THE MAGAZINE
ALTERNATE HEALING
M11
India Abroad May 13, 2011
Glorious
Green
Yoga
In yoga, the color green is a smoky one.
It is reserved and placed at one of the
higher chakras, the heart center
(Anahata chakra). Here, a person is said
to be poised between his or her two selves
– the animalistic and divine. When the
heart center is purified, the energy is said
to move up towards sublimating one. It is
associated with the un-struck sound or
Om.
When meditated upon, with the focus
centered on the color green, on right side
of the chest (the spiritual heart, also
called anandakanda, is said to be there,
as opposed to the left side in biology), one
is said to hear the Om sound which
becomes subtle and is referred to as
anahata nada (the music of the heart
chakra). Meditation is also advised on
the yantra of this center: a grey-green
hexagram which contains the 12 red
petals, with the six-pointed star suggesting the balance between the upward-downward flowing energies of the individual. Imbalance in this center could
cause problems with circulation, heart
and lungs.
It is also associated with the thymus
gland (involved with immunity) and is
regarded as closely-linked to psychosomatic problems caused from childhood
issues. When the heart chakra is blocked
one is said to suffer from hesitancy, low
self-esteem, extreme and dangerous possessiveness, sense of aloofness and lack of
compassion. This indicates a lack of self-love as well as lack of love for others. The
color green is only used when the chakra
is under-active, to remove blockages.
Feng shui
In Feng Shui green — whose number
is three — is associated with newness:
spring, the rising sun, youthfulness. Its
symbol dragon and wood brings in the
element of strength, power and growth.
So green also is used to cultivate these
qualities, as well as harmony and prosperity.
The color of health
is green says
Shameem Akthar
Green has been widely acknowledged, even soci- ologically, as a soothing, binding color. Several national flags sport it proudly. The color is uni- versally acknowledged as a go-ahead or posi- tive signal — whether it be for traffic or in contests or on electrical appliances!
In mystical sciences it is associated with prosperity.
Hospital staff wear it to subtly exude the double message
of peace and healing. Hotels use it to promote hospitality,
serenity, harmony and companionship. The color green
seems to stand for several affirmative and positive qualities,
and no wonder it is used widely in healing therapies.
Color therapy
In color therapy, which uses a combination of chakra
therapy with other alternative therapies, the color green
represents harmony. It is used to treat diseases and
physical problems such as weakening sight, nervous disorders, headaches, hoarseness, loss of hearing, spinal
problems, sinusitis, uro-genital ailments, all inflammatory conditions, and all problems of the gut.
Color therapy could involve using items around the
house on your desktop with this dominant color. It could
involve using water placed in glass bottles of these colors. Light passing through colored transparent/translu-cent paper, for a specified prescribed period of time, is
also regarded as healing. Another, though more difficult
method, involves meditation using these colors in visualization.
The color green is said to purify and detoxify. It is said
to release repressed emotions and soothe away anxiety-related psychosomatic disorders.
Crystal therapy
In crystal therapy green gems and crystals have a special
place. It also uses the yoga and chakra therapy principles of
healing issues related to the heart with green stones. But
because the heart center is already a higher chakra, most green
gems also have immense spiritual significance.
The extra-terrestrial moldavite (formed by meteorite impact;
which may become rare due to its limited supply) is said to
open up higher intuition in oneself. Green stones also have
physical healing properties, like the ubiquitous fluorite which
is said to detoxify and heal one of common infections. It is also
used to soothe away gut problems. The soft chrysoberyl works
on both the spiritual and human in us, by boosting self-esteem
and removing the stresses of an adrenaline overdrive. The
blue-green amazonite is said to improve communication skills
and strengthen bone. The red-flecked bloodstone is used to
treat uro-genital disorders. The sharp green of chrysoprase is
said to treat heart problems and fertility issues. The prosperity
stone emerald also works on the mind, while strengthening the
spine and muscles and is soothing for the eyes.
Ayurveda
In ayurveda the green color is used to tame both vata dosha
(personality with the spacy air element) and pitta dosha (
personality with the fiery fire element). When these elements are
out-of-kilter in the body, ayurveda uses several spices, recipes,
and life-style changes to bring them back in a state of balance.
For the vata element meditating on soothing images of green
forests or sloping grass fields can reduce anxiety, hyperactivity
and restlessness. For pitta dosha, meditating on green-blue
expanses of water or sky can soothe burn-out, exhaustion,
anger and conflict.
Aromatherapy
In aromatherapy too the heart, as in yoga, is associated with the
air element. So, fragrances which have refreshing, uplifting qualities are used as incense, aroma baths, massage oils, steams, infusions, and in diffusers. They provide an expansion of the self, fight
the downward drag of depression, uplift and soothe, and are even
said to provide clairvoyance because the air element is associated
with intuition. Essentials oils from these sources are said to soothe
the air element, and enhance the quality of green associated with
balance and harmony within us. Some great green oils – sourced
from leaves (as against some other which are resin based, or from
barks and flowers) are bay leaves, sage, pine and tulsi.
Catch Shameem's yoga tips on http://jaisivananda.blogspot.com
