InnerBliss: Is Creativity Flowing Into Your Life?

By Marcy Hall.
Rumi quote on the painting:
I look in your inmost self and see
the universe not yet created.

Listening to: Some fire music.

Today's Bliss Formula: No new Snow White skirt to wear to the library today, which seems to be the opposite of bliss, but then there is that excuse to get yet another creation by Hannah, which is exactly the same as bliss! (I'm pretty decided on the red apple pickin' skirt, but who knows?!) A wonderful weekend, including time at the water, so I feel ready for a busy week.

Last Monday, we started a discussion about the chakras, beginning, of course, with the first chakra, or the "root." So now, onward and upward -- literally.

The second chakra is located about two inches below your navel and includes the reproductive organs. The color associated with this chakra is orange and the element is water.

Now, a lot of people think of this chakra purely as the "sex" chakra, but there is so much more to it than that! The Sanskrit name of this chakra gives you a huge hint as to its greater importance (not that sex isn't important!): "Dwelling Place of the Self."

First, to get the sex part out of the way -- if you are blocked in this second chakra, you can either end up being oversexed or a complete prude. One or the other. You see evidence of second chakra blockages big time in American culture, as evidenced most strongly and obviously in our advertising and entertainment industries. Can we say "overcompensation?!"

Then again, this great land was overrun by Puritans and their awfully ugly and all-skin-concealing outfits. No wonder they burned "witches" -- what else was there to do in the face of all that freaking repression?!

But, like I said, this chakra is about much more. This is where your sense of "personal style," as Ravi and Ana put it, comes from. And I love this. It's important to feel like the unique individual you are. (See my recent conversion to funky and whimsical clothing!)

And above "personal style," there is your all-important creativity.

I believe that is why we are put here -- to be happy, yes, but specifically through being creative. And we each, if we look hard enough, have a unique way to be creative.

For some people, it might mean coming up with a brand new way to do payroll accounts. This totally floats their boats! For some people, it means collecting rocks off of the beach and turning them into jewelry. For other people, it means being a different kind of parent than their parents were to them.

There are as many ways to be creative as there are humans on this planet.

The room in which I am writing this is painted orange. This color is invigorating both of the mind and the body -- perfect for waking up your creative brain. So that is one thing you can do to work with this chakra -- work with its color.

And since its element is water, another way to work with it is to go and spend time with a body of water. A creek will do. An ocean is awesome. A Great Lake is great. Sit with the water, listen to it, and then make sure to directly interact with it. Get wet!

You can also do a water ritual at home. Take your time in the herb section of your Whole Foods or an herb shop, if you are lucky. See what pulls you in. Take the herbs home and crush them and then boil them on the stove for at least twenty minutes before putting them in your tub. Add sea salt -- always good for a cleansing if that is what you are intending.

In terms of yoga, grounding pelvic exercises are great for this area. Sit cross legged and slowly move your spine in a big circle. Lunges with long deep breathing are also good, as are back bends and hip openers of all sorts. But do what is comfortable; if you have issues surrounding sex, some poses may bring up difficult emotions.

Here are some questions that could be used over the next week in your journal to explore your relationship to your second chakra:

1. How do you feel about sex? Do you think you have a healthy sex life? If not, how does it need to change? Have you experienced any sexual traumas in your life? If so, have you sought appropriate help to work through these experiences? Start here if you need some help in this area.

2. Do you feel creative every day?

3. Do you think you are as creative as you are capable? Are you holding back your creativity? Why?

4. Do you spend more time fantasizing about things you will do than actually doing those things?

5. Are you stuck in the planning stages of creative projects -- always making lists or buying supplies or waiting for the perfect time or space in which to work?

6. Do you eat to avoid emotions? Ever?

7. Do you push your emotions down, willing them away, determined to put on a good face no matter how you actually feel?

8. Do you envy the successes of other people or are you confident that there is enough to go around?

9. Is acquisition of material goods your primary motivational force?

10. Is each day an obstacle or do you awaken feeling energized by the possibility of healthy challenge and stimulation?

11. Do you have an overriding sense of purpose and vitality? Or you are spending most of your time in apathy and ennui?

Remember, wear what makes you feel wonderful, do what makes you feel wonderful, and spend some time shining like the sun!