Sahasrara or Crown chakra

Sahasrara, the most common Sanskrit name for the Crown chakra, means ‘thousand-petaled.’

This energy centre controls our connection to spirit, and our sense of universal consciousness, wisdom, unity and self-knowledge. Association with the colour violet reflects the Crown chakra’s link to spirituality and enlightenment.

The Crown chakra stores energies amassed through kind thoughts and actions, faith, meditation and prayer. Here we are able to transcend the material world and commune with the divine. Sahasrara is aligned to seek an intimate relationship with the universe.

Key elements of the Crown chakra

• Sahasrara: Thousand petals

• Element: The element associated with Sahasrara chakra is thought.

• Physical Body: The crown chakra is located at the top of the head, or slightly above – like a crown, radiating upward. Its location means it is closely linked to the brain and the nervous system. Sahasrara is associated primarily with the pituitary gland, secondarily with the pineal and the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus and pituitary gland work together to regulate the endocrine system (all of the body’s biological processes). Energetically, the seventh chakra has a connection with the first chakra – they are bookends of the chakra system.

• Emotional Body: Devotion, inspiration, prophetic thought, mystical connections and transcendental ideas come from the Crown chakra. Extraordinary dreams may be messages from your Crown chakra…

• Mental Body: When working with the Crown chakra, we divert our attention from ourselves to the world around us. Questions may arise like: How am I connected to the world? How can I gain clarity about my place in the world? How can I better serve the world?

Signs of imbalance

As we’ve learned in previous chakra articles (see below), stress in any layer of the body (physical, mental, emotional and energetic) can cause you to slow down, stagnate or completely go into overdrive. An imbalanced Sahasrara chakra may manifest as confusion, distraction, lack of focus, feeling disconnected from the body or world, or hyper spiritualization (too much meditation!).

Checklist for the Crown chakra

• Connect! The more people who connect with the power of this chakra, the greater the shift of our collective consciousness towards a holistic understanding of health, biodiversity and humanity as a whole.

• Discover the power within. Understanding that we are responsible for what we create – in turn learn to act, think and speak with love and wisdom – helps us to become happier, healthier and less reactive.

• Learn from obstacles and illusions. Seek meaning from physical and emotional obstacles but let them go once they’ve served their purpose or taught their lesson.

How to balance your Crown chakra

Balancing the Crown chakra may help you feel more ease. Mentally, the ability to situate yourself in the world around you brings relaxation and clear-headedness. Increased synergy between the physical and mental allows a deeper connection with the spiritual realm. There are things you can do on and off the mat to strike an equilibrium.

Yoga poses for Sahasrara chakra.

Balance this energy centre with these targeted yoga poses:

• Supported Headstand (Salamba Sirsasana)

• Plough (Halasana)

• Supported Shoulderstand (Salamba Sarvangasana)

• Lotus (Padmasana)

• Seated Forward Bend (Paschimottanasana)

• Reclining Bound Angle (Supta Baddha Konasana)

Chantra mantras or sound vibrations

Om is the Kundalini bija mantra. Chanting OM (pronounced AUM), works on the vibrational frequency of the Crown chakra. Use the breath – breathe in and as you breathe out vibrate the sound OM. This mantra is very powerful and signifies the essence of the ultimate reality.
Mudra for the seventh chakra: The Mudra of a Thousand Petals 

In a comfortable seated position, sit up tall. Touch the tips of your index fingers and thumbs together to form a pyramid shape. Allow the other fingers to extend upward, keeping them straight. Raise this mudra to about 6 inches above the top of your head.

Thought is the quality of the Crown chakra

Discover the infinite within, and know that it is one with all outside of your. Working with the top of the head through asana is a beautiful step to help clear the Crown chakra. When we work on the body, tightness and stagnation can come to the surface. If we can find the patience and the wisdom to sit with it and watch it without judgment, we can start to understand the deeper lessons, meanings and connections of everything that arises and then consciously let it go. As a result, we find freedom. Within the Crown Chakra, this means the freedom to deeply connect with all.

Meditation for Sahasrara chakra

Violet is the colour for this chakra. Try visualising it during your relaxation or meditation – perhaps as a glowing halo just above your head. With your eyes closed, imagine the radiance. Let it pulse with the breath, awareness rising up into a column of light, shining back down into you. Draw it in through your crown, to fill your entire body and the space surrounding you, rise back out through the crown, encasing yourself in a sparkling violet spotlight… As you meditate on your crown, visualizing your breath as a beautiful column of violet light – chant the sound OM to connect with all that exists inside and outside of you.

Exploring Your Solar Plexus Chakra

You may have come across the seven chakras;  maybe it was in yoga class, or during a meditation course. However, you might not know exactly what they are or how to work productively with your chakras. Chakras are energy centers in the subtle body that distribute the flow of prana or energy throughout your body. Starting at the base of the spine and working up to the crown of your head, these chakras influence your emotional and physical health.

Understanding the role and purpose of each chakra is a crucial first step in balancing your chakras and establishing a harmonious flow of energy. All of the seven chakras are interconnected; balancing one chakra will create change in the others. If you are lacking control in your life or struggling with self-confidence, turn your attention and become acquainted with your solar plexus chakra.

The Solar Plexus Chakra

Located in the upper abdomen two inches above the navel, the solar plexus chakra or manipura is the third of your seven chakras. The Sanskrit name translates to “shining gem,” a fitting name for this chakra. This chakra is the core of your personality and identity. When balanced, this chakra allows your authentic self to shine brightly.

The solar plexus chakra is located above the navel and extends up to the sternum. This forms your deepest connections with willpower, self-discipline, and self-esteem. The solar plexus chakra embodies your unlimited potential to transform thought or inertia into action.

The solar plexus chakra is the source of your personal power and confidence. This enables you to discover who you truly are and let your authenticity flourish. A balanced solar plexus chakra gives you the ability to overcome fear, master your thoughts, and make conscious choices.

The solar plexus chakra helps grow your confidence and vitality. This empowers you to follow your true path and create the life you want. When balanced, the solar plexus chakra allows you to seize your personal power, develop your authentic self, and take responsibility for your life.

Key Characteristics of the Solar Plexus Chakra

• Identity — As the core of your personality and identity, the solar plexus chakra allows you to bloom into your authentic self and discover who you truly are.

• Personal Power — The solar plexus chakra is the source of your personal power. This empowers you to take control of your thoughts, emotions, and actions.  

• Willpower — Working with your personal power, your solar plexus chakra gives you the willpower and self-discipline to get things done.

• Confidence — The solar plexus chakra is responsible for your self-esteem and how you view yourself. It also gives you the confidence to make decisions and feel self-assured.

• Intention & Action — Your solar plexus chakra gives you the power to transform your thought into action.

Solar Plexus Chakra Imbalance

The chakra system distributes the flow of prana or energy throughout your subtle body. Stress, illness, emotional upset, or conflict all can cause blockages or imbalances in your chakra system. All of the seven chakras are interconnected; when one chakra experiences a blockage or imbalance, it affects all the others. This disruption of energy can cause your mind, body, and spirit to suffer.

When the solar plexus chakra is imbalanced, it can bring a lack of control in your life as well as a loss of identity. Suppose you are working towards becoming a leader, improving your self-esteem, or trying to discover your authentic self. In that case, it is important that you open and balance your solar plexus chakra.

Underactive Solar Plexus Chakra

When a chakra is underactive, it means that it is experiencing a blockage or is not distributing the flow of energy, which can affect your overall well-being.

When your solar plexus chakra is underactive, you may be experiencing a sense of lack of control and purpose in life. When the solar plexus chakra becomes blocked, it often leads to emotional problems, ranging from feeling powerless to self-doubting.

How to recognize if your solar plexus chakra is underactive

• Lack of Confidence

• Low Self-Esteem

• Indecisive

• Helplessness

• Lack of Purpose

Overactive Solar Plexus Chakra

When a chakra is overactive, it means that it is distributing too much energy. It is working in overdrive and bringing imbalance to the chakra. When your solar chakra is overactive, it affects your overall well-being.

Too much of anything is never good for you. When your solar plexus chakra is overactive, you may be experiencing issues such as desiring control over others and judging too harshly. When the solar plexus chakra is overwhelmed with energy, it can overstimulate your system. You may feel especially critical and stubborn.

Signs of an overactive solar plexus chakra

• Desire for control

• Overly Critical

• Excessive Stubbornness

• Anger and Aggression

• Judgmental

How to Balance the Solar Plexus Chakra

Chakra balancing is the process of restoring the harmonious and balanced flow of prana or energy throughout the body. Your chakras are in constant fluctuation. Practicing chakra balancing and aligning is a regular and sometimes daily activity to explore. But how do you balance your solar plexus chakra?

There are many different ways to restore balance to your chakras. What works for you might not work for another. Make sure you find a way that works for you. Listen to your body and find the way that makes you comfortable.

Ways to Balance Your Solar Plexus Chakra

• Try new things

• Spend time in the sun

• Yoga for Solar Plexus Chakra

• Meditation for Solar Plexus Chakra

• Solar Plexus affirmations

• Aromatherapy for Solar Plexus Chakra

• Solar Plexus crystals

New Experiences

The solar plexus chakra is responsible for helping you discover your authentic self and find your true purpose in life. Getting outside of your comfort zone and experiencing new hobbies, cultures, and ideas can help open and bring balance to your solar plexus chakra.

Get Outside 

The solar plexus chakra is highly influenced by the element of fire. Getting outside on sunny days can help open and restore balance to your third chakra. Taking a walk, meditating, or simply sunbathing can allow your solar plexus energy to flow.

Yoga for Solar Plexus Chakra 

 Physical activity can be stimulating for your solar plexus chakra; yoga can particularly helpful in bringing balance to your solar plexus chakra. Yoga positions that focus on core strength are ideal for the solar plexus chakra. Below are yoga positions and movements that will help connect you to the energy of the solar plexus chakra.

• Full Boat Pose | Paripurna Navasana

• Firefly Pose | Tittibhasana

• Bharadvaja’s Twist | Bharadvajasana I

• Sun Salutations | Surya Namaskar

• Bow Pose | Dhanurasana

Mediation for Solar Plexus Chakra 

Meditation plays an important role in restoring balance to your chakras. Chakra meditation techniques are similar to traditional meditation techniques but focus on a specific area of the body. Below is a simple meditation technique to help aid in balancing your solar plexus chakra.

1. Sit with your shoulders back and spine straight. Relax your muscles as you close your eyes and breathe deeply. Inhale through your nose and exhale through the mouth.

2. Focus your attention on the location of your solar plexus chakra: your abdomen, a few inches above the navel.

3. Since the solar plexus chakra is tied to the color yellow, imagine a yellow glow above your navel, slowly expanding to the bottom of your rib cage and making the whole area warm and relaxed. Rest in this sensation for 3-5 minutes.

4. When you are ready, slowly open your eyes. You may follow with positive affirmations.

Solar Plexus Chakra Affirmations 

Affirmations are a positive way to heal negative programming that can be embedded in your subtle body. When balancing your solar plexus chakra, practice saying these phrases to yourself:

• I love and accept my house

• I am authentic

• I feel my own powers

• I am free to choose in any situation

• I direct my own life

Aromatherapy for Solar Plexus Chakra 

Aromatherapy can be a powerful and simple tool for opening and balancing your solar plexus chakra. Use essential oils with balancing aromas that promote feelings of confidence, courage, and motivation. Our Solar Plexus Chakra Essential Oil Blend is designed to aid in balancing and opening your solar plexus chakra. Apply our Solar Plexus Chakra Blend to your abdomen, two inches above the navel.

Solar Plexus Crystals 

 Each chakra is influenced by unique stones and their energetic properties. The solar plexus chakra is highly influenced by tiger’s eye. When balancing your solar plexus chakra, meditate with tiger’s eye or carry the stone with you to let the energetic properties help restore balance to the chakra. Our Roll-On Solar Plexus Chakra Essential Oil Blend has a tiger’s eye rollerball to aid in balancing your solar plexus chakra.

How Meditation Can Help You Through the Winter

In the cold, dark days of winter, many of us may wake up later, leave our houses less, and struggle to stay motivated. These months are likely to feel longer and more stressful than sunnier seasons, which is why prioritising mental health and turning to meditation for its mood-boosting benefits may help.

“Meditation provides an island of sanity in an otherwise chaotic and tumultuous reality,” says Tal Ben-Shahar, PhD, co-founder and chief learning officer of the Happiness Studies Academy.

Meditation has many known health benefits. Mental health and meditation experts share more about the best ways to use this tool to get through the difficult winter months.

Practice Mindfulness Meditation

While there are many techniques worth trying, mindfulness meditation is highly recommended for decreasing worried thoughts, improving mood, and stress management. Best of all, you can use this technique at any time throughout your day. 

Dr. Ben-Shahar explains the four leading guidelines of mindfulness meditation and how they can help you in your daily practice. 

• Allow the mind to rest on a single object. The object can be anything: a physical posture, a bodily sensation, a word, a visual cue, a sound, or even another person. When we rest our mind on an object without trying to change it, without criticising it—just observing it with friendly curiosity—we begin to see clearly.

• Return to focus. Mindfulness doesn’t require ongoing concentration. Our mind inevitably wanders and when we catch this happening, we should bring our focus back to whatever our object of meditation happens to be.

• Breathe slowly, gently, and deeply. While this applies to most meditation practices, though not all, breath is often the foundation of a practice. Deep, slow, and gentle breaths open us up to positive change.

• Practice non-judgement acceptance. The key when you meditate is to rid yourself of expectations. There are no expectations to be calm or joyful or focused. When meditating, give yourself permission to be human. By assuming the light and gentle quality of a calm breath, life can become easier.

“Whether you managed to focus for 20 minutes straight, or caught your mind wandering often and immediately, or were constantly distracted for 15 minutes—it doesn’t matter,” says Dr. Ben-Shahar. “There is no good or bad meditation, there is only meditation.”

Meditate Often for More Benefits

Like writing, running, or cooking, meditation is a skill that should be practiced. The more you practice, the more you improve. But be aware that over-practicing can lead to burnout. 

Meditation is meant to ground you where you are, bringing you back to the present and allowing you to recognise all of the senses that surround you. If you’re new to meditation, start slowly and know that short meditation sessions offer just as many benefits as long ones.

Chris Lemig, CHT, contributor to Choosing Therapy, recommends meditating in short, manageable sessions over a long period of time, starting with just five minutes every morning. Gradually, as it becomes a habit, you can add time and even increase the number of sessions you do each day.

“Ten minutes a day, or even three minutes once in a while, can go a long way in resetting our nervous system,” says Dr. Ben-Shahar. 

Build a Sustainable Practice

Meditation can be practiced anytime, anywhere, but everyone’s practice looks different. What works for someone else may not work for you, so if you’re new to meditation, listen to your body and be patient with yourself. 

If you’re starting a meditation practice or looking to improve your current practice, these suggestions may help.

• Listen deliberately. Meditation is present-moment awareness, so we can simply focus on the sounds around us. Rather than perceiving them as distractions, we can perceive them as the object of meditation itself, says Dr. Ben-Shahar.

• Sit in silence. Paul Greene, PhD, director of the Manhattan Center for Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, recommends meditating at a time when you won't be disturbed. It's understandable to want some stress relief when things are chaotic at home, but he believes that's not the right time to meditate. Wait until things are quiet and you know you'll be left alone for a while.

• Focus on your breath. The key to meditation, and lowering stress levels, is the breath. Dr. Ben-Shahar recommends taking slow, gentle, and quiet inhalations and exhalations, ideally through the nose and all the way down to the belly.

• Avoid over-meditating. Meditation is beneficial, but doing too much of anything can be problematic. By meditating for just 10 minutes per day, Dr. Ben-Shahar says you can change the structure of your brain, ultimately supporting your overall well-being.

• Try guided meditation. There are dozens of free meditation videos or recordings online. You can also download an app such as Headspace, Calm, or Sattva. These can be helpful when starting out, says Dr. Greene, but you’ll benefit more from meditating alone.

While meditation can help lower stress levels, Dr. Ben-Shahar says it’s important to realise that stress, in and of itself, is not a problem. Stress can actually help us become stronger, more resilient, and healthier. We just need to incorporate recovery time.

“Think about stressing our muscles in the gym,” Dr. Ben-Shahar says. Doing so makes them stronger. But when there is no recovery, we get injured. Recovery is necessary for gaining benefits, he explains, and meditation provides the recovery we need.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to meditation, you’ll gain the most from a consistent practice. Even if your mind shifts away from your chosen focus or your time gets cut short, you can still enjoy the benefits of meditation. 

Be mindful of how you’re feeling this winter. If you’re building a healthy meditation practice but still experiencing heightened levels of stress and anxiety, consider additional methods of self-care such as individual or group therapy. Meditation should be used as a mental health tool, but know it’s not the only one available to you.

How to stimulate your vagus nerve to reduce stress and anxiety

What is the vagus nerve?

The vagus nerve is a long and powerful nerve that connects the brain and gut together. It runs from the brain, passing and contacting the tongue, vocal cords, throat, heart, lungs, diaphragm, liver, spleen, large intestine, small intestine, pancreas and kidneys, ending as a ball of nerve endings in the stomach. Hence why it’s often referred to as the ‘wandering nerve’!

The vagus nerve and our relaxation response

The vagus nerve largely contributes to the parts of the nervous system responsible for both the fight or flight and rest and digest responses. And as the vagus nerve connects with the lungs and diaphragm, means the way we breathe affects it. If the vagus nerve senses relaxed, slow breathing, it relays messages to the brain that everything is a-ok, and there’s no need to stress.

Whilst the science behind the nervous system runs deep and you could read about it for hours, there’s no substitute for first-hand experience. Simply put; we know what it feels like when we stimulate the vagus nerve, because we feel more relaxed. Think of the vagus nerve a little like your in-built de-stressor, available to engage with at any time. In a world where many of us are currently experiencing situations that could elicit anxiety and stress, it’s worth knowing how to work with the vagus nerve to bring your body into a state of balance, and empower yourself with your own healing tools.

Five ways to start working with the vagus nerve in yoga

1. Slow deep breathing

Breathing is one of the most simple and effective ways to stimulate the vagus nerve and elicit the relaxation response. Simply taking a slow, long and diaphragmatic breath is enough to encourage the vagus nerve to let the brain know it’s time to relax.

The vagus nerve runs through the throat and vocal cords too however, so specific yogic pranayama techniques like Ujjayi breath and Brahmari breath (humming-bee breath) can be even more powerful. To practice Brahmari breath, take a long breath in and then let out an audible ‘hummmm’ with your mouth closed as you exhale. 

2. Singing and chanting

Similar to the way Brahmari breath vibrates the vocal chords, singing and chanting have been shown to work with the vagus nerve to bring the body into a state of ‘rest and digest’. If singing makes you feel self-conscious and stressed, try singing in the shower or singing along with the radio in your car! Any song or mantra you enjoy can help to bring about this response, but the ‘Aum’ or ‘Om’ mantra is particularly effective for cultivating a sense of calm, and is said to send out purifying, positive vibrations to the environment around you. 

3. Cold therapy

Have you tried cold showers yet? Popularised by Wim Hof and his style of breath work coupled with cold showers, cold exposure has increasingly been found to help relieve anxiety and stress, stimulate the vagus nerve, and promote healthy mitochondria (the ‘engines’ within each of our cells). If a full-on cold shower isn’t possible, try splashing your face with cold water – especially when in the midst of a wave of worry or anxiety – as this has similar effects, or stepping outside for short amounts of time with minimal clothing in cold weather. 

• If you want to take this further, combine the cold showers and breathing techniques with yoga targeting the core in our Strong core radiant health program.

4. Meditation

Whether it’s a guided meditation session, or a regular routine of sitting and watching your breath, meditation has been shown to activate the parasympathetic nervous system by slowing the heart rate and breathing, relaxing the muscles of the abdomen, and slowing brainwave activity.

All of these aspects signal to the vagus nerve that the body is in a relaxed and safe state, thus sending messages to the brain to let it know it’s ok to relax. Positive, loving thoughts are also highly beneficial for vagus nerve activity, so try the Buddhist Metta Bhavna or ‘Loving Kindness’ meditation to start with.

5. Gut Heath

The brain and gut are in constant communication via the vagus nerve. Which is why gut health and mental health are so intrinsically linked. In fact, research shows that when it comes to people with food sensitivities, anxiety, gut problems, brain fog and depersonalisation, a poorly functioning vagus nerve is often at play. 

Having a good balance of healthy gut bacteria has been shown in numerous studies to positively affect the vagus nerve and contribute to better brain health. If you suffer with digestive issues – reflect upon whether these bouts of indigestion or stomach issues tend to be accompanied by mood swings or brain fog. If the answer is ‘yes’, it’s time to take greater care of your gut, as over 80% of our immune system is actually located within it!

Taking a good quality probiotic can help improve gut bacteria, as can including more pre and probiotics in your meals – think sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha or kefir. Practices like occasional fasting, ensuring you’re not eating too late at night, and cutting down on refined sugar can also have a positive impact upon gut health, thus reducing anxiety and stress too!

Yoga for better sleep

Yoga is a gentle and restorative way to wind down your day. A national survey found that over 55% of people who did yoga found that it helped them get better sleep. Over 85% said yoga helped reduce stress. You can use supportive props like bolsters, blankets, and blocks to make poses comfortable so that you can stay in the pose for longer and continue to breathe.

Your breath is key to be able to relax in these poses. Breath in yoga is equally important—if not more important—as the physical pose. Use a gentle and calming yoga breath technique called Ujjayi Breath, also known as Ocean Breath or Victorious Breath. Inhale deeply through the nose. With your mouth closed, exhale through your nose while constricting the back of your throat as if you are saying "ha" but keep your mouth closed. This exhalation should sound like the waves of the ocean (or like Darth Vader from Star Wars). Use this slow and steady breath to soothe yourself in each of these poses.

Practice these yoga poses right before bedtime and stay in them about 3 to 5 minutes each. Use your Ocean Breath in each pose, with the exception of Corpse Pose, where your breath returns to normal.

These seven restorative yoga poses relieve tension and stress at the end of the day. The more that you practice these poses regularly, the more you likely you can get a good night’s rest.

Best yoga poses for assisting sleeping patterns:

1. Wide-Knee Child’s Pose (Balasana)

2. Standing Forward Bend (Uttanasana)

3. Standing Half Forward Bend (Ardha Uttanasana) at the wall

4. Reclining Bound Angle (Supta Baddha Konasana)

5. Legs Up The Wall Pose (Viparita Karani )

6. Corpse Pose (Savasana)

7. Legs on a Chair Pose

Other ways yoga can assist you to sleep better?

• Yoga improves mindfulness, increases melatonin levels, and helps reduce sleep disturbance.

• The deep breathing technique is extremely relaxing and it induces sleep.

• The key to possessing proper sleep is regular exercise with a combination of yoga.

• Yoga and meditation help us de-stress.

• It relaxes our nervous system.

• It revives our body, makes us feel good, and provides us with a relaxing effect.

Yoga is good in many aspects of life as it helps improve our overall health and helps us attain a better and calming mind. If we indulge ourselves with the practice of yoga, then physical and mental stress are reduced and we stay in a happy, positive state of mind helping us to be mindful, and responsive.

Celebrating the Full Moon - Yogi style

As you probably know, the moon and its cycles influence our mind and body, from the mood we are in to our quality of sleep, but did you know it can also impact your yoga practise? Here is our guide to harnessing the energy of the moon, syncing your practise with this inspiring lunar cycle and using the power of the full moon to your advantage.

A full moon is one of the most exciting lunar cycles because it represents a boost in energy and is a moment for celebration. In Ashtanga practice, yogis abstain from doing yoga on full moon days because this is one of the most advanced forms of yoga and therefore the risk of injury is greater and so they use full moon days as rest days. All other types of yoga are encouraged during this moon phase.

Why is the full moon celebrated?

Every month, the moon starts a new cycle around the earth. A moon cycle begins with the new moon, when the moon stands between the earth and the sun and is therefore invisible for the human eye. It then goes into a waxing phase until it reaches the full moon - the pinnacle of the moon cycle. After the full moon the moon retreats into its waning phase until it all starts again with the new moon.

The full moon is celebrated since thousands of years in ancient cultures for its magic, mystery and special energy. It represents a time to gather with community, release unwanted energies and honor what we have created since the new moon. 

Full moons are great gateways to create change in our life, they are powerful tools for letting go of unwanted energy, cleansing and releasing what doesn’t serve us anymore. The full moon amplifies. Just as the moon is shone upon my the sun, our emotions and energies are brought to light so that we are able to work with them. 

Astrologically, full moons are a time to take action. When the moon is its brightest and most active, we get inspired to do the necessary work that is needed to manifest dreams into action. The light of the full moon serves as guidance where we need to focus and shift our energy. 

To harness the beautiful power of the full moon, moon rituals and ceremonies can be used as a powerful tool to self-reflect and create necessary change in your life. Moon ceremonies, dances and rituals have been around for many centuries. Evidence of moon worship has been uncovered at archaeological digs all over the world, from the ancient Celts to the Egyptians. The most common symbol was the lunar disc - a flat, shiny figure worn as a medallion or as part of a crown, meant to symbolize the moon and associated things. But some full moon rituals are still alive today.

The following rituals of ancient cultures around the globe can provide you with an idea and inspiration for your own moon ceremony, to use the magical power of the moon.  

What Does the Full Moon Mean for Yogis?

A full moon gives yogis the opportunity to refresh, rejuvenate and release any built up tension or stress. Practising yoga during a full moon and aligning your energy with this lunar phase will allow you to feel grounded and fulfilled. The evening is the best time to practise and this will also allow you to reap the benefits as you wind down before bed.

Create your own full moon ritual

Hopefully the rituals and ceremonies from above have given you some inspiration for your own full moon ritual. Celebrating the full moon can be a very powerful way for your own self-development. We learn to put our own life into context with the cycles of nature. The full moon always marks a time of death, change and re-birth. It is a perfect time to let go of the things that are holding you back from living your best life and reaching your fullest potential. 

In the 48-hour window surrounding a full moon, you can express gratitude, meditate, pray and work on your manifestations. Create a sacred space for yourself by taking a candle-lit bath and do some journaling or celebrate with others, creating a sharing circle, moving, meditating and manifesting together.