Frequently Asked Questions
Who are you? Are you a holistic health practitioner?
I am a NY state licensed massage therapist who is interested in holistic health. More importantly, I am a human being, who despite trails and personal struggles, is interested in living to my fullest potential. I don’t mind assisting others along my own personal journey. I want to meet others where they are, and work from there. We need others. We learn from others. I believe we all have the answers; yet, sometimes we just need some love and support. And love: I have plenty of that to give.
I am you. You are me. We are the same.
What are chakras?
The word chakra comes from the Sanskrit and means ‘spinning wheel’. There are seven major chakras as well as other minor chakras. These swirling energy centers are situated along the spinal column and are located between the base of the spine and the crown of the head.
Though ancient healers have understood chakras centuries ago, we are still learning of their vastness. Here is a basic explanation:
The first chakra is called the Base Chakra or the Root Chakra and is located at the base of the spine. It governs survival and base instincts.
The 2nd chakra is called the Sacral Chakra or the navel chakra, and is located below the navel. It governs the area of the sacrum which is the large bone of the pelvis between the hip bones. It is associated with your emotions, sensuality, intimacy, sexuality and creativity.
The third chakra is called the Solar Plexus Chakra, and is named for the complex network of nerves in the stomach. It may also be called the Power chakra, as it is the area governing personal power.
The 4th chakra is called the Heart Chakra, and is located in the center of the chest near the heart. It is associated with love and compassion.
The 5th chakra is called the Throat Chakra, and is located above the collar bone. It governs the area of the throat and the ears. It is associated with communication.
The 6th chakra is called the Third Eye Chakra, and is located in the forehead above the eyebrows. It governs the area of the pineal gland. The pineal gland has been believed since ancient times to be where ‘second sight’ or psychic sight was located.
The 7th chakra is called the Crown Chakra and it is located at the crown of the head, right above the top of the head. It is associated with the pituitary gland, spirituality, intelligence and deep thought.
How did you first start believing in chakras?
Though I consider myself a fairly recent student, I have intuitively understood the chakra system for many years. As a child, I remember seeing auras and colors; I believe the adult, logical mind has distanced me from my intuitive side and I am looking to restore that innate ability that originates in all of us. My present passion has been stimulated by my career as a massage therapist, for I have been having visions of color while working on clients. At first I thought it was my imagination, until I realized the colors were associated with the chakras and auras. I have decided that to better assist my clients, I must have a more solid understanding of chakras and the energy field. I do a chakra balancing routine on clients who are opened to it, and they describe feeling phenomenal sensations and a sense of balance following the routine.
I will not call myself an expert, but I am a perceptive fellow human being opened to learning, healing, and assisting others.
How can I learn to see auras/chakras?
It can take some focusing and connecting with your spirit guides and seeing with your third eye, not the eyes we are used to looking through daily, to be able to read auras. I am also working to strengthen this ability, and I am learning that I cannot compare what I am able to see and pick up with what another experiences. As we each perceive and experience the world differently, so will we perceive, experience, sense, and see aura fields differently.
The best advice I got from a colleague of mine that with auras, as with everything in life, start with yourself, meaning, before trying to pick up on other’s auras, first attempt to see your own. Try to find something dark, preferably black, like a sheet or large poster board, and put your hands in front of you, between your face and the dark background. Spread your fingers and move your hands apart slowly. What do you see? Try not to look with your “eyeballs” but rather with your inner eye. This WILL take practice. If you are not already, meditate regularly, even if it’s just ten minutes a day. Meditation connects you to your intuition.
I am a skeptic. How do I begin to believe in chakras?
It is okay to be a skeptic. True skeptics are critical thinkers, and it is through critical thinking that one discovers their truth. I encourage you to think for yourself; be an independent, critical thinker. And, as the Buddha said, “Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.”
I believe only because of my experiences, as I believe visualizing balances my chakras because I have done it, felt extraordinary sensations, and it has changed my life. I experience, therefore I believe. You must allow your own experiences to lead to belief. If you are drawn to chakras/auras, study them as a researcher, not as a believer. If you want to attempt experiences, find a book with exercises (books by Judith or the Seale book is good, see my recommendation list) and see how that works for you. You can take it or leave it. You can continue to seek until you find what is most fitting for you. Or you can live your life as a skeptic, embracing the mystery. Many do. And that’s okay too.
How old are you? / How many followers do you have?
Most women don’t like number questions. I am one of those women. Please do not spend your life measuring. It is spiritually stunting.
How can I relax? I find that relaxing is hard to do.
In this life filled with demands, expectations, and hardships, relaxation can feel like a distant and unrealistic goal.
Realize that relaxing is The Way; it is not a destination. Meditate, understanding that we do not wait to have a wander-free, relaxed mind to meditate, instead we meditate to make peace with our complex, aching mind.
Let go of perfectionism, and accept yourself as you are. You are love; you are a child of the universe. Say this to yourself and feel your body relax. I’m relaxing as I write this.
Judging things as right or wrong or good or bad causes tension. When we judge the world, we are also judging ourselves. Let go of judgement and just be.
Do not underestimate the calming powers of presence. Be here now. Drink tea and feel its warmth. When your mind begins to wander, bring your attention back to your soothing beverage. Spend time in nature. Talk to your inner being and to the trees. Trust me, this works.
Seek support and give universal love. Look up meditation groups/retreats in your area. Treat your body and mind to a massage and/or energy work. Eat a nutritiously dense diet and keep your body moving.
Remember the words i put in bold print:
meditate, let go of perfectionism and judgment, accept, love, be here now, trust, seek support, and give universal love.
What are ways in which I can balance my chakras?
Though chakra work that leads to balance can be done on your own, I do not think anything is wrong with going to someone who may be able to offer support and more knowledge. There are people I occasionally go to for chakra balancing; I like what I learn from them, and plus they will usually do other healing modalities, e.g. reiki and/or polarity. Remember, despite the route you decide to take, the goal is balance, so as long as it leads to balance, there is no right or wrong, and there is more than one way to balance. Also, I always try to remember the importance of a holistic approach. Though we treat the chakras as parts, it is seldom that simple. Linking specific problems to specific chakras can be helpful but it is not enough. Look at yourself as a whole. Look at your activities, the people you interact with, the foods you ingest, your meditation practice, whether or not you exercise, or the amount of drugs/alcohol you take in: all of these can affect your chakras and energy.
The goal should be to nurture your body and come home to yourself, trusting that you, a being of the universe, are already whole and that you have the answers within. Connect with yourself by placing your hands over each chakra, starting with the root, and move your way up, envisioning the associated color of each chakra and, without judgment, allow yourself to experience and feel whatever thoughts and feelings arises within you. I recommend grabbing a copy of The Wheels of Life by Anodea Judith. I think that is a great beginners book on the chakras; feel free to check out my recommended readings list. I also find that wearing rose water and a crystal quartz helps me feel balanced and energized.
How do I begin meditating?
When I first started meditating, I used guided recordings and at times used a candle light, focusing on the flame. What helped me most was a class at a meditation center near my home. There was no cost, just the request of a small donation, and I enjoyed the support, the presence of others, and the instructions. Also, a lot of meditation centers sell and/or recommend books that can be helpful. Thich Nhat Hanh has some good tips on simple meditation techniques and I have a book called Breath by Breath by Larry Rosenberg that I find to be helpful. There is no right or wrong here, just what you feel works best for you.
I have a hard time meditating because my mind doesn’t stop wandering. Tips?
I understand that you may want to completely clear your mind, but even the most experienced meditator has some degree of “mind-chatter.” There may be moments of a “clear” mind, nothingness, or bliss, but don’t start off by putting the pressure of clearing your mind. That will continuously bring you out of the present moment. Realize that your thoughts have no power over you, and begin the process of becoming a nonjudgmental observer. As you begin to become accustomed to the idea that you are not your thoughts, then they will lose their significance and the chatter will dissolve into silence. Be gentle with yourself.
Recommended chakra websites?
Chakras very informative
