CROWN CHAKRA

The Crown Chakra lies at the top of the head. It is positioned over the place we call the soft spot on a new born baby's head.

This Chakra is often referred to as the "thousand-petalled lotus", the petals facing upwards and the stem going down into the central column.
The keywords are: soul, surrender, release and incoming will. The main colour is violet with white and gold as subsidiary colours. The symbol is a circle. The element is Spirit. The kingdom is the The Creator. The glandular connection for this Chakra is the pituitary. The quietening fragrances are rosemary and bergamot, with violet and amber as stimulants. The crystals are: diamond, white tourmaline, White jade and snowy quartz.

The Crown Chakra is the home of pure Spirit. This Chakra carries us beyond duality into the realms of oneness where we become united with our creator. Being in harmony with the Creator is the ultimate goal of spirituality and the ultimate desire behind most of our actions. As humans we long consciously or unconsciously to experience the bliss we once knew, the bliss of wholeness - total absorption in the divine.We are tiny drops of divinity, like rivers we flow towards our source.
We constantly search for wholeness. Each step we take on life's long journey brings us closer to our Creator. We may appear to step away from the divine path, yet all steps eventually lead us forward. Even the most horrific and tragic happenings can lead to peace. It is in the darkness that light shines the brightest. When things get really low and we become totally disillusioned with life and the material gains it offers we search for something more. We want to know the reason for our pain. We are forced to stop looking outside of ourselves and find the spirit within.

It is at the Crown Chakra that we eventually find peace. Here, where everything is still, we become the pure spirit we have been looking for. At the Crown Chakra we become whole again. We are totally embraced by our creator. This union creates the lasting bliss we long for. In oneness we can simply Be.

DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE - 10TH NOVEMBER

DH had a School Governor's meeting to attend this week so things were a little more rushed than usual. I'd managed to have my meal and get ready in plenty of time but due to the meeting he got home later than usual, so he had to hurriedly get washed and changed before driving me out to the village. He planned on either visiting a local fish and chip shop for his tea or having a meal in the pub whilst I was at the Circle.

By the time I arrived L and her DD La, S1 and S2 were already there - the conversation I came in on seemed to be about blocks. It seems S1 feels she may be blocking herself too...... and I thought she was doing OK, so it was a bit of a surprise to hear. Aureen thought the best idea was for those who felt they were blocked to practice the Chakra meditations again, but this time doing each one, starting with the Root Chakra, for a whole week before moving on to the next - it would help us to visualise the colours better and to more fully connect with each Chakra. Sh arrived whilst this was being discussed. There was also a few jokes being bandied about amongst us this week, a sure sign that we are feeling more comfortable and settled with each other and allowing more of our true personalities out. :0)

It seemed A wasn't going to turn up this week so, as time was fast moving on, we relocated to the other room to begin this weeks proceedings.

Today Aureen started the proceedings by doing a recap on all that we had covered so far, then went on to read out the piece about the Chakra we were going to meditate on, as all we had done before was culminating with this this final meditation on the Crown Chakra (separate post). With this one we were aiming for oneness/uniting with the Creator, in whatever form we believed in.

As Aureen was doing the recap I became aware that S2, who always sits to my left, was looking at me in quite a concentrated way. I looked at her and she smiled and looked away - I knew instantly that she had been picking something up but I didn't have the opportunity to ask as it was essential to hear what Aureen was saying. Though a couple of times I also had to look over my right shoulder and slightly behind me as I kept getting the feeling that someone was stood there, between me and La, but shook it off and concentrated on what Aureen was saying.

The Circle was opened and we proceeded to place ourselves inside our bubble of protection, grounded ourselves and went on to concentrate on opening each Chakra in turn until we reached the Crown. We focused on the candle flame, then we had to go inside ourselves, listening to our own sound, and allow ourselves to unite with the Universal energy. We had to see what unfolded, if anything, then come back to ourselves.

Sh had another wonderful experience, being shown (from above) lots of beautiful buildings that she thought were temples and other sacred places and more.

S2 said she had struggled to get in to the meditation this week. She found herself in a room that seemed to be fog filled, though it wasn't scary, and in there was a line of people who she knew were there to try and pass messages. She knew she was supposed to be doing the meditation so she asked them to go away, as she'd realised she needed to be able to control things and not have what she can do control her. But she said she had had real trouble with one very forceful female Spirit who wouldn't take no for an answer and had been left feeling quite bullied. Aureen asked if it was a message for someone here (meaning, one of us in the room) and S2 said it was, so Aureen said we would leave it until the end and come back to it then. I just knew it was something to do with me.

Aureen then asked me how the meditation had gone. Well, the Chakra colours were a bit hit and miss again but I felt I'd done OK with it but I can't say I really heard my sound or much of anything else. It did seem that when I closed my eyes the room got extremely bright behind my closed lids - much brighter than the low light from the lamp we have on. She asked me how I felt because I had seemed quite relaxed during the meditation: I said I did feel relaxed and also really peaceful, which was surprising, considering what was happening the next day (my appointment to see the Consultant). Aureen said it was good - it certainly seemed like I was given what was needed.

La said she had connected but had seen a special place she had often visited when she was a child but she didn't want to talk about it, as she would get upset.

L had been pleased with what she had felt - though I can't remember any more.

S1 had been slightly disturbed by half of what she had seen but had been happy with the other half. She initially saw a bubbles of red and a really dirty brown colour but this had then gone on to much nicer images. Aureen felt she had been shown the contrast between darkness and light, Earth and Spirit.

Aureen had felt and heard a heartbeat, firstly becoming aware of her own, then a more encompassing one. A link with the life force in all things.

She then asked S2 to pass on the message, if it wasn't too personal, otherwise it could be left until afterwards, when she could speak to the person on a one-to-one basis. She said it wasn't really personal, then turned to me....... as I was fully expecting her to do. My first words: OK, what have I done now? She said she wasn't sure if it was my Mum or Gran, but definitely a female relation, and she was really in her face: she had one hand on her hip and the other wagging a finger at her, saying tell her that I love her and that I have always loved her and she should know that. I was feeling pretty emotional anyway (thanks to the Consultant's verdict being imminent) so that just got me all teary (again!) and S2 put her hands towards me, with tears in her eyes, and said: Ooo don't or you'll set me off. All the girls looked concerned.

Aureen then said that it was OK, Karan has a lot going on and needs a lot of support at the moment. I gave her a teary smile of thanks. She then asked if I knew who it was and I said that my Mum so wasn't like that, though the Nana's had. S2 said that, not wanting to be rude, but the Spirit had come over as a bit of a b*tch - I said that would definitely be one of the Nana's then.

I realised that I'd been thinking about my Mum's Mum earlier in the day, so it was thought it was likely to have been her, and explained about the horrible way my Nana had treated my Mum, all through her growing up and into childhood (she hadn't wanted another child and the birth had been difficult - she blamed it on Mum!), and how she had carried that over by being lousy to myself and my DBro and DSis. It didn't matter what we did we were always made to feel that we weren't good enough. I said that I was doing my best to forgive it all, acknowledging that holding those negative feelings inside weren't doing me any good, and that I was now beginning to feel sorry for my Nana, as I'd realised that by being like that with my Mum and us she had missed out on so much.

L said my Nana had probably realised that now and perhaps this was her way of trying to say sorry. I guess so....... but it's a shame it's taken until now, for her sake more than anything else.

I thanked S2 and then asked her where the Spirit had been stood. She pointed to a spot just in front of me. OK, not where I thought and I said that I'd got the impression that someone had been stood between La and me. La said that someone was stood there and he still was and wouldn't go away - she was feeling freezing cold because of this Spirit. Aureen said that La should ask the Spirit to step back (he was standing right in her aura) and take it off her and that if ever any of us felt something that we didn't like whilst sitting in the Circle we should also do the same. La did this and started to feel a bit better.

Then the Healing Book was circulated and names were added and La read out the prayer she had written and it was as beautifully written as L's. Aureen then asked who would write one to read the following week.... and promptly looked at me. Please don't look at me, says I. She looked a little taken aback so I explained that I really would like to write a prayer but every time I try to I block (nothing new there then!) - odd, when you think about the amount of healing I've had lately and will continue to have for a while yet. She said not to feel under pressure and that she would never ask us to do anything that we weren't happy to do. I know that but this is something I really would like to do......... the inspiration just isn't there at the moment though. So Aureen said that it doesn't necessarily have to be one that we had written, it could be one that we had come across somewhere and had liked, but she felt that prayer was important and that it was something she felt we should think about more often - not just us but society as a whole - which is why she would like us to write one. OK, I shall see what happens..... she may end up having a piece of paper thrust into her hands one week. LOL

Once again it was time to end the session, so we closed our Chakras, cloaked ourselves and pulled up our grounding anchors, then held hands to close the Circle.

When we'd done this I turned to La and asked if she was OK, as her hand had been shaking the whole time I'd held it - so much so that I'd tried to send some warmth through my hand into hers, to try and help. She said she was feeling better and had actually started to warm up, it was just the after effects from it. Aureen then asked if asking the Spirit to step back had worked and La said it had, she didn't know why she hadn't thought to do it sooner.

As for next week: Aureen said she would have to get her thinking cap on to decide what we would be doing, now that the Chakra meditations had come to a close. We would certainly have more time for receiving messages and said she felt that not only S2, but La and S1 would do particularly well at that. S1 seemed a little surprised by that but, though she seems unsure of herself at this point, she is showing a strong Spiritual connection through what she has seen during the meditations.
Basically Aureen would now start introducing a wide range of things for us to try, such as automatic writing, psychometry, healing etc etc. but we would have to wait until next week to see which one we would be doing first. Whatever it's going to be we are all looking forward to it! :0)

With that Aureen gave us our print outs and we all started heading for the door, with Aureen, L and La wishing me well for the following day. S1 asked what that was about - she had been absent the week I'd been taken into hospital - so I told her what had been happening and she also wished me well. As we were heading down the drive I got the Mia Dolan book (see the review in a previous post) out of my handbag and showed it to L and asked if she had read it, as I'd found quite a bit of what was in there quite useful and related to much of it. She had but S1 hadn't, so I asked if she would like to take it to read and she did. We said our goodbyes then and headed for our cars.

DH was waiting for me........ and as soon as I got in the car I knew he'd gone for the fish and chips option for his tea. LOL (Thankfully that aroma had disappeared the next time we went out in the car). We headed straight home afterwards.

So now it's a case of roll on next Tuesday! :0)

BROW CHAKRA

The Brow Chakra is more commonly known as the Third Eye. It is situated slightly above and between the eyebrows. This is the centre of divine wisdom and knowledge. It is the home of inner vision. From here we can visualise our destiny and make it our reality. Whatever you can perceive, you can achieve.

The soothing midnight blue of indigo has a calming effect on your body and soul. This psychic centre enhances clairvoyance and expands your psychic vision. Because indigo stimulates the right side of the brain it triggers your creative imagination and deepens your intuition.

Indigo often shades into purple and violet tones in the aura, these colours connect you with higher levels of consciousness, bringing peace and spiritual harmony.

The key words are: spirit, completeness, inspiration, insight and command. The main colour is indigo, the subsidiary colours are turquoise and mauve. The kingdom is the Archangels. The element for this Chakra is darkness and light. The glandular link is to the pineal gland.

White musk and hyacinth are quietening fragrances for the Brow Chakra and violet and rose geranium will stimulate it. The crystals are: amethyst, sapphire, lapis lazuli, jet and black opal. There is no associated developmental age. The symbol is two snake's heads and eagles wings.

As you fully open to Spirit at this Chakra, through disciplined spiritual practice, you will experience an altered state of consciousness that brings harmony to yin and yang - these are spiralling life currents with opposing qualities. Yin is negative, while yang is positive. Everything is made up of varying degrees of these energies. They flow like day and night, the sun and moon. Together they weave life's rich web of activity. Sometimes we are yin - receptive, feminine, dark and still like the night - and other times we are yang - masculine, light and active like the day.

The Ancients thought of the brow Chakra as the seat of the soul. It is the gateway to knowledge and expanded consciousness.

This is the last Chakra before we unite again with our creator at the crown Chakra.

DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE - 27TH OCTOBER

Thankfully my energy levels are gradually improving, though there are still occasions that leave me tired (such as my first trip out shopping on Saturday, since being in hospital), but I decided not to push things too much...... I kept the day jobs to an easy level and made sure I got plenty of rest. As a result I felt pretty good about going to the Circle this week, rather than being worried that I might be a drain on the energy.

This week I arrived at the same time as L and her DD La. They asked me how I felt: getting there was my reply. We had a surprise when Aureen opened the door: she'd had her hair dyed and it was quite a vivid colour, sort of autumnal orange/brown, which suits her well. I asked how her foot was: she seemed to have a delayed reaction at the weekend, feeling pretty grotty, and most nights she had felt it throbbing enough to be aware of it but that today was the first day it felt OK. Thank goodness - stings can be nasty, especially if you're the poor person who has an allergic reaction. She asked how I was: again I said getting there - occasionally feeling tired but that was getting better. I mentioned getting my dates through from the hospital: ultra-sound scan on the 3rd and seeing the Consultant on the 11th. They wished me well.

Very soon S1, S2 and Sh arrived - no A this week, as she was going on her birthday trip to see Colin Fry. Aureen introduced S1 and La, then we all made our way through to the other room.

This week we were going to do a meditation on the Throat Chakra (will do another post on this), so Aureen proceeded to read out a piece about it. There was also a piece on benefits to be gained by working with Spirit (which makes you think) and another about Honesty, another chanelled piece from Ursula Robert's guide Rhamadan, that she didn't read out but wanted us to read for ourselves at a later date. The meditation would involve us asking a question and we were to think of this beforehand. I asked if it should be a personal or more general question: Aureen replied that it had to be something we were comfortable with sharing with the group, so was probably better being more general. OK - good job she'd warned us as my when anyone ever says to me "Have you got any questions?" my mind instant;y goes blank! LOL With that we opened the Circle, protected and grounded ourselves and opened our Chakras.

With the Circle open a blue candle was lit and the meditation begun. For this one we had to go within ourselves, listening to our breathing and allowing it to become slow and deep, then listen for the sound our bodies make - a unique sound that the Spirit World hears and responds to - and we had to concentrate on that sound, allowing our Helpers to hear it and come to us. When we felt that our Helpers were gathered around us we were to ask the question, wait for a response, then thank them and come back to ourselves...... all under Aureen's guidance. Why is that sound important? Because we need to be able to connect with it and know how to make it reverberate, as it is how we alert Spirit/our Guides that we wish to communicate.

When done Aureen asked each of us in turn if we had heard our sound - unfortunately I can't remember much of this (why is it that some weeks I can remember lots and others I can't?!!). I couldn't say that I'd heard anything but I did feel my body pulsating. I found it a little difficult to describe, as it wasn't the usual hearbeat type pulsing that you sometimes become aware of in quiet moments, it was different somehow, sort of a cross between a vibration and a pulse. My throat felt a little tight, though not uncomfortable, and my third eye area also seemed to pick up on the vibe (Aureen said it was good, as it was a sign it was working).

L said she had felt the throat sensation but had also got a tightening in her heart Chakra area, with more of a pulsing than an actual noise.

Aureen then asked each of us what question we had asked and what reply we had received. I can't remember S1 (other than that when she gazed at the candle the light from it had expanded quite a bit), La's or L's, unfortunately. I said my question would probably sound corny but it was something that I continually ask myself because I don't understand why it should happen: why is suffering in the world allowed? I didn't mean just on a personal level, such as why perfectly nice people develop terminal illnesses, but in a more general one too, such as why children are abused, why mass famines occur with many deaths, etc etc. The word I got was: Growth. I said that I needed to think about this more, as I felt that it meant growth in a much wider sense, ie more than just an individuals personal growth. Something about this prompted L to ask if I was intending being a healer - I said I hoped to but I would wait and see what developed. Who knows what Spirit may have planned? It could be something completely different....... and I'm fast learning not to try and second-guess things. LOL

S2 was a little upset. She said the question she had asked sort of linked in with my question...... and she knew Aureen had said not to ask personal questions but she felt she needed to ask it, even though she already knew the answer. It was linked in with various stages in her life that had made her suffer (she didn't go into details because we are encouraged not to share personal details at the moment - the less we know about each other the more we will know that messages we are given for/about the others in the group are from Spirit and not from things we already know). She'd known from an early age that whatever she suffered was to help those around her to learn and grow and that was the answer she had received. I guess, in a way, that she asked because what she was really seeking was confirmation or validation. She was tearful so I touched her arm for a while, then handed her a tissue saying: it's not been used, honest. It made everyone, including S2, laugh and lightened the mood a little, allowing her to regain her composure. Bless her: I think I know some of the issues she's faced....... will wait and see what the weeks ahead reveal.

Sh had asked a superb question, in light of all the New Age predictions: was the world going to end in December 2012. She said she asked it several times and had just thought that she wasn't going to be given an answer and was thinking of another question to ask when she had a reply: basically it was up to us, humankind. If there was a change in the selfishness of many and enough of us developed our Spiritual side and worked for good, trying to bring about a change for the better, then there was hope for us all. If not, Sh stated that one man had the power of destruction.

Aureen's question was along the lines of: how did the Spirit world see our group? They were drawn to it. Each of us within the group had our own Light that was seen and liked by the Spirit world but the combination of those colours was beautiful and shone brightly to Spirit, attracting them to us. It boded well for the way things would develop as we continue to work together.

Hearing both Sh's and Aureen's questions and replies brought to mind something I read years ago, long before all the 2010 hype began, but I can't remember where or who had written it. The gist of it: that the future survival of all would depend on small, independent groups of women, from all faiths, countries and backgrounds; each individual group working together, be it for healing, faith development, a prayer group or whatever; each acting as beacons of Light shining across and around the world. That has stayed in my subconscious all these years and after this session it makes me wonder: we are working on all aspects of our Spiritual development, with some of us hoping to go on to do healing or similar things, could ours be one of those groups? (Hope that doesn't sound arrogant or pompous, as it isn't meant to - it just seems to be one of those strange moments that have strands of the Web from different times in my life that suddenly show that they are connected, iykwim). It's certainly going to be really interesting to see how everything unfolds. :0)

Next it was time to turn out the light and open ourselves to see if we were given any messages or symbols.

Sh had been drawn to L again and described what she had seen, to do with small boats and her wearing one of those waterproof yellow jackets - L owned it as, oddly enough, she was going on a cruise soon. Sh said: well, don't go in the water. L laughed and was quite pragmatic about it, saying that she was going in a big boat but if it was her time then she wasn't afraid and wasn't going to worry about it. Aureen told Sh what she had seen for her but I can't remember it.

S2 said she had started seeing one thing but had thought it was for her again, so had pushed it away. She did see something else that I think was for La but I can't remember what it was - she said she had also seen a long-haired tabby cat weaving around my feet. Oddly enough the week previously (and I'd forgotten about this until this cat was mentioned) A had seen a white Persian around my feet. Now neither cat is anything like our Sally, who crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2006, so I couldn't claim them. La wondered if they were Spirit Guide animals - I can't say. I have wondered since though if it has something to do with my sound (the one we'd done the meditation on - the vibration/pulse I'd felt) and if the Spirit cats were attracted to me because of this. Will have to wait and see what will be revealed, I guess. Aureen told her what she had seen for her - can't remember but it was very positive.

I said I was beginning to think I was a one hit wonder (getting the Janice name) as I didn't seem to get anything. I had thought I had seen a light again, over by La, but when I looked there was a bright reflection on the wall anyway. Nothing else. Aureen said that, despite this, she thought I had looked much more relaxed with the meditation and with this and I felt I had been but it didn't seem to help me see anything though. She had seen lots of different coloured Spirit Lights of loved ones around me - can't remember much more, but I think it was that they were there to wrap me with their love and give support. It's comforting to know. :0)

L also hadn't seen anything and asked if it was possible that she was somehow blocking herself. I said I'd wondered the same about myself, too. Aureen said that it was more than likely with both of us - sometimes, when you want things really badly, it can stop you from achieving what you want and also that the Spirit World do test you too. It all came back to patience and perseverance again...... both L and I admit we are both lacking in the patience department. LOL She told L (occasionally glancing at me, as she said it - so this held for me as well) that what she needed to do was to start talking to her Guide/s, asking him/them questions - after a time she will find that she will start to connect and will get answers. Aureen then looked at both of us and said that L and I both had very strong Guides and that we would find that once we did connect with them we would be off and there would be no holding us back. Am sure L was as relieved to hear this as I was. :0) I can't remember what else Aureen had seen for her.

La had seen a little boy for S2 and described him - she owned him. She had had a miscarriage and had always felt (and been told by several psychics) that he was a boy - she had felt him around her at times and had even heard him calling Mum to her on one occasion. Aureen told her what she had seen for her but it was personal.

I can't remember what S1 had seen. Aureen said that she saw her as full of energy and as a result she was the power house of the group, which was why the candle's light had expanded for her. It would be very beneficial for the group as a whole by helping to feed the energy we build within the Circle and helping us to connect more easily to Spirit. How cool is that!

Next was the Healing Book. I added my cousin's name, as he will be undergoing a serious back operation soon - one surgeon refused to operate as it's such a serious one and isn't guaranteed to work....... and there's a big risk of it leaving him crippled for the rest of his life. My cousin is in such chronic pain with it he's willing to take the risk. Aureen read out the prayer she'd written (I'm afraid I'd forgotten all about her asking us to write one).

She then told us we would be doing the Third Eye meditation next week and that we were in for a real treat, as it was a really lovely one to do - as well as being important. She also reminded us to read the channelled piece by Ursula Roberts before the next meeting too. With that, as we were running over again, we closed our Chakras, cloaked ourselves and closed the Circle. We said our goodbyes and left. I was glad to realise that this week I just felt a bit tired, rather than the absolutely shattered of the week before - another post-hospital stay improvement. :0)

After a quick stop off at Tesco Express on the way home I settled in front of the TV for the night: it's currently the Most Haunted Live Halloween 8 night special: Eight Faces of Evil. It's the longest Live session ever - I so haven't got the stamina I used to have and reckon all these late nights might just finish me off! LMAO

So looking forward to next week...... in the meantime: I have a Herbalist appointment and a Reiki session to go to, as well as the Heart Chakra post to do, and the Lincolnshire Showground M,B&S event to go to so it looks like there's going to be plenty for you to read in the coming weeks. LOL :0)

HEART CHAKRA

The Heart Chakra is found on the same level as the physical heart but in the centre of the body. Heart Chakra energy is familiar to us all. We already realise that the heart has many qualities apart from the physical role of keeping us alive. We know the feeling of opening our hearts or closing down our hearts. We know how it feels to have a broken heart or to put our heart fully into something. Most of us know what it is to love with al our heart and the truth expressed when we cross our heart and hope to die. These energetic qualities are stimulated by the heart Chakra.

The heart Chakra sits in the middle of the seven Chakras. It is symbolised by two interlaced triangles, which form a six pointed star. The star represents the movement of energy upwards from the earth and down from the Heavens. It is at the heart centre that these two forces are united. This is the place of balance and divine harmony. It is at this centre that we move from the personal realms of the lower Chakras into the universal consciousness of the higher Chakras. Having ascended the first three Chakras and dealt with personal issues relating to survival at the root Chakra, self-knowledge at the sacral Chakra and personal power at the solar plexus Chakra we are now ready to move from embodiment to enlightenment.

Embodiment is to fully embrace the personal qualities of the lower Chakras and make them part of our lives. Enlightenment is a spiritual journey, where we learn compassion and unconditional love. We learn to embrace the universal laws that govern our lives.

Compassion and unconditional love are the spiritual qualities associated with the heart chakra.

The key words are: compassion, feeling, tenderness, love of and search for the Divine, love of others and detachment. The associated developmental age is from twelve to fifteen years.

Its main colour is green, with subsidiary colours of rose and rose amethyst. Its element is Air. The kingdom is human. The glandular link is to the thymus. It is part of the lymphatic system, situated directly below the thyroid and parathyroid gland.

The fragrance of rose and sandalwood quieten the heart Chakra whilst pine and honeysuckle stimulate it. The crystals are: emerald, green calcite, amber, rose quartz, jade and pink carnelian.

Working with the heart Chakra tells us that we do not need to sit in judgement of people's behaviour, the Creator can take care of that - instead we can see the divine spirit that moves within them and encourage them to do the same. Working on the heart Chakra requires patience, discipline and a genuine desire for spiritual growth.

THE SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA

Situated just below the breast bone, extending down towards the navel, is the third and last personal Chakra, many lessons can be learnt here. From this Chakra we ascend to the Heart Chakra, which is the first of the universal Chakras.

The solar plexus is the radiant sun within your body and it supplies the body with fuel. Just as the sun provides the earth with power, so the solar plexus provides the body with power. It is the body's powerhouse and generates energy. The sun gives us light and heat and fuels growth - without it there would be no life on earth. The inner sun is also essential to life: it provides us with warmth, enthusiasm, passion and inner power. The solar plexus animates the body and keeps it alive.

Psychologically, the solar plexus is responsible for digesting emotions. The experiences we encounter as we journey through life need to be swallowed, digested and absorbed - any waste needs to be eliminated. Experiences get held in the digestive organs and soft tissues of the body where they can cause illness - holding on to old emotions create inner conflict. Anger usually hides pain, which in turn hides the treasures of your inner power. We each need time to fully digest our emotions and cleanse our systems of negativity.

Anatomically you will not find the solar plexus but you will find the coeliac plexus, which is a group of nerves corresponding to this Chakra. Digestion is a main function of the solar plexus and is associated with all digestive organs, stomach, small intestine, liver, gallbladder and spleen.

The keywords are: logic, reason, opinion, assimilation, psychic intuition and identity. The developmental age associated with the solar plexus is from eight to twelve years. Its main colour is yellow, its secondary colours are gold and rose. Its kingdom is animal.

The quietening fragrances are vetivert and rose, whilst bergamot, ylang-ylang, peppermint and ginger will stimulate the solar plexus.

The crystals for this Chakra are: yellow citrine, yellow topaz, rose quartz and tigers eye.

Its symbol is the inverted triangle.

THE SACRAL CHAKRA

Situated about two inches below the navel is the second Chakra, which is known as the Sacral Centre. This is the sacred home of your inner Self. This Chakra resonates with the moon and feminine energy. It is the centre of divine beauty and the centre of inner wisdom and self-knowledge.

In your body this Chakra governs the whole pelvic region. It is responsible for the ebb and flow of your emotions and feelings. Sensuality and sexuality are experienced from this Chakra. It is also a moon centre with water as its dominant element. If we watch the moon in the night sky we will see that she follows a 28-day cycle. The moon changes from the invisible dark moon to the new moon, which lights the sky with a shining crescent, and her cycle is completed with the rounded fullness of the full moon.

Just as the moon affects the sea, so too does she affect the waters that flow within us, our moods swing and our tides change.

The Sacral Chakra is connected with the developmental stages that take place between the ages of three to eight years. Its main colour is orange and it has secondary colours of amber and gold.

The key words are: security, sense of others,sexuality, creativity, relationships and sincerity. Its sense is taste and its kingdom is plants.

The Sacral Chakra is associated with the womb, genitals, kidney, ovaries, testes and bladder - all are water related body parts and each one is affected by our emotions. There is also a glandular connection to the lymphatic system and to muscles. As the centre of emotion the Sacral Chakra triggers the physical expression of our feelings.

Connecting with this Chakra helps you to connect with the divine Self and inner wisdom and when energy is allowed to flow freely through it intuition will be stronger.

Quietening fragrances for the Sacral Chakra are musk and amber. Rosemary and rose geranium will stimulate it. Its crystals are: amber, citrine, topaz, moonstone and jasper.

Its symbol is the crescent moon.

CHAKRAS

Humans are made up of many Chakras. We have seven major, twenty-one minor, forty-nine minute and numerous minuscule Chakras. They are wheels of Divine light.

The seven major Chakras radiate out from different points along the spine to the top of the head. The Chakras profoundly affect your spirit, mind and body. It is through the Chakras that these aspects of your being are connected and can be aligned and balanced. They are not in the physical body - they are a part of the Subtle Energy body. They do, however, have direct correspondences in the body and mind.

ROOT CHAKRA: is the seat of your security and stability. When it is open you are in tune with your deepest sense of belonging, of safety, of being at home in the world and your body. Its colour is red.

SACRAL CHAKRA: is the seat of your creative energy on every level - physical, artistic and sexual. When open you are capable of feeling joy in your body. You are radiant and alive. Its colour is orange.

SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA: this is your connection point to your will and personal power. When open know that you are strong and whole and able to do all the things you came into this life to do. Its colour is yellow.

HEART CHAKRA: is the seat of love and emotions. Connect with your loving nature, the strength and tenderness of your feelings. Know that you are a being of love, born to give love and to receive love. Its colour is green.

THROAT CHAKRA: is the seat of compassion and peace; feel your connection to friends, family and to all of humanity. Know that you are a part of all that is. Its colour is blue.

BROW CHAKRA: is the seat of expanded awareness, of psychic perception. Know that you can awaken your extrasensory perception to see, hear and feel into other worlds. Its colour is indigo.

CROWN CHAKRA: connects you to your God-consciousness, to your Higher Self. Its colour is violet.

DEVELOPMENT CIRCLE - TAKE 2

Yes, the second attempt at getting the Development Circle up and running has finally come to fruition and am I one very happy bunny! LOL Take 2 saw five other women, as well as Aureen and myself, turn up for the first session - a far better result already. :0)

We were running a little late when DH dropped me off at the house so I'd got a bit panicky, especially when I realised that I still hadn't put Aureen's mobile number into mine so I couldn't contact her to let her know. On going in Aureen did the introductions: there were two S's, the one Jan introduced me to the previous night (S1) and the one I remembered from the Angel Workshop (S2) and Sh, a lady I hadn't met before. We chatted amongst ourselves for a little while until the final member turned up, A. A made me do a bit of a double-take..... at certain angles and when she made certain facial expressions she had a look of my SIL, Helen (she passed away in 2007 from cancer at the age of 40), about her. I made a note to warn DH, just in case he happened to catch a glimpse of her during the times he's dropping me off or picking me up.

We all went through into the back room sitting area and took a chair in the circle - I had Aureen on my right and Sh on my left. Aureen then proceeded to do an introductory talk on what the Circle would involve, the types of development we would cover, ensuring we always wore comfortable clothes, didn't eat a heavy meal beforehand (Ooops!), ensured we avoided coming to Circle when feeling ill, read a wonderful piece called The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer - the parts that would speak to us now, the parts that would speak to us when we have developed/grown - what should happen as we work together as a group, the Higher Principles (come back to this in a separate post) and the Chakra colours/positioning. She then went on to explain what we would be doing that night: opening the Circle, and what to do if we felt we needed to leave it at any point; Protection, and knowing that we were in control at all times; Grounding; opening the Chakras; hand energy sensing exercise; closing the Chakras; grounding the energy; Cloak of Protection and closing the Circle. She also touched on any development we each may have done previously and were able to ask questions on anything we weren't too sure about. Once we were happy she then proceeded.

Opening the Circle: we all clasped hands, closed our eyes and Aureen gave the affirmation to the Universal Spirit (we could make this to our own preferred deity if we wished) and called upon the Archangels for their Protection throughout. I can't remember it word for word...... I will gradually pick that up as it's repeated each week. We then released each others hands and opened our eyes.

Protection: Aureen gave examples of several ways you can surround yourself with protection, such as stepping into a bubble of white light, imagining a swirl of white light covering you from head to toe, traffic lights of white light shining on you from all directions or imagining a balloon of white light with a zipper on which you step into then zip up behind you. S2 imagines her Guardian Angel's wings folding around her from head to toe, which I thought was really nice. :0) We then proceeded to use our preferred form. I'd always tried the bubble of white light around me but actually visualising it had always proved a bit difficult and I resorted to talking my way through it..... so I tried the stepping into the balloon and zipping up instead - result! So wish I'd thought to try that much sooner! LOL Whilst doing this we had to sit with our hands on our knees and palms facing upwards and when we had finished we had to turn our hands palm downwards - it helped Aureen know when she could carry on to the next step.

Grounding: next it was visualising branches sprouting from the souls of our feet and deep into Mother Earth, spreading out and then firmly anchoring in the soil. Now this I can do have always found it easier to do than the bubble of white light - probably why Aureen always mentions I'm firmly grounded whenever I have a Reiki treatment. The only difference with this is that whilst most imagined the ends of the branches as anchors I can't, so have always seen them all as little hooks held firm by the Earth. All hands turned down. A mentioned she seemed to have a banging headache so Aureen said she may not be grounded properly and got her to do it again - she started to feel better then. On to the next step.

Opening the Chakras: Aureen detailed some of the ways this could be done, the ones I remember are: lights on dimmer switches, gradually turning up the brightness and the flower bud gradually opening to a full bloom - all in the appropriate Chakra colours in turn. S2 imagined opening coloured curtains. I've always struggled with this when using the bud/flower: I can generally imagine the colour and I can usually imagine the flower but bringing the two together gives me trouble...... so I abandoned that a while ago and opted for opening doors instead, with a slightly better result (less talking through and more actual visualisation going on). All through Aureen was happy for us to use the imagery that worked the best for us and talking about what we used was interesting: I know I gleaned a few good tips and an alternative visualisation method I feel much happier with. :0)

Hand energy sensing exercise: this I did for the first time during the Development Circle Take 1 (and only) session and have practised it occasionally since then, so felt really comfortable doing it. We had to imagine a ball of energy growing in our solar plexus Chakra, then breathing and pulling it up through our body to the heart Chakra, then breathing it up to our shoulders, down through our arms and on down into our hands. We had our eyes closed (as we did through each stage) and held our hands in front of us and apart, and then had to slowly bring our hands together. I do enjoy this as it feels amazing when it works well. :0) When we'd done and all hands were turned over Aureen asked each of us in turn how we felt it had gone. All had had success with it. Several of us had felt the energy flow up our bodies (several mentioned it had made them sit up straighter) - I felt it as a combination of a mild tingling sensation and a warmth that gently flowed through my body (a bit like a wave) as I breathed it up and then down into my hands. A couple likened the energy in their hands to a slightly squishy ball and Sh said it felt like magnets pulling together. Aureen said that a couple of times it looked like I'd struggled to get my hands together: well, a couple of times it felt as if nothing was there, then the next that I'd got two opposite magnets pushing each other apart. I have a feeling that this had something to do with my concentration: when I focused it was strong, if I got a bit distracted it wasn't...... possibly down to the too heavy a meal I'd had and the slightly gurgly stomach that was making me feel a bit self-conscious. I'll definitely be taking steps to change that for next time.

Grounding the energy and closing our Chakras: we then had to visualise the energy flowing back out of us, down through the grounding branches and into Mother Earth, then gradually closing each Chakra in turn, from the Crown down to the Root, doing the reverse visualisation to opening them. When we felt we'd done this we then "unanchored" and drew our roots back to us. Though the first two steps may have been done the other way around - I've had a few sleeps since then so the recall isn't 100%.

Cloak of Protection and closing the Circle: we then had to visualise drawing on a big blue cloak with a hood that eneveloped us from head to foot. For some reason I struggled to visualise a blue cloak - it kept wanting to be black. Now black to a Pagan doesn't have the negative connotations it can have for some folks: black is seen as protective, the velvety darkness of a deep cave - womb of Mother Earth - where life.... or insights... or inspiration springs from (just a few of many positive aspects). I will have to talk this through with Aureen and see what her take on it is. We all joined hands and then Aureen said the closing prayer.

This done Aureen then asked how we all felt it had gone - well - and if any of us had felt or seen anything that we hadn't mentioned previously. Sh and one of the others said they had both had the feeling of cobwebs on their faces, which is usually a sign that there was Spirit present (no, there weren't any crawlies). S2 said she thought she might have seen a figure stood behind Aureen at one point but hadn't been sure if she really had or if it was her imagination. (I didn't say anything but did think: Aaah, that could explain the flippin' cold spot near me!). Now the Angel Workshop brought it out to me that we suffered from self-doubt when it came to Spirit or paranormal events - when you're constantly told that it's your imagination you start to believe it....... and it takes a lot to get beyond that and start trusting in yourself again, so that's something she and I (I don't know about the others yet) are going to have to work on. Though Aureen said that when we start to see Spirit there will be no doubting it - it's different to imagination and we'll learn to recognise it. It's good to know she has every confidence in our abilities.... even if some of us don't. :0)

She then asked if we would be happy to return again next week. S1 had already mentioned she wouldn't be able to, as she had something else on, but the rest of us would. Actually my answer was: Definitely! The emphasis must have been there too because it made them all smile and Aureen comment that she had a feeling that I would say that. LOL It's just so good to finally be at this point. :0)

We were then given some print outs to read up on at home: Higher Principles; a print out of The Invitation; a crib sheet for the Chakras; a run through of the hand energy sensing exercise and a sheet with a list of colours and their aura meanings. We can practise the exercise if we want and are to ponder on the written pieces and see what draws us - I think I'll start a Journal on these, jotting down which I'm drawn to and any thoughts that spring to mind....... it'll be interesting to look back on at a later stage, if nothing else. I think we are going to do some Chakra meditation next week.... but don't quote me as I was feeling a little tired by this point and the concentration slipped as we started gathering our belongings together. I do know that three other ladies should be joining us next week, increasing our numbers......... and that should help overall numbers some folks have to drop out at any point for any reason. I must say that working in a bigger group (rather than just the three of us at Take 1) certainly makes a difference to the energy flow and general feel of the room.

We were over running by this time and Aureen was concerned my DH would have been waiting for a while (Uh, she doesn't know him yet, does she? It's a standing family joke you always tell him to meet you at least 15 minutes before you actually want him there LOL) so she went through to unlock the front door to let us out. I said I'd see her on Saturday, for my Reiki treatment, and for her to remind me to tell her about my dream before we start, then we said our goodbyes. Surprisingly DH was there, sat in the car with the overhead light on so he could read the evening paper. After dropping me off he'd driven along the round and found himself a vantage spot with a good scenic view and sat listening to some music, reading a magazine and generally chillin' until he fancies a half pint, when he drove to the same pub he went to last time. He may well end up being classed as a regular if he goes in every Tuesday night. LOL

By the time we got home I definitely felt tired and opted for an early night. The following day I felt really good..... so much so that I took it into my head to have a trip down the High Street. No, I didn't have a Clinic appointment to go to, though I did have a package that needed posting - though the main reason for going out was....... because I felt like it. :0) I'd chatted to DH the night before about needing to stretch my comfort zone again, so going down the Street on non-appointment days will do that. Then there's the thing about not having a big meal before going to the Circle: DH is OK, he is quite happy to get a dinner at work, and have a light meal before taking me out, so that just leaves me. I'm now getting my head around really stretching that comfort zone: having a walk down to the Malt Shovel and having a meal in there on Tuesday dinnertime, sometimes maybe meeting DH..... but mostly on my tod. Keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll let you know how I get on! :0)

REIKI

Last Saturday I went for my first proper Reiki session at the Earth Energies Clinic which is just a few minutes walk down the local High Street. I'm not sure quite what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't what happened. :0)

Aureen, the practitioner, introduced herself and gave me the gist of what she was going to do and asked me to take note of any sensations or feelings I may have, then asked me to remove all metal I could: off came my rings, a necklace, a bracelet with a metal tag and also my glasses. I then laid on a therapy bed, was covered with a fleecy blanket, the blind closed to darken the room, a CD of relaxing music put in the machine and the treatment began.

Initially I laid there with various thoughts tripping through my head: could do with a poster on the ceiling; wonder if I'll feel anything?; how long have I been here so far?; will I get any benefit from this? etc etc. She placed her hands under my head for a while - shortly after I suddenly had to close my eyes, felt myself relax and then give myself over to whatever was happening. I was vaguely aware of Aureen as she slowly moved to work on different parts of my body, gently touching some areas: head, feet, face, heart and solar plexus chakras. Normally I'm very careful about who invades my personal space but I didn't mind her touch at all and had total trust in her - very unusual, especially as this was the first time I'd ever met her.

Some time later Aureen lightly touched my shoulder, gently called my name and asked if I was OK. OK? I was so relaxed I'd almost fallen asleep and was slurring my words so much initially I told her it felt like I'd had a few drinks! She helped me sit up and gave me a glass of Evian water to sip on. Had I felt anything? Well, through most of the session I kept getting the distinct impression there was someone standing over to the right of the table, near the corner of the room, and occasionally it sounded like there was more than Aureen gently walking around in there. I was also thoroughly relaxed, more than I've ever felt in a very long time.

Explanation: the presence I sensed over by the corner was my Guardian Angel, and she's a lovely, pink angel. Funnily enough, though I'm not a pink person and it's far from my favourite colour, for a while now I've been looking for a small carved rose quartz angel to keep in the house, rose quartz being pink and a gentle, loving crystal - not come across one I am drawn to yet, so still haven't bought one, but I'll know it when I find it. Aureen works with angels and she says they were waiting for her to arrive at the clinic that day, eager to work, and all the sessions had gone really well. I told her about the Aura photographer telling me I needed to ask the angels to take me to a healing room to give me much needed. I had asked and it very much looks like my prayers were answered. :0)

What I didn't tell her was that at one point I forced my eyes open to check where she was. It felt like there was someone stood at my head and at my feet but when I looked Aureen was stood by my side, working on my heart and solar plexus chakras. Mentally shrugging and totally unfreaked I just closed my eyes and gave myself over to the treatment again.

What should have been an hours session went on for an hour and a half and it honestly didn't feel like it at all. Aureen explained the reason it took longer: imagine a ball of yarn but instead of wool it's actually made up of tightly wound black elastic that is sat between my heart and solar plexus chakras and that elastic is all the guilt, anger, grief and similar negative emotions that I'm carrying around with me. Trying to remove it was hard work - as fast as she tried to pull it out from me it snapped back because I kept pulling it back, not ready to let go. She called on Archangel Michael to help and started again: as she pulled out the negative elastic strands He cut them off. Unfortunately it's so deeply entrenched they couldn't get it all, so Aureen said I would benefit from a further treatment should I wish it.

Sounds too weird for you? Then look at it this way: over the last few years I've let myself sink deeply into a pattern of negative thought processes that have built up and caused dis-ease to my whole system - this is now manifesting itself in actual physical symptoms (raised blood pressure etc), so I'm literally making myself ill. For the sake of my health and general well-being I now need to accept all that has happened, especially concerning the loss of my parents, and that it all happened as it was meant to; to acknowledge that I can't change anything, so regularly mulling over it is pointless and damaging, and, finally, I need to let go of all that negativity.

Though I'd already worked all this out for myself knowing it's time to let go and actually doing so are two entirely different matters, much easier said than done. Having someone else point it out reinforces the realisation though and whatever Aureen (and the angels) did seems to be working nicely - I was literally buzzing with energy for days afterwards (unfortunately sleep deprivation, due to DH being away in Italy, has taken the edge off that somewhat now. LOL).

I would heartily recommend having a Reiki treatment to anyone - you don't have to believe in angels and chakras or anything like that to feel the benefit of what is a very positive and relaxing experience. Oh and though I am a Pagan I do believe in angels...... they're not solely a Christian concept. :0)

After the treatment Aureen then went on to give me both a Tarot and Angel card readings - again I got way more than I bargained on but in a very positive way. More about that in another post though, as this is already quite a long one. :0)

Blessings