As Deepak Chopra tells us, spiritual energy, the energy that comes from pure consciousness, is the creative energy of the Universe. This spiritual energy pervades all aspects of life and by aligning ourselves with it, we can enrich our own lives and the world around us.

Exploring the Spiritual Energy of the Physical and Subtle Bodies

Let’s look at a few ways we can harness the spiritual energy of the cosmos.

We are all familiar with our dense physical body, but we also have subtle bodies, collectively called the aura, which surrounds the physical. Both are made of energy but vibrate at very different frequencies, so the physical appears solid and the subtle are invisible to normal sight.

Try this simple exercise and feel your subtle body:

• Right now, gently rub your palms together.
• Now hold your hands with palms facing each other.
• Slowly move the palms apart and bring them back towards each other.
• At some point, you may notice a slight resistance or change in temperature between your palms.

What you are feeling is your subtle body or your aura.

Everything that happens in the physical body first happens in the subtle body. Spiritual energy flows from the subtle to the physical, so it’s important that the subtle body remains balanced, clear, and aligned with the physical body.

Here’s a simple centering exercise to help keep everything aligned. It can be done sitting or standing as is comfortable, your eyes can be open or closed.

• Place one hand next to the navel, fingers pointing up, palm facing towards center.
• Raise the other arm straight up, fingers pointing up, again palm facing towards center.
• Breathe in.
• As you exhale, lower the upper hand straight down and at the same time, raise the lower one, to meet, palms together at the heart center.
• As you inhale again, extend one arm up and the other down just as before.
• You can raise the same arm each time or alternate them
• As you exhale bring palms back to the heart center.
• Repeat this three or four times, breathing in and breathing out as you raise and lower the arms.
• Have the intention of everything aligning around a straight line, running from your head to feet.

This can be practiced each morning to energize and center you for the day or anytime you feel out of balance.

The Pure Unbounded Energy of Your Higher Self

We can enliven ourselves with cosmic spiritual energy by drawing it from our Higher Self.

The Higher Self is non-local, it’s everywhere but, for the sake of this exercise, imagine it to be just above the top of your head, connected by a tube of light.

Allow your awareness to rise up into your Higher Self. Be aware of the pure unlimited energy of your Higher Self.

Now begin breathing this energy down through the tube of light, into your body. Keep breathing it in and allow it to expand, filling your mind and body.

Fill every cell, every thought and emotion with spiritual energy.

Still breathing the energy from your Higher Self, expand it beyond your physical body and imagine filling your subtle bodies with pure spiritual energy.

This exercise can be done any time you feel in need of an energy boost. You can do it with your eyes open or closed. When we fill our subtle bodies with energy, it also acts as a protective shield so that any other negative energies around us can’t enter. This is also an excellent technique to support you, if you are working with or around those who are sick. Too often, people have the best intention to serve others but make the mistake of giving from their own energy supply. This is limited and will become drained. By tapping into the cosmic energy, through our Higher Self, we have an inexhaustible supply, to keep our batteries fully charged.

Harmonizing the Energy

Spiritual energy flows through everything. Any problem in our life, the environment, or the world at large, is caused by a disruption in the vibration of this energy. Think of the universe like a symphony orchestra, many different instruments playing different notes, but all coming together harmoniously. A disharmony in one instrument causes a loss of harmony overall. Similarly, disharmony in the world or our body leads to some discomfort throughout our life.

With an orchestra, we simply tune the instrument, for the body, environment, and world, we have the ancient Vedic Science of Mantras. Mantras are specific vibrations of energy whose effects are known. When either chanted aloud or repeated silently, they can create a desired effect in any area of our physiology or life, for healing, transformation, and inner awakening.

Connecting with Nature’s Energy

Although we are very much part of nature, over the years we have separated ourselves from the cycles and rhythms by which it flows. This has weakened our energy. Whenever you have the opportunity, connect with nature’s energy. Listen to the sounds of nature, walk barefoot or sit with your feet flat on the ground. Feel the energy rising up through your body. When you can, lie flat on your back on the ground. Breathe deeply, sink into the earth and soak up the energy.

We’ve all heard about hugging a tree. Hugging or just placing your palms flat against a tree is also a way to connect with the earth’s energy. Spend a little time in the sun. Solar energy warms and enlivens the whole body. However, be careful, too much time in the sun can start to deplete our energy.

Using the Breath

Your breath can be both purifying and energizing. There are many different breathing exercises or pranayamas. Here’s a simple one for balancing our energies:

• Breathe in for the count of six, allowing your abdomen to expand.
• Hold for a count of three. Exhale for the count of six, slightly drawing in the abdomen.
• Hold for three.

This one can be practiced for two to three minutes any time you feel the need.

The Energy Centers of the Subtle Body

Pure Consciousness continuously transforms itself into matter at every point of the universe. However, there are certain places where the energy is more lively. On the earth, we call this a vortex, in the body we call it a chakra. The word chakra means wheel so a chakra is where consciousness spins itself into matter. There are many chakras throughout the body, the seven major ones are located along the spine.

Each chakra brings energies to activate specific qualities of our lives, so when they are blocked, we experience a loss of those qualities. When the chakras are clear and “awakened” the mind and body become balanced and we gain full access to higher realms of existence. Putting our attention in the area of each chakra and chanting the mantra associated with it, releases its energy.

Awakening the Chakras

Starting with the root chakra, bring your attention to that area of the body and repeat the sound 1-3 times aloud or silently.

• First Chakra (base of the spine), survival instincts LAAM
• Second Chakra (sacral area), sensuality, creative inspiration VAAM
• Third Chakra (solar plexus, navel), personal power, ego RAAM
• Fourth Chakra (center of chest), unconditional love, compassion YAAM
• Fifth Chakra (throat), knowledge, creativity HAAM
• Sixth Chakra (between eyebrows), insight, inspiration KSHAAM
• Seventh Chakra (crown, top of head), spiritual union OMM

The subtle body also contains nadis, which are channels radiating out from the chakras to carry energy and information to all areas of the body. The nadis need to remain open for our health, vitality, and spiritual growth. The most important is the Sushumna, which runs through the center of the spinal column, through all the chakras from the root to the crown. For most of us, it is blocked and dormant but it is the channel for the spiritual energy or Kundalini Shakti, which lies curled asleep at the base of the spine, waiting to be awakened through our spiritual practices. When this happens, the spiritual energy rises, purifying all the chakras to merge with the field of infinite possibilities at the crown, showering us with the enlightenment of our spiritual awakening.

Aware, Spiritually Energized Beings

At the deepest level of our essence, we are perfectly balanced, fully energized beings.

Unfortunately, most of us have forgotten this and create blockages to the free flow of both physical and spiritual energy. Being aware is key to maintaining balanced energy in our lives. Learn to listen to the signals your body is sending you of comfort and discomfort. We can’t always avoid a few bumps in the road but try to steer your life in the direction that creates the most comfort.

How do you feel eating certain foods, in different relationships, is your work stimulating? We’re all energetically connected, so if we feel anger or resentment to someone we feel has harmed us, we actually feed that person with our energy. Forgiveness immediately ends that loss of energy. When we express gratitude, we energize both ourselves and the other person.

Finally, meditation is our most powerful self-energizing tool. Meditation removes the barriers and limitations that we have erected around ourselves and gives us direct access to the infinite, unbounded energy of the cosmos. You are that energy and the whole of creation is waiting for you to explore it.

Namaste.

Source: Chopra