The ABCs and Chakra Meditation by Clarissa Watson
This month with the Hey I’m Here Squad, we talked about transitioning, such as from one activity to the next, with awareness by bringing attention to what we called the “ABCs.” The idea of the ABC practice is to bring Awareness to the five Bs (body, base, breath, brain, and boundary)in order to make an emotionally informed Choice.
As we discussed this within our Squad session, I was encouraged to think of ways that these processes could or do show up in my life. I was immediately drawn to apply these principles to a meditation I already do consistently. The meditation I do involves attention to Chakra principles, a traditional concept of the Hindu religion that involves the belief in seven energy centers within the body, each corresponding to different aspects of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Although I do not personally consider the Chakras to be literal locations of energy in my body, I highly respect the principles working with Chakras can highlight.
For a brief overview of Chakras (see picture), each color represents a place in the body that also correlates with certain qualities. For example, the first Chakra, the Crown Chakra (Sahasrara), is commonly known to represent knowledge, divinity, fulfillment, and consciousness. Suitably, the corresponding location for this Chakra is the forehead. In shorter words, a summary of all seven Chakras is “I know, I see, I speak, I love, I do, I feel, I am.”
The concept of combining the senses of sight (color) and touch (location) with different powerful qualities of the Self has strongly resonated with me because of its ability to bring awareness to both body and mind simultaneously. Because of this, I was inspired to develop a meditation incorporating these ideas. As I shift from Chakra to Chakra, I take a moment to notice anything of the corresponding color around me to ground myself, and then I bring attention to the part of the body associated with the Chakra. Lastly, I close my eyes and center my mind on the qualities associated with the Chakra, and if I am having trouble feeling the qualities, I will speak related affirmations and consider instances in my life where I have or could live out these qualities.
By the end, I feel grounded in all parts of my body, more mentally centered and empowered, and notice the colors and textures of the world (usually done outside in nature) with more appreciation. In many ways, the Chakra meditation aligns with the ABCs we discussed earlier. Just as the ABCs encourage bringing awareness to the body, base, breath, brain, and boundary before making an emotionally informed choice, the Chakra meditation involves a similar process of
mindful attention to different parts of the body and their corresponding emotional and spiritual qualities. Both practices foster a deeper connection between physical awareness and emotional well-being, helping me feel more grounded and intentional in my daily transitions.
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