First Friday Night Special #8: “Having Our Say / Let’s Get Loud” June 4, 2021

“This is a vulnerable place, because the throat chakra is where the inside comes out.”

– quoted from “Chakra Five: Sound – The Communication Chakra” by Anodea Judith, PhD

“The throat chakra has been referred to as the Holy Grail of the chakras because it holds information from all the chakras…. Within the sacred container of the throat chakra, all of this energy and information is ‘metabolized’ – broken down and put back together into a form that becomes your unique expression in the world.”

– quoted from “chapter 5: The Chakras – Your Body’s Energy Stations” in Energy Medicine: Balancing Your Body’s Energies for Optimal Health, Joy, and Vitality by Donna Eden with David Feinstein, Ph.D.

“Surrender Personal Will to Divine Will”

– Fifth Chakra Sacred Truth, quoted from Anatomy of the Spirit: The Seven Stages of Power and Healing by Caroline Myss, Ph.D.

The throat chakra is obviously and often associated with communication – “having one’s say,” saying something, speaking truth to power, “using your words,” etc. Interestingly, Caroline Myss also associates it with personal will (and determination) and, in particular, the constant balancing act (she sometimes uses the word “struggle”) between Personal Will and Divine Will (you can also think Universal Will or Immanent Will). While we can see the balance in the person who always seems to say the right thing at the right time and in the right way (wise speech and all), we are more likely to notice the imbalance inherent in someone who doesn’t speak up for themselves, is silenced by others, or speaks too much. We may notice, in ourselves, tightness in the neck and/or throat when we are dealing with certain situations and/or people. Additionally, we see evidence of fifth chakra imbalance when someone is negatively characterized because they say what’s on their mind.

The 19^th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which gave women the right to vote, was approved by Congress today in 1919. It was passed with 56 “ayes” and 25 “nays,” in large part because of 24-year old Harry T. Burn, Sr. of Tennessee, the Republican Representative from Tennessee who was the youngest congressman and who was expected to vote against the amendment. Mr. Burn voting “nay” would have killed the legislation; however, if anyone had gone deeper than what was being communicated on the outside (by the red carnation on his lapel), they would have known that Mr. Burn’s vote was inspired by the strong-willed words of his mother: Febb E. Burn.

“Your every choice, thought and feeling has biological, environmental, social, personal and global consequence. Actions motivated by personal will that trusts Divine authority, gives you the richest power.”

– quoted from “Morning Visual Meditation” (focus for Chakra 5) by Caroline Myss

Please join me for a very vocal “First Friday Night Special” tonight (June 4^th), 7:15 PM – 8:20 PM (CST) that focuses on the neck and throat (chakra). Use the link from the “Class Schedules” calendar if you run into any problems checking into the class. You will need to register for the 7:15 PM class if you have not already done so. Give yourself extra time to log in if you have not upgraded to Zoom 5.0. You can request an audio recording of this practice via a comment below or by emailing myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com.

If you are using an Apple device/browser and the “Class Schedules” calendar is no longer loading, you may need to upgrade your browser, or you can email me at myra (at) ajoyfulpractice.com at least 20 minutes before the practice you would like to attend.

This practice is accessible and open to all. We will “warm up” the body with poses, mantras, and a little “guided inquiring/journaling.”

Prop wise, this can be a kitchen sink practice. It will be especially handy to have something you can sit upon; a blanket or towel; and extra layers (as your body may cool down during this practice). I also encourage you to have something with which you can take notes.

Friday’s playlist is available on YouTube and Spotify. (NOTE: The YouTube playlist features video footage not available on Spotify. The Spotify playlist currently contains extra tracks added by the app.)

In the spirit of generosity (“dana”), the Zoom classes, recordings, and blog posts are freely given and freely received. If you are able to support these teachings, please do so as your heart moves you. (NOTE: You can donate even if you are “attending” a practice that is not designated as a “Common Ground Meditation Center” practice, or you can purchase class(es). (Donations to Common Ground are tax deductible; class purchases and donations directly to me are not necessarily deductible.)

### HAM, HAM, HAM ###