Chakra Checkpoint : Inspired by Nature

How open do you feel in your chakras today?

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Sacred Space : Horses for the Heart Chakra

   

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When people find themselves drawn to horses, I'd wager it is most often because of their beauty, grace, and power. There's something to be said for a creature that carries itself with such poise, even when galloping freely through an open field.

At the same time, horses are herd animals. They often find companionship and protection within the relationships they have with others. Though the herd structure seems contrary to the expansive energy of the horse, it actually offers them a safe space to fully inhabit their power.

When we work with horses in our lives, we can meditate on these same characteristics. How are we are we using our own power to gracefully expand our lives? Do we find tenderness and support in our relationships, or a sense of restriction? These are some of the questions we also ask of ourselves within the heart chakra.

Friday Fresh Air

"Whoever wants me now must hunt me down

Like something wild, and wild is anything

Beyond the reach of purpose not its own.

Wild is anything that's not at home

In something else's place. This good white oak

Is not an orchard tree, is unbespoke,

And it can live here by its will alone,

Lost to all other wills but Heaven's - wild."

from "The Best Reward" by Wendell Berry

Sacred Stone : Obsidian

Sources: Bracelet by Jaruwan Design, Necklace by Tala Stone, Nugget Bracelet by Green Earth Stones, Necklace by The Logical Cat, Ring by Bosie Boutique, Necklace by Recycle Love Repeat

Happy New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Taurus! If you pay attention to the cycles of the moon, you may find that the waning and dark moon leave you feeling a bit more tired and vulnerable than usual. If this is the case, consider adding some Obsidian to your life.

Long heralded as a protective stone, Obsidian forms from molten lava that cools into a glass-like form. It has a grounding quality, connecting the root chakra to the earth below so that we remain clear headed and strong during the sometimes emotionally turbulent darkening of the moon.

Chakra Checkpoint : Taurus Season

Tomorrow brings us a New Moon and Solar Eclipse in Taurus. Ruled by Venus, this is a sign of earthly pleasures, the physical world, and material security. As you attend to your own levels of consciousness, take some time to appreciate the beauty of the season through the flowers that are opening up all around us.

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Sacred Space : Zebra for the Third Chakra

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Though the third chakra typically coordinates to the color yellow, I like the black and white striped zebra as a reminder of its potential as well. Because the zebra is a herd animal, it teaches us to find our own place within a group dynamic. Herds benefit the zebra because of the strength and power found in numbers. It is even thought that the many stripes create an optical illusion when grouped together, making it difficult for predators to zero in on a target.

A domineering attitude over others is an example of excess within the third chakra. Conversely, a deficiency in this chakra leaves us feeling unable to assert ourselves. Zebra helps us to release these feelings, providing the understanding that working within a group does not mean we lose our personal power or individual character. Though from a distance a herd of zebras may appear identical, the striped pattern varies, making each zebra distinctly one of a kind.

Integrate the Shadows : Dark Dreams

Over the weekend, I read a NYT piece that attempts to explain Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's hidden dark side. One of their clues as to his inevitable fall to the shadows came by way of tweets "describing terrifying nightmares about murder and destruction." I found myself shaking my head at that bit. Everybody dreams, guys.

There's a stigma around admitting dark feelings, especially ones that come from somewhere deep inside the subconscious mind, as in a nightmare. As if we have any control over that! I have a friend who would on occasion share his dreams, but he'd always preface them by saying he was afraid to tell anyone because they would think he was insane. Some of the dreams were pretty unsettling, but he was perfectly sane.

The fact that he was afraid to talk about them and that he thought there was something wrong with him always made me sad. Shadows are part of the human experience. They often express themselves through symbols in nightmares, especially when they originate in the sixth chakra or third eye. There's nothing to feel ashamed of there.

And if you're ever having dark dreams, please do not assume that you're going crazy or one step away from building a bomb. It is just a good time to think about how to integrate your shadows into your life so they serve you, not torment you.