This article is a deepish dive into the chakras and how they work (based in the teachings of Cyndi Dale. I mention her and how I came into contact with her methodology in the articles below:), and how that relates to the singing process. Firstly, if you have no interest in the esoteric (and this is all highly esoteric:) then simply the Level 1 and 2 videos, the manual and Level 1 articles plus the Daily and Vocal exercises would be a good fit. I’m not in the business of tub thumping in any way, and if the following is something you resonate with then, wonderful, and if not, I totally get it:) In other words, I’m simply sharing information that I’ve found to be helpful, and hope that it resonates with you, and also helps you in your learning to sing/performance process. I’m also doing this deepish dive because I feel that to have an idea how our electromagnetic body works can be very helpful when singing. We’re brought up in a world that has the ethos “ what you see is what is. We have no control over it. We’re all just hapless little souls, lost.” In other words, whatever happens to you, is nothing to do with you, it just is. I’ve now come to believe this simply isn’t true, and that this subconscious message most of us are brought up with contributes greatly to stage fright and a belief that we are “less than”. I feel that everyone, no matter their station in life, is a great soul. This is a place we’re just passing through, a place of manifesting and learning. Or rather, remembering our true essence. We can either evolve or devolve, the choice is ours:) Ultimately, we’re all simply here at differing stages of our spiritual development, but the essence of who we are is the same for all of us. In the center of every chakra that we all posses, is an alchemical spark of the divine. And this is the energy that, if you can focus and bring on stage in a performance, will inspire others to see that in themselves because they, too, are great souls, with that same spark within them🙂 The chakras Indian in origin, the Sanskrit word “chakra” literally translates as “wheel” or “disk”, and refers to centers of energy throughout the body. Most commonly there are seven, but for this program we’re working with twelve, once again based on the work of the healer Cyndi Dale . In this article I’ll explain them and how we use them to sing. There are 7 in body chakras, and 5 more situated in and around the body.Chakras 1-7 Traditionally, all of the chakras have a color. However, I have read about healers who say that all chakras resonate with all of the colors, since we’re thinking so much all of the time, our emotions taking us all over the place. I can’t corroborate any of this, so will just relay the traditional information. For me, the color denotes the chakra’s energetic frequency, which we draw upon to sing. Also, chakras have a positive and a negative aspect – in this world of duality this has to be, light and dark. 1st The root chakra The root chakra is traditionally red in color, and is our root center. Positive aspects: Stability, security, grounding, manifesting and vitality Negative aspects Insecurity, anxiety, uncertainty and depression 2nd The sacral chakra This chakra is a rich orange, situated about 2” below the belly button/above the pubic bone (all of the chakras are centered in the spine, but their energy centers also can be found along the central channel of the body, like a reflection of the chakras energy. See the article “The Imagination Pathway (river of energy) for information on how to use this energy to sing). Positive aspects Creativity, emotional intelligence, joyful passions, nurturing relationships, and self acceptance. Negative aspects Shame, guilt, lack of motivation, and repression. 3rd The solar plexus chakra This is a rich gold color, the same hue as a daffodil. This is where we feel from. Positive aspects Personal power, confidence, self worth, and action. Negative aspects Victimhood, low self worth, control issues and powerlessness. This is also where the diaphragm is housed. No wonder it can be challenging to sing from here! If we have/haven’t yet worked through our self worth issues, they of course come up when performing:) 4th The heart chakra The heart is the chakra’s center, and so the very center of us. I heard someone describe it thus: “We receive information, in whatever form, firstly through the heart. A nanosecond later it goes up to the brain to be processed.” Typically we believe it’s the other way round. Our societies generally put the onus on the thinking, rather than the being, way of being on this planet:) Which is why, when singing, we get a much better result when we train ourselves to put our energy in the heart (as you prepare, or as you breathe in to sing). Also, with the attention in the heart, it’s much easier to just “be”. Magic always happens in the here and now, never the past or future. Heart energy brings us to the here and now. When we sing from heart energy we connect an audience to their heart energy. The energy is raised and we become a conduit of light. The heart is either spring green in color, rose pink, or white gold, depending on a person’s age or spiritual evolvement. Positive aspects Love, self-compassion, compassion, empathy, joy, forgiveness, inner peace and wisdom. Negative aspects Fear, insecurity, jealousy, envy, codependency, and loneliness. 5th Throat chakra This chakra is a periwinkle blue and where we literally speak our truth. Positive aspects are clear, confident and truthful communication, enhanced creativity, strong listening skills, inner authenticity and emotional release. Negative aspects are difficulty in expressing oneself; and finding it challenging to communicate thoughts, emotions and needs clearly and confidently. When we’re nervous, the throat and diaphragm contact, also contracting the heart. This makes it super difficult to sing. Learning not to do this is why the meditations and exercises as in the Imagination pathway article. We can’t think our way out of fear. It can help to a certain extent, but generally we need to train our psyche to know that there is no threat and that we are powerful beings, naturally. And to learn to embody that, the energy of the true “us”. 6th The 3rd eye chakra The 3rd eye is in the same place energetically as the pineal gland. It’s situated in the center of the head equidistant to the top of the ears. In this way it’s on the plum line from the back of the crown chakra all the way down to the perineum. It’s a deep indigo, deep blue-violet hue. Its positive aspects are clarity, intuition, wisdom, spiritual insight, inner guidance, focus, and the ability to see beyond illusions. Its negative aspects are mental fog, overthinking and delusion, lack of intuition and blocked inner connection. The 3rd eye is also potentially a place of connection to our multi-dimensional self, a doorway and portal, a place of magic. 7th The crown chakra The crown chakra connects us to our higher self, multiplied by the resonance of the 8th chakra above the head and the 6th chakra below it in the center of the head. It is either lavender, purple or white depending on a person’s spiritual evolvement. Its positive aspects are spiritual connection, inner peace, clarity, enlightenment and transcendence. Its negative aspects are feeling spiritually disconnected, existential dread, mental fog, depression, lack of purpose, closed-mindedness, and confusion. 7 in-body chakra properties The seven in-body chakras all have similar properties: an inner and outer wheel, a front, back and sides, and an imagination lens at the center, with an alchemical spark that’s the doorway to our multi-dimensional self right at the center (see diagram). “The lower six chakras are actually two-sided, with one side spinning out the front of the body and the other out the back. I perceive that the highest chakra, which emits from the crown, has a back side as well. The back side is less apparent because it opens from a higher dimension than the others. Every in-body chakra is composed of two wheels, an inner and an outer; the inner wheel reflects our spiritual essence, as well as divine essence, and the outer wheel relates to our human programs; ideally, these run in concert with each other.”* The Inner Wheel. In essence the inner wheel deals with your connection to your spiritual self. “The inner wheel links you to your subconscious and, potentially, your Higher Self and even your spirit. On the elemental pathway, this inside wheel processes tachyons or antiparticles, which can move faster than the speed of light.”** Each inner wheel has a different resonance depending on the chakra. The outer wheel deals with our connection to our physical self. The Alchemical spark is at the center of the imagination lens. It is made of a substance found no where else in the third dimension, and because of this works as a doorway to other dimensions – which can be a simple thing, when we day dream or zone out during the day, for example. I’ve heard from a number of healers and teachers that we also often visit the inner planes when we sleep, usually about once a week. Cyndi Dale takes this further, however, stating that each of our twelve chakras is connected to a correlating inner spiritual plane that make up “the heavens”. So, in essence, the 12 chakras that make up our energy system correlate with the 12 dimensional planes that we are a part of in this, our “learning grid”. So, in essence, we’re always in death and life, since we travel dimensionally all the time, which makes death itself a construct of our own making:) In her book “Illuminating the afterlife”, she mentions that when we pass we see all 12 planes before us (the 7 lower as one group the upper 5 in another), and we naturally gravitate to the one that match’s our own spiritual evolvement (you can find out more about the twelve chakra system in Cyndi’s books. I am merely brushing the surface of the information, since a rudimentary knowledge is all that is needed here, I feel. An understanding of the basic energy mapping of the body can help greatly when singing. We know where we’re directing our energy. There is a reference point:) The Anti-world: Since the first five chakras are centered in the spine, and each chakra is about two inches in diameter, the “anti-world”, the back of the chakras, extends out into the back. Home of the “imagination pathway”, the anti-world’s home is the back of the chakras. The front side: Oversees your conscious and day-to-day needs. The back side: Regulates your unconscious, primal programs and spiritual matters (and is the home of the anti-world). The sides: “The left side is feminine and regulates female-oriented issues, the right side is masculine and runs male-oriented issue s.Male and female properties of the chakras “Our feminine functions involve receptivity, attraction, relationship, intuition, and programs regarding one’s own femininity or the female gender. Our male functions involve action, domination, success, and rationality, and programs about one’s own masculinity or the male gender.” * Our in-body chakras 1-6 also resonate with male and female properties. The male chakras are the odd numbers Chakras 1, 3, 5, The female chakras are 2, 4, and 6 Once we get to the crown chakra and above, they are both. This means men generally resonate with the properties of these chakras: 1 – action and stability 3 – power, self worth and action 5 – speaking one’s truth, self confidence Women 2 – intuitive creativity, fluid flow of energy, nurturing relationships 4 – a focus on love, loving relationships, empathy, joy, forgiveness, and inner peace 6 – intuitive, empathic, spiritually oriented This means men are generally more yang, and action oriented Women are more generally yin, and intuitively inward-looking From chakra 7 upward the chakras are both male and female in vibration. Both men and women can, and do, resonate with all of the chakras of course, but in general men and women resonate intrinsically with the chakras listed above. Chakras 8 – 12 There are 5 more chakras that are situated in, on and around the body: 8th chakra This is situated about 2” above the crown of the head and is about the size of a silver dollar. It’s rooted in the chest, where it connects energetically to all of the chakras. Just as the in-body chakras rotate clockwise in their positive aspect, this chakra rotates anti clockwise in its positive aspect. It can be silver when it’s clear and cleaned, or black if there’s a lot of negativity in it. Quite often it’s both – silver on the top, black below. It’s also the home of our Akashic records. Everything we think, say and do creates, and created a resonance footprint and is therefore recorded in the records. We can also tap in to the records of anything from the akashic records if we know how. Any time, any one, anything. This can be developed, and is a skill. 9th chakra This is situated an arms length above the head and is a luminous, white gold light. It is the top of our “auric bubble”, or “energy egg”, and connects us to our higher self and the multi-dimensional universe. 10th chakra This is brown in color and is below our feet. It is the bottom of or auric bubble, and connects us to the earth, literally grounding us. It runs around the body, directly around our skin. 11th chakra The 11th chakra is mystical in nature. It wraps around the 10th and is like a mesh of sensory energy. Since it is so close to the 10th it is also very grounding. People who are weather workers and shamans works with it to connect with powerful inter dimensional energies. 12th chakra We are in the 3rd dimension of a 12 dimensional system. There are many dimensions above and below us. The 12th dimension exists in our aura, and connects to our bodies via 32 entry points. It is mystical and spiritually powerful. A Healthy Chakra Each wheel of a chakra, inner and outer, can either spin clockwise or counter-clockwise. When both wheels are spinning clockwise and in harmony with each other, you have a healthy chakra. When they spin anti clockwise we’re either obsessing the past in that area of our energy, the energy is stagnant, or we’re thinking negatively. Or we are in the process of releasing negative energy.When the chakras are in balance with each other, they spin clockwise, each in tune with the chakras above and below. So for example, the heart chakra is directly affected by the solar plexus below and throat chakra above (and also the 8th chakr a, which is rooted in the chest).The Chakras and Singing Since every one of the chakras has a function and a purpose for us spiritually, mentally and emotionally, we’re connecting with them all of the time, whether we’re aware of it or not. A healthy chakric system is a healthy human being in mind body and spirit. By balancing them and coming into balance with them, we’re also coming into balance with the essence of who we truly are – irrespective of what our egos tell us who we are or who we should be:)Since the essence of every living thing is a form of energy, it’s this complex embodiment that gets up in front of an audience and connects with their vital energy . No wonder it’s challenging!For thinking can either help or hinder us when truly expressing our essence. But, in truth, all that really needs to happen is for us to express our “essence” truthfully and authentically.Breathing into the Sides of the Chakras First of all, breathing sideways helps the diaphragm to expand and move downward without tension and pressure.Since we’re constricted by time in this realm –past, present and future – we tend to breathe and think forward or backward. This often means we sing with the front of the body or tense the back, which locks up our energy and voice.When we breathe sideways we connect with the here and now. The left side of the chakras are feminine in quality, the right male. So by breathing sideways we also connect with our vital intuitive (and sexual – music is all about sensuality) self and with our personal identity, which then gives us confidence, and expresses our personality authentically.Try this exercise:Breathe sideways and imagine that you’re breathing into both sides of an infinite mirror. Breathe, left and right, to the extent of your energy. Go as far as you possibly can. Imagine you’re reflected infinitely on your right and left hand sideBreathe into this space and feel your infinite self breathing in and out as you breathe in and out. As you can see, you are infinite. Your energy is infinite. And vast:). You are a great soul. Literally!Singing a Song Obviously, one can’t be thinking of all this when singing a song. When it comes to singing the song, we need to concentrate on it absolutely. The feeling of the song, the meaning of the lyrics.It’s all about the truth of what you’re thinking and feeling. Stage fright, as we all know, is our worst fears made manifest. But getting to know your chakras – not intellectually but by resonating with th em (connecting with them),and then singing, can be a completely different experience. Resonate with them through meditation, and it’s an inner knowing, an understanding. When you know their energies, how they feel and how you connect with them emotionally, then you can access that power when singing. It won’t be something you do consciously, but will happen because it’s a pathway that you’ve opened up and developed – told your psyche where to go, in other words.We need to practice the technical exercises to build vocal power and strength so we can let go and “just do it” – you can’t think technically when singing the song. In the same way, by listening to the meditations within this program, we get to know our vital and subtle energies, their power and pathways, and learn how to express them. Our multi-dimensional self This comes from delving deep over the years, and is an amalgam of knowledge gained from various teachers, healers and philosophers. Obviously, it’s simply my take on this, but is also nothing new as far as these theories go:) Once again, I’m simply sharing information, because I feel this is pertinent to the singing process:) The subtle bodies First of all, we don’t just have a physical body. We also have a: Mental body – which includes all of our thinking processes, An emotional body – all of our emotions Vital body – our vital essence, connected to the physical Etheric body – the next step up from the vital and physical bodies Astral body – this is the body we inhabit when we sleep, and is the next step up from the etheric (as in it is less material) Causal body – the deep essence of who we are, the seed of our individuality, holding karmic imprints and our intrinsic bliss Spiritual – our immortal body, or higher self. So, a lot of bodies! No wonder singing can be so challenging…all of this energy needs to be aligned for us to feel completely centered and clear. The beauty of singing, though, is that if we can take a step back, stay in the heart and enjoy the experience, our own resonance can balance all of these bodies, bringing them into alignment. Which is why we persevere, and why it feels so good when we get it right:) Multi-dimensionality This information comes a number of sources. People way more connected than I am:) It resonates with me, obviously, but once again I totally get it if it doesn’t resonate with you:) I mention it because I feel that it shows the underlying vibrations that we’re all subject to, and sense in an energetic way. This has a vital impact on singing and learning to sing. As well as all of the subtle bodies mentioned above, we are also multi-dimensional in nature. Multidimensional in that we exist in a multiverse. Billions of universes, which include many versions of us. The idea being our higher self, the true us, needs to learn lessons so that it can grow in spirit. Since everything is dimensional in nature, it needs to work within those paradigms. The higher planes have no restrictions, therefore there is no time. This plane is more material, heavier, so things take longer to manifest. Here, we can choose a goal and work towards it. And therefore “grow” our spirits. So the higher self knows what it needs to grow to become bigger in spirit, and thus resonate more closely with the divine, its intrinsic self, or spiritual energy. Our eternal self is a spark of the divine, a part of the one-ness of all things. The higher self needs to learn how to forgive, for example (so it can remember it’s intrinsic divinity) and so it sends versions of itself into the multiverse, each version at all levels of spiritual development, to learn that particular lesson. All of these versions are linked throughout the multiverse, so when we say “past lives” it’s often a life we’re living concurrently in the multiverse, learning the lesson we, too, are learning. And when one fragment learns a lesson, it benefits all of the others. And the more present a soul can learn to be, the less fragmented (and thus the more powerful) it becomes. The maze In this way, we choose to forget our divine natures when we incarnate. We come here with a plethora of buried emotions from the myriad of lives we’re living, both past and concurrently, and each human life could be viewed as though we’re born in a maze we need to figure the way out of. Often we feel disconnected from our divine self, alone; abandoned. But we all are guided, and have guides. And plan our restrictions, problems and phobias very carefully before we come here. And we’re here the equivalent of a blink of an eye in infinite terms, and know that this too shall pass on a deep level. To learn (remember who we truly are) we need to be challenged. And this world is definitely challenging! However, our higher self knows our true purpose, and that, even if we don’t “get it” this time round, we will eventually:) All this and singing No wonder performing in front of others is so challenging! To sing well we need to be completely present, resonating with all of our bodies on a deep level; in the moment, trusting our intuitive selves; be vulnerable and strong at the same time, while letting go and enjoying it. No biggie. But by the same token, this exactly why singing is extremely good for the soul on all levels:) You’re learning to Be present Trust your intuition Be in your body Resonate with your own energy Remember how to be joyful Share with others Bring others together in the spirit of community Be vulnerable and strong at the same time Forgive your mistakes Bring your fragmented self together in the present, if only for a short time So…..worth all the practice and focus, absolutely and completely! By getting up on stage and sharing your vulnerability with others, you’re not only helping to balance your chakras and subtle bodies, resonating with your multidimensional self and your own resonant energy, you’re also being incredibly brave:) Love yourself for it. You’re a great soul, participating in the grand adventure of the multiverse:) Although, having said that, be aware that the ego can be very sneaky. Prepare, record yourself, practice, practice, practice! Know that what you’re doing is coming from an authentic place. And you’ll know it when you do, because people will come up to you and tell you so. Always. When a student connects to their diaphragmatic energy and really “gets it”, that connection is always corroborated soon after:) And if you don’t get the corroboration, then keep practicing. Its all a matter of time:) * Quotes from “The Complete Book of Chakra Healing” by Cyndi Dale ** Quotes from “Advanced Chakra Healing” by Cyndi Dale Related articles: The BubbleTheImagination Pathway (river of energy). The male and female chakras Chakras 1 – 4: Connecting with the emotIons Why meditate? 10 minute meditation Father, mother, child meditation How to feel rhythm meditation Cyndi Dales’s books (all available on Amazon): Advanced Chakra Healing: four pathways to energetic wellness and transformation Illuminating the AfterlifeThe Complete Book of Chakra Healing |
a unique way to learn how to sing and banish stage fright