Anja—Brow Chakra Meditation

Visualizations used in this meditation explained.  You will need to know the definition and location of the Sushumna (Sukshumna) nadi, which closely correlates with the spinal cord.  The website listed below has several articles on the sushumna nadi.  However, all the articles give more information than is really required for this meditation, but it is always good to understand what the Nadis are.  You also need to understand what a vortex is.

Sushumna Nadi

A vortex is similar to the action that you find when you drain the water from the bathtub.  It moves in a circular motion and is shaped like a cone.  A vortex draws things down into it.  The chakra vortex draws energy from things from the outside such as people, animals, plants and the universe.  Have you ever noticed how some people just seem to suck the life out of you?  Well this is how the energy is being drawn away from you.  So when visualizing this vortex, the action is one of a vortex like the water, with the large end exiting your forehead, and the small end connected into the sushumna (spinal cord).

Intuition Building

As with any type of meditation try to perform this meditation when you won’t be disturbed.  Turn the phone off or down, make sure the children are occupied or in bed.  Find a comfortable position either sitting in lotus position, lying on the floor or bed, or in a reclining chair.  Play soft soothing music.  Use the aroma therapy recommendations for this chakra, or burn incense of the appropriate variety to match the aroma therapy recommendations.

Begin relaxation by tensing each muscle group, starting with the feet, then the calf of the leg, moving up to the head.  Relaxing, releasing each muscle goup completely.  Feel it relax into the surface that it is touching.  

Visualize the two wing symbol of this chakra.  See the indigo color.  Visualize this chakra in the middle of your forehead in the area of the third-eye…………..  Feel the color slowly spread and fill the chakra……..  Feel the vortex of the chakra fill with the color as it spins steadily.  Feel the indigo color completely fill your head, and connect with sushumna…  Feel the violet from the crown chakra flow down the sushumna, and the blue from the throat chakra rise up to meet in the indigo of the third-eye………  Feel the pulsing of the chakra as it spins………..

Know that the third-eye chakra is there for vision the same as your other two eyes.  The difference is that this eye looks inward.  This is the source of your intuition, you inner knowing.  This is a method of connection with that which is eternal in you. This is your connection to your higher self.  You use it to look deep inside yourself for the answers that are surely there.  It is there to offer insight, clairvoyance, and answers to the questions of the universe.

Do this or other meditation regularly.  Keep the third-eye sharp as an eagle’s eye.

Ajna-Brow Chakra Practices

I did link the poses to the Yoga Journal description. I linked the exercises to the Holistic Online explanations. Those links are mine, and considered safe by me. Other links are not mine.

Yoga Poses for AJNA

Before you begin any practice program consult your doctor. It is not imperative that you perform these poses, other activities will suffice. Read the contraindications for the poses at the link provided. Avoid those that would not be of benefit to you.

Corpse Pose

Head to knee pose—Janu Sirasana

The downward dog pose—Adho Mukha Svanasana

Bridge Pose—Setu Bandha Sarvangasana

Mountain Pose—Tadasana

Tree Pose—Vrksasana

Half Lord of the Fishes Pose—Ardha Matsyendrasana

Eagle Pose—Garudasana

Before you begin any exercise program consult your doctor. It is not imperative that you perform these poses, other activities will suffice. Read the contraindications for the poses at the link provided. Avoid those that would not be of benefit to you.

Activity for AJNA

Eye Exercises

Alt. Nostril Breathing

Aromatherapy

Essential Oils

Cajeput

Lemongrass

Violet

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)

Jasmine (Jasminum officinale or J. Grandiflorum)

Lemon (Citrus Limonum)

Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis, R. coronarium)

Remember to buy oils that appeal to you, use your intuition to choose the one that is right for you.

Methods for dispersing

Hot melted candle wax (unscented candle of course).  Don’t get oil in flame, just drop on top of melted wax.

In simmering (not boiling) water

Candle Diffuser

For a luxurious bath add 8 drops violet oil and 4 oz of cream to the bath water.  Do this a couple times a week mix cajeput and violet oil with a teaspoon of almond or jojoba oil.  Use your index finger and middle finger to massage this into your forehead/third-eye area.  Do not use any of the other oils for this.

Warning—Do not use if you have allergies.  This is a nice thing to do, but not imperative

Quick Meditation

This practice is called Trataka which means steady gazing. It is a very simple and beautiful meditation technique.  If you are epileptic do not use the candle or other lighted object for this method.  Find a nice star chart and use that.

Method

Use a candle or any other object of choice can be used. For the candle or other light the room should be completely dark.  If you are using another object make sure it is light up.  Set the candle or other object at 3 foot distance, and at a level with the eyes.  Make sure you are sitting comfortably, spine straight, relaxed, legs crossed or in lotus position, place the hands on the knees palms up. If you are in a chair do not cross your legs.

Start with your eyes shut.  I like to have the room darkened except for the candle flame. Take 4 deep breaths. Open your eyes.  Steadily gaze at the candle/object with the eyes open, you may blink when necessary. When your eyes get tired, close them.  With the eyes closed look up at the brow chakra.  See the flame and the colors.  The after image in the mind is used for gazing. Try not to move through out the practice. Relax your breath, let it lengthen, deepen. After about 10-20 minutes or longer if possible, open your eyes.  Rub your hands together vigorously to create a warm sensation. Place the heels of your hands over your eye sockets, and rest your fingers on your forehead over your third eye.  Hold this position while you hands cool down.

Benefits of the Practice

• It improves the optic function, both external and internal, such as poor eyesight and visualization abilities
• It helps develop concentration and mental resolve
• Develops the ability to maintain single-pointedness in amongst the noise and distractions of daily life
• Develops the ability to connect with that which is eternal in all of us. The watcher will awaken, and provide you with the ability to "see" or understand what and who you really are, and connect you with the power of creation.

Other Fun Things

Go to the library and check out a Magic Eye book by Magic Eye, Inc., Mark Grossman.  Look for images.

Ajna-Third-eye Chakra Introduction

What & Where

The third eye is located between the eyebrows and is the vortex of intuition, imagination, visualization, clairvoyance and vision. Many believe that this chakra is connected with the pineal gland and is the "seat of the soul". It vibrates at a higher frequency than sound. The third eye's vibration is that of light.

It is called Ajna which means to perceive, to know, and to control.  We see the physical world with our eyeballs, while the third-eye lets us see things for which there is no tangible evidence.

This is the area from which we envision our reality, and, thus, manifest our world.

Main Function

Our eyes are what we see the world with; the brow chakra often called the third-eye is how we see the psychic, intuitive world.  It is how we sense things that we have no concrete evidence for.  This is also area of concept which is where our mind visions are brought into a concept that is eventually produced into something we can see.  You can see how important our third eye is to manifesting our desires.  We also form our perception of reality here, and it becomes the filter through which we view the world. This filter is what creates our reality, and the world in which we live. The true seat of our manifestations is within the purview of the third eye Ajna.

The third-eye is responsible for those little niggling feelings that we sometimes choose to ignore.  It is also what allows us to connect those dots when we make a breakthrough in our mental and psychic selves.  Do you ever find yourself slapping yourself in the forehead and saying; “Of course, that’s it, why didn’t I see that before.”  This is what I call a third-eye thumper, and the third-eye energy is what is largely responsible for those EUREKA moments.

This center is our native intelligence and thrives on the distilled wisdom gained from living our lives; the good times and the bad times, and those times we thought we just couldn’t go on.  These are the things that make us what we are, and this is what develops the third eye. How we learn to cope with these things is what gives us the tools to manifest the world in which we live.

When it is open and functioning well, we can discern our highest good as well as profound awareness and intuition. The center seeks meaning, truth, and freedom. These are the building blocks of the world which we build for ourselves.

1. This chakra allows us to realize our consciousness of self. So it helps us understand our own interpretations and thoughts.
2. The brow chakra is the center of our inner vision. It helps us obtain good insight and intuition by allowing us to see beyond the obvious.
3. It uses symbols and pictures through dreams, daydreams, imagination, meditation....etc, to give us messages.
4. It also helps us obtain knowledge.

Controlled by Ajna

The emotional seat lies in this chakra.  The physical aspects deal with the eyes, sinuses, base of the skull and temporal lobes, and affect metabolism, growth, and other hormones.  Mentally this charka is where our control center of the mind is located.  We can create harmony or conflict.  In harmony all is right with the world, and our mind is still.  In conflict we are struggling trying to find the best solutions to our problems.  The brow charka will point us at more holistic solutions to the conflict.

The essence of balance in this chakra is to balance your intellectual knowledge with your intuitive, psychic, and spiritual side.  One should not dismiss the intuitive insights, but one must also not let the mind runaway with us when our intellectual side is screaming for us to halt.  Also one should not intellectualize something that we know in our gut/intuition to be true.  To let either the intellectual or the intuitive side reign supreme spells danger, each must moderate the other to maintain balance and assure good judgment.

Related Bodily Functions

Problems with the Brow Chakra relate to intelligence and stupidity, dull affectivity, and overwork.  These can create conditions such as migraine, blindness and other eye problems, like glaucoma and cataracts, brain tumors, and strokes.

The approximate position on the spine is the first cervical, and the sympathetic plexus is the carotid, the chief subsidiary Plexuses are the cavernous, and cephalic ganglia.

Over Active

Highly logical, dogmatic, authoritarian, arrogant

Under active

Undisciplined, fears success, tendency toward schizophrenia, sets sights too low

Balanced

Charismatic, highly intuitive, not attached to material things, may experience unusual phenomena