Need to supercharge your focus ? Deepen your meditation or to get that report written in a jiffy ? Hakini Mudra can help ! What is Hakini mudra? What does this mudra mean ? Who is Goddess Hakini?
Hakini Mudra for memory and concentration
Hakini Mudra is a 2-hand mudra done by connecting the left fingertips and thumb to the right fingertips and thumb.
By connecting both hands, we are also connecting both hemispheres of the brain. Why is that important? Because many sensory receptors on the right hand send signals to the left side of the brain. And in the same way, many of the left hand’s sensory receptors send signals to the brain ‘s right hemisphere.
In this great criss-crossing of signals, receptors and transmitters, Hakini Mudra is kind of like flipping the brain’s switch on.
This is why it is a useful mudra when memorizing information or when you need to sharpening your focus. It helps improve concentration before or during meditation for example. But this mudra is also a great everyday tool at that weekly office meeting. Have you ever joined your fingers tips when you listen or speak to someone? You have very likely done Hakini Mudra without even realizing it, unconsciously asking the brain to wake up! -coffee optional!
How to do Hakini Mudra ?
Place the fingertips and tip of the thumb of one hand to the fingertips and tip of the thumb of the other hand.
Keep the fingers tips facing upwards.
Leave the wrists free, without touching each other. Let your fingertips kiss!
Breathe smoothly and deeply in Hakini Mudra. Keep the hands in front of the heart or navel, or hold the mudra over the head..
Another option is to hold this mudra in front of the 3rd eye. Goddess Hakini is said to reside here in the 3rd eye chakra. Yep, here comes a goddess!
Let your fingertips kiss in Hakini Mudra
Who is Goddess Hakini ?
Goddess Hakini resides in Ajña or the 3rd eye Chakra. She is often depicted with many arms –like all divinities in Hinduism- and with 6 pale-colored faces, like 6 moons.
Hakini is an aspect of Shakti, the feminine energy principle, or primordial energy. Shakti is often considered in the duo Shiva-Shakti. Here, Shakti is Shiva’s consort, and Shiva the masculine aspect of energy, and god of Transformation.
The 3rd eye is the chakra of vision, clairvoyance and intuition. In this chakra, we are in the realms of wisdom, imagination and psychic capacities. Working here, in the seat of goddess Hakini with the mudra that honors her can open us to the limitless power of the mind! Be ready for supreme meditations !
“Reiki” comes from 2 Japanese words “Rei” and “Ki”. “Rei” means “mysterious, sacred” and “Ki” is the vital or universal energy.
Reiki is “sacred or mysterious energy“. So what really is Reiki? And how can we connect to it?
Ki, Chi or Prana
In yoga, meditation and all forms of energy work, everything is energy. The body is energy, the space we are in is energy, and so is everything around us. Call it Ki, Chi, or Prana, in Japanese, Chinese, or Indian traditions, it is all the same thing: the vital, universal energy that carries life.
Energies move in different ways, and sometimes they stagnate. Just like the flow of traffic! In the body, when energy stagnates, blocks can form along the energy channels or in the chakras. As we work to get those energies moving again, the body returns to harmony.
How do we get energy to move?
1- Get the body moving! Running, dancing, swimming, any physical activity will get the general energy flowing. Practices such as yoga, qi gong, tai chi or somatic movement, dance therapy will get you moving with the idea of balancing the body and mind.
2- If movement is not an option, or just not your thing right now : receive Reiki! Reiki helps get to move and balance energy as you quietly lie down. Delightful! What is more, it is not just any type of Ki, it is sacred Ki, the Ki of light. Get your fill of bright, sparkly, positive energy!
How does Reiki work?
The practitioner is a channel for Reiki, the universal energy of light. It flows through him/her/them.
To start, a practitioner opens the session by intentionally creating a sacred space for both giver and receiver. Then, he calls in Reiki, and directs the flow onto the receiver by laying of hands on the body of the recipient (excluding intimate areas and always fully clothed!). Sometimes the practitioner keeps his hands about ten centimeters / ½ a foot from the body, remaining in the receiver’s subtle body energy, without touching.
Some practitioners feel the body’s energy blocks through the hands. Others sense the blocks intuitively. They then lay their hands on these places. Others follow a sequence, placing their hands in specific places in a set order.
Many practitioners mix both techniques, and some also introduce other healing modalities into their Reiki practice. Use of crystals placed on the body, tarot cards, shamanic practices, coaching questions, sound healing with singing bowls or gongs or mantra… the list is endless and so rich!
Why is Reiki channeled through the hands?
Our body has energy centers called Chakras. We are usually familiar with the 7 main in-body chakras that align along the spine. But there are also plenty of secondary chakras in the body.
The palms of the hands are one example of secondary chakras! The palms is where Reiki flows out from the giver. This is why the practitioner places his hands on the receiver.
Rainbow Reiki hands!
How does Reiki feel?
Each person has their own sensitivity. And all ways are fine!
You may feel heat coming from the practitioner’s hands. Or you may feel coolness. Your body and mind may completely relax, or experience an inner upheaval. Visualizations may happen, you may see colors, shapes, or perceive entire inner landscapes. You may also fall asleep, or not feel anything at all!
Everything is great. Reiki is light energy, and only flows with the best intentions for the receiver’s higher good. There is no “right” way to experience it.
Often as well, the effects of a session can be felt hours, days, even months later. This is because a session can set an energetic realignment in motion, the effects of which we do not feel until later. Each session lets us plant Reiki light seeds!
Does Reiki have a placebo effect or is it energy medicine?
Let us look at the question this way. In Traditional Chinese Medicine the meridians are a network of channels that carry Chi, vital energy around the body. But the meridians mostly do not have a physical support: they do not follow the blood circulation system, for example. And yet in the Western world today, and without physical evidence of these energetic meridians, Traditional Chinese Medicine practices such as acupuncture – and Ayurveda’s Marma points therapy- are widely recognized as effective.
It looks like the energy channels, where Chi, Ki or Prana circulates, must have something to do with it.
Reiki and modern medicine
Of course, Reiki is not a substitute for modern medical treatment. It’s not about skipping a chemotherapy appointment because you’re receiving Reiki sessions.
On the other hand, Reiki has no contraindications! I think it can at the very least help the receiver relax, release anxiety and feel more at home in their body. In this way, Reiki is a great complement to classic treatments. And hey, if you are willing to try, the worst that can happen is a placebo effect!
Where I live now in California, Reiki is offered in several hospitals, as complementary care to major procedures (for cancer, HIV, infertility…). Some of my Reiki friends work with palliative care or post-traumatic stress reduction programs. Others offer Reiki to animals in shelters, or front-line workers during California’s forest fires. In Switzerland, certain health insurances include Reiki as a modality they pay for. Maybe Reiki is already mainstream where you live -yay! And if not, let’s get Reiki soon to a hospital near you!
Whether you “believe” in the Chakra system, or that energy can be channeled and transmitted by touch, or in the existence of a luminous, positive energy called Reiki, it’s all up to you!
The best may be to try Reiki for yourself and see!
See my post here for an easy way to feel your own Ki.
To learn more about the chakras, here are some posts:
What plants are burned for energy cleansing?Where do these sacred plants come from? Some of these plants and their habitats are under threat. How can we use the plants responsibly and with respect for them, their ecosystems and the communities that live with them?
In the post “Why burn plants for energy cleansing?” we dive into why humans have been burning sacred plants throughout history. We also take a look at the different ways of burning sacred plants, and how to make responsible and ethical choices when choosing ritual plants today.
Many plants commonly used today for energy cleansing are sacred for cultures around the world. What is more, histories of cultural persecution surround some of these plants. It is therefore important today to make authentic choices when it comes to burning sacred plants.
In this article “6 sacred plants for energy cleansing”, we’ll look at 6 plants in more detail. Where do they grow? How to use them? Are these plants at risk and is it OK to use them in our spiritual practices?
Here is my list of the most common plants for energy and space cleansing. There are plenty of others; if you would like to see other plants featured here, please let me know!
White Sage is a plant endemic to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Native American tribes in this region use this plant for purification and ceremonies, as well as for its medicinal properties.
Dried sage leaves are usually tied up in a bundle, sometimes with other plants such as Cedar.
Burning white sage drives away heavy or stagnant energies, and thus helps to cleanse space, objects and people’s energy. As an infusion, White sage can also help treat digestive or menstrual issues.
Is White Sage vulnerable?
I think it’s important to know that white sage is currently at risk of being over-harvested in the wild. Herbalist groups such as United Plant Savers in the United States, recommend buying sustainably cultivated sage – instead of wild sage. Even better : buying sage that is cultivated sustainably AND in a way that is respectful of the traditions of the tribes that use it.
Desert Sage (Artemisia tridentata)
Artemisia tridentata / Desert Sage
Desert Sage is endemic to arid western / northwestern parts of North America, basically in desert areas from Canada to northern Mexico.
Just like White Sage, Native American tribes in these regions use Desert Sage as a medicinal and cleansing herb. Look out for it in bundles of dried stems and leaves.
Is Desert Sage vulnerable?
It is not currently considered at risk, and thus presents an alternative to White Sage – as long as it is not over-harvested! Like for White Sage, look out for Desert Sage grown in a sustainable manner and respectful of the communities to which the plant is sacred.
Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens)
From Central and South American dry season forests comes Palo Santo
“Palo Santo” means “sacred wood”.
The Palo Santo tree is endemic to Central and South America. It grows in dry season forests.
It often comes in the form of wood sticks, cut from trees that have fallen to the ground (in the best case). The medicine people and shamans in the region burn Palo Santo to uplift energy, attract positive vibes and prepare for ceremonies. The use of the Palo Santo is said to go back all the way to the Incas!
Today, the growing interest in traditional spiritual practices around the world means that many shops sell Palo Santo, sometimes very far from the forests of South America! (All the way to Singapore, where I have seen packs of Palo Santo sticks, much to my surprise).
Is the Palo Santo tree vulnerable?
It is important, I believe, to ask questions about sourcing before buying Palo Santo and Palo Santo essential oil. The tree itself is not considered in danger of extinction. However, deforestation in South America is a real problem that we do not want to feed.
We want to know, for example, if the wood comes from a dead tree that has fallen to the ground, or if the tree was cut down to harvest the wood. If the wood comes from a living tree, you may want to ask if the wood comes from the secondary branches instead of the trunk. The tree in this case will live on. Also look out for ethical sources and farms that support local communities and tree planting.
All these questions are even more important when buying Palo Santo essential oil. Indeed, as for all essential oils, obtaining a product highly concentrated in active ingredients requires a significant amount of Palo Santo to make a few milliliters of essential oil.
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Artemisia vulgaris / Mugwort
Mugwort is endemic to southern Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia. This plant spreads easily, and is often even considered a weed! (No worries of at-risk plants here!)
Traditional Medicine, Chinese, but also European and Native American, has used Mugwort for a very long time. For moxibustion in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the practitionner burns dried mugwort to stimulate acupuncture points and move stagnant energy. In Europe and Asia, Mugwort is the portal to relaxation and lucid dreams.
It comes either in dried fragments or in small bundled bundles (which are more convenient for burning).
Frankinsense (Boswellia sp.)
Resin from the Boswellia tree / Frankinsense
Frankinsense is a resin that comes from trees from the Boswellia family. These trees are endemic to East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
Frankinsense has been central to sacred rites and space cleansing for millennia. Its scent alone is a journey along the Silk Roads, desert caravans and Thousand and One Nights! Frankinsense was also a gift to baby Jesus from the three wise men (along with gold and myrrh, another sacred resin).
Traditional medicine, from the Middle East to China, widely use Frankinsense. Today, it is also a precious ingredient in the perfumery and cosmetics industry.
Frankinsense comes most often in the form of small resin balls, burned on a piece of hot charcoal.
Are the trees that give Frankinsense resin vulnerable?
The forests that produce Frankinsense are currently under pressure. Threats include deforestation and resin harvesting methods that damage the trees. Sometimes too, animals feed on young plants, thus preventing natural forest regeneration. Not forgetting that, often, the men and women who depend on it for a living do not always work in fair conditions.
The best thing to buy this magically scented resin is therefore to make sure it comes from a sustainable and fair trade plantation.
Another suggestion: use scented resins from non-endangered species. Depending on where you live, pine tree resins are great alternatives.
Sandalwood
Fragments from the Sandalwood tree before grinding
Sandalwood comes from trees called Santalum. (Many other trees are also called “Sandalwood”, but we will talk mainly about the Santalum genus here). Wood from these trees retain their delightful earthy fragrance for a long time.
There are different species of Santalum. They are at home in many places: in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Australia and the Pacific Islands. What a big international family!
Many cultures around the world highly prize Sandalwood. Not only for its solid and durable timber, but also for its therapeutic effects and use in religious rituals.
The wood chips are ground into powder. With added water, it makes a paste. The paste is used as is in rituals or with other ingredients (such as saffron). It can also be rolled with other ingredients to make incense sticks. The paste and incense are used to cleanse the body and soul before devotional or meditative rituals. It is also a key ingredient in Ayurvedic treatments as well as in perfumery.
Does sandalwood come from a threatened tree species?
Many species are under pressure and their numbers are declining, especially Indian Sandalwood, Santalum album. Indeed, the wood is very expensive, and logging is not always sustainable.
However, some species, including the one cultivated in Australia, Santalum spicatum, are not endangered.
It is therefore worth checking the origin of sandalwood products before purchasing them.
That’s it for today! Thank you for checking out the 6 sacred plants used to cleanse space and energy.
Since the dawn of time, humans have lived in close relationship with plants. Plants provide food, medicine and cosmetics. They are central to many spiritual practices and simply make life more beautiful every day, in a garden planter, a field of wild flowers or a vase.
Humans and plants weave great stories together (and lots of little stories). So let’s keep this beautiful love story going, and choose to burn sacred plants to raise energy vibrations with the most profound respect for plants, their ecosystems and communities, and traditional practices. Earn credit for your karma!
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Stagnant energy? Need a mojo uplift? Reach for the Plant! Burning dried plants or incense is a way to cleanse energy that is not only beautiful, but also connects us to the Earth and our human ancestral practices.
A perfumed journey
Some would say it’s my enchantress vibe (did you say “witch”?), my yoga vibe, or my Crazy Plant Lady vibe (I’m also a landscape architect).
Whatever vibe I’m coming from, scents and plants have always been a magical journey for me. That’s why, as soon as I moved in with myself, my space filled up with essential oils, incense, papier d’Arménie, scented candles and plants of all shapes and sizes. And with them, came the fascinating smells, swirls of smoke and magical atmospheres.
So what could be more exciting for me to write about plants, perfumes, and energy?
Join me on an enchanted dive into fire, plants and magical scents.
Why burn plants for space cleansing?
Humans have a very special relationship with plants. We use plants as food, medicine, for beauty, as well as for space clearing and cleansing. Burning dried plants (also called fumigation) was useful (and still is) to ward off unwanted animals and insects.
Fumigation, called smudging in Native American cultures, also energetically clears space by uplifting the vibes of people and places. By the simple and sacred act of burning, the plant’s medicine is activated and transferred into the air. And the dancing smoke diffuses its molecules of magic!
Smoke as a messenger between worlds
Smoke is a messenger between worlds. Watch it rise up in the sky, bringing your prayers to the celestial realms. Smoke or scent also fills a space with its energetic signature – even long after the candle has gone out or the perfumed person has left.
Plants are medicine, and burning them is a way to communicate with the invisible worlds. When plant and fire meet, magic happens!
How to burn plants for energy cleansing?
Plants are burned under many forms : dried leaves, dried flowers, wood or resin. Sometimes plants are transformed into powders or pastes and then into incense sticks or cones.
Using essential oils is another great way to benefit from the plants’ active compounds. Diffuse them hot –in a container heated by a candle for example- or cold –with a nebulizer, and bask in their medicine!
What are the best sacred plants to burn for energy cleansing?
Here is my list of plants to burn for energy cleansing that I most often meet. Along with the plant, I have included their vulnerability status (or non-vulnerability status) according to the IUCN Red List (IUCN = the International Union for Conservation of Nature) and United Plant Savers.
Some of these species are endangered or at risk of being over-harvested. If you use certain of these plants, I think it is worth making sure you are getting them from a sustainable and responsible source. After all, spiritual practice is not here to damage the planet.
White Sage (Salvia Apiana)
At risk of being over-harvested from the wild, certain ecosystems are under pressure. The good news for sage lovers: this plant can be fairly easily cultivated. Look out for cultivated sage instead of wild-harvested sage :
Bundle of White Sage
Desert Sage (Artemisia tridentata)
Not currently at risk of over-harvesting:
Bundle of Desert Sage
Palo Santo (Bursera graveolens)
Cultivated in often vulnerable or at risk forests:
Palo Santo sticks
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Not considered at risk:
Dried mugwort
Frankinsense (Boswellia sp.)
Cultivated in vulnerable ecosystems:
Frankinsense resin
Sandalwood (various species)
At risk of non-sustainable cultivation / often grows in ecosystems that are under pressure from human exploitation and climate change:
Insence sticks
For more information about these 6 plants such as where they grow, more details about their at-risk status and how they are used for energy cleansing: “6 plants for energy cleansing”
Sacred plants and world cultural heritage
Plants for energy cleansing and historic persecution
Burning plants for energy cleansing that are sustainably cultivated and fair-trade is better for the planet and for the communities that harvest them for a living. The higher the demand for responsible products, the more this encourages such supply chains.
But just as important, and not always mentioned, is burning sacred plants with respect for the people who traditionally use them in rituals and ceremonies. Indeed, tribes in North and South America, as well as many peoples in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Pacific have long been persecuted for their traditional practices. Their spiritual ceremonies were often prohibited or discouraged and along with them, the use of sacred plants for energy cleansing.
When choosing plants to burn for energy cleansing, I think it’s important to be informed about such historic persecutions and the plants’ rich cultural backgrounds. This is especially important when we are not from the cultures that traditionally use them.
This does not mean that you should refrain from burning plants for ritual cleansing (this is my opinion, and others would tell you otherwise). After all, plant burning is a tradition in MANY cultures around the world, and certainly one of yours. Rather, it is about respectfully using the plants that might have a history in a culture that is not ours.
Explore the world of plants with curiosity and humility
Each culture has its own sacred plants. Just looking at your own cultures and getting to know the plants that particularly resonate with you is a tremendously enriching experience.
These plants may have been used by the ancestors of your lineages, for example. Or could be plants commonly used where you now live, in your adoptive lands, or by peoples with whom you share a genuine connection.
My invitation is to explore and use the plants that resonate the most with you. Find out what plants your grandmothers used, what plants thrive in your local area, or even perhaps in your garden!
For example, I really like Palo Santo and lavender (which grew in my garden) for energy cleansing (I like Sage too). They crossed my path when I was living in California, and never left! I also like certain Indian and Japanese incense that wafted into my life during my travels. But I also love what grows on my balcony now in the tropics! It’s not uncommon for me to burn my little urban garden crops to clear the energy in my home.
Happy plant discoveries!
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Do you make a circle with your thumb and index finger when you meditate? That is Gyan (or Jñana) Mudra! What does it mean? And how can this mudra help?
Gyan Mudra, the Mudra of Wisdom
“Gyan” or “Jñana” is a Sanskrit word meaning “knowledge, wisdom”. A mudra is a symbolic or ritual hand gesture.
Hence, Gyan Mudra is known as the “Knowledge or Wisdom Mudra”.
When placing hands on the thighs or knees, this mudra can be done either with palms facing up, or palms facing down.
When palms face down, it is often also called Chin Mudra, the Mudra of Consciousness. And when palms face up, it is called Gyan Mudra.
(Note: There are different variations around the names of Gyan (or Jñana) and Chin Mudras. Some teachers call it Gyan Mudra when your palms are up, others when they are down. Some speak of Chin Mudra when the palms are up and Gyan when they are down. For this article I based the info on Indu Arora’s extensive work on mudras, in which Gyan Mudra = Palms up and Chin Mudra = Palms down). Just know you’ll find the same mudra called differently).
How to do Gyan Mudra?
Make a circle with the tips of your thumb and forefinger touching. Soften the other fingers.
When to use Gyan Mudra?
A mudra for better concentration, and –say the sages- to get a step closer to wisdom!
So get your Gyan Mudra on in meditation and in pranayama practice!
A mudra : for a sharper mind and better focus (hint : Great for Studying!)
Besides meditation and pranayama, Gyan Mudra helps concentrate when learning / studying, and when taking an exam (pen in one hand, mudra in the other!).
I remember learning this mudra when I was in elementary school, and doing it to study for assessments (it wasn’t as convenient for piano lessons)! Then, by the time I was in high school and university, I no longer practiced this mudra for exam cramming. Sigh! Maybe a more regular practice would have saved me long evenings in front of my books!
In yoga, Gyan Mudra (Wisdom) or Chin Mudra (Consciousness) are most often done sitting, for meditation or pranayama.
For example, you can place your hands on your thighs, in Sukhasana (sitting cross-legged), in Virasana (Hero’s Pose), in Padmasana (Lotus Pose)… Many yogis also do this mudra in more active postures, like Vrksasana (pronounced “Vrikshasana”), Tree Pose, or any other pose where the hands are free!
What does Gyan Mudra mean?
It symbolizes the Connection to the Universe
In Ayurveda, the Thumb represents the element Fire (Agni), and the index finger symbolizes Air (Vayu). In this mudra, you connect the thumb and index, meaning your are connecting the elements Fire and Air. From an Ayurvedic point of view, this mudra increases the element Air in the body. Air, or Vayu, is associated with the functions of the nervous system and the brain (among others things). This explains the effect of this mudra on concentration and relaxation.
The index is also associated with the Ego, the Individual Self or Individual Consciousness. The thumb is associated with the Universal Self or Universal Consciousness, with the Universe.
With this mudra, we are connecting our Individual Self to our greater Self and the Universe that is greater than us.
Well, that’s quite a feast! Rock your Gyan Mudra and become the entire Cosmos! WOOT!
For more on mudras and meditation
More on mudras and the elements (Fire, Air, Water, etc.) associated with the fingers, check out: What is a mudra?
Info on mudras in meditation, pranayama and asana and how to use them to deepen your yoga practice, see How to use mudras? (coming up – Read it in French!)
And here are some other mudras to inspire your hands, body and soul!
Vishnu Mudra, the Mudra for Alternate Nostril Breathing (coming up)
Chakras and Colors: each chakra is associated to a specific color. There’s Red for Muladhara Chakra, Green for Anahata Chakra, etc. And we seldom even wonder where these colors come from in the first place! So why are chakras and colors paired up? Is there any historical significance of the chakra colors? We’ll delve into this chakra question, rainbow-side!
What is a chakra?
Let’s have a quick chakra review to start!
Chakras are the body’s energy centers. “Chakra” comes from Sanskrit and it means “wheel, vortex”. Chakras lie within the body, or close enough, within our body’s energy field.
Most spiritual schools and traditions talk about 4 to 7 main chakras (and up to a thousand secondary ones!!).
In this article, we’ll be talking about the 7 main in-body chakras. These chakras align along the axis of the spinal column, from the tail bone all the way to the crown of the head. Each chakra is often associated to a specific color.
7 main in-body chakras and their associated colors
Associations of the 7 Chakras and colors
Muladhara – Root Chakra, RED
Svadhisthana – Sacral Chakra, ORANGE
Manipura – Solar Plexus Chakra, YELLOW
Anahata – Heart Chakra, GREEN or PINK (as the mix of Red –from Muladhara Chakra, and White –from Sahasrara Chakra)
Vishuddha – Throat Chakra, BLUE
Ajña Chakra – 3rd Eye, PURPLE (or deep blue)
Sahasrara – Crown Chakra, WHITE (or Purple, or Violet)
We see these color/chakra associations so often –in yoga, meditation, energy work, even in home decoration, we barely ever question it!
Are Chakras traditionally paired up with colors?
Well, actually : no!
The Vedas, India’s ancient scriptures, mention the chakras, as do ancient Buddhist or Jain texts. Also, old illustrations of the chakras show divinities, mantras and shapes (circles, squares, lotus…) associated with the chakras, but mostly no specific colors.
However, according to certain Tantric texts, the Chakra colors are linked to the 5 elements. We find:
Muladhara (Root Chakra) – Earth / Yellow
Svadisthana (Sacrak Chakra) – Water / Light Blue or silver,
Manipura (Solar Plexus Chakra) – Fire/ Red,
Anahata (Heart Chakra) – Air / Green,
Visuddha (Throat Chakra) / Ajña (3rd eye) and Sahasrara (Crown) – Ether / Indigo Blue / Colorless
(thank you to Zoila of Zazenda Yoga Retreat for sharing her knowledge and studies of the Tantra Chakra system)
CHAKRAS – from Sapta Chakra collection of images, 19th Century / British Library / Wikimedia Commons, Wikipedia
Contemporary Chakra system and rainbow colors
It wasn’t until the 1970s that the idea of chakras paired up with colors came to be! Spiritual author Christopher Hill wrote about the chakras associated to rainbow colors in his book called “Nuclear Evolution: Discovery of the Rainbow Body”. And from there, the rainbow chakras were born!
The rainbow contains ALL the colors in the visible spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. (The entire spectrum covers U.V light, radio frequencies and even those used by your microwave oven).
Basically, color is energy vibrating at a frequency that we CAN SEE. So it’s kind of cool to associate the idea of energy centers with the energy of colors. I find colors make working with the Chakras visual, accessible and down-to-earth.
Are the Chakra colors fake and is using Chakra colors wrong?
I don’t think so. Just like everything else in this world, the perceptions of chakras and ways of working with them have evolved. They have adapted to different cultures, different times and different needs. Humanity is constantly evolving, and to me, spiritual techniques and technologies also evolve. We welcome the rainbow chakra system!
I personally don’t see the chakras as colors, but I perceive them as moving balls of energy, and I’ll sense the stickiness or fluidity of the energy flow. I sense them more like fields of energy and not so much as seeing through funky color tinted lenses. And that’s me! Each person will see and feel chakras differently. If you are seeing colorful chakras, that’s the way it works for you!
Plus, I do love a good rainbow, in the sky or on puffy stickers. So, inviting a rainbow into my chakras? Yes please!
Chakras and the Rainbow Body – artwork by Lilly Cantabile
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Spring is here! Here’s a sweet ritual to celebrate Spring, rebirth, renewal, Mother Nature AND plant seeds for all your life’s projects!
NEW SPRING NEW YOU
Spring is here in the Northern Hemisphere on the March 20th Equinox. After the long winter months, the cold and the cozy cocooning, here come longer days and Nature awakening from slumber. If you are a Sun child like me, Spring is magical!
Let’s tap into the season’s rebirth and blossoming energy and call renewal and fresh new beginnings in our lives! YES!
How? With the Seed Planting Ritual!
SPRING RITUAL: PLANT YOUR SEEDS
Yep, we’re going to plant seeds. “Real” plant seeds and symbolic seeds of what we want to see grow and flourish in life.
This spring, we sow what we want to harvest : yummy salads yes, as well as the seeds of projects we want to see bear fruit.
How to do a Seed Planting Ritual for the Spring Equinox:
1. Prepare your ritual space: choose a clear place, a candle, a song, your seeds, your soil (dirt) + pots if you plant indoors, your watering can etc.
2. Choose your seeds (we planted basil, yum yum! Plant what you want, edible plant, flowers, a tree!)
3. Choose a project, a part of your life that you want to take care of, that you want to see sprout, grow, and flourish!
4. With intent, plant your seeds! For example, say “I plant these basil seeds and the seeds of my project”
5. During planting, be open to any message from your intuition, or from the Universe.
6. When you have finished, water your seeds, give them Reiki, and close your ritual.
7. Remember to take care of your seeds! Just as you care for your plants, “water” and give light to your seeds of life!
Express the depth of your ideas and emotions, flow as you speak in public, and get clear about your path. Give YOUR VOICE some oomph with the Mantra HAM!
YOUR VOICE AND THE THROAT CHAKRA
The Throat Chakra, or 5th Chakra is called Vishuddha. In Sanskrit Vishuddha means “pure, purifying”.
The Throat Chakra is located between the Heart Chakra (the 4th, Anahata Chakra), and the 3rd Eye Chakra (the 6th Chakra, Ajna Chakra). Vishuddha links your heart to your head!
More on Chakras here
The Voice is associated with the Throat Chakra. We use our voices to communicate and to express ourselves. A balanced Throat Chakra allows us to express ourselves clearly and with compassion. We give voice to our ideas, our creativity, our needs, our emotions, our decisions. And we also listen with the same compassion!
Our Voice is a powerful way to bring us out into the world.
When Vishuddha is in harmony, the connection between your thinking head and your feeling heart is fluid. You feel connected to yourself and connected to others.
Here’s a simple Throat Chakra balancing exercise. Try it before teaching a class, to prepare for public speaking, or to build confidence in your voice and your place in this world every day.
EXERCICE: BALANCE YOUR THROAT CHAKRA WITH YOUR VOICE
The Throat Chakra’s elements are ether and sound. For today’s Chakra harmonizing exercise, you’ll just need your… voice!
We’ll use the Throat Chakra’s Bija Mantra, HAM.
The musical note corresponding to Vishuddha is usually G (So). But go ahead and try different notes and see which works best for you.
(HAM’s “A” is pronounced as in “arm”, not as in “green eggs and ham, Sam I am“)!
How to : Throat Chakra Meditation with the Mantra HAM:
1. Sit comfortably, or lie down if you prefer.
2. Take a few deep breaths to center. Close your eyes if you want.
3. Inhale and chant the Bija Mantra HAM: “HAAAMMM”
4. Let the vibration of the Mantra HAM resonate in your throat, and surround you.
5. Inhale and start again! Chant HAM for as many or as few breaths as you wish!
6. When you are done, resume regular breathing.
7. Gently open your eyes!
How do you feel ? Ready to speak with your true voice!
Find your Voice and your path with the mantra HAM!
Did you catch the super moon this week? Dive into the lunar cycle and read about the symbolism of February’s Full Moon!
FULL MOON FESTIVAL
I was lucky to see the super full moon this week! I had a beautiful clear sky and moonlight flooding my balcony.
I’m in Singapore right now, and here the full moon was the last day of the Lunar New Year.New Year’s Day was on the new moon on February 5th, and two weeks later the full moon marks the end of the two weeks of festivities (and eating goodies!).
For those who celebrate the Lunar New Year, the new and full moons in February symbolize RENEWAL and new beginnings. The first full moon of the year is also called the Budding Moon.
Yep, spring is on its way soon and a new cycle is starting!
WINTER FULL MOON
In parts of North America and Europe, spring still seems far away. In February, the full moon is more about the persistent cold and winter.
The February full moon is called Snow Moon, Death Moon, Hunger Moon... The Celts also call it the Ice Moon. The Cherokee in North America call it the Bone Moon : stocks of food are running low and survival often means getting by with what’s left : bones and marrow! For the Lakota –also in North America- the February full moon is the Moon of the Tree Branches that crack in the Cold. Icy and poetic.
Brrr !!
It’s not winter all over the world though! Other February full moon (or month) names are : Corn Moon or Barley Moon. It’s harvest time in the Southern Hemisphere!
And don’t forget : after the Snow Moon comes the Sap Moon. I’m telling you, hang in there, spring is coming!
Is your February Full Moon a Budding, Bone or Icy Moon? Happy Moon cycle!
Heard of Power Animals? Maybe you have even met your own Spirit Animal!What is a Power Animal? How can you find yours? What do they do and mean? Read on and find out!
A POWER ANIMAL GUIDE
A Power Animal is a compassionate energy that comes to support you. Often, we’ll say that they walk with you in your life. This means that they accompany you and can offer guidance and help on your path.
In the shamanic view, everything is ALIVE, and you can communicate with everything. You can ask questions and receive answers from people, animals, plants, but also minerals, rocks, or elements like water or fire, spirits of place … EVERYTHING!
In the case of Spirit or Power Animals, the positive and helpful energies come in the form of … animals.
Spirit animals bring you their medicine! In general, they offer you strength and power to live the life you want. And each individual Power Animal also offers you his own message: Snake brings you Snake wisdom, Tiger brings you Tiger wisdom, Dolphin that of the dolphins, Wolf that of the wolf …
For the shaman or shamanic practitioner, Spirit Animals are essential and powerful helpers for shamanic work.
WHO HAS SPIRIT ANIMALS?
Everyone has one or more Power Animals, not only shamans! All you have to do is … meet them!
A Power Animal may stay with you all your life. Other Spirit Animals walk with you for a certain time, maybe to help you through difficulties or changes. And then they may leave and are replaced by other Power Animals.
Meeting your very own Power Animals is like opening a beautiful door to life. The more you cultivate your relationship with them, the deeper, more beautiful and more powerful it becomes.
This work transformed my life and this is why I offer you the opportunity to deepen your relationship with your Power Animal through the mentorship program Spirit Animal, Power Animal. In this training, you’ll learn practical applications of this very special relationship. Because, yes, shamanism is useful tech in the modern world!
By asking a shaman or a shamanic practitioner to find him/her for you.
By finding your Power Animal yourself by journeying to the shamanic worlds.
By being receptive to the Universe’s messages.
When you consult a shaman or a shamanic practitioner, he / she will do a shamanic journey for you, called Power Animal Retrieval. This ceremony is the beginning of a beautiful love story, and I love to do it for my clients – get in touch if you are interested!
If you would like to meet your Power Animal yourself, you can learn shamanic journeying. It’s a skill I teach in group classes or as privates. The mentorship and training Spirit Animal, Power Animal offers a fantastic way to meet one of your spirit guides, and then learn how to deepen the relationship. All classes are possible in person and online.
Can you find your Spirit Animal without shamanic journeying? Yes absolutely! Open up your intuition, be receptive to messages, listen to your dreams, inquire in your meditations, observe the “coincidences” of your life. Power Animals have many -and sometimes very funny- ways, to ask for your attention!
You’ll find lots of cool resources in books and online. I’m pretty sure that if you have already met your Power Animal, you have Googled his/her meaning online!
Meanings, symbols and stories for the same Spirit Animal vary from culture to culture, and very often depend on geography. It seems normal that a penguin could be a Power Animal for someone who comes or is the descendant from cold climate people. And this same penguin will likely not be known as a Spirit Guide for people from the Amazonian forest. and its fascinating to find out.
However, some Power Animal share common meanings across cultures. Other times, we’ll encounter different animals in different cultures that share symbolic characters. Bear and Elephant are an example, as are the similarities between different families of felines. All this makes for many interesting discoveries, and I wish you happy reading!
For me, direct revelation is a great way of knowing what my Power Animals’ specialties are. Hence, asking them directly is the best way to find out about their medicine. Their answers are sometimes surprising and can be quite different from external resources. Their message is specially tailored for you instead of being a one-size-fits-all
HOW TO HONOR MY SPIRIT ANIMAL?
There are thousands of ways to honor your Power Animal ! I’ll talk about that in another post.
My Power Animals and I say “Bye bye and talk soon!”
