Olivia Miller - The Chakra Energy Deck: 64 Poses and Meditations to Balance Mind, Body, and Spirit

OLIVIA H. MILLER is a freelance writer and has been a student of yoga for more than thirty years. She is the author of The Yoga Deck , The Healing Yoga Deck , and Essential Yoga , all published by Chronicle Books.

Text copyright 2022 by Olivia H. Miller.
Illustrations copyright 2022 by Chronicle Books.

All rights reserved. No part of this deck may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher.

Design by KAT YAO .

Illustrations by ARAKI KOMAN .

ISBN: 978-1-7972-1246-3 (epub, mobi)

ISBN: 978-1-7972-1128-2 (deck)

Chronicle Books LLC

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San Francisco, California 94107

www.chroniclebooks.com

Within the body lie seven main energy centers. We cant see or feel them; they wont show up in an X-ray or an MRI. Yet for thousands of years, Eastern cultures have recognized their significance to our physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health. It is through these centers, known as chakras, that life-force energy (also known as prana or chi ) flows.

Although there are more than a hundred chakras in and around our bodies, The Chakra Energy Deck focuses on what are considered the seven major energy centers. Arranged vertically beginning at the base of the spine and moving to the top of the head, they are: (1) ROOT CHAKRA , (2) SACRAL CHAKRA , (3) SOLAR PLEXUS CHAKRA , (4) HEART CHAKRA , (5) THROAT CHAKRA , (6) THIRD EYE CHAKRA , and (7) CROWN CHAKRA .

The first three chakras, the lower triangle, may be thought of as our foundation. Grounded in the physical realm, they cover basic life necessities: security and survival (first chakra), sexuality and intimacy (second chakra), identity and willpower (third chakra). The fourth chakra deals with love and compassion, and is regarded as the balance point and the bridge to the three upper chakras, referred to as the higher triangle. These centers are associated with more spiritual realms: expression and truth (fifth chakra), wisdom and connection to the higher self (sixth chakra), union and transcendence (seventh chakra).

A protective energy field known as the aura connects all seven chakras. The aura is often considered the eighth chakra.

In Sanskrit, an ancient Indian language, chakra means wheel or circle. Balanced chakras can be visualized as spinning vortices, revolving in a clockwise direction at particular frequencies. When imbalanced, chakras may spin counterclockwise and/or the energy may move horizontally or vertically. The first chakra, the Root Chakra, spins at the slowest rate of speed; the seventh, the Crown Chakra, revolves at the highest. Each chakra is also associated with and stimulated by a specific color, and by sounds that vibrate at a similar frequency.

The chakras are part of an energy pathway known as the sushumna , Sanskrit for spine. Energy moves through the central nervous system along the sushumna from the base of the spine up through the brain, ending at the tip of the nose. How energy flows in and out of the chakras and up and down this pathway greatly affects us. Balanced chakras allow energy to flow freely, promoting health, vitality, and harmony. Life experiences such as illness, trauma, and stress can result in imbalances, causing chakras to become blocked (deficient) or overloaded (excessive).

Energy imbalances may produce a wide array of ailments and disturbances. Often the imbalances are temporary, but if persistent, they can result in chronic illness, disease, and/or habitual patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving. Fortunately, the chakras can be cleared, rebalanced, and energized through yoga, controlled deep breathing (prana-yama), meditation, chanting, and specific hand positions (mudras), as well as through the use of gemstones and crystals, flower essences, essential oils, and certain foods.

It is not necessary to know which chakras may be unbalanced, whether they are deficient or excessive, or what is causing the imbalances in order to rebalance them. When the chakras begin to clear, however, you may start to notice that habitual thought patterns change, your emotions may shift, and new actions or reactions occur. For instance, you might experience more energy, feel more compassionate, or perceive things with more clarity. A creative journey of profound healing and transformation begins.

The Chakra Energy Deck includes 64 cards. All cards feature an illustration on one side; the reverse provides easy-to-follow instructions, a bulleted list of benefits, and a suggested affirmation targeting the energy of the particular chakra. There are nine cards per chakra, plus one aura card with an exercise designed to awaken auric energy. Each chakra section includes:

• AN OPENING CHAKRA SYMBOL MEDITATION that focuses on the meaning of the symbols triangles, circles, and lotus flower petals. To enhance the meditation, you may wish to gaze at the symbol on the front of the card, focusing on the essence of that particular energy center.
• TWO BREATHING EXERCISES designed to move stagnant or constricted energy, strengthen the respiratory and central nervous systems, and relieve stress.
  • One breath exercise incorporates hand positions known as mudras , Sanskrit for seal or gesture. Hand mudras are ancient healing techniques, physical anchors that support your practice by completing an energy circuit within the body. Each mudra breath offers an opportunity to chant a bija mantra. Bija , which means seed, is a one-syllable sound said to contain the essence of the chakra, and when spoken aloud, activates the chakras energy. Mantra , translated as instrument of thought, is a word, incantation, or phrase. A bija mantra is a sacred means of clearing and balancing body, mind, and spirit.
  • A second breathing exercise uses the breath to enhance the chakras particular energies, further supporting physical, emotional, and mental well-being.
• FIVE YOGA POSES designed to improve strength and flexibility, help balance the glandular and nervous systems, increase energy, and enhance overall health and wellness. (Note: Two yoga poses, Kneeling Yoga Mudra and Standing Yoga Mudra, involve the entire body, and are not to be confused with hand mudras as noted above. In a yoga mudra pose, the head is lower than the heartsymbolizing the logical mind surrendering to the intuitive heart.)
• A CLOSING MEDITATION that incorporates simple vowel sounds representing the chakras unique vibration. When chanted, these sounds stimulate and awaken specific chakra energies.

There are many ways to use this deck. The choice is yours, and there is no incorrect way. Here are some suggestions:

• Start with the first chakra, the Root Chakra, and move sequentially through the deck.
• Begin with any chakra that calls to you and use the nine cards associated with that energy center. For example, perhaps youre struggling with speaking up and want to focus on the Throat Chakra, or youre feeling sorrow or grief and want to concentrate on your Heart Chakra.
• Focus solely on yoga pose cards or choose to do only breathing exercises or meditations.
• Select all seven symbol meditation cards; close your eyes, shuffle the cards, take a deep breath, and pick one card, which might be precisely the chakra you need to focus on in that moment!