| For each of us, it is possible to rise above the | | | | good-will and compassionate amusement. They |
| worries and confusion of daily life and have a | | | | are mentally stable and fairly well grounded, and |
| sense of peace, harmony, unconditional love, and | | | | although they may be indifferent to many social |
| even bliss. It is possible to feel unity with all things, | | | | conventions, they still maintain their bodies and at |
| including your "higher power." | | | | least a few relationships. |
| Clearing, balancing, and cultivating your crown | | | | Someone with a highly developed seventh chakra |
| chakra can help you prepare for these higher | | | | is usually widely recognized as an an advanced or |
| spiritual states. | | | | enlightened spiritual master. |
| Highest of the seven chakras, the crown chakra | | | | 10 Ways to Cultivate Your Crown Chakra |
| is located at the top of the head. Called Sahasrara | | | | So you'd like a greater sense of meaning and |
| in Sanskrit, it governs spirituality, pure | | | | purpose, more harmony and inner peace, a |
| consciousness, transcendence, and unity with the | | | | stronger connection to all-that-is? Here are ten |
| divine. | | | | ideas for developing your seventh chakra: |
| Read on to learn ten ways that you can clear and | | | | 1. Spend an extended time in stillness and silence. |
| cultivate this key chakra. But first: | | | | Hold the intention to be aware of the witness |
| What Are the Chakras? | | | | part of you that is beyond feelings and thought. |
| Chakras are organs of our energy body--energy | | | | 2. Visit places such as mountain-tops that offer |
| portals that receive, assimilate and transmit life | | | | high, clear vistas. From the "space between |
| energies to/from the rest of the cosmos. | | | | thoughts," dissolve separation and allow yourself |
| There are seven primary chakras, located along | | | | to be a part of what you see. |
| the body's center-line, from the bottom of the | | | | 3. Take an ordinary day and offer it in its |
| spine to the top of the head. Each chakra is | | | | entirety, "warts and all," to the Divine or the |
| associated with different aspects of body, life, | | | | higher good. |
| personality, and spirituality. | | | | 4. Surrender a problem to your higher power. Be |
| The Healthy Chakra | | | | grateful for the help that will come. |
| A healthy chakra is open, allowing energy to flow | | | | 5. Cut back on activities and establish blocks of |
| freely both horizontally, in an exchange of energy | | | | free time to meditate, pray, and just be. |
| with the universe, and vertically, connecting it with | | | | 6. Wear or decorate a room in a shade of purple. |
| the other chakras. | | | | Allow it to remind you of your crown chakra. |
| It's common to have one or more chakras | | | | 7. Sit with a natural object to which you feel an |
| blocked or out of balance to some degree. This | | | | affinity, such as a tree or rock. Practice feeling |
| can cause disruptions in a person's body, mind, | | | | your connection to it. |
| spirit, and life. | | | | 8. Breathe the scents of rose or lotus and feel |
| The Crown Chakra | | | | the molecules mingling with yours. |
| The crown chakra is the highest of the seven | | | | 9. Do anything that makes you feel peaceful and |
| chakras, located at the top of the head (or just | | | | harmonious. |
| above). Its keywords are "transcendence" and | | | | 10. Repeat an affirmation such as: |
| "pure consciousness." It is associated with the | | | | 11. - "I am connected to and supported by |
| colors white and purple, and the element | | | | everything in the universe." |
| consciousness. The seventh chakra is often | | | | 12. - "I walk in complete peace and harmony." |
| pictured as a lotus flower, opening to allow spiritual | | | | 13. - "I am one with the universe." |
| awakening. | | | | 14. - "I am open to experiencing my true nature." |
| The seventh chakra is an avenue to higher states | | | | 15. - "Each day, I become more conscious." |
| of consciousness. As we develop it, we become | | | | Intention Matters! |
| increasingly aware of consciousness itself--the | | | | When working with your subtle energy, intention |
| eternal part of us that is beyond ego, thought, | | | | is the key to success. So before any |
| feeling, and body. This brings more harmony and | | | | chakra-clearing activities, set your intention. For |
| peace to our lives. | | | | example, you might set a general intention for |
| When fully awakened, the crown chakra is said to | | | | crown chakra balancing, or a more specific goal of |
| confer the bliss of unity-consciousness, unifying us | | | | having more inner peace. |
| with the Divine Source, as well as everything else | | | | With your purpose clear, perform the activity |
| in the universe. | | | | mindfully. Pause occasionally to silently affirm that |
| Is Your Crown Chakra Healthy? | | | | your actions are creating your intention. Pairing |
| Someone with a relatively clear, balanced, and | | | | any of these activities with an affirmation is |
| developed crown chakra usually considers | | | | especially effective. |
| themselves a spiritual (though not necessarily | | | | A Seventh Chakra Blessing |
| religious) person. They usually spend regular time | | | | May you be at peace. May you understand your |
| in prayer, meditation or other devotions, and | | | | true nature. May you feel your connection to all |
| enjoy peaceful activities. They have a sense of | | | | that is, was, and will be. |
| meaning, purpose, and connection to a higher | | | | Copyright 2010 -- Nancy Hausauer. All rights |
| calling. They may have glimpses of | | | | reserved. |
| unity-consciousness and spiritual bliss. They radiate | | | | |