Chakra Meditations

Chakras are spiritual centers in the brain and spinal cord where physical, astral, and causal bodies are knit together and influence one another. According to ancient Yoga theory, the chakras are said to hold the seeds of past patterns, desires, and habits. The function of the chakras is to manifest those patterns to our consciousness so that awareness and integration can unfold to satisfy them. Becoming aware of the karmic seeds stored in the chakras and dissolving them is called chakra purification. Chakra meditation facilitates this process.

Nyasa means, “to place within”. There are a number of variations on a Nyasa practice, yet all of them prepare us for chakra meditation. Open your awareness to the vastness of all consciousness around us, infinitely extending to all parts of the universe in all dimensions of existence. Imagine this consciousness drawing down through our spine, washing through each chakra center within until united with our essence at the base of the spine. This ritual often unfolds down and then up the spine and can initiate or close a meditation.

As with most yoga traditions, conscious energy (termed ‘Shiva’) and creative energy (termed ‘Shakti’) hold different Yang and Yin universal qualities. Their coming together incompatible harmony provides for a greater embodied and expanded, conscious experience. When we use techniques to draw conscious energy down, we are moving towards embodiment and grounding. When we use techniques to lift creation energy upwards, we are moving towards the fuller realization of consciousness.

Yang pranayama describes a controlling or directing of the breath during meditation. Yang control of the breath in these applications describes an elongation of the breath and its full lung retention, to assist in drawing greater Prana /Chi into a Chakra. Yogis describe the inhale breath as being similar to the syllable “So” and exhale as similar to the syllable “Ham”. Yang pranayama can use these syllables chanted silently, while directing the breath. Mantras ‘Soham’, as well as ‘HamSa’, are tools used with the breath.

The goal of Yin pranayama is to effortlessly extend the neutral phase of the breath cycle. This is the opposite objective of Yang pranayama. Yin pranayama can also use the mantras ‘Soham’ and HamSa, however, within a Yin approach they are used differently for other objectives.

Using a standard sitting interval of 30 minutes, a student is able to realize the beautiful and sometimes challenging purification practice of chakra meditation. Although students should make sure that they are never sitting in a harmful position for the bodies joints, they should expect some initial challenges of discomfort, stillness, and restlessness, as their practice develops. With regularity and practice, students will experience the deeper, inner qualities of the physical, emotional and mental dimensions. 30 Minutes is a standard and yet illuminating amount of time to sit regularly. In time students will want to extend this time. When the time is appropriate students can extend sitting time to 45 minutes, which will further develop inner resilience, sensitivity, and self-understanding.

The three layers of our existence, the Physical, Astral and Causal dimensions constantly influence and interplay with one another. The yogi seeks to expand his or her consciousness into higher realms by learning to reduce the movements of chi energies as it manifests in each expression. In the physical realm, this practice is to sit comfortably and still and to consciously direct the breath towards becoming less frequent and suspended. In the astral dimension, it involves becoming present and later managing our responses to the feelings and emotions we experience side. In the causal dimension, it is a practice of increasing our observation of our thoughts objectively, with equanimity and with less attachment. The ancient sage Patanjali refers to these patterns throughout our experience as our Vrittis and Vasanas and it is with these circuits of behaviours, emotions, and mind-stuff that we work to support, adjust or let go.

With so much dissolution of impulse, spontaneity, and attachments it might seem that the practitioner is heading for a baron, characterless existence. However with each letting go of the aspects that no longer serve us, we are met with a greater experience of contentment, strength, insight and overall joy. With time and practice, the process leads us to a drawing of more of awareness into our spine whereby we are able to slip free of the bonds of existent layers to merge into an ocean of transpersonal connection, visibility and bliss.