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We all have fears and anxieties, real and imagined. They seem to be part of our human journey and perhaps are present to help us grow as souls. There was a time when I believed that knowledge alone could quell the fires of fear and quiet the anxieties that agitate the mind, breed turbulent emotions and disturb sleep. I found that not to be the case! Information can be a great first step, but by itself knowledge and the everyday mind are not equipped for the task of quieting the fears and anxieties that shake our foundations on our walk through life.

The discovery that it is necessary to have methods to transform knowledge into inner knowing, a felt experience that amends our default patterns, was a doorway to freedom for me. The most effective approaches I found were those that included personal energy work and the map of consciousness that the chakra system provides. Once I began to work with my energy system, I found life and living to become much more manageable… and even better—enjoyable and happy! In my opinion, understanding and knowing how to address our personal energy system  offers both a means to remove what agitates and troubles us, as well as the means to build in new self sustaining, nourishing and life enhancing energies.

Any journey toward healing or rebalancing necessarily begins with the root chakra as it is the foundation of our physical and psychological being. It is also the primary mover and shaker concerning fear and anxiety! Strong root chakra energies allow you to face life without being overtaken by unnecessary anxiety and to respond from a grounded strength to difficult, stress filled situations.

ROOT CHAKRA: Your Secret Ally
The root chakra is located at the base of your spine and is the first to develop after birth. This energy center is the foundation of your energy system, the seat of your physical vitality (Kundalini), and a cornerstone of psychological and spiritual well being.

Physically the root correlates with the adrenal glands and all bony structures….It provides support and a framework for both the physical and psychological body. We learn to crawl, walk and stand as the root chakra expands and comes online. In addition, first chakra energy also assists us with putting down roots in the world and standing on our own two feet.

Trauma, family stress and a lack of appropriate nurturing during the first few years of life can unbalance root chakra energies. Early disruption of this energy is recorded within the system and has the result of amplifying reactions to later losses or upsets such as loss of a job, living situation or person in your life. Who among us in the first five years of life did NOT have some circumstance that left its mark on our ability to feel totally safe and secure within the world? My experience is that it is part of the human condition and simply needs to be addressed and not denied or battled with ceaselessly

My Mother, My Self
The positive archetype for the root chakra is the Earth Mother. A person with strong, positive root energy honors and cares for the body as a sacred vessel that carries them in the material world. Physical needs are well cared for which results in healthy vitality as well as abundant energy to flow upward to nurture the higher chakras. The higher chakras help to expand your inner world, and open up greater creative manifestation and expanded spiritual experience.

Physically the root chakra governs the immune, skeletal and lower digestive systems. When root energies are out of balance the physical issues that present are: poor balance, sciatica, chronic fatigue, bowel disorders knee, and leg or foot problems.

Emotionally a lack of first chakra energy manifests as being too rigid and not being open to options for change…change can also be difficult if you are overly grounded —-this is evidenced through being overly controlling, or lacking in imagination or initiative.

If root energy is steady and balanced you can transcend fear—thoughts of loss do not disturb your inner peace, sap your strength or drain your vitality. Fear does not always show up as an outright anxiety disorder or phobia. It can also appear as shyness, dread or fear of criticism. Many people feel fear as an absence of security or as difficulty experiencing inner stability, safety and comfort.

Strong balanced Root Chakra energy enables you to:
 Be open to opportunities that can emerge from the unknown
Experience an inner source of comfort, soothing and ease
Tolerate ambiguity, paradox and not knowing
Move through change with more fluidity
Feel inner security, stability and safety
Care for self in healthy ways

For Root Chakra Balancing Meditations:

Chakra Guided Meditiatons http://bit.ly/wWnQ2J

Energy Aerobics http://bit.ly/w1D4sN

Related articles

• The Root Chakra (blissreturned.wordpress.com)

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There are so many different types of love. If you stop for a moment and think about all the various kinds of love you have felt in your life, you may find that you alternately bring your energy level up only to have it crash as the next memory comes rolling in! Of course the good news here is that if we are conscious we can use this dynamic to our benefit. By choosing to dwell on times when you were truly deeply loving from the strongest place within, you can not only raise your energy level but also help yourself grow in the capacity to hold higher vibrations of healthy love. And it feels so good that perhaps you will decide to feel it more often thus helping to bring a more consistently loving state to yourself and those around you.

It has been said that the very fabric of the universe is love…that the basic vibration of the cosmos is unconditional love. As part of the cosmos we have that essence within us. The problem is that most of us are disconnected from it. But just because we cannot always feel it does not mean it is not there.  We can reconnect to the flow of love within ourselves through our heart chakra.  Flowing energy regularly through this very important center can expand your heart energy and open you to love.

Outside circumstances often have the effect of bringing this kind of universal love to the surface. Natural disasters, illness in oneself or a loved one, parenting and deep friendship are all instances that can draw the best from deep within us. An outpouring
of love and compassion is evident in many forms in response to crises .

Outside sources may seem to trigger the flow of this higher form of love and we come to believe that we need the stimulus in order to feel it. We do not. Many of the world’s great mystics speak about the intoxicating elixir that is cosmic love. They connected with and cultivated this type of love through meditation and other spiritual practices.

You do not have to be a great cosmic seer or a great holy person to feel this love. You can start right where you are. The first step is to look at what blockages or barriers you may have in relation to self love. Love is energy just like any other emotion. So it makes sense that if you are in contact with that energy and have an abundant supply flowing through you that you can easily flow it to another.  If you don’t feel love from within, look at what blocks may be there. What messages, thoughts, feelings, beliefs and emotions are you carrying that keep you from this most precious birthright? What do you believe about yourself, the world…men… women…need…lack… that holds you back?

We see our beliefs reinforced around us every day.  Where some have “good” experiences, others have “bad” ones.  Where some experience happiness, others may experience and project anger, blame, fear, anxiety and more.  Your beliefs can present limits and place obstacles that keep you from having what you desire. The most important thing is not what happened to you to create these beliefs, but what you are doing today to change them and take charge of your life.

It is an amazing feeling to be able to experience love for no good reason other than it is possible! It is peace and joy…a quiet heart full to bursting. It also is not a permanent space for most of us. We must keep working at it and recommitting to it each day.

What if you were to see your life as a palette to paint upon? What if you were to respond with an artist’s heart, one filled with love for the creation and fashion something fine and beautiful with the gift of freedom to love? What if your destiny is to be love in the world? Begin deep within yourself and practice opening your heart to its full potential every day!

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Types of Chakra Blockages
Jams within a chakra can occur when external circumstances make it unsafe to remain open. This situation can also result when there is too much intensity and the energy of a particular chakra does not continue to flow freely. Over time a pattern of ‘holding’ takes root. Tension in the body can help reveal where blocks and jams are to be found. Knowing what specific beliefs are associated with each chakra can also lend information about the location of blocks. Our new program Sacred Truths  helps to identify areas of blockage in your energy system, as well as provides you with tools to help you release them.

The way to work with this type of block is to gently work to open it. Generally, the best way to approach any change or personal growth is with gradual, positive forward movement. This approach is more apt to create stable results than trying to shock ourselves into healing!

Work slowly with an attitude of gentle persistent kindness toward yourself. When we work to open and free up energy within our minds and bodies, old feelings and emotions may arise. This is a natural and vital part of the healing and transition process.

During an active healing process, it is important to routinely use techniques that help to self soothe, release intensity and provide an experience of inner safety. This is also important to do anytime since it is a vital aspect for balance in life. During healing these tools play an essential role in building strength and energy. The release of old beliefs and the ‘leftovers’ of unprocessed emotional issues can then happen more easily. 

Methods that involve the use of imagery and metaphor can be of particular help in this process as they not only facilitate developing new strength, but they also assist in establishing new, more desirable qualities. In addition, they contribute to an experience of inner knowing.   Through accessing a different level of skill we arrive at a new sense of inner power and a profound trust in our expanded self.

Spasm
Spasms occur in chakras that are usually open. A traumatic or stressful event or situation can trigger a sharp sudden closure. This can reverse itself on its own over the time.  Often when a spasm is the problem, you will experience physical discomfort in the area of the chakra involved. Blocked energy can then become stagnant in that area. If such a situation remains too long, physical symptoms may develop in the adjacent physical organs or organ systems.

 Diminished Flow
This is the most common type of block. Energy flow is diminished rather than completely blocked. The negative energy is distributed over a broad area, so is harder to detect. Fear is a very common cause of this condition.

Removing Blockages
Blocks to the free flow of energy can be removed through a variety of approaches. Practitioners skilled in massage, energy work or acupuncture can assist you in relieving them. Generally insight alone is not usually enough to release a block. Some traditional therapists use techniques such as EFT, EMDR, hypnosis, imagery or inner child techniques and these can be helpful.

There is also a great deal that you can do on your own to identify and release these obstructions and restore balance to the free flow of energy through your being. The more serious or longstanding a problem, the more likely you will need professional assistance. However, you can greatly enhance your treatment through understanding, awareness and personal integration of energetic self help tools.

As previously mentioned imagery skills are particularly powerful on a variety of levels. In addition to the advantages already covered, imagery skills provide the ability to explore energy system, locate disruptions, remove obstacles, release and balance energy. Meditation, breathwork, active visualization, sound and music are also potent ways to influence energy.

In addition to our newest program, Sacred Truths, there are several other options in our store, https://www.livingenergyworks.com/store/?ccUser= that can help teach you to manage your energy effectively for  decreased stress, enhanced intuition, improved health, well being and prosperity. Each of these programs takes a slightly different approach and offers you a variety of options for transforming the energy of your life. 

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Even Beginners Can Curb Pain With Meditation

by Adam Cole 02:05 pm April 6, 2011

Robert Coghill/Wake Forest University School of MedicineSigns of pain disappeared from MRI images of the brain when freshly trained novices meditated.

Meditation has long been touted as a holistic approach to pain relief. And studies show that long-time meditators can tolerate quite a bit of pain.

Now researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center have found you don’t have to be a lifelong Buddhist monk to pull it off. Novices were able to tame pain after just a few training sessions.

Sounds a bit mystical, we know, but researchers using a special type of brain imaging were also able to see changes in the brain activity of newbies. Their conclusion? “A little over an hour of meditation training can dramatically reduce both the experience of pain and pain-related brain activation,” Fadel Zeidan, a neuroscientist and the study’s lead author, tells Shots. That finding’s a first, Zeidan says.

In the study, a small group of healthy medical students attended four 20-minute training sessions on “mindfulness meditation” — a technique adapted from a Tibetan Buddhist form of meditation called samatha. It’s all about acknowledging and letting go of distraction.”You are trying to sustain attention in the present moment — everything is momentary so you don’t need to react,” Zeidan explains. “What that does healthwise is it reduces the stress response. The feeling of pain is a very blatant distraction.”

So how did the researchers gauge the effect? They administered a very distracting bit of pain: A small, thermal stimulator heated to 120 degrees was applied to the back of each volunteer’s right calf.  The subjects reported both the intensity and unpleasantness of the pain. If pain were music, intensity would be volume.  Unpleasantness would have more of an emotional component, kind of like how much you love or hate a song.

After meditation training, the subjects reported a 40 percent decrease in pain intensity and a 57 percent reduction in pain unpleasantness.  And it wasn’t just their perception of pain that changed. Brain activity changed too.

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

Notes

This depiction of the body, the cortical homunculus, was first developed by Wilder Penfield.  Each body part maps to a specific spot on a cross section of the brain’s sensory processing region, the primary somatosensory cortex. The larger the feature, the more brain space devoted to it.

Source: NPR; Credit: Adam Cole, Nelson Hsu

Every part of the body is mapped to a specific part of the brain called the primary somatosensory cortex. “If I touch you on your left hand right above your left knuckle, there is an area in the brain that corresponds to that specific area in your hand that will be activated,” Zeidan explains. “When you are in pain it is much more activated — more intense and more widespread.”

This activation shows up on MRI brain scans.  When subjects experienced the heat stimulus under normal conditions, the “right calf” part of the primary somatosensory cortex lit up.  But after the subjects were trained in meditation, the activity in this region was not even detectable.

Brain images also show that meditation increased activation in areas of the brain related to cognitive control and emotion — areas where the experience of pain is built. What’s more, better meditators (those who scored higher on a standard scale of mindfulness) tended to have more activation in these areas and a lower experience of pain.

But can you achieve similar results by just approximating meditation, or believing you are in control of your pain tolerance? Zeidan says probably not. In this study, subjects who paid attention to their breathing to mimic meditation saw no significant change in pain.  And, in a previous study, subjects given fake training failed to see meditation’s effects, even though they believed they were actually performing mindfulness meditation.

Zeidan says he will run some more studies to get at how meditation relieves pain.  He hopes meditation can soon be applied clinically, perhaps to help patients cope with pain after surgery or chemotherapy.

“You might not need extensive training to realize pain-relief benefits,” Zeidan says. “Most people don’t have time to spend months in a monastery.”

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• Regular Meditation Can Help Tune Out Distractions, Study Says (fitsugar.com)

Astronomy Picture of the Day: Mangaia's Milky Way, by Tunç Tezel.

This stunning view of the Milky Way reminds me of how each of us is a tiny spec within our ever-expanding universe. When our problems seem insurmountable I find it helpful to keep this in mind. Discovering peace from within is fundamental to living a healthy and happy life.

There is a flow of energy or consciousness, a way of BEING that we all have experienced from time to time— a state where everything flows together and feels in sync. We move easily from one moment to the next with a sense of meaning and purpose. We feel peace, joy, a sense of well being. This state has been called flow, living from center or simply– BLISS. It feels magical when we find it.

Our personal energy system holds the keys to enter into this state of flow as well as to access our inner wisdom and truth. Contact with these deeper aspects of ourselves provides inner peace, freedom of expression, and facilitates health on all levels.

Each of us can learn to manage our energy to generate greater health, peace, joy, meaning and purpose in our lives. Developing this ability helps eliminate much of the conflict, turmoil, feelings of emptiness and instability that create unnecessary difficulty on our journey. Through this broader consciousness we also develop greater resources of serenity and balance to deal with that which cannot be altered.

Meditation is one of the tools that helps us tap into the vast source of energy and limitless power that is available to all.

About the photo: This image holds the distinction of being selected as winner in the Royal Greenwich Observatory’s Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition in the Earth and Space category.

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 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronald-alexander-phd/how-to-let-go-of-negative_b_712342.html

Two of the most powerful points in this discussion from my perspective are: 1. the stories the minds spins about our “truths” and 2. the awareness that when a person is quite accomplished and ‘together’ in so many ways, self doubt and judgment can still lurk in the corners of the mind. 

Our feelings have resonance/frequency/vibration. We have a choice to resonate at frequencies that feel good (those based on Love) or those that feel bad (those based on fear).

Most peoples’ feelings are on automatic. They do not realize how much power they have to change their internal state AND affect their external world. 

We can take charge of our feelings:

1. Acknowledge and process negative, fearful ones ASAP–denial is not helpful! We all have negative thoughts, feelings and beliefs–even once enlightened! The challenge is to become a Master and not let them dominate you and determine your experience.

2. Once you have moved through the negative and bade it farewell, then let good feelings flow so that you maintain a more steady stream of “feel good”.

This process is a challenge and there is a learning curve to be sure. Perhaps a useful question can help serve as a reminder as you go through the day: What kind of world would you rather live in—one based on lovingkindness or one based in fear?

http://www.thebalancingact.com/story/?id=2075

The I Ching, the oldest book of China, of the Book of Change gives us some guidance regarding this approach.  The I Ching is an observation of human behavior and the constantly changing structure of the universe.  It is about the way things are at the moment and the way that they tend to change and transform themselves.  A basic premise is that there are no isolated actions.  Every action has a reaction and every thing affects every other thingin a synchronistic manner.  The observation of patterns in nature can help us adopt an attitude of flow in order to move more gracefully, consciously and purposefully through change and challenging times.

 Sixty-four different life situations (also called hexagrams) are highlighted in the I Ching.  The first of these is called The Creative.  It is about how worthwhile goals will meet with success.  When you use your inspiration, energy, will and personal strength — your Creative Power —  you can catapult yourself into new situations and use your opportunities to your best advantage.  The Creative is a time when personal growth is accelerated.  You focus and become aware of the situations around you. You learn when to act and when not to act.  It is a time when people may look to you for leadership.  You act for your highest good and you meet with success.

 You can make room for the energy referred to as The Creativeto develop within you and learn to live more from this place rather than being in a combative relationship with life and its stress.

 How? More on this tomorrow!