Energy
Crown Chakra Meditation For Mental Health
These days, many people face mental health challenges. In a world where so many demands are placed upon our time and energy, there never seems to be enough time for relaxation and proper self-care. One way to improve one’s mental health and gain greater clarity is to regularly do some energy work focusing on the crown chakra.
The chakras are a system of energy centers that regulate our physical health, mental acuity, and emotional well-being. Chakra (cakra in ancient Sanskrit) means ‘wheel’ and it is essentially a ‘spinning disk’ or vortex of energy. The chakras represent the flow of life force or pranic energy through the mind-body.
There are seven primary or major chakras in the subtle or light body, spanning from the base of the spine up to the crown of the head. Each chakra has its own frequency, symbolism, color, and function. For optimal health and well-being, the chakras should be kept activated, open, balanced and aligned.
The seventh chakra at the crown of the head, also known as sahasrara padma, is the highest of the primary chakras. It is depicted as a 1000-petal lotus flower and represented by the color violet. This chakra is the energy center of our spiritual connection to the divine, from which all the other chakras emanate. The crown chakra is where we connect to God, Goddess, Source, Spirit, the Divine. It is also my experience that it is at the crown where we engage with our guardian angels and spirit guides.
Transform Your Life One Step At A Time
Knowing when to make that much needed change in your life can be daunting and very confusing. We often feel this need for change when we already have a lot going on. We tend to also overthink things and then feel overwhelmed, or even paralyzed with anxiety or fear.
Once you get into this kind of ‘stuck’ pattern, nothing seems to get done or resolved. No choices or decisions are made. In turn, this causes even more unhappiness, distress, and turmoil in your life. We all have a tendency to get in our own way.
Over the years of working with many clients in this situation, spirit has always made one thing very clear: it always starts with a firm choice or decision. You don’t have to act on it immediately, but it instantly begins to shift your energy in a new direction, or towards a long-term solution.
Indecision, fear, or lack of commitment to a clear vision for the future is first and foremost what keeps many people stuck indefinitely in the stagnant energy loop of an unhappy, unfulfilled life.
Once you have made up your mind about what you intend to achieve or which direction you wish to go, you gain more clarity and become calmer and more grounded to start taking baby steps forward. Then you can begin to resolve the situation one step at a time with spirit’s support.
To get started consider a simple, step-by-step approach to make break the process down into smaller steps that will be less overwhelming and more attainable.
Astrology Forecast July 31 – August 6, 2023
If there’s anything important you simply must get done this week, do it today while the Moon is still in diligent Capricorn, because from tomorrow things may become a bit challenging when the Moon waxes full in Aquarius.
Tomorrow’s Aquarius Full Moon may trigger sudden changes in direction or unexpected events. These shifts could work in your favor, but sometimes it’s difficult to see the higher purpose of new developments when we feel thrown off course.
We will also tend to be more restless, moody, confused, or irritable than usual and family drama is much more likely to erupt. Focus on staying in your joy and maintain your inner peace. Stay in the moment, focus on gratitude and potential opportunities, and practice a stance of flexibility and patience.
If things still do go awry in your life tomorow, be sure to at least seek your peace and equilibrium by the evening, because tomorrow night’s Mercury in Virgo opposition to Saturn in Pisces, combined with the full moon energy, may weigh heavily on our mental health. Do not entertain the temporary feelings of loneliness or depression. The Leo Sun will come out again on Wednesday! More will also become clear or make more sense once the Moon glides through gentle, spiritual Pisces on Thursday and Friday.
The weekend unfolds under a creative Aries Moon, so if you were handed some full moon lemons this week, consider some new recipes for making lemonade! Overall this week will make for an interesting few days, as is often the case when we transition from easy-going July into fiery August.
The Basics Of Reiki
Reiki is popular concept in modern spirituality, metaphysics and energy healing. It is therefore good for anyone interested in these fields to have a basic understanding of this technique to engage in discussions with likeminded people in a meaningful way.
The term reiki is a combination of two Japanese words. Rei means ‘divine wisdom’ or ‘divine power,’ and ki means ‘life force energy’ or ‘vital human energy.’ Reiki is therefore a ‘divinely empowered life force.’
Reiki, or rather the system of Reiki, was developed in Japan a century ago by a Buddhist monk known as Mikao Usui. He was a renowned spiritual man who dedicated his life to being of service to others. While seeking spiritual awakening on Mount Kurama, north of the Japanese city of Kyoto, he was divinely inspired with the gift of Reiki. It was introduced to the United States in the late 1930s by Hawayo Hiromi Takata, a Japanese-American woman who received training in Reiki in Tokyo and became a master practitioner.
Although it is more commonly known only as a form of energy healing, true Reiki is in fact a comprehensive spiritual practice and a conscious lifestyle. Yes, it involves the healing of the mind and body, but it also proposes living in total peace with oneself, and being aware of your own unique purpose and spiritual light within. The system of Reiki seeks to remove the layers of fear, worry and attachments that conceal our innate brightness of being.
Astrology Forecast July 24 – 30, 2023
Today’s energies will be easy-going as there are no changing aspects. Just remain cheerful and balanced under the rest of the Libra Moon, because when it ventures into Scorpio tomorrow for a three-day tour, we can expect more intense, impulsive energies.
Tomorrow evening’s Scorpio Half Moon could trigger relationship conflict, family drama, or public disputes, so stay calm and think twice before you act. Especially keep the peace and stay on good terms with your partner, spouse, or love interest, as the likelihood of romantic conflict will continue through to Wednesday under the Scorpio Moon’s opposition to Jupiter in Taurus.
To potentially make matters worse, the Scorpio Moon square with Venus in Leo on Thursday may additonally become the source of conflict with motherly figures in your life. If trouble has already ensued with your beloved on Tuesday or Wednesday, do not be surprised if their mother, sister or ex gets involved in the matter. Stay calm, and go high if the women in your partner’s life decide to go low, instead of minding their own business.
The mood with your significant other should improve under Friday morning’s Leo Sun trine with a Sagittarius Moon. If so, then leave well enough alone, otherwise you may be up for a drama reboot by late afternoon under the Sagittarius Moon square with Mars in Virgo. Fortunately, love and romance should be very much back on track by Saturday evening under the Sagittarius Moon trine with Venus in Leo.
The most significant astrological shift this week will be Mercury’s move into Virgo on Friday. Mercury rules the sign of Virgo, so don’t be surprised if your attention to detail increases or you find yourself nitpicking about things that really aren’t important.
The weekend might turn out to be more work than play when the Moon moves into Capricorn on Saturday. This aspect tends to inspire a more serious, ambitious and determinded mood, so when duty calls don’t try to fight it. Make the most of this deliberate, focused energy to get some pressing tasks done at the office or home, and set goals for the coming week.
Astrology Forecast July 17 – 23, 2023
The week begins with a gentle Cancer New Moon today, which will instill us with the desire to nurture ourselves and others. Under a Cancer New Moon our emotions take center stage and our sense of compassion, kindness and tolerance becomes elevated. This evening’s Cancer Moon trine with Neptune in Pisces will add to our heightened empathy and understanding.
Make the most of these energies by reaching out to someone you care about, or step up to make the peace with someone you have been at odds with.
Tonight will also be a great time to catch up on your spiritual practice with some meditation, prayer for others, oracle card or rune reading, or journaling.
Our love-and-belonging mindset will escalate even further tomorrow and Wednesday, as the Moon glides through big-hearted Leo and inspires us to lean in and reconnect with those closest to us.
We’ll also have to do some productive work this week, of course, and the Virgo Moon will make Thursday and Friday’s the ideal days to take care of responsibilities and tasks we cannot postpone until next week.
The Sun enters Leo on Saturday, heralding a four-week cycle of self-love, generosity, and strength of heart. A few hours later, Venus will turn retrograde, kicking off a six-week cycle of romance and relationship energies that we’ll need to pay close attention to. This aspect can bring lovers back from the past (not necessarily for a reconnection) or create the opportunity to magically connect with your soulmate.
If you’re in a relationship that has run its course, this will become more apparent in the weeks ahead, and if you have been neglecting a valued relationship in your life, this will become equally apparent. Expect changes in your relationships over the next month and a half. Being more mindful with your partner, loved ones and friends will work in your favor during this time.
How To Ground Your Energy
‘Grounding’ is a common term you are likely to encounter early in your spiritual awakening journey. If you are interested in energy work of any kind, grounding is a key technique to help you stay energetically balanced and enhance your metaphysical practice.
Essentially grounding is a type of meditation that is quick and very intentional. Through grounding we connect our own energy field or light body with the energy of the Earth. This balances our chakras by clearing out those energies that are no longer serve us. Connecting to the Earth’s energy in this way releases negative patterns, thoughts, emotions, and habits, to achieve a clearer, elevated state of consciousness.
To become more grounded, try this visualization exercise. Start by closing your eyes and focusing on your breathing. If you are used to meditation this will be very familiar, if not that is okay! Just be present with your breath and pay attention to your breathing as you inhale and exhale.
Count to three as you draw in your breath, and again as you exhale. Gradually slow the rhythm of your breathing down and just be present with the experience of the air moving in through your nose and into your chest. Feel your physical body around you as you breathe.
I like to focus on my heart chakra while I do this, but it is not necessary. I just find that as I breathe in and out, I like to feel the swell of air in my chest, as if is ‘hugging my heart.’