Crown Chakra
(Sahasrara)
The Sanskrit name of the
seventh or crown chakra is Sahasrara, which means "thousandfold."
Although this chakra is represented by a thousand-petaled
lotus (the symbol of purity and spirituality), the number
1000 is not meant literally; instead, it implies the infinite
nature of this chakra, which provides us with our most direct
connection with the Divine. Although some teachers associate
this chakra with the color violet, it is usually associated
with white, a combination of all colors, just as this chakra
synthesizes all the other chakras.
The crown chakra is located
at the crown of the head and serves as the crown of the chakra
system, symbolizing the highest state of enlightenment and
facilitating our spiritual development. The seventh chakra
is like a halo atop the head. In art, Christ is often depicted
with a golden light surrounding his head, and the Buddha shown
with a lofty projection on the top of his head. In both cases,
these images represent the awakened spirituality of the Sahasrara
Chakra.
The element of the crown chakra
is thought, and this chakra is associated with the highest
functions of the mind. Even though the mind cannot be seen
or felt concretely, it creates the belief systems that control
our thoughts and actions. To give one small example, my student
George had a bad fall out of a bunk bed when he was a child.
Now a fit, athletic man in his 40s, he is still frightened
to do inversions. His early trauma helped create the belief
that being upside down was always dangerous. Even though he
now has the ability to safely and easily learn inversions,
his fear paralyzes him and his belief becomes a self-fulfilling
prophecy. As the mind thinks, so we create our lives.
Excessiveness in this chakra
appears as being overly intellectual or feeling yourself to
be a member of a spiritual or intellectual elite. Deficient
energy manifests as difficulty thinking for yourself, apathy,
spiritual skepticism, and materialism.
Meditation is the yogic practice
best suited for bringing this chakra into balance. Just as
our body needs a shower frequently, the busy mind filled with
so many thoughts and concerns also needs a cleansing. Why
tackle today's problems with yesterday's muddled mind? Furthermore,
the energy of this chakra helps us to experience the Divine,
to open to a higher or deeper power. All the various forms
of meditation, including both concentration and insight practices,
allow the mind to become more present, clear, and insightful.
The ancient Hindus associated
the chakras with the sleeping serpent goddess, Kundalini.
She coils around the base of the first chakra and, when awakened,
spirals up the energy channels (nadis) and pierces each chakra,
bringing successively higher states of awareness that culminate
in enlightenment at the crown chakra.
Focused on transcendence,
many people seeking higher consciousness have disregarded
the importance of the lower chakras. Yet we all need strong
and solid support of our base chakras in order to open to
the spiritual in a healthy and integrated way. The lower chakras
focus on details such as our home, familiy, and feelings,
while the upper chakras develop synthesizing views and wisdom
that help us understand the grander order of things. All of
our chakras affect one another and ultimately work together.
As we learn to use this ancient Indian system to understand
our lives, we can gain insight into personal issues that require
our attention—and we can use the techniques of hatha
yoga to bring our chakras and lives back into harmony.
Mental and Emotional Issues:
Faith, connection to the higher powers; ability to trust life,
values, ethics, and courage; humanitarianism, selflessness,
ability to see larger pattern, faith and inspiration, spirituality
and devotion.
Traits When Overactive:
Depression, migraine headaches, constant frustration, psychoses,
manic-depressive, unable to process energy.
Traits When Under-functioning or Off-balance:
Lack of inspiration, confusion, depression, alienation from
The Divine, hesitation to serve, senility, the detriment of
the already mentioned above positive qualities and lessons.
Organs:
Muscular system, skeletal system, skin.
Physical Dysfunctions:
Paralysis, genetic disorders, lupus, bone cancer, multiple
sclerosis, amyorophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), chronic fatigue,
sensitivity to light and sound.
Foods:
None. (Simply energy)
Activities to Balance Crown Chakra:
Meditation, guided visualizations, visiting peaceful and quiet
surroundings.
More Articles To Help With The Crown Chakra
(Chakras)
(Chakra
Balancing - Working With Chakras Pt1)
(Chakra
Balancing - Working With Chakras Pt2)
(Chakra Healing With Reiki)
(Chakra Chart)
(Chakra Colors)
(The Seven Chakras)
(Chakra
Meditation)
(Root Chakra)
(Sacral Chakra)
(Solar
Plexus Chakra)
(Heart Chakra)
(Throat Chakra)
(Third Eye
Chakra)
(Crown Chakra)
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