Chakras are imaginary energy centers in the human body, located along the spine. There are seven of them in total, each of which is responsible for a certain part of the body at the physical level and a separate area of human activity. In this article, we will look at how the sixth chakra manifests itself - the center of spiritual vision and intuition.
The concept of chakras
It is customary to give serial numbers of chakras, starting from the bottom. There are seven of them, and each of them corresponds to one of the colors of the rainbow:
- Red - the Muladhara chakra, located in the region of the coccyx and perineum.
- Orange - Svadhisthana, just below the navel.
- Yellow - Manipura, solar plexus.
- Green - Anahata, mid-chest.
- Blue - Vishuddha, neck and throat area.
- Blue - Ajna, the middle of the forehead.
- Purple - Sahasrara, dot above crown.
In harmonious personalities, life energy flows freely through the chakras. In this case, it is customary to say that they are open. If aif there are problems in some area, then the flow of energy is blocked - in this case, the chakra is called closed.
Ajna chakra
The sixth chakra is called Ajna, which means "power", "leadership", "authority". She is credited with dark blue or indigo as a transition from blue to purple. The sixth chakra is located where it is usually customary to depict the "third eye" - in the middle of the forehead, just above the eyebrows. This immediately speaks of the properties for which Ajna is responsible - developed vision, intuitive understanding and extrasensory abilities. A person with a developed sixth chakra has a heightened perception of the world - he very subtly and sensitively feels the energies in the space around him.
Most often, Ajna is symbolically depicted as a dark blue circle, on the sides of which are two lotus petals. There is also an image of a lotus with 96 petals - the number of petals in this version refers to the increased vibration frequency of the 6th chakra. Blue objects (stones, mandalas) are suitable for working with it. Of the aromas, the right mood is created by “cold” smells - mint, eucalyptus.
Correspondences in the physical body
Usually chakras directly affect nearby organs in the area of the body where they are located. Therefore, at the physical level, the sixth chakra is responsible for the organs of perception - these are, of course, the eyes, as well as the ears and nose. Accordingly, sight, smell and hearing are also dependent on Ajna. In addition, under her control isthe pineal gland (pineal gland), located in the center of the brain.
An interesting observation is connected with this gland: it is the pineal gland that produces hormones containing a small amount of dimethyltryptamine - a psychedelic substance, in high concentration capable of causing hallucinations and daydreams. Normally, dimethyltryptamine is produced by the pineal gland during active sleep, but some studies believe that in an altered state of consciousness and experiences of exceptional shock (clinical death, agony, etc.), a record amount of this substance is ejected from the pineal gland, which contributes to the emergence of images. The connection of the 6th chakra with the pineal gland and, accordingly, with dimethyltryptamine explains why people with a well "pumped" Ajna can see vivid visual images and experience visions: this enhances the production of psychedelic.
Open Ajna
The balanced sixth chakra Ajna is quite rare - such a person is probably reputed among those around him as an incredibly wise and authoritative person. Highly spiritual religious figures, prophets, philosophers, or elders in the family come out of such people. People with open Ajna are always calm and peaceful - their emotions never conflict with reason and logic. The mind of such a person is insightful, and his actions are far-sighted. He understands, “sees” with his inner vision how the Universe works, where the energies around him move.
Subtle perception of the world gives the owners of "pumped"Ajna is the opportunity to live in harmony with oneself and with the outside world. At one time, working on how to open the sixth chakra led them to think long and hard about the problem of the meaning of human life. What is the meaning of our stay in the human world? The answer for such people is service: the point is to be useful to other people.
Among other things, Ajna is well developed in highly intelligent people engaged in complex mental activities. All the wonderful stories about scientists who suddenly had an insight are an example of how Ajna works by simply connecting to a source of information from above. Approximately the same occurs and creative outbursts among artists.
Locked Ajna
Imbalance of the sixth Ajna chakra can manifest itself in different ways. One of the options is a complete lack of intuition, or rather, distrust of one's own intuitive abilities. Such people deny the possible development of events, which occurs only from the opinion "I intuitively feel that this is how it will be better." They always need clear evidence and arguments.
The situation can be twisted in the other direction: a person flirts strongly with esotericism and highly spiritual worlds, forgetting that before flying with the mind to heaven, you need to firmly stand with your feet on the ground. In this case, you need to pay attention to the study of the lower chakras.
Exercises for opening Ajna according to Maya Fiennes
Maya Fiennes is one of the famous yoga gurus who has developed her ownchakra opening program, consisting of light physical activity, meditation, chanting and reciting mantras. To work with the 6th chakra, Fiennes offers some classic yoga exercises.
The lesson begins with a dynamic cat-cow exercise. We know it from school physical education lessons: on exhalation, we arch our backs and stretch upwards with a point between the shoulder blades. On an inhale, bend down. We perform the exercise dynamically. After a few repetitions, you can connect the legs: while exhaling, we pull one knee to the forehead, still arching our backs up, while inhaling, we stretch the leg back. Repeat several times on one leg, then do the same number of repetitions on the other.
The next exercise from the yoga cycle with Maya Fiennes for the 6th chakra is sitting on your knees. Take a sitting position on your knees, but spread your knees slightly apart. Bend your arms and grasp with both palms the parts of the arms directly above the elbows. We alternately bend to each of the knees, exhaling at the final point. Inhalation occurs in the middle in a vertical position. Repeat for 5-6 minutes.
For the next exercise, the dynamic crunch, bring your knees back to the starting position. Straighten your body, bend your elbows and place them along the body with your palms up (as if giving up). The thumbs touch the index fingers, the rest are directed upwards. Gently but actively turn from side to side for several minutes.
The following exercise is performed from Bandhakonasana - the tied knot pose. Sit on your buttocks, put your feet together in front of you and pull them towards you with your hands. Keeping your feet in front of you, perform dynamic downward bends towards your legs. At the end, you can linger at the final point and hold your breath for five seconds.
Starting position - sitting in a comfortable position: lotus, half lotus or cross-legged in Turkish style. The palms are clenched into fists. Inhale actively and take your elbows back, the chest is open. As you exhale, cross your arms in front of you and again take your elbows back as you inhale. On the next exhale, bring your arms up and throw them behind your head, still keeping them bent at the elbows. Alternate the two positions described above as you exhale.
After a series of these dynamic exercises, Maya Fiennes recommends taking a comfortable sitting position and meditating. It does not hurt to focus on the changes in the body after exercise. Just track and observe how you feel in your body right now. Allow yourself to breathe naturally, letting go of all tension.
Asana sequence for Ajna
After a dynamic warm-up and a short meditation to tune in, Maya recommends performing a sequence of static asanas associated with the 6th chakra. Yoga in any case will be a good addition to your daily work for your spiritual development.
The first asana is a deep lunge. Place your right foot in front of you, and take your left far back, leaning on your lower leg. Let the pelvis just sag down. The palms can rest on the floor. Stretch the top of your head up into a diagonal. After some time in Maya staticrecommends connecting fast "fiery" breathing, sharply inhaling and exhaling through the nose. This is really important for working with the 6th chakra, as such breathing activates the facial zones. However, if you have not worked much with pranayamas (breathing exercises) before, then it is better to first attend a class under the guidance of an experienced instructor. Then, literally after a minute or two of such breaths, Maya switches to a slower breathing mode “inhale-hold-exhale”.
From the previous position, the knee falls to the floor, and the body - on top of it, so that the forehead touches the floor. The left leg and arms are extended back, the top of the head is forward. Relax and let your own weight just "drain" into the floor.
Next, Maya recommends tilting. From a standing position, lower your torso down and let it flow smoothly down your legs. Maya herself performs a straight-legged bend, but if you feel discomfort in your back, you can bend your knees a little. Palms can be clasped around the calves, placing the forearms behind the calves.
Rising from the bend, extend your arms above your head at a 30-degree angle. Raise your thumbs up and just stand there for a few minutes, feeling a stretch from your thumbs down your spine.
Step into downward facing dog pose. The body is at an angle of 90 degrees to the legs, palms and feet on the floor. Push off well with your hands from the floor, stretching your tailbone up. You should feel the unity of your spine, neck, and back of your head, stretching from your tailbone to the top of your head. If aif you feel discomfort in your back, bend your knees and slightly lift your heels off the floor. Armpits try to turn on each other, elbows turn down.
After dog pose, relax and lie down on your stomach. The forehead rests on the floor: you continue to stretch from the crown to the toes. Then put your hands on the floor and lift the body - we move into the cobra pose. Tilt your head and neck back as you begin to breathe slowly and deeply. Please note: if you have back problems, especially with the lower back, take this asana with extreme caution. Its implementation is fraught with aggravation of problems for you. If you feel comfortable in the snake pose, complete it with twists. From a neutral position, turn your body left and right, starting from your stomach.
The next exercise is again dynamic: from a kneeling position, rise to a kneeling position, throwing your arms up. Then go down and touch your forehead to the floor (as if you are bowing). After a series of such repetitions, stay in this position - the forehead touches the floor, put your hands behind your back and weave it into the lock. Raise this lock as high as possible, pulling it away from the back.
Repeat the sequence on the other leg and do a short Savasana. Lying on your back, relax completely and let your body and mind rest after exercise.
Meditation for the sixth chakra
Most of any meditation is built on the tools of visualization of images and concentration on them. The images associated with Ajna are usually blue in color and are often associated with the function of vision (especially forthis chakra should be visualized). First you need to take a comfortable position, preferably sitting. The back should be straight - this will allow you to breathe deeper. Breathing itself is even and smooth.
Imagine that a small blue light is born between your eyebrows. Feel its pulsation - on exhalation it expands, on inhalation it contracts. Through this point, you seem to connect with the entire Universe - feel how the flow of energy moves through it. You can visualize the sixth chakra as a small blue swirl or a flower in full bloom. Be in this state of unity with the Universe through Ajna for as long as you see fit. Then smoothly turn the image into a point and tune in to a smooth exit from the state.
Meditation to activate and open the sixth chakra can also be focused on a suitable external image. It can be a beautiful picture with a symbolic image of Ajna or an indigo mandala. The main thing is that, looking at this image, you feel a surge of inspiration and energy.
Mantra of the sixth chakra
Not only visual images, but also sounds can affect the state of the chakras. Sound combinations for meditation are called mantras. The most famous and universal of them, which is also suitable for tuning the sixth chakra, is called "Om" or "Aum". This sound originates in the very core, awakens the lower centers, engages the abdomen and chest, and gradually rises higher, activating the throat and head last. In the context of working with the 6th chakra, the Om mantra interests us precisely in its completion,when the low sound “ay” is already turning into high vibrations “mmm”. Imagine how these vibrations activate the Third Eye area, pass them through the mid-eyebrow. Track the sound from its inception to the 6th chakra zone. Chant the mantra "Om" for as long as your body wants - feel how natural this happens.
Third eye massage
Even such simple techniques as massage are important in working with chakras. Tactile sensations provide a very large resource, but in Western culture for a long time it was not customary to pay so much attention to the relationship with one's own body. We are just beginning to discover our essence. Massage is one of the bodily practices available to everyone.
To work with the sixth chakra, we will use self-massage of the point between the eyebrows. Touch this point with your fingers - index or forefinger along with the middle one - and rotate this area of skin clockwise. Pay attention to your feelings - how does your mind feel? Is there sudden clarity in thought? You can visualize tactile sensations as blue or silver colored energy. Fill the point between the eyebrows with shades and imagine that the energy from it spreads throughout your body. Feel what this energy is, think about its qualities, how it differs from the energies of other chakras. You can stay in this state for several minutes, focusing on the pulsation and expansion of Ajna. Then catch the feeling of contraction of the Third Eye back into a point and gradually come out of the meditation, using deep breathing as a return to your normalcondition.
