Have you ever wondered, perhaps even sought the meaning behind your actions, thoughts, and behavior? The “why” you do the things you do, think, and believe?
The world we live in today is a stark contrast to the one from twenty, even ten years ago. For the past sixteen years, my awareness, or consciousness, began to awaken as a consequence of sobriety. For me, the process was my rebirth into a life I so desperately longed for – a life of happiness, peace, love, grace, and truth. To continue to learn the “why” of my actions, it was necessary for me to “go within.”
The first and foremost change I made was to let go. Let go of what, you ask? Anything and everything. I learned in the rooms of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) there was only one thing I needed to change; that one thing was everything! Letting go of control, as emphasized in Step 3, “Made a decision to turn my will and care over to the God of my understanding,” was a significant contribution in facilitating that change.
Although simple in concept, it is not easy to do. Fear holds a grip sometimes as tight as a boa constrictor on its prey. However, I have determined, if you start small, you eventually can let go of old patterns programmed into you since childhood.
What are your beliefs about money? Did you grow up hearing “money doesn’t grow on trees”? Do you fear not having enough money? Fear is by far, one of the most powerful emotions impacting your reality whether you realize it or not. And many people have no clue the extent they hold on to it.
Money doesn’t grow on trees illustration
When I, as they say, let go and let God, my financial situation became not only stable but abundant. I turned my will (control of my life) over to God (my HP) and completed the necessary footwork. In less than thirteen years, on top of eradicating over $50,000 in debt left from a divorce, I managed to pay off my mortgage.
“Money flows freely and abundantly to me” is a mantra, if not affirmation, suggested by Jack Canfield’s, “The Success Principles,” coach designated to me during six months of 2006. Since then, I have had a blessed life, but I did, and continue to do the footwork.
Imagine what letting go of one small thing can do for your entire life. It has a ripple effect that can lead you to a life beyond your wildest dreams. And it all begins with you and your decision, your choice, to let go of something.
Over the course of the past few years, I have been fascinated with learning about archetypes and chakras, and the power they hold when you become familiar with them. As a student of Caroline Myss, I have delved deep into their realm and, as a result, have concluded that to become fully empowered, you must know what your archetypes are and how they affect your chakras.
So, you ask, just what is an archetype? An archetype is a universal pattern of power or behavior. They represent both the positive and negative qualities within each of us. I have written on them in a prior blog, but my focus here is to share the positive (light) and negative (shadow) archetype that corresponds to each of the seven chakras in the next seven weeks, starting with the Root Chakra.
What is a chakra? A chakra is a spinning vortex of subtle energy located along the spine from the base to the crown. They give you access to your programmed responses – responses that are automatic from programming during the first seven years of your life – so you can minimize their adverse effects and maximize the positive ones.
Each of the seven chakras has a corresponding positive archetype as well as a negative one, that not only relate to your health issues, but emotional issues, habits, attitudes, and even thoughts. It is your thoughts and attitudes more than anything else that either release or block the flow of energy through the chakras.
Imagine a building with seven floors where each one represents a chakra. Consciousness begins in the basement where you only see yourself, and it’s all about you – that’s your EGO. But as you ascend each floor, your perception expands, and you have a significantly different view from the previous floor. You become aware of a larger reality.
On the first level, the Root chakra is found at the base of your spine and is concerned with physical needs and basic human survival; it is your foundation. The underlying issues associated with the root chakra are instinct, safety, survival, grounding, family, security, boundaries and new beginnings.
You will find family wounds and tribal beliefs are stored in this area of the body. The health of this chakra is associated with your upbringing and early life. The passing of ideas or “tribal programming” from previous generations of immigrants is prevalent here.
When we lose our grounding in our physical world, we become victims and everything becomes a struggle. Feeling like a victim, you allow yourself to become vulnerable, needy, and hence ungrounded because you regard every disappointment, separation, or loss as something you cannot control or change.
Identifying the Victim
The lowest level of energy and awareness is the Victim(dysfunctional) archetype. The Victim feels defenseless of outside forces which work against it. The Victim feels that “something has happened to me” and they suffer because they think all choices have been taken from them and they have no control over their fate. They are in a helpless state, entirely dependent on others, and disconnected from their inner core of feelings. They have no sense of empowerment.
There are distinct layers of the Victim’s fear of survival; not just the physical survival, but the survival of their identity or sense of self. In many cases, people feel some wrong has been done to them, and they were taken advantage of, or they are not responsible or at fault. They have no choice in the matter, and their power has been taken away from them. Being given attention through pity or sympathy can be a source of positive feedback for Victims. It is in these situations where the Victim may begin to feel they cannot continue living this way, and that may empower them to transform.
Changing this dysfunctional archetype involves taking personal responsibility for yourself, recognizing there are choices available to you and that you deserve to live your best life. When you finally admit the truth about your life, you then own your power. The primary function of the Victim is to help you develop your self-esteem and personal power. You accomplish this when you feel your fear and move through it. And when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, not a sour face.
Identifying the Mother
On the opposite side of the Root chakra is the Mother (functional) archetype, which is associated with nourishment, caring, and unconditional love. By identifying the Mother within you, you realize you have what it takes to provide for yourself not only physically, but emotionally as well.
When we are a Victim and permit others to take care of all our responsibilities, we shut the Mother archetype out, not allowing her to teach us the crucial aspects of self-care and self-love. It is when we look within to our inner child to provide ourselves with the necessary nurturing and love the Mother instills in us, that we can move from the state of helplessness and insecurity to the state of independence and security.
Becoming self-sufficient in all areas of your life, financially, emotionally, and physically, is the goal of creating a strong Mother archetype. When you can feel secure, loved, and cared for by yourself, you have reached this mode of being.
QUESTIONS TO ASK: BLOCKED ROOT CHAKRA?
In what areas do you not feel safe?
In what areas do you feel there is not enough?
In what areas do you feel you have no control or choice?
Where are you missing healthy boundaries?
Do you trust that life supports you?
Do you trust yourself to make supportive, healthy decisions?
Are you able to quickly make decisions?
The fair use of information above may contain material from Chakras and Their Archetypes, by Ambika Wauters, and The Book of Chakra Healing, by Liz Simpson.
The door of my soul. It grows louder and soon pounds. I cannot bear it any longer, and now, Shuttered for countless seasons, the knob Begins to rotate, ever so gently, A sliver of light Tiptoes through the crack.
Little by little, it awakens a foreign mystery That lies asleep deep within My physical body. I am in awe.
I whisper quietly to myself, yet no words come forth. What is this experience? I hear the answer without a sound. I know.
Like a lost and frightened child Searching endlessly for her mother, Until once reunited with her, I am safe.
My essence, my being, my soul, Gradually emerges, awakening to wholeness, As the shadow of enlightenment retreats. I am free.
Conscious of the fear, pain, and sorrow In my life’s journey are stepping stones That allow me to reach my highest potential. I AM.
As I was composing my thoughts for an abbreviated and tardy newsletter, I realized I had overextended myself with more than I could accomplish. As a result, I noticed pain creeping back into the nerves of my shin, a clear indicator of stress, reminding me it was necessary to let some things go. My priority was to honor my uncle, the Rev. William J. Hultberg, for his 85th birthday. For several weeks I was taking the necessary steps to prepare a family BBQ for the celebration, which included creating a patio for my Weber grill. Fr. Bill literally saved my life, paying for my stay at the Caron Foundation, where he was the Spiritual Director and where I learned just how important the art of letting go is. He is my hero and guardian angel, and to say I am grateful for him, is an understatement.
In class, I often remind my students to let go if they are in a particularly challenging pose. Letting go does not mean to disengage your muscles, but rather the struggle in your mind. Letting go of the thoughts or judgment of what the pose should look like, and placing the attention on the breath and what the pose feels like to them. Letting go of the external world is indeed difficult when your entire life is programmed around it. Going within, however, is where ultimate freedom takes place, allowing yourself to “be“ in the external world without fear or judgment. You begin to open slowly, just as the rose gently unfolds one petal at a time, allowing yourself to “just be”.
Many times, while in the middle of a class, when a student is struggling, the Divine downloads an image to use as an analogy, and to assist with the understanding. The image for letting go that was placed in my mind’s eye, was that of a boa constrictor. A boa, once it takes hold of you, will squeeze the life out of you, holding on until you die. If it lets go and releases you, you thrive. The same is true for life itself. Holding onto anything, whether it be thoughts, people, or beliefs, will only suffocate your life, stifling it. True freedom arises when you let go.
Letting go is not easy, but it is simple. Begin by letting go of something minor or trivial, such as a household item or an article of clothing. Just tell the item it has served you well in the past, but now it is time for someone else to receive the joy it provides. You may even hum the tune, “Please release me, let me go….” as you lovingly pack it away.
When I arrived home sixteen years ago from a 30-day program at the Caron Treatment Center located in Wernersville, PA, I knew I needed to change my thoughts and the words I spoke. Specifically, I needed to reprogram and reboot my consciousness, a very challenging task, to say the least.
As I created an outline of what was vital, I realized the first step for my success was the willingness to do the work, which is simple but not easy in theory. We are, after all, programmed from even before the day we are born to do, be, and act, whatever our “tribe” teaches us.
If I wanted lasting change, it was essential that I leave the “tribe” and individuated. For the first time in my life, be independent, focusing on the thoughts I was thinking and the words I was speaking. To my revelation, I was not only losing power, but I was also noncommittal. For a person of integrity, where your word means everything, wavering is a death sentence.
For instance, even constructively, when someone criticized me, I took it personally and felt they hurt my feelings. Suddenly, a light bulb lit up, and I took my power back as I knew no one is capable of making me feel a certain emotion. I choose how I feel, just like it’s a choice to be happy – no matter what! Again, simple, but not always easy for those in the shadow.
Also, I removed certain words from my vocabulary; try, probably, and hard. Yoda, the creature from Star Wars, said it best: “Do or do not. There is no try.” Oprah also cautioned, “Trying is failing with honor.” Who wants to fail, even if it is with honor? To me, these words leave wiggle room for people to keep their options open. I’ll ask, “Can you come over for a visit this evening?” Their response, “I’ll try.” I say to myself, “Don’t bother; I know you won’t.” Does this sound familiar?
Recently, I was sitting with a client after a Yin Yoga session, chatting as we often do. He mentioned his daughter’s husband. Hmm…I thought and immediately asked, “Why isn’t he your son-in-law?” Having been aware of his disappointment with the man his daughter married, it was apparent (at least to me), he was strengthening that disappointment each time he thought or spoke those words. He is now aware of it, and it will stick to him like Velcro each time he says it from now on.
The word, probably, hit me on the head like a hammer on a nail while my ex-spouse and I were in a marriage counseling session. Having specifically chosen a male therapist so he wouldn’t think women were ganging up on him, I was dumbfounded when he answered a question posed to him.
The question was, “Did you withhold love from Debbie as a form of punishment?”His reply was “probably.” Probably?? He DID withhold love from me. It was a simple yes or no question, yet he opened a door that left room for his perceived innocence. He was not able to take responsibility for his actions. “Probably” is a word that waves a red flag in my face today.
No matter where you are today, whether you speak before you think, think before you speak, or somewhere in the middle, it all begins with you. Are you being empowered by your words or allowing your power to escape? It’s up to you to dig down deep,” go within,” and do the work. Not only is it worth your effort to do so, but it is also integral for manifestation and lasting healing of any kind. Your body, mind, and spirit will have unequivocal gratitude for you having done so.
To learn more about the power of words and how to change them, schedule your free 15-minute Assessment now!
Anything and everything. I learned in the rooms of AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) there was only one thing I needed to change; that one thing was everything! Letting go of control, as emphasized in Step 3, “Made a decision to turn my will and care over to the God of my understanding,” was a significant contribution in facilitating that change.
responses that are automatic from programming during the first seven years of your life – so you can minimize their adverse effects and maximize the positive ones.
When you finally admit the truth about your life, you then own your power. The primary function of the Victim is to help you develop your self-esteem and personal power. You accomplish this when you feel your fear and move through it. And when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, not a sour face.
My priority was to honor my uncle, the Rev. William J. Hultberg, for his 85th birthday. For several weeks I was taking the necessary steps to prepare a family BBQ for the celebration, which included creating a patio for my Weber grill. Fr. Bill literally saved my life, paying for my stay at the Caron Foundation, where he was the Spiritual Director and where I learned just how important the art of letting go is. He is my hero and guardian angel, and to say I am grateful for him, is an understatement.
Letting go of the thoughts or judgment of what the pose should look like, and placing the attention on the breath and what the pose feels like to them. Letting go of the external world is indeed difficult when your entire life is programmed around it. Going within, however, is where ultimate freedom takes place, allowing yourself to “be“ in the external world without fear or judgment. You begin to open slowly, just as the rose gently unfolds one petal at a time, allowing yourself to “just be”.
analogy, and to assist with the understanding. The image for letting go that was placed in my mind’s eye, was that of a boa constrictor. A boa, once it takes hold of you, will squeeze the life out of you, holding on until you die. If it lets go and releases you, you thrive. The same is true for life itself. Holding onto anything, whether it be thoughts, people, or beliefs, will only suffocate your life, stifling it. True freedom arises when you let go.
Oprah also cautioned, “Trying is failing with honor.” Who wants to fail, even if it is with honor? To me, these words leave wiggle room for people to keep their options open. I’ll ask, “Can you come over for a visit this evening?” Their response, “I’ll try.” I say to myself, “Don’t bother; I know you won’t.” Does this sound familiar?