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FOURTH CHAKRA

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CHAKRA ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS.

AIR LOVE

Do you feel Iwppy? Are you Iwppy? When and how often, are you happy?

Do you h.lue friends? Are you able to maintain long term friendships? Do you make friends easily?

Are you able to love and accept yourself? . Do you understand compassion? Are you able to experience compassion?

Do you feel like a part of the world around you I Are you participating in the world, or isolated and indifferent?

What do you do when there is overload about worldly events? Do you see the world as-all are one, or is it them and us?

Are you at one with your life and world?

Are you able to give and share?

CHAKRA FACTS

ANAHATA: Fourth Chakra, means unstruck.

LOCATION: At the heart center.

PARTS OF THE BODY: Cardiac plexus, heart, pericardium, lungs, thymus gland. (Indirectly arms and hands).

BALANCED FUNCTION: Love, compassion, acceptance, fuliillrnent.

MALFUNCTIONS: Physically it may manifest as: asthma, high blood pressure, cardio-vascular problems, arthritis, respiratory problems, stroke, hypertension. Psychologically it may manifest as emotionally closed. passivity, insensitivity, depression.

ELEMENT: Air COLOR: Green FOOD: Vegetables

YOGI BHAJAN: The good aspect of this chakra, you want to give, the unbalanced aspect, you are afraid to give. If the heart center is not open you cannot be compassionate. When this center is unbalanced you give to those who don't deserve it, and you share with those who don't want it. In this chakra the force will serve you.

MUSIC:

"Clair de Lune-Images" Debussy " Spring Song" Mendelssohn

" Neptune; Planets" Holst

'Waterfall Music" Paul Lloyd Warne]

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INTRODUCTION

The Heart Chakra is the central, pivotal point in the Chakra system. This is the core, the inner spirit that unites the forces from above and below and integrates and balances the two realms of the mind and body.

The heart is an area of rhythmic resonance, and a unifying force, that transcends the boundaries. Here is the place to begin to comprehend the infinite patterns of interdependence between all things. Love is a force that enhances, teaches and nurtures. Within the heart chakra we perceive the world as unity not separation.

Breath is an element of the heart chakra. The breath is the gateway between the mind and the body. In yogic technology we know that the mind can be calmed through control of the breath The Love that we experience at the level of the heart chakra is quite different from mere sexuality and the passionate (emotionally burden) love of the second chakra. Sexual love is object oriented. At the fourth chakra love is no longer object dependent. The love we feel now is toward everything we encounter because it is felt within our inner state of being.

At the heart chakra our love is no longer fixated on need (this has been accomplished when the first three chakras have been balanced and tempered through the force of will, where in the needs have been either fulfilled or transcended). Love at the fourth chakra is joyful acceptance radiating love. It has the Yin quality of receptivity.

We've all heard of the Zen Koan, what is the sound of one hand clapping. Anahata, is the sound that is made without two things striking, or it may be thought of as unstruck or unhurt. This means we are no longer fighting against what we love, but moving in harmony. The fight of the third chakra is replaced by acceptance in the fourth. In other words an intact will allows love to flow freely, we really are talking about

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strength here.

Air as mentioned before is an element of the fourth chakra, and air traditionally has been associated with knowledge, light, spirit. A physical quality of air is, it tends to disperse itself (water sits at the bottom of a bowl, and earth holds its fonn, fire moves up but clings to its fuel, air disperses.) Air is the least dense of all the elements so far discussed. It has less constriction to form. Breath is a vital process to us as human beings, this is associated with prana, and ki. Another aspect to be considered when working with this chakra is relationship. All lasting patterns, (relationships) are a product of equilibrium among its parts. Living in balance is living really in a state of grace. Love is that which endures, that which is out of balance doesn't endure.

To maintain balance we must be aware of all of our parts. Physically we have (when we observe the arms) a lateral balance that crosses the heart chakra. There also must be a balance between input and output, and there is a balance between all things, there is no good and no evil. Here is where we learn to let and letting replaces doing. Love again is not something attached to an object, it is a state of being in harmony with itself. Love unifies, transcends borders, it takes the emotion of the second chakra and balances it with the understanding from the seventh chakra

From 21 through 28, one vibrates at the fourth chakra level. One becomes aware of his karma, his life's actions. Bhakti, or faith is the motivating force as one strives to achieve balance on all levels. At this level a person is inclined to sleep from 4-6 hours nightly on his left side.

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prayer mudra

l.Sitting in Easy Pose, _.".,"."'.' ... - bring the hands to-

1""~~~4·· gether in Prayer Mudra at the Heart Center. Apply slight pressure -~.._""." __ -..;;:'_ at the palms.

_...:.:.:.:.J Begin breathing long and deep.

Focus your attention on the heart center Continue for 3 minutes.

2. Elbow Platform Pose. Balance on your elbows and heels only. Your body will be in a straight line. Your head is back.Breath long and deep for 3 minutes.

3.Lie down on your back. Lift the chest(only) off the floor (2-3 times). Slide the chest to the left and right (2-3 times). Come into easy pose and begin sternum rotation at the heart center. Hands are on the knees. Rotate to the left 4 times and than switch directions. Continue for 1-1/2 minutes.

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bear grip mudra ~

BEAR GRIP MUDRA: Place the left palm ~ facing out from the chest with the thumb down.

Place the palm of the right hand facing the chest. Bring the fingers together. Curl the fingers of both hands so the hands form a fist. You are now in position. Inhale and try

to pull the hands apart with maximum force, exhale pull _____ mul bhand. Repeat four times.

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5. Sitting in easy pose the hands will be in Guyan Mudra Raise the left arm (palm up) to a 60 degree angle. Lower the right arm down to a 30 degree ~_ ... angle(palm up). Now the arms form. a straight diagonal line. Pull Mulbhand.

Keep the eyes open and focus on a single point without blinking. Breath long and deep for 5 minutes.

6. Sit in easy pose. Place the left palm at the center of the back. Place the right palm on your heart center. ~_""Breath long and deep. Focus and feel the flow energy between the palms.Continue for 5 tes.

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SYMBOLOGY

HEXAGRAM

Yantra: (Dominate Geometrical shape of this Chakra)Hexagram. A hexagram is a six pointed star and in Indian it symbolizes the air element. Hexagrams are fanned by two equilateral triangles placed concentrically with their sides parallel and on opposite sides of the center. One triangle facing upward symbolizes shiva the male principle. The other triangle faces downward and symbolizes shakti the female principle. A balance is attained when these two forces are joined harmoniously. The air element is responsible for movement and it is here in the fourth chakra that movement is experienced and expressed in all directions. Air is also associated with one aspect of prana, the vital lifebreath. Here our bodies have their most direct intimate contact with pranic energy, aiding directly in the functions of the lungs and the heart.

CIRCLE WITH TWELVE PETALS:

The twelve lotus petals fold outward from the circle. They represent the expansion of energy in twelve directions, and the flow of energy through twelve sources. The understanding of the fourthchakra person expands in all dimensions and directions as a six pointed star. Again the heart chakra is the seat of balance within the body, moving toward a uniform energy flow in both upward and down ward directions

BIIA SOUND: YANG

VEHICLE OF BIlA: DEER

In the west, we all think of reindeer at Christmas time. At Christmas stars are featured at the top of most Christmas trees and the predominate colors are red and green. Reindeer also can be found on a

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variety of Christmas Cards. The deer also hap- I
pens to be the other main symbol of this chakra.
the heart chakra, and perhaps at Christmas we I
celebrate this chakra, the time of the heart, for
giving and love. How nice that their is this sym-
bolic coincidence. In India the deer is considered I
to be a very sensitive, aware and full of inspira-
tion. The eyes of the deer are symbolic of purity I
and innocence. It is said that the deer is said to
die for pure sound.
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GODIDESS I

Ishana Rudra is the presiding God of this chakra,
and is know as the lord of the Northeast. He is I
completely detached from the world. The God-
dess is Shakti Kakini, representing the increase of I
energy that occurs in the fourth chakra plane.
Also Kundalini Shakti appears for the first time as I
a beautiful goddess she is usually depicted as
sitting in a triangle pointing upward reflecting the
her tendency to help the student move up to It
higher planes of existence. She is also know as
the virgin mother and is synonymous with self- I,]
less spiritual devotion. Again an interesting
coincidence occurs here in the fourth chakra in the
West, in some forms of Christian religion, the [I
mother of Jesus is also know as the Virgin Mother.
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YOGI BHAJAN QUOTES:
• Action has a reaction equal and opposite; this
Is Newton's law, which nobody should forget. If Ii
you eat more, you have Indigestion. Whatever
you do, you will be paid In equal terms: but
when you subject your free will In the WlII of the
lord the Creator, He will love you more than you
expect Him to love. He will love you tenfold .' II ENERGY MAPS

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PART lor S

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I 1.) Sit on the left heel, the right leg is extended straight out in front of your body, the knees are touching. Remember to keep the spine straight, tucking and locking your chin in towards the chest will help. The arms will be held out in front of the body, straight, parallel to the ground and your leg. The palms will touch, but the thumbs do not cross. You are now in position. Hold this position for seven and one half minutes. Alternate legs. If you experience aching, shaking hands, or pain in the shoulder, this indicates blocked energy channels. Let the mind freak out and let the pain happen. The eyes remain closed the focus is on the breath.

2.) Start by sitting in easy pose. Inhale and hold the arms up to a 60 degree angle out to the sides. The palms will be facing up and the fingers are spread wide. A). Fold the thumb over the palm. B). Fold the fingers over the thumb. C). Exhale and bring the fists down to the chest. D). Start again with the arms held up to a 60 degree angle palms spread wide,etc. Continue the above cycle slowly, it will regulate the breath-an element of the fourth chakra. The

eyes remain closed the focus is on the breath. Continue for 5 minutes.

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3.) Sitting in easy pose. Through the entire exercise, keep the spine straight A.)(inhale) Start with the right arm held straight up close the right ear, the fingers are held straight too. B.) The left arm, meanwhile, (the hand is in a fist ,as it will remain throughout the the entire exercise) is held in front of the left chest. C.) (exhale) Bring the left fist up straight next to the left ear, and the right hand comes down to the right chest, but the straight fingers change into fists at the chest level. D.) Remember the left hand stays in a fist while moving up and down, unlike the right hand that changes from straight fingers when up and fist when down. The eyes remain closed the focus is on the breath and heart center.E.) Continue,alternating the hands with long deep breathing for five minutes.

PART S or S

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PART -4 or S

4.) Sitting in easy pose. The arms are in front of the chest parallel to the ground, the hands will be hanging limply from the wrists. A.) (inhale)Make fist with both hands, and pull the hands apart and up (to a 60 degree angel) at the same time pull the shoulders back as hard as you can. B.) (exhale) Bring the hands back to the starting position (the shoulders will roll forward. Continue for three minutes with powerful synchronized breath. Relax for three minutes.

PART S 0( S

5.) Come lying on your back. The hands will be in Venus Lock, the right thumb over the left. The right thumb will press on the mound. Place your hands in Venus Lock on your navel point. (Remember throughout this exercise keep the legs straight and the heels touching). A) Inhale and sit up. B) Exhale and lie back down. Continue slowly and gently for 3 minutes.

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