Muse

You can give of your time (volunteering) and your money (to nonprofits and those in need).

And you can give...forgiveness.

Forgiving is perhaps one of the hardest human tasks. If forgiving were as simple as just deciding to do it, our world would be a much different place.

 Forgiveness is not an act of mind. It is a blessing that arises from your heart. 

When you can't forgive, it's because you make forgiveness a conditional act. "I will forgive if..." or, "I will forgive when...".

Forgiveness is a gift. To yourself, to the person or people who hurt you, and to the world. 

Forgiving also is a process–it's about becoming a forgiving person.

Yes, it's complicated. Believe me. I've sat with clients who spent years bitterly chewing on their resentment. Holding on to anger and resentment only perpetuates more suffering.

I hear this over and over: "I want to forgive, I really do, I just can't seem to let go!" 

By continually focusing on the person who caused you pain, you're only going to get stuck in a state of resentment. 

Rather than focusing on others, or "trying" to let go, find the willingness to align yourself with the energy of forgiveness. 

Forgiveness, like anger or sadness, has its own unique energetic quality. When you choose to infuse your heart, mind, and body with this powerfully healing energy, you will become more forgiving.

Here's a short practice that will enable the energy of forgiveness to begin to take root:

Spend a few minutes in silence. Sit, breathe, relax.

Bring your awareness to your heart center (the center of your chest) and notice any sensations.

Using your intention, draw the energy of forgiveness into your heart center. Breathe. Allow. Absorb. Let the energy of forgiveness build.

Then imagine sending this energy from your heart center up to your head, down your spine, your arms and hands, through your torso, and down your legs into the arches of your feet. Use your breath to move the energy through your body. Really let it flow. 

When you feel complete, gently rest in your body. Notice any awareness you may have. And commit to coming back to this practice tomorrow.

As your alignment with the energy of forgiveness becomes more familiar and habitual, you just may notice yourself becoming more forgiving! 

Find your willingness to be open to healing. Practice. Be patient. And remember, this is a gift that really does keep on giving!

Happy Solstice!

Be Well,

Rebecca

The root chakra, though it gets less attention than its upper counterparts, is implicated in some of the most important aspects of the development of the soul's consciousness.

The root chakra serves as the anchoring point for divine consciousness as it is stepped down from a very high, fine vibration to the dense energy of the physical body.

Consider the notion of electric power moving from the high voltage of a massive powerline to the 120 volts that run your household appliances. As power flows through the system, it is "stepped down" to a level you can use. The root chakra is the equivalent of the system's grounding rod.

The integration of higher vibration consciousness into your personal, human existence requires an active, grounded root chakra.

Enlivening the root chakra requires that you engage in the process of becoming empowered. Empowerment provides a sense of safety, which helps you to let go of fear and defensiveness.

It is much easier to be present with what is going on in the moment if you aren't worried about what is about to happen.

In order to live a determined and intentional existence, your root chakra needs to be active and capable of grounding energy. 

A well-functioning root chakra provides the foundation for spiritual transformation, and the momentum to get on your spiritual path and practice. 

The root chakra contains the energy of potential. An engaged root chakra can help you bring dreams and desires to fruition–like creating a home that feels good to you, making money, or connecting with your creative passion. 

Spiritual practices that focus exclusively on opening the upper chakras may create ecstatic states. But if you are unable to ground this high-vibration energy, you might end up feeling emotionally and physically imbalanced and uprooted. 

A high-vibration state of consciousness in and of itself is not enough to create healing and change. We are human beings living in dense, physical bodies. In order to function well in these bodies, we need to be able to stay grounded. 

A spiritual practice that gives attention to the root chakra will allow your healing path to unfold more easily and gently.

Here are some suggestions for working with the root chakra:

1. Learn how to ground your energy. This takes time and practice. For a simple grounding exercise see the Muse post Getting Grounded, Staying Grounded.
2. Spend time getting to know your root chakra. When you bring your attention to the base of your spine, what does it feel like? What thoughts or images come to mind? What does your root chakra mean to you? For more information on the subject of chakras, I recommend reading Anodea Judith's book Wheels of Life.
3. As you learn how to take root in this chakra, notice what issues arise for you. Use compassionate mindfulness to gently observe what comes up. A harsh and judgmental stance will shut your root chakra down.
4. Exercises that focus exclusively on awakening Kundalini Shakti should generally be avoided. Many people have gotten themselves into trouble by prematurely awakening this energy. If you think this may have happened, you can find helpful information through the Spiritual Emergence Network.
5. If you engage in practices that open the crown chakra–such as chanting or drumming–it is important to stay grounded, which enables you to draw the energy down into your root chakra for integration into consciousness. If you are unable to stay grounded, perhaps back off these practices until you are able to bring your energy down into the root chakra at will.

As you shift into fully inhabiting this chakra and grounding through it, your healing journey will flow more easily. You will also access deeper levels of consciousness and subsequently feel more expansive, while at the same time feeling firmly rooted in your human experience.

Growing strong roots will help you reach for the sky!

Be Well,

Rebecca

"Treetop" photo image by Jennifer Hopkins ( http://jenhopkins.com/about/artwork-2/ ) with a Creative Commons license.

I

Shakti is a powerful force. Energy healing, meditation, yoga and many other practices are an invitation for Shakti to begin its work of transformation. As Shakti is unleashed, she moves into the energetic blockages and constrictions in the body and electromagnetic field.

Her energy can feel enlivening, empowering, and joyful--but it can also push up the muck that holds the energies of our past, and this can feel downright terrible. The healing process reveals and magnifies the negative patterns that we have created, and this can be pretty hard to look at.

When I started on my spiritual journey, I didn't just put a toe in the water—I jumped into the deep end of the pool. It was way too much. I ended up feeling drained and lousy because of too much healing. It is good to have time to integrate the energy into consciousness, and being grounded and energetically contained allows for this.

People who have core issues of self-hatred, shame, and a belief that there is something inherently wrong with them can have a tendency to attempt to do too much healing too soon. Overcompensating for feeling permanently flawed by doing even more healing never works. People who overheal will often end up feeling strung-out, exhausted, and on an emotional roller coaster. 

So how do you dance with Shakti in a way that works for you?

1. Make yourself your first priority. So many of us (and I include myself here) give ourselves over to service (and our spiritual paths) in a way that disregards personal needs and desires. If you believe that you have to put your own needs aside in order to heal the planet, you may get into trouble. 

   By healing yourself in a grounded way that allows you to experience joy and love in your life, you are healing the planet. It isn't selfish to be happy (even though it feels this way, especially with what is happening all over the world right now). Joy is a very high vibration that has a powerful healing effect on those around you. So go for joy! Make room for pleasure and fun. Be frivolous, do nothing, do what you love. 

2. Learn how to contain your energy—your energy, not everyone else's. This begins with learning how to have energetic boundaries and using proper energy hygiene. For a great book on energy hygiene see John Friedlander and Gloria Hemsher's book Basic Psychic Development.

   Yes, you are a part of and are completely connected to the Universe, but you are also your own divine spark of energy that is just you. When we run lots of Shakti without being properly grounded and embodied, we open ourselves up for all sorts of energies to enter our space.

   And, if you are a natural healer, there's a good chance you are giving away lots of energetic juice unknowingly. This is exhausting. Learn how to clear and ground your energy and own your energetic space.

3. If you are an "overhealer," back off the healing and find different practices that are calming and grounding. Learn how to calm your stress response and engage in activities that soothe and create love and joy. I highly recommend  Dr. Eva Selhub's book The Love Response.
    
4. And last but not least: get out of isolation. Find like-minded people to talk to and have fun with. Play games, be silly, be unproductive, and laugh.

Remember, the healing journey is ongoing and there is no there to get to... be gentle with yourself, be patient with the process, and do your best to enjoy what's happening right now.

Be well,

Rebecca