Working with Colour - Red

This week's Pagan Blog Project is R, which for me was easy as I am really into colour and its vibrations and benefits etc etc. I started out with a very clinical approach to this blog, but just didn't feel it. I had read something this morning from another blogger which got me thinking about my own blogs - are they real? Are they what I truly believe in my heart or what I have read in books? I hope it is the former as I always try to be authentic, but this morning it just felt clinical. I had a formula based on previous work with colour and it wasn't working for me. So, as I am learning to be more spontaneous (which is anathema to my 4 vibration) I thought I'd just sit and write and see what happens.

So, Red? What do I use it for? What does it mean to me?

I love red, have done so for a while now and it is probably my favourite colour after orange. To me, red is about passion, vitality and life. When I wear it I feel sexual and sensual (especially as a lipstick!), confident and ready to tackle anything - dare I say bullet-proof?

I also feel like me... I am not a pastels girl, and never will be, so wearing strong colours is part of who I am, wearing the standard rainbow colours gives me strength I can't describe. It also fills me with hope, hope that today will be a good day, hope that maybe I can achieve anything, hope that I will get through the day and whatever challenges it may bring (and as a casual High School teacher, these are many!).

I would love to say that I use red for grounding, but until recently I didn't think specifically of grounding techniques so I would be lying. I guess I naturally moved towards it without understanding it properly. I have owned and worn a read pair of boots for a few months now and I love them and wear them any chance I get! I now realise I may have been doing this instinctively as I desperately needed grounding and was unaware of it - I live in my head and have recently discovered my inability to understand the earth element reflected a deep need to be grounded, but that is another story...

In my travels (Inna Segal's book again!), I have learnt that red can be good for improving the circulation (which I often have trouble with), healing wounds and blood disorders, constipation, sciatica, increasing the sex drive and helping with weight loss but I have not had the urge to use it for these issues... probably should see what happens the next time I cross my legs for a period of time in my red boots! An interesting experiment... I may yet have cause to test the other theories out along my journey, but today they remain untested!

I do, however, use it for balancing my base chakra, which I am assuming is common practice. If I have money troubles or issues concerning the home or security, I will wear my boots or another piece of clothing to help balance this chakra. I will also meditate with a red jasper at my base or wear a garnet if the mood strikes me (or if I have the flu, as garnet is great at helping to assist with flu-like symptoms - to this I can attest!). I have also recently 'learned' that red is the numerological equivalent of the number 1, being about all things physical and how you relate to the world around you.

To me though, it is a colour of passion and vitality! I always feel a little sexier when I am wearing it, a little more confident and able to meet the challenges of the day. I do feel just simply better... Blue also does this, but for different reasons... Red is just such a strong colour to me, it gives me strength and for that I am forever grateful.

Chakra Fundamentals: The Base Chakra

I know at first glance, chakras may not appear to be a part of Paganism, however, it is a part of our emotional and physical well-being, thus for me it fits perfectly! In this way I feel it is important to have a working knowledge of them, if not a close affiliation with them. It is part of knowing the self and should be incorporated into any self discovery journey. There are a lot of people in the world who are walking around, unbalanced and have no idea why or how to fix it if they are aware. I was one such person not so long ago. 

Chakras are energy centres all over the physical body that allow for the free flow of energy from feet to crown, and everywhere in between. We have hundreds of mini chakras all over our body that facilitate this energy flow, however, there are seven main chakras that govern certain key aspects of our lives. They are the base (or root chakra), the sacral, the solar plexus, heart, throat, third eye (brow) and crown chakras.

  

The first, and possibly the most fundamental to overall health and well-being, is the base chakra, or in the sanskrit, Muladhara. Its location varies depending on which source you read, but I usually feel it at the very base of my torso. If sitting down, it is located in the area resting on the seat. Other works will describe it as being at the base of the spine or coccyx or the cervix (for women) or perineum (for men), however, if there is one thing I have learnt so far it is that all things are individual. One thing is certain, it is the first of the main energy centres and it is situated roughly at the bottom of your torso, the specifics will vary and you will have to discover this for yourself. One way to do this is to get into a meditative or contemplative state and ask to become aware of my base chakra. Sit quietly now and try it! Be aware of any buzzing, or energy pooling in a particular area. This will be the location of your base chakra! Some people also see them as swirling discs facing the front and back of your body, at vertical to the ground. Mine, however, face from my feet to my head, horizontal to the ground. Again, you will have to discover this for yourself.

Each chakra has a symbol associated with it, usually a version of the lotus flower. Muladhara is often shown as a lotus flower with four petals.

Each chakra governs both the physical and emotional body; any imbalance or issue with your chakras can manifest as a physical pain, injury or disease. Issues with your base chakra can manifest through the legs, knees, feet and ankles, bones, large intestine, hips and pelvis, kidneys, sciatic nerve or lower back. Any pain in these areas is a sign that you are experiencing emotional disturbance in one or more area concerning this chakra.

So what are these issues? The Base chakra is associated with feelings of belonging (with tribe or community), career and finances, safety and security, familial law and order, ability to stand up for oneself or any other material or physical concern. One example may be financial worries manifesting in hips locking or cramps in the legs. I have a particular issue with my coccyx bone, which I have damaged at least twice in my life. Now when I start to worry over money or the home, it will ache. It is a timely reminder for me to take a few seconds to work on this chakra and alleviate any concerns and worries.

It is easy to rebalance or activate a chakra. One of the easiest is, after identifying the issue that has caused the ailment or pain, locate and wear a crystal specifically associated with the chakra. Any red crystal will do for the base chakra, but of particular note is red jasper, garnet and smoky quartz (these will usually appear in your standard chakra crystal packs). There is no need to wear it directly on your base chakra, although doing this in a meditative state will help to enhance the crystal’s efficiency. You may also breathe in the colour red into the area of your base chakra and visualise it clearing the negativity from the area. Eating red food (such as tomatoes, cherries or apples) or drinking red infused water with intention is also another effective way. The easiest method of balancing or activating this chakra though, is to wear red underwear! It sits directly on the chakra and is far less noticeable than other methods! And who could forget those Dorothy inspired red shoes? (sparkles or sequins preferred though optional!) Another discreet way to balance your chakra is to wear red nail polish on your toes... I do this all the time with the intent that it balance my chakra; it seems simple but it works. And you feel pretty too!! All is intent though, so no matter what you choose to do, be sure to state your intention when doing it!

Here are some simple ways to maintain your base chakra’s health on a daily basis:

• Take your off shoes and walk barefoot outside connecting with Mother Earth 
• Dancing
• Massage and pedicure
• Gardening or house work with the intention of balancing or opening this chakra
• If possible, have a space within your home that is entirely yours
• Daily short, brisk walks
• Have a routine and stick to it
• Pay bills on time
• Bake bread and peel potatoes for grounding

I have found that a solid base chakra is the foundation for all psychic or energy work. If your base chakra is closed or imbalanced it is likely (though not guaranteed) that your other chakras are in the same state.

So start with the basics! Get your physical life in order first to allow the magickal to enter your life!!

(Most information is gathered from personal experience and discussions with teachers and like minded people, however, a good book to read to get an overall idea of the chakras is Janet Boyer’s The Chakras. Available on Amazon.com or via Kindle.)