Chakra healing
more mind and spirit
Yoga guru Swami Saradananda shows you how to access the power of your crown chakra to soothe your soul and help you find joy and inspiration.
Working with the energy of your crown chakra, or Sahasrara, brings you intuitive knowledge, deeper understanding, strong spiritual links and an enhanced sense of wonder. It enables you to connect with other planes of existence and to discover ‘divine mysteries’. The crown chakra is your energetic passageway from mundane consciousness to the experience of your Higher Self. It is your connection to the Divine, to the collective unconscious and to absolute freedom. Working with your crown chakra gives you the experience of completeness.
People who can access the energy of the crown chakra at will are often perceived as miracle workers. This is because they seem to be divinely guided and able to transcend the laws of nature. Blockages in the Sahasrara chakra, on the other hand, often leave you with a feeling of being scattered. You may lack inspiration, lead a joyless existence, see the world in a purely rational and materialistic manner and experience a sense of disconnection from all spiritual sources. If your sahasrara energy is blocked or unbalanced, you will find your mind going in one direction, your heart in another, and your body in yet a third.
Meditation on the Divine Light
Meditation on your Sahasrara chakra gives you liberation, completeness and spiritual connection. This experience is expressed fullness (poorna) or the Absolute (Brahman) by yogis. It is the vision of the void (shunya) that is described in Buddhist philosophy.
1. Sit in your chosen meditation position, making sure that your spine is straight. Bring your hands together in your lap with the palms upward; have your left hand on top. This is the mudra of receiving energy. Close your eyes, make your breathing slow and even. Focus your attention on the crown of your head.
2. Visualise a bright white light flowing in through your crown chakra. Feel Divine Light spiralling down through your body. Enjoy the warm glow of the Light as it saturates your entire being. Every cell of your physical body is being permeated by Light and Divine Inspiration. All levels of your mind and consciousness are illuminated by Divine Light.
3. You may choose to repeat the following affirmations, or create similar ones that are more meaningful to you:
* I am surrounded and protected by Divine Light.
* This Light sustains and nourishes my entire being.
* I am ever walking in the Light.
* I feel myself growing stronger as I tune in to the Light.
4. Sit silently for at least 15-20 minutes, allowing yourself to be at one with the Light. The Divine Light is a manifestation of your Higher Self. It is a representation of the peace that is beyond all rational understanding. Feel that you are a pure channel for the Light. In this state of Oneness, intuitive thoughts and inspirations may enter your consciousness. Be thankful for this guidance.
5. You may also choose to think of someone you know who is in need of Divine Light. Repeat the exercise by visualising that person as being bathed in Light. The Light is entering through the top of his/her head and spiralling downward, just as it did into your body. Repeat the affirmations, using the person’s name.
6. Before you stand up, give thanks that you are able to share the Light. Then take a few deep breaths before you open your eyes.
Crown chakra symbolism
Meaning of name Sahasrara = one thousand; sahasrara = the “Lotus of the Thousand Petals”.
Location At the top of your head (the crown), extending upward toward ‘heaven’.
Pattern of radiant energy An infinite number of petals, emanating lights that comprise all colours – those that are visible to the human eye, as well as the limitless colours that are beyond ordinary perception. In Western tradition, the sahasrara chakra is often associated with violet, yet many see it as white, which contains all colours.
Element Beyond time and space.
Keywords Infinite, limitless, heaven, spiritual connection, higher wisdom, enlightenment, cosmic consciousness, transcendence, union, communion, divinity, mysticism, Samadhi
Female energy Yakini, who has countless faces and can see in all directions. She shines with all colours.
Aspirations To go beyond boundaries of your individual mind and consciousness.
Working with Sahasrara Strengthens connection with spiritual values, attitudes, ethics; it gives the courage to overcome hardship in life.
Enhances Your sense of wonder. Enables you to lead a life filled with joy.
Balancing Sahasrara energy
In yoga tradition, this universe is created by the original vibration of the sound of OM. Sound has three aspects: the sound you hear, its meaning, and how you process it mentally. Nadanusandhana is an excellent exercise to bring all of these aspects into balance, and to connect you with the mystical meaning of OM. Sit in any comfortable meditative position to perform this exercise.
Chant “aaa” with your mouth wide open
1. Adopt chin mudra: join the tips of your thumb and index finger on each hand. Allow your other fingers to be outstretched, but relaxed. Rest the backs of your hands on your thighs.
2. Inhale slowly and completely until your lungs are full. Open your mouth wide and chant “aaa” for one full exhalation. Feel the sound resonating in your abdomen and the lower parts of your body. Repeat nine times.
Chant “ou” with your mouth rounded
1. Adopt chinmaya mudra: join the tips of the thumb and index finger on each hand. Fold your middle, ring and little fingers in to touch the palms. Rest the backs of your hands on your thighs.
2. Inhale slowly and completely until your lungs are full. Found your lips and chant “ou” for one full exhalation. Feel the sound resonating in your chest and the middle part of your body. Repeat nine times.
Chant “mmm” with your lips sealed
1. Adopt adi mudra: fold each of your thumbs in to touch the palm of the same hand. Fold the other fingers over it. Rest the backs of your hands on your thighs.
2. Inhale slowly and completely until your lungs are full. Keep your mouth closed and chant “mmm” for one full exhalation. Feel the sound resonating in your head region. Repeat this nine times.
Chant A-U-M starting with your mouth open and finishing with your lips sealed
1. Adopt brahmi mudra: this is similar to adi mudra, but place your fists on either side of your navel.
2. Inhale slowly and completely until your lungs are full. Chant “aaa” with your mouth wide open, gradually rounding your lips to chant “ou” and continuing to round your lips until your mouth is closed and you are chanting “mmm”. Feel the sound resonating throughout your body. Repeat nine times.
