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Swadhistana Chakra
Dwelling abode of the Self
• Swadhistana is the energy of cohesion, a force that gently pulls together and unites.
• At the molecular level it creates the bonds between atoms to make the molecules of all the known substances in nature as well as in the synthetic world.
• It is a flowing energy that allows flexibility, adaptability and change. This energy, added to the solidity of the first, generates the ability to move, creating living matter rather than rock. At the universal level it creates the flowing orbits of moons around planets, and of planets around suns. It is the movability of the entire system.
• At the physiological level the energy of the second chakra creates bonds between hemoglobin and O2 and CO2, and among various nutrients, to create proteins and complex molecules. As well, it is responsible for thousands of chemical bonds which occur at the neuro-peptide level of body and brain chemistry.
• At a psychological level this force pulls people together to share energy, emotions, ideas etc. It is the social energy on which society is based.
ELEMENT
Water = the energy/power of cohesion or covalence. Like the first elemental force, the water element also attracts, but is a much more flexible molecular force that bonds the oxygen and hydrogen atoms together in order to make a water molecule. This energy pulls or attracts atoms that are of compatible energy fields and bonds them together in a variety of molecules, (including water). The combination can be rearranged, where the atoms are interchangeable. For instance, the hydrogen in the water molecule can be replaced by carbon to make CO2 . The same force applies in hemoglobin when its iron molecules give up oxygen and take on CO2, a process that is continually going on within our body chemistry.
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
The adrenal glands are small curved glands laying over the top of each kidney. Although they appear to be joined to the kidneys, they are separate glands. Each gland appears to be one organ, though each one is actually made up of an outer and an inner part, weighing about 1/4 ounce each (7 grams).
The adrenal medulla (inner part or zona glomerulosa) is an agent of the sympathetic nervous system stimulated directly by nerve impulses. In yoga this part of the nervous system is called pingala, and is considered to be the solar current; that is, the active force that stimulates activity. The adrenal medulla secretes the neurotransmitters epinephrine (adrenalin) and norepinephrine directly into the bloodstream. When the sympathetic nervous system reacts to intense emotions, such as fright or anger, large amounts of these neurotransmitters are released. This may cause a “fight or flight” reaction, in which blood pressure rises, the pupils widen, and blood is shunted to the most vital organs and the skeletal muscles. The heart is also stimulated...
Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system and its fluid are directly connected to the second chakra. A subsystem of the circulatory system, the lymphatic system collects interstitial fluid and recycles it to the blood. It is considered to be part of the circulatory system since lymph comes from the blood and returns to the blood by way of the lymphatic vessels. Lymph carries some nutrients around the body, especially fat. It also distributes germ-fighting white blood cells; this distribution is one very important part of our immune system. Lymph resembles plasma (the liquid part of blood), but is more diluted and contains only about 5% proteins and 1% salts and extractives. It is formed from blood plasma and other body liquids, (called interstitial fluid or tissue fluid), that is present in the spaces between cells. Some of the interstitial fluid goes back into the body through the capillary membrane, but most enters the lymphatic capillaries to become lymph. Along with this interstitial fluid, the lymph also picks up any particles that are too big to be absorbed through the capillary membrane. These include cell debris, fat globules, and tiny protein particles. The lymph then moves into the larger lymphatic vessels and through the lymph nodes and eventually enters the blood through the veins in the neck region. Within the lymphatic duct system are a large number of one-way valves which allow the fluid to circulate one way only, ensuring that there is a periodic passage through the nodes and spleen for filtration. The lymphatic system is thus a secondary transport system. Fig. 2 c gives some indication of how extensive it is. Lymph has no pump of its own, however, and thus its flow depends on pressure from movement of the muscles. Therefore, physical movement is required for its circulation, such as we have in some flowing forms of Hatha Yoga, Tai Chi and dance. With the yoga postures a certain amount of pressure is put onto specific...
CHARACTERISTICS
As mentioned earlier, the second chakra does not have energy of its own, just as its symbol, the crescent moon, has no light of its own. Both the energy and the light are reflected from somewhere else. This fact must be kept in mind when considering the characteristics of this chakra; for instance, a person with a strong or open second chakra is virtually a strong reflection of the social situation in which that person is, or has been immersed.
When the energy is strong, flowing, and balanced:
1. Very good social skills, capable of going with the flow, easy to get along with others.
2. Very open minded, adaptable to all sorts of social situations and accepting of a large variety of ideas.
3. Very nurturing and sensitive, appreciative of others.
4. Comfortable with touch, sensuality and sexuality.
5. Finds a balance between work and play, and likes physical movement, particularly if it is playful, as in dancing, or flowing, as in swimming.
6. Feels safe, confident and emotionally balanced in social situations.
7. Is capable of assimilating knowledge from various sources and blending it into an acceptable format.
8. Enjoys the arts and entertainment, especially when they are interactive.
When the energy is too strong and out of balance:
1. Tends to over-indulgence in many sensual pleasures, such as eating for the sake of tasting, entertainment, and social gossip.
2. Sexually over-active, sometimes to the point of addiction.
3. Too socially active and has inability to spend time alone or be still.
4. Becomes confused from picking up other people’s energy and reacts to other people’s expectations.
5. Full of self-gratification and easily addicted to stimulants or...
MENTAL DIRECTION
The direction of mind here is south. This energy shows itself in our social development influencing all our relations and interactions. Its attractive and covalent power is evident in the way in which we pull in the people we need to have in our lives, as well as in our ability to learn certain things from a whole variety of people and put this information into our own mental structure. When this energy is flowing, we gather pieces of information from others and put them together into our own picture. In the flow, this energy leads to an unfolding of many social skills that seem to develop without effort. One finds it very easy to get along with others, to learn from them. Just as water has no shape of its own, easily molding itself to the container into which it is poured, so we, socially, can put on any mask, like an actor, and play the role that is expected of us in any situation. Oftentimes, though, the mental structure that comes from others as a cultural web of belief systems is difficult to break free of. It can keep us bound to a way of thinking that was never really ours to begin with, but socially acceptable amongst our peers. Herein lies the danger of getting lost in the social act and forgetting who we are as individuals.
The symbol of the crescent moon represents...
Within this web, we learn to play different roles, to wear various masks or put on certain personalities that fit with what we are doing or who we are communicating with. In this regard there are six specific categories into which these “personas,” (Greek for mask), can fall, depending on whether we are in a position of authority or subservience or equality. (fig. 2 f) For example, when we are little we look up to our father as an authority figure, yet when we are parents later on in life we become those authority figures and play that role towards our children. With our lover yet another, perhaps more charming, role is required; the power of attraction working here is nature’s way of renewing life in the ongoing cycle of generations. Most of our friends fall into the category of brother or sister depending on whether they are of the same sex or not. With the mother role, we have all looked up to our mothers for nurturance one time or another, but not all of us get to play that persona. Authority and nurturance are balanced between the roles of father and mother.
Discrimination is required here to screen the flow of information that has come through our ancestors, parents, teachers and other people we meet. With the eye of discrimination (coming from the sixth chakra), we can see more clearly what is true, what is opinion, theory or gossip. As with a crescent moon, you only see part of the whole. You cannot see the motivation of others, nor the influence of the subconscious mind, (the largest part of the mind (90%)), which contains and reflects the social influences running below the surface of our conscious mind, i.e., expectations and opinions of others governing our thoughts, speech and actions. Also to be considered, like the dark side of the moon represented here, is the dark side of people’s minds. These unseen portions of the psyche are so often the unwanted aspects of their minds and memories—a lifetime’s storehouse of conditioning, memories, traumas,
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