Post by Mysti on Aug 6, 2007 19:52:55 GMT -5
Welcome to Chakra class. Tonight’s class will be about “Subtle Energy & The Aura”
<o:p></o:p>
Portions of this class were derived from “The Book of Chakras” by Ambika Wauters. I highly recommend this book as the this class does not do the book justice from a visual point of view…the illustrations are awesome and vivid. As you may have noticed from the many books available to us on the vast subject of “paganism” (broad statement here; to make a point), the chakras generally take up a small portion of most material…jammed into a Chapter, cheek by jowl, with the many other subjects filling one book after another. For example: Ray Buckland’s “Complete Book of Witchcraft” dedicates 2 pages within the Meditation Chapter on the subject of chakras. Not knocking Mr. Buckland…that happens to be one of the foremost books on the Craft.
<o:p></o:p>
But you see what I am trying to point out.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Over the next few weeks we will be discovering or re-discovering our own complete, working energy system. At times I will be getting a little scientific but it will apply to our end purpose…physical health, emotional stability, and mental clarity.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
A few of you may have showed up to learn tonight about the chakras individually We will be getting to each one specifically in due time…first we will be visiting the energy system as a whole.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I have a question for the class, just generalization, and not a test question…..just to get a few ideas<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Would anyone care to give a brief description of what a chakra is?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Try to imagine the chakra as a “filtration system”. It acts as conductor, if you will, filtering energy from the heavens & Earth so that they can combine. It purifies our energy from the physical plane associated with our primal instincts & animal nature (our mundane world)…turning it into a highly refined, spiritual plane that connects us with the source of life itself. Working with the chakras opens the way for healing, psychological development, & spiritual growth.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
You will find as we work our way upward through the energy centers that you will learn more about who you are and become more focused on the path you have chosen in order to fulfill yourself.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
When you heal your mind you heal your energy , essentially<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Ok, first on the list is the subject of “Subtle Energy”<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Subtle energy is the force field surrounding all living things. In the human body it includes the aura and seven layers of energy. We will refer to these as the “subtle bodies”…They control our physical well being, emotional stability, and mental clarity. They are a direct reflection of our spiritual state & mirror how we feel about ourselves & life in general.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Many of you have heard of or worked with aura energy.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
We are going to go a little deeper than the aura itself and work specifically with the entire human energy system. That part of us that animates the body & reflects our spirit.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Subtle energy may not be visible to the naked eye but it can surely be experienced. It is obvious in people and can be felt by others; even though we cannot “see” their energy we can perceive the quality of it through their body language, the dullness in their eyes, the clarity or confusion of their mind, or simply by the things they say or do. You do not need to crawl into someone’s brain or be “intrusive” spiritually to perceive a person’s energy. Subtle energy spreads through every interaction we have with people, plants, & animals.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
It is the life force exchanged between us<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The aura is the energetic envelope that sheaths the body of any living thing. It acts as a bubble to enclose the energy field, protect the life force, & enable energy to circulate through the living systems of the body.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Think of the Earth’s atmosphere…it forms an aura of energy that keeps oxygen in circulation…it’s purpose is to ensure life so we can breath and it keeps out the harmful rays of the sun…<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
When our own aura is weakened by disease or distress it is unable to hold its full capacity of energy. As with the Earth’s atmosphere think of a hole in the ozone…. A compromised aura in the human energy system does something similar when in distress.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Having a strong energy field guards us against external invasion like psychic attack or physical disease. If our aura is weak we can strengthen it with positive thinking, meditation, & prayer.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Energy follows thought & responds immediately to our intentions.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Our aura is made up of several layers of subtle energy. There are seven energy bodies in total that affect every state of our being.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Each of those layers acts as a filter for life energy. Energy moves up from the Earth into our lower chakras & affects our physical bodies. It anchors our spirit into the material reality. It also moves down from the cosmos through our upper chakras & affects our thinking, feelings, & spiritual perception.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Our energy fields are transformed as our consciousness develops as we begin to understand how our life force responds to positive intention<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
There are seven layers of energy within the aura<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I want you to think about a bubble around your body divided into 7 parts…like bubbles within the bubble surrounding you. If you were to draw it you would draw your body first and encircle your body, then encircle the first circle you made around your body, and so forth seven times…the layer furthest from your body being the biggest bubble…get the picture?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Each of those layers has a name and purpose (the aura being the whole).From the top (furthest from you) down (the one encircling your physical body) they are: The Divine, the Monadic, the Spiritual, the Mental, the Emotional, the Etheric, & finally the Physical (and final bubble closest to you). All of these energy bodies are enveloped within the auric sheath which is called the condula.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Each of those planes of energy are divided into seven sub layers of energy which gives us a whopping 49 planes of energetic energy! <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The highest plane is the Divine plane where the “godhead” is experienced (the “It” if godhead does not fit for you).<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Below it, the Monadic plane is the vehicle the soul uses to express itself.The Spiritual body functions as a channel to our higher aspects through meditation, prayer, & inner reflection…while the Mental is made up of our attitudes about life. The Emotional body opens up as we become more sensitive & trust our feelings to act as inner guidance…it links us to our awareness of Self as valuable & good, worthy of love, kindness, & respect. This is the plane where disease originates that could deeply affect our physical health. It is in the Emotional body that we experience the range of opposites such as pleasure/pain, fear/courage, etc. This is where energy gets blocked most frequently when our all-consuming desires run our lives. The Etheric body is the thickest and densest of the subtle energy bodies. It vitalizes and energizes the Physical body & connects us with the cycles & rhythms of Earth energy. This is the energy layer that the chakras exist, next to the Physical body. The chakras stimulate the ductless glands (endocrine) of the Physical body which produce different states of health, depending on our feelings & attitudes.The Physical body contains all our organic systems and is composed of gases, liquids, and dense matter; the body, yes, that plane of existence that allows our soul to express itself, learn the lessons of life, & cultivate wisdom.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
All 7 interact with themselves…all highly different yet working as one as spirit, mind, & body…that which is “You”<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
We have just discussed the seven layers of energy within the aura…the chakras exist within that first layer of subtle energy (the Etheric layer closest to the Physical body (our “body”)<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The chakras influence our physical, emotional, & mental states. They also act as conductors for energy to move thru all the layers of the aura.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The word “chakra” comes from ancient Sanskrit and means “wheel of light”…referring to the energy around & within all life forms.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Minerals & crystals contain one chakra that conducts energy in and out of their living substance while animals have up to three chakras. Humans presently have seven major chakras (the ones we will be studying) and twenty one minor chakras, and all of the acupuncture points act as chakras as well.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Notice how I said “presently”…as we continue to evolve as humans and become more sensitive to energy, we will continue to cultivate new chakras to process refined energy levels. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Understanding this energy can be based on the ancient knowledge that all life is energetic & spiritual in origin. Ancients formed the chakra system on a complete acceptance that humans and Earth were one & inseparable. Each chakra is linked to an element…for example: The Earth element is associated with the Root Chakra…this chakra sits at the base of the spine & conducts energy into the hips, legs, and feet. It connects us to the Earth and its energy field. Through the Root chakra we are anchored physically in our bodies & supplied with the life force we need to maintain our lives.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Each chakra corresponds with many different qualities & substances…for instance color, a specific musical note, crystal, or plant.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Later in the sessions, as we go over each chakra individually, I will supply you with a chart for each, noting their correspondences.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The ancients formulated a way to connect the chakras with archetypical (model) characteristics so that people could understand the life issues & qualities that were associated with each life center.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Each chakra contains various levels of energetic activity & awareness. For example the Root Chakra is red and has a dense vibration. It affects our ability to stay present in our body & produces the vitality we need to stay alive. Toward the other end of the energy spectrum the Brow Chakra vibrates to affect our mental & spiritual processes and resonates to the color blue.
<o:p></o:p>
The lower chakras fall into the category of magnetic energy while the upper chakras are purely energetic in nature. The lower three chakras which rest below the diaphragm are considered the Feminine chakras; receptive. They take in energy from the Earth & the immediate environment and link us to Mother Earth and the events & qualities that tie us to family, clan, tribe, & community. They concern themselves with how we master life through our instincts, using ancestral energy to maintain our life force.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
These lower chakras also carry the pattern for disease and health as well as the courage, cunning, and stealth to stay alive; survival instinct.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The Upper four chakras are known as the masculine chakras. They are primarily concerned with giving energy out in the form of love, communication, healthy attitudes, & inner reflection. They link us with the “source” & become active as we become spiritual & capable of love.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
These chakras are all interdependent….basically, if one shuts down, others step in and compensate for the loss to keep the life force going. This is when we become "unbalanced". They all have defined boundaries that distinguish one from another.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
All of these various parts of the energy system are interlinked to maintain the continuum of life.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Next week we will be going over the actual chakras individually starting with their functions and how they effect the Emotional, Mental, & Physical bodies.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Portions of this class were derived from “The Book of Chakras” by Ambika Wauters. I highly recommend this book as the this class does not do the book justice from a visual point of view…the illustrations are awesome and vivid. As you may have noticed from the many books available to us on the vast subject of “paganism” (broad statement here; to make a point), the chakras generally take up a small portion of most material…jammed into a Chapter, cheek by jowl, with the many other subjects filling one book after another. For example: Ray Buckland’s “Complete Book of Witchcraft” dedicates 2 pages within the Meditation Chapter on the subject of chakras. Not knocking Mr. Buckland…that happens to be one of the foremost books on the Craft.
<o:p></o:p>
But you see what I am trying to point out.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Over the next few weeks we will be discovering or re-discovering our own complete, working energy system. At times I will be getting a little scientific but it will apply to our end purpose…physical health, emotional stability, and mental clarity.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
A few of you may have showed up to learn tonight about the chakras individually We will be getting to each one specifically in due time…first we will be visiting the energy system as a whole.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I have a question for the class, just generalization, and not a test question…..just to get a few ideas<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Would anyone care to give a brief description of what a chakra is?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Try to imagine the chakra as a “filtration system”. It acts as conductor, if you will, filtering energy from the heavens & Earth so that they can combine. It purifies our energy from the physical plane associated with our primal instincts & animal nature (our mundane world)…turning it into a highly refined, spiritual plane that connects us with the source of life itself. Working with the chakras opens the way for healing, psychological development, & spiritual growth.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
You will find as we work our way upward through the energy centers that you will learn more about who you are and become more focused on the path you have chosen in order to fulfill yourself.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
When you heal your mind you heal your energy , essentially<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Ok, first on the list is the subject of “Subtle Energy”<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Subtle energy is the force field surrounding all living things. In the human body it includes the aura and seven layers of energy. We will refer to these as the “subtle bodies”…They control our physical well being, emotional stability, and mental clarity. They are a direct reflection of our spiritual state & mirror how we feel about ourselves & life in general.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Many of you have heard of or worked with aura energy.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
We are going to go a little deeper than the aura itself and work specifically with the entire human energy system. That part of us that animates the body & reflects our spirit.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Subtle energy may not be visible to the naked eye but it can surely be experienced. It is obvious in people and can be felt by others; even though we cannot “see” their energy we can perceive the quality of it through their body language, the dullness in their eyes, the clarity or confusion of their mind, or simply by the things they say or do. You do not need to crawl into someone’s brain or be “intrusive” spiritually to perceive a person’s energy. Subtle energy spreads through every interaction we have with people, plants, & animals.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
It is the life force exchanged between us<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The aura is the energetic envelope that sheaths the body of any living thing. It acts as a bubble to enclose the energy field, protect the life force, & enable energy to circulate through the living systems of the body.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Think of the Earth’s atmosphere…it forms an aura of energy that keeps oxygen in circulation…it’s purpose is to ensure life so we can breath and it keeps out the harmful rays of the sun…<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
When our own aura is weakened by disease or distress it is unable to hold its full capacity of energy. As with the Earth’s atmosphere think of a hole in the ozone…. A compromised aura in the human energy system does something similar when in distress.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Having a strong energy field guards us against external invasion like psychic attack or physical disease. If our aura is weak we can strengthen it with positive thinking, meditation, & prayer.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Energy follows thought & responds immediately to our intentions.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Our aura is made up of several layers of subtle energy. There are seven energy bodies in total that affect every state of our being.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Each of those layers acts as a filter for life energy. Energy moves up from the Earth into our lower chakras & affects our physical bodies. It anchors our spirit into the material reality. It also moves down from the cosmos through our upper chakras & affects our thinking, feelings, & spiritual perception.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Our energy fields are transformed as our consciousness develops as we begin to understand how our life force responds to positive intention<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
There are seven layers of energy within the aura<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
I want you to think about a bubble around your body divided into 7 parts…like bubbles within the bubble surrounding you. If you were to draw it you would draw your body first and encircle your body, then encircle the first circle you made around your body, and so forth seven times…the layer furthest from your body being the biggest bubble…get the picture?<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Each of those layers has a name and purpose (the aura being the whole).From the top (furthest from you) down (the one encircling your physical body) they are: The Divine, the Monadic, the Spiritual, the Mental, the Emotional, the Etheric, & finally the Physical (and final bubble closest to you). All of these energy bodies are enveloped within the auric sheath which is called the condula.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Each of those planes of energy are divided into seven sub layers of energy which gives us a whopping 49 planes of energetic energy! <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The highest plane is the Divine plane where the “godhead” is experienced (the “It” if godhead does not fit for you).<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Below it, the Monadic plane is the vehicle the soul uses to express itself.The Spiritual body functions as a channel to our higher aspects through meditation, prayer, & inner reflection…while the Mental is made up of our attitudes about life. The Emotional body opens up as we become more sensitive & trust our feelings to act as inner guidance…it links us to our awareness of Self as valuable & good, worthy of love, kindness, & respect. This is the plane where disease originates that could deeply affect our physical health. It is in the Emotional body that we experience the range of opposites such as pleasure/pain, fear/courage, etc. This is where energy gets blocked most frequently when our all-consuming desires run our lives. The Etheric body is the thickest and densest of the subtle energy bodies. It vitalizes and energizes the Physical body & connects us with the cycles & rhythms of Earth energy. This is the energy layer that the chakras exist, next to the Physical body. The chakras stimulate the ductless glands (endocrine) of the Physical body which produce different states of health, depending on our feelings & attitudes.The Physical body contains all our organic systems and is composed of gases, liquids, and dense matter; the body, yes, that plane of existence that allows our soul to express itself, learn the lessons of life, & cultivate wisdom.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
All 7 interact with themselves…all highly different yet working as one as spirit, mind, & body…that which is “You”<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
We have just discussed the seven layers of energy within the aura…the chakras exist within that first layer of subtle energy (the Etheric layer closest to the Physical body (our “body”)<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The chakras influence our physical, emotional, & mental states. They also act as conductors for energy to move thru all the layers of the aura.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The word “chakra” comes from ancient Sanskrit and means “wheel of light”…referring to the energy around & within all life forms.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Minerals & crystals contain one chakra that conducts energy in and out of their living substance while animals have up to three chakras. Humans presently have seven major chakras (the ones we will be studying) and twenty one minor chakras, and all of the acupuncture points act as chakras as well.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Notice how I said “presently”…as we continue to evolve as humans and become more sensitive to energy, we will continue to cultivate new chakras to process refined energy levels. <o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Understanding this energy can be based on the ancient knowledge that all life is energetic & spiritual in origin. Ancients formed the chakra system on a complete acceptance that humans and Earth were one & inseparable. Each chakra is linked to an element…for example: The Earth element is associated with the Root Chakra…this chakra sits at the base of the spine & conducts energy into the hips, legs, and feet. It connects us to the Earth and its energy field. Through the Root chakra we are anchored physically in our bodies & supplied with the life force we need to maintain our lives.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Each chakra corresponds with many different qualities & substances…for instance color, a specific musical note, crystal, or plant.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Later in the sessions, as we go over each chakra individually, I will supply you with a chart for each, noting their correspondences.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The ancients formulated a way to connect the chakras with archetypical (model) characteristics so that people could understand the life issues & qualities that were associated with each life center.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Each chakra contains various levels of energetic activity & awareness. For example the Root Chakra is red and has a dense vibration. It affects our ability to stay present in our body & produces the vitality we need to stay alive. Toward the other end of the energy spectrum the Brow Chakra vibrates to affect our mental & spiritual processes and resonates to the color blue.
<o:p></o:p>
The lower chakras fall into the category of magnetic energy while the upper chakras are purely energetic in nature. The lower three chakras which rest below the diaphragm are considered the Feminine chakras; receptive. They take in energy from the Earth & the immediate environment and link us to Mother Earth and the events & qualities that tie us to family, clan, tribe, & community. They concern themselves with how we master life through our instincts, using ancestral energy to maintain our life force.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
These lower chakras also carry the pattern for disease and health as well as the courage, cunning, and stealth to stay alive; survival instinct.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
The Upper four chakras are known as the masculine chakras. They are primarily concerned with giving energy out in the form of love, communication, healthy attitudes, & inner reflection. They link us with the “source” & become active as we become spiritual & capable of love.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
These chakras are all interdependent….basically, if one shuts down, others step in and compensate for the loss to keep the life force going. This is when we become "unbalanced". They all have defined boundaries that distinguish one from another.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
All of these various parts of the energy system are interlinked to maintain the continuum of life.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>
Next week we will be going over the actual chakras individually starting with their functions and how they effect the Emotional, Mental, & Physical bodies.<o:p></o:p>
<o:p></o:p>