W e were a fiery people who stood up
against the status quo. Our ancestors rebelled against oppressive
governments and monarchies an d religious persecution. Many immigrants
today were strong enough to es cape the strongholds of political corruption
or chaos and sought freedom in a better land. As a society , we are driven. The United States was built on the gifts, talents, and inner drive of all
who came here to create a bett er life. Y et this burning desire didn’ t come
without cost. The decimation of the American Indian population, their
culture, and their land has created a karmic debt that needs to be repaid. If
you look today at the greed th at is driving the depletion of the earth’ s
natural resourc es, and the rewards given for more competition and
accumulation of material items, you can see how the fire element’ s
transformative ef fects can consume us. This driv e has taken its toll. Am erican people are among the sic kest and
most addicted in the world. U nless we rebalance the scales, the United
States ca nnot mo ve forward with positive power to make the world a better
place. Other modern societies are certainly suf fering similar consequences of
inner fir e power  gone wild. They too will need to face the fact that shifting
toward more balance is the only way to survive. Men W orking the Third Chakra
Mother Nature gave men natural yang and third chakra ener gy . T raditionally throughout time, men were hunters, gatherers, protectors of
family , warriors, and leaders. W omen, with natural yin ener gy , were
nurturers, caretakers, homemakers, healers, and creators. Men were admiredin tr ibes and anc ient societies as protectors and heroes. This gave their egos
the much-needed boost to continue the job of going out into the wilderness,
putting their lives in danger , and fighting to protect what was theirs. Modern society , for the most part, has taken away this role, leaving men
lost and confuse d. I’ve talked to many young men and even old er men who
say they can’ t figure out their role in family life and in romantic
partnership. Their inner drive says to be the head of the house, the
breadwinner , the protector , and the chivalrous knight. But the women in
their lives seem to be domi neering, headstrong, and inconsistent in
articulating their desires. W ith two-income households, the gift men
traditionally pro vided through monetary contribution is no longer seen as
special. As women become physically stronger through kickboxing, weight
training, or other intense workouts, men have lost their role as protector . Artificial insemination has even made men insignificant in parenthood. Indeterminate guidelines have diminished men’ s roles in society . Like
women who have moved into a more masculine role, men have to figure out
how to honor their true nature while keeping in mind the expectations of
modern life. Balanced third chakra ener gy is about honoring who you truly a re. Men,
as w ell as women, can’ t be afraid to express who they are insid e. Denial is
dangerous. As a forty-six-year -old woman who has raised two boys while
living married, unmarried, and dating, I want to encourage my male
readers: be proud of your masculinity and what that means to you. People
will respect you more when you  stand in your personal power . If you want
to pay for dates, open doors, an d carry groceries, do it. If you want to stay
at home with the kids while your spouse goes to work, own it. And if you’re
happy being the breadwinner and protector , find a partner who honors that. In o ther words, don’ t change who you are because society has c hanged. W e
need mo re men who are willing  to stand in their truth and be the men they
want to be. Living Life in the Manipura Chakra
People who are stuck in the th ird chakra may be accused of being ego-
centered. A child who passes through this stage is absorbed with “me” and
“mine.” If you try to take her toy , she will grab it back and s ay , “Mine!”The child is try ing to define herself as separate from her parents and
caretakers. Adults with this mind-set believe they’re the center of the
universe. They’re the sun and everyone else revolves around them. For
better an d for worse, they take everything personally . They sh ine brightly
because they attempt to impres s others. However , if you get on their bad
side, the y will burn you, like the heat of the sun. They begin and end their
conversations with the word I , as they like to talk about themselves. Another subgroup that naturally  seems to embody third chakra ener gy is
adolescents. They’re absorbed with fashion and physical appearance and
fascinated with pop icons and T V celebrities. They become self-conscious
if th ey don’ t have the right clothes, and they can feel judged b y peers for
not fitting in. Those who live from this state of consciousness base their happ iness on
others’ r eactions and their own p opularity . They crave ap proval f rom others
and go to great lengths to get it. However , if you don’ t approve  of them or
give them accolades, they will e ither fall into depression or become critical
of you for not seeing them as great. Third c hakra people may be labeled as workaholics or type A
personalities because they alway s seem to be chasing an unattainable goal. The goa l may be status, money , recognition, or fame. Y et when they attain
it, d issatisfaction arises because  they always seem to want more to quench
the thirst for approval and acknowledgment. Recognizing Third Chakra Imbalances
The ego  is a par t of us. It represents our sense of self in this world. In many
Eastern philosophies and even in W estern psychology , the ego is seen as
something bad. A yurveda, however , sees the ego as an integral part of who
we a re. I subscr ibe to the A yurv edic theory , and it’ s something I’ve taught
in my meditation courses for many years. Y oga ph ilosophy teaches that we have layers to our existence. W e have
three macro layers: the physical body , the subtle body , and the causal body . Each of these m acro layers is ma de up of micro layers. The physical body is
composed of the environment , the body , and the ener gy body , which
includes the chakras. The subtle body is composed of the mind, the
intellect, and the ego. The causal body includes the individu al soul, thecollective soul, and the universal soul. All these layers are absolutely
necessary to make up who we are as people. No one layer is more important
than another . If th ese somewhat esoteric layer s are dif ficult for you to grasp, think of
your life  and the roles you play . As a woman, you might play the roles of
daughter , sister , mother , or wife . Y ou might play the role of som eone who
works, goes shopping, gives adv ice to a friend, and has hobbies. As a man,
you mig ht be a s on, father , brother , or husband. Y ou might be so meone who
programs computers, plays spor ts, volunteers for a charity , or plays video
games. A ll these  roles are integral parts of who you are as a pe rson. While
one role  might take precedence  over another at any given moment in your
life, no single role can eclipse all the others. Many pe ople co me to a spiritua l practice, such as yoga, with the mind-
set of “I must get rid of the e go and be a totally spiritual person.” This
mind-set tends to create imbalances and must be approached with caution. The ego is your personality i n society . It represents your s ense of
individuality and uniqueness. Self-esteem and self-worth em anate from
your ego. Y our sense of person al power and accomplishment  come from
ego con sciousness. If you play any role in relationships with others and in
society , you must embrace your ego as your friend. For example, in
searching for a j ob you need to point out why you’re a better can didate than
others. Y ou need to have the self-awareness and self-confidence to point out
your strengths, talents, and expe rience. When you’re dating with the goal of
finding a  life partner , you need your ego not only to attract a potential mate
but also to win him or her over . Do you see how it’ s nearly impossible to go
through life denying your ego? However , your ego can be pro blematic when it takes over a nd you
operate only  from ego consciousness. Sometimes we can get into the mode
of only looking out for our own needs, wants, and desires and for getting
that everyone around us is tryi ng to do the same. Y ou can recognize this
limitation and try to move beyond it by bringing awareness to your ego. Notice when yo u are being self-centered or selfish. Become a detective and
find out why . If you naturally tend to think of yourself first, override that by
finding out what the other perso n wants first or making the decision to take
turns. Or perhaps you’re acting out of ego consciousness because you used
to d eny your n eeds and desires and now you’re fed up. W hatever thereason, honor your ego’ s messa ges and take action to bring balance to the
situation. Accepting Third Chakra Gifts
Become a shining example of who you are. While you can use your third
chakra gifts to m ove yourself ahead in life, you can also use them to help
make others’ lives better . Y o u can use your inner drive to create a
movement or to protest injustice, to contribute to a charity or cause, or to
start you r own business. Inner p ower is a gift. Y our inner power will allow
you to stand up for your belie fs, defend those who need it, and rise up
against those who might harm you. Gifts of  the Manipura chakra will allow you to set boundaries and be
assertive. These  are all positive aspects that delineate you from me and that
will, in the lon g run, create more positive and fulfilling rela tionships in
every aspect of your life. Healing Manipura
DAIL Y AFFIRMA TION
I stand firm in my personal power as a shining example for others. I am certain of my wants, needs, and desires. Healing the Physical Body
During our time in our mother ’ s womb, we were nourished through the
umbilical cord. W e received all our sustenance through this cord. This
constant nourish ment left us lac king for nothing, and when it got cut, our
journey to separateness in our  physical existence began. The symbolic
moment of the cord cutting  is intimately linked to th ird chakra
development. In  the course of those nine months, we were given everything
we need ed to survive and thrive  on this journey of life on earth. Assuming
we h ave developed normally bo th physically and mentally , we have a bodyand min d that work. In our sepa rateness, we can then figure out our mission
for the next hundred years or so. The trust built i n the first chakra and the desires of the second  chakra
lead us to the drive and power of the third. These three forces come together
to prope l us to work, create the life we desire, and begin to fu lfill our life
purpose. Interestingly , we  continue to receive nourishment from the same area of
the body as before the umbilical cord was cut. The third chakra is the seat
of digestion. A yurveda describes agni , o r the digestive  force, as the ultimate
way to determin e a person’ s he alth. Agni  m eans “fire,” a nd healthy agni
allows us to assimilate the nutrients we consume into vital ener gy to move
through life. Healthy agni also helps us digest emotions and experiences. The hea lth of your digestive fire will determine how you go th rough each
day . In the physical body , you s trengthen your solar plexus chakra through
proper nutrition and exercises to enhance your inner fire. P ROPER  D IGESTION AND  A SSIMILA TION OF  N UTRIENTS
A yurveda teach es much about creating healthy agni. When your agni is
strong, y ou crea te healing chemicals called ojas. W eak ag ni produ ces toxins
called ama. Eat ing clean a nd whole foods helps you create a healthy
digestive system. Refrain from eating processed, artificial, and chemically
produced food. As much as you’re able, eat or ganic food. Balance your diet
by e ating fruits and vegetables that have naturally vibrant col ors, such as
the d eep red and  purple pigments of eggplant, red onions, and to matoes; the
dark gre ens of kale, collard greens, and spinach; or the deep ora nge hues of
pumpkin, butternut squash, oranges, and carrots. For proper digestion, minimize  raw foods, and lightly cook or sauté
vegetables. During meals avoid drinking beverages other than room-
temperature water , and make sure you’re eating in a calm environment. A yurveda also suggests eating freshly cooked food at every meal versus
eating leftovers and reheated food.Y OGA  A SANAS AND  P RANA Y AMA  E XERCISES T O  H EAL THE
T HIRD  C HAKRA
It’ s relatively easy to balance the third chakra through movement and
breathing. Y ou can enhance your digestion and bring health to the Manipura
chakra simply by walking for ten minutes after each meal. T o view a video demo of these exer cises, go to
www .youtube.com/c/MichelleFondinAuthor . Click on the Playlists tab, and select
Chakra Healing Asanas & Pranayamas . Scr oll down the list until you find the one you’r e looking for . Bellows Br eath — Bhastrika :  T ranslated as “bellows breath,” bhastrika  is
a wa y to  create heat in the body . Y ou can also use this breathing technique
if you’re trying to lose weight. T o practice bhastrika, sit on the floor cross-
legged or in a chair with your feet flat on the floor , spine tall, an d shoulders
relaxed. Y ou will be breathing  through your nose with your lips closed. Place your awareness on the are a around your belly button and diaphragm. T o begin , inhale passively through your nose, and exhale forcefully while
contracting your  belly in toward  your spine. Then inhale forcefully as you
puf f out  your belly . Continue to forcefully exhale and inhale in one-second
increments. Y ou can even say quietly to yourself one-two-one-two-one-two . After about ten seconds, take a break and take in a deep inhalation and
exhalation. Then begin a second set of bhastrika. Practice bhast rika for one
to tw o m inutes. When you’re fin ished, it may feel as if you have  done many
sets of abdominal exercises. Boat Po se — Navasana :  S it tall with your knees bent an d feet flat on the
floor . If you’re working on a h ard surface, sit on a folded blanket. Find a
focal point ahead, and fix your  gaze at about eye level. W ith your arms
beside y ou, hold  on to the backs of your thighs. When you feel c entered, lift
your fee t of f the ground. Straigh ten your legs as much as you’re able — it’ s
okay to keep yo ur knees slightly bent if necessary . When you feel ready , let
go o f your thigh s and extend your arms in front of you. Y our torso and legswill be in a V  s ha pe. E ven tho ugh you will b e leaning backward, lengthen
through your back. Hold the p ose as long as you can. T o release from
navasana, hold on to your legs once again and lower your feet toward the
floor . Plank Pose:  Begin on all fou rs with your ha nds right below your shoulders
and your knees about hip-width  apart. Extend your right leg straight back,
and place the ball of your foot down. Then extend your left le g and place
that foot down so that both leg s are straight. Keep your hips level to the
floor; try not to overcompensate by raising your hips too high or sinking
your hip s too low . When you’re doing plank properly , you will feel the
intense fire in your belly . Brea the deeply . If you can only hold it for a
second o r two in the beginning,  lower one knee to the floor at a time. Then
repeat the exercise three to four times. Sun Salutations — Surya Namaskar :  As the name suggests, Sun
Salutations give  a salute to the sun. This classical series of t welve yoga
poses len gthens and strengthens every major muscle group in th e body . This
flow is done rep etitively to enhance flexibility , strength, and car diovascular
health. Y ou can find many variations of the Sun Salutations, and there is no
one correct way of doing them. Healing the Emotional and Energetic Body
Standing in personal power is more dif ficult for some than for others. Dif ficulties may stem from upbringing or personality . For example,
growing up with abusive, dysfunctional, or overly authoritarian parents may
have given you fears about standing in your personal power . Or maybe you
never le arned to  stand up for yourself and your beliefs. Or maybe you’re a
naturally shy person and you’ve never been good at asserting yourself. But
no matter the cause, you can get better at claiming your personal power . B OUNDARIESBoundary setting is an important part of manifesting your third chakra
ener gy . When you set respectful boundaries, you are saying t o others, “I
know who I am,  and I am proud. I feel confident, and I can resp ectfully say
no w hen it’ s ap propriate.” People with poor boundaries or no boundaries
may com e of f as aggressive, angry , and critical because they aren’ t able to
ef fectively draw the line between what’ s theirs and what’ s not. As a result,
they ten d to take on other people’ s problems, issues, and resp onsibilities,
and then they blow up when they’ve had enough. Poor boundaries come from low self-esteem. Those who don’ t
ef fectively set boundaries are afraid of not being liked. Ma ny of their
actions don’ t come from a place of power but from a place of feeling
powerless. People pleasing is one manifestation of weak boundaries. It involves
hiding y our true wants, needs, and desires or suppressing them so that
others can get what they want and/or so that they like you. W hile it may
seem ki ndhearted, people pleasing is dishonest and even manipulative. If
you’re a people pleaser , you might wonder why people don’ t respect you. It’ s beca use everyone has needs, and others intuitively know this. People
who buy into your people pleasing are generally operating from their egos. They will get what they want from you when they want it, and they know it. But those people need bounda ries too. Boundaries show that you have
enough respect for yourself not to be a doormat. Second, people pleasing and poor boundary setting will never give you
your per sonal power . Giving in for the sake of being nice ca n leave you
with frustration and resentment. Y ou can learn to set boundaries by being
assertive in response to others’ requests rather than responding with
negativity . For example, if a good friend has asked you, yet again, to
borrow m oney t o pay for dinner and has never paid you back, you could set
a bo undary by saying, “I will do it this time. But I want to let yo u know that
this is the last time I lend you money .” In this case, although it would be
easy for you to get angry at your friend or criticize her , by stating what you
are willing to d o or not willing to d o and sticking to it, you will feel
empowered without causing negative feelings. A SSER TIVENESSGrowing up with a domineering mother , I wasn’ t always assertive. My great
moments of embarrassment as a child came when she frequently returned
items at  stores when she had overspent. She would literally  badger the
salesperson with  every story in the book and even resort to tears to get her
way . When I would ask her why she behaved that way , because it was so
embarrassing to me, she responded that she was simply being assertive. I
thought, If th at’ s assertive, I will neve r be assertive in my life. After
growing up and eventually realizing that what she did wasn’ t assertiveness
but manipulation, I slowly learned how to not be a doormat. T o devel op and heal your sense of personal power , you can learn  how to
be assertive without being manipulative. One simple way to practice
assertiveness is by saying no. If someone asks you to do something that you
don’ t want to do, you can respond by saying no. Y ou don’ t even have to
qualify that no. Those of us who have poor boundaries have a tough time
saying th e word  no  as a complete sentence and without explanation. People
who are  strong in their personal power have no issues with sayin g no. Other
variations of no  mig ht include “I’m sorry , I can’ t,” “I’m busy that day ,” or
“Not right now .”
Successful boundary setters also stick to their decisions and refrain from
flip-flopping. If you say no but then allow the person in fron t of you to
persuade you to change your mind, you’re not sticking to your boundaries. Another frequent problem with  lack of assertiveness is denying your
needs. Have you ever had a friend ask you where you want to go eat or
what movie you want to see and you respond, “Whatever you want; it
doesn’ t matter to me”? There m ay indeed be times when you truly mean it. However , if you find yourself  always saying this, chances are you’re
denying your own needs, at le ast some of the time, to keep the peace. Practice assertiveness by having an opinion and sticking to your decisions. O WNING  Y OUR  S T OR Y
All o f us have a story about how we got to where we are today . If we feel,
in any way , tha t we’re victims of our story and not owners of it, we will
stay powerless. Personal victories and triumphs through adversity are
usually a source of inspiration for others. People who aren’ t living in theirpersonal power will use their st ories as ways to get others to fe el sorry for
them or pity them for their circu mstances. I once heard someone put it this
way: “Y our story did not happ en to you; your story happene d for  you.”
When you are able to shift to t his perspective, the world will open up to
you. Y our sense of empowerment will heal many aspects of your life. At tw enty-eight years old, I was  diagnosed with thyroid cancer . I didn’ t
let this news or experience defi ne who I was or darken my vie w of life. I
used it to create my new life and open myself to the possibility of helping
others who are sick and suf ferin g. While I struggled for a long time through
my experience with cancer , I’m grateful for it because it made me the
person I am today . One of my favorite teachers, Dr . W ayne W . Dyer , used to say that life
gives us lessons, and we can ei ther get the lesson the first time, or we can
repeat it. Owning our story but not living by it helps us get through to the
lesson, learn from it, and move on. I’ve also  heard this lesson taug ht through the metaphor of a diamond. Diamonds are formed in the Earth’ s upper mantle, about one hundred miles
below the surface. Intense pres sure and high temperatures form diamonds
over tim e. They  rise to the earth’ s surface by an intense explosive volcanic
eruption that thrusts the diamon ds upward at anywhere between twenty and
thirty m iles per hour . Diamonds that remain below the surfa ce can’ t be
appreciated or adored. A diamond’ s journey isn’ t easy , yet it’ s one of the
most beautiful and rare gems on the planet. So it is for you. Y ou won’ t shine
as y our most br illiant self without some pressure and heat. Eve ry obstacle
you encounter — every bit of criticism, letdown, or pushback — is
designed to help you develop your sense of personal power . Healing your emotional self in t he third chakra is about appreciating all
your life’ s circumstances not as forces against you but as forces for you, to
propel you toward your highest self. Healing the Spiritual Body
Although the third chakra rests  in the physical plane, there is something
innately spiritua l about its ener gy . In the second chakra we harness the
power of creation, the creative force of the universe. T o mold  somethingnew out  of nothing is an incred ible and miraculous power to behold. Y et
creation for its own sake isn’ t all that fulfilling until it’ s prese nted to the
world. When we shift from the second to the third chakra, we reveal our
creation. Our creativity manifests in physical form, and we bring it to light. For example, the conception and nine-month growth of a baby isn’ t
fulfilling to the parents in itself; only when the baby breaks  out of the
womb that has kept him protected and emer ges into the world is he a
complete joy for his creators. W RITING  D OWN  Y OUR  I NTENTIONS AND  D ESIRES
Y our will and de sires cannot manifest until you get clear on what you want
out of life. Y ou m ay meet people who are constant seekers, turn ing this way
and that but lac king true direction. Solar ener gy is heating, penetrating,
bright, and intense. If you’re abl e to use this ener gy to create ext reme focus,
you can accomplish anything. Have you ever w alked into a da rk room with a flashlight? If you shine
the flashlight outward into the room, the light dissipates and covers a
greater area. While it will give light, it’ s dif ficult to make out objects
clearly . But if yo u focus the light on a specific object closer to you, you can
examine the object in detail. Li ght is powerful. Focused and concentrated
light, such as a laser , can cut through human flesh or even steel. Setting your intentions and nam ing your desires is a way of focusing
your ener gy and attention on a few things you would like to see  manifested
in your life. Th e act of focusing is half the work, as summe d up in the
expression “Where attention goes, ener gy flows.”
W riting down your intentions and desires is a simple yet p owerful
process. There is no wrong way to do this. Get out a pen and paper or your
favorite electron ic device, and write down everything that comes to mind. Whatever you do, just get it out there. If it remains in your head, it’ s just an
idea. Br ing it out into the physi cal world. Don’ t worry about w hether your
desires a re “realistic.” The universe will handle those details. Intentions and
desires that vibrate at a lowe r frequency won’ t manifest anyway . For
example, if you write, “I’d like my mother -in-law to die,” even if you’re
joking, t hat is a lower frequency desire, and it won’ t manifest. That beingsaid, it might b e worth exploring why you have those negative feelings
toward her in the first place. But if you write down, “I’d li ke an Audi
convertible,” th at may or may  not be a higher desire depending on its
meaning in the o verall trajectory  of your life. In other words, try not to hold
yourself back when writing this initial list of intentions and desires. See
what comes up. B EING  H ONEST WITH  Y OURSELF
When you’re discovering who you are on the inside and who you wish to be
on the outside, honesty is important. Many of us spend our entire lives
trying to  be what we think someone else wants us to be. W e carefully select
our wor ds, beha vior , and actions based on what others might think of us. It’ s impossible to harness your personal power if you succumb  to masking
your true self. Y our job is to be the most authentic “you” y ou can be. Otherwise you will do a pretty a wful job of being someone else — that isn’ t
who you were designed to be. If you’re someone who likes living with
luxurious object s, don’ t pretend to be a monk. Or if you want t o be single,
don’ t get married simply to appease your family . The thir d chakra  is a good place to begin getting honest with y ourself. Y our int entions and desires list will give you the opportunity to see exactly
where you are i n your journey . For example, if you see a lot of material
objects on your list, it could mean you’re in a place where yo u don’ t feel
that your financial or material  needs are well met or you place great
importance on status and position in the outer world. It might also indicate a
lack of spirituality in your current life. Honesty in this exercise isn’ t about judging yourself. It’ s about
understanding w here you are. And where you are is exactly where you’re
supposed to be. How can you change direction if you have no idea where
you are? When you get ho nest about who you are, you can break out of the mold. Let’ s go back to the analogy of the baby coming out of h is mother ’ s womb. Until he  exits the womb and enters this world, and the cord i s cut, he is
completely and utterly depende nt on his mother for everything. He cannot
survive without her . Even after birth, for the first couple of ye ars he mustlook to her for basic survival an d nurturance. Then, as he grow s, he begins
to assert his independence and says, “Hey , world, this is who I am!” This
assertiveness of will doesn’ t ofte n come smoothly or easily . Y ou  may be all
too fami liar wit h the toddler ’ s outbursts of willfulness: “I wan t to do this
my way” or “I do it myself!” Such statements are examples of the child
dif ferentiating himself from his parents and caretakers and becoming an
individual with wants, needs, and desires. MANIPURA GUIDED MEDIT A TION
Sit o r lie down comfortably with  your spine elongated, and clos e your
eyes. Br eathe in deeply , allowing your lower belly to expand, and then
exhale complete ly . Repeat twice. As you relax into your body ,  place
your aw areness on your solar pl exus. Imagine a big circle surrounding
your belly button like a bright shining sun. Then imagine a ro tating
disk mo ving thr ough you, from your navel to your back on the  other
side. This spinning wheel is rotating and vibrating quickly  as it
generates open ener gy . V isualize the color yellow , vibrant like
sunlight. Imagine the rays of this sun moving outward from your
navel in  all directions. This is your sense of personal power . This
bright light is m eant for you to shine outward into the world. I t’ s the
expression of your contributio n to others through your gifts and
talents. Fill yourself with the inner knowing that you can accomplish
anything you set your mind to. Y ou are powerful. Y ou are strong. Y ou
have enormous passion and ener gy to achieve your goals. As you bask in the glow of your personal power , bring to mi nd
your intentions and desires. Like  the sun that allows the planted seeds
to fu lfill their de stiny , you know that your glowing solar ener gy  gives
life to your inten tions and brings your desires toward their fulfil lment. Y our in ner pow er breathes life into your intentions with each
inhalation and exhalation. W ith time and patience you will bring the
manifestation of  your intentions to light. Y ou know this to be true, and
you have absolute confidence in yourself and your ability to manifest. Feeling your third chakra ener gy , you know who you are. Y ou
have a strong sense of self. Y ou  are proud to show who you are  to theworld. Y ou feel confident in your gifts, your talents, and what you
have to of fer . Y ou can enhance the vibrations by chanting the m antra
sound RAM  three times. E NERGY -B ODY  H EALING WITH  G EMS AND  C OLORS
Immersing your self in solar ener gy , notably the sun, is the best way to heal
through the color of the third chakra. If it’ s not sunny outside or it’ s a
season when you don’ t see the sun much, spend time in the lig ht of a full-
spectrum sun therapy lamp. Gemstones for the third chakra include amber , citrine, yellow
tourmaline, and tiger ’ s eye. Third Chakra Mindfulness Ideas to Ponder
1. I can assert my will in a positiv e manner . I stand true to my b eliefs
and am entitled to my own opinion. 2. I am confident in who I am, and I own my story . 3. Honesty with myself and others is the only way to authenticity . 4. I am  strong in my personal power , and I will take steps today to
enhance my inner fire.T4  T H E  H E A R T  C H A K R A
A n a h a t a
ELEMENT :  Air (V ayu)
COLOR:  Emerald Green
MANTRA SOUND:  YUM
SPECIAL HEAR T CHAKRA MANTRA:  Om mani padme hum
he fourth chakra is located in the heart center . It’ s where matter and
spirit meet. It m arks the halfway point, with three chakras belo w and
three above. This is a very imp ortant chakra indeed, as it’ s o ur center of
love and connection. Here yo u transc end the confines of the lower chakras and move into a
greater awareness of living in dh arma, your righteous duty or vi rtuous path. Love flo ws from you. Y ou are peaceful, joyful, and compassi onate. Y our
actions are no longer self-serving but are motivated by helping others
overcome suf fering. Anahata encompasses the heart center , lungs, arms, and hands. It also
includes the circulatory and lymphatic systems. The flow  of prana, or life force, is prominent in the fourth chak ra as the
lungs reside here. Air flows in and out from the time you are bo rn until the
time you take yo ur last breath. T he strength of prana is regulated in part by
control of the breath. The mind, in turn, remains calm or becomes agitated
based o n your ability to regulate your breath. The slower  and more
controlled your breath become s, the calmer your mind. A faster , erraticbreathing pattern  gives way to rapid, disor ganized thought, which can lead
to an xiety , panic, and even psychosis. A panic attack cannot manifest in the
presence of a calm, even, and steady breath. The Ana hata chakra is also whe re your deepest heartfelt desires reside. While you have desires that em anate from the second and third chakras,
fourth chakra desires are deeper and more profound, with a greater spiritual
quality to them. T wo A yurvedic doshas are predo minant in the fourth chakra: Ka pha and
V ata. Th e main seat of the Kapha dosha is in and around the chest,
including the stomach, lungs, heart, bronchial passages, and mucus
membranes that line the respiratory system. V ata, too, has a main role in the
fourth ch akra as  the chakra’ s element is air , one of the components of V ata. The sense of touch and the sense or gan skin are both integral parts of the
V ata do sha and the fourth chakra. Also, V ata’ s subdosha, prana vata ,
located in the heart and lungs, is responsible for the upward flow of air . The gunas ruling the fourth chakra are rajas and sattva. The color we attribute to the heart chakra is emerald green. The mantra,
or bija (seed) sound, we vocalize for the fourth chakra is YUM . Fourth Chakra Ailments
While im balances in any of th e chakras can create disease, t hose in the
heart chakra can cause major , life-threatening diseases. Mind , body , and
spirit are intimately linked, and the anatomical region of the heart chakra
governs major life-sustaining bodily systems. Among them are respiration
and hea rt health, which is why I encourage you to make certa in that you
keep the heart chakra open and aligned. In th e United St ates, heart disease
is  the number one cause of death, and respiratory disease is the third. Ailments of the fourth chakra in clude heart disease, lung disease, blood
pressure issues, thymus problems, vascular problems, respiratory and
circulatory problems, and breast problems such as breast cancer . Fourth Chakra Energy
The English translation for the Sanskrit word Anahata , “unstruck” or
“unhurt,” embodies perfectly the ener gy of the fourth chakra. Love, theemotion of the f ourth chakra, can be vague and dif ficult to understand in its
fullest sense. Y ou can say in the  same thought, “I love chocolate and I love
my mom ,” but love of those tw o things has dif ferent meanings. Loss of
chocolate may not generate the same reaction as loss of your mother , yet
you can  use the same word to describe the emotion you feel  about both
things. The fourth chakra bridges matte r and spirit, and we begin to ex perience
a more altruistic form of love that only grows with great er spiritual
awareness. In the first three chakras, love is mostly motivated  by having
needs met. The first chakra meaning of love is “I love so I can get my needs
met.” Second chakra love is “I love so the other will love me back.” Third
chakra l ove is “I love so othe rs can recognize I’m a good person and
therefore I’m able to love myself.” These are all stages of development in
love and not in herently wrong,  but they can be immature expressions of
love. Growing in spiritual maturity , w hen you reach the fourth chakra, love
comes fr om a less conditional source. Y ou learn to love regardless of being
hurt and regardless of whether others meet your needs all the time. Y ou love
because you know that, like ho nesty , learned in the third chak ra, love is a
higher vibrational frequency that will lead you to greater authenticity . A young  child being reprimand ed will often say to her parent, “I hate
you, Mommy! I hate you, Da ddy!” A parent operating from the fourth
chakra r esponds not with hatred but with love. The greatest spiritual leaders
of the past alway s responded with love in the presence of hate. Jesus said to
God while being crucified, “Father , for give  them, for they know not what
they do.”  Mahatma Gandhi for gave those who oppressed him. Nelson
Mandela for gav e those who imp risoned him for twenty-seven years. These
examples embo dy the true m eaning of Anahata. Despite being hurt
physically , mentally , and emot ionally , they did not allow the hatred to
penetrate their hearts. A pe rson in four th chakra ener gy , who is “unstruck,” experiences strikes
from oth ers but without the marks of being struck. That is pow erful. Their
sense of  worth, well-being, and  ability to love is no longer m easured by
external forces. The love from within radiates outward.Our Societal Relationship with the Fourth Chakra
The form  of love most often portrayed in the media is not the true form of
love from the fourth chakra. But we do have moments when we touch on
this love , often during times of crisis, when people make sacrifices to help
others. For example, after Hurricane Harvey damaged 203,000 homes  and
caused $ 180 bil lion in damage, federal emer gency workers rescued 10,000
people trapped under their homes or on the highways. American companies
pledged over $157 million  t ow ard recovery ef forts. A great n umber of other
people p oured money into charities such as the Red Cross to ai d the rescue
and recovery ef forts. Outpou rings of love often take th e form of
volunteerism for those in need, and these acts of selflessness are an
expression of fourth chakra ener gy . However , on a societal level, the degree
of consc iousness doesn’ t consistently calibrate at the level of un conditional
love. T o help you fully grasp the dif ferent levels of love, I’d like to share
definitions of the word love  from concepts in Greek philosophy . While
there are  around seven dif ferent definitions of love in Greek, I w ill present a
handful to point out how our so cietal view of love relates to fourth chakra
love. Eros
Society today often defines love  in the way of passion and sexua l attraction. If you look at TV shows, movies, and advertising, the portraya l of love is
about immediate  satisfaction and passionate romance. Much of the draw to
reality T V today is because of the display of eros and society’ s attraction to
it. E ros m ostly r epresents the first and second chakra ener gy of survival and
procreation. Philia
Deep fri endship, brotherly bond s, and camaraderie all define the essence of
philia. This type of love represents goodwill to others for a cause or
purpose. Much of society is built upon this kind of love. For example,people w ho serv e together in th e armed forces have a special bond; those
who attend the s ame schools, belong to the same fraternal or gan izations, or
work for  the same companies tend to get together for celebrations; and fans
of the same sports teams bond with one another . Philia b onds are  formed
through commu nity and connection and are important for society as a
whole, a s having  citizens who a re lovingly connected is better than having
isolated individuals who feel alone. Philautia
Philautia, or self-love, can express itself negatively or positively . On the
negative end, philautia can m anifest as narcissism, with the person
becoming self-o bsessed and driven to acquire personal glory , fame, and
power . The positive expression of philautia is when the person experiences
self-love from a higher level of consciousness and shares that higher love
with oth ers. Sel f-love in the ne gative becomes a disservice to society as a
whole. While I am not skeptical in general, I do see a trend today of narcissism
af fecting society . Whether it’ s p oliticians seeking political pow er for their
own self -glorification or young people seeking five thousand likes for selfie
pictures, this “me only” worldview is dangerous. It creates an “us” versus
“them” mentality that causes one group to rise up against another , and in the
end, everyone gets hurt. The negative form of philautia is the same as negative or unb alanced
third chakra ener gy . It’ s when the unruly child is ruling the world. Agape
The high est form of love and the one that best represents the fo urth chakra
is ag ape. This is  an altruistic for m of love. When the Greeks defined agape,
it was in relation to God’ s love for us and our love for God. This kind of
selfless love is extended to everyone, including strangers or enemies. As
Pope Francis so eloquently voiced  du ring the 20 16 US presidential
elections, love is about building bridges and not walls.Agape is about realizing that w hen you help others, you are helping
yourself. In the fourth chakra you begin to understand that there is no
separation. Society as a wh ole can make this shift in consciousness when  enough
individuals mak e the conscious choice to live at this level of lov e. Life is no
longer about survival or getting what’ s “mine” but about going through life
with the attitude “How can I help?” and “How can I serve?” When enough
of us make this decision and it reaches critical mass, we ca n all move
forward in a new direction to awaken to a dif ferent state of being. Living Life in the Anahata Chakra
The tran sition from living life in the lower chakras to living life in the
higher chakras is akin to awakening from a deep slumber for the first time. Life is no long er rooted in su rvival, procreation, attainment of worldly
pleasures, pleasing others, or self-serving goals. Life now becomes an
expression of service to others through compassion, giving, and
openheartedness. Fourth chakra living doesn’ t embody the go-getter attitude
of th ird chakra ener gy , but rathe r a passive openness, which att racts others
to it . Wh ile the third chakra embodies yang, or masculine ener gy , the fourth
chakra holds yin, or feminine ener gy . An air of peacefulness surrounds
Fourth chakra people. They’re lighthearted and laugh heartily . Their
laughter is contagious. Love flows from their beings. Fourth chakra people are compassionate to those around them. Their
hearts ache and feel deeply for those who suf fer . Their sense of empathy is
real. They readily cry or laugh with others out of genuine connection to
their experiences. Their giving comes from kindheartedness and not from
selfish m otives. The light that radiates from their hearts attracts others to
them. I’ve had the grea t pleasure of me eting Mata Amritanandamayi, o r as her
followers af fectionately call he r , Amma. She’ s known as the “hugging
saint.” B esides running many charitable or ganizations, she goes  around the
world gi ving hu gs to people for  sometimes up to twenty-two ho urs per day ,
not leaving a site until everyone who wants a hug receives one. Amma grew
up poor in south ern India. Even as a child with little to no resources, Amma
would give to others in need. According to her Hindu religion, suf feringcomes a s a result of karma, or p ast action that must be repaid. In pondering
this concept, Amma continually  asks, “If i t is one man’ s karma to su f fer ,
isn’ t it our dharm a (duty) to help ease his suf fering and pain?” Amma truly
represents fourth  chakra love. As you sit in her presence, you can feel the
peacefulness and calm that radiate from her being. Her eyes dance with joy
and laug hter . It’ s impossible to see any turmoil within her . Having felt her
powerful vibrational ener gy , I can only imagine what being in the presence
of Jesus must have been like. T rue love vibrates at a higher frequency than
most of us can imagine. Recognizing Fourth Chakra Imbalances
V ulnerability is an attribute of the fourth chakra. T o experience the rewards
that emanate from the heart requires openheartedness, a two-way exchange
of gi ver and rece iver in an authentic manne r . Intimacy and closeness are the
prizes to be gained by your willingness to be vulnerable. The lim itations arise in recognition that we don’ t live in a vacu um and
that even  those who live most o f the time in fourth chakra ener gy also live
in the ener gy of the first three c hakras. If you’ve read the limita tions of the
first three chakras, you’ve also learned how they can easily bring you back
down to lower states of consciousness. I’m sure you’ve experienced moments of vulnerability at some point in
your life . Y ou opened your heart to someone and received hurt i n exchange. Once th is happe ns often enough, you learn to put up walls or close your
heart to love a ltogether . The limitation lies in being selective in your
willingness to love and be loved based on past experience. Giving in to the fourth chakra limitations can lead to a continua l fear of
rejection and loneliness, and the refore putting up more walls. As you keep
people o ut, thos e same people w ho once opened up to you and approached
you with love w ill eventually leave, which further validates y our fear of
intimacy and vulnerability . The way to end this cycle is to access higher sources of love th at come
from your spiritual connection to your Creator . Healing your  heart each
time yo u’re af flicted by someone else or even by self-disappointment is
crucial to not falling prey to fourth chakra limitations.Maturity and growth in this chakra come from the realization that you
don’ t ne ed to remain in a state o f hurt. Y ou recognize that you have nothing
to gain and everything to lose when you refuse openness. Accepting Fourth Chakra Gifts
As many of us are used to the eros form of love, we become used to chaos
and dram a. W e tend to associate true love and real-life experiences with a
sense of disharmony that comes from passion. When we experience
moments of peace and harmony , we can disregard them or brush them of f as
boring as we look for the next intense experience. Some people will even
pick fig hts, find points to ar gu e, or surround themselves with dramatic
people just to “keep things interesting.”
Being fully open to fourth chakr a gifts is about being able to find peace
in th e m idst of chaos. It’ s about letting go of drama in exchang e for deeper
enjoyment in the events of life . As I once heard Dr . Deepak Chopra say ,
“Where is the enjoyment in chao s and hysteria?”  Wh en you find your sense
of inner peace, life begins to flow . Y ou become lighthearted and you’re able
to laugh  in any life circumstanc e. Y ou’re aware that there is beauty in all
things, even in t ragedy , and that beautiful things can be born out of tragedy . One example is Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which was
formed in 1980 by moms who’d lost their children. This great or ganization
has managed to  lo wer the numb er of deaths by  drunk and drugged drivers
by 5 5 percent s ince its inception. I’m sure you’re able to think of other
or ganizations that were born as a result of tragic events. Living in laughter , love, peace, and harmony daily doesn’ t mean you
have to sit in a  drum circle singing “Kumbaya” all day , and  the world
wouldn’ t necess arily benefit from that anyway . When you live f rom a space
of inner  peace, you automatically raise the consciousness of those around
you, even as you go about the mundane activities of your day . Y ou get in
touch with a m ore spiritual existence in each moment. Y our experiences
become more meaningful as your perception widens. Healing AnahataDAIL Y AFFIRMA TION
Om mani padme hum. May the lotus flower contained within my heart be open to love, compassion, and
for giveness. Healing the Physical Body
Cardiovascular exercise is one  of the best things you can d o for your
physical health in the fourth chakra. Doing cardio every d ay is most
important and can be achieved  through brisk walking for thi rty minutes
daily . O f course , if you enjoy other cardio activities, you can mix up your
routine, but strive for movement  that will elevate your heart rate to between
50 a nd 8 5 percent of your maximum heart rate for at least thirty  minutes at
a time. As a member of a W estern and mostly sedentary society , you will
see enormous benefits when you add this simple routine to your day . T o preve nt block ages in the heart and cardiac plexus, as well as to keep
your res piratory health optimal, you can eat a mostly vegetarian  diet with a
heavy e mphasis on leafy green vegetables, berries, whole grains, lentils,
beans, herbs, and spices. Since t he A yurvedic Kapha dosha governs the area
of the chest, a Kapha-pacifyin g diet is especially beneficial if you have
heart dis ease, high blood pressure, or respiratory illnesses. Y ou can learn
more about all A yurvedic diets i n my first book, The Wheel of Healing with
A yurveda: An Easy Guide to a Healthy Lifestyle . Y OGA  A SANAS AND  P RANA Y AMA  E XERCISES T O  H EAL THE
F OUR TH  C HAKRA
All yoga  breath ing techniques are good for the fourth chakra, as each one
enables you to b reathe more fully . One simple breath I enjoy is what I call
the four -count breath. T o view a video demo of these exer cises, go towww .youtube.com/c/MichelleFondinAuthor . Click on the Playlists tab, and select
Chakra Healing Asanas & Pranayamas . Scr oll down the list until you find the one you’r e looking for . Four -Count Br eath:  S it with your sp ine tall, and ro ll your shoulders back
and dow n. W ith  your lips close d, begin inhaling through your nose as you
inflate your lower belly . Inhale to the count of four . Then hold your breath
for four counts a nd exhale through your nose for four . Repeat th is breath for
two to five minutes. As you be come more accustomed to breathing in this
way , you can increase the count to five, six, or seven. Thymus Thump:  The thymus gland is located at the center of the chest
below th e collarbone. It is an important gland for the immune sy stem and is
particularly lar g e during childhood, when it produces most of the body’ s T -
cells, an extremely important type of white blood cell that protects us from
pathogens. The thymus shrinks in adulthood and its function diminishes. Y ou can strengthen your immune system and your ener gy level by
practicing the thymus thump, which looks exactly like T arzan thumping his
chest. Make fists with both your hands, and place them against the center of
your chest, a few inches apart from each other , with you r knuck les about
three fin ger -widths below your  collarbone. As you inhale, pound on the
center o f your chest, alternating between your two fists. Exhale the word ah
while you continue thumping . Repeat the exercise for four complete
breaths. Cow Face Pose — Gomukhasana :  Sit on a yoga mat with your knees bent
and your feet flat on the mat. Draw your left foot inward and set it down on
the m at underneath your right leg close to your right hip. Then  bring your
right leg over the top, and set your right foot down on the mat close to your
left hip. Y our knees should be aligned in the middle, with the r ight one on
top of the left. If you’re unable to fold your legs in this manner , sit in a
simple cross-legged position. Reach your left arm out to the left. Bend the
arm downward and fold it beh ind your back with your fingers reachingupward. Bring your right arm s traight up in the air and then fo ld it behind
your hea d and reach for your left hand. If you’re able, clasp your hands
together behind your back. If yo u can’ t reach, hold on to a scarf , necktie, or
yoga strap, with one end in each hand, and walk your hands as c lose to each
other as possible. Once you’v e clasped your hands together , lengthen
through the spine and keep your head in a neutral position. Breathe deeply
from yo ur lowe r belly , and hold the pose for five breaths. Switch to the
other side and repeat the exercise. Cow face pose opens the chest and
stimulates the lymphatic system. Camel P ose — Ustrasana :  While camel pose is wonderful for opening the
area of the heart and cultivating the fourth chakra attribute of vulnerability ,
it ca n be  quite challenging for a yoga beginner . Gather the follo wing props
if yo u’re new to yoga or unfamiliar with this pose: a folded blan ket or towel
and two yoga b locks. (If you don’ t have yoga blocks, you can use two
stacks of books, both roughly even in height, about nine inches tall.) Start by kneeling  on your yoga mat with your knees hip-width apart and
with one block at its maximum height next to each of your feet. If your
knees are sensitive, place the fo lded blanket underneath your knees. Either
rest the tops of your feet on the mat or flex your toes and tuck them under ,
depending on your comfort level with leaning on flexed feet. W ith your hips
directly above your knees, len gthen your spine upward and then arc it
backward toward your feet. Bring your hands behind you to hold on to your
heels. If you can ’ t reach your heels, rest one hand on each of the blocks. As
you hold  on to your heels or b locks, bring your pelvis forward and allow
your head to extend backward and down toward the floor . If this causes
discomfort in your neck, bring your chin down toward your chest instead. Hold the pose as long as you can while maintaining a steady , smooth breath. When yo u’re fin ished, take child’ s pose ( balasana ) as a counterpose: lower
your hips to th e floor and th en extend your torso forward and rest it
between your thighs, with your forehead on the floor . Standing Bow Pose — Dandayamana Dhanurasana :  Stand on your mat
with you r feet together . Rest your gaze on a fixed point on the w all in front
of you. This wil l be your focal point, or drishti. Lift your right foot behind
you, and clasp your foot or ankle with your right hand either from theoutside or the inside. If you hold your ankle, you will have a firmer grasp. If
you can’ t quite catch your foot,  you can use a yoga strap to hold it. Once
you hav e your foot, reach your left arm forward in front of you , with your
thumb u p and your fingers pointing forward. Lift up through the crown of
your head, and press your foot or ankle into your hand as you  lift the leg
higher . Y our torso will automatically come slightly forward as you create a
bow sha pe with your right arm and leg. Balance comes from the dynamic of
your left arm reaching forward as your right foot presses back against your
right hand. Hold the pose for at least five breaths. Repeat on the other side. Healing the Emotional and Energetic Body
Healing the emotional body in the fourth chakra is by far one of the most
important things  you can do for your health. W ith years of ex perience in
A yurvedic lifestyle counseling, I am convinced that heart health is directly
linked to our emotional state. A few years ago  I had a client come in for an A yurvedic consultation. He had suf fered a heart attack at age forty-five and had a sten t put in. He
wanted t o learn how to manage stress and adopt a healthier lifes tyle. During
the consultation I asked him what had happened emotionally in his recent
past. He looked at me strangely but answered that he couldn’ t think of
anything except that he had got ten a divorce a couple of years prior to the
heart att ack. I shared with him that the divorce was likely a contributing
factor to  the heart attack. He wa sn’ t convinced because he was o nly focused
on the physical. This is but one e xample. When there are blockages in the heart  chakra,
there is always an emotional component. Healing the heart —  one of the
most dif ficult things to do, yet c rucial for growth — is mostly about letting
go of past hurt and learning how to for give. L ETTING  G O OF  P AST  H UR T
Y ou don’ t always consciously c hoose what happens to you thro ughout life. Y ou can ’ t control how others w ill act around you or toward you. Y ou can’ teven reg ulate an other person’ s opinion of you. As long as there are people
in your life, you can guarantee you will be emot ionally hurt at some point. It’ s inevitable. Y ou’re going through life trying to get your needs met, and so is
everyone else. If I’m trying to get my needs met and you’re trying to get
your nee ds met, there will be some clashes. Most of the time wh en someone
hurts yo u or disagrees with you , it’ s not even about you. Think about this
for a second. Have you ever considered the idea that most people are
absorbed with their own needs and desires? The alco holic father who ignores you is just worried about getting his
next drin k. The teacher who sco lds you for talking is just trying to manage
the thirty children in her class an d to get the job done. The person who cuts
you of f on the road is just trying to get to work on time. The jealous sister
who talks badly about you is just trying to get the attention and love that she
feels she  isn’ t receiving. Most o f the time you’re just in the way  of another
person getting his or her needs met. It doesn’ t make it right, just, or fair; it
just is. Each person has his or her own pathway . When you hold on to past h urt, you are weighing yourself down
unnecessarily . Y ou’re creating heaviness in your own heart  that could
otherwise be lifted by simply l etting go. Whatever happened in your past
needed t o happe n so that you could be where you are today . If you had only
good tim es or people who lifted  you up all the time, you couldn ’ t have had
the e motional and spiritual grow th to reach higher heights. Y ou needed the
adversity , resistance, and someti mes even hatred to propel you toward your
destiny . A couple of yea rs back when I was training for a half marathon , I hired
a personal trainer to teach me how to gain strength through weight training. I wanted  to make sure I didn’ t injure myself, and I knew that by creating
muscle mass I w ould be less prone to injury . During the first session the
trainer worked me hard but took it a little easy on me. But after the first
session he pushed me to the limit. He added more weight, created more
resistance, and added even more repetitions. During the session, it was
awful. I’m not g ood at handling pain. I complained and nearly cried, but I
did wha t he asked me because I knew I wanted to be stronger . Y ou might
ar gue that I was  paying him to put me through this adversity . W hile this is
true, I couldn’ t have gained muscle mass without the pain and resistance. Iwas hurting after every session, to the point of barely being able to walk the
next day . But I was grateful , because I knew that the next time I
encountered his tough workouts it would be easier , for a time. If I had
avoided the workouts and the weight lifting I wouldn’ t hav e seen any
positive changes in my body . Letting go of past hurt is as easy as a decision. Y our ego might  tell you
otherwise, but it’ s really that si mple. Y es, you may have grow n up in an
abusive household. Y ou may have had a spouse cheat on you. Any number
of thing s may have happened in your past, however unfortun ate. Y et the
choice to hold on to the hurt or to let it go is all yours. When you make the choice to let go, it doesn’ t mean continuin g to put
yourself in the same situations that allowed the hurt in the fi rst place. It
means le tting go  and then making dif ferent choices that can put you on a
dif ferent path. F ORGIVENESS
Once yo u make the conscious choice to release the hurt and pa in, the only
way to complete ly heal your hea rt is through the power of for giveness. The
act of for givene ss is extending grace to a person (including yourself) for
what occurred. Of fering for give ness doesn’ t mean you’re condoning the act
itself or  suggesting that it was acceptable. For giveness means  that you’re
choosing peace rather than the turmoil that the grievance holds. When you
hold on to the need to be righ t or to seek revenge in any w ay , you’re
destroying your own heart. The other person has perhaps long for gotten
what ha ppened. Or maybe the person never realized she’d done anything
wrong in the fir st place. By kee ping the grievance alive in your heart, you
are allowing the poison to grow . I o nce had a client whose husband had committed suicide five years
prior to our con versation. Even though they were separated w hen he took
his l ife, she confessed that she was still furious at him for selfishly killing
himself, as they had a young da ughter who needed him. I explained to her
that by holding t hat anger she w asn’ t hurting him (he was alread y dead), but
she was hurting herself. I suggested that she write him a letter outlining allthe r easons why she was angry , after which she was to place it on his grave
or burn it to let go of all the negativity . Letting go of h urt and for giving are about keeping your hea rt space
pure. Healing the Spiritual Body
When man has love, he is no longer at the mer cy of for ces gr eater than
himself, for he, himself, becomes the powerful for ce. — L EO  B USCAGLIA
The most important lesson we can learn from our emer ging spirituality at
the level of the  fourth chakra is that our Creator is infinite love. The
wellspring of love flowing through the entire universe is infini te. There is
no s hortage of unconditional lo ve. Every person has equal access to this
love reg ardless of age, gender , r ace, or socioeconomic status. The question
remains: How open are you to receiving this love? Human love is almost always conditional in at least one a spect or
another . If you expect perfect , unconditional love from another human
being yo u will constantly be disappointed. The only perfect lov e is one that
comes from your spiritual Source. The awakening you experience in the fourth through seventh chakras is
through harness ing this unconditional love, from your Source, and being
able to use it in your interactions and relationships. In order to b est achieve
this, you  will need to regularly practice balancing through lettin g go of the
constant demands of the ego. Those demands sound something like this:
“I don’ t want to for give him. He started it.”
“She hurt me first when I was being nice.”
“He doesn’ t deserve a second chance.”
“She ruined my life with her betrayal.”
“I hate him.”As I mentioned in the third c hakra, you will never lose y our ego
completely whil e you are alive. Y ou can, however , hush it down a bit. This
generally happe ns when you sh ift your internal conversation from “What’ s
in it for me?” to “What’ s in it for you?”
C HOOSING  P EACE
The ego is alwa ys concerned about being hurt, af fronted, and humiliated. It’ s constantly in reaction mo de. Dr . W ayne W . Dyer used to quote
frequently from A C ourse in Miracles : “I c an choose p eace rather than
this.”  When you’re co nfronted with expressions of hatred and fear , you can
choose how you react to them. Y ou can react with your ego or with your
heart. It’ s a simple choice. It’ s not always easy to choose peace, but it’ s a
choice nonetheless. And you will be continually confronted with people
who wil l give you opportunitie s to practice. There is no shortage of these
people. Choosing peace might mean you  walk away with no comment. It might
mean you answer with empathy  and understanding. Or it could mean you
no longe r wish to associate with that person. Choosing peace means making
the choice not to be of fended or to let other people’ s remarks harm you. O PENING  Y OUR  H EAR T
Cleansing your heart space is the first half of clearing the fou rth chakra. The next part is keeping the doors to your heart open. In his book Love:
What Life Is All About , p sycho logist Leo Buscaglia states, “Love is always
open arms. If  you close your arms about lo ve, you will find that you are left
holding only yourself.” I believe this to mean that you should neither clasp
too tightly nor r elease and then refuse to let anyone else in. When you love
fully an d unconditionally , you r loved ones feel equally loved by you
whether they are close or far , or whether they are pleasing you or not. Either
way , it’ s all the same. The idea is to love in the same way that your Creator
loves. God doesn’ t change his m ind about the way he loves you. Y ou have
free will to come and go as you please. He will love you if you seek arelationship with him, and he’ll love you if you don’ t. Y ou have  been given
a choice. But he’ll love you all the same. T oo ofte n we set limits on love. W e say things such as “I’ve opened my
heart too  much”  or “I’ve given too much, and look where it’ s gotten me.”
Remember , every time you think of reasons not to open your h eart to love,
that is your ego getting in the way again. P RACTICING  C OMP ASSION
Merriam-W ebster defines compassion  as a “sympathetic consciousness of
others’ d istress t ogether with a d esire to alleviate it.” While the third chakra
ego is much concerned with “me,” “mine,” and “Where am I going?” the
fourth chakra spiritual essence revolves around the suf fering o f the world
and how to end it. When your heart is moved by a touching story and you
feel empathy for another , you’re  practicing compassion. When you reach in
your poc ket to give a dollar to a homeless person, you’re allowi ng the spirit
of com passion to enter your heart. Some people are naturally
compassionate, while others aren’ t. I believe that compassio n can be a
learned trait.
_OceanofPDF.com_Chakra_Healing_for_Vibrant_Energy_-_Michelle_S_Fondin.txt
Summarize the following text section accurately and concisely. Maintain specific details and numerical information, and use anti-repetition mechanisms:

        W e were a fiery people who stood up
against the status quo. Our ancestors rebelled against oppressive
governments and monarchies an d religious persecution. Many immigrants
today were strong enough to es cape the strongholds of political corruption
or chaos and sought freedom in a better land. As a society, we are driven. The United States was built on the gifts, talents, and inner drive of all
who came here to create a bett er life. Y et this burning desire didn’ t come
without cost. The decimation of the American Indian population, their
culture, and their land has created a karmic debt that needs to be repaid. If
you look today at the greed th at is driving the depletion of the earth’ s
natural resourc es, and the rewards given for more competition and
accumulation of material items, you can see how the fire element’ s
transformative ef fects can consume us. This driv e has taken its toll. Am erican people are among the sic kest and
most addicted in the world. U nless we rebalance the scales, the United
States ca nnot mo ve forward with positive power to make the world a better
place. Other modern societies are certainly suf fering similar consequences of
inner fir e power  gone wild. They too will need to face the fact that shifting
toward more balance is the only way to survive. Men W orking the Third Chakra
Mother Nature gave men natural yang and third chakra ener gy. T raditionally throughout time, men were hunters, gatherers, protectors of
family, warriors, and leaders. W omen, with natural yin ener gy, were
nurturers, caretakers, homemakers, healers, and creators. Men were admiredin tr ibes and anc ient societies as protectors and heroes. This gave their egos
the much-needed boost to continue the job of going out into the wilderness,
putting their lives in danger, and fighting to protect what was theirs. Modern society, for the most part, has taken away this role, leaving men
lost and confuse d. I’ve talked to many young men and even old er men who
say they can’ t figure out their role in family life and in romantic
partnership. Their inner drive says to be the head of the house, the
breadwinner, the protector, and the chivalrous knight. But the women in
their lives seem to be domi neering, headstrong, and inconsistent in
articulating their desires. W ith two-income households, the gift men
traditionally pro vided through monetary contribution is no longer seen as
special. As women become physically stronger through kickboxing, weight
training, or other intense workouts, men have lost their role as protector. Artificial insemination has even made men insignificant in parenthood. Indeterminate guidelines have diminished men’ s roles in society. Like
women who have moved into a more masculine role, men have to figure out
how to honor their true nature while keeping in mind the expectations of
modern life. Balanced third chakra ener gy is about honoring who you truly a re. Men,
as w ell as women, can’ t be afraid to express who they are insid e. Denial is
dangerous. As a forty-six-year -old woman who has raised two boys while
living married, unmarried, and dating, I want to encourage my male
readers: be proud of your masculinity and what that means to you. People
will respect you more when you  stand in your personal power. If you want
to pay for dates, open doors, an d carry groceries, do it. If you want to stay
at home with the kids while your spouse goes to work, own it. And if you’re
happy being the breadwinner and protector, find a partner who honors that. In o ther words, don’ t change who you are because society has c hanged. W e
need mo re men who are willing  to stand in their truth and be the men they
want to be. Living Life in the Manipura Chakra
People who are stuck in the th ird chakra may be accused of being ego-
centered. A child who passes through this stage is absorbed with “me” and
“mine. ” If you try to take her toy, she will grab it back and s ay, “Mine. ”The child is try ing to define herself as separate from her parents and
caretakers. Adults with this mind-set believe they’re the center of the
universe. They’re the sun and everyone else revolves around them. For
better an d for worse, they take everything personally. They sh ine brightly
because they attempt to impres s others. However, if you get on their bad
side, the y will burn you, like the heat of the sun. They begin and end their
conversations with the word I, as they like to talk about themselves. Another subgroup that naturally  seems to embody third chakra ener gy is
adolescents. They’re absorbed with fashion and physical appearance and
fascinated with pop icons and T V celebrities. They become self-conscious
if th ey don’ t have the right clothes, and they can feel judged b y peers for
not fitting in. Those who live from this state of consciousness base their happ iness on
others’ r eactions and their own p opularity. They crave ap proval f rom others
and go to great lengths to get it. However, if you don’ t approve  of them or
give them accolades, they will e ither fall into depression or become critical
of you for not seeing them as great. Third c hakra people may be labeled as workaholics or type A
personalities because they alway s seem to be chasing an unattainable goal. The goa l may be status, money, recognition, or fame. Y et when they attain
it, d issatisfaction arises because  they always seem to want more to quench
the thirst for approval and acknowledgment. Recognizing Third Chakra Imbalances
The ego  is a par t of us. It represents our sense of self in this world. In many
Eastern philosophies and even in W estern psychology, the ego is seen as
something bad. A yurveda, however, sees the ego as an integral part of who
we a re. I subscr ibe to the A yurv edic theory, and it’ s something I’ve taught
in my meditation courses for many years. Y oga ph ilosophy teaches that we have layers to our existence. W e have
three macro layers: the physical body, the subtle body, and the causal body. Each of these m acro layers is ma de up of micro layers. The physical body is
composed of the environment, the body, and the ener gy body, which
includes the chakras. The subtle body is composed of the mind, the
intellect, and the ego. The causal body includes the individu al soul, thecollective soul, and the universal soul. All these layers are absolutely
necessary to make up who we are as people. No one layer is more important
than another. If th ese somewhat esoteric layer s are dif ficult for you to grasp, think of
your life  and the roles you play. As a woman, you might play the roles of
daughter, sister, mother, or wife. Y ou might play the role of som eone who
works, goes shopping, gives adv ice to a friend, and has hobbies. As a man,
you mig ht be a s on, father, brother, or husband. Y ou might be so meone who
programs computers, plays spor ts, volunteers for a charity, or plays video
games. A ll these  roles are integral parts of who you are as a pe rson. While
one role  might take precedence  over another at any given moment in your
life, no single role can eclipse all the others. Many pe ople co me to a spiritua l practice, such as yoga, with the mind-
set of “I must get rid of the e go and be a totally spiritual person. ” This
mind-set tends to create imbalances and must be approached with caution. The ego is your personality i n society. It represents your s ense of
individuality and uniqueness. Self-esteem and self-worth em anate from
your ego. Y our sense of person al power and accomplishment  come from
ego con sciousness. If you play any role in relationships with others and in
society, you must embrace your ego as your friend. For example, in
searching for a j ob you need to point out why you’re a better can didate than
others. Y ou need to have the self-awareness and self-confidence to point out
your strengths, talents, and expe rience. When you’re dating with the goal of
finding a  life partner, you need your ego not only to attract a potential mate
but also to win him or her over. Do you see how it’ s nearly impossible to go
through life denying your ego. However, your ego can be pro blematic when it takes over a nd you
operate only  from ego consciousness. Sometimes we can get into the mode
of only looking out for our own needs, wants, and desires and for getting
that everyone around us is tryi ng to do the same. Y ou can recognize this
limitation and try to move beyond it by bringing awareness to your ego. Notice when yo u are being self-centered or selfish. Become a detective and
find out why. If you naturally tend to think of yourself first, override that by
finding out what the other perso n wants first or making the decision to take
turns. Or perhaps you’re acting out of ego consciousness because you used
to d eny your n eeds and desires and now you’re fed up. W hatever thereason, honor your ego’ s messa ges and take action to bring balance to the
situation. Accepting Third Chakra Gifts
Become a shining example of who you are. While you can use your third
chakra gifts to m ove yourself ahead in life, you can also use them to help
make others’ lives better. Y o u can use your inner drive to create a
movement or to protest injustice, to contribute to a charity or cause, or to
start you r own business. Inner p ower is a gift. Y our inner power will allow
you to stand up for your belie fs, defend those who need it, and rise up
against those who might harm you. Gifts of  the Manipura chakra will allow you to set boundaries and be
assertive. These  are all positive aspects that delineate you from me and that
will, in the lon g run, create more positive and fulfilling rela tionships in
every aspect of your life. Healing Manipura
DAIL Y AFFIRMA TION
I stand firm in my personal power as a shining example for others. I am certain of my wants, needs, and desires. Healing the Physical Body
During our time in our mother ’ s womb, we were nourished through the
umbilical cord. W e received all our sustenance through this cord. This
constant nourish ment left us lac king for nothing, and when it got cut, our
journey to separateness in our  physical existence began. The symbolic
moment of the cord cutting  is intimately linked to th ird chakra
development. In  the course of those nine months, we were given everything
we need ed to survive and thrive  on this journey of life on earth. Assuming
we h ave developed normally bo th physically and mentally, we have a bodyand min d that work. In our sepa rateness, we can then figure out our mission
for the next hundred years or so. The trust built i n the first chakra and the desires of the second  chakra
lead us to the drive and power of the third. These three forces come together
to prope l us to work, create the life we desire, and begin to fu lfill our life
purpose. Interestingly, we  continue to receive nourishment from the same area of
the body as before the umbilical cord was cut. The third chakra is the seat
of digestion. A yurveda describes agni, o r the digestive  force, as the ultimate
way to determin e a person’ s he alth. Agni  m eans “fire,” a nd healthy agni
allows us to assimilate the nutrients we consume into vital ener gy to move
through life. Healthy agni also helps us digest emotions and experiences. The hea lth of your digestive fire will determine how you go th rough each
day. In the physical body, you s trengthen your solar plexus chakra through
proper nutrition and exercises to enhance your inner fire. P ROPER  D IGESTION AND  A SSIMILA TION OF  N UTRIENTS
A yurveda teach es much about creating healthy agni. When your agni is
strong, y ou crea te healing chemicals called ojas. W eak ag ni produ ces toxins
called ama. Eat ing clean a nd whole foods helps you create a healthy
digestive system. Refrain from eating processed, artificial, and chemically
produced food. As much as you’re able, eat or ganic food. Balance your diet
by e ating fruits and vegetables that have naturally vibrant col ors, such as
the d eep red and  purple pigments of eggplant, red onions, and to matoes; the
dark gre ens of kale, collard greens, and spinach; or the deep ora nge hues of
pumpkin, butternut squash, oranges, and carrots. For proper digestion, minimize  raw foods, and lightly cook or sauté
vegetables. During meals avoid drinking beverages other than room-
temperature water, and make sure you’re eating in a calm environment. A yurveda also suggests eating freshly cooked food at every meal versus
eating leftovers and reheated food. Y OGA  A SANAS AND  P RANA Y AMA  E XERCISES T O  H EAL THE
T HIRD  C HAKRA
It’ s relatively easy to balance the third chakra through movement and
breathing. Y ou can enhance your digestion and bring health to the Manipura
chakra simply by walking for ten minutes after each meal. T o view a video demo of these exer cises, go to
www. youtube. com/c/MichelleFondinAuthor. Click on the Playlists tab, and select
Chakra Healing Asanas & Pranayamas. Scr oll down the list until you find the one you’r e looking for. Bellows Br eath — Bhastrika :  T ranslated as “bellows breath,” bhastrika  is
a wa y to  create heat in the body. Y ou can also use this breathing technique
if you’re trying to lose weight. T o practice bhastrika, sit on the floor cross-
legged or in a chair with your feet flat on the floor, spine tall, an d shoulders
relaxed. Y ou will be breathing  through your nose with your lips closed. Place your awareness on the are a around your belly button and diaphragm. T o begin, inhale passively through your nose, and exhale forcefully while
contracting your  belly in toward  your spine. Then inhale forcefully as you
puf f out  your belly. Continue to forcefully exhale and inhale in one-second
increments. Y ou can even say quietly to yourself one-two-one-two-one-two. After about ten seconds, take a break and take in a deep inhalation and
exhalation. Then begin a second set of bhastrika. Practice bhast rika for one
to tw o m inutes. When you’re fin ished, it may feel as if you have  done many
sets of abdominal exercises. Boat Po se — Navasana :  S it tall with your knees bent an d feet flat on the
floor. If you’re working on a h ard surface, sit on a folded blanket. Find a
focal point ahead, and fix your  gaze at about eye level. W ith your arms
beside y ou, hold  on to the backs of your thighs. When you feel c entered, lift
your fee t of f the ground. Straigh ten your legs as much as you’re able — it’ s
okay to keep yo ur knees slightly bent if necessary. When you feel ready, let
go o f your thigh s and extend your arms in front of you. Y our torso and legswill be in a V  s ha pe. E ven tho ugh you will b e leaning backward, lengthen
through your back. Hold the p ose as long as you can. T o release from
navasana, hold on to your legs once again and lower your feet toward the
floor. Plank Pose:  Begin on all fou rs with your ha nds right below your shoulders
and your knees about hip-width  apart. Extend your right leg straight back,
and place the ball of your foot down. Then extend your left le g and place
that foot down so that both leg s are straight. Keep your hips level to the
floor; try not to overcompensate by raising your hips too high or sinking
your hip s too low. When you’re doing plank properly, you will feel the
intense fire in your belly. Brea the deeply. If you can only hold it for a
second o r two in the beginning,  lower one knee to the floor at a time. Then
repeat the exercise three to four times. Sun Salutations — Surya Namaskar :  As the name suggests, Sun
Salutations give  a salute to the sun. This classical series of t welve yoga
poses len gthens and strengthens every major muscle group in th e body. This
flow is done rep etitively to enhance flexibility, strength, and car diovascular
health. Y ou can find many variations of the Sun Salutations, and there is no
one correct way of doing them. Healing the Emotional and Energetic Body
Standing in personal power is more dif ficult for some than for others. Dif ficulties may stem from upbringing or personality. For example,
growing up with abusive, dysfunctional, or overly authoritarian parents may
have given you fears about standing in your personal power. Or maybe you
never le arned to  stand up for yourself and your beliefs. Or maybe you’re a
naturally shy person and you’ve never been good at asserting yourself. But
no matter the cause, you can get better at claiming your personal power. B OUNDARIESBoundary setting is an important part of manifesting your third chakra
ener gy. When you set respectful boundaries, you are saying t o others, “I
know who I am,  and I am proud. I feel confident, and I can resp ectfully say
no w hen it’ s ap propriate. ” People with poor boundaries or no boundaries
may com e of f as aggressive, angry, and critical because they aren’ t able to
ef fectively draw the line between what’ s theirs and what’ s not. As a result,
they ten d to take on other people’ s problems, issues, and resp onsibilities,
and then they blow up when they’ve had enough. Poor boundaries come from low self-esteem. Those who don’ t
ef fectively set boundaries are afraid of not being liked. Ma ny of their
actions don’ t come from a place of power but from a place of feeling
powerless. People pleasing is one manifestation of weak boundaries. It involves
hiding y our true wants, needs, and desires or suppressing them so that
others can get what they want and/or so that they like you. W hile it may
seem ki ndhearted, people pleasing is dishonest and even manipulative. If
you’re a people pleaser, you might wonder why people don’ t respect you. It’ s beca use everyone has needs, and others intuitively know this. People
who buy into your people pleasing are generally operating from their egos. They will get what they want from you when they want it, and they know it. But those people need bounda ries too. Boundaries show that you have
enough respect for yourself not to be a doormat. Second, people pleasing and poor boundary setting will never give you
your per sonal power. Giving in for the sake of being nice ca n leave you
with frustration and resentment. Y ou can learn to set boundaries by being
assertive in response to others’ requests rather than responding with
negativity. For example, if a good friend has asked you, yet again, to
borrow m oney t o pay for dinner and has never paid you back, you could set
a bo undary by saying, “I will do it this time. But I want to let yo u know that
this is the last time I lend you money. ” In this case, although it would be
easy for you to get angry at your friend or criticize her, by stating what you
are willing to d o or not willing to d o and sticking to it, you will feel
empowered without causing negative feelings. A SSER TIVENESSGrowing up with a domineering mother, I wasn’ t always assertive. My great
moments of embarrassment as a child came when she frequently returned
items at  stores when she had overspent. She would literally  badger the
salesperson with  every story in the book and even resort to tears to get her
way. When I would ask her why she behaved that way, because it was so
embarrassing to me, she responded that she was simply being assertive. I
thought, If th at’ s assertive, I will neve r be assertive in my life. After
growing up and eventually realizing that what she did wasn’ t assertiveness
but manipulation, I slowly learned how to not be a doormat. T o devel op and heal your sense of personal power, you can learn  how to
be assertive without being manipulative. One simple way to practice
assertiveness is by saying no. If someone asks you to do something that you
don’ t want to do, you can respond by saying no. Y ou don’ t even have to
qualify that no. Those of us who have poor boundaries have a tough time
saying th e word  no  as a complete sentence and without explanation. People
who are  strong in their personal power have no issues with sayin g no. Other
variations of no  mig ht include “I’m sorry, I can’ t,” “I’m busy that day,” or
“Not right now. ”
Successful boundary setters also stick to their decisions and refrain from
flip-flopping. If you say no but then allow the person in fron t of you to
persuade you to change your mind, you’re not sticking to your boundaries. Another frequent problem with  lack of assertiveness is denying your
needs. Have you ever had a friend ask you where you want to go eat or
what movie you want to see and you respond, “Whatever you want; it
doesn’ t matter to me”. There m ay indeed be times when you truly mean it. However, if you find yourself  always saying this, chances are you’re
denying your own needs, at le ast some of the time, to keep the peace. Practice assertiveness by having an opinion and sticking to your decisions. O WNING  Y OUR  S T OR Y
All o f us have a story about how we got to where we are today. If we feel,
in any way, tha t we’re victims of our story and not owners of it, we will
stay powerless. Personal victories and triumphs through adversity are
usually a source of inspiration for others. People who aren’ t living in theirpersonal power will use their st ories as ways to get others to fe el sorry for
them or pity them for their circu mstances. I once heard someone put it this
way: “Y our story did not happ en to you; your story happene d for  you. ”
When you are able to shift to t his perspective, the world will open up to
you. Y our sense of empowerment will heal many aspects of your life. At tw enty-eight years old, I was  diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I didn’ t
let this news or experience defi ne who I was or darken my vie w of life. I
used it to create my new life and open myself to the possibility of helping
others who are sick and suf ferin g. While I struggled for a long time through
my experience with cancer, I’m grateful for it because it made me the
person I am today. One of my favorite teachers, Dr. W ayne W. Dyer, used to say that life
gives us lessons, and we can ei ther get the lesson the first time, or we can
repeat it. Owning our story but not living by it helps us get through to the
lesson, learn from it, and move on. I’ve also  heard this lesson taug ht through the metaphor of a diamond. Diamonds are formed in the Earth’ s upper mantle, about one hundred miles
below the surface. Intense pres sure and high temperatures form diamonds
over tim e. They  rise to the earth’ s surface by an intense explosive volcanic
eruption that thrusts the diamon ds upward at anywhere between twenty and
thirty m iles per hour. Diamonds that remain below the surfa ce can’ t be
appreciated or adored. A diamond’ s journey isn’ t easy, yet it’ s one of the
most beautiful and rare gems on the planet. So it is for you. Y ou won’ t shine
as y our most br illiant self without some pressure and heat. Eve ry obstacle
you encounter — every bit of criticism, letdown, or pushback — is
designed to help you develop your sense of personal power. Healing your emotional self in t he third chakra is about appreciating all
your life’ s circumstances not as forces against you but as forces for you, to
propel you toward your highest self. Healing the Spiritual Body
Although the third chakra rests  in the physical plane, there is something
innately spiritua l about its ener gy. In the second chakra we harness the
power of creation, the creative force of the universe. T o mold  somethingnew out  of nothing is an incred ible and miraculous power to behold. Y et
creation for its own sake isn’ t all that fulfilling until it’ s prese nted to the
world. When we shift from the second to the third chakra, we reveal our
creation. Our creativity manifests in physical form, and we bring it to light. For example, the conception and nine-month growth of a baby isn’ t
fulfilling to the parents in itself; only when the baby breaks  out of the
womb that has kept him protected and emer ges into the world is he a
complete joy for his creators. W RITING  D OWN  Y OUR  I NTENTIONS AND  D ESIRES
Y our will and de sires cannot manifest until you get clear on what you want
out of life. Y ou m ay meet people who are constant seekers, turn ing this way
and that but lac king true direction. Solar ener gy is heating, penetrating,
bright, and intense. If you’re abl e to use this ener gy to create ext reme focus,
you can accomplish anything. Have you ever w alked into a da rk room with a flashlight. If you shine
the flashlight outward into the room, the light dissipates and covers a
greater area. While it will give light, it’ s dif ficult to make out objects
clearly. But if yo u focus the light on a specific object closer to you, you can
examine the object in detail. Li ght is powerful. Focused and concentrated
light, such as a laser, can cut through human flesh or even steel. Setting your intentions and nam ing your desires is a way of focusing
your ener gy and attention on a few things you would like to see  manifested
in your life. Th e act of focusing is half the work, as summe d up in the
expression “Where attention goes, ener gy flows. ”
W riting down your intentions and desires is a simple yet p owerful
process. There is no wrong way to do this. Get out a pen and paper or your
favorite electron ic device, and write down everything that comes to mind. Whatever you do, just get it out there. If it remains in your head, it’ s just an
idea. Br ing it out into the physi cal world. Don’ t worry about w hether your
desires a re “realistic. ” The universe will handle those details. Intentions and
desires that vibrate at a lowe r frequency won’ t manifest anyway. For
example, if you write, “I’d like my mother -in-law to die,” even if you’re
joking, t hat is a lower frequency desire, and it won’ t manifest. That beingsaid, it might b e worth exploring why you have those negative feelings
toward her in the first place. But if you write down, “I’d li ke an Audi
convertible,” th at may or may  not be a higher desire depending on its
meaning in the o verall trajectory  of your life. In other words, try not to hold
yourself back when writing this initial list of intentions and desires. See
what comes up. B EING  H ONEST WITH  Y OURSELF
When you’re discovering who you are on the inside and who you wish to be
on the outside, honesty is important. Many of us spend our entire lives
trying to  be what we think someone else wants us to be. W e carefully select
our wor ds, beha vior, and actions based on what others might think of us. It’ s impossible to harness your personal power if you succumb  to masking
your true self. Y our job is to be the most authentic “you” y ou can be. Otherwise you will do a pretty a wful job of being someone else — that isn’ t
who you were designed to be. If you’re someone who likes living with
luxurious object s, don’ t pretend to be a monk. Or if you want t o be single,
don’ t get married simply to appease your family. The thir d chakra  is a good place to begin getting honest with y ourself. Y our int entions and desires list will give you the opportunity to see exactly
where you are i n your journey. For example, if you see a lot of material
objects on your list, it could mean you’re in a place where yo u don’ t feel
that your financial or material  needs are well met or you place great
importance on status and position in the outer world. It might also indicate a
lack of spirituality in your current life. Honesty in this exercise isn’ t about judging yourself. It’ s about
understanding w here you are. And where you are is exactly where you’re
supposed to be. How can you change direction if you have no idea where
you are. When you get ho nest about who you are, you can break out of the mold. Let’ s go back to the analogy of the baby coming out of h is mother ’ s womb. Until he  exits the womb and enters this world, and the cord i s cut, he is
completely and utterly depende nt on his mother for everything. He cannot
survive without her. Even after birth, for the first couple of ye ars he mustlook to her for basic survival an d nurturance. Then, as he grow s, he begins
to assert his independence and says, “Hey, world, this is who I am. ” This
assertiveness of will doesn’ t ofte n come smoothly or easily. Y ou  may be all
too fami liar wit h the toddler ’ s outbursts of willfulness: “I wan t to do this
my way” or “I do it myself. ” Such statements are examples of the child
dif ferentiating himself from his parents and caretakers and becoming an
individual with wants, needs, and desires. MANIPURA GUIDED MEDIT A TION
Sit o r lie down comfortably with  your spine elongated, and clos e your
eyes. Br eathe in deeply, allowing your lower belly to expand, and then
exhale complete ly. Repeat twice. As you relax into your body,  place
your aw areness on your solar pl exus. Imagine a big circle surrounding
your belly button like a bright shining sun. Then imagine a ro tating
disk mo ving thr ough you, from your navel to your back on the  other
side. This spinning wheel is rotating and vibrating quickly  as it
generates open ener gy. V isualize the color yellow, vibrant like
sunlight. Imagine the rays of this sun moving outward from your
navel in  all directions. This is your sense of personal power. This
bright light is m eant for you to shine outward into the world. I t’ s the
expression of your contributio n to others through your gifts and
talents. Fill yourself with the inner knowing that you can accomplish
anything you set your mind to. Y ou are powerful. Y ou are strong. Y ou
have enormous passion and ener gy to achieve your goals. As you bask in the glow of your personal power, bring to mi nd
your intentions and desires. Like  the sun that allows the planted seeds
to fu lfill their de stiny, you know that your glowing solar ener gy  gives
life to your inten tions and brings your desires toward their fulfil lment. Y our in ner pow er breathes life into your intentions with each
inhalation and exhalation. W ith time and patience you will bring the
manifestation of  your intentions to light. Y ou know this to be true, and
you have absolute confidence in yourself and your ability to manifest. Feeling your third chakra ener gy, you know who you are. Y ou
have a strong sense of self. Y ou  are proud to show who you are  to theworld. Y ou feel confident in your gifts, your talents, and what you
have to of fer. Y ou can enhance the vibrations by chanting the m antra
sound RAM  three times. E NERGY -B ODY  H EALING WITH  G EMS AND  C OLORS
Immersing your self in solar ener gy, notably the sun, is the best way to heal
through the color of the third chakra. If it’ s not sunny outside or it’ s a
season when you don’ t see the sun much, spend time in the lig ht of a full-
spectrum sun therapy lamp. Gemstones for the third chakra include amber, citrine, yellow
tourmaline, and tiger ’ s eye. Third Chakra Mindfulness Ideas to Ponder
1. I can assert my will in a positiv e manner. I stand true to my b eliefs
and am entitled to my own opinion. 2. I am confident in who I am, and I own my story. 3. Honesty with myself and others is the only way to authenticity. 4. I am  strong in my personal power, and I will take steps today to
enhance my inner fire. T4  T H E  H E A R T  C H A K R A
A n a h a t a
ELEMENT :  Air (V ayu)
COLOR:  Emerald Green
MANTRA SOUND:  YUM
SPECIAL HEAR T CHAKRA MANTRA:  Om mani padme hum
he fourth chakra is located in the heart center. It’ s where matter and
spirit meet. It m arks the halfway point, with three chakras belo w and
three above. This is a very imp ortant chakra indeed, as it’ s o ur center of
love and connection. Here yo u transc end the confines of the lower chakras and move into a
greater awareness of living in dh arma, your righteous duty or vi rtuous path. Love flo ws from you. Y ou are peaceful, joyful, and compassi onate. Y our
actions are no longer self-serving but are motivated by helping others
overcome suf fering. Anahata encompasses the heart center, lungs, arms, and hands. It also
includes the circulatory and lymphatic systems. The flow  of prana, or life force, is prominent in the fourth chak ra as the
lungs reside here. Air flows in and out from the time you are bo rn until the
time you take yo ur last breath. T he strength of prana is regulated in part by
control of the breath. The mind, in turn, remains calm or becomes agitated
based o n your ability to regulate your breath. The slower  and more
controlled your breath become s, the calmer your mind. A faster, erraticbreathing pattern  gives way to rapid, disor ganized thought, which can lead
to an xiety, panic, and even psychosis. A panic attack cannot manifest in the
presence of a calm, even, and steady breath. The Ana hata chakra is also whe re your deepest heartfelt desires reside. While you have desires that em anate from the second and third chakras,
fourth chakra desires are deeper and more profound, with a greater spiritual
quality to them. T wo A yurvedic doshas are predo minant in the fourth chakra: Ka pha and
V ata. Th e main seat of the Kapha dosha is in and around the chest,
including the stomach, lungs, heart, bronchial passages, and mucus
membranes that line the respiratory system. V ata, too, has a main role in the
fourth ch akra as  the chakra’ s element is air, one of the components of V ata. The sense of touch and the sense or gan skin are both integral parts of the
V ata do sha and the fourth chakra. Also, V ata’ s subdosha, prana vata,
located in the heart and lungs, is responsible for the upward flow of air. The gunas ruling the fourth chakra are rajas and sattva. The color we attribute to the heart chakra is emerald green. The mantra,
or bija (seed) sound, we vocalize for the fourth chakra is YUM. Fourth Chakra Ailments
While im balances in any of th e chakras can create disease, t hose in the
heart chakra can cause major, life-threatening diseases. Mind, body, and
spirit are intimately linked, and the anatomical region of the heart chakra
governs major life-sustaining bodily systems. Among them are respiration
and hea rt health, which is why I encourage you to make certa in that you
keep the heart chakra open and aligned. In th e United St ates, heart disease
is  the number one cause of death, and respiratory disease is the third. Ailments of the fourth chakra in clude heart disease, lung disease, blood
pressure issues, thymus problems, vascular problems, respiratory and
circulatory problems, and breast problems such as breast cancer. Fourth Chakra Energy
The English translation for the Sanskrit word Anahata, “unstruck” or
“unhurt,” embodies perfectly the ener gy of the fourth chakra. Love, theemotion of the f ourth chakra, can be vague and dif ficult to understand in its
fullest sense. Y ou can say in the  same thought, “I love chocolate and I love
my mom,” but love of those tw o things has dif ferent meanings. Loss of
chocolate may not generate the same reaction as loss of your mother, yet
you can  use the same word to describe the emotion you feel  about both
things. The fourth chakra bridges matte r and spirit, and we begin to ex perience
a more altruistic form of love that only grows with great er spiritual
awareness. In the first three chakras, love is mostly motivated  by having
needs met. The first chakra meaning of love is “I love so I can get my needs
met. ” Second chakra love is “I love so the other will love me back. ” Third
chakra l ove is “I love so othe rs can recognize I’m a good person and
therefore I’m able to love myself. ” These are all stages of development in
love and not in herently wrong,  but they can be immature expressions of
love. Growing in spiritual maturity, w hen you reach the fourth chakra, love
comes fr om a less conditional source. Y ou learn to love regardless of being
hurt and regardless of whether others meet your needs all the time. Y ou love
because you know that, like ho nesty, learned in the third chak ra, love is a
higher vibrational frequency that will lead you to greater authenticity. A young  child being reprimand ed will often say to her parent, “I hate
you, Mommy. I hate you, Da ddy. ” A parent operating from the fourth
chakra r esponds not with hatred but with love. The greatest spiritual leaders
of the past alway s responded with love in the presence of hate. Jesus said to
God while being crucified, “Father, for give  them, for they know not what
they do. ”  Mahatma Gandhi for gave those who oppressed him. Nelson
Mandela for gav e those who imp risoned him for twenty-seven years. These
examples embo dy the true m eaning of Anahata. Despite being hurt
physically, mentally, and emot ionally, they did not allow the hatred to
penetrate their hearts. A pe rson in four th chakra ener gy, who is “unstruck,” experiences strikes
from oth ers but without the marks of being struck. That is pow erful. Their
sense of  worth, well-being, and  ability to love is no longer m easured by
external forces. The love from within radiates outward. Our Societal Relationship with the Fourth Chakra
The form  of love most often portrayed in the media is not the true form of
love from the fourth chakra. But we do have moments when we touch on
this love, often during times of crisis, when people make sacrifices to help
others. For example, after Hurricane Harvey damaged 203,000 homes  and
caused $ 180 bil lion in damage, federal emer gency workers rescued 10,000
people trapped under their homes or on the highways. American companies
pledged over $157 million  t ow ard recovery ef forts. A great n umber of other
people p oured money into charities such as the Red Cross to ai d the rescue
and recovery ef forts. Outpou rings of love often take th e form of
volunteerism for those in need, and these acts of selflessness are an
expression of fourth chakra ener gy. However, on a societal level, the degree
of consc iousness doesn’ t consistently calibrate at the level of un conditional
love. T o help you fully grasp the dif ferent levels of love, I’d like to share
definitions of the word love  from concepts in Greek philosophy. While
there are  around seven dif ferent definitions of love in Greek, I w ill present a
handful to point out how our so cietal view of love relates to fourth chakra
love. Eros
Society today often defines love  in the way of passion and sexua l attraction. If you look at TV shows, movies, and advertising, the portraya l of love is
about immediate  satisfaction and passionate romance. Much of the draw to
reality T V today is because of the display of eros and society’ s attraction to
it. E ros m ostly r epresents the first and second chakra ener gy of survival and
procreation. Philia
Deep fri endship, brotherly bond s, and camaraderie all define the essence of
philia. This type of love represents goodwill to others for a cause or
purpose. Much of society is built upon this kind of love. For example,people w ho serv e together in th e armed forces have a special bond; those
who attend the s ame schools, belong to the same fraternal or gan izations, or
work for  the same companies tend to get together for celebrations; and fans
of the same sports teams bond with one another. Philia b onds are  formed
through commu nity and connection and are important for society as a
whole, a s having  citizens who a re lovingly connected is better than having
isolated individuals who feel alone. Philautia
Philautia, or self-love, can express itself negatively or positively. On the
negative end, philautia can m anifest as narcissism, with the person
becoming self-o bsessed and driven to acquire personal glory, fame, and
power. The positive expression of philautia is when the person experiences
self-love from a higher level of consciousness and shares that higher love
with oth ers. Sel f-love in the ne gative becomes a disservice to society as a
whole. While I am not skeptical in general, I do see a trend today of narcissism
af fecting society. Whether it’ s p oliticians seeking political pow er for their
own self -glorification or young people seeking five thousand likes for selfie
pictures, this “me only” worldview is dangerous. It creates an “us” versus
“them” mentality that causes one group to rise up against another, and in the
end, everyone gets hurt. The negative form of philautia is the same as negative or unb alanced
third chakra ener gy. It’ s when the unruly child is ruling the world. Agape
The high est form of love and the one that best represents the fo urth chakra
is ag ape. This is  an altruistic for m of love. When the Greeks defined agape,
it was in relation to God’ s love for us and our love for God. This kind of
selfless love is extended to everyone, including strangers or enemies. As
Pope Francis so eloquently voiced  du ring the 20 16 US presidential
elections, love is about building bridges and not walls. Agape is about realizing that w hen you help others, you are helping
yourself. In the fourth chakra you begin to understand that there is no
separation. Society as a wh ole can make this shift in consciousness when  enough
individuals mak e the conscious choice to live at this level of lov e. Life is no
longer about survival or getting what’ s “mine” but about going through life
with the attitude “How can I help. ” and “How can I serve. ” When enough
of us make this decision and it reaches critical mass, we ca n all move
forward in a new direction to awaken to a dif ferent state of being. Living Life in the Anahata Chakra
The tran sition from living life in the lower chakras to living life in the
higher chakras is akin to awakening from a deep slumber for the first time. Life is no long er rooted in su rvival, procreation, attainment of worldly
pleasures, pleasing others, or self-serving goals. Life now becomes an
expression of service to others through compassion, giving, and
openheartedness. Fourth chakra living doesn’ t embody the go-getter attitude
of th ird chakra ener gy, but rathe r a passive openness, which att racts others
to it. Wh ile the third chakra embodies yang, or masculine ener gy, the fourth
chakra holds yin, or feminine ener gy. An air of peacefulness surrounds
Fourth chakra people. They’re lighthearted and laugh heartily. Their
laughter is contagious. Love flows from their beings. Fourth chakra people are compassionate to those around them. Their
hearts ache and feel deeply for those who suf fer. Their sense of empathy is
real. They readily cry or laugh with others out of genuine connection to
their experiences. Their giving comes from kindheartedness and not from
selfish m otives. The light that radiates from their hearts attracts others to
them. I’ve had the grea t pleasure of me eting Mata Amritanandamayi, o r as her
followers af fectionately call he r, Amma. She’ s known as the “hugging
saint. ” B esides running many charitable or ganizations, she goes  around the
world gi ving hu gs to people for  sometimes up to twenty-two ho urs per day,
not leaving a site until everyone who wants a hug receives one. Amma grew
up poor in south ern India. Even as a child with little to no resources, Amma
would give to others in need. According to her Hindu religion, suf feringcomes a s a result of karma, or p ast action that must be repaid. In pondering
this concept, Amma continually  asks, “If i t is one man’ s karma to su f fer,
isn’ t it our dharm a (duty) to help ease his suf fering and pain. ” Amma truly
represents fourth  chakra love. As you sit in her presence, you can feel the
peacefulness and calm that radiate from her being. Her eyes dance with joy
and laug hter. It’ s impossible to see any turmoil within her. Having felt her
powerful vibrational ener gy, I can only imagine what being in the presence
of Jesus must have been like. T rue love vibrates at a higher frequency than
most of us can imagine. Recognizing Fourth Chakra Imbalances
V ulnerability is an attribute of the fourth chakra. T o experience the rewards
that emanate from the heart requires openheartedness, a two-way exchange
of gi ver and rece iver in an authentic manne r. Intimacy and closeness are the
prizes to be gained by your willingness to be vulnerable. The lim itations arise in recognition that we don’ t live in a vacu um and
that even  those who live most o f the time in fourth chakra ener gy also live
in the ener gy of the first three c hakras. If you’ve read the limita tions of the
first three chakras, you’ve also learned how they can easily bring you back
down to lower states of consciousness. I’m sure you’ve experienced moments of vulnerability at some point in
your life. Y ou opened your heart to someone and received hurt i n exchange. Once th is happe ns often enough, you learn to put up walls or close your
heart to love a ltogether. The limitation lies in being selective in your
willingness to love and be loved based on past experience. Giving in to the fourth chakra limitations can lead to a continua l fear of
rejection and loneliness, and the refore putting up more walls. As you keep
people o ut, thos e same people w ho once opened up to you and approached
you with love w ill eventually leave, which further validates y our fear of
intimacy and vulnerability. The way to end this cycle is to access higher sources of love th at come
from your spiritual connection to your Creator. Healing your  heart each
time yo u’re af flicted by someone else or even by self-disappointment is
crucial to not falling prey to fourth chakra limitations. Maturity and growth in this chakra come from the realization that you
don’ t ne ed to remain in a state o f hurt. Y ou recognize that you have nothing
to gain and everything to lose when you refuse openness. Accepting Fourth Chakra Gifts
As many of us are used to the eros form of love, we become used to chaos
and dram a. W e tend to associate true love and real-life experiences with a
sense of disharmony that comes from passion. When we experience
moments of peace and harmony, we can disregard them or brush them of f as
boring as we look for the next intense experience. Some people will even
pick fig hts, find points to ar gu e, or surround themselves with dramatic
people just to “keep things interesting. ”
Being fully open to fourth chakr a gifts is about being able to find peace
in th e m idst of chaos. It’ s about letting go of drama in exchang e for deeper
enjoyment in the events of life. As I once heard Dr. Deepak Chopra say,
“Where is the enjoyment in chao s and hysteria. ”  Wh en you find your sense
of inner peace, life begins to flow. Y ou become lighthearted and you’re able
to laugh  in any life circumstanc e. Y ou’re aware that there is beauty in all
things, even in t ragedy, and that beautiful things can be born out of tragedy. One example is Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), which was
formed in 1980 by moms who’d lost their children. This great or ganization
has managed to  lo wer the numb er of deaths by  drunk and drugged drivers
by 5 5 percent s ince its inception. I’m sure you’re able to think of other
or ganizations that were born as a result of tragic events. Living in laughter, love, peace, and harmony daily doesn’ t mean you
have to sit in a  drum circle singing “Kumbaya” all day, and  the world
wouldn’ t necess arily benefit from that anyway. When you live f rom a space
of inner  peace, you automatically raise the consciousness of those around
you, even as you go about the mundane activities of your day. Y ou get in
touch with a m ore spiritual existence in each moment. Y our experiences
become more meaningful as your perception widens. Healing AnahataDAIL Y AFFIRMA TION
Om mani padme hum. May the lotus flower contained within my heart be open to love, compassion, and
for giveness. Healing the Physical Body
Cardiovascular exercise is one  of the best things you can d o for your
physical health in the fourth chakra. Doing cardio every d ay is most
important and can be achieved  through brisk walking for thi rty minutes
daily. O f course, if you enjoy other cardio activities, you can mix up your
routine, but strive for movement  that will elevate your heart rate to between
50 a nd 8 5 percent of your maximum heart rate for at least thirty  minutes at
a time. As a member of a W estern and mostly sedentary society, you will
see enormous benefits when you add this simple routine to your day. T o preve nt block ages in the heart and cardiac plexus, as well as to keep
your res piratory health optimal, you can eat a mostly vegetarian  diet with a
heavy e mphasis on leafy green vegetables, berries, whole grains, lentils,
beans, herbs, and spices. Since t he A yurvedic Kapha dosha governs the area
of the chest, a Kapha-pacifyin g diet is especially beneficial if you have
heart dis ease, high blood pressure, or respiratory illnesses. Y ou can learn
more about all A yurvedic diets i n my first book, The Wheel of Healing with
A yurveda: An Easy Guide to a Healthy Lifestyle. Y OGA  A SANAS AND  P RANA Y AMA  E XERCISES T O  H EAL THE
F OUR TH  C HAKRA
All yoga  breath ing techniques are good for the fourth chakra, as each one
enables you to b reathe more fully. One simple breath I enjoy is what I call
the four -count breath. T o view a video demo of these exer cises, go towww.
The main theme of the third chakra is about honoring who you truly are and owning your personal power.
What is the main theme of the third chakra, according to the author?
The author believes that the ego is an integral part of who we are, and it's essential to understand and balance it.
What is the author's perspective on the ego?
The third chakra is crucial in the development of the individual, as it helps us define our sense of self and personal power.
What is the significance of the third chakra in the development of the individual?
The author emphasizes the importance of selfless love and unconditional love, which is a higher frequency and more profound than the lower forms of love.
What is the author's view on the concept of love?
The author suggests that healing the heart and moving forward requires forgiveness and the ability to choose peace, rather than reacting with anger or hatred.
What is the author's advice for healing the heart and moving forward?