On Tuesday, 5 September 2006, our
Institute began its first Treasured Women's Healthcare Circle
Workshop Series. Our women's circle has been created to bring
women together to receive vital health information, to promote
discussion through sharing health stories or health concerns,
to integrate physical & spiritual health
practices, and to encourage the creation of a
sacred healing space wherever and whenever needed. This is
not a conventional circle. In its sacredness, we respect each
sister's confidentiality, individuality, thought process and
need of loving support.
Greetings Treasured Women:
Thank you for attending TYHI’s first Treasured
Women’s’ Healthcare Circle Workshop Series last Tuesday
evening, “Creating A Sacred Healing Space.” It was such a beautiful
gathering of like-minded women all interested in nourishing their
femininity and creating a sacred space for our healing
journey(s).
In discussing the power of the 5th
chakra prompted by a physical concern being discussed, we found
that the throat energy center is the center of communication. The 5th energy
center is the value of not only speaking our voice, but of hearing
the voice of others as well. Sometimes, we are so intent upon
having others hear our point of view, we dismiss listening to
theirs. In so doing,
we inhibit healthy communication. With our Sisters’ sharing, we
were able to realize that physical conditions have spiritual
correlates and metaphorical meaning. We were all able to relate the
idea of a chronic cough as a possibility of one’s long felt desire
to voice her true self in a way she has never examined before. A suppressed throat energy
center may have been choking because it needed to express
uninhibited self-expression. Some of the other Sisters in our
circle realized their own personal experiences of holding back
their true voice as well, whether due to the era of birth, social
or cultural expectations of feminine expression or our family
dynamics. We were each alerted to the fact that each Treasured
Woman’s sharing is crucial to the circle as valuable insights
remind us that we have the power and duty to change outdated
thought processes and to value our authenticity in spite of
another’s discomfort with our newfound freedom. In other words, our sharing
reminds us that we are not alone and that we are undeniably
interconnected. How
powerful is that!
What are
some of the things we can do to heal our throat chakra and develop
of our true voice?
Here are
some tonic herbs that benefit the throat. A very powerful herb for the
Lungs and throat is called, Osha. It is a great tonic herb for
colds, respiratory infections, and for coughs. It is even beneficial for delayed
menses. Thus, it would
be contraindicated for use in pregnant women. Osha is available in a
tincture. To avoid the
alcohol, use with warm water or find the non-alcoholic
version. Rose hips and
petals are herbs that also beneficial for the throat, plus rose
hips is great for the lungs and the cardiovascular system. They are
full of vitamin C and are great for summer drinks. Lemongrass makes a cozy tea with
honey that aids in digestion, cooling the body and has carminative
(gas expelling) properties. Yarrow aids in relieving sore
throat, while yerba santa aids in cleansing and toning upper
respiratory passageways, thus aids in restricting cough.
Within the
region of the throat chakra is the thyroid gland that controls our
bodies’ metabolism.
Massaging the thyroid gland region will energize the
thyroid and its metabolism function, aiding in digestion and
nutrient absorption, and in ridding the body of toxins and
poisons. The thyroid
also governs growth and is interrelated with the breathing system.
With your thumb on one side and your four fingers on the other side
of the highest point of your Adam’s apple region gently massage
with circular motions up and down, inward and outward along the
throat region. Expand
the massage to encompass the entire front region of your neck. Doing this massage on a
regular basis can help one avoid the “dangerous” regularly
prescribed thyroid medications as it relaxes tightness in the
throat region. After
thoroughly massaging one side, switch hands and continue along the
opposite side.
After
massaging the front of the throat area, massage the back of the
throat as well. Take
turns with your hands in groping the back of your neck while
pulling the skin up through each hand. End the massage with gentle
circular neck movements. Then, move the neck from side to
side. Grab your upper
shoulders as well.
Even if only slightly, feel the stress that is being relieved from
both the front of the throat area and the back.
The back
of the 5th chakra serves as “the center of self-directed
fate.” Cyndi Dale, in
her book, “New Chakra Healing,” says that it is here that the door
to our thoughts and ideas is located and from here we pass them
onto our conscious vocal front side. We either accept the guidance we
receive or reject it.
As we make the selection of what we will accept, we “voice that
which we want to create, versus that which we do not.” Twisted guidance can cause us to
make improper judgments that can wreak havoc on us emotionally,
financially, or in our various relationships. We can either create things that
benefit our lives or things that hurt us, from joy to throat
cancer. Interestingly,
the back of the neck is also the area where pathogens enter. That’s why we keep our neck
protected from wind or cool air. Notice when you have feelings of
dread or chills, the hair on the back of the neck rises or chills
stem from that area.
In acupuncture, we use a point that lies between the spinous
process of the seventh cervical vertebrae, called, “Da Zhui” or
“great hammer.” This
point is used to alleviate throat bi (arthritis), neck stiffness
and cough. It also
aids in alleviate “the five taxations and the seven forms of
damage.” In my
practice, as I attend to the physical complaint that brought the
patient in for treatment, I also engage points that correspond to
the chakra or the spiritual correlate associated with the area of
concern. Once again,
we are called to remember that the mind rules the body. I often say, “The word is made
flesh and thought forms manifest.” I can now associate my saying
with the throat chakra. We have the power to speak and think what
we want or don’t want into manifestation.
In
Caroline Shola Arewa’s book, Opening to Spirit, Contacting the
Healing Power of the Chakras & Honouring African
Spirituality, here are some of the correspondences
she lists for the throat chakra:
Spiritual
attribute:
‘Open to spirit’ – awareness of/and communication with Spirit
Disturbance:
Limited spiritual awareness
Symbol:
Inverted triangle surrounded by a circle
Statement:
'I speak, I hear’
Balanced emotions:
Stillness, peacefulness & harmony
Unbalanced
emotions: Restlessness,
anxiety
Gland:
Thyroid
Body Parts:
Throat, ears and mouth
Esoteric Anatomy:
Etheric body
Foods:
Aesthetics & presentation of food
Herbs:
Kelp, chamomile, benzoin
Oils:
Frankincense, Chamomile, Sandalwood
Gems:
Turquoise, lapis lazuli, lazulite, blue lace agate, blue
quartz
Through
the 5th chakra, we communicate with the Divine in all of
its manifestations; from the animal kingdom and plant kingdom to
the mineral and celestial kingdoms. It is through the window of this
chakra that we connect with the truth that all life
is precious and valuable. We also connect with our
ancestors and with race consciousness what is referred to as
collective consciousness. Through the throat chakra, we can
experience our center of truth, our authentic expression, because
the power and function(s) of communication resides here. Here, we can tap into our
sensory energy; engage our ability to feel empathetic; experience
clairaudience; observe life’s congruencies, and enjoy the
fulfillment connected to the wide range of voice we can express.
From the gentle to assertive; from the soft to confident; from
silent to loud, the quality of our healthy voice
naturally resonates with what being experienced.
Listening
is a vital characteristic also associated with the
5th chakra. We are urged to not only speak our true
voice, but to also listen to our inner voice, which connects us to
our divine guidance.
The feeling of hair rising on the back of one’s neck when walking
down the street a way our inner voice connects with us to be reveal
the abrupt need for us to change directions. My elders often chided me to
“listen to my first voice,” because, they said, that voice was
coming from my god-self. How often I wished I had engaged their
advice. Taking a quiz,
the first answer that “came” to me, more than not, would be the
correct one. I learned
to value my intuition and have developed a deep respect for the
messages that I receive from it. I also learned that Nature is a
true messenger that operates through her seasonal manifestations,
through her creatures, like the eagle or the cypress tree, the
planets or the sea creatures. Messages are also contained in
the playful voice of the dolphin, the telling caw of the raven, the
joyful song of the sparrow, and the roar of the sea.
Cyndi Dale
lists some other correspondences we may access when returning to
health our throat center in her aforementioned book:
Color:
Blue
Source of:
Truth
Seat of: Wisdom, responsibility (often seen as
the seat of the soul).
Key Word:
Expression
Contains:
Our ability to define ourselves to the world.
Problems:
Any disorders affecting the throat area, jaw, mouth, larynx,
thyroid, tonsils, and thymus, inability to say “no” or “yes”
victimization from assertion; issues of under or
over-responsibility
Quality: Sound, vibration
and voice.
Here in
this chakra lays our ability to communicate with the Great
Spirit. “To hear
the voice of spirit, we must always be ready to listen.” One of the best ways we can
balance our throat chakra occurs when we honor our voice that
desires to say “no” to something, releasing the feeling and
reaction of over-responsibility. TRUST GOD, the Gracious
Omnipotent Doer, and place that which is beyond your ability to
handle onto the altar of the Divine. Victimization and blame cannot
reside in this chakra when we use the Inner Guiding Voice as our
wisdom giver.
In our
Treasured Women’s Healthcare Circle Workshop Series, we are
learning that we can trace our physical maladies to spiritual
disconnections. The mind controls the body, not the other way
around. The body sends
messages to the mind.
When we develop and express our authentic voice, we are creating a
sacred healing space.
There are so many ways to create this sacred healing space. How wonderful it was to be
guided to learn more about the throat chakra and that our power
lies in our voice!
Grace guides us when we listen! Throughout our circle workshops,
we will learn how to create our sacred healing space and connect it
to healthy living practices.
Treasured
Women, please remember to check the Organ clock we use to monitor
the ebb and flow of your organs. This may also aid
you in seeing what organs may be experiencing deficiency and which
are experiencing excess. Write down how you are feeling
when you check in with your organ clock handout. If you are wake up sweating at
2am, note that and keep mindful of taking these notes. We can discuss them at our next
circle, or feel free to phone or email me with any questions you
may have. Also, please
practice your “Hara Meditation Exercise” and try the “Health Salad”
and/or add some of its ingredients to your preferred salad. Exercise, rest, fun and
inner calm are crucial healing ingredients. Check to see when your energy
flow is abundant and when you feel your energy experiencing its
ebb.
Our next
gathering is on Tuesday evening, 12th September
2006 at Treasure Your Health Institute at 6:30pm. Please tell your
friends or those you feel may be interested. If you have some topics you’d
like to us to discuss, please let me know.
Let us
strive to make each moment healthier.
Reference:
Healing Tonics, 101
Herbal Tonics, by Jeanine Pollak
The Complete System of
Self-Healing, Internal Exercises, by Dr. Stephen T.
Chang
New Chakra Healing,
The Revolutionary 32-Center Energy System, by Cyndi
Dale
Opening to Spirit, Contacting
the Healing Power of the Chakras & Honouring African
Spirituality, by Caroline Shola Arewa
