Advertisement
Published: December 20th 2011
Edit Blog Post
Our bodies are known to have 7 total Chakras. The location of these energy pools start in the pelvis moving up the core of the body, through the throat and ending with the final and most powerful Chakra calling the crown of our head, home.
As most of you know, I am neither a full-blown hippie nor a strongly religious guru. I don’t preach vegan, however, I refuse to eat veal. I try to reuse plastic bags on occasion, recycle when it’s convenient and like the idea of energy saving light bulbs. I’m irritated at the sight of Styrofoam and oversized SUV’s but when I’m home alone I find comfort in keeping every light that exists on, this of course ensuring a high level of security. I believe in a “higher” power but play more in the realm of the universe rather than identifying myself with a specific belief system. I believe in moral living and respect publications that depict those very lessons, nonetheless I have read the Bhagvad Gita more times than I have ever even seen a Bible. I am open to all paths, as I truly believe the journey is our individualistic evolution and the destination is
where we will find our commonality.
When I venture into a new yoga class or a weekend based seminar I try to carry with me a sense of openness. Each teacher or theory widens our knowledge base and therefore allows for my practice to develop both physically and mentally. However, when it comes to chanting, meditating and other such things in the spiritual form my openness teeters on being somewhat closed ended. In recent years I have become more and more comfortable with chanting in a class and speaking about my spirituality having known in advance, my audience are liberal hippies. As I walked into the seminar on “Chakras, the body’s source of energy and enlightenment” – I was somewhat apprehensive about the next 4 hours.
I won’t bore you with my note taking, mostly because it consisted of scribbles, stick figures and to do lists but that’s beside the point. This blog is about something bigger. Here is what I did find interesting. The Chakras are triggered by vibration. Although the chanting or humming in class tends to embody a spiritual significance it is also used to stimulate a core pulsation in the body. It has been
said that if the vibration is strong enough it has the ability to spark one or many of the chakras resulting in a release of energy, a higher level of enlightenment or simply a better flow of vitality throughout your body.
This vibration subsequently triggering a chakra would be strong enough for you to feel a shift in your being. My mind began to travel – I envisioned the ashrams or spiritual houses that people flock to, the herds of kneeling worshippers chanting together on the floor and the actual energy that radiates throughout the atmosphere. I can’t confirm my Chakras to be real but I can relate to feeling an energy stronger than which we are and bigger than what we know and I am immediately transported back to a night in Tahiti.
A crewmember onboard our boat was saying his farewell. On the eve of his departure we were invited to the local Heiva. Not fully aware of the significance of such event, but as born adventurers we excitedly accepted. On arrival to the grounds you could already feel the exhilaration that was rising from the locals. Our crew of 9 were seated on the lawn
just left of center stage. A buffet of native delicacies thrived behind us. As the waiter brought us Tahitian rum and local wine we each ventured to the smells that were making our mouths water. Piling our plates with dishes such as Poisson Cru, breadfruit and a true pork roast; we were fully content to start the festivities. We were feeling the sweetness of home in the far away place that we sat.
A few hundred people were seated in the audience. Most of which were locals. You could tell this night was one to note by the efforts put forth and the show of local support. Tahiti’s economy has struggled with the sways of tourism over the years and this event was by the Polynesians, for the Polynesians. It being apparent, this was not for the avid tourist but an indigenous ritual that brought the French Polynesian islands together, uniting in means to celebrate life.
Every year each island puts together song and dance; decorated with their individual spice and costume to compete and perform in the annual Heiva. This event has become a symbol of the culture and an iconic event for the Polynesians who are
proud of their heritage. Instead of Friday nights filled with play station or TV, these people come together as a community and practice their art. It truly brings family together and honors their historical importance.
Grass skirts, shell jewelry, leafy headdresses and Polynesian body art make up the costume and each one hand made. A real tribute to the weight this event holds. The Heiva we were privy to was the final of the season, the “super bowl” comprised of the best and brought together to perform for all.
In silence and darkness we sat, the moon shining bright above us, the ocean breeze hitting our skin and then…. a soulful, tribal hum begins. As the fires are lit, the 100 or so performers come onto the stage singing in their ancestral tongue. The drums beat hard and the flute pitches high; within the first few seconds our eyes, ears and hearts are glued to the vision in front of us. The performers were from a few small islands surrounding Tahiti. Their ages scattered from 5 to 60, both woman and men but the differences were melded together in their choreographed dance. It was a mixture of drama and opera – a story was being told both through their voices and their movements. A story we all wanted to hear.
As the fire dancers gracefully threw their sticks ablaze into the air the layers of their story unfolded. The men would come to the stage and compete in stone lifting, the woman in coconut breaking. The woman would do a sort of Tahitian belly dancing that was erotic yet sensual and fitting. The men would tell a story of war and protection. The children then outlined the evolution with dabbling in all of the above. A direct witness to how the stories made their way from past to present. All the while, the humming, chanting and signing never ended. It flowed through the entire show weaning and wading to the strum of the drum, flute and ukulele. The combination of voice with instrument and the power of its vibration took a hold of your soul. You could actually feel it penetrate your chest. The energy held strong and you knew then, that something was greater than this.
The message so dramatic, the vibrations so solid we literally became lighter. A shift in our being transformed by the powerful energy that was hitting us at the core. Although my experience divides by an ocean, feels miles away; it can be compared to moments here at home. Being a part of a choir, watching an orchestra play, witnessing voice and instrument either solely or combined begin to wrap a room, alter your emotion or physically pulsate through your body is one in the same. It’s these very moments that elicit a sensation, trigger a vibration within and without explanation we just feel different.
This is my direct correlation or sense of understanding the Chakras. We, as people may not always agree on the name, or the defining theory behind beliefs but we can relate to sensations. As humans, putting aside the differences we may create; our bodies feel and need for the same. No matter your background, color or shape; had you been next to me during the Heiva, you would have felt exactly what I felt.
Needless to say, I now chant, Om and hum whenever prompted to. For, I understand the greater purpose that lies beneath. You’d have to agree with me, no matter the source; any form of vibration never ceases to please 😉
Advertisement
Tot: 0.074s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 10; qc: 48; dbt: 0.042s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Danielle
non-member comment
Thanks for sharing.