Time to Align

by Karen Calnicean

As I was laying in savasana at the end of a yoga class five years ago, I listened to the instructor’s final words. She said, “Make sure your chakras are aligned.” Like a new, eager student of yoga, I thought, ‘Yes! I want and need that!’. But before I could say “Namaste,” I couldn’t wrap my head around what the hell she was talking about. I decided to turn to Guru Google and this is what came back to me in the internet’s infinite wisdom, “Chakras are circular vortexes’ of energy that are placed in seven different points of the spinal column. And all chakras are connected to vital organs and glands within the body. Whenever a chakra is disrupted or blocked, it can cause physical and mental ailments”. I still did not understand it. Then, the infinite wisdom of Pinterest led me to this chart.

Suddenly, it made sense. I began a journey to align my chakras, having no direction or knowledge on how to go about it. I decided to start from the bottom, root chakra, and work my way up to the crown chakra.

The red or root chakra is located at tail bone. It is said it represents survival and grounding. Was I grounded in survival? Or,

Maybe the journey isn’t so much about BECOMING anything. Maybe it’s about un-BECOMING everything that isn’t really you so you can BECOME who you were meant to BE in the first place.

was I barely surviving and not grounded in the truth? Yes, I was showing up to yoga, but I was also showing up to the Wendy’s drive-thru and liquor store regularly. The truth was that I wasn’t taking care of myself. I was not

showing up in my body, head, or heart. I thought sleep was for the dead. When really, I was sleepwalking through life. I placed very little value on what I ate or drank. I set out to make tiny changes. First, it was, get the healthiest thing at the drive-thru. Then it was, go to fast food and the bar less. I started thinking outside of the box on what I can do to stay active every day. I starting walking, then I started running. Next, I set a goal for myself. I have always thought free diving is amazing, so I set a goal to train. Looking around me, some so many other people are not just surviving but thriving in their bodies and life. I copied their behavior. I made sleep a priority. Very slowly, I started to feel planted on the earth again. I began to feel alive and beautiful. I looked better naked, too!

Next, it was time for the orange or sacral chakra. Located in the pelvis, it represents sexuality and passion. With fewer garbage foods and booze in my system, I began to be in touch more with my sensual side and my body. I was less numb to any desires I may have had sexual or otherwise. My lovely friends bought me a boudoir photoshoot, and I felt empowered.

Going through this experience left me with a sense of strength and beauty. I felt as if I was getting more comfortable with myself being uncomfortable in the presence of the camera lens. Unlike handedness, perhaps the chosen lens we look through is not always permanent. Sights and sounds have become more real. I looked at beautiful things, read amazing books, and started dressing as my best self. Instead of seeing the negative, I could see my beauty and the gifts I could share with being a beautiful person inside and out. I followed anything that made me feel passionate about my environment. I was now genuinely confident.

The yellow or solar plexus chakra is in the lower abdomen. It represents confidence and intuition. The day I was being photographed for this article at the Howell Opera House, I felt so blessed and wonderful. A tear started to stream down my face. I concluded with confidence to pitch my idea to Good Fat Life and my intuition that Sherri Richards would get it. I was living the dream I had as a child. I always hoped my life would be filled with pretty dresses, wearing them in amazing places and people being interested in me. I thought, “You did it, 4-year-old Karen!!!” My heart was full.

Green heart chakra is associated with love and compassion, and it is located in the heart. With exercise, healthy eating, and getting back to my passion and lust for life, I began working on showing more love and compassion to myself and others. I wanted to share myself in everything I did. In the way, I loved and cooked and decorated and dressed. I want to show up true and unencumbered, so I could share all my joy in little and big ways. I wanted to create a safe, beautiful place for my loved ones to feel compassion from me. The blue chakra of the throat represents expression and creativity. My home became very important to me, and I wanted everything to reflect the expression of myself and my family’s creativity. I sought everywhere to find those details to reflect that goal. I created my own style; dying my hair green and taking many fashion risks. I wanted the world to see me and my heart for who I truly am. They say the devil is in the details. I say the soul is in the details. I followed my intuition to be drawn to physical objects. Indigo represents the third eye and is located on the forehead. This is the psychics’ ability. With having my head, heart, and home in place, I was able to relax more and tap into the nonphysical things. How are the people feeling around me, and how can I help? Having two teenagers, I want to make sure they and their friends always had a safe place to land. Without all the unnecessary clutter in my heart and head, I can now be present for others and connect. Lastly, the violet or crown chakra is above the head. It signifies connection and wisdom. Every day, I pick a topic to learn about spiritual or physical alignment. My task is to stay so aligned that no one can mess with my vibe. It’s not always easy, but it’s worth it. I start the day saying, “If it’s not good for my vibe or does not fit my intentions, I should not do it.”. That can be challenging. And yes, some days I completely blow it. However, I know it’s okay to leave the path as long as I hop back on. I stopped hustling, shucking, and jiving and gave up the idea of the grind. I embraced the concept of rest, recovery, and reflection. I joined a wonderful Super Soul Sunday group to study A Course In Miracles. I now meditate every day. I know my life is so much better not because of luck but because of alignment. Here are my five tips to alignment • Be honest with yourself; • Kill your ego; • Meditate; get quiet or pray; • Embrace your fears; • Follow your heart; • Love yourself first, and everything falls in line. Or should I say everything will align? Photography: LMD Photography & LMD Boudoir & Women’s Fine Portraiture Gowns: The White Dress, Brighton, MI Hair: Natasha Gee Make-up: Carly Schuett Shoot location: Howell Opera House Snedicor’s Cleaners for great care of the gowns. THEY SAY THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS. I SAY THE SOUL IS IN THE DETAILS.