DIY COCONUT + ROSE BODY SCRUB

Few things smell better than coconut and rose so let’s combine them, shall we? In this Kitchen Beautician DIY, we’re making a “Spring Time Scrub” to help you exfoliate and get your skin super soft for the coming summer months. Bathing suit season is just around the corner and nobody wants to be the ashy girl! Here’s my new favorite way to get rid of dry skin caused by winter dryness:
You’ll need: a mason jar, coconut oil, raw cane sugar, almond or jojoba oil and one fragrant rose (here I used sterling silver roses because they’re my favorite AND they’re one of the most fragrant roses ever.)

1. Use a small mason jar or any clear jar with a lid. I got mine at Smart & Final. You can also buy them online if you can’t find them in the store. These ones are about $11 for a dozen, so they’re under a dollar each!
2. Start by putting a large scoop of coconut oil in the bottom of the jar. You can get coconut oil at any health food store or major supermarket. It’s an “oil” but at room temp it’s more like a butter consistency and has a white paste-y texture.
3. Next, pluck your rose petals and put them into the jar on top of the coconut oil.
4. Add your raw sugar. If you can’t find raw cane sugar, brown sugar is a great option! The coarser the better.
5. Add your almond or jojoba oil on top of the sugar. I like jojoba oil best, which you can also find at health food stores or vitamin stores, because it’s the closest thing to our own natural oil and it absorbs really nicely into the skin. But almond oil is great too because it doesn’t take away from the scent in this jar.
6. Wait a minute for your oil to seep down to the flower petals and then top it off with a little more almond or jojoba oil. Last but not least, put your lid on and let it sit so the oils can soak into the flower petals.

When you (or the person you’re giving this to as a gift) are ready to use it, take a spoon and mash it all up. The coarse sugar will break up the rose petals and they’ll continue to break up as you rub the scrub on your skin. The smell is INCREDIBLE, and if you’ve had a hard week (or even if you haven’t) this is a decadent way to start the weekend! This scrub can have a shelf life of one year, but I wouldn’t imagine you’d ever leave this jar of magic sitting for that long.
NOTE: all measurements are subject to the size of your jar. I broke it up into thirds– in other words, everything should be equal parts and each layer should take up 1/3 of the jar.
Tags: almond oil, body scrub, DIY, do it yourself, exfoliate, gift, home, homemade, how to, jar, jojoba oil, kitchen, kitchen beautician, mason jar, oil, recipe, recipes, rose, scrub, spring time scrub, sterling silver rose, sugar, weekendspiration

4th of July Cake Pops

THE cake pop original, Bakerella. Her work is inspirational to say the least. You can learn all about her cake pops at Bakerella.com.

The supplies for cake pop night were numerous:
- Candy melts for dipping and coating the cake pops
- Crock pots for keeping the chocolate melted
- Lollipop sticks
- Styrofoam blocks for each person to keep the cake pops upright
- Waxed paper to catch drips on the work surface
- Lollipop bags and twist ties for packaging
- Sprinkles and decorations in red, white and blue

__._,_.___

Unbelievable Chicken

"This unusual combination of common ingredients is fabulous! Everyone who tastes it asks me to share the recipe. You will love it and the many compliments you get - I promise!"

PREP TIME  15 Min 
COOK TIME  20 Min 
READY IN  9 Hrs 
SERVINGS about 6 chicken breasts

INGREDIENTS (Nutrition)
1/4 cup cider vinegar
3 tablespoons prepared coarse-ground mustard
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 lime, juiced
1/2 lemon, juiced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
ground black pepper to taste
6 tablespoons olive oil
6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

DIRECTIONS
In a large glass bowl, mix the cider vinegar, mustard, garlic, lime juice, lemon juice, brown sugar, salt, and pepper. Whisk in the olive oil. Place chicken in the mixture. Cover, and marinate 8 hours, or overnight.
Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat.
Lightly oil the grill grate. Place chicken on the prepared grill, and cook 6 to 8 minutes per side, until juices run clear. Discard marinade.

Chinese Honey Chicken Recipe

Chinese Honey Chicken Recipe

Ingredients:
1 lb boneless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes
Oil, for deep-frying
2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 4 teaspoons of water, for sauce thickening
Salt and sugar to taste
Toasted sesame seeds, to garnish
Marinade:
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 dashes ground white pepper
Frying Batter:
1 egg white
1/2 cup all-purpose flour, sifted
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup water, ice cold
1 tablespoon peanut oil, or regular cooking oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Honey Garlic Sauce:
2 cloves garlic, sliced or lightly bruised
1/3 cup pure honey
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Chinese cooking wine, or dry sherry wine
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1/4-1/2 cup of water
Method:
Marinate the chicken cubes with the Marinade for 5 minutes.
Make the Frying Batter. In a large bowl, lightly whisk the egg white, and mix in the rest of the Frying Batter ingredients. Batter should not be lumpy, nor too runny, but smooth. Place another bowl with ice cubes underneath the frying batter bowl. Drop in the chicken cubes, mix well until they are well coated. Let it sit for about 30 minutes to 1 hour in the refrigerator.
Prepare to make the Honey Garlic Sauce mixture. Mix all the sauce ingredients well and set aside.
Heat up a wok with deep-frying oil. Gently drop in the battered chicken cubes, one by one, making sure it is spread out to prevent sticking, overcrowding the wok, and not fried properly. Turn the heat down to medium-high, and continue to deep-fry until the color changes to golden brown and completely cooked. Dish out and drain on paper towels.
Reserve 3 tablespoons of deep-frying oil in the wok, and stir-fry the garlic until it is browned and the oil is fragrant. Dish out the garlic, and discard. Leave about 2-3 tablespoons of garlic oil in the wok.
Heat up the wok with the garlic oil from previous step, gently pour in the Honey Garlic Sauce mixture, and bring to a light simmer, add in the cornstarch mixture to thicken the sauce, give it a quick stir and adjust salt/sugar/water to taste.
Here, you can either dish out some sauce for dipping later and just keep enough to coat the fried chicken cubes in the wok, OR, toss in the chicken and briefly stir well, making sure the chicken is well coated in the sauce, dish out and sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds and serve. Alternatively, you can also keep the sauce separate from the chicken, and dip as you eat. Serve Chinese Honey Chicken with a bowl of hot steamed Jasmine rice or serve as is, with extra toasted sesame seeds to garnish.

Opening And Charging The Chakras

What should you do to balance your chakras? There are several ways to balance the chakras, which can result in more balance of those areas in your life. If your chakras have been out of balance, choked, or clogged for a long time, you will need to do this "cleaning" and "balancing" on a daily basis for at least three weeks, and then once weekly to keep them healthy.
Sit in a chair and relax or lay down, which ever position will be comfortable, but one you won't fall asleep in.
Staying still and relaxing - close your eyes concentrating on your breath.

*Focus on the base chakra - visualize the chakra as a bright red light spinning clockwise - as you focus on the base chakra - breathe in red - breathe out red. Clean out mentally any debris, dust, negative energy, or other detrimental debris that may be there. Picture this chakra flowing cleanly and freely with this energy.  When you have finished with the root chakra, move some of the energy up

*Move to the sacral chakra - visualize the chakra as a bright orange light spinning clockwise - breathe in orange - breathe out orange Clean out mentally any debris, dust, negative energy, or other detrimental debris that may be there. Picture this chakra flowing cleanly and freely with this energy.  When you have finished with the root chakra, move some of the energy up

*Move to the solar chakra - visualize the chakra as a bright yellow light spinning clockwise - breathe in yellow - breathe out yellow Clean out mentally any debris, dust, negative energy, or other detrimental debris that may be there. Picture this chakra flowing cleanly and freely with this energy.  When you have finished with the root chakra, move some of the energy up

*Move to the heart chakra - visualize the chakra as a bright green light spinning clockwise - breathe in green - breathe out green Clean out mentally any debris, dust, negative energy, or other detrimental debris that may be there. Picture this chakra flowing cleanly and freely with this energy.  When you have finished with the root chakra, move some of the energy up

*Move to the throat chakra - visualize the chakra as a bright blue light spinning clockwise - breathe in blue - breathe out blue Clean out mentally any debris, dust, negative energy, or other detrimental debris that may be there. Picture this chakra flowing cleanly and freely with this energy.  When you have finished with the root chakra, move some of the energy up

*Move to the forehead chakra - visualize the chakra as a bright indigo light spinning clockwise - breathe in indigo - breathe out indigo Clean out mentally any debris, dust, negative energy, or other detrimental debris that may be there. Picture this chakra flowing cleanly and freely with this energy.  When you have finished with the root chakra, move some of the energy up

*Move to the crown chakra - visualize the chakra as a bright purple light spinning light spinning clockwise - breathe in purple breathe out purple Clean out mentally any debris, dust, negative energy, or other detrimental debris that may be there. Picture this chakra flowing cleanly and freely with this energy.  When you have finished with the root chakra, move some of the energy up
You will have seven spinning balls of energy in each of the chakra colors when you have finished this part of the exercise. Enjoy this feeling as long as you want to. Any extra energy that you feel, you may shoot out the top of your head like a waterfall, and let it fall down the outside of your body to also repair any holes and weak spots in your aura if you like. When you feel complete with this process, then move the energy back down each of the chakras in turn, in the reverse order that you opened them. This is just like a Garage Door, you open it to go in, closing it when you go out.

Another method of balancing the chakras involves sound. Each of the chakras has a sanskrit name, a mantra name, and a musical note, among other things, that are associated with it and can be used to augment cleansing and balancing. Again you would find a comfortable position and breathe deeply. Now, focusing on the root chakra to start with, you would either intone the sanskrit name, or the mantra name, that is associated with that chakra. If you can do so, it also helps to sing the name or sound on the musical note that is for that chakra as well. Some people will use a pitch pipe to do this, others may use tuning forks. You can also have someone do this for you using tuning forks that actually will vibrate right over each chakra. You would similarly visualize cleansing each one in turn as previously described. Remember to start always at the root chakra and work your way up, and then back down again, opening them on the way up and closing them again on the way down.  There are many associations for the chakras, and the table below has a few of them. You can use the gemstones in the same way as the notes, or the vowel sounds, by placing the appropriate stone on the chakra it goes with, and visualizing the energy of the stone cleansing and balancing.

No matter how you choose to cleanse and balance your chakras, it is important to remember to close them afterwards. These are main energy vortexes or centers in your body. Persons or situations having a lot of negative energy around them can cause your chakras to be clogged up with this negativity. You are also most empathic and open to psychic impressions when your chakras are fully open, and in some situations this is desirable. Most of us, though, don't choose to have our chakras fully open and vulnerable all the time. You can leave your chakras partially open for some things, and in ritual or sacred space you may want to be open fully. As you use these exercises and become more proficient at them, you will become more aware of how your psychic bodies feel when your chakras are open to different levels. Then you will be able to make a conscious choice as to how much to open or close each one, in keeping with the work you are doing.

methods of cleansing your chakra

Cleansing your Chakra:

Cleansing of your chakra is vital. It epitomizes the "domino effect". If one chakra area or center is blocked, the others cannot function clearly. A clogging of the system occurs.
A simple practice involves utilizing the colors associated with each station and visually "cleansing" each one. To cleanse each one or a particular one choose which chakra you want to work on and visualize its corresponding color.
Starting from the bottom, imagine the color you have chosen surrounding you.Let it fill your body. As it fills, little brushes are cleaning the impairment. See it all drop and dissolve
until the color is rich and warm all around you. Holes, rips, and tears are all mended. Do this with each chakra center letting the debris dissolve and fall away.
Next, start at the top. Open it fully allowing the universal or cosmic energy to invade and surround you. Again, see those little brushes cleansing off the barnacles and debris and releasing them
from your head to your feet in the same manner as above. See its color warm and rich and again, all holes, rips and tears mended. At all times, remain still and centered. Now see both the feet and the
head mixing and swirling in its rich colors.
If you feel a misalignment, concentrate on that center and again repeat the steps focusing on that particular center in question. It may be difficult for you at first, but patience is needed.
Energy-Stem
Another type of "alignment" method is dealing with the "energy stem". Each chakra is connected by a small stem to main energy channel. This
channel runs behind and parallel to the spine in the energy body. Sometimes an ailment or illness occurs in conjunction with a chakra
center becomes disconnected from this channel sometimes an old memory can become stuck in a chakra and send it all out of whack.
Once you have cleared the chakras as above, you can then step back and take a look at the energy stems and their relationships to the centers.
After performing the above technique and grounding yourself, prepare again for the visualization. Beginning with the first chakra, picture in your mind that particular center's stem with the energy channel running behind it. Is it connected? If not, simply
picture yourself hooking it back up again or reconnecting it. Is it a firm or loose connection? Picture yourself tightening the connection securely as you would a cap or screw.
Follow this same procedure through each chakra, moving up, checking the connections and repairing or tightening where needed before moving to the next one until you have done all seven or eleven to include the minor chakras
When you are sure that all are secure return to the first chakra. Imagine that as you look into that center, it is a flower or anything you want for that matter, but make sure you are looking directly into it. If you must, in your minds eye, adjust the flower until it is directly in your eyesight. Do this to each chakra, straightening and
aligning the direct eyesight with the flower or whatever it is you chose.
Now picture a huge golden sun through the Crown Chakra and picture its energy falling down and filling up the energy channel, into
the energy stems and finally into the flower. If you see a slight movement in the flower as a result of this golden energy, hooray!
See and feel the energy centers swirling with radiant colors. Stay this way for as long as you feel comfortable. Slowly close up the centers so that the energy is safely and securely all through your body. Stomp your feet.
Welcome to a brand new energy!
From here, it is up to you to control and direct it.
Clearing and activating the Chakras

by Anne Stone
If you have read my previous article about the seven chakras then you will
know how they play a vital part in our well being. By recognizing blockages
in your chakras and removing them you will be able to improve your
appreciation of the quality of life. There are two main methods of clearing
and activating your chakras by using crystals. The first method I will
describe involves the use of a quartz crystal wand, the second method uses
colored crystals.
Crystal Wand Method

The crystal wand you should use for clearing and activating the charkas
should be a small one - no more than two or three inches in length.
Crown Chakra

Hold your crystal in your right hand a few inches above your head with the
point downwards. Keeping your eyes closed, rotate the crystal in a clockwise
direction while visualizing a strong white light emanating from the crystal
entering the top of your head, continue for some moments, still rotating the
crystal before relaxing your arm. Then sit quietly for a few minutes
allowing the visualization to continue.
Third Eye / Brow Chakra

Hold your crystal in your right hand about three or four inches away from
your third eye chakra. The point of the crystal should be towards your brow
and the angle slightly downwards. Close your eyes, rotate the crystal gently
in a clockwise direction for several minutes and then relax.
Throat Chakra

Hold the crystal in your right hand, no more than six inches from your
throat chakra. The crystal should be in an horizontal position, parallel to
the floor. Close your eyes and visualize a pure white light emanating from
the crystal and entering your throat at the position of the chakra.
Continue for a few minutes before relaxing.
Heart Chakra

Hold the crystal in your right hand with the point towards your heart chakra
and not more than three or four inches from your body. the crystal should
once again be horizontal. Close your eyes and visualize both a strong white
light coming from the crystal and entering your body at the level of your
heart chakra and, at the same time, a pure white light coming from the area
of your heart chakra itself and linking with the light from the crystal.
Continue for a few minutes before relaxing.
Solar Plexus Chakra

Hold the crystal in your right hand horizontally with the point towards the
solar plexus chakra. Close your eyes and visualize a strong white light
emanating from the crystal and entering your body at the level of the
chakra.
Spleen Chakra

Hold the crystal in your right hand pointing downwards towards the area of
the spleen chakra, close your eyes and rotate the crystal gently in a
clockwise direction. At the same time, visualize a pure white light entering
your body at the point of the chakra and then spreading outwards, like the
ripples on a pond,until it fills the whole of the surrounding area.
Base Chakra

Hold the crystal in your right hand and point it downwards towards the
position of the base chakra. Close your eyes and visualize a right white
light entering the body at a single point. Hold the crystal steady for a few
minutes.
While performing these exercises you may experience certain sensations such
as warmth, tingling, the release of tension or slight discomfort. It is
natural to feel these and there is no need for alarm. Once you start to
clear the chakras of negative energies it will be necessary for you to use a
form of protection to prevent the chakras from absorbing further negative
influences. At the end of a session, take a few moments to relax and
visualize yourself surrounded in the same pure white light which has been
emanating from the crystal and entering the chakra points. Start from the
ground and work upwards, allowing it to cloak you in its protection and
ensuring that this protective shield seals itself above your head.
Colored Crystal Method

Each of the chakras is related to a color as follows;

Crown Chakra - white
Third Eye Chakra - purple
Throat Chakra - blue
Heart Chakra - green
Solar Plexus Chakra - yellow
Spleen Chakra - orange
Base Chakra - red
Lie down on your back an place a quartz crystal above your head. Then
carefully place a colored crystal corresponding to the color associated with
the chakra on each of your chakras. It may be easier if you ask someone to
place the crystals for you. Then stay relaxed in the same position for as
long as you feel comfortable.
Another method of clearing blocked chakras is through gentle physical
exercises.
Clearing and Activating the Chakras #2

by Anne Stone
In two of my previous articles I have talked about the Seven Chakras and how
to clear and activate them using crystals. Now, I want to tell you how to
clear and activate your chakras using gentle exercises. Let us get straight
down to work.
The Crown Chakra

Rub the crown of your head in a clockwise direction with your right hand for
a few minutes.
The Third Eye / Brow Chakra

Move your eyes several times in the following directions. Facing forward, up
and down, side to side. Up to the left, then down to the right. Reverse. Up
to the right, down to the left.
The Throat Chakra

Move your head and neck in the following directions. Facing forward, up and
down, side to side. Up to the left, down to the right. Reverse. Up to the
right, down to the left. Now roll your head and neck around several times in
both directions.
The Heart Chakra

Get on your hands and knees. Make sure your elbows do not touch the floor
and lower your head and shoulders a little. Vary the angle of your legs and
buttocks until you feel a pressure between your shoulder blades. When you
succeed in getting pressure, push your whole body forward for a while, then
pull backward. Do this from the hips and legs. Next, find something large
and round like a barrel, a soft couch back or a bioenergetic stool and lean
backwards over it with your feet firmly planted. Relax and le the muscles of
your chest stretch out.
The Solar Plexus Chakra

Find a partner and hold each others hands firmly. While your partner
supports you jump up and down. Bring your knees up as high as possible into
your chest when you jump. Jump continuously without stopping for several
minutes. Rest, but do not bend over.
The Spleen Chakra

Stand with your feet shoulder width apart and parallel. Now rock your pelvis
back and forth bending the knees slightly. Repeat several times. Now, make
believe you are inside a cylinder which needs to be polished. Put your hands
on your hips. Move them in a circular motion, making sure you polish all
sides of the cylinder evenly.
The Base Chakra

Stand with your feet wide apart and knees pointed out. Bend your knees as
deeply as you can. Move up and down several times. Now add a swinging motion
to your pelvis, push it as far back and as far forward as you can. Rock back
and forth three times as you bend down. Stay down and rock back and forth
three times while your knees are bent. Then rock back and forth three times
on the way back up. Repeat at least three times.
I hope you have enjoyed these exercises. Other ways of clearing and
activating your chakras and improving your help include breathing exercises
and visualization.

Choosing Chakra Crystals

shared
By Stephanie Pflumm ©Copyright 2007

You should never rely completely on someone else to tell you which gemstones and crystals you need to use for this problem or that condition. The same is true for choosing stones to work with your Chakra System.

When working with any tool, it is important to remember that the true source of power is you. A hammer and nail will build a beautiful home, but not until you pick up the hammer and drive the nail. Since, it is you that drives the energy, it is important to choose tools that you are comfortable working with.


First, a brief description of what a Chakra is and why you want to keep them healthy. The Chakra system is an ancient, Eastern tradition that measures/monitors the flow of energy through a healthy body. The energy itself is visualized as a serpent coiling through seven major points/glands/organs in the body. When energy flows freely through this serpantine path, the Kundalini is awakened and your creative power is at its peak.

If this flow of energy becomes blocked anywhere along the pathway, it can result in physical and/or emotional illness.

There are a number of exercises you can do to help keep your Chakra clear and healthy. Meditations that involve concentrating your breathing through each of the seven points. Smudging, drums, chants or singing bowls can be very effective at clearing the path. Crystals are also a popular tool for healing the Chakra.

Here are some guidelines you can use for selecting a gem for each Chakra. "Traditional Color Choices" and "Traditional Crystals" are included to help give you ideas, not dictate a choice.

FIRST CHAKRA (sexual organs/base/beginnings)
Traditional Color Choices: red, black, silver, brown, clear
Gemstones that remind you of Earth, Mother and renewal are excellent choices for the base Chakra. This energy zone involves your reproductive organs, the clearing of toxins and beginnings. Crystals that you associate with fertility, or clusters with multiple terminations will also be helpful at clearing and revitalizing this Chakra.
Traditional Crystals: Red Jasper, Garnet, Hematite, Lodestone, Black Obsidian

SECOND CHAKRA (stomach/nutrition/joy)
Traditional Color Choices: orange, yellow, gold, white
Gemstones that give you courage to savor the bittersweet flavors of life are
your best choices. Look for stones that arouse your senses, or even remind you
of your favorite foods. Energy from the second Chakra aid in your body's
absorption of nutrients, so that you have the strength to take on life's
challenges.
Traditional Crystals: Carnelian, Golden Tiger's Eye, Orange Calcite, Citrine,
Spessarite Garnet

THIRD CHAKRA (gall bladder/will power/fire)
Traditional Color Choices: yellow, gold, brown, green-blue, red-gold
Crystals associated with Fire seem to have the strongest influence on the
Third Chakra. Your gemstone choices should have a motivating influence on you,
inspire your greatest desires. This energy center has the power to see you
through the toughest obstacles and illnesses. All motivation, inspiration,
determination flow from this center.
Traditional Crystals: Pyrite, Golden Topaz, Sunstone, Ruby, Starry Jasper

FOURTH CHAKRA (heart/love/self)
Traditional Color Choices: green, pink, white, lavender
You will often find that your personal power gem also has the healthiest
influence on this important energy center. The energy that flows from this
Chakra is your Love. If it is strong and unconditional, then the love you send
out will be the strongest it can be. Choose gemstones that bring you calm and
contentment, as these emotions are the healthiest for your heart.
Traditional Crystals: Green Aventurine, Pink Aventurine, Rose Quartz,
Rhodonite, Rhodocrosite

FIFTH CHAKRA (throat/breath/voice)
Traditional Color Choices: blue, green, clear
Choose gemstones that remind you of the sky, open fields, breathing freely the
fresh air of a bright new day. The energy in this area keeps you breathing in
rhythm and makes sure your voice is heard when words need to be said. Holding
them back often causes illnesses of the throat and lungs. Your throat crystal
should help you breath and speak freely.
Traditional Crystals: Blue Lace Agate, Kyanite, Aquamarine, Turquoise,
Celestite

SIXTH CHAKRA (sight/psychic/pituitary gland)
Traditional Color Choices: dark blue, black, gold, clear
Gemstones that stimulate your mind, thoughts are excellent for this energy
center. Favorite crystals that help you to meditate or communicate with guides
are probably good choices for your Third Eye as well. This energy area
stimulates physical growth and vision, but also influences your intuitive
abilities. Look for crystals that help you to feel open to new ideas and new
perspectives.
Traditional Crystals: Lapis Lazuli, Blue Sapphire, Dumortierite, Sodalite,
Iolite

SEVENTH CHAKRA (brain chemical production/intuition/highest self)
Traditional Color Choices: purple, gold, white, clear
This Chakra is your portal to God/Goddess/Universal All, and the most
important to keep healthy. Not only is this the energy source for your every
emotion, but it is your connection to the ultimate source. It will not matter
how healthy or clear the other six Chakra are, if your Crown Chakra is closed
and ill. Choose gemstones that bring you closest to your divine source, or
make you feel that you can see forever when you look into them.
Traditional Crystals: Amethyst, Citrine, Clear Quartz, Fluorite, Lepidolite

Do you know what a Chakra is?

I think it's very important to balance your chakras often, it doesn't have to take long but the time of relaxation and cleansing is good for your being. Learn more about chakras below.

Chakra Information
Sources: Natalie with additional text from Zeline Wright
http://www.mysticfamiliar.com/library/l_chakras.htm
And from about.com

The word chakra is Sanskrit and means disk, wheel, or circle and is derived from the Sanskrit root word which indicates movement. There are seven major major chakras and numerous minor chakras. The seven major chakras run from the top of the head to the base between the legs. The minor chakras are located in various positions all over the body. Each layer of the aura has its own set of seven major chakras. These chakras sit on the one below it with each chakra going to the edge of its auric dimension. Energy is transmitted from one dimension to the next dimension through the chakras. The chakras are like whirlpools which draw in energy and then process and distribute that energy.

What is a Chakra?

The word chakra is a Sanskrit word which is derived from the verb car ("to move"). There are several literal meanings of chakra:

wheel
circle
center

Besides the literal meaning there are also some esoteric meanings:

The Chakra denotes the "wheel of becoming" (bhavacakra), or "round of existence" (samsara), which is the phenomenal cosmos.

The word Chakra is used to refer to a circle of initiates in a Tantric ritual.
A Chakra is a diagram used to determine the right kind of mantra for a particular situation or student.

The word Chakra refers to the psychoenergetic vortices forming the major "organs" of the body composed of life energy (prana). These esoteric structures are also often referred to and graphically depicted as "lotuses" (padma, kamala).

"There are seven basic vibratory rates (bodies) which we use to progress from very basic energies to the very highly developed superhuman levels." Paulson, Kundalini and the Chakras, pg. 35.

Vyasa comments that during single-pointed meditation, which is fixation on a single point (desabandhascittasya dharana), that the concentration is usually on the center, or chakra, of the navel, on the lotus of the heart, on the light within the head, on the tip of the nose, on the tip of the tongue, or on any external place or object.

In the Rg-Veda and the Upanishads there is an identification of the body and the cosmos. Eliade [Ref: Eliade, Yoga, pg. 117] called these identifications micro-macrocosmic homologies. He mentions three:

the cosmic winds will be "mastered" as breaths
the cosmic skambha-pillar will be identified with the vertebral column
the "center of the world" will be found in a point (the "heart") or an axis (traversing the chakras inside the body.

Within the Bodhi Reference Model we use the terminology Body Metaphors for micro-macrocosmic homologies although we will mean, essentially, the same thing.
Consider some of the language used to describe the Chakras:

as a flower
as a whirling vortex of living energy
as a point object emitting vibratory energy
as a pulsation in the human energy field
as nerve complexes or ganglia

Chakras take in energy from the environment around you - this energy goes into your aura and your body to revitalize and energize you. Chakras spin just like wheels and are about the size of a silver dollar.

Did you ever have that "gut feeling" or just know something "off the top of your head" or "from the bottom of your heart" - well this comes from your Chakras in action.

Balanced Chakras –

They are round and the normal colors.

Congested Chakras -

They are hard to see and not well shaped.

Over-stimulated Chakras -

They are not round & energy is not well balanced the colors are not the normal colors for each chakra.

The First Chakra – Root: Muladhara
Anus, Rectum, Colon, Adrenals
Related to: Security, survival, grounding and getting to the root of the matter.
Element: Earth
Endocrine correspondence: gonads
Physical organs: reproductive organs
Musical note: Middle C
Tone: Eh
Sound: Iam
Colors: Brown, Black, Dark Red
Stones: hematite, Black Tourmaline, Bloodstone, Obsidian, Realgar, Blue Onyx, Rhodonite, Smokey Quartz, Garnet, Sunstone Red Jasper, Red Carnelian Black and red stones
Oils: Resin oils, vetiver, myrrh, patchouli.
Suggested affirmation: "The Universe looks after my needs. I trust life."

The center's presiding adept is Dviranda, and its presiding Goddess is Dakini. This center contains the radiant triangle called kama-rupa ("desire formed") within which is found the golden phallus (linga) of Shiva. This chakra is the source of the central channel (sushumna-nadi) of the life-force, and the resting place of the serpent-power (kundalini-shakti).

Regual contemplation of this chakra yields the paranormal ability to jump like a frog and, in advanced stages, to actually levitate. This is the Focus chakra for grounding and the ability to move in a loving way on the physical plane.

Function involves survival, will, self-preservation, vitality and passion. This is your anchor point and provides the instincts for survival needed in dangerous situations. The Root Chakra keeps the flow of your energy alive and moving. Without it ... life could become dull and boring.

Congested: Leads to feelings of weakness and a sense of being ungrounded.

Over-stimulated: May mean that your fears or concerns related to survival are becoming overwhelming.

When this chakra becomes unbalanced a person may be obsessed with material security or overly concerned with physical safety.

A well balanced Root Chakra indicates a focus on survival, willpower, passion or self-preservation. We can help to balance this chakra by cooking and cleaning in the home, sitting on the ground, walking barefoot and dancing.

The Second Chakra - Sacral: Svadhisthana
Pelvic cavity/area, Reproductive system, Ovaries, Prostate
Related to: Creativity, balancing between male and female, accessing deepest emotions.
Element: Water
Endocrine correspondence: spleen
Physical organs: kidneys and spleen
Musical note: D
Tone: OH (as in home)
Sound: Vam
Colors: Red, Orange
Stones: Ruby, Citrine, Wulfenite, Amber, Coral, Agate, Orange Calcite and Tigers Eye, Red and Orange Carnelian, Red Jasper, Orange Jasper. Red and orange stones
Sound: Vam
Oils: Sandalwood, Jasmine and Rose.
Suggested affirmation: "My emotions are great teachers; I listen to their lessons and respond to them in ways that are loving and respectful to all involved."

This center's presiding deities are Vishnu and the Goddess Rakini. The center is associated with the sense of taste (rasa), the hands, and fertility symbolized by the image of an aquatic monster resembling a crocodile.

This center contains an "inward-facing" phallus (linga) shining like coral. Through contemplation of this center, the yogi becomes attractive to the world, especially to the other sex. The procreation and the balance of feminine and masculine energies.

The second chakra creates a strong desire within us for unity with others. Creativity is brought to life through our emotions, which begin in this chakra. This is also the seat of a psychic ability.

You may be feeling emotions of others as if they are your own – trust in the "gut feeling" you are having about something.

Congested: Can lead to feelings of isolation, a desire to be alone. It can also cause dependency.

Over-stimulated: could cause bouts of intense emotion, an overwhelming need to get attention from others or a tendency to overindulge.

Unblocking & balancing aids to help realign the second or sacral plexus chakra - We can help to balance this chakra by dancing, laughing and having a good time with our friends.

The Third Chakra - Solar Plexus: Manipura
Abdominal area, Spleen, Navel, Digestive system
Related to: Focusing, Willpower
Element: Fire
Endocrine correspondence: Adrenals
Physical organs: stomach, liver, gall bladder, spine
Musical note: E
Tone: eee-oo-mm
Sound: Ram
Colors: Orange, Yellow
Stones: Amber, Citrine, Yellow Calcite, Yellow Jasper, Sunstone, Tiger's Eye, Peridot, Serpentine Yellow and yellow-green stones, Sulphur, Topaz, Calcite, Apatite
Oils: Juniper and Neroli
Suggested affirmation: “I claim my personal power and accept responsibility for all areas of my life.”

Positive use of energy. Assimilation of lessons learned, and Digestion of food.

The third chakra regulates body's life force energy, mental activity and self-empowerment.

When balanced, you have a natural drive to compete and excel – feeling alert, confident and energetic.

Congested: You feel emotionally suppressed, confused, and unsure how to take action or achieve your goals.

Over-stimulated: It can lead to being overly competitive and self-centered behavior. Burnout can happen if intense competitive vibration lasts for a long time.

The Fourth Chakra - Heart: Anahata
Thoracic cavity, Heart, Rib cage, Lungs, Thymus
Related to: Balance, Meditation between higher and lower chakras.
Element: Air
Endocrine correspondence: Thymus
Physical organs: heart, lungs
Musical note: F
Tone: AH
Sound: Yam
Colors: Green, Pink
Stones: Malachite, Green Aventurine, Jade, Amazonite Moldavite, Rhodonite, Pink and green stones, Rhodochrocite, Peridot, Rose Quartz, Malachite, Kunzite, Emerald, Morganite, Dioptase, Pink Tourmaline, Green Tourmaline
Oils: Rose and Bergamot
Suggested affirmation: "I am open to give and receive love, freely and effortlessly. I forgive and release the pains of my past, and I am free to love in the present."

All things dealing with emotions. Release of emotions, Healing of negative or hurtful emotions, and _expression of all emotions.

This is the chakra where you a sense of connection with all things, oneness, caring, affinity, love, self-esteem and healing. This is a place where you communicate with yourself and those you love.

Congested: indecision, self-consciousness, feeling of being out-of-balance, and a narrow focus in life - mainly on the needs of your self.

Over-stimulated: Indicates that you are more concern with other's welfare than that of yourself.

The Fifth Chakra - Throat: Vishuddha
Throat, Voice, Neck, Thyroid, Para-thyroid
Related to: communication, self-expression
Element: ether
Endocrine correspondence: Thyroid
Physical organs: throat, lungs
Musical note: G
Tone: U (as in glue)
Sound: Ham
Colors: Blue
Stones: Azurite Blue Lace Agate, Lapis Lazuli, Sodalite, Blue Sapphire, Iolite, Blue Topaz, Blue, blue-green and blue-purple stones, Turquoise, Amazonite, Gem Silica, Celestite, Aquamarine, Chrysocholla
Oils: German Chamomile, Myrrh
Suggested affirmation: "I express my deepest truth gracefully, respectfully, and confidently."

Verbal communication, Verbal expression.

The deity for this center is the Goddess Shakini.

The Shiva Samhita states that by contemplating this chakra, one acquires an instant comprehension of the Vedas and all their mysteries.

This chakra governs the ability to express ideas through communication - either through talking, music or art. When balanced you are efficient in communicating your thoughts and ideas.

Congested: trouble in communicating and creating with intelligence and practicality.

Over-stimulated: Worry, fear or paranoia may be present. You may begin to experience emotions as if they are your own, not realizing that you are just "tuning" into other's mental communications. It could also cause bouts of intense emotion, an overwhelming need to get attention from others or a tendency to overindulge.

We can help to balance this chakra by listening to good music, singing, chanting, going for walks, looking at the sky, watching our breath and meditating outside. Bringing balance to this chakra unlocks the energy flow to the other Chakras.

The Sixth Chakra - Third Eye/Psychic Center: Ajna
Third eye, Higher brain centers, Pituitary
Related to: Seeing clearly, Intuition
Element: Light
Endocrine correspondence: Pituitary gland
Physical organs: hypothalamus, autonomic nervous system
Musical note: A
Tone: OM
Sound: Aum
Colors: Indigo, Violet, Purple
Stones: Azurite Lepidolite, Iolite, Selenite, Moonstone, Clear, white, purple stones, Sodalite, Flourite, Azurite, Sugelite, Lapis Lazuli, Amethyst, Sapphire
Oils: Rosemary, Lavender
Suggested affirmation: "I always receive and perceive the guidance I need."

Balanced state of mind, clearing the subconscious. Clearity of the psychic energy.

The presiding dieties of the ajna-chakra are Parama-Shiva and the Goddess Hakini.

This is the Third-eye chakra and is located in the middle of the head at the level of the eyebrows. The name "third eye" is derived from the Guru Yogas and was the receiver of the telepathic communications which the chela received. Hence, the ajna-chakra is also called the guru-chakra. But a guru is also a word meaning dispeller of light, so that an alternate derivation might have been from the darkness-destroying aspects of the ajna-chakra.

This chakra deals with clairvoyance, intuition, and spiritual insight, connecting ideas or developing a "picture" of something. When this chakra is balanced - you are clearly expressing your imagination & desires. You have the ability to be intuitive or are experience some vision or insights.

Congested: You maybe lacking imagination and the ability to express your ideas.

Over-stimulated: Too high a level of idealism, active imagination and constant expression of your ideas and thoughts.

We can help to balance this chakra by laying flat and placing a crystal over the third eye. Visualizing an indigo light or flame whilst meditating can also help rebalance this chakra.

The Seventh Chakra – Crown: Sahasrata
Crown, Highest brain centers, Pineal
Related to: Opening where the soul enters and leaves, understanding
Element: Thought
Endocrine correspondence: Pineal gland
Physical organs: upper brain, right eye
Musical note: B
Tone: EEE
Sound: Higher octave of Aum
Colors: Violet, White, Rainbow, Gold
Stones: Amethyst, Oregon Opal, White Howlite, White Marble, Moonstone, Clear, white and purple stones, Heloidor, Clear Quartz, Gold, Topaz, Diamond, Selenite
Oils: Frankincense, Rosewood
Suggested affirmation: "I acknowledge and rejoice in my spirituality."

Connection with Deity, Connection with the infinite, Connection with the Universe.

This is the topmost center chakra. It is two to three inches over the top of the head. It is also called the thousand-spoked wheel, the thousand-petaled lotus (sahasra-dala-padma), the great seat (maha-pitha), or ether wheel (akasha-cakra).

This Chakra is above your head where you connect with knowledge and enlightenment on a higher plane of consciousness. When chakra is balanced you are experiencing a divine will for spiritual truth and certainty. This is the time for communication with other spirits for healing or teaching.

Congested: You are feeling confused, depressed or have uncertainty about things in your life.

Over-stimulated: Shows your need for power or control and you may be disconnecting with reality.

10 Commandments of Crochet

 by Cindy Long

It's a difficult balancing act to survive the day-to-day routine without raising the ire of a crocheting family
member. So, here are the definitive "10 Commandments" of living with a crocheter:
1. Thou shalt not call it "knitting". Nothing will raise the hackles of a die hard crocheter faster than mistaking
this craft for the k-word.
2. Thou shalt always look before sitting down. Errant hooks can find their way quite easily among sofa cushions, and
thus into tender body parts, regardless of how "well padded" they may be.
3. The Yarn Stash is sacred above all. Thou shalt never touch, move, organize, spindle or mutilate in any way. THIS
MEANS YOU!
4. Yes, I do need all those pattern books.
5. There really is a difference between a work-in-progress and an abandoned project, although it may have been just
as long since either one of them has been touched.
6. Thou shalt never interrupt my crocheting to have me watch the greatest play the team ever made. No, it isn't
special; it's just like every other sports event on TV.
7. Do not remind me that there are more important things in life than crochet. I already know that. Right now, I
can't really think what they are, but I know there must be something.
8. Never ask how much I spent on yarn, hooks or patterns. This will only force me to lie to you. Then I will feel
guilty for lying, and of course, I can only allay my guilt by buying more yarn.
9. Never refer to my crocheted gifts to you as "homemade". Instead, they are "lovingly crafted" ... or better yet,
"custom-styled".
10. Saturday morning is my time to devote strictly to crochet. Please honor it with no distractions ...and Friday
night as well ...and probably Wednesday afternoon. And anytime I need to make a birthday gift. But that's it. Except
for, of course, if I need to make a baby layette, or ...

THE STRANGE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

The English Plural
according to...George Carlin

We'll begin with a box, and the plural is boxes,
But the plural of ox becomes oxen, not oxes;
One fowl is a goose, but two are called geese,
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese;
You may find a lone mouse or a nest full of mice,
Yet the plural of house is houses, not hice.

If the plural of man is always called men,
Why shouldn't the plural of pan be called pen ?
If I speak of my foot and show you my feet,
And I give you a boot, would a pair be called beet ?
If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth ?

Then one may be that, & three would be those,
Yet hat in the plural would never be hose;
And the plural of cat is cats, not cose.
We speak of a brother & also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren.
Then the masculine pronouns are he, his & him,
But imagine the feminine: she, shis & shim !

Let's face it - English is a crazy language.
There is no egg in eggplant nor ham in hamburger;
Neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins weren't invented in England .

We take English for granted,
but if we explore its paradoxes,
We find that quicksand can work slowly,
boxing rings are square;
A guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.
Why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing,
Grocers don't groce & hammers don't ham ?

Doesn't it seem crazy that ...
you can make amends but not one amend ?
If you have a bunch of odds and ends ...
and get rid of all but one of them,
What do you call it ?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught ?
If a vegetarian eats vegetables,
what does a humanitarian eat ?

Sometimes I think all people who speak English
Should be in an asylum for the verbally insane.
In what other language do people recite at a play,
and play at a recital ?

We ship by truck but send cargo by ship ...
We have noses that run & feet that smell;
We park in a driveway & drive in a parkway.
And how can a slim chance & a fat chance be the same,
while a wise man & a wise guy are opposites ?

You have to marvel at the unique lunacy of a language
in which your house can burn up as it burns down;
In which you fill in a form by filling it out,
& in which an alarm goes off by going on.

And in closing ....

If Father is Pop ....
how come Mother's not Mop ? 

Late Night Digging

I love to go out and say good night to the garden, and sometimes I do dig at night, its so peaceful and yes I guess I may just keep the neighbors guessing LOL
Oh well they should mind their own business just like I do, Do what they wishes just don't mess with my dishes.

Life Began in the garden.

Life Began in the garden.

Think about it, life really did begin in the garden, did your mom ever tell you babies came from the cabbage patch? Well actually mine didn't lead me to believe that to be the simple truth, but she did mention it.
I know it's extemely hot in many areas around the country right now, including where I live. I pop outside and can't breath sometimes then I force myself to go out to give my flowers and herbs a good soaking and once I'm out there among the beauties of nature I feel much better. It's the best thing I've ever found for what ales you. Try it.