Emergence from Chakras
Observing the doors where Source comes through.
Silent meditation in action and stillness have been giving me gifts that leave me in awe. Since moving to Kyoto, I had been running around like crazy, re-building everything from the remnants of those that I chose to burn down from the recent past. It’s been exhilarating to say the least, both as I quietly watch the world happen in front of, around and within me, as I partake in the rollercoaster of adventures that life has been serving.
Silent observation of the reclining buddha at Nanzo-in, a Shingon Buddhist temple in Sasaguri, Fukuoka
One of the many auspicious events that came out of my active meditation practice is the ignition of a latent energy that’s been sitting within me. I made the conscious choice to be quiet in many aspects of my life as I have navigated my way through 5 cities in the last 10 months, as I buried my head in worlds I have not traversed before, like science and academia. This also meant meeting new people within those spaces, who allowed me to peak into their beautiful minds and introduced me to wild concepts I enjoy learning about. I’ve been trying to make sense out of everything, and lately things have been clicking and connecting.
I’m more settled in my new home in Yamashina, on a beautiful hill inhabited by wonderful obachans and ojichans. We have more gaijins moving into the neighborhood this year, and different species of Kyoto birds become more noticeable to my eyes as I spend morning rituals looking out through the bedroom veranda that I am so blessed to have. This morning, quiet ritual gave room to the energies that needed to be seen and released.
The park at the foot of the hill where I live has fluffy stray cats that let me take photos of them.
Going back to the latent energy.
It must be the kundalini, the resting serpent coiled at the base of the spine, that’s been activated. In the yoga tradition, the concept of chakras teaches that humans have energy centers located in specific areas of the body. The base chakra is called the root chakra, located at the perineum, encompassing the area where the base of the spine lives. I noticed this palpable energy go up to my heart area - the anahata chakra - quickly at times of activation. The activating moments were conversations with specific people, silent moments of reflection, conscious observations of the world and consumption of aligned information. I sit in silence to process and integrate after these, where the activation could turn into an emergence, driving force or inspiration.
The usual flow of energy movement in my experience looks like this:
Emergence of a sensation at the root chakra > moves straight into the heart chakra and lingers there > make a decision to express it through the throat chakra or move it up to the third eye or crown chakra to simmer a little bit more > carry out the energy in the form of words or action. The sensation is neutral, no meaning is attached to it as it emerges until I assign one by labeling it with an emotion, thought or something else that might make it notable. I thought it was important to share this element.
There seems to be a 4-part process in my lived experience most of the time. Sometimes the energy stays in one area of the chakra, especially when it emerges from the solar plexus or the stomach area. When this happens, there’s an urgency to act on it sooner rather than later. Compared to the movement from the root and heart chakras where slow, thoughtful, steady rumination is called forth, activations at the solar plexus area tend to require a time-sensitive approach to taking the next step.
Overview of the 7 Chakras by Rishikesh Yogkulam
Other times, inspiration comes directly through the brow center (the third eye chakra), or the crown chakra (top of the head). Depending on where the source energy enters, one or all of these five things happen. I’ve added a short etymology for each, as a beautiful reminder of their root source. They’re arranged in a sequence that demonstrates the order in which they arise, and the areas of the body or chakra where they unravel.
Unfold = Old English “unfeldean” = open, reveal = whole body or head area 1
Activate = Latin “activus” = to do something = whole body or heart area 2
Drive = Old English “drifan” = to move forward = whole body or specific areas like limbs, pelvis, stomach area 3
Emerge = Latin “emergere” = become known, come to light = base of the spine, heart or head area 4
Inspire = Latin “in” and “spirare” = breathe or blow into = head and heart areas 5
I’ve been experimenting this year with observing these sensations. Instead of acting on them abruptly and instantly, I go back into silence and connect with my natural breath. I close my eyes more nowadays, even as I speak to and walk people through this journey. I find the act of “looking inwards” by closing my eyes to provide more clarity and calm, cutting through the noise of being a human. I could take a few seconds, days or weeks in active silence, observing what the sensation is nudging me to do. So far, the results have been magnificent - mostly creative outputs, meaningful conversations, auspicious encounters and clear answers to life’s biggest questions and guidance in major decisions. These could take the shape of a project, a new step towards the most synergistic experiences.
Meditation practice at Yoga Mudra Kinai in Nara. Photograph by Kotographer.
I’ve been a yoga practitioner for 13 years, teacher for 6 and student of the deeper, more ancient spiritual schools of thought for longer than the two combined. Yet it’s only now that I notice the bodily locations of these energetic emergence points. The portals to divine connection have been available, waiting for us to see and make full use of. It’s a marvelous remembrance - I believe that we all know this as part of our essence but have forgotten it due to its mundane existence. It can be activated whenever we are ready.
Imagine if we could all attune ourselves to these energetic points, on demand, so we may hear the wisdom of our bodies and all sheaths of our human existence. So that we may be guided into our most radiant versions, and bring into life the kind of reality we want to live out.
Etym Online, https://www.etymonline.com/word/unfold
Better Words Online, https://www.betterwordsonline.com/dictionary/activate
Merriam Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drive
Merriam Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/emerge
Merriam Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the-origins-of-inspire