Today, we’re talking about the final and, well, crowning chakra, Sahasrara (emphasis on the third syllable) or the seventh chakra. Also called the crown chakra because of its position at the top of your head, the seventh chakra has a big job to do. It not only controls your spiritual connection to yourself and others, but also your connection to and place in the universe.
And because it governs our connection to our truest and best self, the crown chakra also plays a role in determining our life’s purpose.
Think of chakras as critical intersections between your mind and body. If the intersections are blocked, so are your mind and body.
Awash in a regal violet purple, the crown chakra’s symbol is intended to represent a thousand-petaled lotus flower, again with the Om or Aum symbol at its center.
Each petal embodies a different facet of our being, such as our actions, thoughts and emotions. Only when all the petals are open do we achieve a complete balance of our mind, body and spirit. In other words, each of the other chakras need to be completely unobstructed.
And if you think that’s an awful lot of “moving parts” to wrangle, you’re exactly right. But with a bit of effort, you can come close and reap plenty of the chakra’s benefits.
READ MORE: Get to know your chakras: Root Chakra | Sacral Chakra | Solar Plexus Chakra | Heart Chakra | Throat Chakra | Third Eye Chakra
When our crown chakra is open, we enjoy a host of positive feelings, including:
- Increased empathy, gratitude and compassion
- A greater sense of purpose
- A clear mind and improved intuition
- Decreased anxiety and stress
- Meaningful spirituality
- Increased connection to new people, ideas and experiences
And like its neighboring throat chakra, the crown chakra is affiliated with the pineal gland, so when our life force is flowing freely through them, we also experience such mood-boosters as:
- Improved sleep
- Increased energy
- Emotional stability
- Improved health
So what are some obvious signs that your crown chakra is a bit askew? In short, you’re the epitome of “I’m not myself today.” Other things to look for include marked increases in:
- Fatigue
- Poor sleep
- Confusion and poor coordination
- Feeling irritable and deeply anti-social
- Low self-esteem
- Overthinking
But there are simple steps you can take to open your crown chakra that can benefit you for a lifetime, too.
- Become comfortable with silence. In today’s perpetually plugged-in world, “unbusying” our minds and doing our best to become comfortable in a still and silent place can feel wildly uncomfortable. But you can train your mind to tune out the cacophony of life and slowly embrace the tranquility of silence. Even 10 minutes of intentional silence a day will help to rewire your brain, control your thoughts and tap into how your mind reacts when it isn’t required to react to anything.
- Practice intentional gratitude. Whether you begin your day or end it by naming and being thankful for the good things – even if, sometimes, they are few and far between – you’ll train yourself to recognize more and more of them. And how good it feels to let go of your coworker’s snide remark or the guy who cut you off in traffic and salute even the smallest victories, surprises and natural wonders. Try it for a week. You’ll be grateful that you did.
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- Try affirmations. You are good enough, smart enough and, doggone it, people do like you. But if telling yourself something similar just gives you the giggles, try other short truisms to bolster your inner peace.
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- The world is my teacher
- I trust my intuition
- I am open to new ideas
- I am at peace
- I am worthy of respect
- I welcome faith and release doubt
- Become crystal cleared. Surround yourself with stones and crystals known for their calming, healing and purifying properties. If clear or snowy stones bring you peace, try clear quartz; milky selenite; creamy, gray-striated howlite or dreamy, iridescent moonstone. If color lifts your spirit, go for regal amethyst, plummy lepidolite, otherwordly sugilite, or lake-like labradorite.
Whatever you do, don’t get overwhelmed by the everything-ness of the crown chakra. Instead, embrace its ability to lead you to your truest self and all the peace and community that will come with it.
Ready to begin your Reiki journey now? St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care offers 60-minute sessions at competitive prices for community members, clients and staff at both the Stein and Bucyrus campuses.
Find out more on our website. To schedule your appointment, or for further questions, please contact MaryBeth Johnson via email or at 414-977-5077.