On Januray 8, 2012 Mark Gerardi will appear at Leapin’ Lizards, 123 Main Street, in Freeport Maine, to offer a class on how to “Tune your Crystal Skull for Manifestation” from 2:00PM to 4:00PM. The workshop will consist of instruction in tuning your own Crystal Skull, activating and charging your Crystal Skull, scrying reflections, and using light, color, sound, and water immersion. He will also discuss the Legend of the 13 Crystal Skulls, and lead a powerful Crystal Skull Halo Meditation.
Mark has been working with the energy of Crystal skulls for a number of years. At the Legend of the 13 Crystal Skulls gathering on 10.10.10 in New York City his own skulls were charged in the presence of an amazing group of powerful ancient skulls including; Sha Na Ra, Synergy, Pancho, Amar, Madre, Zar, Rainbow and Einstein.
The cost for this amazing two-hour event is only $40.00 and you may register in advance online at http://www.LeapinLizards.biz or by calling them at (207) 865-0900.
Good, Good, Good, Good Vibrations…“Sound” Advice on Healing.
“A person does not hear sound only through the ears; he hears sound through every pore of his body.” ~ Hazrat Inayat Khan, Mysticism of Sound
“To enter into the initiation of sound, of vibration and mindfulness, is to take a giant step toward consciously knowing the soul. But we need the courage to enter into ourselves with the great respect and mystery that combines the faith of a child, the abandon of a mystic, and the true wisdom of an old shaman.” ~ Don G. Campbell, The Roar of Silence
Sound Healing
Sound Healing is in essence vibrational energy therapy. Music or sound is received not just with the ears but is also felt by every cell of the entire body. This vibrational energy can affect the nervous system and either speed things up or slow things down, thereby producing either an energizing or a calming effect. Think of the various movements of a symphony that may be calm and soothing, ethereal, chaotic or slowly build in intensity like a storm until it reaches a crashing crescendo. We have all experienced certain songs or tones that get us all-revved-up and others that make us feel mellow. For healing typically it is the calming effects that we are seeking as a relief from stress.
Nature’s Music
Music in any form can heal. Think of its natural occurrence, the rustle and whisper of wind blowing through the leaves of a tree, the trickle of running water in a stream, the rhythmic swish and pulse of waves at the beach. The song of a bird, the crack of lightning the roar of thunder, the purr of a contented cat or the song of whales and chirp of dolphins. These soothing nature sounds are what people have recorded for meditation CDs. This is just one of the ways that Nature heals us.
How does it work?
Sound therapy can alter consciousness from the normal waking-state brain wave frequency called Beta, to the deeper Alpha and Theta brain wave frequencies. These frequencies induce deep meditative, peaceful states, clarity of mind, a sense of well-being and better health.
What instruments?
Nearly every shamanic tradition has utilized sound as a part of their healing modality. Here is a very basic overview of some of these instruments and their uses.
Singing Bowls
The native peoples of the Himalayas and specifically the Tibetans used Singing Bowls, traditionally made out of a 7 metal alloy and consecrated with prayers and chanted mantras during the process of their creation intended to imbue with the power of healing or transforming consciousness.
It is believed that their vibrations work on all levels (spiritual, physical and emotional) so they treat the whole being rather than just one chakra or part of the body. Tibetans also used gongs, bells and chanting as part of their sound healing.
Today we also find Singing Bowls fashioned from pulverized quartz crystal. These are thought to stimulate and align with the crystalline matrix found within the human body. These bowls are usually tuned to a specific chakra.
Vocal Toning and Chanting
The Bon people of Tibet utilized a series of 5 seed syllables that they call the 5 Warrior Syllables. Each syllable corresponds to a chakra, which is activated while chanting the sound. They are A, OM, HUNG, RAM, DZA. The A corresponds to the third eye; OM to the throat chakra and HUNG to the heart chakra. RAM, is located in the naval chakra, and DZA corresponds to the “secret chakra.” located at the groin or reproductive organs.
In the Buddhist tradition originating in India it is believed that chanting OM (ohm) MA (mah) NI (nee) PAD (pahd) ME (may) HUM (hum) you are calling upon the Buddha of Compassion. It is thought that by repeatedly reciting these 6 syllables you can transform your impure body, speech and mind into the pure body, speech, and mind of a Buddha. it It is also believed that specific healing can be manifested by chanting a mantra that evokes the healing power of the Medicine Buddha.
In Taoism we find the 6 Healings Sounds that work to transform the negative energy stored within the organs into healing light. The Lung Sound is “SSSSSSSSSSSS”. The Kidneys Sound is “WOOOOOOOO.” The Liver Sound is “SHHHHHHHHHH.” The Heart Sound is “HAWWWWWWWW.” The Spleen Sound is “WHOOOOOOOO” The Triple Warmer Sound is “HEEEEEEEE.”
Shake, Rattle and Roll
The Siberian, Native North and South American shamanic traditions all used used drumming, flutes, and rattles as tools to bring about healing.
Drumming effects us on a primal level. It’s as innate to us as our own heartbeat. Drumming probably dates back to some caveman banging on a hollow log with the thigh bone of a buffalo and feeling the reverberations off the walls in his very core. The vibration gets us energized and urges us to move hence it was used to set the pace of rowers on slave galleys or think of the throbbing bass of dance music. I studied Taiko drumming for a while and as well as being a full body workout the vibes that filled the room were festive, intense and healing. Think of the drum circles and singers at a Native American Pow Wow waking the Great Spirit to hear their plea/prayers.
On top of the deep resonate pounding of the drum Peruvian shamans layer the whispered hiss of the rattle and the birdsong chirps and tweets of the flute. There are a variety of specific healing songs to take their patients to higher levels of consciousness where they could find help in a spiritual dimension that would bring a restoration of health.
As you can see there many forms of sound healing. I have experimented with all of them.
If you are interested in learning more about Sound Healing or want to schedule a session send me an email. Mark@LuminiousAndHealthy.com
According to Hindu tradition dating back more than 2,500 years, there are 7 major energy centers located on the body between the base of the spine and the top of the head. These openings in your body’s luminous field are known as Chakras, and they are color-coded spinning vortexes of energy fixed to the spinal column with openings in both front and the back. Picture a traffic light with 7 colors rather than 3. When the chakras are clear, spinning at their correct rate of speed and in the right direction, your chi (chee), or life-force energy (think The Force from StarWars) flows unhindered and the body remains healthy.
Throughout our daily lives negativity and stresses, be they mental, emotional, physical or spiritual can cause blockages in our chakras. Unreleased emotions such as fear, anger, guilt, or a lack of nurturing, love, and encouragement can also cause chakras to become closed or out of alignment which will leave you feeling `out of sorts` with your body. Reopening blocked charkas allows the chi to flow freely once again allowing the body to return to its natural healthy state thereby healing itself. This is the same concept that is at the heart of acupuncture and other forms of traditional Chinese medicine.
There are several different ways to balance the charkas including:
Energy Healing, Color Healing, Sound Therapy, Crystal & Gemstone Healing, and Aromatherapy.
Below are the names and locations of the Chakras, their attributes and a brief list of the various tools that healers use to reset them to their proper alignment and rate of spin.
Meet your Chakras
The 1st or Root Chakra is located at the perineum, at the base of the spine. It governs Physical Needs and Security. Color: Red. Tone: C. Healing Stone: Smoky Quartz or Red Jasper. Fragrance: Sandalwood and Wisteria
The 2nd or Sacral Chakra is located at the lower Dantien 2” below the navel. It governs Sexuality/Creativity, Emotions, and Desires. Color: Orange. Tone: D. Healing Stone: Carnelian. Fragrance: Patchouli and Gardenia
The 3rd or Solar Plexus Chakra governs Power. Color: Yellow. Tone: E. Healing Stone: Citrine. Fragrance: Rosemary
The 4th or Heart Chakra governs Love, Forgiveness, and Compassion. Color: Green. Tone: F. Healing Stone: Rose Quartz or Malachite. Fragrance: Rose essence
The 5th or Throat Chakra governs Communication. Color: Blue Green. Tone: G. Healing Stone: Turquoise or Chrysocolla. Fragrance: Bayberry and Wisteria
The 6th a.k.a. the Browor Third EyeChakra governs Intuition and Reasoning. Color: Indigo. Tone: A. Healing Stone: Lapis Lazuli or Sodalite. Fragrance: Eucalyptus
The 7th or Crown Chakra governs Spirituality and Understanding. Color: Indigo. Tone: B. Healing Stone: Amethyst. Fragrance: Frankincense and Lilac
A healer utilizing one or more of the tools above can help reset the Chakras to their normal healthy state or you can rebuild or realign them yourself using this simple visualization meditation.
Visualization Meditation to Reset your Chakras
Sit with your eyes closed, spine erect but not rigid, feet flat on the floor.
Rest your hands on your thighs. Touch the tip of the tongue to the
roof of your mouth. Take several long, slow, easy deep breaths, breathing in through your nose, and out through your mouth until your body becomes calm. Sit during this meditation. Do not lie down.
As you come to each chakra, focus your attention on the that area of your body. Begin with the root chakra and work upward to the Crown. At the end always allow the energy to ground, flowing down through your body, and spend a few minutes in meditation.
Picture yourself as a giant multi disc cd player with a speed adjustment. Each chakra is a disc in the player…
1. Begin with the Root chakra, located at the perineum, at the base of the spine.
Visualize it as a Red colored cd. Visualize it spinning clockwise. If it is not adjust it. Check the speed indicator. The readings go from 1 to 10. Visualize the speed as 4. If it is spinning faster slow it down. If it is spinning slower speed it up. Watch it spin for a few moments then move onto the next chakra.
2. The Sacral chakra, located at the navel.
Visualize it as an Orange colored cd. Visualize it spinning clockwise. Visualize the speed as 5. Watch it spin for a few moments then move onto the next chakra.
3. The Solar Plexus chakra.
Visualize it as a Yellow colored cd. Visualize it spinning clockwise. Visualize the speed as 6. Watch it spin for a few moments then move onto the next chakra.
4. The Heart chakra, in the center of your chest.
Visualize it as a Green colored cd. Visualize it spinning clockwise. Visualize the speed as 7. Watch it spin for a few moments then move onto the next chakra.
5. The Throat chakra, located in your throat.
Visualize it as a Blue Green colored cd. Visualize it spinning clockwise. Visualize the speed as 8. Watch it spin for a few moments then move onto the next chakra.
6. The Third Eye chakra, located on your forehead between your eyebrows.
Visualize it as an Indigo blue colored cd. Visualize it spinning clockwise. Visualize the speed as 9. Watch it spin for a few moments then move onto the next chakra.
7. The Crown chakra, located at the center of the top of your head.
Visualize it as a Violet colored cd. Visualize it spinning clockwise. Visualize the speed as 10. Watch it spin for a few moments then let your energy subside. As it descends recheck each chakra to confirm color, direction of rotation and speed. Once you reach the root allow the energy to ground into the earth. Take a deep breath, exhale and slowly open your eyes. Congratulations you just reset your charkas. You should notice a sense of calm and a more balanced feeling that should last several days. Remember that you can do this any time you are feeling out of sorts. You will feel better, guaranteed.
Cool Chakra Video
This episode of the animated TV show Avatar; the Last Air Bender contains a fairly simplistic explanation of the Chakras. Unfortunately the only one I could find is in Spanish with English subtitles.
In China for thousands of years one of the means of staying healthy has been the practice of Chi Kung, a series of exercises that works not only the muscles, but massages the internal organs and stimulates the “chi” or life force energy. Your chi can be cultivated for your own personal health but can also be passed on to another as a means of healing.
Zhan Zhuang, pronounced “Jan Jong” is a unique style of Chi Kung which is highly energetic and develops our internal energy in a very efficient way, instead of consuming it.
Zhan Zhuang means Standing Like a Tree and this moving meditation has only 5 well-balanced standing positions which increase the flow of energy and build up internal strength, making it both effective and efficient.
These 5 postures; Send out Roots, Enter the Heartwood, Branches Reach for Heaven, Stand in the Stream and Sway in theWind, can be performed in as little as 10 minutes a day with great results. You will find yourself feeling more vital and your energy recharged because the Zhan Zhuang system is based on a unique fusion of relaxation and exertion which stimulates, cleanses and massages the whole body.
This form is a part of my personal practice and I have taught it as well. For best results I’ve found that doing the movements in nature, close enough to a tree that you are within the spread of its canopy, allows you to not only stimulate your own chi energy but to tap into and draw energy from the tree or the forest around you. It is no surprise that this form of Chi Kung is practiced by Taoists who believe in the Way of Nature.
Give it a try and find out how hugging a tree can feel healthy and revitalizing.
For more about this wonderful form of moving meditation see Master Lam Kam Chuen’s book The Way of Energy.
To get a look at this form check out YouTube video at the attached link.
Mark Gerardi 