Eight Day Cognitive Meditation

~ Shelia S. Massey

Most people have little difficulty with meditative practices that allow issues to "arise" rather than designating a specific event or problem to focus upon. The buffers we all have in place tend to protect us from that which we are not yet ready to deal with. Those issues we aren't ready to address simply do not arise. However, I would not recommend this meditation for anyone who is undergoing treatment for trauma related issues; you are already doing the work that needs to be done. For anyone who experiences any difficulties while using this meditation simply desist, there is no need to push the river. You can return to it another day.

Each day, this meditation will focus upon one chakra and its associated cluster of issues. At the end of eight days you will have moved through the seven basic chakras and returned to the starting point. According to alchemical principles which correlate the days of the week with the seven ancient planetary intelligences (i.e., principles), the attention is applied to the corresponding chakra. Therefore, the movement through the chakras does not proceed in a direct linear fashion. This is a cognitive meditation for the purpose of addressing life issues in a creative framework that can bring new insight into those blind spots about ourselves we all seem to have and ignore.

The focus will be upon one chakra per day, for the purpose of clearing issues directly related to that chakra alone. It is not a movement exercise (i.e., we will not be moving energy through the entire system of chakras). Nevertheless, spontaneous energy movement may occur with some very favorable and energizing results.

The meditation should begin on a Sunday and end on a Sunday. We begin at the heart and return to the heart to complete the cycle.

After reviewing the issues for the day's meditation, use the Calming Breath to begin. Repeat the breathe 4 to 10 times (at whatever level of comfort you have obtained in its use). Then continue to breathe normally, slowly and easily, without straining. Focus your attention upon the specific chakra for the day. Let the related issues come to mind one at a time and observe any changes in breathing rythym or bodily sensation that accompany the issue.

Compassion and observation are the keywords here. There is no need to make judgments about what you observe. Allow the positive and the negative aspects of self that arise to simply be. Look on all with equal compassion. They simply are. There is no need to push for resolution, just allow whatever creative solutions arise to come as they will. Everything in the universe responds to observation. Your task here is simply to observe, and in doing so the specific energies required to effect change will respond.

The chart below designates the day/chakra/issues. It is by no means a complete rendition of all the many ways an issue can present itself. Use it as a guideline and create your own specific issues list.

DAY

PLANET

CHAKRA

ISSUE FOCUS

Alchemical Work

Sunday Sun 4th - Heart Love/Hate, Compassion, Resentment/Forgiveness, Commitment/Isolation, Vitality Fire: Calcination (or crystallization)
Monday Moon 6th - Brow Emotional Intelligence, Mental Clarity, Imagination, Intuition, Receptivity, Sensitivity Water: Separation
Tuesday Mars 2nd - Sacral Power, Control, Aggression, Action, Blame, Guilt, Money, Sex, Ethics, Honor Fire: Digestation 

Water: Dissolution 

Wednesday Mercury 5th - Throat Will, Choice, Acquisition/Communication of Knowledge, Truth, Self-Expression, Judgment, Criticism Air: Distillation 

Earth: Congelation

Thursday Jupiter 7th - Crown of Head Spiritual values, Trust in Universal support, Expansion, Selflessness, Inspiration, Devotion Fire: Incineration 

Water: Projection

Friday Venus 1st - Base of Spine  Ones position within the family, group, or social order Harmony, Partnerships, Beauty, Excessive pursuit of desire, Dependency, Ability to defend or support self Air: Sublimation 

Earth: Fixation

Saturday Saturn 3rd - Solar Plexus Self-esteem and confidence, Trust and Fear, Limitations, Bonds, and Restrictions, Endurance Air: Multiplication 

Earth:Fermentation