Readers, please enjoy this guest blog post by Jilly Shipway, author of Yoga Through the Year, Yoga by the Stars, and the new Chakras for Creativity.
Anxiety is a natural response to these turbulent times through which we’re living. However, it’s important not to allow anxious thoughts to squeeze the joy out of life. In this post I’d like to share with you a simple meditation that calms and soothes a troubled mind. It will restore your peaceful equilibrium and give you a much-needed breathing space.
The 7 Step Chakra Breathing Space
Find yourself a comfortable position. We’re going to take our awareness from the root chakra at the base of the spine, up to the crown chakra just above the crown of the head. And then we’ll travel our awareness back down the spine, through the chakras, finishing at the root chakra again. At each chakra we’ll feel into it and picture a colored flower there.
- The Root Chakra brings stability and helps you to feel grounded. Its element is earth. Notice which parts of your body are in contact with the earth, and relax into that support. Bring your awareness to the base of the spine and picture a red flower there.
- The Sacral Chakra helps you to ride the ebb and flow of life. Its element is water. Bring your awareness to your lower belly and picture an orange flower there.
- The Solar Plexus Chakra empowers you. Its element is fire. Bring your awareness to the solar plexus and picture a yellow flower there.
- The Heart Chakra helps you to feel compassion for yourself and others. Its element is air. Bring your awareness to your heart center. Picture a pink lotus flower on a bed of green leaves. Feel your heart open and spacious like the blue sky.
- The Communication/Chakra enables you to speak your truth and to listen and learn from others. Its element is ether. Bring your awareness to your throat and picture a blue flower there.
- The Third Eye Chakra gives you the clear-sightedness to intuitively know your true path in life. Bring your awareness between the brows and picture a violet flower there.
- The Crown Chakra helps you to rise above everyday hassles and to see the bigger picture. Bring your awareness to the space just above the crown of the head and picture a white lotus flower there. Then picture a shaft of golden sunlight shining down upon you and illuminating all your chakra flowers.
Next, take your awareness back down through the chakras, from the crown to the root chakra. As you revisit each chakra, imagine the chakra’s flower closing back to bud.
To conclude the meditation, become aware of where your body is in contact with and supported by the earth beneath you. Take this spacious, more-open awareness into the next activity that you do today.
To discover more about the transformative power of the chakras, check out myChakras for Creativity book, for a treasure trove of yoga, meditation, and visualization techniques that will help you blossom into your full creative potential.
Our thanks to Jilly for her guest post! For more from Jilly Shipway, read her article, “How to Create a Magical Life with the Seven Chakras.”
