The Sixth Chakra - Ajna
Element: Spirit/Light
Colour: Indigo or Deep Blue
Gemstones: sapphire or emerald (to calm) diamonds to activate, lapis lazuli to balance.
Emotion: Clarity, Intuition and meditation
Oils: Frankincense, basil and holy basil.
Body Sense: Extra sensory perception / Intuition
Mantra: “May I see and perceive clearly on every level and seek only the truth.” “I am that I am”.
Sanskrit seed symbol: make the sound ‘OM” (pronounced aum) while focusing on your chakra.
It is important to note that the three major chakras below the heart are principally concerned with the physical body and the world we perceive with our senses, whereas those above the heart are of a more spiritual level. [1]
The sixth chakra (or brow chakra) is called Ajna and it is located between the eyebrows, just above the bridge of the nose. The brow chakra is also known at the Third Eye Chakra, the Eye of Shiva, ajna-pura, jnana-padma, and dwidala. Ajna translates as ‘servant’ or ‘command’ in the sense of the Guru’s command of spiritual guidance.
Ajna chakra governs the act of seeing, both physically and intuitively. It is a psychic tool reminding us that everything we see, smell, touch, or taste started as an inner vision or ‘in-sight’.
“While our two eyes see the material world, our six chakra sees beyond the physical. This vision includes clairvoyance, telepathy, intuition, dreaming, imagination, and visualisation.” [2]
The sixth chakra is concerned with the intuitive insight that transcends the five body senses and the limitations of time and space. Ajna Chakra issues are psychic, emotional and mental intelligence and intuition.
“We have five senses in which we glory and which we recognize and celebrate, senses that constitute the sensible world for us. But there are other senses – secret senses, sixth senses, if you will – equally vital, but recognized, and unlauded.” ~ Oliver Sacks
When the brow chakra is under active, it is said that you can have poor memory, experience eye problems, have difficulty recognizing patterns, and difficulty with visualisation.
When the brow chakra is over active, headaches, hallucinations and nightmares can occur as well as difficulty concentrating.
The pituitary gland is associated with the Brow Chakra so imbalances within the endocrine system (which the pituitary gland governs) can appear as hyperthyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, hypothyroidism and sleep disorders.
To balance the chakras you can practice specific yoga poses to encourage balance, use oils for the 6th Chakra (inhaled or anointed), lay specific gemstones directly on your chakra and/or visualise a wheel of light in the chakra’s colour (Indigo), spinning in a counter clockwise direction to cleanse and in a clockwise direction to strengthen.
Other ways to balance the brow chakra are to practice meditation, create positive images and visualisations including making a vision board.
Other activities are: daydreaming, close your eyes and feel the sun entering into your third eye centre and listening to classical music such as Mozart or Bach.
The most beneficial yoga poses are:
· Downward Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
. Child’s Pose (Balasana)
. Head to Knee Pose (Janu Sirsasana)
. Intense Side Stretch Pose (Parsvottanasana)
. Yoga Mudra in Lotus Pose(Padmasana)
. Plough Pose (Halasana)
. Supported forward bends, (using bolster, blocks or blankets).
Questions to ask your-self related to the brow chakra:
· Do I lack intuition or insight in life?
. Do I constantly hang onto negative thoughts and find it difficult to overcome fear of anxiety?
· What attitudes do I have that disempower me?
· What beliefs do I continue to accept that I know are not true?
. What beliefs and attitudes in myself would I like to change?
· Can I commit to making those changes?
Notes:
1. The Chakra Bible by Patricia Mercier.
2. Asanas for the Chakra System by Barbara Kaplan Herring, by Yoga Journal.
Next month: The Crown or 7th Chakra/Sahasrara
Chakras 1 – 5: Find out about any chakra’s you have missed at Spirit Yoga news/blog here.
Chakra Jewellery: http://www.chakra.net.au/
