posted by Jackie Gaston
Second Chakra - Sacral Chakra-Svadhisthana



This is the third post in the series about your chakra system.  It might be helpful to read this post and this post before continuing.







Second Chakra – Sacral chakra - Svadhisthana

Symbol: Six petals, circle containing a crescent moon

Location: Lower abdomen about three finger widths below the navel

Color: Orange

Musical note: D

Scents: Patchouli, Geranium, Jasmine, Clary Sage

Stones: carnelian, fire agate, orange calcite

Body parts: Blood, tears, urine, reproductive organs, hips, sacrum. Sex organs

Sense: Taste

Foods: Sweet fruits, nuts, cinnamon, cardamom

Asanas: cobra, triangle, backward and forward bends.

Planet: Jupiter

Astrological sign: Cancer

Element: Water


The second chakra is the seat of sexuality. Creativity and emotion. It seeks excitement, sexual expression, and learning new things. Closely related to the first chakra, it also craves a certain groundedness and balance. Music and art feed the second chakra. It is considered to have more feminine than masculine energy.

The sense of taste is connected to the second chakra as it is highly sensual and pleasure bringing. Sharing food creates a connection with others and with our communities. The types of food that we eat and share help define us culturally.

The astrological sign Cancer is said to rule emotions, receptiveness and fertility, all of which are associate with the second chakra. Cancer is also a water sign and the element for the second chakra is water.

The second chakra is said to be aligned with the planet Jupiter. We view the first chakra as the seat of the individual self and the second chakra as seeking connection to others. Jupiter brings connection to culture in its creating of music, art and life style. Jupiter's energy calms and warms that of Saturn which can at times be cool and unsettling.

Signs that the second chakra may be out of balance include an over active or under active sex drive, craving for sweet foods and a general lack of creativity. Physical symptoms may include lower back pain, abdominal pain and intestinal disruptions; gastro intestinal problems. Resistance to change and frequent emotional drama can also be associated with an unbalanced second chakra.

A person operating from a balanced second chakra tends to trust his/her instincts and intuition and tend to attract people who explore esoteric realms.

If you'd like to read the whole series, you may go to my Goodies page and request my free ebook, Chakras 101. 

posted by Jackie Gaston

Loving Your First Chakra



In this post I wrote about your first chakra, how it works for you, what happens if it's out of balance and gave some meditations to help balance it.


Lately I've been thinking and meditating on ways to really your first chakra some love.  Here is a list of things that really nourish the first chakra.  I'm sure there are many more but these are things that anyone can do almost any time.

1. Belly breathing:  There are a lot of good resources to tell you how to do this.  Here's one.

2.Dancing:  Dancing really gets your body moving, especially your lower body and it just makes you feel good all over.  I like to dance while I'm cleaning house.

3. Unclutter/Clean your environment:  Clutter really messes with your first chakra.  A clean uncluttered home or work space gives you first chakra the message that you honor your place in the world.  Besides, you can dance while you do it.

4. Yoga:  There are specific asanas for your root chakra including Mountain pose, Bridge pose, and Warrior one.

5.  Spending time in nature:  Walking in the woods is my favorite activity for nourishing my first chakra but any activity in nature is great.

6.  Gardening:  How could you possibly be more connected to the earth than when you are gardening?

7.  Eating comfoft foods:  This one can be carried to the extreme as we all know.  However, making sure you get adequate protein and eating root vegetables are wonderful for your first chakra.

8.  Taking a shower:  Running water is a great way to clear any unwanted energy.

9.  Meditate out doors:  There is something about being out side and doing a meditation that is just so clearing and relaxing.  Your first chakra loves it.

10:  Ride the earth:  This is an exercise from Llyn Roberts' book, Shamanic Reiki.  It is pretty much what the name implies.  You will need to find a private place to do this.

11:  Get someone like me to help you:  Sometimes we just can't pinpoint just what it is that is causing us to feel ungrounded and anxious.  That's when we need someone to help us get clear and do some of the heaving lifting for us.

If you have been thinking about learning Reiki, here is an opportunity for you to do so. I'm in the process of scheduling Reiki classes for next month.  The schedule isn't set in stone but I'll probably teach Reiki 1 on April 11 and follow with Reiki 2 on the 25th. 

These will be distant classes and I usually accept five students per class.  Reiki 1 is prerequisite for Reiki 2. 

The Essential Reiki by Diane Stein is the required text.

Reiki is an ancient healing modality that can be used for mental, emotional and physical issues.  It is also a wonderful tool for manifestation. You can read more about it on my Reiki page.

During Reiki 1, you will learn Reiki self care and self treatment as well as receive the level 1 atunement.

In Reiki 2, you will learn to use Reiki for your self and others including distant healing and 'time travel' healing.  You will receive the Reiki symbols needed for practicing Reiki.

Please contact me before making your exchange.

posted by Jackie Gaston

The Shots You Don't Take

The other day I was in a conversation with some friends and the subject of taking chances and changing careers came up. After thinking about it, I've come to the conclusion that I don't know anyone past the age of forty who hasn't had multiple careers. I don't just mean more than one job, I mean more than one career change.


I've had several myself. I worked in an insurance office before returning to college after which I taught school for five years. I didn't ever feel at home in the class room so I changed careers and worked with blind people for a few years before starting a new career working with mentally challenged adults for about twelve years. Fourteen years ago, I changed careers yet again and became a massage therapist. I have now transitioned into life coaching and energy work although I still do the occasional body work session.

I have been more successful at some of these endeavors than others but each one has enriched my life and taught me things about myself and the world that I doubt I'd have learned otherwise. I would never have known whether or not I liked the work, how good I'd be at it, or whether or not I'm capable of making a living without working for someone else if I hadn't tried all these things. Even when I've felt like I was striking out, I've gone down swinging. As Wayne Gretzky has said, you miss 100% of the shots you never take.


If you're feeling stuck and thinking about making a big change in your life, why don't you give me a shout. I'd love to help you find some clarity about what it is you're really after and find a new direction in life.

posted by Jackie Gaston

Celebrate the Gift of Desire

Imagine having everything you've ever wanted...the money, the car, the relationship. How long would you be satisfied? How long would it be until you found something else to desire?


Some philosophies look on desire as as well, something undesirable. However, it is desire which moves us forward in every aspect of life, even if the desire is to have no desire. Without desire there is no motivation. It is the desire for a deeper understanding of life itself that propels us to delve into the world of inner as well as outer space.


It is the desire to live the best possible life that propels us to seek self knowledge and self improvement. It is a desire for deeper understanding that compels us to examine our own inner workings and to seek connection to something bigger than ourselves.


When examined in this light, desire has to be recognized and celebrated as the gift it is: the motivation for all of our forward motion.


Each chakra is the seat of a specific set of desires, some of which overlap from one chakra to another. The following list shows the desires most closely associated with each chakra:


First chakra – the desire for security and safety


Second chakra – the desire to be visible to and to connect with the outside world


Third chakra – the desire to have power and control over our destiny


Fourth chakra – the desire to love and be loved


Fifth chakra – the desire to be heard and understood as well as to hear and understand


Sixth chakra – the desire to see ourselves clearly


Seventh chakra – the desire for connection to That From Which We Came and To Which We Will Return