are what we usually notice, but the energetic interplay is far more significant.

Nonlocality is another principle of quantum mechanics, exposing space and time for its true illusory nature. Nonlocality works in tandem with quantum entanglement, connecting particles, creatures, and consciousness, irrespective of the third dimensional perspective of space-time limitations. This means a quantumly entangled particle from 2012 can simultaneously affect its counterpart in 1984.

The First Step to Quantum Empowerment

Once you understand what these principles are, you are ready to start observing how they are active in your life. We often use the word synchronicity as a way to denote divine energetic experiences, proving alignment with Source, our higher self, God, or whatever term you would like to use. These are more than happenstances; these experiences are expertly crafted to give us important messages, at important junctures. Interestingly, synchronicities are directly linked with quantum mechanics; when you experience a synchronicity, you are witnessing how quantum mechanics works in your life.

For example, let’s say all morning long you were craving apples, but apples aren’t something you usually eat or crave. Your thought about apples created a potent energetic thought form, which is then sent to the consciousness field with a direct resonance. Your significant other shows up right before you’re getting ready to prepare dinner, long after your craving has ceased. You notice one arm happens to be carrying a bag of apples. When you ask you significant other why they picked up apples, they reply, “Well, I was driving home from work and there was an accident on the highway. I decided to take the scenic route. I drove past this amazing apple farm having an apple sale. I normally wouldn’t stop, but I felt like I needed to get some apples.”

This is an example of a common synchronistic, quantumly empowered experience. On a physics and energetic level, you had been creating a distinct frequency output, which then affected your partner, with whom you are quantumly entangled, in a nonlocal way.

These events happen in your life all of the time. When you begin to pay attention to when, where, why, and how they happen, you will begin to notice a pattern emerge; the pattern is your divine, energetic influence blueprint. Recognizing this pattern is a monumental step in consciously utilizing your specific sphere of influence over the principles at work in your life in order to manifest the life you’ve been waiting for.

Written by: Positive PollyAnna

EmBody Bliss: Release

Body Work, EmBody Bliss, The Solar Plexus Chakra

Right now is a time of climax; for every moment is, as it offers its fullness. Release comes when you’re willing to be taken in by that very fullness. As we commit to release, we may pass pain, but as we surface out the other side we recognize that release was the climax of alignment. Our Source stream is no longer being blocked or finely funneled and energy rushes in fully. Finally.

By Neville Dsouza (nevs28 on deviantART)

A few weeks ago, I learned a valuable lesson as I boarded a bus. I sat down across the isle from a young girl and opened up a book to read on my travels. On the next stop, an unkempt man boarded. As the bus continued, I noticed that I could not focus on what I was reading and started to feel nauseous. I typically do feel dizzy when I read and ride in a vehicle simultaneously, however, once I had decided to put away my book, I still felt an intense energy adding to my nausea. It was intense enough to make me question my surroundings.

Becoming very empathic, I picked up on the chaotic vibrations around me. The energy swirled until I became a bit worried about vomiting. I then noticed that I was trying to block out the energy around me, which was intensifying my condition. Knowing that anything I resist will persist, I decided to face the situation with acceptance. Better yet, approve of it. I let myself inhale and understand the energy that I was sharing with these people and then let it flow out my feet.

I envisioned myself as a circuit where energy goes to renew, rather than a stubborn brick wall separate from the situation, where energy goes to die. I surrendered fully to what was happening, with trust that health was still mine. Nearly three minutes after, the Universe orchestrated with detail, everything I needed to no longer share the space with those energies that were adding to my nausea.

With this, came an acute understanding that endless energy flows in and out of us always, and to remain in resistance is to block the flow of renewed energy that is available to us. As one big organism, we’d all ideally know any energy as something we’ve created and approve of it—no matter the lack or mask in which it’s disguised. Release is experienced upon that fearless foundation of allowing.

Just as one aspect of alignment within us cannot leave another unchanged, it is important to take notice of the simple forms of release we have such as; a sneeze, a yawn, a cough, deep breath, a burp, an orgasm, etc. These little blessings enable your body to rid itself of old energies and open to the new, giving your muscles and the entirety of your body new life.

Let’s address what we’ve discovered in our last “Muscle Listening Meditation” more closely…

Like channels always being pulled towards Source but sometimes slightly off-kilter, we walk a thin, wobbly platform above the sea of Source, extremely susceptible to falling into its ecstasy. What does the water underneath you convey? How easily do you see yourself falling into its nourishment? Do you even recognize its nourishment? What would tear you from your seemingly safe platform? What would you like to release? What were the answers you received from your eager body in our last visit?

Once you have received the answers and recognize the root of your physical tension, come up with a statement that reflects its essence (i.e. I am not loved). Then take a look at it with utmost care and ask yourself how this belief may have been conceived of in the first place and if you truly believe it. Spend some time exploring it.

At that point, find the antithesis of it. This is when embracing the severity of your issue becomes beautiful because the greater your pain, the greater your antithesis.

Is your antithesis to feel completely carefree and trusting? Is it to experience greater abundance in your life? Is it to follow your deepest heart and dreams? Is it to be as easy and flexible as nature? Is it to know of unconditional love?

Whatever it is, we want to start working our way into alignment with it, that is to say, match our frequency to it. When any desire in you is born, a pathway is paved. This pathway delightfully waits for you to step foot into its vortex. Put your first foot forward by writing down every way in which you already feel, know, or live this antithesis. Do this every day. The more you focus on the ways that you already have your antithesis, you will be gifted more evidence of it. Soon enough, your issue will no longer be fed by your thoughts and you will both be stepping off of the platform into Universal nourishment, in a state of blissful release.

Happy trusting your body, mind, and heart!

Bodies are Made to Move

The Solar Plexus Chakra

OUR BODIES ARE MADE TO MOVE

We live in a world in which everything tends to be managed by a touch of a button, but our bodies are still the same as they were a million years ago … made to move.

Even when we are standing still, there is always something going on in the inside: Our hearts beat, smooth muscles of internal organs flex without our knowledge, blood circulates, lymph moves, breathing never stops … all these processes maintain our existence, without us moving an inch.

More than 200 bones and more than 600 skeletal muscles enable our bodies the movement that can also be seen on the outside. And this movement is necessary to maintain our health. Sadly, this only holds water in theory. Today’s lifestyle pushes us to spend time sitting in front of a computer, and even our free time tends to be spend in front of a television. Not moving robs us from our health and has the same consequences as aging.

What is physical activity?

Gerontologists, the experts that investigate the process of aging, had proven that 21 days of bad rest has the same consequences as 30 long years of living, or in other words, aging. Not moving our bodies makes us sick.

Many think physical activity needs to be difficult and exhausting. That isn’t true, if our goal is health. The important thing is to allow our body to function as it is meant to. Healthy exercise should take care of the circulation of body fluids, has to oppose gravity, and needs to be fun.

The human body never holds on to something it does not use. If we do not move our bodies enough, our skeletal muscles will diminish and our joints will get stiff. Moving our bodies also helps to maintain the health of our internal organs – it massages them gently. Exercise also helps us to maintain normal body weight, reduce the possibility of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and digestion problems, regain mental clarity and, of course, prolong life.

Why should we exercise?

Nowadays we rarely eat just as much as we need: body weight is a problem. The battle with extra pounds will most likely be easier if you include some exercise in your daily routine. Even 30 minutes of physical activity a day will be enough in the beginning. Combine some cardio workout with strength exercises, because each of them has its own benefits. If you choose an exercise you enjoy, it becomes a habit and not just a chore. Simply start by walking or cycling to work, if this is at all possible.

Heart disease is far more common than we tend to think, and not moving our bodies is one of causes. Type II diabetes use to be a disease of elderly people, but these days it is also common among children. Physical activity helps lowering blood sugar levels and helps the body to secret right amounts of hormone insulin. Researches have proven that strength exercise is the most effective in preventing diabetes, so make sure you include it in your exercise routine.

Exercise can also help prevent cancer. With moving our bodies we are most likely to prevent breast and colon cancer. Even those, who have already survived cancer will benefit from exercise, because it will regain ones vitality.

One of the most obvious and known benefits of exercise is its affect on muscles and bones. Bones are loosing their density with age, which can lead to osteoporosis. Regular physical activity during which our bones carry our body weight, strengthens them and slows down the loss of mineral mass. The same is true for our muscles. Exercises that strengthen them will maintain them, otherwise you will loose 6% of it every 10 years, after the age of 40.

The last, but not least, is our mental health, which is also very influenced by moving of our bodies. You will be able to think clearly, focus, learn and stay positive. It is known that exercise is the greatest medicine for depression, which can be characterized as a disease of a modern man.

Moving your body truly is a life force of a healthy living. If you really want to live, and not just survive, than make exercise your priority. Your body will be grateful.

By Teja Fidler Makoter

The Magic of Tonic Herbs: An Interview with Brandon Gilbert

Interviews, The Solar Plexus Chakra

I started taking tonic herbs about two years ago. I had randomly stumbled upon a YouTube video about herbal elixirs and thought I should give it whirl.

That’s one whirl I’m glad I took! Tonic herbs are the first supplements I’ve taken that have a noticeable, almost immediate effect on my energy levels — and it’s an energy that is subtle and sustainable.

Since then, I’ve been a huge advocate of herbalism, and hands-down, the best quality, most potent herbs I’ve found on the market are from Hyperion Herbs.

Not only does Hyperion Herbs have unbeatable quality, Brandon Gilbert (owner) offers some of the most well-researched, extensive, and comprehensible information out there. His podcasts, YouTube videos, and extensive newsletters on tonic herbs, has given me an education in herbs I never dreamed imaginable.

Because I love what he is doing, I asked Brandon to share some of his story, favorite supplements, and info about Hyperion Herbs.

Enjoy!

How did you get interested in Chinese tonic herbs?

I became interested in tonic herbs when I learned of their deep connection with Taoism and martial arts. Both are things that have been interests of mine since a very young age. Also, the intelligence that these herbs contains and can confer to us is extremely fascinating and rare. In my eyes, herbs of this class are truly gems, gifts from nature.

What is the difference between tonic herbs and regular herbal supplements?

A tonic herb, by definition, must meet a few criteria in order to be classified as tonic. First, it must be safe to consume for the long term and be free of any side effects or toxicity. Second, it must benefit or tonify at least one of the three treasures (the three treasures being jing, chi, and shen). Lastly, it should be dual directional and regulatory in its effects. Meaning it doesn’t serve as a stimulant or a depressant, but both when needed.

This means that if you take an herb like gynostemma first thing in the morning, it can even out your energy so you feel more energized and ready to go. Yet you can also take it at night, and it would be gently calming and help you relax and wind down. This is what makes an herb dual directional and intelligent.

In my eyes, this represents the real future of diet and medicine. Most people consume things that aren’t intelligent or dual directional. This typically produces side effects or even toxicity over time.

Some supplements could fall under the tonic category, yet many do not. For that reason it’s important to understand and realize the distinction between a tonic substance and a remedial or medicinal substance.

What role do you feel tonic herbs have in the body’s overall health?

I think the major role is that the herbs can help the body handle stress more easily and effectively. We all deal with stress every day and this isn’t likely to change. Thus something that can modulate and improve our ability to handle stress should be regarded as extremely valuable and useful.

Tell us some of the benefits you’ve seen in your own health as a result of using tonic herbs.

I have experienced, and am still currently experiencing, some pretty profound transformations. In short, I’ve seen my energy levels greatly increase while also vastly improving my immune system. These herbs have truly assisted my growth on all levels. Mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual.

If you could only take one herb for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

That is a tough question, but probably wild ginseng, reishi mushroom, or schizandra.

Your videos use a lot of Chinese and Taoist philosophy. What appeals to you about the Eastern approach to life vs. Western?

I’m at the point now where I realize labels are inherently misleading and limiting. Take Taoism for example. Let’s say we gathered 10 people off the street and then 10 Taoist monks and we asked each person to describe what Taoism is. I’m willing to bet that we are going to get 20 different descriptions of the “same thing.”

So for me, I am more interested in simple natural principles that produce results. Some may call that Taoism, Chinese Medicine, Chinese Shamanism, Five Element Theory, etc. To me, if it’s real and legit, then it’s just basic natural principles that we can all easily observe. I believe that really the original “Taoists” were not “Taoists” and likely couldn’t be bothered with such labels or definitions.

What is your favorite herbal elixir to make?

One of my favorites is Kombucha mixed with my new schizandra extract. It’s quite simple and incredibly delicious!

Tell us a bit about Hyperion Herbs – what makes your product different from other herbal supplements on the market?

In short, quality and attention to detail. What I mean by that is that I personally sourced everything myself. I did this firstly because I am an enthusiast and connoisseur of herbs, so obviously I want to absolute best for myself. This benefits my clients because this ensures that they are able to get the best as well.

Any book recommendation or suggestions for good resources on tonic herbs?

Definitely http://hyperionacademy.com!

I’ve just launched this site and it is a continually growing wealth of empowering and actionable strategies. It represents a real solid blueprint for creating lasting transformations. The blueprint is solid because it addresses the whole picture, not just one little piece. The whole picture being exercise, diet, breathing, meditation, and then the whole emotional/spiritual/psychological side of things.

Flash Questions

You’re stranded on an island with only one book, which book would it be?

I Ching

Private concert – who’s playing?

Alive: Deftones
Dead: Jimi Hendrix or Beethoven

Worst fear?

Not living on purpose

Favorite movie?

The Social Network or The Matrix

Pet Peeve?

Stagnation

Best meal?

Beef Chilaquile from a local restaurant called Mayan Cafe

Thanks for stopping by, Chakra Center, Brandon! We wish you continued success and health!

Cheers to tonic herbs!

Brandon Gilbert has a passion and a love for Chinese Tonic Herbs. He is the founder and owner of Hyperion Herbs.

For more info on Hyperion Herbs, visit http://hyperionherbs.com/

Or visit Brandon’s YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/herbgardner00?feature=results_main

You can also check-out the live interview I did with Brandon early this year. In this interview, Brandon shares details about his own personal story, how he got into tonic herbs, and how they have changed in life: