Emotional Healing Through Yoga
Part VII: Our Divine Connection

by Zuzanna Vee

The Crown Chakra is our direct line to experience the Oneness of All spoken of in the sacred texts of all mystic paths. The posterior superior parietal lobe of the brain, located close to the crown of the head is constantly processing visual, tactile and proprioceptic input to give us a sense of where we are oriented in space. With no sensory input, pratyahara, the 5th limb of Raja Yoga, perceived that boundaries to the physical dissolve, creating a sense of oneness, peace and well-being. Contemporary experiments with sense deprivation have induced altered states of consciousness similar to the mystical states recorded by monks hundreds of years ago.

The element associated with the Crown Chakra is pure consciousness. Our life force enters through this portal in the top of the head. The Hopi have a legend that the survivors from the successive world destructions emerged again and were entreated to "keep the doors on top of your heads open" in order to receive guidance for their continued survival. Christian mysticism acknowledges the crown chakra in paintings depicting the "halo" of the saints.

Oddly, there are several colors associated with the crown chakra - gold, white, pale lilac, and pink. This may be because few of us have had personal conscious experience of it (it is a newly developing part of greater humanity) or it may be that there are stages of development and connection, each associated with one of these colors. Maybe all of the above.

Seeing the "big picture," having faith and devotion, and the mystic's "dark night of the soul," which usually precedes further awakening, are all crown chakra issues. Some clues in the colloquial are "just off the top of my head...," "let's brainstorm to see what we come up with," and "she always has her head in the clouds." In the 1960s, we all "blue our minds."

Some physical imbalances that Caroline Myss, author of Anatomy of the Spirit associates with the crown chakra are paralysis, bone cancer, skeletal/muscular problems, chronic fatigue, energetic disorders, and extreme sensitivities to chemicals, sound or light. On a deeper level, I think crises of faith, lack of faith, and the insistence that this life is all there is - the "God is dead, get over it" attitude - symbolize our extreme disconnectedness with ourselves, all living creatures, and the Universal Principle sometimes called God.

Meditation, or dyana, the 7th limb of yoga, is the primary state of the Crown Chakra. However, what we usually think of as meditation is really the practice of concentration, dharana, the 6th limb of yoga and the prelude to meditation. Dharana will lead one to meditation, but one will never be successful "trying" to meditate. During a concentration practice, one may suddenly realize one was, indeed, meditating. At that moment of realization, meditation stopped. Meditation is elusive and not the realm of Mind. It is a pure consciousness state of being rather than doing.

Asanas that bring focus to the top of the head are Dolphin (preparation for headstand), Headstand and Hare (rolling onto the top of the head from Pose of a Child). But remember, as stated above, the crown chakra is experienced by being rather than doing.

 
Dolphin 

Hare Pose
                                   

The seed sound of the crown chakra is the "nngg" sound at the end of the word "singing." The repetition of this sound at the correct frequency (experiment for yourself) will vibrate in the top of the head. Practice this change before your concentration practices.

A concentration practice for the crown chakra:

Sit in a comfortable position with your spine erect and shoulders relaxed. Focus on the breath and establish a deep, slow, even breathing rhythm. Take your time: don't rush.

Imagine (Third Eye - remember, focus and intent) you have an aperture or trap door on the top of the head and gently open it. Each time you inhale, draw Prana or Life Force through the Crown Chakra. On each exhalation, methodically direct this vital energy to each part of your body, until the entire body is suffused with Life Force: organs, blood, bone, muscles, tendons - all cell structures; also send the Life Force through and permeate the skin, eyes, nails, hair and teeth. Don't forget any part of your body. Spend extra time on areas that need extra care and attention.

Finally, further enhance the energy field (prana maya kosha) that extends several inches from the physical body (anna maya kosha). Perhaps you will notice a warmth or tingling sensation and a sense of well being. This daily practice will help strengthen the immune system.

We have arrived at the end of our discussion of the chakras, but the inner exploration of them and how they relate to your life just begins - if you wish. I want to thank everyone who was kind enough to read this series of articles and especially those who took the time to contact me and tell me how much they appreciated them. Thank you, Karen Newton, for the opportunity to share my inner exploration with you all.

Zuzanna Vee is now practicing at Massage & Bodywork Associates, 1526 E. Franklin Street, Chapel Hill. Call her to schedule yoga therapy, Thai yoga, or chakra assessment and balancing sessions at (919) 542-3001, or please visit www.RainbowHealing.net. Photo credit: Beverly Johnson.