Thursday, March 22, 2012

The Bija Mantras, the Chakras and Enlightenment


I recently returned from a week-long training with my teacher, Margot Anand, called, From Sex to Super Consciousness. The workshop involved a series of powerful activations to help us awaken and embody conscious awareness. The process involves working with a variety of sacred mantras.

My familiarity with the Bija Mantras associated with the Chakras was very helpful for this advanced work. I encourage you to try this practice as a way to begin increasing your awareness and empowering your chakras.

Bija Mantra Chakra Clearing and Activation Practice


The Bija Mantras are powerful seed-sounds that emanate directly from Source.
Using these sounds remove blocks and activates the Chakras. Activating these energy centers allows ecstatic energy to flow into every part of your body and being. The flow of ecstatic energy enhances every aspect of your life- sexual, energetic and spiritual. I encourage you to try this practice as a way to begin increasing your awareness and empowering your chakras.

Begin by creating a quiet, beautiful space where you will not be disturbed. Remember to turn off all phones. Read over the entire practice before you begin. This practice is ideally done with a partner. It takes about one hour. It can be modified and done as a solo practice as well.


The Heart Salutation


You begin by acknowledging the Divine in each other with a Heart Salutation. Sit across from your partner and look into their eyes. Extend your arms towards the earth, palms together. Then, inhale and keeping your hands in prayer position, bring them to your heart. Exhale as you bow forward and acknowledge the Divine in each other with the Sanskrit salutation “Namaste.” Namaste means, "I honor the Divine in you as a reflection of the Divine in me." Inhale as you straighten back up. Finally, exhale as you allow your hands to return to the starting position, pointed toward the earth.

The Bubble

Now, you and your partner create a bubble around yourselves. Do this by waving your arms around you as you both define the shape of the bubble that surrounds you. Then, gesture as if removing an object from your bubble and verbally share what things you are removing. These are things that won't serve you in this practice (the past, distractions, anger, worry, etc.) Next, gesture as if bringing things into your bubble. These are things that will support the practice (love, willingness, presence, trust etc.) Creating the bubble helps to call you into present moment awareness and creates a safe space in which to practice.

Share Your Desires, Fears and Boundaries

Once the bubble is created, share your intentions/desires, fears and boundaries related to this practice. First, one person speaks while the other person listens without judgment or commentary. Then, you switch roles. Here is an example:
“There is a desire to stay present, open and clear any blocked energy.”
“There is a fear is that I won't remember which mantra to say."
“There is a boundary is that when you tone into my root, I'd like you to be a few inches away from my body. For the rest, it is ok to touch my body with your hands.”

Why boundaries? Boundaries are not walls, they are bridges. Intimacy happens when people have healthy boundaries. Healthy boundaries allow you to feel safe, stay open and be present. Boundaries are dynamic, so it is important to check-in periodically with yourself to see if your boundaries have changed. If they have changed, update your partner so they can honor your new boundaries. Here are a few examples: “I need to end this practice by noon.” “I wanted to be touched gently during this meditation.” “If something isn't working for me, I will let you know.”

Bija Mantra Chakra Clearing and Activation


This practice is done with a partner or can be modified and done alone. One person will receive and the other will give. The receiver lies on the floor on a sarong or blanket, on a massage table or on the bed. The giver is positioned next to the receiver. The giver will be toning the Bija Mantra associated with each chakra into their partner's chakra center. As you tone into their chakra, you want to create a tube with your hands. Place your lips up against the opening of the tube you've created and make a seal. You will place the other end of the tube either against your partner's body or a few inches away (depending on your partner's boundaries.) As you tone through the tube, it allows the mantra to travel deeply into the body, clearing and activating the chakra. Practice a few times until you feel comfortable with the process.

How to Tone the Bija Mantras

The Bija Mantras are sacred sounds that resonate with each chakra. "Bija" means "seed." Each Bija Mantra is a specific sound that activates, clears and amplifies its particular chakra.

The first 5 seed sounds rhyme with the word "mom" :
1-"LAM" (Root Chakra)
2-"VAM" (Belly Chakra)
3-"RAM" (Solar Plexus Chakra)
4-"YAM" (Heart Chakra)
5-"HAM" (Throat Chakra)

The 6th seed sound rhymes with the word "home" :
6-"OM" (Third Eye Chakra)
7-Silence (Crown Chakra)

One way to remember the order of the Bija Mantras is with the acronym LoVeR You Have Orgasms.


The order in which we do the practice is different for men and women. With a man, you begin at the root and move up to the crown because masculine energy is associated with the sky, consciousness, and emptiness. With a woman, you begin at the crown and move down to the root, because feminine energy is associated with Earth, life and embodied bliss.

If you are doing this practice alone, place your hand over the appropriate area and say the mantra. As you tone, send the energy into each chakra with your hand and intention.

Choose who will give and receive first. I recommend toning into each chakra 3 times. After each chakra, wait 1-2 minutes for the receiver the fully integrate each sound. After completing all 7 chakras put on some meditative music and sit or lie with the receiver, allowing them time to integrate this experience. Finally, take a few minutes to communicate your experience with each other. If you've agreed, then switch roles.

Be sure to remember the toning sequence for men and women is reversed (men: root to crown; women: crown to root.) :
Men
1-LAM
2-VAM
3-RAM
4-YAM
5-HAM
6-OM
7-Silent

Women

7-Silent
6-OM
5-HAM
4-YAM
3-RAM
2-VAM
1-LAM

I recently discovered this CD of sounds that vibrate at the frequency of the Bija Mantras. http://www.voicesync.org/BijaMantra.htm

This practice allows you to clear and activate your energy and feel more aliveness in your body. It also clears the mind and allows you to expand your awareness of subtle energy and experience Emptiness.

Copyright 2010 by Crystal Dawn Morris

If you'd like to learn more about Tantra and Crystal's events, sign-up for her free monthly newsletter at: http://www.TantraforAwakening.com

Crystal Dawn Morris is a Certified Sky Dancing Tantra Teacher and the foundehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifr of Tantra for Awakening. She is committed to creating a more conscious and compassionate world. She offers Tantra workshops, Tantra coaching and healing sessions. She also creates retreats for couples and individuals to awake passion in their lives and relationships. She teaches a 9-month Tantra teacher certification program called The Art and Business of Teaching Tantra. She lives in Sedona, AZ where she practices yoga, writes and enjoys life. She loves to travel and is open to teaching and coaching in your community.

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