MINDFUL MANDART MOMENTS... "Refresh with a Chakra Cleanse"
WISDOM AT THE CROSSROADS PODCAST.
We may not like cleaning up but this visualized cleansing ritual will be a great addition to your self care tool box.
In this MANDART MOMENT OF MINDFULNESS colour was the inspiration that initiated a visual journey through the chakra column.
The chakras form a tower of invisible energetic support in all of us. There are 7 chakras that form this internal column beginning with the root chakra at the base of the spine and rising to the crown chakra just above the top of our heads.
Becoming aware of the properties of our chakras can help us to consciously align ourselves with our greatest potential.
Amethyst and Quartz, Kessler Collection Savannah Georgia.
There are many ways to visualize a chakra cleanse. I return to them often in a variety of ways. In this version of an energetic cleanse we expand, we rise we imagine and together imbue our chakras with crystal magic from head to toe.
Mindful Moments are designed to bring us back to the present. Creativity has always been my avenue to presence. This pic illustrates a pandemic moment where I literally painted myself into a corner
Mindful Mandart Moments.
These meditations I share are really moments of self-care designed to help us to pause and to be present, to make ourselves available to the creative magic all around us through the action of slowing down. I hope you will find this one helpful.The Chakra Cleanse.
I keep the traditional colour pattern of the chakra column in mind as I do a Chakra cleanse meditation. I am consistent each time in adhering to a process but the stones and crystals I visualize might vary depending on where I am and how I am feeling. The stones I will mention in today’s practice are just one option to consider when clearing your chakra column in meditation.
Mindfulness is about being present so I am including this image from a Shoalhaven Heads beach walk. I was in Australia visiting family on New Years Day 2023 while I was preparing the blog for this episode.
Lets be reminded to just “Be’ where we are, wherever we are.
Painting is a process that takes me to a meditative mindset where the hustle of the world slows and i become fully present in my work at play. Colour in my painting practice evolved into a Chakra cleanse in this episode. It is one of my favourite meditations and one I return to often. The 15 minutes of this episode will be worth the investment in your self-care program.
“Wonderland: Soul” left side. This panel is an example of colour in my work. I guess we could say with total honesty that all the crayons in the box are included in my paintings. “Wonderland’s” soul could reside with you if colour is on your New Years list.
Time for a little context….
What is a Chakra?
The chakra tower is part of our energetic body. It extends from the base of the spine to the crown of the head and is believed to be formed by seven centers of spiritual power in the human body.
The word chakra comes from the Sanskrit word that means wheel or disc. Our chakras are thought of as spinning discs that work more effectively when they are open and aligned.
A cleansing chakra meditation like this one is designed to apply our focused breath to a visual journey and as a result, to translate that intentional refreshment to the corresponding areas of the body via our clear and expanded chakras.
The meditation in the recording references crystal energy that corresponds to the colours associated with the respective chakras. Here on the blog i am pairing details from my painting practice to illustrate the colours of the respective Chakras. This red detail comes from the “Sweet Suite”, of 2022. 11” x 14” acrylic on panel.
1. The Root Chakra.
The Chakra tower begins at the base of the spine with the red root chakra that grounds us to the earth.
The visual I am using in the podcast this episode begins with the rich deep red and the energy of garnet. Garnet is a stone of manifestation that helps to keep us grounded and soothes any negative emotions.
Orange detail from the Sweet Suite series of smalls, 11” x 14”, 2022.
2. The Sacral Chakra.
Orange is the colour representative of the Sacral Chakra. The Sacral Chakra exists in the area above the pelvic bone and below the belly button. It is the site of sexuality and creativity. In the recording I invite you to use your focused breath to imagine a ball of energy that exists at this energy centre.
The sacral chakra is represented in this episode by the warm loving orange glow of Carnelian, a stone that awakens our zest for life and stimulates creativity.
Yellow detail from “Afternoon Showers” 30” x 60”, 2010.
3. The Solar Plexus Chakra
The colour yellow in the above illustration comes from a large pair of paintings I introduced on the podcast in the episode titled “Afternoon Showers”. Our visualized practice can take us to a calm and refreshing space whatever the weather and wherever we are.
The solar plexus corresponds to the colour yellow, digestion and our personal power and confidence. In the podcast we continue thoughts of the warm lemon yellow of Citrine. The Solar Plexus Chakra is home to our gut reactions and Citrine has a positive energy that aids with purification and improved digestion. Feel yourself ease here as you focus your breath and apply your attention to the colour of sunshine..
Green detail from “Breeze at Bay, 24” x 48”, acrylic on panel.
4. The Heart Chakra.
The heart chakra is typically represented with the colours green or pink. It is of course the center for love and compassion. In our meditative practice this episode we invite the smooth mid green of Aventurine into our thoughts as we focus on the breath.
Breathing in fully and exhaling fully we invite the general wellbeing and emotional calm of this heart stone to expand and align our Heart Chakra.
Light Blue Detail from “Alumni” 11” x 14”, 2022
5. The Throat Chakra.
The throat chakra is our light blue communication hub.
In this episode of the Podcast we’ll be mindful of Blue Lace Agate of the chalcedony family. This delicate yet highly spiritual soothing stone brings peace and calm to our visualized meditative practice.
With each breath focused on the throat chakra we can imagine our words being heard.
Dark Blue detail from “Blue Gums” 48” x 48” acrylic on canvas, 2022.
6. The Third Eye Chakra.
The Third Eye is dark blue and representative of our vision, insight and imagination .
Located in the center of the forehead, the Third Eye Chakra is represented by the rich dark cobalt blue we find in lapis lazuli. Lapis was loved by the ancients and has been associated with strength and wisdom. This rich deep blue inspires vision in all directions and helps to instill confidence.
As you follow along to the directions on the podcast notice the changes in your third eye chakra as it clears and grows more expansive.
With regular concentrated breaths the polished orb of deep blue lapis establishes itself upon a beautiful column of bright white light. This light at the core is common to each of our energy centers or chakras. This light supports each Chakra in turn as we apply our focus and intentional breath.
Twilight skies are often full of magic. This one over my sisters backyard
7. The Crown Chakra.
The crown chakra located just above the top of our head is our connection to purpose and spirit. It is usually represented by the conductivity of clear quartz or the healing value of purple.
In this version of a chakra cleanse on the podcast I have chosen the regal purple of amethyst to add healing energy to our visualization. The crown chakra connects us to the spiritual realm.
In this meditation we allow the energy of amethyst to balance our system, to assist with purification, and protection while connecting us to the energy of the universe.
Some crystals we can hold in our hand. Others inspire because of their size or composition. This beauty was a monster more than 4 feet tall. From the Kessler Collection, Savannah Georgia.
The Chakra Roundup…
The column that began with the rich deep grounding energy of Garnet, was followed by the warm, earthy orange of Carnelian, Citrine’s positivity, Aventurine’s anti-inflammatory effect, Blue Lace Agate’s calm and Lapis Lazuli’s strength and confidence. Our visual journey continued to the final chakra at the crown that connects us to the spiritual realm with the healing nature of Amethyst.
Which brings us to the end of our journey in this episode.
Thanks for joining me for this meditative pause. Time is valuable and I really appreciate you spending some of your time with me. I hope you are generating your own meditative practice by joining in with my examples on the Podcast.
Please feel free to Invite a friend to join in for this weekly self care project.. It’s free and every comment or recommendation is helpful to the growth of this project.
Listen in to the recording on the player above or find “WISDOM AT THE CROSSROADS PODCAST” on your preferred platform.
Until next time, be well and be inspired and I will look forward to joining with you again as we seek wisdom at the crossroads where action and presence meet.
All best, Amanda