I was listening to episode 71 of the Be Ultimate Podcast where Travis Eliot offers an introduction to the seven energy centers, or chakras, wheels or centers of energy along the spine. This topic can seem out there for some, but he presents the material rationally and a bit scientifically and shares experiences that led to his belief in them.
Rather than rehash poorly what he said, I suggest that you listen to the podcast for yourself, but I do want to draw attention to the second energy center, Svadhisthana (स्वाधिष्ठान in Sanskrit). As Eliot explains it, swa means “self,” and adhisthana means “dwelling place” or “established and secure”. So, svadhisthana is where the self is established. This energy center is located in the lower abdomen, in the pelvic region. It is connected to the reproductive organs, the element of water, and the color orange. These next few lines had me buzzing. Eliot says:
This is where our creative energy is. This is where we create things, where we can create life or we can create art, we can create music. Creative energy really arises from svadhisthana. When it’s imbalanced, very often we feel overly lustful. We’re always lusting after other people. We’re ruminating on this all the time. We’re always thinking about sex. We’re also preoccupied with wanting other people to see us as being sexually desirable. So it has a big connection to sexuality because this, again, is creative expression in the most fundamental of ways within the human being.
Yes! I keep promoting the idea of Eros as creativity, focusing on Eros because of my interest in classical studies. Creativity is within every single one of us. Its energy is there for us to tap into. So, if anyone tells you that you lack the capacity for creativity, they’re wrong. Maybe you’re just not accessing that energy that is available to you, but there are different meditations you can do for that (of course!).
The skeptic in me questions a lot of what is said or written about the chakras, and hopefully I’ll find sound resources to learn more about the chakras throughout history, such as when representations and characteristics assigned to each energy center came about. Apparently, Jung talks about them in The Psychology of Kundalini Yoga, which could be an interesting read. Or not. I’ll be sure to share what I find along the way.
Passing time caring for critters.
Creating while they nap.
