THE SEVEN CHAKRAS

THE SEVEN CHAKRAS

      A lot of people when they hear the word Chakra, may think, "what is a chakra?"  I know I wondered the same thing a few years ago.  I had no idea what they were.  It sounds like it could be a new type of dance, or maybe and instrument.  LOL, However, it is neither.  If you don't know what the chakras are, I am here with the 411 on chakras and what they are and how they work.  

      The word Chakra means "wheel of light".  The seven chakras are internal energy centers in our body.  They are focal points of your life force  or in other words, prana or chi.  These chakras distribute, transform, and absorb energy.  Specific organs are associated with each chakra.  Each chakra is connected with the spiritual, emotional, mental, physical and health.  When your chakras are balanced this allows for energy to flow freely and there is a feeling of wholeness.  The person with balanced chakra's has lilttle disharmony and there is emotional and physical well being.  The chakras energy can flow freely or flow weakly.  When this happens the chakra can become stuck, blocked, opened or closed.  It is important to open, cleanse, balance, and heal these chakras.  There are many ways to do this, Meditation, visualization, Reiki, yoga, Tai Chi, therapeutic massage, and energy healing. When a chakra is blocked, it can lead to illness, emotional disharmony, and distress in certain areas of life.  It is important to keep the energy flowing freely.  

   

 There are seven major chakras.  Each of the seven correspond to different aspects of our consciousness and they each have their own individual functions.  

• The first chakra is the Root Chakra and is located at the base of the spine and tailbone.  This represents our foundation and feeling of being grounded.  The emotional issues affected are survival issues, financial independence, money, and food.  The color associated with this chakra is red.  
• The second chakra is the Sacral Chakra and is located in the lower abdomen and two inches above the naval.  It represents our connection and ability to accept others and new experiences.  The emotional issues are sense of abundance, well being, pleasure, and sexuality.  The color associated with this chakra is orange.  
• The third chakra is the Solar Plexus Chakra and is located in our upper abdomen and stomach area.  This is our ability to be confident and in control of our lives.  The emotional issues are self-worth, self esteem, and self confidence.  The color associated with this chakra is yellow.  
• The fourth chakra is the Heart Chakra and is located in the center of the chest, just above the heart.  This chakra is our ability to love.  The emotional issues are love, joy, inner peace.  The color associated with this chakra is green.  
• The fifth chakra is the Throat Chakra which is located where the throat is.  It is our ability to communicate.  Emotional issues are communication, self-expression of feelings, and the truth.  The color associated with this chakra is blue.  
• The sixth chakra is the Third Eye Chakra which is located on the forehead and between the eyes.  This is are ability to focus on and see the big picture.  The emotional issues are intuition  wisdom, ability to think and make decisions.  The color associated with this chakra is indigo.  
• The final and seventh chakra is the Crown Chakra located at the very top of our head.  It is the highest chakra and represents our ability to be fully connected spiritually.  Emotional issues are inner and outer beauty, our connection to spirituality, and pure bliss. The color associated is white.    

           

The purpose of the chakras is to create a sense of wholeness within the body and understanding that all the different aspects of every individual works together.  Some people, like myself believe we are all energetic beings full of infinite potential both mentally and spiritually. Our bodies can absorb and hold on to all types of energy whether its negative or positive energy.  If one of the chakras in unbalanced, blocked or both it can explain why a certain areas of our lives are dysfunctional. It can also be why someone may suffer from a certain physical aliment.  Therefore, it is important to strengthen and heal the chakras not only to keep the energy flowing, but to free you form physical ailments and emotional issues that have been lurking for years.  This is one of many ways to help create a healthier and more balanced life. 

      For me, whenever I am feeling out of sorts and unbalanced, I know it's time for some grounding meditation, chakra cleansing, and healing meditation.  This only enhances my spiritual awareness and helps to keep my energy balanced and my chakras working as a whole.  

   Today more then ever, people are realizing the the ancient science of chakra healing and how it is one of many ways to achieving what you want out of life.  Every organ, gland and body system is connected to a chakra and each chakra is connected to a color vibrational frequency.  Taking care of your body cannot not only involve eating the right foods, exercise, and traditional health care.  It is important to take care of the body as a whole, (body, mind, and spirit)  When all parts of you are taken care of and in balance, especially the mental part of you, then your physical, emotional and spiritual parts will be equally strong.  Therefore the "whole" self is in order and your possibilities are limitless.      

CRYSTAL OF THE WEEK 

Calcite

     This weeks crystal is Calcite.  It magnifies energy allowing for our chakras to be purified and fully functional.  It resonates frequency of our divine perfection and sends this to our body for our bodies to harmonize.  It also enhances learning abilities.  It also is a great stone for protection, grounding and centering stone.  It can help bring inner peace.  It promotes creativity and imagination too.  It can help increase prosperity and help with increasing ones intuition.  It is a stone of spirituality and wisdom. It can also be helpful in reducing fear and stress.  It is one of the best cleansers of stored negative energies.   It is an excellent purifying stone and can clear negative energy from a particular environment,  such as your home or a certain room.  It can also bring balance to relationships.  It can help with reconciliation of relationships.  It helps with back pain, increase physical strength, and emotional and mental conditions.  It is a great stone to use to balance and open the all the chakras.     

ESSENTIAL OIL OF THE WEEK

Myrrh

       This weeks essential oil is Myrrh. Myrrh has been around since ancient times.  It was given to Baby Jesus along with Frankincense and Gold.  They were considered luxury items.  Myrrh aroma is a warm, woody and it is uplifting.  There are many benefits of Myrrh.  It is a powerful antioxidant and it is being considered by modern medicine to treat certain cancers and tumors.  It is a very spiritual oil.  It has been used in many religious ceremonies and rituals for over 5000 years.  It releases fears, painful experiences.  It helps one become more accepting, non-judgmental and trusting.  Myrrh helps open the heart chakra and it relieves anxiety, stress and depression.  Promotes opening of the solar plexus chakra too.  

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Surely a man needs a closed place wherein he may strike root and, like the seed, become. But also he needs the great Milky Way above him and the vast sea spaces, though neither stars nor ocean serve his daily needs.

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Many Blessing , 

Andrea Schroeder 

A WEEK OF TRAGEDY...A TIME TO HEAL...

A WEEK OF TRAGEDY...A TIME TO HEAL...

   In the wake of last weeks tragic events, I thought the appropriate topic to focus on should be healing.   One week ago today our country once again experienced terror that it hasn't felt since the terror attacks on 9/11.  As the week went on the terror seemed to never end.  There were letters tainted with ricin, the fertilizer plant explosion in West Texas, Watertown, MA deadly shootout, the whole city of Boston on lock-down and a historic televised manhunt like America has never seen before.  I know it felt as if we were watching a movie.  The relief after the apprehension of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev at approximately 8:45 pm Friday evening was as if a huge weight was lifted off our country.  This was felt all over the nation, from Facebook statuses, Tweets on Twitter, and throughout the city of Boston with cheers and applause form Bostonian's to the Boston police department.  Our country continues to demonstrate its strength, courage, and resilience in times of tragedy and crisis.  You know the healing has already begun when you hear a dancer, who has lost her leg say "I will dance again", a major league baseball game will be played again, runners will run in a marathons again and a firefighters will continue to go into burning buildings again!  The outpouring of compassion and kindness proves how humanity can come together and healing is possible.
      It's now one week later and so many lives have been changed drastically.  Even if you were just a viewer at home, the anxiety and emotional feelings can take a toll on your spirit and soul.  If you are like me, I was glued to the TV for most the week.  I couldn't understand why I was snapping at my children and feeling very anxious and uneasy.  Obviously, this is nothing in comparison to the victims and what their families are feeling, and even the families of the terrorists that caused this tragedy.  However, hate and negativity is negative energy and it can cause some people, who are like sponges, to absorb this negative energy and it can affect our bodies and emotional well being.   My point is, it's normal to become emotional and become affected by these tragic events.    That is why it's important to take a break from the news and focus on life and bring that sense of normalcy back.  It's is essential to take time for yourself.  Try to focus on the inspiring stories, continue to do random acts of kindness, go for a walk, enjoy nature, hug your children more, tell your family how much you love them,  and maybe call that old friend and make amends.  This will not only help you heal, it will create a chain reaction of more kindness and healing.  
     Nothing can bring back our loved ones or make the pain go away.  Pain and loss are a part of life, but with faith, love, and hope, the healing process can begin.  For the victims of these tragedies, their healing has just begun, and it will certainly be a long road to recovery. My thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost their lives to these horrific tragedies, and to their families. My heart goes out to them and to our first responders who have continued to show so much courage and honor to this country no matter what the risk.  America may have suffered an attack again but we will emerge a resilient and stronger nation once again!


MANY BLESSING,

ANDREA SCHROEDER 

WEEKLY INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE

Martin Richard "No more hurting people...PEACE"

CRYSTAL OF THE WEEK 

ROSE QUARTS

This weeks crystal of the week is Rose Quartz. Rose quarts is good if you are looking to attract love and open your heart to heal heartache and pain.  The energy of this stone calming, peaceful and loving.  It purifies the heart and relives stress and pressure on the hear, brings deep inner peace and unconditional love.  It has been known to heal rashes, skin disorders, reduce wrinkles, and improve skin tone and fertility.  It can increase self love and encourage forgiveness.   

ESSENTIAL OIL OF THE WEEK

LAVENDER
Lavender is a soothing to the emotions and pleasing to the senses.  It has many uses and is revered for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-fungal, antiviral, antibacterial, direct and sedative properties.  It can help relieve the pain of burns if applied right way.  It's best if kept in the fridge to assist in alleviating the burn. It helps heal abscesses, acne, athletes foot and fungal infections, bruises, sun burns, lice, ringworm, cold sores, cuts, eczema, hives, inflammation, insect bites and stings, psoriasis/rashes, stretch-marks and other skin issues. It is beneficial in reducing aches and pains, cellulite, heart palpitations, high blood pressure, Lumbago, swelling, joint pain, rheumatism, and sprains. Lavender should not be used during early stages of pregnancy.

  

MEDITATION

MEDITATION

      This weeks topic is meditation.  Meditation is a not exclusive to any culture or religious/spiritual group.  Meditation has been around for centuries.  The benefits of meditation is that it can create a calming effect and increase spiritual awareness.  It induces a sense of relaxation leading one to become receptive to enlightenment.   It can help with stress, anger, health issues, depression, and anxiety, just to name a few.
      There are many ways to meditate and many different types of meditations.  The first one and probably the most popular in the western world is Mindfulness, also called "Vipassana".  This type of meditation comes from the Buddhist tradition. This focuses on being in the present, letting the mind run, and accepting whatever thoughts come up and practicing detaching from each thought.  The next kind is Zazen and is a term for seated meditation.  It is a Buddhist tradition and in modern Zen it is referred to as "just sitting".   This is usually done for many hours at a time.  The next one is Transcendental Mediation or "TM".  In TM, you sit with your back straight and use a mantra, a sacred word that is repeated.  Keeping the focus on rising above all that is impermanent.  Kundalini is another form of meditation.  It also comes form Vednata.  It is the name for rising stream of energy that exists in the human being.  The focus of this meditation is to become aware of that rising stream and to ride the stream to infinity.  Also the focus is on the on the breath flowing through each of the energy centers of the body and always moving upwards toward the energy center just above the head. One of the more popular form of meditation is Guided visualization.  This type of meditation involves concentration upon and image or imaginary environment.  This is usually done while listening to a recording and an example would be to focus on a scene such as a beautiful place you feel safe like a meadow or ocean.  There are thousands of CD's, apps and recordings that offer this variation of meditation.  A couple other types are Trance-Based Practices (hypnosis) and Heart Rhythm Meditation, which focus on heart and emotions.
      Meditation has become very common in pop culture now.  It seems like every celebrity is doing it.  Oprah is probably the first celebrity that comes to everyone's mind.  However, there are many more that practice meditation on regular basis and claim how much they benefit from it.  For example, Russel Brand, David Lynch, Katy Perry, Kristen Bell, Eva Mendes, Clint Eastwood, Ellen Degeneres, and Will Smith, to name a few.
      For me personally, I prefer guided meditation.  In my opinion, meditation is really just relaxing your mind, being quiet, and present in the "now".  Even if it's just for a few minutes each day, or being quiet and aware for twenty minutes on the way to work.  Meditation is beneficial way to unwind at the end of the day, or can be very energizing way to begin your day.  I know that having a busy life and children it can almost seem impossible to find time to be quiet.  For me, sometimes my meditation is in the shower, because it is the only place where I can be alone and uninterrupted.     In my opinion, meditation is very important practice to incorporate into my life.  I know if someone would have told me ten years ago, "Andrea, you will be meditating every day in ten years!" I would have laughed and said, "not me, its too weird" or "that's just something hippies do".  So if you haven't tried meditation, maybe give it a try.  It's certainly worth it and it will surely benefit your mind, body and spirit.  All you need is your smartphone and headphones, (if you have one) and search for  meditation apps, and you are bound to find a meditation that will hopefully guide you on a wonderful way to relax your mind and give you some peace that we all deserve in our day to day lives.

CRYSTAL OF THE WEEK

Clear Quartz

This weeks crystal that I chose is clear quartz.  This is a great crystal for meditation.  It is know as the master healer and works on every level of our being.  It contains Universal Life Energy and is very good crystal to meditate with and can unlock deep memories.  Clear quarts can also unblock illness, distress or stagnant energy in order to bring about deep healing.  It also amplifies concentration and intent and is the perfect crystal for people that are struggling with meditation   It also helps balance chakra energy and activate kundalini.  

ESSENTIAL OIL OF THE WEEK

Sandalwood 

Sandalwood helps with meditation and has a very calming affect on the mind and can relieve anxiety   It is said to help enhance your spirituality and your awareness of a higher power and assist in meditation or prayer and help bring that higher awareness.  

It can also assist with sleep,depression, respiratory (chest infections, sore throats, dry coughs, asthma and bronchitis).  It can help ease stomach aches, vomiting and chronic or acute diarrhea.  It is also and astringent which can tighten and firms the skin, reduce wrinkles, moisten skin  and strengthen the connective tissue.  You can add some oil to hand or body lotion.  It relives itching and helps clear acne.  It can also help scars and eczema.  It is a tonic for the immune system which can increase the growth of white blood cells which helps fight infections.  

WEEKLY AFFIRMATION

" I feel relaxed, open and balanced"

Many Blessings, 

Andrea 

ANDREA'S SPIRITUAL HEALING BLOG

      It's been a while since my last post.  For those of you who do read my blog, I am sorry.  I've been very busy with school, family and recovering from surgery.  To be honest, I have been a little bit laissez-faire when it comes to my own spiritual growth.  I am sure that I was right where God wanted me to be.  I am a strong believer that you need to experience life’s highs and lows.  This can only enhance our lives and promote more spiritual growth. 

      I started this blog to inspire and encourage others to heal their souls and spirit.  I want to enhance and enrich others with the tools and spiritual healing and awareness that I have learned.  My intent with this blog is to share new and old concepts that pertain to spiritual healing and wellness.  I have been contemplating many different formats for my blog.  I have meditated on this many times and finally one morning when I woke up the answer became very clear.  Every week I intend to discuss a topic that will pertain to anything spiritual and will benefit our health spiritually, mentally and physically.  I will have an affirmation of the week for everyone, a crystal of the week, and an essential oil of the week. 

     I hope that you will take what you like from this blog and use it to enhance your own spiritual growth, wellness, and awareness.   I hope to provide helpful information that will be of value to everyone.  I look forward to sharing these weekly topics with everyone and I hope to bring some positive light and energy to help get you through your week.  

Many blessings,

Andrea