The Chakra System This 3-month course will introduce students to the locations, major symbolism, metaphysical functions, and correspondences related to the 7-chakra system. Vital to the understanding of body energies and spiritual evolution, this course is geared towards giving those with little to no previous knowledge a solid foundation in the basic principles and attributes of the chakras. Intro to Chakras takes a multi-media approach, providing video documentaries, mp3 music composed for chakra work, and illustrations to act as learning aids in addition to academic readings, involving all the senses in the learning process. Meditations based in breath, mantras, and visualizations will also be assigned in a 3-week practicum so that students get hands-on experience using and working with these energies. Putting ideas and theories into practice is the best way to internalize new information, and asking the student to immerse themselves in a daily meditation practice for 21 days provides an excellent foundation for student's to then craft their own personlized chakra-based routine increasing their physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being and development once they have completed the course. Level: All levels Enrolment Duration: 3 months Course Requirements: * 2-4 hours / lesson (26-52 hrs total). * Students will be expected to read critically and journal their thoughts and reactions to the material, and intelligently apply the knowledge to their own life during the 21-day practicum. The meditation practicum involves a 3 week DAILY practice of working with the chakra meditation(s) of the student's choosing, and journaling their experiences in detail. Students are assumed to have a PC with audio and video capabilities, as lessons contain mp3 files and streaming video. Required Text: ** Students are not required to purchase their text through the Amazon links, however, they are provided for convenience as this text is usually not readily available at local bookstores. ** Course Fee: $30 usd Course Outline Lesson 1 - Introduction to the Human Energetic System This lesson sets up the course by providing the students with an overview of the energetic anatomy of the human body (which is reflected in every other order of being as well), how it functions and what roles it plays in the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies. Several short videos are screened to bring the words into pictures and sounds that the student can relate to on various levels, outside of the cerebral one. Complementary readings are assigned both from outside resources, as well as in the required text. Lesson 2 - The Base Chakra We start the exploration of the individual chakras at the base, the foundation of the system. The related themes of survival, as well as more esoteric attributes are presented in the various assigned readings. This lesson begins the viewing of a mini-documentary series dedicated to making the information regarding each chakra clear and accessible to a wide audience. Music and meditation ideas are also provided so that the student can begin to informally work with the energies of this chakra experientially. Lesson 3 - The Sacral Chakra This lesson continues the student's journey up the central spinal channel and the chakras along the way, bringing them to rest in the sacral chakra source of the creative instinct and related impulses. Located in the genital region this centre is not focused soley on physical sex, and the assigned readings explore the varied themes and attributes of this chakra. The mini-documentary series continues, and music and meditation ideas are provided for the student to begin experimenting with. Lesson 4 - The Solar Plexus Chakra The student's next stop is the solar-plexus centre, the seat of one's personal power and the main point of energetic interaction with the environment. Readings focused on introducing and fleshing out the major themes and associated attributes of this chakra are assigned, and the next documentary is screened. Once again music and meditation ideas are presented for the student to begin experimenting with to become more familiar with the energies being discussed. Lesson 5 - The Heart Chakra This lesson focuses the student's attention firmly on the heart chakra, and all the very important themes and energies associated with it. Situated at the energetic transiton point, the heart chakra uses the power of love and compassion to transmute the energies of the three "lower" and more physically-linked chakras, into the lighter and more subtle vibrations used by the three "higher" chakras which have more abstract spiritual functions. The assigned readings outline and detail the information and associations vital to understanding this complex centre. The next installment of the chakra documentary series is screened, and music and meditation ideas are presented for the student's use, including mantra suggestions for those students who are familiar with their usage. Lesson 6 - The Throat Chakra The student's attention is now brought to the throat chakra, the source of communication. Brief discussion related to the levels of communication ruled by this center are presented before the readings are explored. Another short documentary in the chakra series is screened, and additional music and meditation ideas designed for stimulating the throat chakra are provided. Lesson 7 - The 3rd-Eye Chakra The ever mysterious 3rd-eye centre is introduced in this lesson. Ruling intuition, psychicism, and other forms of "paranormal" perception, the ajna chakra governs sight and perception of all kinds. In addition to the readings, mini-documentary, and resonant music, the student is treated to a guided video meditation to aid them in internalizing the energies. Lesson 8 - The Crown Chakra The journey upwards draws to a close as the student reaches the crown chakra, the centre that connects us to the Divine Source. The themes related to this highest state of being and the profound silence found there are explored through the readings, and put into pictures thanks to the documentary series. Music resonant with this chakra is again provided for the student's to informally begin experiencing these energies. Lesson 9 - Cleansing and Activating the Chakras with Meditation and Bodywork Now that the student has a clear idea of the basic structure and functions of the chakra system, various techniques of working with the chakra energies are presented. From hatha yoga, breathing, chanting, aromatherapy, crystal healing, color therapy and more, a variety of modalities are explored. The student is asked to do some personal research into other methods available, and then to start planning which methods they would like to experiment with formally during their 21-day practicum. Lesson 10 - Week 1 Practicum The student now begins the practical work by performing their first chosen chakra meditation daily for 7 days, tracking and journalling their progress by examining their external and internal processes throughout this week. Lesson 11 - Week 2 Practicum In the second week of the practicum the student is asked to choose a new meditation to work with that uses a different methodology of accessing and stimulating the chakra energies. This will help broaden the student's experiences of the energy, and help encourage confidence in the utilization of varying modalities of energetic health. The detailed journal work is continued. Lesson 12 - Week 3 Practicum Week three continues the breadth work begun in week 2 by asking the student to once again choose a new meditation that utilizes a new method of working with the chakra energies. The detailed journal work continues. Lesson 13- Review and Looking Back Having taken in a great deal of information from all the various sources, and then had the opportunity to experience and confirm aspects of that material first-hand, the student is now asked to take a step back and review their experiences. Several video files are provided that will briefly review the academic material presented throughout the class, and that hint at the wider spiritual ramifications of the chakra energy system. These ideas should seem more familiar to the student who has immersed themselves in the energies and theories of the chakras for the past 21 days. The final assignment for the student is a retrospective essay.