Page 42 - the NOISE February 2014

1st Chakra: Indian Paintbrush
Throughout history and ancient spiritual traditions, from Eastern religions to Western mysticism, a universal system — one of the oldest known is the Chakra System. This sys- tem is composed of subtle life force energy centers within the human energy system.
Just as plants and flowers have an innate wisdom, so too does the human body. This wisdom is expressed through the seven energy centers, or chakras, starting from the root at the base of the spine up to the crown at the top of the head. A color and a frequency of light and sound vibrations are unique to each individual chakra. Flowers, like chakras, also embody colors and vibra- tions of light and sound.
In the next seven issues, I will discuss the seven chakras people are most familiar with, even though there are many, and associate them with the energetic imprint of a flower and its essence.
Let’s begin with the 1st Chakra
PHySICAL, ROOT, OR BASE CHAKRA Element: Earth
Focus: Survival and physical security Color: Red
Endocrine Gland: Adrenals
Senses: Kinesthetic sensations such as touch; physical feelings of pleasure or pain; movement that may include walking or deep breathing, as in meditation or relax- ation techniques.
Functions: The base chakra is located between the tailbone (the coccyx) and the pubic bone. It includes the functions of the anus, rectum, and circulatory system, and the lower extremities such as the feet, legs, and entire pelvic area. The base chakra is associated with the adrenal glands, which are located atop the kidneys and produce steroid hormones that regulate salt concen- tration in the blood, hydrocortisone, which assists the body in its response to physical stress, and small amounts of sex hormones
— both male (androgens) and female (es- trogens) — that augment the hormones secreted by the gonad.
Positive Healing Patterns
The root chakra has a grounding en- ergy that connects us to the earth and helps us build our foundation. This is an innate primal energy and the vital root of our spiritual and soul heritage
— where we have come from and how we will proceed with who we are. It is about survival, power, and sensuality. It includes our physical needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, exercise, and nutrition, yet it also includes a deeper awareness that takes us back to the roots from which we came.
Establishing an understanding of and a relationship with our root chakra initiates a deep internal journey into the discovery of the self. It is the turn- ing point for knowing our true selves; it gives us the strength to choose our di- rection in life, in the context of a great- er picture of ourselves and our origins.
A conscious, healthy relationship with the root chakra empowers us to be who we need to be. With this grounding, we can create harmony in our homes and with our families, and
choose friends, jobs, and situations that empower and nurture who we are. The root chakra is the seat of the kundalini, or life-force energy, and affects the way we breathe and move.
Expression of the kundalini energy is represented by the serpent, which is asso- ciated with both masculine and feminine traits. A common symbol in the medical field is made up of two serpents (male and female) intertwined along the “caduceus,” or staff, and topped by a pair of wings; it represents a mystical awakening of the hot, fiery kundalini energy. This energy rises from the base of the spine and aligns with the chakras all the way to the crown chakra at the top of the head. Experiencing the kundalini brings harmony, balance, and an incredible feeling of flowing life-force ener- gy. The crown and root chakras are opposite in polarity and equal in value.
Flower: Indian Paintbrush
(Castilleja chromosa) / Creativity
Indian Paintbrush flower essence stirs
creative, passionate, visionary, and artistic self-expression, while allowing one to feel grounded and connected to one’s roots. This essence encourages us to take time to be still and relax into silence, helping us to find the resources that meet our survival needs so we can live a fuller more creative life.
Affirmation: I feel relaxed and rooted in who I am, knowing that my needs are met easily and creatively.
| Rhonda PallasDowney is the founder and formulator of Living Flower essences and the Center
for Plant Studies & Healing Arts. She is the author of The Healing Power of Flowers and Voices of
Flowers, and has produced a documentary film selected by the 2014 Sedona international Film Festival, A Journey into Plants and Flowers. livingfloweressences.com
42 • FEBRUARY 2014 • the NOISE arts & news • thenoise.us