Ladies, do you ever find yourself trying on the same necklaces and never really wearing them?  It seems like they’re either too dressy, too dated, the wrong color or the wrong length to go with your neckline.  When did wearing jewelry become so complicated?   Perhaps your problem isn’t your collection of jewelry; it may be that your style has changed over the years.  As women mature they become more self-aware, which often means they drop the pretenses of youth.  Instead of merely “decorating” oneself with a shimmery accessory, jewelry becomes a new means of substantive self-expression.  Could this explain the sudden popularity of Tibetan and Buddhist jewelry?

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This month we explore the 7^th and last of the seven energy systems, the crown chakra.  The Sanskrit name is Sahasrara which translates to “thousand fold.”  It is often seen as a lotus flower with a thousand petals symbolizing the opening of spiritual awakening.

This chakra is located on the top of the head at the crown and its associated color is violet transitioning to white, symbolizing the blending of the seven chakras.  Its associated element is thought and fire and the musical note is B.  The crown chakra’s function is the assimilation of wisdom, divine enlightenment, and the integration of our spiritual self with our physical body.

The crown chakra governs our faith and belief system and is a portal to our intuitive resources which ultimately controls our thoughts and actions.  It is the pathway to a higher state of consciousness and as it becomes more developed, we move beyond being controlled by our ego and into “consciousness” itself.

As the connection to our spiritual essence grows, life becomes more peaceful and harmonious.  Daily challenges and worries easily fall away and the direction we seek to life’s deeper questions and problems is attainable.  People with an open crown chakra experience unconditional love, freely passing that on to others.  Life is fulfilling and joyful with a keen sense of clarity, meaning and connection to all life.   The power of faith in this chakra drives your thoughts and actions turning dreams into reality and your intuitive resources ensure that the decisions you make will keep you safe.

Have you ever experienced a day when nothing seems to go your way?  The smallest things leave you feeling frustrated?  Feel off-balance or ungrounded?  Can’t make a decision when you need to?  These are signs that your crown chakra energy is imbalanced.

An overactive 7^th chakra is often characterized by being overly intellectual.  The inability to think for your-self and relying on others to give you direction becomes a dominant pattern.  Often there is spiritual skepticism and a focus on material things to define satisfaction in life.  Difficulty concentrating, depression, migraine headaches and apathy are also signs of imbalance.

To balance your 7^th chakra, climb a mountain! Find a quiet space to go within and reflect being mindful of the present moment. Set the intention to be aware of what is beyond you – to your consciousness.

Do less!  Simplify your day.  Take that a step further and try doing less for an entire week, then an entire month.  Use that time to meditate, pray and just spending time being in the moment.

Visit places that offer a sense of calm, whether it is a park, the beach, or the mountains.  Practice working with your connection to something special in your surroundings. Being one with nature, one with self, one with the universe will create open and balanced energy.

Wear violet or place purple accents in your room or office as a reminder.  If you use essential oils, breathe in rose, cinnamon, jasmine or sandalwood.   The gemstones associated with the crown chakra are amethyst, alexandrite,  quartz crystal, diamond and selenite.  The foods that energize your crown chakra are concord grapes, eggplant, plums, purple broccoli and blackberries.

The development and direction of chakra growth is upward, from the basic needs of survival (first chakra) to the development of our self (second), connection with others (fourth) and self-discovery (fifth chakra) to our connection with the divine (seventh).  The spiritual connection and force of faith we develop through the crown chakra works in tandem with the seven chakras only conversely, beginning with the 7^th chakra and working downward.  It melds with the intuitive powers of the 6^th chakra, stimulates our innate sense of will in the 5^th, and blends with the heart chakra connecting us to our emotions.  The force of faith then personalizes our emotions in the 3^rd chakra and clarifies those responses into actions in the second.  All of the combined energies are ultimately grounded in the first chakra; creating a synthesis of living spiritually and being in the moment – the essence of life.

This month we are going to explore the third of the seven energy systems. The solar plexus chakra, also known as Manipura, is the Sanskrit word for shining jewel and is believed to be a metaphor for the inner beauty of oneself. It is located in your abdomen just above the navel and is associated with a vibrant yellow color. Its associated element is fire. The primary purpose of this chakra is power, integrity, self-discipline and personal esteem. It provides us with the necessary strength and endurance to work through life’s challenges while remaining true to our core values of honor and ethics.

The solar plexus chakra is where our sense of ego, self-control and our sense of authority are based. If you have ever experienced “butterflies” in your stomach before a presentation or during a stressful situation, this is where your 3rd chakra is housed and actively at work!

This chakra also holds our intellect, individual personality and cognitive thinking skills. When faced with a difficult situation and weighing the options, your may find the decision is often rooted in your “gut instinct”. This is your 3rd chakra at work. It is integral to facing and working through every day challenges at work, home or in personal relationships. It allows us to make confident decisions, handle a crisis and distinguish right from wrong and good from bad.

When your 3rd Chakra is balanced, you have the ability to be spontaneous and feel satisfied and happy in life. You believe in yourself and don’t view the world as a threatening or frightening place. Your self-perception has changed from belonging to a tribe (first chakra) to developing your own self-identity and a strengthened ego. The ability to clearly and freely express your emotions and decisions to people is the result of a balanced 3rd chakra. Having the courage to follow your “intuition” or “gut” in making decisions without fear of reprisal from others or fearing your own safety is also a key function of this chakra.

Signs of an unbalanced 3rd chakra are seen in long standing anger or resentment and fear of life. Ongoing criticism of others, refusal to admit wrongdoing and thoughts of helplessness without initiating steps to correct the situation are all indicative of being in a state of unbalance. An under active chakra will exhibit as indifference, poor self-esteem, feelings of being powerless, and remaining in unhealthy relationships. Over active chakra signs are seen in people who crave power, control and will frequently manipulate or bully to get their way. Success is measured by how much can be accumulated in both personal wealth and power rather than focusing on inner power. They are often viewed as impatient, short tempered and unable to cooperate for the greatest good of all concerned.

If you feel out of balance, try spending time outdoors in the sunshine. Burn a few candles, or build a bonfire, if you have the proper place! Introduce the color yellow into your wardrobe, your office or home as a reminder. Place sunflowers on your desk. Eat more yellow fruits and vegetables like bananas, squash and peaches. Try belly dancing! Go for a brisk walk, watch a comedy and enjoy deep belly laughs. Perform an act of service to nurture someone else through praise, respect and acknowledgement for a job well done. Using your time to teach a skill or support someone who could use a boost in their self-esteem are power gifts of the 3rd chakra. If you meditate, visualize a golden yellow; it will help ground your energy center to your physical body. If you work with mala beads, the gemstones related to the solar plexus chakra are amber, tiger’s eye, yellow topaz and citrine. Incense can also be a useful centering aide. Cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, ginger and orange are incense associated with the 3rd chakra.

In the next issue, we will explore the fourth or heart chakra.