“Our bodies communicate to us clearly and specifically
if we are willing to listen to them.”
- Shakti Gawain
Does every energy center in your body have a space at the table of your decision making?
If you answered no, this article will provide tips on how to get the most out of our resources to start listening and learning from the most intelligent system - our bodies. If you answered, what does that even mean? This article will help explain what whole body listening is and how it’s beneficial. If you answered, yes, Congrats!
So what does giving your energy centers a space at the table of your decision making mean? It means listening with every chakra in your body. This is important because a lot of times, we as humans will pull our decision making resources from one or a couple areas of our energy centers. When we tap into all of our energy centers; that is when we are truly guiding our decisions based on intuition rather than thought. Listening to our higher self, the divine and our guidance for our highest good.
What are chakras?
Chakras are energy centers that flow energy throughout our body. If our chakras are blocked, we can develop physical or mental/emotional ailments. Stagnation of energy is not good in any form. If our chakras are open and flowing freely, we experience more joy, trust, and love of life. I’ve listed a breakdown of our 7 main chakras including what they stand for, what happens when they are flowing freely and what can happen when they are overactive or under-active as a guide as you develop your whole body listening. Knowledge is power! The more we know the more we can utilize each center.
Root - The Root Chakra or 1st Chakra is referred to as our "Power Base". It determines our ability to feel safe, secure and grounded. As well as the ability to keep money in our life. When our Root Chakra is balanced, we are trusting, independent, physically healthy and graceful. Our chakras can become over or under active depending on the experiences of our lives. When our Root Chakra is overactive we can experience greed, violence or dominance. When it is under-active we feel unloved, fearful, unsure and frustrated.
Sacral - The Sacral Chakra or 2nd Chakra is referred to as our "Creative Energy Center". It is where you "brith" what you want to manifest/share with the world. When our Sacral Chakra is balanced, we express our true and authentic selves, we are emotionally balanced, passionate, friendly and playful. When our Sacral Chakra is overactive we can be manipulative, bring about negative attention and feel a need for control or power. When it is under-active we feel social anxiety, lost, guilty or concerned about what others think of us.
Solar Plexus - The Solar Plexus Chakra or 3rd Chakra is referred to as the "Body's Battery" and where our inner strength resonates. It is where our motivation and ambition to pursue goals comes from. When our Solar Plexus Chakra is balanced, we are mentally and intuitively clear, confident, respectful of self and others, easily problem solve, have integrity, and radiate calmness. When our Solar Plexus Chakra is overactive we can be judgmental, critical of self and others, stubborn and a bully. When it is under-active we feel low self esteem, procrastination, and apathy.
Heart - The Heart Chakra or 4th Chakra rules love, breath, balance, relationship and unity. When our Heart Chakra is balanced, we feel loved, cared for, and we love ourselves. We share with and relate to others easily creating trust and community. We are emotionally in balance, embrace connection, have hope and a contagiously good vibe. When our Heart Chakra is overactive we can feel self entitled or jealousy. We can also blame others and be a victim to our own emotions, or be "over-givers". When it is under-active we feel unloved or needy. We have a fear of rejection or self pity.
Throat - The Throat Chakra or 5th Chakra rules speech, communication, and creative expression. In etheric energy, it also represents dreaming. When our Throat Chakra is balanced, we are able to let things go, especially our own past choices. We express our views and opinions in a healthy way. We do not dwell on past, present, or future anxieties. We have wisdom that all experiences create our bigger life picture. When our Throat Chakra is overactive we can be stubborn, speak too much, and be seen as criticizing in a negative way. When it is under-active we are afraid to speak publicly, are co-dependent, timid, and find it difficult to live in the present moment.
Third Eye - The Third Eye Chakra or 6th Chakra rules our spiritual awakening, inner peace, and illumination. When our Third Eye Chakra is balanced, we feel intuitive or receive intuitive messages easily. We are charismatic, magnetic, and sure of our purpose on Earth. We can also be seen as wise to others regardless of age. When our Third Eye Chakra is overactive we can feel lost, worried, or spaced out. When it is under-active we tend to not see the bigger picture of life, we are easily influenced by others, and doubt our decisions.
Crown - The Crown Chakra or 7th Chakra represents enlightenment, pure awareness and goes beyond all duality. When our Crown Chakra is balanced, we are said to have a "glow" about us. We live fully in the present moment, feel connected to Divine, Source, or God (however you refer). We also exude compassion, peace, harmony, love, focus and thoughtfulness. When it is overactive we can crave attention, feel the need to be popular, and be overly imaginative. When it is under-active we feel misunderstood, find it hard to have fun, and are unaware or deny our spiritual connection to Divine, Source, or God (however you refer).
So now that you know more about the chakras, you can be present when going into a decision. Check in with yourself. Take a moment to breathe into your body and into each chakra at a time. Start at the base and work your way up through the crown. For example, if you are debating a new career opportunity you can check in with your root and ask, “Will I feel safe and secure with this new career?”
Sacral, “Will I be expressing myself authentically in this new role?”
Solar Plexus, “Does this new opportunity take from or give to my ‘body’s battery’?”
Heart, “Will I be able to create relationships and build trust & community in this new role?” Throat, “Will I feel stifled or will I be graced the opportunity to speak openly and express myself?”
Third Eye, “Does this opportunity contribute to fulfilling my purpose?”
Crown, “Does being connected with this new company/job/role keep me focused, at peace, and able to be in the present moment?”
Listening intuitively to your body’s reactions as you move through will give you more confidence and support in your decisions. But, never forget - every decision you make is the right one. We either win or learn, there are no losses. My hope is that this article assists you with whole body listening and learning, creating more aligned decision making in your life. Please feel free to share how it goes!
XX, Ashley