This blog looks at Cakra #6 as one part of the whole system in building a road map to an integrative personality. This cakra is located above the nose between the eyebrows and thus known as the Third Eye Cakra. This powerful cakra is associated with the ability to use discernment and clarity in decision making. Let’s look at the “traps” or imbalances versus the “treasures” or gifts of a balanced cakra. I have included a Sutra teaching (YS 1,2) at the bottom of this blog with translation.
How do we see? If you look through the lens of a camera, we can manipulate the lens and either bring an image into a sharper, clearer focus or create a blurry, fuzzy image. The image is still the same but we have changed the way we view it. The 6th cakra known as Ājñā is connected to our capacity to see clearly and operate from the “KNOWING”. What is the “Knowing”? This is the quality that develops over time through the inner work of meditation within a yoga practice. We can begin to understand what makes us happy, what we value, and how we operate authentically. When we make decisions from a place of discernment and clarity, it’s like moving the camera lens to where we can see a crisp, clean image without any blurriness. Yes, we know what we need and we begin to take steps in that direction.
The Cakra/s are a road map to an integrative personality and they influence each quality from the bottom to the top. As a reminder here are the qualities:
1st Cakra = stability
2nd Cakra = vitality, creativity, joy
3rd Cakra = confidence, self-worth
4th Cakra = Love, openness
5th Cakra = communication; expressiveness
And here we arrive at discernment. My mentor, Chase Bossart made a huge impact on me through these words, “Yoga is a game of conscious linking from moment to moment!” He teaches that the way we view life is through a lens of our own perception. That perception is based on our experiences. For example, if I only ever eat fast food and haven’t tried fine dining, then my experiences and understanding of food would be solely based on those experiences. But if I try some different flavors, ethnic foods, fine dining, etc., my viewpoint around food is expanding and I may have changed my understanding of food’s potential. When we consciously or mindfully link to different experiences, we begin to change our “view finder” or our lens. Yoga is the science of the mind and the more we work on focusing our attention through breath-centric movement, pranayama (breath techniques) sound, and meditation, the cleaner our “lens” becomes and our ability to see clearly…changes. Google uses these words as one definition of perception: “ a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something; a mental impression”.
I also want to be clear that I am not talking about your 20/20 vision or lack of eyesight. I am speaking to the depth of truly seeing from stability, vitality, confidence, love, and communication.
The 6th cakra is not connected to an element, as with the previous cakra/s. Purple is the color associated with this cakra and the vital organs are brain, eyes, and ears. When this cakra is in balance, the “treasures” of clarity, discernment, intuition, and intelligence are present. On the other hand, when we are out of balance here, the “traps” of doubt, lack of clarity, indecision, and confusion influence us. Think of the lens of the camera creating a blurry image. I think that’s what confusion looks like.
When we view our health through a mind/body connection as a perspective, the clearer we are in how we operate. When we make choices that support our well-being, we just feel better. We might even choose to be in relationships that value being seen and heard. Being in balance with this cakra can help us re-assess our priorities and values and in turn make new choices and create new experiences. The world is your oyster!
Below is Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra: YS 1,2 which gives the definition of yoga. I am using the Mukunda Stiles interpretation and modern translations of my teachers, Gary Kraftsow and Chase Bossart.
YS 1,2: yogah citta vritti nirodhaha
yogah = yoga
citta = mind, quality of a refined mind
vritti= fluctuations
nirodhaha = cease, stop, completely contained; encompass
Modern translations: A state of yoga is when we direct the mind completely where we want it to go. It’s all about how we link.