On Acceptance
“I imagine the insides of myself sometimes—
part female, part male, part terrible dragon.”
I ran into a former friend the other morning.
Eight months ago, we had a silent falling out. Negative words abruptly ended our relationship, causing the friendship to stagnate and stall.
I knew I would run into her. She has been in my dreams and subconscious for days.
I’d been walking alongside the sea, my head in the clouds (my face was upturned to the sky, and I was reflecting on my recurrent dream ((men pushing wheelbarrows of roses up a hillside.))
I had meant to turn and take the path to the grocery store, but instead, I kept walking. I looked directly into my friend's gaze when I broke communion with the sky.
She was striding toward me on the same track. We held eye contact for twenty seconds and smiled. She nodded curtly, and we kept walking in opposite directions.
Part of me wanted to reach out and touch her arm and tell her that she looked great. She looked healthy and happy and wore red, highlighting her dark hair and eyes.
I wrestled with myself as I maintained my pace home.
I felt guilty for not working harder to sustain the friendship.
I felt indignant for being treated poorly.
I felt ashamed for not apologizing.
I felt sad about losing my friend.
And after seven minutes or so, I felt neutral.
I pulled my face from the mud (I'd been ruminating, watching my boots in the dirt) and saw that I'd wandered onto a street called Kismet.
I recently spoke to my mom about how I cannot relate to the stories I loved, even a few years ago. Miranda July, David Sedaris, Elif Shafak, Annie Ernaux, Lidia Yuknavitch, and even Haruki Murakami: I adored these writers in my twenties.
They served me in a very specific phase of my life. I don't relate to the content today like I used to, which indicates my consious development.
Some writers I adored ten years ago have stood the test of time.
Clarice Lispector, Margaret Atwood, Simone Weil, Jeannette Winterson, Elisabeth Haich, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, and Marion Woodman are a few examples of content I've picked up several times to review and hold close to my heart.
It's reassuring to revisit a beloved text.
Relationships are much the same. Some you pick up and put down. Some evolve with you. Some are steady and true from the start.
I knew I would see my former friend; I felt it in my heart. Walking the seaside, I needed to turn to take care of my errands, but something inside told me to stay on the path.
And I'm glad I did.
I'm grateful that I got to see her happy, healthy, and glowing. I'm grateful for the experience, as I was able to move through all of my turbulent emotions before arriving at the blessing of acceptance.
Sometimes, it's difficult to appreciate the natural evolution of the environment—its ascent and decay.
So, as the leaves scatter and the mud freezes, I'll remember my friend in her red hat.
And how happy we were for that moment together.
Do you make space to listen? How do you respond to the flutter within? Do you create space for spontaneity? What is your effect on those around you when you listen with your heart?
These are questions for the Third Eye Chakra, Ajna.
What is the Third Eye Chakra?
The main theme of the third eye chakra is intuitive intent. By the time we ascend to the third eye, we have moved from our heart's wisdom to self-expression and landed at the seat of compassion between the brows.
The third eye is where we develop discernment and begin to see things for how they truly are versus what we want them to be. We surrender control and accept people for who and what they are in that moment. We start to see all events as neutral rather than working from a positive or negative charge/mindset.
Intuiting intent is to read between the lines and assess what is not being said or presented. It moves beyond the obvious to explore the subtle facts and sensations of each experience. It asks that we become more quiet, listen to others and our inner voice, and evolve our approach to asserting ourselves.
The realm of the third eye works with the themes from the lower chakras in that we need to be calm (root), creative (sacral), courageous (navel), compassionate (heart), and centered in truth (throat) to organize our thoughts and evaluate situations without assuming control or casting judgment.
Third Eye Themes
Sound: Om
Color: Dark Blue
Balanced: Cosmic Vision, Intuition, Focused
Blocked: Overthinking, Fanticiful, Obsessive
About the Third Eye Chakra
Ajna translates as ‘beyond wisdom’ or ‘authority,’ as it is the point of intuition and intellect. From Tantrism, it is Shiva’s abode. It is where Shiva lives in meditation. It is where the Shakti (feminine, Kundalini energy) is trained to rise to elevate our total consciousness. It is where Shiva and Shakti meet; their merger creates the cosmos.
The pineal gland governs the third eye, the gland of spiritual evolution. It is in the shape of a pinecone, though the size of a pea, and located between the eyebrows deep inside the brain. Pinecones only open in the light; their scales stay tightly sealed when it is dark or damp! The pineal gland regulates the cycles of light and dark. It is responsible for maintaining the body's circadian rhythm. For this reason, it is essential to physiological development. Like pinecones, we need the light to flourish!
Other names for the third eye chakra include ‘one vision,’ ‘eye of God,’ ‘spiritual eye,’ and ‘seed of creation.’
It is responsible for creating synchronicities and works on metabolism and mental processes.
Our waking and sleeping cycles are disrupted when the pineal gland is not working. During sleep, the body rests, resets, and releases. Sleep is essential for the immune system and overall health, regardless of age or fitness level. So, when the pineal gland is disrupted, it affects our sleep cycles and how hormones are produced and released in the bloodstream.
If you want an in-depth analysis of the importance of sleep, I recommend reading Outlive by Peter Attila.
“True Meditation is the space in which everything gets revealed, everything gets seen, everything gets experienced. And as such, it lets go of itself. We don’t even let go. It lets go of itself.”
Ways to Observe the Third Eye Chakra
The following are some of the guidelines I use to work with the sixth chakra.
Meditation to get clear on my intent.
Dream writing/analysis to record the subconscious.
Breathing deep to remain present and open to the moment.
Creating and holding an intention, such as a Sadhana (daily ritual.)
Acknowledging where and when I am being judgemental.
A daily practice of Ahimsa ~ non-harming/judgment ~ for myself and all living beings.
Reading philosophy to expand my understanding.
Reading fiction to learn about characters, personas, themes, and conflict.
Reading history to appreciate where we have been as a collective.
Reading science to consider where we might go ….
Kriya for the Third Eye Chakra.
Thank you for reading! The sources for this article are noted below.
