21 Goodbyes and The Root Chakra

"Out of the ash I rise with my red hair
and I eat men like air."
— Sylvia Plath


Photo Credits: http://socar.deviantart.com/

Today's meditation focused on the root chakra.

The Base or Root Chakra is associated with the color red. This chakra is the grounding force that allows us to connect to the earth energies and empower our beings. Focusing one's attention on the color of a cherry popsicle or a juicy red apple can help bring our energetic body "down to earth" and in alignment with our physical body when we find ourselves energetically fleeting or in other words....."spacing off."

Chakra One - Associations

Color - red
Sanskrit Name - muladhara
Physical Location - base of the spine
Purposes - kinesthetic feelings, movement
Spiritual Lesson - material world lessons
Physical Dysfunctions- lower back pain, sciatica, varicose veins, rectal tumors, depression, immune related disorders
Mental and Emotional Issues - survival, self esteem, social order, security, family
Information Stored Inside Root Chakra - familial beliefs, superstitions, loyalty, instincts, physical pleasure or pain, touch
Area of Body Governed - spinal column, kidneys, legs, feet, rectum, immune system
(From: http://healing.about.com/cs/chakras/a/chakra1.htm)

I used the following meditation video as an aid:

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This is my first attempt at Chakra meditation. I did find my mind straying at times, and I also found myself forgetting to breathe deeply. The elements of the meditation appeared a bit overwhelming. I hope that with time, and as the weeks pass I will be able to learn how to focus my mind more efficiently.

The video is particularly useful in teaching you what you must say to yourself during the Root Chakra meditation. I found that the directions were given a bit too fast. I think that it is best to use guided meditation as an introduction and once one understands the steps it may be easier to follow them at one's own pace in silence.

MY HAPPINESS JOURNAL

1. Today is my last day of being 21 and I am celebrating the last hour by jamming out to my newly synced IPOD!!! Nothing beats a good song that makes you daydream!!! (Perhaps my daydream abilities is what prevents me from focusing my mind during meditation....ooops)

2. Last year I was in the UK for my birthday. I celebrated the day alone, by vising famous sites in London and ended the night with pound a pint night with some exchange friends. I did not get to celebrate my birthday with my boyfriend, so tomorrow is the first day I get to celebrate my birthday with him (even though I've celebrated his birthday twice). I am excited for this!!! We will not be able to see each other much because of our busy schedules but I would have killed for a birthday kiss and hug a year ago. I can't wait :)

Until tomorrow's blog entry, Goodbye!!! I'll be 22!!! What a weird number combination!

Here Comes The Sun

"Keep your face to the sun and you will never see the shadows."
— Helen Keller

Photo Credit: http://littlesailboat.deviantart.com/

It's coming!!! It's coming, the sun is coming! I sat outside on Saturday and felt the rays cover my back in a heat that stilled me. There was a breath of calmness.

I have not asserted myself with this resolution of self actualization, of finding happiness. That breath of sunshine was a moment of perfect stillness, and now I am back stuggling for air, calm, peace, inner satisfaction. I need to do something, it's never too late to start.

It's time to take a step back from this hectic life of worries and make time for myself. Please myself! So first, I want to just sit and listen to one of my all time favourite songs, Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles. This video makes me laugh!!! And it reminds me the days are growing longer, the stifling darkness and cold are leaving, and the opportunity of a spring awakening is on hand!!!

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I realize I need to be more concrete in achieving my goals. The easiest way to do this is to write out a plan. I am one of those people that takes pleasure in highlighted agendas, and organized lists. So here it is:

I will make weekly challenges for myself, and will update accordingly with at least 2 posts:
1. The Plan
2. The Outcome

Thinking about sitting in the sun, and taking a moment to relax, gave me the idea of meditation. There are an array of meditation techniques out there, so I think I may try out a meditation month, with a certain type of meditation per week...so I could call it March Madness Meditation!!! I like that!!!

March Madness Meditation here I come!!!

And to overdo myself here (Uh-Oh Silvia...you over achiever....don't self-handicap youself) This month I also want to do a happiness journal. It is very simple: Just write 2 points a day about what has brought me happiness that day...it can be something I am thankful for, a joke, an unexpected moment, a video, a song, a facebook comment...well no hypothesizing for now...I guess we will see!!! It is really a way to train myself to see joy even within an uneventful day. So today is March 8th...therefore April 8th will be review of my happiness journal.

The meditation I want to try out for this week is called Chakra Meditation. Here is a description I have condensed:

What is a Chakra Exactly?
Chakras are our energy centers. They are the openings for life energy to flow into and out of our aura. Their function is to vitalize the physical body and to bring about the development of our self-consciousness. They are associated with our physical, mental and emotional interactions.
(From:http://healing.about.com/cs/chakras/a/learnchakras.htm)

There are 7 major chakras. For my week of meditation I will focus on 1 Chakra a day. I will describe each Chakra's designated meaning on the day that I use it. I will use youtube videos to guide me in my Chakra visualization.

Alright this is the plan!!! It is bedtime for me!!! Wish me luck!!! I leave with a quote that reminds me to stay motivated:

"Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you."
— Thomas Jefferson