How to Open Your Third Eye
Why should I even pay attention to having a third eye? My two work fine, you say? Well, here's my answer: when you get serious about the ajna chakra, seat of intuition, knowledge, clarity, and awareness, you learn you can't bypass and just do what's right in front of you. If you yearn for something more, deeper, more connected, you will soon realize deepening your practice from the foundation is the way to be your best self.
Trying to focus your practice just on being aware and wise is basically like skipping all the scales, mistakes, time, and effort to play a concerto. It doesn't work that way! We must go back to the beginning and work our way there and ascend within ourselves as a way of life.
Let's do it. Let's create a toolkit of daily practices that honor the spectrum of chakras and honor this foundational work as part the process that never ends. Don't dig a bunch of shallow wells, but dig a few ones deeply to sustain.
Practices can vary depending on the imbalance, but here are a few ideas so you can begin to figure out what you can do each day. If you have specific imbalances you think you're working with, but are not sure, you can always reach out to me and we can customize a plan for you.
Pick one or two approaches that speak to and seem to help where you're coming from and consider it medicine that you are administering to your soul each day. I can tell you what works for me varies from day to day, which is why Ayurveda's approach using the dosha (which map to the chakras and seasons) helps me choose food, colors, activities, entertainment, and especially essential oils since it seems like each day shifts so quickly these days and I can roll and release the moment... moving onto the next in the spirit of dissolving, evolving, and Shiva. Enjoy and explore!
Muladhara - 1st chakra - root - EARTH
Grounding, survival, basic needs
Stabilize money/work, wear red, engage regularly with community/tribe
Essential oils: cedarwood, spruce, vetiver, myrrh, doTERRA Balance blend
Asana: Tadasana (mountain), Vrksasana (tree)
Svadisthana - 2nd chakra - sacral - WATER
Creativity, sexuality, emotional stability
Adorn yourself, embrace pleasurable things, go dancing to move your hips like water!
Essential oils: neroli, sandalwood, clary sage, jasmine, ylang ylang, doTERRA Passion blend
Asana: Upavista Konasana (straddled forward fold), Utkata Konasana (goddess), Malasana (garland)
Manipura - 3rd chakra - solar plexus - FIRE
Personal power, discipline, self-esteem
Eat whole, healthy foods that convert easily into fuel, practice bhakstrika (bellows) breath (read: A Yogi's Cup of Coffee), balance work and play
Essential oils: grapefruit, lemon, ginger, doTERRA Cheer and Motivate
Asana: Navasana (boat), Danurasana (bow, for digestion), Seated twists for maintaining overactive 3rd chakra, standing twists for sparking underactive 3rd chakra
Anahata - 4th chakra - heart - AIR
Love, compassion, courage
Recite positive affirmations, practice Japa meditation with mala and mantra, keep a gratitude journal, volunteer your time at a charitable organization, Sama Vrtti (equal part) pranayama, exercise regularly for cardiovascular efficiency
Essential oils: Rose (the most emotionally healing oil), Melissa, Copaiba, doTERRA Clary Calm (read: Three Oils to Heal the Heart)
Asana: Ustrasana (cobra), Bhujangasana (cobra), Urdhva Danurasana (wheel)
Visshudha - 5th chakra - throat - ETHER
Creative expression, communication, authenticity/truth
Practice sound healing (singing bowls, om bath), daily mantra practice, drink fennel and spearmint tea, tongue scraper after brushing your teeth (read: How Chanting Can Elevate Your Yoga and Life to New Heights)
Essential oils: Eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, doTERRA Breathe Blend
Asana: Halasana (plow), Salamba Sarvangasana (shoulderstand), Cat-cow with Lion's breath
Ajna - 6th chakra - third eye - LIGHT or TRANSCENDANCE
Awareness, intuition, imagination, wisdom
Practice Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril) Pranayama, meditation, get a good amount of regular sleep
Essential oils: Lavender, juniper, frankincense, doTERRA Serenity Blend (diffused at night)
Asana: Balasana (child's), Sukhasana (easy)
Sahasrara - 7th chakra - crown - SPACE OR TRANSCENDANCE
When balanced in ajna, we are more likely to ascend into the realm of sahasrara.
Awareness, intuition, imagination, wisdom
Practice either something totally energy shaking that blows your mind or give yourself time to step away from activation and stimulation to be totally at peace with yourself
Essential oils: Lavender, sandalwood, rose, helichrysum, doTERRA Peace Blend or In Tune Blend
Asana: Sirsasana (headstand), Savasana (corpse, never skip savasana)
