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Spiritual Health

Spiritual Health

Aura Colors & Their Meanings: A Comprehensive Guide

The human body radiates a very low level of electricity that’s otherwise known as an electromagnetic field — or an aura. Though there are no scientific studies to prove the existence of auras, many practices and philosophies throughout the world have long believed in their existence. However, the interpretation of what an aura actually is, or what it might mean, can vary. Shall we explore? What Is an Aura?Photo by Sigmund on UnsplashAuras refer to the largely unseen field of energy surrounding a human’s physical body, although other living things, such as trees, flowers, or animals, can also have an energy field. The appearance of your own aura is impacted by your mood and emotional state. Much like a mood ring, different colors are associated with different traits and emotions. An aura reader (or aura readings) might tell you that these colors and their meanings are actually a combination of different colors, with one being more dominant than the rest. It’s believed that these layers of colorful light emanating from our bodies can demonstrate our state of being—be it associated with physical, mental, spiritual, or emotional health. Ancient systems of medicine, such as Hindu scriptures like the Vedas, believe that a person’s aura is expressed in layers of color. RELATED: Chakras | A Complete Guide to the 7 Chakras and their MeaningsThe aura color wheel consists of seven main colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Each of these colors corresponds to one of the seven main energy points in your body, AKA chakras, though auras are by no means limited to these colors. These chakras include the throat chakra, the root chakra, the sacral chakra, the third eye chakra, the crown chakra, the heart chakra and the solar plexus chakra. We can study and learn more about our auras by getting an aura reading. During a reading, a person trained to see auras may do a reading without the need for any special equipment. Alternatively, a reading may involve photographing your aura with a camera specialized in capturing electromagnetic fields. The Layers of Your Aura(Getty)The seven layers of your aura (also known as bodies or planes) each represent something different.Physical aura planeThe physical aura plane is the layer representing your physical health -- in the physical realm. Fittingly, it’s the layer closest to your skin.Emotional aura planeThe emotional aura plane is associated with your emotions. If you’re currently ruled by your emotions, it’s going to show up here. Your emotional plane changes color depending on your mood. If you’re stressed or overwhelmed, it may look dull or smudged. Mental aura planeThe third layer out from your body, your mental aura plane corresponds to your sense of logic, reasoning, and your thinking mind. RELATED: Awaken the Fire Within: 5 Ways to Connect to Your Spiritual FlameAstral body aura planeYour astral plane is connected to your spiritual health. It also happens to be where you store your capacity to feel and express love. Etheric aura planeThe etheric aura plane is where your psychic abilities live. When unimpeded, your etheric plane helps you tap into the energy of others, so you can connect with those “on a similar wavelength," emoting universal energy.Celestial aura planeThe celestial plane is the dwelling place of your dreams and intuition. It’s also known as the plane of enlightenment. Highly creative people tend to have a strong celestial plane.Causal aura planeThe causal plane is the final layer. It serves to create harmony between all the other layers, and ultimately acts as a guide to keep you on your life path. Aura Meanings Based On Color(Getty)Red aura Red corresponds to the root chakra, and it relates to our physical body, as well as the physical world that surrounds us. Those with red in their auras are powerful people who rarely deny themselves the pleasures of the physical plane. Red tends to show up in the auras of people who are fearless, passionate, and unapologetic, and possess an inbuilt understanding of their physicality. Typically unafraid of death, over-indulgence, sensuality, or risk, they enjoy manifesting their desires on a material level and are no strangers to adventure. In part, it's their restlessness that keeps them so driven. As the brightness of a color in your aura can indicate different things too, it’s worth noting that dark or murky red might indicate anger, frustration, trauma, or exhaustion.Pink auraPink vibrates at a similar frequency as green, which corresponds to the heart chakra, and is typically associated with feminine energy. Pink is rarely seen in an aura, but it does happen. Light pink can be seen in the auras of those who are gentle and give off pleasant, loving energy to everyone they meet, inspiring feelings of comfort in those around them. RELATED: How to Calm the Chaos of Everyday Life with Mindfulness MeditationDeeply sensitive, they fully embrace the ideals of romantic love, and are often adept at keeping romance alive and kicking. People with pink in their auras tend to be natural creatives and healers with strong intuition. Even at the worst of times, a person with a pink aura can help heal others by sheer virtue of their presence. They remind us to be gentle with each other and with the world.Magenta auraPeople with magenta in their aura are rare and true. A combination of red and blue, magenta mixes a potent understanding of the physical world with an elevated ability to think intuitively. This powerful combination makes people with magenta auras extremely well-suited to creative endeavors. They have boundless energy, and are fueled by innovative ideas. While they can sometimes seem eccentric, their bonafide originality generally drums up positive attention from others. These individuals are not the kind to follow the crowd. They relish shaking people from their ordinary routines. Unique and optimistic, they tend to look at life overall with a well-developed sense of humor. Although strong-willed and intelligent, they are rarely understood. Fortunately, they aren’t usually worried about the judgments of others, and are happy simply doing justice to themselves.Orange aura Orange is the color of the sacral chakra, which is linked to creativity, sensuality, and the emotional plane. People with orange auras have a hard time being idle—they love a thrill and want to experience all they can in the span of their life. Orange is also the energetic center for relationships and interactions, with a high value placed on friendship. RELATED: Sacral Chakra: How to (Playfully) Heal a Blocked Sacral ChakraOrange in an aura indicates a person who tends to flow with joyful exchanges, whether relating to work, love, or family. These highly perceptive and dynamic people have a natural ability to be relatable and sociable, which makes them great at teamwork. Friendships develop rapidly for those with orange auras. Because they yearn for newness and all things sensual, those with a dulled orange in their auras may be dealing with addiction or trouble sticking to commitments.Yellow auraYellow corresponds to the solar plexus chakra, which rules the intellect, self-confidence, and personal power. Those with yellow in their aura have strong self-esteem and tend to be happy individuals capable of inspiring greatness in others. People with yellow auras glow like the sun and have a natural ability to encourage and support others simply by being who they are. There is a fount of inner joy at the core of their being, so it’s no wonder that they draw other people to them the way that they do. These radiant souls are also skilled at complex analysis. When the yellow is darker or denser in our aura, it may indicate a propensity for self-criticism, perfectionism, overconfidence, or self-ruled by the ego (or an ego-driven self).RELATED: Solar Plexus Chakra: The Meaning of the 3rd ChakraTan auraA tan colored aura shows up for those who are extra logical or analytical, with a strategic, linear way of thinking. These are methodical, practical people who never cut corners—they aim to build relationships step by baby step, slowly but surely. Unsurprisingly, these detail-oriented folks are highly tactical, and often have the ability to accomplish tedious or mind-numbing tasks that overwhelm others. Although they are very down-to-earth and place a high value on long-term commitments, they are quite risk-averse and have a hard time sharing their feelings with others.Green aura Green auras bridge the divide between spiritual and physical worlds, and are associated with the heart chakra, AKA the center of healing and personal growth. Those with green in their auras radiate unconditional love and peaceful life force energy sensed by all who enter their presence. They are often drawn to nature and animals and are skilled self healers. RELATED: Heart Chakra: Everything You Need to Know About the Fourth ChakraThese are the most balanced people in the whole color spectrum, as they can just as easily give focus to their own goals as they can to the people they care about. They have a strong sense of responsibility to others, while also being powerful self advocators. They are focused, deeply creative, and do not shy away from high ideals. If the green is dark or muddy, it may, however, indicate envy, or feeling like a victim.Blue aura(Getty)A light turquoise blue is the color corresponding to the throat chakra, which rules one’s power of communication and self-expression. Someone with a true, bright blue in their aura has natural gifts of self-expression, and a powerful ability to speak their truth under a variety of circumstances. Individuals with light blue in their aura possess great inner wisdom and tend to rely on their feelings to make decisions without the need for external or factual data. These true blue dreamers place a great deal of importance on their personal relationships and connections. Honest, clear, and direct communication is crucial to them. Their ability to share knowledge makes them great philosophers. The lighter the blue in an aura, the more peaceful and positive a person’s energy happens to be.Indigo aura Indigo blue corresponds to the third eye chakra, and is associated with inner knowledge and intuition. Those with indigo in their aura trust said intuition and can easily tell the difference between truth and illusion. They are very sensitive to the energy of others and are extremely ‘tapped in.’ In other words, they often know things before they happen, and are known to have premonitory and/or lucid dreams. RELATED: Third Eye Chakra: How to Open Your 3rd EyeHighly sensitive and empathetic, they operate from the depths of feeling rather than logic. They truly understand that being present in the here and now is integral. Natural explorers, they view the world as something much bigger than themselves. As great communicators, they help others to gain a better understanding of the mysterious beauty that surrounds them. A dark or cloudy indigo can indicate self doubt, uncertainty, or a break with intuition.Purple auraPurple or violet corresponds to the crown chakra, which is linked to a connection with the dreamworld and higher consciousness. Purple vibrates at a very high speed, signaling a close connection with the universe. Those with purple in their auras are highly dynamic, charming, and have strong personalities. They have highly active minds and are able to manifest their projections in the material world with ease. Their goal in life is to show humankind the way to a new era of happiness and prosperity. These unique souls are no strangers to insightful ideas that take the wellbeing of the entire world as we know it into account. They have an unshakeable drive to do something significant while alive. True visionaries, they are gifted with both knowledge and intuition, and are generally adept at seeing ‘the big picture’ related to any given situation. Natural empaths, they sense others' vibrations easily.White aura (Getty)An all-white aura is indicative of someone who has transcended the physical world. Unsurprisingly, these people are exceedingly rare—it’s possible there are only a few inhabiting this earth. People with white auras exist free from personal problems, disturbances, addictions, or health issues. Slightly more common are those with white in their auras, along with other colors. These are people who live in a spiritually centered state while projecting a certain receptiveness to the universe at large. RELATED: The Value Of Introspection For Personal And Spiritual GrowthTypically unconcerned with worldly matters like ambition, they tend to focus their energies instead on pursuits like truth or purity. These seekers of cosmic wisdom have energy that is uplifting and non judgemental. When there is white in an aura but it looks cloudy or murky, this can signify a state of flux or confusion.Multi-colored auraThose with multiple colors in their aura are said to be “rainbowing.” They tend to experience life a little chaotically. While this usually points to multiple positive things happening simultaneously, it can still get overwhelming at times. Rainbow people are often being pulled in many different directions at once, compared to those who have fewer colors in their auras and are focused on just a few main facets of their lives. If you stop to think about each color in your aura as a different state of consciousness you're swimming in, or a different aspect of yourself, it can quickly become a lot to deal with. While those with multicolored auras can accomplish a lot, rainbows are the double-edged sword of auras.Aura Anomalies(Getty)Aside from color itself, you may notice any of the following details in your aura rendering as well. Here’s what they mean!Bars of lightIf bars or rays of light show up in your portrait (usually white), this can indicate that you are directly connected to the universe, the spirit, or the divine. Those with rays in their auras are in a state where their crown chakra is open, and they are open to receiving messages or energies from other frequencies or dimensions. Orbs of lightWhen orbs of light appear in aura portraits, they often represent protective or spiritual energy that lives with the person, as a sort of guiding light. The color meanings of orbs are somewhat mysterious, however. Most singular orbs show up in the same spot in photographs—the upper left corner, or over the right shoulder. In general, orbs don’t appear over or near our bodies. Rather, they surround us in the consciousness area of our aura. Black or transparent When you are feeling burnt out, exhausted or ill, it's highly likely that the color(s) of your aura will be less bright, and your aura photo will appear dark. It’s important to understand that there is no such thing as a black aura—rather, anything resembling black is simply a lack of energy. Colors may appear subdued or transparent, which depicts a depletion of energy and a real need to rest, recharge, and revitalize.There are many more aura color meaning possibilities to be named, but this rough guide gives you a basic understanding upon which you can launch a more thorough reading of your auric energies! Our different aura colors showcase thought, intention, and desire at any given point in time. The more colorful, clear, and bright the palate, the stronger and more balanced the person tends to be. Auras can reveal a lot about us, be it our character traits, our personality, or our feelings. They speak louder than we do, after all—all we have to do is see them.

How to Identify and Use Crystals for Good Luck, Wealth, and Positive Energy
Spiritual Health

How to Identify and Use Crystals for Good Luck, Wealth, and Positive Energy

Crystals have an undeniable allure. They’re beautiful to look at, of course, but also come packed with potent energy forces that can literally change your life. In fact, good luck crystals literally attract good luck, bringing all the good stuff like love, prosperity, professional and personal success, positivity, health, and happiness your way. For many people, using crystals in their lives is a daily practice. They carefully choose and then care for certain crystals that help them make sense of their lives, make decisions, let go of what doesn’t serve them, and seek out what is missing. Crystals can help you heal, help you cope, and help you reach your dreams—and even help you understand what your true desires are.With a little guidance and practice, you can bring crystals into your life that will aid you in shedding the negative and attracting in abundance all the good stuff your life might be missing. In this comprehensive guide, learn how to identify and use crystals for good luck, wealth, and positive energy. There are crystals that are prized for bringing all sorts of things into a person’s life, from happiness and love to emotional healing and physical recovery to creativity and forgiveness to optimism and good luck. While many crystals can work for a variety of aims, here, we’re focusing on crystals that are especially good for cultivating good luck, wealth, and positivity. Let’s first take a look at what makes crystals for luck special (and effective) in the first place.What Makes Crystals Work?((Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash))Crystals work in mysterious ways. Tons of people swear by the magic of using these good luck charms in their life to bring prosperity, passion, and positivity their way. Healing properties in the crystals are thought to help people let go of hurts and manifest optimism. And while science can’t exactly explain it or prove that the power crystals emit is “real” and effective, anecdotal evidence points to something wondrous happening when people bring crystals into their lives. Plus, while research is unclear on exactly how they work on humans or what function they have, crystals are proven to release unique vibrations. It is through these vibrations or energies that crystals work their “magic.”What are good luck crystals?From the beginning of time, humans have been drawn to crystals. Knowingly or not, people respond to the vibrations crystals transmit. These good luck stones foster good fortune, positive energy, protection, creativity, and rejuvenation. RELATED: How Slowness Improves Your Quality of LifeThey also are known to banish bad luck, heartbreak, anxiety, fear, and sadness. They have been used for millennia by healers, in medicines, as ceremonial and religious objects, for ornamentation, and as charms or talismans to bring on good luck, wealth, and positive energy.What makes some crystals lucky?Clearly, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly how luck works. But certain crystals have been touted for centuries as bringing luck to those in their vicinity, especially those that touch and work with the crystals. It is thought that the special vibrations these stones emit offer protection from bad luck and act as a beacon for bringing positive energy, prosperity, and good fortune into your life.Over time, people began to notice that those who communed with these certain crystals tended to have better luck than those that did not. There isn’t science available to prove or explain this. However, cultural belief and tradition, as well as anecdotal evidence and faith, have worked to sustain this popular practice of relying on crystals for good luck.Can Crystals Really Bring Luck?((Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash))If you ask those that use crystals for good luck whether they work, you’ll likely get a resounding “Yes!” And while others may poo-poo the idea that crystals can have a strong enough impact to influence a person’s luck, that might not really matter. Luck may be pure chance or we may have a way to draw it to us. Either way, what is more important is to ask yourself if you think crystals might work for you. If you believe that crystals could help bring good luck your way, who is to say they won’t. RELATED: What Does Depression Feel Like? Common Symptoms And My Personal StoryMaybe they’ll help you seize upon the opportunities all around you. And faith in crystals combined with the positive vibes crystals embody may be just the magic you need to call optimism, prosperity, and good fortune into your life.Crystals might be literally influencing what happens in your life or they may be helping to create a personal mindset that is open to the luck that’s right there for the taking. Or both. Maybe getting lucky is all about if you think good luck is in your future. Maybe that positive feeling provides the motivation and energy you need to go after your dreams. Crystals can help you get to that way of thinking, to help you let go of negativity and other blockages that are keeping you from achieving your life goals and finding the happiness and personal success you deserve.Types of Good Luck Crystals(Photo by Renee Kiffin on Unsplash)There are many different types of crystals for good luck. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some are translucent, some are opaque. Some work to dispel negative energy and heal hurts that could be preventing you from living your best life. Others focus more on attracting good luck and positive energy. Some crystals work on a specific area of life, from love and romance to professional or personal success or enhancing business relationships. Essentially, the luckiest stones enhance your ability to find luck and protect you from negativity. They can also help you to set your intentions, reach your goals, clear your mind, and open your heart to new possibilities.The Best Crystals for Good Luck((Photo by Studio Kealaula on Unsplash))While many different crystals can herald in good luck, there are some that are extra effective at channeling good vibes. Here’s our list of the best good luck crystals to try.AmethystThis gorgeous, tranquil pale purple stone is far more than just beautiful and calming. It is also known to summon good luck of all kinds. Regal and powerful, yet gentle and mysterious, amethyst can work wonders for your spirit and mind. The darker the purple, the more potent its ability to draw in good fortune. However, don’t discount the lighter stones as even pale purple amethysts can attract positivity and luck, often just in more subtle forms.TopazStunning clear yellow makes topaz sparkle. This crystal is often referred to as “the lover of gold,” so it makes sense that topaz is especially attuned to bringing wealth your way. Topaz is also effective at calming and balancing the mind, easing worry, and helping you recharge. It will also help you let go of negativity so that your positive energy can really flow.GarnetThis somber, deep red stone speaks volumes if you are brave enough to listen. If so, you’ll be serenaded by vibrations that will send you toward success, luck, and joy. RELATED: A Goal Setting Guide For DepressionGarnet will aid you in finding both personal and professional achievement, as well as push you to make time for joy and optimism along the way.Clear quartzColorless but enchanting, this ice-like good luck crystal magnifies luck, positivity, tenacity, and dreams. This ultimate lucky charm helps you realize your goals and intentions, bringing good fortune of all types your way, while also clearing out any negative energies that may block your path. Smoky quartzLike smoky clouds frozen in glass, this enchanting luck stone attracts power, luck, and balance. Known as an especially powerful crystal, smoky quartz helps clear away the clutter in your brain and repels the negative energies blocking your progress. It helps guide you toward choices that honor and fulfill your intentions and goals—and is a powerful attractor of good luck.Green AventurineThis smoky green stone is tinged with brown and white, giving it a verdant, forest spirit. It is known to lure in success, adventure, good fortune, and wealth. Often called “gambler’s gold,” this lucky crystal is what you need in your pocket when you take risks and go after your dreams. It is also effective as a stabilizer and will help ground your intentions and keep your mental state in balance.Red jadeThis richly red stone promotes boldness, well-being, and powerful thinking. With red jade at your side, you’ll keep your mind and spirit balanced as you harness your most innovative and gutsy energy. Red jade encourages you to believe in yourself, take risks, and go for your dreams.CitrineBright yellow orange and shiny like the sun, this cheerful, lucky crystal is also known as “the lucky merchant’s stone” and “the merchant’s stone of wealth.” It is known to enhance success and wealth and can help you reach your financial and professional goals. Its joyful vibrations will also boost your mood, cleanse your spirit, and just pull luck, happiness, positivity, and success your way.Green jadeThis lovely green stone is known to be a beckon for increasing your business success, accumulating wealth, and harnessing good luck. Green jade sharpens your decision-making, organizational, and multi-tasking skills while also boosting your confidence, patience, and charisma. This lucky crystal also helps prevent rash, unwise choices and other costly mistakes and sets you up to build your very own fortune.Tiger’s eyeThis gorgeous lucky stone combines bands of gold and black and gets its name from its visual similarity to the eye of a tiger. But it’s not just its look that pays homage to that stunning, powerful striped jungle cat. This good luck stone also embodies the vitality, spirit, and fortitude of a tiger as well—and the wisdom of this majestic creature, too. The tiger’s eye will help you see your talents, shape your goals, pounce on your future, and lead you on the path to success. CarnelianThis enchanting, almost glowing red crystal is as beautiful as it is powerful. It’s vivid, vital red hue mirrors the potent boost it will give to your confidence, charisma, creativity, and chutzpah. This stone won’t disappoint as it pushes you to fulfill your potential, giving you tons of luck and positive energy along the way to nourish your heart and soul as you go after your dreams.SeleniteThis pearly white stone is a master at bringing good luck into your life. Selenite fosters calm, healing, clarity, tranquility, and confidence. This peaceful stone for luck helps you shed your fears and obstacles so that you can receive the positive energy and good fortune that’s all around you.PeridotThis pale yellow green crystal is often called “the money stone.” So, it’s no surprise that if growing your wealth is your passion that peridot is the crystal for you. RELATED: Crystals for Protection: How to Hack Your Vibes and Block Negative EnergyThis stone helps to rid you of mental blocks and unhealthy obsessions, letting you focus instead on the objectives that will lead you to the greatest success—and biggest paycheck.MalachiteAnother achingly beautiful green stone, this luck stone is ripe with wisdom, passion, bravery, and truth. Using this crystal, with its rich stripes in a rainbow of green, you’ll find confidence, resilience, and more luck that you’ll ever need. Harnessing the power of nature, particularly of the woods, this heart chakra crystal trades in the verdant energy of rebirth, fertility, and life itself.FluoriteFluorite comes in a variety of shades from purple to green. And like a rainbow, it can work wonders on your spirit, giving you hope in dark times, cheering your heart and filling your life with abundance and joy.Rose quartzThis simple pink stone almost looks like a hunk of candy. But don’t let its delicate, sweet appearance fool you. Rose quartz packs a big punch, drawing good fortune of every kind (from love to money) your way. This powerful crystal also does wonders for your self-confidence, self-advocacy, and self-belief. So, if you want your good luck to extend from romance to your career, rose quartz is a great choice.How to select crystals for luckRead through the descriptions above and pick the ones that best align with your goals. Note that it’s often advised to select multiple crystals to use to achieve your goals. The more crystals you work with, the more good luck and healing vibrations will be available to help you reach your dreams and live the life you truly want.Another important point is to listen to your instincts when you choose your crystals for luck. If you listen to your inner spirit, you’ll likely be guided right to the exact crystals that you need most. And that will work the best for you.Tips for Using Crystals for Good Luck((Photo by Luca Volpe on Unsplash))One of the great things about using crystals for good luck is that they start working right away. And really, all you need to do to harness their power is to simply put them in your environment. Touching them, holding them close (such as in a pocket), and wearing them as a part of your jewelry or clothing helps to enhance their power to attract good luck, positive vibes, and wealth into your life.Keeping your crystals clean and well charged also is key to getting the most out of using them. To do so, you can rinse or soak them in salt water, from the ocean or simply add sea salt to water. You can also submerge them in a bowl of salt, bury them in dirt, let them sit under moonlight, or cleanse them with the smoke from incense. Another important component to using crystals is to open your heart and mind to their magic. Your belief in their effectiveness and connection to bringing luck, positivity, and abundance into your life is part of what makes them work.Holding your crystals in your hands, running them over your body, setting them on your chakras, meditating with them, and arranging them in an altar are other ways to use your crystals that will help you harness their awesome power—and connect to the potent power within you.Key takeawaysIf you’re looking to cultivate good fortune, using crystals as your lucky charm may make the difference. Incorporating lucky stones into your life can draw in more good fortune, positive energy, personal success, and wealth than you’ve ever imagined possible. The best part is that all you need to do is to get some crystals for good luck, set your intentions, and soon you’ll be attracting good luck and positive vibes in abundance.KEEP READING:Crystals for Love: Understand How to Use Them, Their Meanings and Impact

A Complete Guide to Crystals for Beginners: How to Harness Healing, Love, and Wisdom
Spiritual Health

A Complete Guide to Crystals for Beginners: How to Harness Healing, Love, and Wisdom

Crystals are beautiful, enchanting stones that people have admired throughout human history. People collect them, wear them as jewelry, set them out in their homes, and carry them in their pockets or hands. People seek out crystals in the hopes that they will bring them good luck, wisdom, healing, creativity, or love. In addition to the joy and visual delight they offer, these semi-rare stones are believed by many to be vehicles for spiritual, physical, and emotional healing and growth. Some of their many uses include cultivating strength, happiness, optimism, energy, forgiveness, decisiveness, protection, romance, balance, and courage. But how exactly do you harness the power of crystals for these aims?Most of us are somewhat familiar with crystals, particularly the fact that they come in a range of colors, shapes, and sizes. However, getting started using crystals can be intimidating for many beginners. Learning more about crystals, what they can do, and how to use them, can help you feel more comfortable putting them to use. RELATED: How to Use The Most Powerful Healing CrystalsIf you’re new to crystals, we’ve got you covered. In this comprehensive guide, discover how to utilize the awesome power of crystals to bring more healing, wisdom, and love into your life.One of the great things about crystals is that their appeal is near-universal and using them is very accessible to beginners. They are readily available online and in a wide range of brick-and-mortar stores. Also, while some crystals can be expensive, most can be had for quite reasonable prices, in sizes large and small. Once you learn more about crystals, how using them works, what they can be used for, and how to harness their power, you’ll have a better sense of which ones you want to purchase and can start putting them to use in your life.What Are Crystals?(Photo by Studio Kealaula on Unsplash)Before we get into how to pick the right healing crystals for your needs and how to use them, it’s helpful to understand exactly what they are. Essentially, crystals are any solid material in which its molecular components are arranged in a highly ordered, repeating, geometric pattern. On a microscopic level, the atoms crystals are composed of have a very regular, symmetrical internal structure. RELATED: Crystals for Anxiety: A Comprehensive GuideCrystals are made from a variety of minerals. They start small and increase in size as more atoms are added, and tend to grow underground in a variety of cavities. They can grow in water that contains dissolved minerals. They can form from melted rock (magma) as it cools. Warm or hot water is an ideal breeding ground for crystals. The origin of the word crystal is from the Greek word krystallos, which means “coldness drawn together” or ice. Are crystals and gemstones the same thing?Not all gemstones are crystals, but some are. Likewise, some crystals are gemstones. The terms are not interchangeable. Gemstones, which can have mineral or organic bases, are stones that are used to make jewelry. Crystals are any stone with its atoms arranged in a geometrically patterned order. So, if a crystal is used to make jewelry, then it’s also technically a gem as well.Types of Crystals(Photo by Luca Volpe on Unsplash)Crystals grow in a variety of different structures. These include the following crystalline patterns:Cubic: Cube shapesHexagonal: Six-sided shapesMonoclinic: Prism shapes Orthorhombic: Double pyramid shapes (aligned base-to-base)Tetragonal: Rectangular shapesTriclinic: Abstract formsCrystals come in a huge range of colors, including purple, pink, red, green, white, blue, orange, black, brown, and yellow. Some develop in neon and opalescent shades as well. Others are clear or have more than one color. Tourmaline is a type of crystal that is known for its stunning mix of colors. The depth and intensity of color vary quite a bit as well.Crystal benefitsFor many people, using crystals offers a variety of benefits. First off, they are pretty and enjoyable to look at. Secondly, they are believed to hold a range of healing and transformative energies that can be transferred to the holder or wearer of the crystal. Some of the benefits may include helping people to recover from physical and emotional pain, find balance, wisdom, and purpose, release negative energy and blockages, and call love, joy, and positivity into one’s life.How do crystals work?While there are limited studies proving the efficacy of using crystals, anecdotal evidence points to a variety of benefits. Plus, it is known that different crystals emit various vibrations. It is thought that these vibrations interact with a person’s natural energetic frequency to produce the desired healing results. Crystal Uses(Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash)Many people find crystals provide relaxation and calm. Others use them to combat mental health issues like anxiety, stress, depression, and sleep problems. Some people rely on crystals for rejuvenation and optimism and to rid themselves of baggage. Other people use crystals to call what they want, whether it’s love, happiness, forgiveness, friendship, professional success, or creativity, into their lives.The power of crystalsFor millennia, people have been fascinated by crystals. Whether drawn to their stunning beauty or healing, transformative energy, or both, the allure of crystals is powerful and nearly universal among modern and ancient humans alike. In fact, there are historical records documenting an interest in crystals and their transformative power going back to the Ancient Sumerians and Ancient Egyptians. They have been used for healing in traditional medicine practices and rituals for centuries as well.Crystals have been (and continue) to be used for a wide range of purposes, from personal adornment and decoration to magical potions and religious objects. Many people believe that crystals are imbued with different forces that will impact the wearer or person in their vicinity. These powerful energies include healing, love, wisdom, luck, protection, positivity, and rejuvenation.How to choose your crystalsThere are many different criteria to use when choosing your crystals. Ultimately, you should pick your crystals based on your own priorities. Some people want to select their crystals primarily based on aesthetics and which ones they are drawn to. In this case, you can simply choose the crystals that are the prettiest to you and/or that simply call to you.RELATED: How Slowness Improves Your Quality of LifeHowever, if you have specific goals, such as relaxation, magnifying good energy, or finding a new partner, you’ll want to select a crystal that is known to work well for that intention. Below, we detail the purposes of some of the most commonly used crystals.Crystals and Their Meanings((Photo by Ante Hamersmit on Unsplash))Crystals can work their magic on the body, mind, and soul. Different ones are known to work in different areas. Ultimately, there are ideal crystals to use for just about anything. Note that many crystals can be used for a variety of purposes though so you’ll see some listed multiple times. However, different crystals that work in similar ways can be grouped together, into categories like health, love, and protection.Protection crystalsSome crystals are thought to offer superior protection from a variety of ailments, negativity, bad luck, or adverse energy. These include the following:Black obsidian: Absorbs negative energyBlack tourmaline: Assist in repelling negative energyClear quartz: Absorbs and regulates negative forcesCitrine: Guards you from toxic peopleAmethyst: Helps to heal addiction, grief, and sadnessPyrite: Protects from financial problemsHealing crystalsMany crystals are generally believed to offer healing properties, including dispelling negative energy and drawing in positive vibes. Healing crystals can work on your mind, body, and soul. Here are some of the most popular ones:Amethyst: Aids in purification and boosting willpowerBloodstone: Enhances circulationObsidian: Helps to cope with emotionsClear quartz: Boosts healing generallyJasper: Offers nurturing and stress-reliefLove crystalsDraw romance and passion into your life with these crystals:Rose quartz: Boosts self-love and self-compassion, while also attracting and opening your heart to love from othersAventurine: Attracts love and romancePink kunzite: Fosters open communication between loversLapis lazuli: Improves communication and bondingAgate: Builds passionMoonstone: Draws in former loversRuby: Makes you more enchanting to othersRhodonite: Heals heartbreakGarnet: Enhances your natural allure and strengthens bondsMotivation and creativity crystalsBoost your self-confidence and creative fervor with these crystals:Clear quartz: Clears the mind of unhelpful or unwanted energies to allow creativity and positivity to flowAquamarine: Promotes calm, courage, and risk-takingAmethyst: Boosts self-confidence and trustCarnelian: Encourages creative thinking and enhances motivationMoney crystalsTo improve your prosperity and financial outlook, try these crystals:Citrine: Brings abundance and confidencePyrite: Draws in prosperity and wisdomPeridot: Cultivates financial success and letting go of self-doubt that keeps you from achieving your goalsWisdom crystalsMany crystals bring wisdom along with their other benefits. These are particularly helpful when seeking to clear your mind and make effective decisions:Green jade: Fosters mental peace, harmony, and clarity of thinkingMalachite: Provides motivation, strength, patience, and focusTiger’s eye: Boosts goal-setting, luck, follow-through, and groundingWhat Crystal Should a Beginner Get((Photo by Renee Kiffin on Unsplash))You can choose any crystal you like to begin with. And often people start with several crystals at once. Feel free to let the crystals choose you, as well. Simply look at different crystals and notice which ones you respond to the most intensely. If you feel drawn to one or more crystals, that’s a good sign that those are the ones you need and/or that will be effective for you. However, you may want to choose a few crystals that work for many areas of life to get started with. Some of the best ones for beginners include amethyst, rose quartz, obsidian, pyrite, citrine, and moonstone.What do I do when I first get my crystals?When you first bring your crystals home it’s suggested to cleanse them (see instructions below) and welcome them into your life. Cleansing them releases any older energies they may have and opens them to connecting with you.How Do I Start Using Crystals?Once you’ve selected your crystals, you can start reaping the benefits right away. Depending on the crystals you have, there are a variety of ways to use them. If you got crystals as part of jewelry, you can start by just wearing the jewelry. Crystal rings and necklaces are very effective as the fingers, throat, and chest provide ideal pathways for receiving the healing energy of the crystals. RELATED: Crystals for Protection: How to Hack Your Vibes and Block Negative EnergyOther crystals can be used simply by holding them in your hands. Try meditating while you hold the crystal. You can also run it over your skin while thinking about your intentions and hopes. You can place them over your chakras (the body’s energy centers), which include the heart chakra, throat chakra, third eye chakra, root chakra (at the base of the spine), sacral chakra (just below the belly button), solar plexus chakra (between the ribs and belly button), and crown chakra (top of the head).Open your heart to receive the crystal’s powerful vibrations. You can also set up your crystals on an altar. You can use meditation, chanting, incense, and candles to intensify your receptiveness to the crystal’s healing energies. Follow your intuition while working with your crystals. Trust yourself and believe in the magic crystals have to offer.How Long Does It Take for Crystals to Work(Photo by Lukas Blazek on Unsplash)You can begin experiencing the benefits of crystals right away. They begin to work the moment you touch them. Their vibrations can also be felt from a distance if you simply place them in your environment. The longer you use them and the more you integrate their power into your life, the stronger their impacts may be on your life.How to cleanse your crystalsCrystals that are well cared for will be more effective. While they always hold their power, keeping them clean and happy will prime them to work optimally. Tending to them will also keep them fully charged.There are a variety of ways to clean and recharge your crystals. You can soak and/or rinse them in salt water (either from the ocean or make your own by adding sea salt to water). Wipe them down with a clean cloth to remove dust, oils, and dirt. Other methods include placing your crystals outside under the moon to bathe in moonlight. You can bury them for a few hours or days in the dirt to reconnect them to primal, natural energy. You can also place them in a bowl of salt. Burning incense and herbs over them and letting the smoke cleanse them is another popular method. Additionally, you can also use your own breath to revitalize their power.Key TakeawaysAt first, it can be daunting to start working with crystals. But really it’s quite easy. Crystals offer an accessible way to find healing, love, and wisdom. All you need to begin is to pick some crystals that appeal to you and start using them. Then, you’ll soon be enjoying their benefits.KEEP READING:Crystals for Love: Understand How to Use Them, Their Meanings and Impact

Crystals For Protection: How To Hack Your Vibes And Block Negative Energy
Spiritual Health

Crystals For Protection: How To Hack Your Vibes And Block Negative Energy

All sorts of things can bring us down, making the general vibe about us more negative than positive. Whether your energy is sapped by a downer person or from reading the (always depressing) news, you may be in need of a pick-me-up from a bad vibe. You can bring your mood (and vibe) up by doing self-care but for more spiritual protection you may want to consider harnessing the power of healing crystals. Particular protective crystals can repel negative energy and help you restore inner peace.Here’s what you need to know about using these dynamic crystals as well as a primer on the best protection crystals for all kinds of negative vibes. What Are Protective Crystals?(Photo by Studio Kealaula on Unsplash)Protection crystals essentially help provide a protective shield to block you from negative energies and bad vibes from negative people, places and situations. These crystals protect your peace and provide positive energy to help restore your mental health.While they are not replacements for medical treatment (like therapy and depression or anxiety medication), powerful protection crystals can be part of a good vibe practice to help you release internal negative energy and gain emotional protection from the harshness of the world around you. People have been using healing crystals for centuries and they are part of many meditative and psychic practices. RELATED: A Complete Guide to Crystals for Beginners: How to Harness Healing, Love, and WisdomWhen you incorporate a protective crystal into your life, you signal to your brain that you want to be free from unwanted energies and you proactively help create a more positive mindset for yourself. Protect yourself from negative energyWhy should we worry about protecting ourselves from negative energy? Because we essentially become what we surround ourselves with. When you spend your time around people who give off negative energy or not ideal vibes, it’s important to protect your peace by any means necessary before these negative emotions invade your own mind and heart. When you can block negative energy that comes your way you can find more happiness, feel more grounded and live a more positive life. How To Use Crystals For Protection(Photo by Luca Volpe on Unsplash)Before we get into the best protection stones, it’s important to understand the different ways you can use these crystals for protection. There are so many options for incorporating these precious stones into your life so that you can reap the benefits of feeling more good vibes. Here are a few ways that these protective stones can be used to help you:For groundingKeeping a stone in your pocket, feeling the weight beside you or the texture in your hand when you touch it, can be a powerful practice to help you feel rooted in the current moment. When you feel anxious or overwhelmed by negative energy, a protective crystal can become a literal touchstone to help you feel grounded. For abundanceWhen you’re feeling anxious about not being enough, or not having enough, you can manifest this negative energy away from you from the inside out. Use a protection stone to remind yourself of your positive light by allowing it to attract good vibes, good fortune and good opportunities. For breaking negative thought patternsYou can meditate with a protective crystal to help interrupt unhealthy thoughts. RELATED: How to Identify and Use Crystals for Good Luck, Wealth, and Positive EnergyIn this way, your stone can form an invisible protective barrier between you and the negative chatter in your mind. For spiritual cleansingWhen you move into a new home or any new-to-you space (like a different desk at work), you can use a protective stone as a way to detox the space. This will help sweep away any negative influences or vibes to clear the air. For attracting positive energyProtective crystals can be kept in your pocket, or worn as jewelry, to form a protective bubble of sorts around you, keeping out bad vibes and encouraging you to attract positive energy. For absorbing negative energyMany protective crystals are black because they are thought to absorb the negative energy around you, thus providing emotional protection from bad vibes and people. Best Protective Crystals(Photo by Sarah Brown on Unsplash)Different types of crystals are considered optimal for countering various bad vibes, from full on psychic attacks to negative energy from other people to negative thoughts in your own head. Each powerful protection stone below has its own unique properties. RELATED: A Goal Setting Guide For DepressionThey all provide protective powers in different ways. (If you find that you’re super interested in these precious stones, you can also look into some of the more popular crystals for beginners to expand your knowledge.) Here are a few of the best crystals for protecting your peace and some more specifics on how and when you should ideally use them. Black jadeThis crystal's unique properties can help you tune into your intuition and guide you toward understanding the source of any bad vibes you’re sensing. Consider placing this stone near your root chakra to find clarity and provide spiritual protection.Black tourmaline Black tourmaline is one of the best protection stones if you’re needing to break patterns of negative thought or if you’re trying to block bad vibes coming from a specific person. It’s also known for being one of the best crystals to ease anxiety and restore inner peace. Obsidian This protection crystal—which is actually volcanic glass— is characterized by its onyx hue and absorbs negative energy. Just like lava cools into solid rock, this protective stone tempers bad energy, halting it in its tracks. It’s also known as the stone of truth, encouraging you to go deeper to discover your own authenticity. PyriteAs a protection stone, this golden crystal is known for helping people manifest positive change, as well as release negative energies. It can encourage confidence and offer protection, making it an ideal protective stone for when you embark on a major life change or enter a new chapter of your journey. Pyrite can help you manifest the inner strength you need to succeed. Quartz Quartz is not only a powerful protective crystal but one of the most dynamic crystals in your arsenal. Clear quartz, for instance, takes on the energy of other stones, so if you use it with other protection crystals it will boost the energy from those crystals. Clear quartz is also known as a cleansing stone, so it can help clear negative vibes.In addition to clear quartz, smoky quartz and rose quartz can also enhance and balance the properties of other protection crystals.Protecting Your Peace(Photo by Ante Hamersmit on Unsplash)Using crystals for protection can help you maintain positive energy and bring more good vibes into your mental and physical space. Protecting your peace is important for maintaining mental health so any practice you can incorporate into your life to do that will serve you well. Give it a try and see how protection crystals can enhance your sense of peace.KEEP READING:Crystals for Love: Understand How to Use Them, Their Meanings and Impact

The Psychology and Spirituality Causes Of An Identity Crisis
Spiritual Health

The Psychology and Spirituality Causes Of An Identity Crisis

A number of theories emerge from psychology to become part of popular culture. Unrestrained by academic textbooks, therapeutic rooms, or the halls of universities, popular psychology (or pop psychology) moves into the mainstream, helping people to understand themselves, and each other.The continued rise of the self-development movement, and modern technology, makes this process more rapid, and more frequent. Top-selling books, trending blog posts, and popular YouTube videos often reference psychological insights. Whilst there are many advantages, sometimes the original meaning is lost in translation, detached from its original source.One of these terms is identity crisis. It’s a term you’ve likely heard, or even used, to describe any form of discomfort around the nature of the self. It’s a term I’ve journaled approximately 1,453 times and counting. Society’s growing complexity, lack of spiritual foundations, and changing demands on big topics such as romance and work, can cause identity crises of all forms.So how do you navigate an identity crisis? What’s the psychological source of this term? And how does spirituality, in its attempt to define identity in a completely different way, integrate with these theories?(Getty)Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial DevelopmentErik Erikson first used the term identity crisis in his theory of psychosocial development. A former student of Sigmund Freud, Erikson was particularly interested in how the ego developed across a lifetime. In his 1950 book, Childhood and Society, Erikson presented his theory on the eight stages of development. Uniting the psychological and the social, each stage presents a type of conflict, between individual needs, and the needs of society. For Erikson, each stage of development provided an opportunity for transformation due to the tension caused by opposing demands. As we grow and mature, and develop our identity, we must navigate the culture and the people around us. When done successfully, this balancing act supports the healthy development of psychological and emotional maturity. An overview of these stages are:Stage One: Trust vs. Mistrust (0 to 1 ½)Stage Two: Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt (18 months to 3 years)Stage Three: Initiative vs. Guilt (3 to 5)Stage Four: Industry vs. Inferiority (5 to 12)Stage Five: Identity vs. Role Confusion (12 to 18)Stage Six: Intimacy vs. Isolation (18 to 40)Stage Seven: Generativity vs. Stagnation (40 to 65)Stage Eight: Ego Integrity vs. Despair (65+)We won’t go into the finer details here (see the detailed overview of Erikson’s stages for more information). But you can probably guess which stage the term identity crisis originated from — identity vs. role confusion, between the ages of 12 and 18, when children begin the journey to young adulthood. At this stage, most people start to consider who they’d like to be in the world, away from the ideas and beliefs presented by family structures or culture.The ever-evolving ego(Getty)Within this context, Erikson used the term identity crisis to explain the difficulty in trying to understand their sense of self, and how they integrate into the wider world. Erikson saw every stage’s crisis point as an opportunity for development. This built upon the work of Freud, whose theory of the id, ego, and superego, attempted to integrate individual needs with wider society. Erikson’s biggest distinction from Freud was that a person’s identity isn’t fixed, but ever-evolving. In the early stages of development, our identity develops as we try different roles, to see what fits, and what doesn’t. As our view of the world expands, and we meet different or like-minded people, we start to find our place and develop a sense of belonging. As our world grows, we grow, and our sense of self adjusts and develops alongside it. It’s all a process of trial and error.But this leaves us in an interesting position. If our identity is ever-evolving and growing and dependent on the things we do, the thoughts we have, and the relationships we nourish, then it suggests the way we identify is, mostly, a matter of perspective. What, then, is beyond that? How do we truly understand ourselves, and attempt to answer one of life’s most profound questions… Who am I?Identity Crisis and Spiritual DevelopmentPeople in the Western world tend to define themselves by their ego. The ego is a collection of thoughts, beliefs, ideas, wants, desires, and feelings, all forming an I-dentity. Bond that identity with a physical body, a name, and other people who see your physical form and use that name to get your attention, and, boom — you have a person, you have an identity. You can safely say you’re human.(Getty)Your identity relates to the way you see yourself, your self-image, or your ego. It is in many ways contextual and linked to the points of reference that surround you, allowing you to understand your place in the world. Who am I? Answering this question is, in many spiritual traditions, a path to self-realization. Because it encourages you to look at everything you are not.Mainstream culture leans towards atheism, and models of reality closely aligned with material science. This doesn’t support concepts of the spirit or the soul, an invisible essence that goes beyond the mind, or the body. Yet spiritual teachers have made this approach to the self increasingly popular. Eckhart Tolle, in books such as The Power of Now and A New Earth, highlights how the illusion of ego, echoing the philosophy of Eastern traditions such as Buddhism (which claims there is no ‘self’) and Hinduism (which speaks of Atman, a spiritual essence that is one with the universe).My understanding is that, to navigate an identity crisis, we need to create a fusion between Western psychology, and its focus on ego development, and Eastern traditions. Where do we begin? By acknowledging that our model of reality is creating a collective identity crisis, disconnecting us from the Earth, and limiting our potential. There’s another catch, too — all forms of growth involve letting go of models of the safe that no longer serve you. You could argue, and my journal will agree, that self-development can, at least in the beginning, create many, many identity crises as you begin to understand who you truly are.Navigating an Identity Crisis(Getty)Spiritual teacher Jiddu Krishnamurti summarized the collective identity crisis when he said: “It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society.” Wherever you look, it’s clear that the way society functions isn’t best supporting what makes us flourish, mentally, emotionally, and physically. From addictive technology, junk food, a lack of mental health awareness, and wider issues such as climate change and war, it’s hard not to agree that society is sick.Attempting to adjust to things that are unhealthy is going to lead to anxiety, depression, and unfulfillment. And that’s the gift of an identity crisis, as Erikson highlighted — every crisis is an opportunity, to discover who you are, to evolve, to move closer to your true self, beyond thoughts or beliefs or ideas.Psychology provides a useful model for how to develop a healthy, integrated, and mature ego. Erikson’s model, in particular, shows how, when navigating competing factors, different values, such as love and wisdom, emerge. Equally, spirituality reminds us that the truest essence of who you are isn’t the ego or a tangible fixed thing you can point to and say, “that’s me.”Question to ask yourselfUltimately, throughout any identity crisis, you are your number one guide. As someone dedicated to self-development, in my experience, frustration or doubts about who you are usually points to an unconscious process of deeper growth and transformation. And the more healthy distance you have from your self-image, the more likely you are to evolve in this way. If you experience an identity crisis, firstly, get curious. Ask yourself questions along the lines of:What is this showing me about my previous ideas about who I am?Does this conflict point to unseen parts of myself that I am avoiding looking at?Am I accepting other people’s stories about who I am, rather than living in a way that feels true to me?What value do I get from associating my identity with this belief, idea, or ideology?What happens if I don’t see my identity as fixed, but ever-evolving?(Getty)With Great Growth, Comes Changing IdentityWestern psychology matures the “I”. Eastern philosophy shows you the “I” is mostly an illusion. Be reassured, all paths of self-development or spiritual growth, in some way, inquire into the nature of your identity. On a subtle level, overcoming limiting beliefs about what you’re able to achieve, or making a radical change in lifestyle, is another form of proving the previous identity you held wasn’t the truth of who you are.Keep that in mind, and if you experience an identity crisis, be patient. Trust that something deeper is shifting in the periphery of your awareness. Let the crisis be an opportunity to let go of what you aren’t. In the midst of all the change and the transition, you might discover there is a part of you that is consistent, true, and stable.It’s not what you’ve been taught to identify with. But that’s good news. Because it’s much, much greater.

What Is Transpersonal Psychology? A Comprehensive Guide
Spiritual Health

What Is Transpersonal Psychology? A Comprehensive Guide

There are many subfields of psychology and even more types of therapy. There are specialties that focus on different perspectives, such as biological, developmental, abnormal, humanistic, behavioral, and cognitive. One more recently developed approach is transpersonal psychology, which is also called spiritual psychology.. Essentially, transpersonal psychology is a blend of the transcendental and spiritual aspects of human existence within a framework of psychology. This methodology takes a holistic approach, incorporating spiritual but non-religious experiences and extending beyond the individual to include creative potential, relationships with others, and other unique aspects of life. In this comprehensive guide, learn more about transpersonal psychology and whether it may be helpful to you. What Is Transpersonal Psychology?According to the American Psychological Association, Transpersonal psychology is defined as "an area of humanistic psychology that focuses on the exploration of the nature, varieties, causes, and effects of ‘higher’ states of consciousness and transcendental experiences. Transpersonal refers to the concern with ends that transcend personal identity and individual, immediate desires."In addition to looking at a person’s life experiences and straightforward emotional landscape, transpersonal psychology encompasses other realms of existence that are not typically addressed. These areas of introspection include a person’s religious or spiritual beliefs and experiences, mysticism, altered states of consciousness, relationships between people in their life, and personal development and potential. (Getty)In The Textbook of Transpersonal Psychiatry and Psychology, writer Ken Wilber explained transpersonal psychology as “personal plus.” Transpersonal psychology may also be called several different names. It’s sometimes described as spiritual beyond-ego, integrative and holistic psychology. These approaches to understanding the human mind and experience explore the emotional, intellectual, spiritual, physical, social, and creative realms of the psyche. Additionally, a perons’ desires and needs are explored to develop a person’s self-understanding and well-being. This therapeutic approach seeks to foster healing and personal growth.History of Transpersonal Psychology The concept behind transpersonal psychology emerged in the mid-20th century as a subfield of humanistic psychology, an approach that considers the whole person and connects their behavior to their experiences and inner thoughts and feelings. The roots of the transpersonal psychology approach can be found in the work of William James, Carl Jung, and Abraham Maslow.(Getty)Psychologists who were interested in spirituality, personal development, and the impact of unique experiences like near-death experiences and altered states of consciousness began discussing and researching a more transcendental vision of psychology. Giving acceptance as a path to self-knowledge to such activities as taking psychedelic drugs was controversial. But what began as a fringe movement, eventually gained more credibility and acceptance. This new approach was named by one of the field’s founders, psychiatrist Stanislav Grof, in the late 1960s, with the term “transpersonal” replacing the earlier name of “transhumanistic” psychology. Soon after, the Journal of Transpersonal Psychology was launched to publish scientific papers in the field, and the Association for Transpersonal Psychology was founded. In 1975, another pioneer of the field, Robert Frager, started the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology in Palo Alto, California, a center that continues to be a leading institute for transpersonal education, research, and therapy.Key early, influential thinkers in this field include Ken Wilber and Michael Washburn. Their theories were followed by Stanisolv and Christina Grof, who developed the concept exploriging spiritual emergence. Another important contribution to the movement is Jorge Ferrer’s Revisioning Transpersonal Theory - A Participatory Vision of Human Spirituality, which was published in 2001.How Does Transpersonal Psychology Work?Transpersonal psychology has been called the “psychology of the spirit” and may appeal most to those that are interested in finding the purpose and higher potential in their life. Additionally, those that are drawn to or open to their more spiritual, intuitive, or creative sides, and/or exploring other forms of consciousness may also find resonance in this transpersonal psychology. This therapeutic approach delves into finding meaning in our connectedness to each other and the universe beyond our own egos. In other words, it delves into life beyond just oneself, while also examining the whole person. This type of therapy and exploration holds space for the full spectrum of the human intellect, emotion, consciousness, beliefs, and experience, including altered or uncommon states of consciousness. Transpersonal psychology helps clients who seek transformation in their lives and are interested in achieving a higher potential. The broader perspective also gives full consideration to the many states of consciousness and unique experiences that impact the wellbeing and mental state of the whole person.Transpersonal psychology also welcomes the wisdom of a variety of spiritual practices, such as Taoism, Hinduism, Kabbalah, Shamanism, Christian mysticism, and the belief systems of native peoples throughout the world into its viewpoint.(Getty)Topics of concern include exploring the self beyond the personal ego, childhood, and family life. The spirituality component can either focus on a specific religion, multiple religious traditions, or be non-religious in nature. Altered states of consciousness, mystical experiences, systemic trance, guided imagery, breathwork, yoga, religious beliefs, and other extraordinary experiences are valued as possible vehicles for learning about oneself and further developing as a person. Ultimately, transpersonal psychology is an attempt to explain, honor, and incorporate these spiritual experiences into modern psychology.Who Might Benefit From Transpersonal Psychology?Transpersonal psychology can be used to treat a variety of mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, self-development, addiction, health issues, spiritual awareness and openness, acceptance of transpersonal issues, spiritual crisis, end of life, relationship issues, and finding balance and meaning in one’s life. Keys of this approach focus on the following:Achieving one’s goals and ultimate potentialSurpassing the limitations of the personal selfExploring various states of consciousnessSeeking transcendence and scientific exploration of the consciousnessExploring spirituality and the human spiritStudying Relationships between the self and othersFinding HolismValuing the whole selfThe use of psychedelics as a spiritual practice(Getty)This approach also is unique in that the therapist is not intended to be an expert or teacher but instead is considered more of a partner or guide of the client’s therapeutic journey. This method seeks to help the client discover their own truth by providing opportunities for them to unearth the personal knowledge they need on their path toward healing and becoming their best self. Also, essential to this process is that this type of therapy is non-judgmental and doesn’t impose on the client any specific end goals, beliefs, or ways of living or thinking. Instead, it offers a way to confront and work through a person’s full range of experiences in the physical, emotional, and spiritual realms. The purpose is for the client to arrive at their own definition of what is “right” or “best” for them, ideally arriving at their own personal enlightenment.

How to Unblock Chakras: A Complete Guide to Getting Clear from Root to Crown
Spiritual Health

How to Unblock Chakras: A Complete Guide to Getting Clear from Root to Crown

If you’ve ever felt a little bit off and you’re not sure why, it’s worth checking in with your chakras. The chakra system is made up of seven energy centers that correspond to specific areas of your body, from your tailbone to the top of your head. Rooted in eastern traditions, the word chakra means “spinning wheel” in Sanskrit so, when a chakra gets blocked, it stops energetically spinning. This blockage is thought to lead to various symptoms that can be experienced in the mind or even the physical body. Keeping your chakras balanced—or open, or clear— helps you maintain optimal energy flow throughout your body. When you’re blocked, you might feel stuck or sluggish or just not yourself. Here’s what you need to know about these blockages and how to unblock chakras. How do chakras get blocked?(Luis Alvarez / Getty)Chakras can get blocked or unbalanced when there is too much activity in that area, or not enough. A low energy chakra means that you’ll have a hard time expressing the qualities of that particular chakra. An overactive chakra will dominate your other systems. Typically, the cause of blocked chakras is stress or a highly emotional event. Too much stress can wreak havoc on all systems of the body, as well as influence bad habits that send your chakras into further unbalance, making them either underactive or overactive. When people get stressed, they tend to focus more on their problems and less on taking care of themselves. When you’re not eating healthy food, taking time for fresh air and exercise and engaging in self care activities like meditation, you can send your chakras into misalignment. And it’s in these times of stress that you really need to lean on mindful practices.What do chakra blockages cause in the body?Blocked chakras can cause a number of physical and mental symptoms in the body. For example, a blocked solar plexus chakra might manifest itself through a domineering attitude, aggressiveness. It could also lead to low self esteem, difficulty making decisions and even digestive issues. (Boy_Anupong / Getty)Because each chakra corresponds to a different area of the body (including the organs within or near that area), you might experience physical symptoms in that particular region. The next sections will outline the specific symptoms and warning signs within each of the seven chakras, along with tips on how to unblock your chakras. Unblocking the root chakraThe root chakra is located at the base of the spine and creates a foundation for the other six chakras, much like a foundation for a house. If your root chakra is out of balance, it creates a wobbly foundation for the rest of your chakras. A blocked root chakra can result in issues with the bowels, colon, bladder, lower back and legs. Mentally, you might feel anxious, insecure, ungrounded and fearful, or even unsafe. Here are some ways to unblock your root chakra: Yoga posesCertain yoga poses are considering grounding postures and grounding your root chakra is the most effective way to find balance in this energy center so you can feel rooted in your body. Balasana (child’s pose), Malasana (garland or squatting pose) and Pavanamuktasana Vatayanasana (wind-relieving pose) are all associated with balancing the root chakra. Healing stonesThe colors red and black are associated with the root chakra. Healing crystals like ruby, obsidian and red jasper can be carried as talismans or sat upon during meditation to help facilitate balancing. FoodsTo heal your root chakra, include more root vegetables—like beets, carrots, radishes, garlic, onions and parsnips—into your diet. (Meighan Makarchuk / Getty)These vegetables provide a healing energy, and are formed within the earth and can have healing effects. Because red is the healing color for the root chakra, you can also incorporate red foods into your diet like tomatoes, peppers, chilies and strawberries.Unblocking the sacral chakraThe sacral chakra is your sexual energy center. If you’ve been feeling less desire toward your partner or sexual situations, or you’re not feeling pleasure the way you usually do, your sacral chakra may be blocked. The sacral chakra is also your creative energy center, so if you feel uninspired or unable to tap into your creative nature, that could be another sign of a block.When your sacral chakra is out of balance, you can experience sexual dysfunction, relationship issues and a lack of joy or inspiration, as well as feel extremely tired. Here are some ways to unblock your sacral chakra: Yoga posesFor the sacral chakra, try doing some hip opening poses, like Kapotasana (pigeon pose) and Mandukasana (frog pose), holding them and going deeper as you get more comfortable with the sensation. These poses can help release physical tension in your groin area. Bhujangasana (cobra pose) is also helpful for balancing your sacral chakra. Healing stonesThe colors orange and red are associated with the sacral chakra. Crystals like garnet, carnelian, bloodstone and orange calcite can help bring back your passion. Place a stone just below your belly button while you bathe or meditate to feel the healing effects. Foods(suesik89 / 500px / Getty)Orange foods like pumpkin, orange sweet potatoes, carrots, oranges, papaya, mango, honey and cantaloupe can be healing for your sacral chakra. Unblocking the solar plexus chakraYour solar plexus chakra is located in your stomach and this energy center is associated with digestion and gut health, as well as the abdominal muscles and core. A blockage can manifest as stomach pain, digestive issues, acid reflux, cramping, bloating and gas. Mentally, you might experience a lack of confidence and feelings of powerlessness or even worthlessness. Your appetite, or lack thereof, can also be a powerful cue that something is off in your solar plexus region. If you feel unbalanced by never feeling full or never feeling satiated, there could be something energetically amiss. Here are some ways to unblock your solar plexus chakra: Yoga posesThere are a number of poses that can help unblock the solar plexus chakra. Virabhadrasana (warrior pose) can help you regain your confidence, while spine twists and back bends can physically work your stomach and core area to remove blockages and promote energy flow. Dhanurasana (Bow pose) and Navasana (boat pose) can also challenge your balance and help you use your muscles in your solar plexus area to encourage flow through the area. Healing stones(Kryssia Campos / Getty)Gold tiger’s eye, citrine, yellow calcite and yellow quartz are the healing stones best used for aligning with your solar plexus, which is associated with the colors gold and yellow. Try placing a crystal on your stomach while meditating or wear one on a long chain so it can rest on your stomach as you go about your day. FoodsWhen healing your solar plexus chakra, look for yellow foods like banana, pineapple and yellow bell peppers. To promote gut health, yellow spices like ginger and turmeric can be helpful for healing, reducing nausea and promoting thorough digestion. Unblocking the heart chakraAs you may have guessed, your heart chakra is located in your chest. When your heart chakra is blocked, you may have a hard time expressing or receiving love, you might have trouble feeling empathy and you could feel lost or empty inside. Sometimes you have to heal your heart chakra after a romantic relationship ends, you have a painful conversation with a loved one or if someone close to you passes away. Physically, any heart-related issues are associated with an imbalanced heart chakra, including palpitations, pain in the chest, circulatory issues or blood pressure that is too high or too low. A heart attack is an extreme event associated with a blocked heart chakra. Here are some ways to unblock your heart chakra: Yoga posesFor opening up the heart chakra, you’re going to want to try heart-opening yoga poses, of course. Anything that opens your heart or chest area (shoulder stretches) and any back bending poses are helpful. In particular, try Ustrasana (camel pose), which is a big heart opener and Garudasana (eagle pose), which promotes detoxification and renewed blood flow. Healing stonesThe color associated with the heart chakra is not red, as you might suspect, but green. Look for crystals in green hues, like emerald, peridot, jade, green calcite and watermelon tourmaline for heart chakra healing. Wear one on a pendant over your heart for help with a blockage. FoodsEat all the greens when healing your heart chakra. Spinach, kale, romaine and other leafy greens are full of vitamins, nutrients and fiber. Green vegetables, legumes and fruits like cucumber, peas, artichoke and zucchini are also healing foods for the heart space. Unblocking the throat chakraThe throat chakra, located at the base of the throat, connects your body and your mind and is the link between your physical needs and your intuition. While this chakra is located at the base of the throat, it also includes the base of the skull, the lower part of the neck, the shoulders, and the back, as well as the cheeks, ears, jaw, tongue and lips. If your throat chakra is blocked (or if you have an overactive throat chakra) you may be having a hard time with communication in general, get anxious when speaking, use more negative words, have a raspy voice or develop thyroid issues, among other symptoms. Here are some ways to unblock your throat chakra: Yoga posesFor unblocking the throat chakra, try poses like Halasana (plow pose), Sarvangasana (queen pose or shoulder stand) and Matsyasana (fish pose) to help release your neck muscles and bring energy flow back into this area of your body.Healing stonesBlue colored crystals—like lapis lazuli, aquamarine, turquoise and celestite—can help balance your throat chakra. Try placing a throat chakra stone on the base of your throat while you lay down to meditate or use one during savasana at the end of a yoga practice. FoodsThere are few blue foods found in nature but try your best to incorporate some into your diet. Blueberries, blackberries and blue spirulina are a few options. Kelp, ginseng and wheatgrass are also helpful foods for realigning your throat chakra, as well as soothing teas to drink. Unblocking the third eye chakra(ADAM GAULT/SPL/Getty)Your third eye chakra is located in the space between your eyes. It’s associated with the brain and eyes, and can be the culprit for having memory or vision problems. Because the third eye chakra also deals with higher wisdom, a blockage can cause you to lose sight of your inner knowing or intuition, as well as have a hard time concentrating or staying focused. On a mental level, you might also find yourself becoming narrow minded, rather than open minded, to particular people or situations that arise in your life. Physically, you might have vision problems, headaches,migraines or eye pain.Here are some ways to unblock your third eye chakra: Yoga posesWhen unblocking your third eye, you don’t need specific yoga poses. What you’ll do instead is focus on meditation and visualization to aid your healing process. Practice mediation while chanting or saying affirmations to help clear this energetic space. If you’re new to meditation, start with five minutes at a time and build your way up to more and more minutes as you get more comfortable with practicing sitting in stillness. Healing stonesFor crystals that heal the third eye, you’re looking for shades of bluish purple, dark blue or dark purple like sapphire, amethyst, lapis lazuli, and sugilite. Place a healing stone on your third eye space while mediating or resting to channel its healing power. FoodsLook for as many purple foods as you can to heal this chakra. You can try eggplant, grapes, purple carrots, plums and purple lettuce or kale to help you unblock.Unblocking the crown chakraThe last chakra, the crown chakra, is located at the top of the head and the space just above the head. It’s associated with enlightenment, higher powers and a person’s spiritual existence. Since the crown chakra is a bit more ethereal than the others, it doesn’t have as many physical symptoms as the others. You may become sensitive to light or sound but more than anything, you’ll feel out of alignment with your higher power or a loss of spiritual connection. You might find yourself becoming more materialistic or focused on the physical world rather than your values. To repair an unbalanced crown chakra, you need to ground yourself in what truly matters to you while also connecting in your higher power. Here are some ways to unblock your crown chakra: Yoga posesFor the crown chakra, you can try Sirsasana (headstand pose) to bring new blood into your brain and flush out stale energy. You can also sit in Padmasana (lotus pose) or Baddha Konasana (butterfly pose) to work on meditation and maintaining concentration so you can regain focus. (David Fuentes Prieto / Getty)Another way to balance your crown chakra is by doing the Crown Mudra (also known as the Mudra of a Thousand Petals). Put the tips of your index fingers and thumbs together to form a triangle or diamond shape, then hold your hands six or so inches above your head while you breathe deeply and connect with your higher power. Healing stonesLook for light purple, white or clear crystals to help unblock the crown chakra like quartz, moonstone, diamond, amethyst or selenite. Place a stone on your forehead while meditating or resting to unlock its spiritual benefits. FoodsWhen unblocking the crown chakra, you can try fasting to help clear your mind and find peace. However, fasting is not always the healthiest route since we all need to eat food to live and fuel our bodies. You can try abstaining from eating for 12 hours (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.) after eating nourishing food that day to get the fasting effects. But always listen to your body and its needs. If you need to eat, eat. Staying unblockedThere’s nothing inherently wrong with having a blocked chakra. The stresses of everyday life can cause any one of your energy centers to feel unbalanced. What’s important is taking time to heal and connect with yourself when you’re feeling out of alignment. Being mindful of your mental and physical state is the most important form of self care.Whether you believe in the idea of chakras or not, having these energy centers as a reference can help you pinpoint certain uncomfortable feelings, both mental and physical, and help you course correct. Pay close attention to the areas of your body that don’t feel right. (Gravity Images / Getty)Check in with your thoughts and understand if they are truly serving you. This careful consideration of your outward and inward state can help free you from stress, and allow you to heal yourself when you feel off balance.healing is a processHave you practiced self-care today?

The Root Chakra: 6 Practical Steps To Unleash This Primal Energy Center
Spiritual Health

The Root Chakra: 6 Practical Steps To Unleash This Primal Energy Center

Redwoods are the tallest trees on the planet. They grow up to 400 foot in height, and their roots stretch deep into the soil, reaching 50 feet in length in many different directions. Trees are a fitting symbol for human development, and the need for growth towards spiritual, transcendent qualities to be grounded in the Earthly.Without roots, it’s easy to become lost, floating like a leaf in the wind. Like redwoods that grow towards the sky but remain resolute and firmly in place, energetic roots keep you grounded through the path of spiritual growth. The seven main chakras in the system — the psychic energy centres running through the body — place strong emphasis on the importance of the root chakra, and how the root chakra creates a foundation upon which you can build.In this article, we’ll explore why ancient traditions placed so much value on the root chakra. We’ll explain the signs of a blocked root chakra and the benefits of alignment for your life energy. We’ll also offer actionable tips on unblocking this chakra and encourage root chakra development for a greater grounding and connection to the Earth.What is the Root Chakra?In the traditional seven chakras, energy centers are divided into “lower” chakras and “higher” chakras. The root chakra is known as the Muladhara in Sanskrit: “mula” translates to root, and “adhara” means support or base. This gives insight into its location as the lowest chakra, at the base of the spine, with the legs acting as roots, connecting the spine to the Earth.The system of seven primary chakras (including the Sacral Chakra, Solar Plexus Chakra, Heart Chakra, Throat Chakra, Third Eye Chakra and Crown Chakra) is one of harmony and balance. (NikkiZalewski / Getty)Lower and higher aren’t judgements, but refer to the metaphorical “lower” Earthly and the “higher” Divine. One of the truths of spiritual growth is that humanness has to be embraced and accepted. Each of us is imperfect, flawed, made of flesh, and in-tune with nature’s cycles of birth and death. At the same time, each of us is inherently divineThis duality of Earthly and Divine is referred to by some as the “subtle body” - how we are neither solely physical or spiritual, but somehow both. The Bhagavad Gita describes the subtle body as a combination of the mind, the intellect and the ego, an essence that controls the physical body. Wholeness and balanceThe process of self-realisation and spiritual growth is to achieve a state of wholeness and balance between these two opposites. The root chakra is the foundation of all growth, the first chakra. Just like how even a 400-foot tree has to begin with edging just above the soul, one millimetre at a time. In the same way, developing spiritual qualities begins with a strong foundation and roots in the Earthly.For all higher chakras to flow, the root chakra has to be open and balanced. A Kundalini awakening, for example, starts at the base of the spine. Symbolized by a coiled serpent, kundalini yoga teaches practices to move this potent life force up the body, through each of the chakras, before meeting the crown chakra at the top of the head. This bridge is where self-realization or enlightenment occurs.Signs of a Root Chakra imbalance or blockBecause it's the foundation of development, the root chakra is closely aligned with feelings of security and safety. In comparing the system of chakras with Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, author Anodea Judith links the root chakra to physiological needs. These are necessary biological requirements for survival, such as food, drink, shelter, and clothing.It stands to reason that one of the main symptoms of a blockage within your root chakra energy are feelings of unsafety. This can manifest in a number of different ways, although the most common is anxiety or panic attacks. When I think back to when I had a panic disorder, it was caused by a general feeling of unsafety, in my environment, and in my body.Root chakra developmentThe root chakra is the earliest to develop. Traditional chakra systems estimate its development to take place in the womb and during the first 12 months of life. As a result, early experiences of trauma are significant causes in a blocked root chakra. Chakra expert Judith highlights fear as the “demon” of the root chakra, and a sure sign of things being off-balance. According to Judith, signs of a deficient root chakra include scatteredness, feeling “spacey” or ungrounded. Equally, an excessive root chakra leads to heaviness in the body, sluggishness, and attachment to security. Other signs you may need some root chakra healing include:Lethargy or depression(Getty)Feelings of disconnect (or feeling spaced out) and isolationDifficulty taking actionGeneral aches and pains in the bodyMoney issuesUndereating or overeatingLow self-esteemFortunately, the yin and yang of human nature mean that for every sign of misalignment, there’s a sign of alignment, or something to move towards. If you’re concerned about any of the signs listed above, rest assured unblocking the root chakra is possible and finding ways to balance your root chakra will lead to a great many benefits.The benefits of a balanced Root ChakraBalancing the root chakra can create a domino effect of positivity. It gives a strong base in which the higher chakras can evolve, and a clear channel for life force energy to run through the entire system, leading to overall growth and harmony. Anyone committed to their personal development would benefit from considering whether their root chakra is blocked as a starting point.When the root chakra is balanced, there is a great sense of safety and security. Keep in mind, this is a process of inner work. While your external environment can mirror this process, working to heal and unblock the root chakra leads to feelings of safety and security that arise from within. You can think of this as the reverse of a panic attack: anxiety can arise even when completely safe physically. Equally, it’s possible to feel safe and secure, even if external circumstances are uncertain.Unleashing a primal forceThe biggest benefit of feelings of safety is that it makes you more likely to embrace risk and have the courage to follow your dreams. Judith points to this by acknowledging attachment to security as a sign of an excessive root chakra. Once in balance, decisions can be made from a place of security. Yes, fear might surface, but it will be soothed by a sense of inner safety.Moving towards what we want in life is also powered by energy and action. When the root chakra is blocked, it’s hard to find the impetus to take the required steps needed. Unblocking the root chakra, and unleashing this primal life force, gives vitality and excitement to life, allowing you to join “the flow” of the universe, and move towards goals with greater ease, and higher self-esteem.How to unblock the chakra system If you’re enthralled by spiritual work, it can be easy to overlook the need for grounding. Hopefully, by now you see the value in balancing the root chakra and building a steady foundation for the so-called higher states of consciousness to emerge. Now you’re ready to unleash the catalyzing effect of the Muladhara, here are 6 steps that will help unblock the root chakra:1. Begin a healing processChildhood trauma is associated with the root chakra. That means there could be some challenging, but ultimately reward steps that have to be taken. Everyone heals in their own unique way, at their own pace, in their own time. And healing comes in many forms — you may decide to opt for talking therapy, practice forgiveness or letting go towards the past, or even take the courageous first step of acknowledging feelings of insecurity or unsafety.Because this trauma can be from a young age, when it surfaces, initially it can feel extremely unsettling. Part of the process is re-experiencing feelings of unsafety, to heal towards feelings of greater safety. Different practices, from breathwork to meditation and bodywork, all support this path. And always keep in mind you don’t have to do it alone.2. Reflect on feelings of safetyIt’s almost impossible to write about safety and security without bringing up the practices of faith and surrender. It’s difficult to feel fully safe and secure without having faith, especially when it comes to life’s uncertainties. No one can guarantee a lifetime of material safety. No one can guarantee you’ll be safe when embarking on solo travel or when starting a business. Yet humanity’s greatest trait is the will to adventure, even when things are uncertain.An extension of the healing process is exploring your relationship to faith in something bigger than you. Call it God. Call it the Universe. Call it consciousness. It doesn’t matter. But what is important is that you begin to cultivate a sense of being guided or supported, in an invisible way. By that I mean away from physical symbols of safety, such as money in a bank account, a roof over your head, or a particular person who cares for you.All of those things are great! It’s not that you want to overlook them or take them for granted. But faith says: no matter what I do, I trust everything will be okay. After working on this for a while, when those symbols are no longer present, fear won’t be activated in the same way, leading to greater resourcefulness and balance.3. Connect to the EarthOne of the surest ways to ground yourself is to connect directly to the Earth. That includes spending time in nature, away from the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day, away from social media, your email, your mobile phone. Returning to the simplicity, stillness, and resilience of nature is healing in itself. As part of the process, you might want to walk barefoot or swim in a lake — anything that allows you to make direct contact with nature itself.One thing I’ve found on my path is that the more you connect to the Earthly, the more you realize the Earthly is divine. Ultimately, non-dual teachings such as Hinduism point to this truth, that everything is consciousness, and there’s no true separation. But, it could be that there has to be a spell of feeling these two as separate, before being able to integrate both qualities in a deeper way.4. Start a meditation practiceAfter all this talk of transcendence vs. groundedness, is there space for meditation? The answer is a resounding yes. But there is a word of warning. Meditation can easily become a form of escapism. I know, because I’ve been there myself. It’s tempting to see the practice as a way of shutting out the world and forgetting about the day-to-day, which leads to a form of spiritual bypassing or denial.Meditation, though, is incredibly grounding when done with the right intention. It allows you to connect to a feeling of inner safety. That alone is transformative, because as Jon Kabat-Zinn wrote: wherever you go, there you are. When meditation is seen as a practice to apply to the world, it allows you to feel more secure and safe when interacting with the world, because wherever you go, the qualities you cultivate go with you.5. Work with the physical bodyI like to remind myself I don’t “have” or “own” a body, I’m in a relationship with one. This probably sounds odd, but it’s my way of reminding myself that from the moment I was born, until the moment I die, the only consistent home I have is my body. Where I go, there my body is. Until it isn’t. Who knows where “I” will go then. But for this journey on Earth, I’m in a relationship with my body. So I’d like to treat it well.Working with the body means feeling into its intelligence. It means exercising healthily (by not being too excessive or too inactive). It means eating well and providing the body with nourishment, whilst allowing flexibility for foods that provide comfort. (Jonathan Galione / Getty)It means learning the language of the body, knowing what it feels like to suppress sadness, or know which muscles contract when you’re angry, or knowing when your body communicates that you’re making a decision from fear, not faith.I’m a big believer that the body contains a wealth of intelligence. The chakras and systems such as Human Design view the body in this way, too. And as the bridge between the spiritual and the Earthly, the body is the vessel of consciousness and the roots into the Earth, simultaneously.6. Practice humilityMany Buddhist teachings counterbalance delusions of grandeur with reminders of the inevitability of death and decay. It’s sobering to remember that, no matter how lofty our goals or desire for spiritual attainment, our bodies and form will follow the path of aging. In a similar vein, Abraham Maslow captured a peculiar trait of humankind with the following quote:“We fear our highest possibilities. We are generally afraid to become that which we can glimpse in our most perfect moments, under conditions of great courage. We enjoy and even thrill to godlike possibilities we see in ourselves in such peak moments. And yet we simultaneously shiver with weakness, awe, and fear before these very same possibilities.”I connect these two seemingly disconnected points because they're joined by the thread of humility. Each of us is far greater than we can possibly imagine. At the same time, each of us is far less significant than our egos would allow us to believe. This is a paradox that has to be reconciled on the path of growth. And one option is to embrace greatness with humility, not fear.Humility is allowing yourself to be moved by the mystery of life, to revere nature, to look at mountains or skylines with awe, to put your problems in perspective, and to surrender to the “greater than” whilst believing in your own greatness. Unlike redwood, humans don’t have a ceiling of growth, because personal growth is beyond the material. But roots are always necessary.Root chakra: parting thoughtsOne of the most uplifting and inspiring experiences is to feel your unlimited potential, and the natural pull towards the stars. Transcendent states and experiences are beautiful, and they have a place in the stages of development. But spiritual growth isn’t about getting from point A to point B. It’s not about getting beyond humanness or working your way up a ladder of value.Spiritual growth is about accepting and integrating opposites. That includes the light and the dark. The spiritual and the Earthly. The divine and the human. The chakra system offers a profound gift in mapping human development and displaying this need for balance.Don’t be hard on yourself if you go through a period of minimizing the Earthly and wanting to escape. I’ve been there, and it’s sometimes necessary to “ground” into awareness before returning to the Earthly with a fresh perspective.But as you do the work to transcend trauma, to grow towards your spiritual potential, to realize the eternal and infinite nature of who you are, keep in mind, if a 400-foot redwood needs roots… Well, you and I probably do, too.

How to Use The Most Powerful Healing Crystals
Spiritual Health

How to Use The Most Powerful Healing Crystals

With the rising acceptance of alternative medicine, different tools for healing have become more mainstream. From acupuncture sessions to tarot card readings to crystal healing, shamanic journeys to aura interpretations, people are discovering more and more ways to find clarity and relieve various ailments aside from traditional means. Using healing crystals is one of these “new to western mainstream society” but not new to the world practices. Healing stones have in fact been used for thousands of years. Crystals throughout historyVarious crystals adorned the breastplates of soldiers in ancient battles as tokens of good luck and strength, were given as gifts to find favor among royalty and were used in antiquated medicine practices as curing stones. Healing crystals can be used during meditation or yoga practice, incorporated within a piece of jewelry or just placed within your home. Below, we’ll go over some of the most popular crystals and what healing benefits they each have, but first, a little crystal 101.What is crystal healing? There are many different kinds of healing crystals and each one has its own purported benefits. In fact, some estimates say that there are as many as 45 different varieties of crystals that can be useful to heal the mind or body in various ways. So what makes a healing crystal an actual healing crystal and not just a pretty rock? Conduits for healingAn alternative medicine practitioner or crystal healer would say that crystals are actually conduits for healing. By allowing positive energy to flow into the body, negative energy is then able to flow out, helping rid a person of disease, which could mean a specific sickness or simply negative vibes. However, in the end, healing crystals really are just pretty rocks. There is no scientific evidence to show that crystals can actually heal various maladies and traditional doctors wouldn’t try to cure a disease by sending a patient home with a prescription for crystals. That said, while there are no official, verified benefits to using crystals, that doesn’t mean they’re useless. Far from it, in fact!Why are crystals so powerful?Even though science can’t verify crystals’ power, that hasn’t stopped people from using healing crystals since ancient times. While there is warranted skepticism about crystal healing as an alternative to modern medical practices, these sacred stones can serve an important role in self care.Helping people focusWhat crystals can do is help people focus on what’s troubling them and engage in mindfulness about whatever that ailment may be. Perhaps someone is having a hard time focusing on finding self love after a hard breakup. Maybe someone is working to save money to follow a dream. Or suppose a person is feeling bogged down by negative energy and just wants to break free of those bad vibes.Crystals, each one with its own purported power, help people by providing a tangible object through which to channel their emotions, whether they’re working through sadness and struggle or just need a mental boost. Through the power of positive thinking and manifestation, crystals can become an important tool for turning things around. The best healing crystals To find the right healing crystal for you, it’s important to think about what it is that you want to focus on. Each crystal has its own history of how it was used in ancient times, a specific connection with the earth in how it formed and inherent properties that make it special. So while there are many other stones with supposed healing power, these are some of the most popular.Clear quartz(Tetra Images / Getty)Clear quartz has earned a distinctive title over time of “master healer.” This healing crystal is known for its ability to amplify energy by both absorbing and then regulating that power. These clear crystals were known in ancient times for balancing out the body’s systems and were even used to help stimulate the immune system. Because clear quartz has been associated with concentration and memory, these crystals are popular with students who are embarking upon a big test or anyone giving an important speech or presentation. This stone is also known for aiding in ​​clearing the mind if you mind yourself getting anxious or overwhelming with negative energies. Overall, clear quartz is a solid starter stone if you’re interested in delving into healing crystals. It’s also a great companion stone to smoky quartz or rose quartz, which are both discussed below.Smoky quartzThis clearish gray iteration of quartz is all about smoking out that negative energy so positive vibes can once again become abundant. If you’re in need of an energetic or mental boost, smoky quartz is supposed to attract both good vibrations and good luck into your life. This quartz crystal can also serve as a reminder to think positively and not fall down a rabbit hole of pessimism. Rose quartzAnother quartz crystal, this one a light pink color, rose quartz is best known for its healing powers. Associated with the heart chakra, rose quartz is the stone of unconditional love. This healing crystal brings emotional balance to relationships, helps restore trust and aids in forming close connections. Rose quartz is also said to help foster self love and respect, so if you’ve struggled with confidence or worthiness, this stone can help you become more mindful about how you love yourself. While raw rose quartz is a more rare form of quartz, this stone is still quite affordable if you’re looking to buy one. Some people wear this healing stone as a pendant necklace, keeping this crystal close to their heart. To use a rose quartz as a way to clear your heart chakra, lie down and place the stone over your heart. Then take six breaths—six is the number that’s most typically associated with love—and imagine that the stone is clearing negativity and darkness from your heart space. Breathe in love, then breathe out what no longer serves you. TourmalineOne of the most versatile stones, tourmaline is formed when crystalline boron silicate mineral is compounded with another element (like sodium, aluminium or iron), which makes it available in a variety of colors, or even multicolored. It’s reported benefits are just as varied: Tourmaline is known for enhancing communication, self-confidence, concentration and creativity. This healing crystal was used for treating anxiety, making it a calming stone for the nervous system both in the way it provides peace and how it channels good energy. Black tourmaline in particular is known for being an antidote to bad vibes. Called an energetic bodyguard, these healing crystals ward off negative energy and are supposed to provide protection from anyone or anything that’s trying to steal your joy. Black tourmaline can be a helpful talisman when you’re entering a social situation where you’re bound to encounter an energy vampire or two, for instance if you’re visiting relatives who you know can’t stop arguing about politics. Sneak this stone in your pocket beforehand so that you can be mindful of not allowing anyone’s negative energy to affect your mood. BloodstoneOne of the most popular healing crystals used in antiquity, bloodstone was popular with the gladiators of ancient Greece, who used to carry these mystical stones into battle thinking these crystals’ power would help them win. This crystal is still apparently popular among some athletes who use bloodstone for good luck. The stone is thought to increase willpower and stamina in addition to providing an all-around good luck vibe. Tiger's Eye(Joel Papalini / EyeEm / Getty)The stone of opportunity and abundance, tiger’s eye symbolizes good luck. The patterns of lines on this healing crystal are thought to represent the various paths one can take to find that luck. In this way, this stone is thought to help people stay open to all of life's opportunities and possibilities because you really never know which path will lead you to where you want to go. TopazThis golden stone is known for its ability to channel energy to where it is needed the most. If you’re feeling blah or uninspired, this stone can help you get unstuck. Historically, it’s been used to bring forth good fortune, good health and even love into your life. It may also help relieve tension and help you be more open to new experiences and people. One form of topaz, the yellow variety, is especially helpful for boosting confidence and optimism. If you’re embarking on a big goal or coming up to an accomplishment this healing crystal will help you stay focused as well as balance the ego so you can focus on what really matters to get the job done. Topaz is also associated with the moon, giving it a celestial element that connects it to nature and femininity. In fact, some believe that the stone’s power actually follows the cycle of the moon. (This, of course, has not been proven but it’s still an interesting idea nonetheless.)Labradorite A stone for positive energy and emotional balance, labradorite is known for attracting good luck and self confidence. If you’re feeling deflated from a breakup, uninspired about being passed over for a promotion or just all around gloomy, this stone is supposed to help you transform a pessimistic attitude and help you reinvent yourself into a more creative, dynamic version of yourself.Moonstone(Getty)Associated with the divine feminine, this healing crystal is thought to help balance emotions and increase both patience and acceptance with what is. If you’re in need of extra nurturing, this stone is the right one to turn toward. Moonstone is also a stone for encouraging you to follow your passions and can help support your inner knowing. Because of these two elements, this stone can be a powerful tool for both accepting (and celebrating!) yourself and making the most of your life. CitrineThe stimulator of intuition, citrine is an important healing crystal to support manifestation and transforming dreams into reality. It’s been associated with healing the sacral chakra, which governs your creativity and emotional well-being, because it promotes self esteem, motivation and self expression. This healing crystal can be held when daydreaming or imagining your future to help you channel your most creative ideas on how to get to where you want to be in life.Citrine is also associated with money and finances, making it a popular healing crystal for those who are embarking on a new business, saving up for a big purchase or trying a different investment strategy. Because it’s associated with both manifestation and abundance, it has become a stone for garnering wealth. Some people tuck a small citrine stone into their wallet (or their business’ cash box) to help attract good fortune.Amethyst(Naomi Rahim / Getty)This purple healing crystal is the stone of mental clarity and focus. In fact, in ancient Greek stories, amethyst was used as an antidote for intoxication so that people could regain their facilities after overdoing it on the wine. When you’re feeling like you're at a crossroads and you’re not sure what decision to make about a given situation, this healing crystal is supposed to help clear your mind and allow your inner voice to shine through, clarifying what truly is best for you. If you’re simply brainstorming or need fresh ideas, amethyst can also help new thoughts flood your brain and allow you to feel more clear about the direction you want to go in. Some crystal healers suggest sleeping with an amethyst under your pillow to help you find mental clarity. Lapis lazuli(Walter Geiersperger / Getty)This radiant blue stone is typically used for healing both the throat chakra and the third eye chakra. Known as the stone of truth, lapis lazuli is a healing crystal that promotes honesty in all forms: Spoken, written and thought. When you’re having trouble communicating or need to have a tough conversation with someone, this stone can be your rock (no pun intended) that reminds you to stay focused on what’s really important to convey. Holding one in your palm while you speak can remind you to remain calm, keep an open heart and say what’s on your mind honestly. How do I choose the right healing crystal for me?Choosing the right crystals is an intuitive process. The best way to find the right healing crystal for you is to visit a store in person, if that’s possible, so you can look at and touch the stones. Usually, one or two stones in particular will quote-unquote speak to you: You’ll feel something when you hold them or you’ll be drawn to a certain color or shape of a stone. You can also look to your zodiac sign to see which healing crystals are associated with when you were born and choose your birthstone, which will have an added significance. If you're still unsure about which stone to purchase for yourself, you can try a crystal healing session first to work on anything that’s currently bothering you. A crystal healer can tell you more about the stones that interest you and show you how to use them, as well as suggest other crystals that you may have never heard of. This session can also be a great way to relax and get in touch with your mind-body connection.Finally, while crystal healing may or may not be scientifically proven as effective, these crystals truly are what you make of them. When you use crystals thoughtfully and with a clear intention, you allow yourself to go inward and focus on what’s important to you. Your mind is more powerful that you can imagine—by allowing yourself to be honest and vulnerable about something you want to work on, you can use your healing crystal to channel better, more mindful actions in your daily life.

Sacral Chakra: How to (Playfully) Heal a Blocked Sacral Chakra
Motivation

Sacral Chakra: How to (Playfully) Heal a Blocked Sacral Chakra

What would life be without pleasure? Enjoying a delicious meal, relaxing into the warm embrace of a lover, breathing in the scent of flowers, gazing at the golden hue of a mid-summer sunset, listening to your favourite artist and getting lost in the music… It’s hard to imagine a life without these simple joys provided through the physical senses of taste, touch, smell, sight. Unfortunately, when embarking on a path of awakening, there’s a risk that sensory pleasure is viewed as bad or wrong. A lot of spiritual practices emphasize the need for fulfilment outside of “simpler” pleasures, which become addictive or lead to the never-ending thirst of desire.So while it’s true that attachment to sensory pleasures is what the Buddha identified as a cause of suffering, it doesn’t mean there’s no place for desire and enjoyment through the senses. Using the chakra system as a guide — the psychic energy flow running through the body — this article will clarify the role of pleasure in the path of wholeness by focusing on one of our favorites of the seven chakras: the sacral chakra. Note: Click here for more information on the crown chakra or the heart chakraWhat is the sacral chakra?The sacral chakra, or Svadhishthana in Sanskrit. It’s the second chakra in the seven-chakra system and one of the “lower” chakras, aligned with Earthy, human qualities. The sacral chakra is one of the energy centers located just above the root chakra, below the belly button and above the pubic bone. It is strongly linked with the sense of taste (the tongue) and reproduction (the genitals). A balanced sacral chakra is thought to be responsible for qualities such as creativity, sexuality, and sensuality. In other words, the sacral chakra awakens and is associated with pleasure.The second chakra: the dwelling place of the selfTwo beautiful translations of the original Sanskrit term — “dwelling place of the Self” or “where your being is established” — give a better understanding of the sacral chakra’s role. It’s responsible for feelings of safety and belonging, and the way you identify with the world and others. It plays a big role in intimacy and the expression of needs and desires.In Anodea Judith’s comparison between the chakras and Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the sacral chakra is linked to safety and security, a level above survival. It’s the pivotal bridge of connection between the self and the world. The sacral chakra is also an energy center associated with qualities such as movement, fun, and feeling. It’s represented by the colour orange and the element of water, a symbol for the quality of flow and harmony experienced when the chakra is aligned. Even orange foods are associated with the sacral chakra! Signs of a blocked sacral chakraDesire, particularly sexual desire, is one of the easiest energies to suppress. Self-judgement and shame are two common causes of a blocked or imbalanced sacral chakra, along with a belief that sensory pleasure is somehow “wrong.” (Henrik Sorensen / Getty)For people who have experienced addiction or an over-indulgence in sensory pleasure, it can take time to harmonize and balance this chakra and regain your emotional and physical health in this domain.Anodea Judith, the author of Eastern Body, Western Mind, notes guilt as one of the main symptoms of a blocked sacral chakra. Deficiency in the sacral chakra can lead to numb or blunt emotions, while an excessive sacral chakra leads to promiscuity, indulgence, or excessive emotions. Other common symptoms (which include physical symptoms) of a blocked or underactive sacral chakra include:Fear, particularly the fear of deathA lack of sexual desire or disconnect from libidoDisconnect from true feelings and desireDifficulty in expressing needs to othersEmotionally reactive or over-sensitiveA lack of creativityThere is an important distinction to note between needs and desire. As Judith explains, “needs are necessities, and desires are accessories.” Needs are fundamental to wellbeing and health, while desires are enjoyable additions. Understanding the distinction between the two plays a significant role in healing and finding ways to balance your sacral chakra. The benefits of aligning the sacral chakraWhen the sacral chakra is aligned and in harmony, it cultivates qualities such as playfulness, humor, and fun. When there is a good energy flowing through the sacral chakra, it can also affect relationships. It’s the portal to greater depth and intimacy, and embodied sexuality. Plus, it’s a vital buffer between understanding your authentic needs and desires and expressing them in the world. For that reason, it has an important role in manifestation, the process of bringing desires into reality.Intimacy doesn’t only exist in relationships with other people, but the whole world. When the sacral chakra is aligned and alive, there’s a more intimate connection with the Earth and nature itself, accompanied by a certain level of reverence of the sacred quality of the physical world.And, of course, once aligned the sacral chakra acts as a powerful vessel to unlock your creative potential. That doesn’t only mean in artistic endeavors, such as making music, painting, or writing, but it applies to life itself. Life is art, and the sacral chakra is the palette from which your inner artist creates the life you want. An unbalanced sacral chakra can take away from that. How to regain a balanced sacral chakra As guilt is one of the biggest blocks to the sacral chakra, a great starting point is to rediscover your innocence. That’s why play is such a vital component in healing and unblocking the chakra — it reminds us to remain lighthearted, that the process of healing doesn’t always have to be serious or stoic. The emotional work of balancing the sacral chakra includes developing self-awareness to create clarity around your emotional landscape, not just in your physical body. With clarity comes self-understanding, and with self-understanding comes the ability to accurately express your needs and desires. Along with self-awareness, there is an element of emotional intelligence required in handling big emotions.That involves doing the necessary trauma work. The ethos of the sacral chakra is safety, and without healing and integrating difficult experiences, the body itself can feel unsafe or on high alert. As Bessel van der Kolk writes in The Body Keeps the Score:“Being able to feel safe with other people is probably the single most important aspect of mental health; safe connections are fundamental to meaningful and satisfying lives.”Relationships as bridgeRelationships are the bridge between self-understanding and safety. We all need nourishing, intimate relationships. That might require having the courage to open your heart, to be vulnerable, to take steps to move beyond fear, to trust others. These are all meaningful and challenging areas of work.(whitebalance.oatt / Getty)Additionally, balancing the sacral chakra involves connecting with sensuality. Can you treat yourself sensually? The social media age of Photoshopped bodily “perfection” and body image issues can create an objectified, impersonal relationship with the body. Sensuality is an antidote to this, a way to treat the body with respect through the senses — such as taking a warm bath or treating yourself to a massage.Get in touch with your desiresThis extends to sexual relationships. Balancing the sacral chakra might involve a reassessment of how you’re investing your sexual energy. Are you cultivating healthy, nourishing sexual interactions? Are you connecting emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and physically? Are you in touch with, and embrace, your own sexual needs and desires?Re-ignite your creative energy centerLastly, balancing the sacral chakra involves re-igniting your creativity. As children, we’re all creative geniuses, but this spark tends to fade over the years. Practicing creativity under the attitude of play means not judging based on output, but just enjoying the expanded feeling that comes from exploring creative qualities within.In conclusion There’s no need to withhold or deny yourself excessively, as long as desires are tempered with the wisdom to know that they don’t lead to deeper fulfillment. You are here to have fun and play, and not take things so seriously. Awakening the sacral chakra (whether through chakra meditation techniques or other mechanisms) is a process of celebration. Celebrate the beauty life has to offer! Celebrate the wonder of the senses!Working to heal the sacral chakra is a practice that takes time, and requires patience, like all paths of growth. But it’s a worthwhile process, for there’s an abundantly rich world out there, with opportunities for delight on every corner. (Image Source / Getty)As long as the enjoyment of these delights is in check… Well, go have fun. Eat the cake. Kiss the lover. Dance the night away.