Chakras

Here are my own thoughts about the Chakras and how it relates to the religious practice of a faithful, temple-attending member of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints. These are just my brainstorming thoughts - not any church doctrine.
Discussion of Lower Chakras is here.

Chakra Four: Heart Center

Air, Social identity, oriented to self-acceptance This chakra is called the heart chakra and is the middle chakra in a system of seven. It is related to love and is the integrator of opposites in the psyche: mind and body, male and female, persona and shadow, ego and unity. A healthy fourth chakra allows us to love deeply, feel compassion, have a deep sense of peace and centeredness

I will tell you in your mind and in your heart
Open your heart
Is this the chakra for compassionate service? Home teaching? Visiting teaching? paying tithing? Genealogy? good works?

When we meet together with the saints every sunday and share our love and support and conversation and lessons, does this strengthen our heart center?

Feb 2004
I gained more understanding of this chakra from Carolyn Myss' book, Anatomy of the Spirit The Law of Moses was a school master and laws and outward performances that spoke to the 3 lower chakras. When Jesus came he brought the higher law. It is a good description because it is from the higher chakras. It starts with the heart chakra (Love is Divine Power) . It starts with the inner person - the motivation for actions, not the actions themselves. For example, the only law that one needs is to love God and neighbor. If our motivation for all action is Love of God and Love of Neighbor, all will be well - nothing else needs to be said. This is the power of the Universe and the power of the heart chakra.

The other principle from the scriptures that falls under the heart chakra is the commandment to forgive all men. If you do not forgive your fellow man, then the greater sin lies within you; greater than the sin that was committed against you. Healing starts with forgiveness. So when Christ said to people - your sins are forgiven you, that is the beginning of healing. And so it is.

We must release our right to vengence or justice. We release the justice to God. We must release our past hurts and wounds rather than nurse them and keep them holding power over our lives. Not forgiving keeps us in the past.

When we have matured to the point where our reason for doing things becomes the love of God, then we have charity, we have the highest and greatest power in the Universe. Fear, respect, traditions, duty, reward; these are all motivations, but all motivations from the lower chakras. Love of God brings us the higher law, the higher motivation.

Chakra Five: Throat chakra

Sound, Creative identity, oriented to self-expression This is the chakra located in the throat and is thus related to communication and creativity. Here we experience the world symbolically through vibration, such as the vibration of sound representing language.

I sing the hymns each week with a different attitude now that I view this as my Sunday yoga practice. The hymns have a very powerful vibration because of the words that are spoken as well as the music. Singing, talking, sharing lessons or testimonies
We are constantly creating in our callings: lessons, activities, etc.

Feb 2004
I also gained some better understanding of this chakra (Surrender Personal Will to Divine Will) from Anatomy of the Spirit. Giving ourselves to God's timing is the realm of this chakra; Not my will but Thy will be done. Giving thanks in all situations. All things work together for good to them that love God.

As we sang the hymn today in church, the words specifically talked about allowing God's will in our life and so by singing and affirming these thoughts it lets this outcome to be manifest in our lives - if we sing with intent. The song of the righteous is a prayer unto me.

I can see that we could go an entire lifetime and not be peaceful with the issues of this chakra. We want our own way - power of choice in the solar plexus and control. But it is better for us if we allow God's will to be the guiding force, but God will not TAKE the lead. We must GIVE and surrender to His Will. This is the throat chakra.

Another principle that this chakra covers is the principle taught in Chapters 40 - about 43 of Alma in the Book of Mormon. Restoration. Or Karma - from the Eastern tradition. We receive back everything we send out. The Law of the Harvest. Divine and eternal restoration. Even our thoughts and words have consequences and send out energy into the universe. The power of creation in the Universe is through intent and thoughts.

Chakra Six: Third Eye

Light, Archetypal identity, oriented to self-reflection This chakra is known as the brow chakra or third eye center. It is related to the act of seeing, both physically and intuitively. As such it opens our psychic faculties and our understanding of archetypal levels. When healthy it allows us to see clearly, in effect, letting us "see the big picture."

Located in the middle of the forehead.
The eyes of our understanding were opened
When there is no vision, the people perish
An eye single to the glory of God
Light would be the Spirit of the Holy Ghost and we see that light with our spiritual eyes. When we are open and calm and listening to the spirit, we strengthen these spiritual eyes.

Feb 2004 After looking at this chakra as defined in Anatomy of the Spirit I would say the thing that corresponds with this chakra is a Patriarchal Blessing. The 3rd eye (Seek only the truth) is the chakra of wisdom and inspiration and also of finding and following your life's mission.

In our faith we believe that we were all part of a very ancient plan and our mortal life here is a very small fraction of that plan. We don't remember, but many of us were ordained to certain callings and missions before we came here and its possible we made lots of bonds and contracts and agreements with our families and friends that we would carry out while in mortality. This all falls into the 3rd eye chakra; being able to see far back and far ahead in our eternal lives.

When we see life with this long eternal vision of the 3rd eye, then fear of earthly struggles lessens and attachment to earth's treasures and inticements also lessens. It can also remind us that as much as we would like to believe, we are not our own. We are here both as students and as teachers, as helpers and guides, as children and parents, as lost souls and as saviors. As soon as possible we must heal from emotional wounds and start working with God to fulfill our mission/His work.

Chakra Seven: Crown chakra

Thought, Universal identity, oriented to self-knowledge This is the crown chakra that relates to consciousness as pure awareness. It is our connection to the greater world beyond, to a timeless, spaceless place of all-knowing. When developed, this chakra brings us knowledge, wisdom, understanding, spiritual connection, and bliss.

The crown of a baby's head is open for a length of time after birth. Is this closing of the crown part of the veil of forgetfulness?

Laying on of hands
The power of God coming from heaven thru the priesthood holder and the laying on of hands to the person being blessed. Thru the crown chakra.

This is the chakra that draws us away from earth into the heavens.
Revelation from God.
Meditation and prayer would strengthen this chakra.
The celestial kingdom?

After reading Anatomy of The Spirit I am again so thankful, so grateful for Joseph Smith for following his foreordained mission and restoring the Gospel. I believe the ideas that Myss has put forth because it fits just perfectly with the principles I have been taught all my life, and the principles that are taught in the Book of Mormon, Bible, Doctrine and Covenants and Pearl of Great Price. I didn't learn anything new - its all the same, just integrated with the teaching about the chakras. And as far as the crown chakra (Live in the present moment) - our littlest, youngest children are taught about this and its reinforced into their lives constantly. We give babies a blessing, Father's blessings, prayer at night, family prayer, teaching that God loves us and has power in our lives and we can call upon the powers of heaven. I am a person who never went thru a rebellious time and fell away from the church, so my whole life I have had energy to and from the crown chakra. It is the witness of the Holy Ghost. For me there are many and varied feeling and thoughts when I feel the Holy Spirit, but it is a common occurrence.