Natural Healing Energies

Everyone is affected by colours, often more than they realise.  Colour is intimately tied to all aspects of our life, especially to its visual aspects.  It permeates our language, our culture and our health.  We use colours to describe our physical well-being, our emotions, our attitudes, and our spiritual experiences.

There are some colours we like more than others and there are some we do not like at all.  Instinctively we are drawn to the colours that we most need at any particular time.  Colour can be used to alter our physical, emotional, mental and spiritual conditions.

If you don't know the colours that suit you best, the following tables may help. They show the links between colours and our chakras, as well as our monthly birthstones.  You can use these as a guide, but remember, they are just a guide.  Always go with the colours you feel most comfortable with, as they will generally be the ones you need at the time.

The spiritual qualities of colour are closely linked to the seven major chakras.

Chakra Colours

Base chakra - 1st chakra - red and black
Sacral chakra - 2nd chakra - orange
Solar Plexus chakra - 3rd chakra - yellow
Heart chakra - 4th chakra - green and pink
Throat chakra - 5th chakra - blue
Third Eye chakra - 6th chakra - indigo
Crown chakra - 7th chakra - violet and white

Each month of our birth is also linked to a birthstone colour.

Monthly Birthstone Colours

January - deep red
February - purple
March - pale blue
April - white
May - green
June - white or purple
July - red
August - pale green
September - deep blue
October - pink
November - yellow
December - blue

Here you will find the properties of each colour listed above.

RED

Related chakra:  base chakra - 1st chakra
Keynote:  Strengthening of the life force, will and sexuality; stimulating.
Red builds vitality on the physical level.  Circulatory system, sexuality. Stimulating to the energy levels of the metabolism, lower extremities, most blood conditions.  Awakens our physical life force.  Used for colds, poor circulation, anemia and mucus ailments.  Stimulates deeper passions-sex, love, courage, hatred, or even revenge.  It gives courage and perseverance.  Red strengthens the will.

BLACK

Related chakra:  base chakra - 1st chakra
Keynote:  Protection, grounding, strengthening
Black is protective, grounding and calming.  It activates and strengthens the magnetic, or feminine energies in the body.  Activates the subconscious mind, putting life, and all that goes with it, back into perspective.  Black should rarely be used by itself, but always in combination with another colour.  It is most effective when used in conjunction with white.

ORANGE

Related chakra:  sacral chakra - 2nd chakra
Keynote:  Activation, construction, optimism, energy reserves
Muscular system, eliminative system, emotional aggravation and causes of physical problems.
Orange is the colour of joy, wisdom and creativity.  Physically, it energises the body.  It stimulates feelings of socialness.  On emotional and mental levels, it stimulates optimism and hope.  It is tied to the muscular system of the body.  Assists in healing conditions of the spleen, pancreas, stomach, intestines, adrenals, food assimilation and depression.  Its expansive quality encourages the broadening of experience.  Most shades of orange, including peach can be used to revitalise the physical body.  Peach can strengthen the aura.

YELLOW

Related chakra:  solar plexus chakra - 3rd chakra
Keynote:  Mental activity, intellectual power and ability, awakening.
Digestive system, gastro-intestinal tract, adrenal activity, left hemisphere brain activity.
Yellow is stimulating to our mental faculties, bringing mental clarity.  Excellent for depression, as its sunny qualities include joy, optimism and confidence, awakening an enthusiasm for life.  Effective in the treatment of digestive problems.  Beneficial to the stomach, intestines and the bladder, as well as the entire eliminative system.  Helps to balance the gastrointestinal tract.  Golden-yellow shades are healthful to both body and mind.  It can facilitate ones learning capabilities.

GREEN

Related chakra:  heart chakra - 4th chakra
Keynote:  Balance, growth, calming.
Circulatory system, sympathetic nervous system, conditions aggravated by emotions.
Green soothes and balances our energies.  It helps to encourage our compassion, sensitivity and self-acceptance.  Has a calming effect, especially in inflamed conditions of the body.  Soothing to the nervous system.  Awakens greater friendliness, hope, faith and peace.  It is restful and revitalising to overtaxed mental conditions.  Associated with gratitude and material expansion.  Spiritually, it encourages trust in the process of growth.

PINK
Related chakra:  heart chakra - 4th chakra
Keynote:  Soothing.
Skin conditions and inflammations, immune system.
On all levels, pink is a soothing colour.  Mentally, it can soothe conditions of anger and feelings of neglect.  Awakens qualities of delight, compassion, playfulness, love, purity and self-acceptance.  Comforting to our emotional energies.  Stimulates the thymus gland and eases stresses on the immune system.  Pink is most effective in treating skin problems and conditions, especially combined with aqua.

BLUE
Related chakra:  throat chakra - 5th chakra
Keynote:  Peace, faith, aspiration, creative expression.
Respiratory system, eyes, ears, nose, throat, venous conditions.
Blue is cooling, calming and relaxing to the body's system.  It quietens our energies and has an antiseptic effect.  Strengthens and balances the respiratory system.  Excellent for high blood pressure and all conditions of the throat.  Eases diseases such as asthma, chicken pox, jaundice and rheumatism.  Gives qualities of idealism, devotion and understanding.  Adds perspective to your experiences.  Awakens intuition and eases loneliness.

INDIGO
Related chakra:  third eye chakra - 6th chakra
Keynote:  Integration, purification, altered states of consciousness.
Endocrine system, reproductive system, infection, most conditions of the head and face.
Indigo is a dynamic healing colour on both physical and spiritual levels.  It strengthens the lymph system, the glands and the immune system.  An excellent blood purifier, it also assists in detoxifying the body.  It is balancing to the hemisphere of the brain and all nerve synapses between them.  Indigo effectively treats all conditions of the face (including the eyes, ears, nose, mouth and sinuses).  It has a sedative effect and, when used in meditation, can assist in achieving deeper levels of consciousness.  Gives an expanded understanding, awakening devotion and intuition.  Aids in problems in the lungs.

VIOLET
Related chakra:  crown chakra - 7th chakra
Keynote:  Purification, transmutation, practical spirituality
Skeletal system, nervous system, some venous conditions, cancerous/tumorous conditions.
Violet is purifying on both physical and spiritual levels.  It is very antiseptic.  It balances physical and spiritual energies.  It is effective in cancerous conditions of the body.  Helps the body to assimilate nutrients and minerals.  Violet stimulates qualities of truth, devotion, responsibility, inspiration and humility.  It also stimulates dream activity.

WHITE
Related chakra:  crown chakra - 7th chakra
Keynote:  Purification, purity, amplification
White is strengthening.  It is cleansing and purifying to the entire energy system.  Awakens greater creativity.  Stabilises the energy system and gives it an overall boost.  White amplifies the effects of any other colour used with it.

PURPLE
Related chakra:  third eye chakra - 6th chakra
Keynote:  Intense purification.
Detoxifying the body.
Purple is effective when strong detoxifying of the body is needed.  Its high vibration gives it the ability to purify the body.  It can stimulate venous activity and is beneficial for headaches.  The red-purple range balances the polarities of the body.  The blue-purple range helps to shrink (such as tumors) and to cool, easing inflammations.

Recently, I discovered a healing form called, "Nia". Wow, what an incredible find! Nia is an holistic art form, incorporating dance, martial arts and healing - all in one! It is uplifting, healing and empowering.

I feel so inspired and energised by these classes, that I can honestly say, "I feel reborn!"

Nia blends nine movement forms - three healing arts, three martial arts and three dance arts. They are:

Healing - Yoga, Alexander Technique and Feldenkreis
Martial Arts - Tai Chi, Tae Kwon Do and Aikido
Dance - Jazz, Modern and Duncan Dance

Here is what Terre Pruitt has to say:

"Nia is the great cardio work out that enables you to get a great workout yet have fun at the same time. It has body-mind-spirit element that is quite unique to a cardio workout. In 1981, Debbie Rosas and Carlos Rosas decided that their regular workouts of aerobics were lacking so they went looking for something else. They did a lot of research and went down many paths and their combination of different forms of movement led them to the creation of Nia.

Nia is different in a lot of ways, but I think the first thing that people see as being different is it is done in bare feet. Then they might notice the body-mind-spirit aspect. I believe this is first witnessed in our first two cycles of a workout. We set a focus and intent, and then we step in.

So your focus defines what you want to concentrate on and your intent explains why. For an example you might choose to focus on your hands and the intent would be because they are sore from gardening and you want to give them extra attention. Then you step in, leaving all judgment and distraction behind and at this point you activate your body's sensory awareness.

Then while you are moving through the movements lead by the teacher you allowing your body to sense what it needs. It will bend as low as it needs to, it will stretch and reach as far as it can, it will be as intense as it wants. You can trust it to give you what you need. And, going back to the example focus above: giving the additional attention to your hands will allow them to feel the energy and heal in their own way.

So by going to the body to allow it to workout in its own way, but leaving all judgment and distraction behind we can focus our mind on the body's sensation. This in two ways has to do with the "spirit", we enable our own unique individual movements to unfold and that in itself is very freeing and uplifting for a spirit. When our bodies get the workout it needs our body-mind-spirit feel great.

I think if you have not tried Nia you would be pleasantly surprised. I would like to invite you to go to the main website and see if there is a class near you: http://www.nianow.com."

Terre is a certified Nia white belt & licensed Nia teacher. Her website is Help You Well.

For many years people have commented on my hot hands. I was often called upon to put my hands on someone when they hurt - either physically or mentally. People used to say, "Caryl's got healing hands, you'll feel better soon". This was when I didn't even really understand what healing hands were - and I don't think many others did either. They just felt that whenever I was around for them, they felt better.

When living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia I came across Reiki and was intrigued. A form of natural healing which involves hands-on-healing. Wow - isn't that what I do! Well, I learnt the art of Reiki which helped to awaken my natural abilities and haven't looked back. I became a Master of Reiki in 2004 and have been using Reiki, along with other healing techniques ever since.

What Is Reiki?

Reiki is the ancient, gentle but powerful vibrational energy technique of hand-on-healing. It is a safe, non-invasive form of healing that increases energy, reduces pain, and produces deep relaxation and a general feeling of well-being. It is a specific energy that helps our own healing systems to work to their full potential. It aids in restoring the natural balance in the body by balancing our energy systems. It helps us maintain balance in our own health and life. Reiki is a holistic therapy that harmonises body, mind and spirit.

Reiki is a Japanese word meaning "Universal Life Force Energy". "Rei" means "universal" in the sense of spiritual consciousness; "Ki" is the same word as Chi or Qi, the Chinese word (or Prana in Sanskrit and Mana in Hawaiian), meaning the life force energy found in all living things. When our life force energy is low, we can more easily become sick, hurt or depressed. Ki is also the energy of thoughts, emotions and our spirit.

Reiki complements other healing methods and spiritual practices. It is not tied into any religion, cult or belief system. It works independently of whatever your own beliefs or preferences are.

How Does Reiki Work?

When we think of healing, we usually assume this means the ridding of symptoms and illness. However, healing should be considered on all levels (mind, emotions, body, spirit) because a lack of harmony on any level or discord between levels will cause imbalance, and eventually illness and symptoms somewhere in the whole. When dealing with symptoms it is worth remembering that many physical ailments are only manifestations of long-term imbalances within the total person, and that the ailment is a final cry for help. A person needs to be viewed in completeness, consisting of the various parts, not the parts in isolation. If it is only the symptom that is removed, the cause will only send up another cry for help, possibly moving the symptom to another location, or refusing to respond to treatment.

Our life force energy flows all through us, around all our organs and through special pathways - the chakras and meridians. It also surrounds us in an energy field called the aura. The life force is "feeding" our cells and organs. If it isn't free flowing, or if there isn't much of it, the organs and cells do not function well and we can feel ill or depressed. Reiki flows to the parts of our life force energy field where the Ki flow is weak and congested / negative and charges that area with positive energy - breaking up the congested / negative energy and thus healing the energy pathways and letting the Ki flow properly again. Thus follows a return to health.

Some conditions may be healed very quickly but others may take several treatments. It all depends on how deep-seated the condition is.

In addition to treating people, Reiki can also be applied to food, gifts, gemstones and many other items. Using it this way enhances the goodness of the food, the love or meaning behind the gift, as well as the power of the gemstone energy!

Reiki energy harmonises extremely well with all other methods of healing.

I am available for Reiki hands-on and distant healing. Please contact me or see Reiki Distant Healing Treatments at the Charms Of Light website for more information.

I first came across Tai Chi many years ago when living upstate New York. At first I was going to start a class with a friend but she changed her mind at the last minute and I decided to go anyway - how glad I am that I did! The Tai Chi style that I learned at this time was the Yang style. Recently, I started learning Sun style Tai Chi.

For more information on Tai Chi, take a look at the following website!

Tai Chi is an art form that embraces mind, body and spirit!

There are five major styles of Tai Chi (which is also known as "Tai Chi Chuan"), each named after the Chinese family from which it originated. Each style has its own features, although most styles share the same essential principles.

The Chen style was founded by Chen Wangting, 1580-1660
The Yang style was founded by Yang Lu-ch'an, 1799-1872
The Wu or Wu/Hao style was founded by Wu Yuxiang, 1812-1880
The Wu style was founded by Wu Quan-you, 1834-1902
The Sun style was founded by Sun Lu-t'ang, 1861-1932

Originating in ancient China, Tai Chi is one of the most effective exercises for health of mind and body. Although an art with great depth of knowledge and skill, it is easy to learn and soon delivers its health benefits. For many, it continues as a lifetime journey.

Almost anyone can learn Tai Chi. It can be practiced almost anywhere. The movements are slow and gentle, and the degree of exertion can be easily adjusted, making it suitable for people of all levels of ability.

The essential principles include mind integrated with the body; fluidity of movement; control of breathing; and mental concentration. The central focus is to enable the qi or life force to flow smoothly and powerfully throughout the body. Total harmony of the inner and outer self comes from the integration of mind and body, achieved through the ongoing practice of Tai Chi.

Just What is Tai Chi?

There is much more to Tai Chi than one can see, and virtually no one can describe such a complex art in one simple sentence. Yes, it's aesthetically pleasing and most people practicing Tai Chi enjoy themselves. Certainly it's a most effective martial art. It can also take credit as a meditation for tranquility, of fostering the Taoist spirit of living in harmony with nature (not in the religious sense of spirit), of contributing to the preservation of a youthful mind and body.

As you look over the list of Tai Chi's attributes, you'll realise they fall under one heading - even under one word: Health. The practice of Tai Chi offers immense health benefits, strengthening body and mind.

How does an ancient martial art attribute to health? An effective martial artist will need good concentration, clarity of mind, balanced mental state (you make better judgment), fitness, agility, good control of body balance. All these are the same requirements for better health. The unique feature of Tai Chi is that it is internal. Internal means building the inner strength from inside of the body. Placing emphasis on cultivating Qi, the life force; mental strength and tranquility of the mind. Combining both internal and external training, Tai Chi becomes a powerfully holistic approach to better health.

Tai Chi is designed to use the mind to drive the Qi, using the Qi to deliver power for martial art purpose. This training improves mental strength and health through the mind, body and Qi connection.

Scientific studies have shown Tai Chi works to improve muscular strength, flexibility and fitness. Muscle strength is important for supporting and protecting joints and is essential for normal physical function. Flexibility exercises enable people to move easier, and facilitate circulation of body fluid and blood, which enhance healing. Fitness is important for overall functioning of the heart, lungs, and muscles. In addition to these components, Tai Chi movements emphasise the importance of weight transference, which helps balance and prevents falls.

Aside from the health benefits, Tai Chi runs deep and strong because of its own depth and strength. It's easy to learn and becomes a way of life for many practitioners. Yet, because of its depth, no one ever knows it all, and thereby lies the fascination and the never-ending challenge of the art.

There will be times, no matter how brief, when a practitioner will enter a mental stage of tranquility, moving to a different world, time, and space, a world where there is no schedule, no hustle and bustle. Yet the person still feels very much a part of the world. In a non-religious sense, it's a spiritual experience. Such an experience is so satisfying that it is beyond words. Being part of the world, being in harmony with the world and nature, thus is the paradox of Tai Chi, health and beyond.

Chakra healing
Qigong
...... and more