The Ajna chakra surrounds the brow, eyes, & base of the skull. The element of this chakra is super-ether and color of indigo with a vibrational tone of Aum. The demon of this chakra are illusions. When one is balanced in this chakra they exhibit psychic abilities, are imaginative, enlightened, and radiant. When one has an excess of this chakra they have difficulty concentrating, with scattered thoughts, are delusional, have nightmares and headaches. When one is deficient in this chakra they have poor memory, poor vision, and an inability to see patterns. Start meditating during sunrise and sunset outside while chanting Aum. Use an even-counted measured breathing technique during your meditation practice. Start practicing by inhaling for a count of six through the nostrils, holding your breath for six counts, exhale for a count of a six through the nostrils and lastly empty all the air from your lungs and hold the exhale drawing your navel towards your spine for a count of six. Repeat this cycle for about 5-10 mins, gradually increasing your counts when it is safe to do so. This is one of many types of pranayama, which is the regulation of breathing through certain types of techniques and exercises. One can begin to control their mind through the conscious regulation of breathing.
Chakra 7- Sahasrara (thousandfold 1000 petaled lotus)
The 1000 petaled lotus symbolizes the infinite nature of this chakra, connecting us with the Divine, The Infinite, All-Knowing, God, or whatever you may call your Higher Power. This chakra surrounds the top of the head and cerebral cortex. A lot of practices only include the practice of 6 chakras, but I truly believe this is the most important chakra and I am ever so grateful this wisdom was shared with me by my teachers.
During this COVID-19 pandemic, I am hearing wise Yoga teachers say that people are in need of balancing their first chakras, as this is the chakra that deals with survival, stability, and self-sufficiency. Once one is grounded and secure in their first chakra (toilet paper is a temporary fix), the 7th chakra will really help during these unprecedented times, as it is the power of Divine Love that is going to help us heal our Earth and ourselves right now. Clinging onto the only constant we have in our earthly lives, and that is Divine Love.
When one is meditating on this chakra, they should envision the color violet, in complete silence around them, either in meditation or a form of breathing technique (e.g. Nadi Shodnam). The demon of this chakra is attachment. When I was a little girl, I envisioned the way my life would turn out as an adult, planning every single aspect you would expect a little girl to do within her fantasies. As I grew older, I had formed attachments to these expectations that my culture, family and my environment had placed on me and that which were the foundations of my childhood fantasies. The Universe showed me through my experiences that these foundations I had created for myself were taking me further away from my Truth and came to a realization that it’s best to not have a plan in life. I had to let down a lot of people through the non-attachment process, but I could no longer live in the non-truth. I had to escape and re-create my life. I wasn’t looking for material gain through the process, I had detached from most possessions that were not of importance or no longer served me, I was finally starting to feel the happiness that comes from having absolute personal freedom. When one is balanced in this chakra they are free, formless, in samadhi, blissful, wise, conscious & transcendent. Through the years I have attracted more material bindings, but each with a purpose served. Through this current COVID-19 pandemic, it has come to my awareness that I want to practice wanting even fewer material bindings and attract more of what is Real to continue to free me and bring me closer than ever to Love. Love serves the purpose of a Higher good, without it we cannot survive. When one has an excess of this chakra they are overly intellectual, have spiritual addictions, are confused, and/or disassociated from the body. The Masts in India are a prime example of having an excessive 7th chakra, completely dissociated with their bodies and in union with the Divine. When one is deficient in this chakra they have limiting beliefs, materialistic, spiritual skepticism, learning difficulties & apathy.
Besides meditation and breathing exercises to balance this chakra, one can practice Inverted asanas (postures). I evaluate each of my students prior to a private chakra Yoga session, and through the evaluation process, I may recommend that we work on chakras 1, 3, 5 and 7 or any other combination of all 7 magical chakras!
Namaste,
Yogini Marjan