The Rod of Asclepius
A painting of healing, by Allegra Willow
Acrylic on canvas, 18×24"
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The Rod of Asclepius is an ancient symbol of medicine and healing. Asclepius, the Greek god of healing, medicine, and physicians, is associated with snakes. He is often depicted holding a rod or staff with a single snake coiled around it.
In this painting, the seven chakras of the subtle body are placed at at different points on the Rod. The snake is coiled around them in a healing and protective way. Radiating from the chakras are the Flower of Life (overlapping circles symbolizing interconnection) and the Star of Life (a white six-pointed star used as symbol of healers and physicians).
Beneath the Rod, there is lavender and yarrow as well as two quartz crystal clusters, all of which are associated with healing.
Adept (Latin) Adeptus, “One who has obtained.” In occultism, an adept is one who has reached the stage of Initiation and has become a Master in the science of esotericism.
Confession time. Apart from the odd twenty-minute practise here and there, Miss ‘I love yoga, you should try yoga, omg yoga yoGA YOGAA’, didn’t practise yoga for the best part of last year (spiritual plateau, if you were curious). I watched new yogis pop up on Instagram, re-read the benefits, knew how necessary on a personal level it would be to get my energy/prana/chi flowing and noted how much better I felt after one of those twenty-minute flows. But the cba hurdle (means ‘can’t be arsed’ if that’s unfamiliar) I had to get over to start each practise always had me torn between two mindsets – if you want it, make it happen (à la Liz Gilbert walking around her house saying random words to get that creative energy flowing) and waiting to feel like doing it… and I usually favoured the latter. However, sometimes, when I felt I had no time, when I’d been on my feet all day and only wanted to binge Netflix, when I was mentally drained, when I felt way too vulnerable to unfurl myself or when all I felt like doing was lying on the floor and staring at the ceiling – well, there’s a pose for that, that’s when a down-dog could’ve really come in handy. Yoga, with its’ push for self-awareness and acceptance, is so much more than just a physical practise after all. Of course, sometimes it’s best to trust your instincts and not force yourself to do something you don’t feel like doing, it’s just, in times like I described, monkey mind was often drowning out whatever my instincts may have been saying.
If you too are figuring out the balance between flow and force, the following basic poses and gentle stretches will get you tapped back in to help you determine how much to push yourself.
And look, you don’t even have to leave your bed to do it!
1. Sit in a comfortable position, where you won’t be disturbed and relax your shoulders (rolling them up back and down will help this or even just lifting your shoulders towards your ears and just dropping them). Inhale for 4 counts, hold your breath for 7, then exhale for 8. Repeat this 4-7-8 pattern three or four times. This count will really help slow down your breathing and focus your mind to the present. As this won’t take much more than a minute, it’s great to do whenever you feel you need grounding. If you’ve more time or you feel you want to continue, some gentle seated twists would be great to massage your lower organs and stretch your abdominal muscles, often where stress is held. Place your left hand on your right knee, and your right hand behind you. Sit up taller on an inhale, then twist gently to your right on an exhale. Do this a couple more times before repeating on the other side.
2. Heart openers help with tightness in the chest and opening your heart chakra, helping release emotions. Start on your belly and extend your left arm to the side. Slowly roll over it so that you feel a stretch in your chest and use your right arm for stability in front of you (or if it’s comfortable, rest your hand on your lower back). Stay here for about five breaths before rolling back onto your belly and repeating on the other side. If you want to kick things up a notch, some other chest openers you could try, include cat-cow, camel pose, fish pose, sphinx pose or bow pose.
3. Legs up the wall is such a simple pose, yet the benefits feel so pronounced! Just move your hips as close to the wall as possible and walk your legs up. Let your arms rest gently to the side. In this position, gravity will help with circulation in your upper body and brain, you will feel a stretch in the back of your legs and your lower back gets some yummy relief. Fantastic if you’ve been on your feet all day and great coming off a flight if your legs or feet have swollen.
4. The physical nature of child’s pose is looking in, it is a physical representation of reflection. Aside from opening your hips, stretching your back and being fab for your digestion, this restorative pose offers relief, comfort and grounding, relaxing your entire body and slowing your mind as you curl into yourself. Start on your hands and knees, bring your big toes together and open your knees as wide as feels comfortable. Move your hips towards your heels and extend your arms out in front of you, letting your head rest on the floor (or bed) or a block. Stay here for at least five deep breaths.
I just wanted to say, that of course, yoga is not the be all and end all, it doesn’t solve everything and the way in which something works for one person won’t be the same for someone else. Finding what feels good (a phrase coined by Yoga with Adriene) for you, is always key.
Namaste!
[Next lesson: Yoga For Your Chakras: Muladhara/Root]
One of the most important concepts sweeping the vast settings of global consciousness are that of the energy centers within our body. These bio-energetic centers have been called many names throughout the world, but are mostly attributed to the most ancient, esoteric, and shamanic of the Hindu spiritual beliefs The Hindu Tantra. Out of the many profound wisdoms that are revealed by this dynamic mystical practice, it is the mysterious energy vortexes that have had the most practical application in today’s currents of esoterica.
Some facts about the “Chakras” :
– The word “chakra” (pronounced chuk-rah) translates most closely to “wheel” in the English language. Therefore a chakra is best considered a wheel or vortex-like organ of the subtle energetic body.
– According to The Tantra, there are actually thousands of energy centers and pathways in the body, but the chakras are specific centers where many connections intersect.
-The purpose of the chakras are to process and disseminate energetic information between our spiritual and physical bodies.
-There are seven major chakras that oversee the human body. They are generally referred to as: The Root, The Sacral, The Solar Plexus, The Heart, The Throat, The Third Eye, and The Crown.
– Negative, traumatic, or confusing experiences can cause blockages in the corresponding chakras. The Seven Deadly Sins of Christianity directly correspond the major signs of blocked or imbalanced chakras, as well as The Seven Blessed Virtues being representations of the chakras in their ideal form.
– The Chakras are also mentioned as the “Seven Seals” of The Book of Revelation.
– In traditional Chinese medicine, the seven energy wheels are connected on an energetic pole of light energy called the Taiji Pole. The individual names for each chakra are: Huiyin , Mingmen Jinsuo/Spirit Storehouse, Shendao, Heaven’s chimney/Bige Vertebrae, Yintang/Wind Palace, and Baihui.
-In Islamic Sufism, there are also seven bio-energetic centers acknowledged throughout the body called “The Seven Lata’if.”
Hopefully this will express the importance of entering into a working relationship with your chakras. The mystical balancing of bio-energetic centers is a global idea spread accross many cultures, not just India. Of course it is important to give respect to the culture and system that brought it’s wisdom to forefront of esoteric thought. That being said, the knowledge of the chakras are a human birthright, transcending culture and religion.
7) Crown Chakra – Cosmic consciousness, spiritual connectedness The seventh (crown) chakra relates to consciousness and pure awareness, bringing knowledge, wisdom, understanding, spiritual connection, and bliss. It is the door of spiritual awakening, connection with our spiritual self. It allows us to see the bigger picture and live in the moment.
6) Third Eye Chakra – Ability to focus on and see the big picture The sixth (third eye or brow) chakra relates to physically and intuitively seeing life clearly. It involves psychic perception, imagination, wisdom, interpretation and our ability to make resulting decisions. Our perspectives and true motivations are found here which direct our actions.
5) Throat Chakra – Ability to communicate The fifth (throat) chakra is about expressing and receiving information, including symbolic and vibrational sensing. It involves communication, sound, creativity, and self-expression. Expression can take many forms from basic communication wants and feelings to a vast array of artistic expressions.
4) Heart Chakra – Ability to love The fourth (heart) chakra allows us to love deeply, feel compassion and have a deep sense of peace and centeredness. It relates to our perceptions of love relationships with people close to us. The heart is also where the spiritual, true self resides. Moving away from ego, towards this awareness, fear is destroyed and a healing peace grows within.
3) Solar Plexus Chakra – Power center, confidence, emotions The third (solar plexus or naval) chakra is the power chakra. It rules our personal power, self esteem, autonomy, and sense of purpose. It has to do with confidence and being comfortable with who we are. This is where we store our emotions. It is also an intuitive chakra, where we get our ‘gut instincts’.
2) Sacral Chakra – Sensation, pleasure, emotions, flow The second (sacral) chakra is the chakra of creativity, healthy sexuality, and the desire and ability to feel pleasure. It is also associated with our emotional body, and deeply feeling our emotions. It has to do with our ability to be graceful, fluid, and able to accept change.
1) Root (base) Chakra – Foundation, security, groundedness The first (root) chakra represents our foundation, security, sense of being stable and grounded. It is related to our survival, having our base needs met such as health, finances, family, and food. It has to do with our connection to our bodies and the physical realm.
Siddhachakra is a popular yantra or mandala (mystical diagram) used for worship in Jainism. It is also known as Navapada in the Svetambara tradition and Navadevta in the Digambara tradition. It is related to the legend of King Shripala and his wife Mayanasundari. It is depicted as a Kalasha with the core of a blossomed lotus representing Navapada in the centre surrounded by guarding deities on petals, and it is used in some rituals.
Siddha refers to a liberated soul, while chakra means wheel. It is believed that worshiping Siddhachakra results in freedom from the cycles of life within a universal ‘wheel’ known as nirvana. It also means a ‘circle of perfection’. Navapada means ‘nine petals’ in reference to the centre of the yantra, while Navadevta means ‘nine deities’. It is also described as a ‘saint wheel’.
It is depicted as a Kalasha with an eye on both sides and a core made of a fully blossomed lotus. It has many circles of petals marking different concepts in Jainism.
Kalasha A Kalasha is depicted as a pot with a large base and a mouth generally covered with a lid or topped with a coronet of mango leaves and a coconut. It is decorated with clothes and ornaments in images. Two eyes are depicted around the Kalasha, symbolising right faith and right knowledge. At the neck of the Kalasha are nine small pots known as Nav Nidhi which describe nine kinds of wealth or treasures. Nine shrines dedicated to Navagraha are at the base of Kalasha which indicate nine ‘cosmic influencers’.
Lotus At the core is a fully blossomed lotus with many circles of petals marking different concepts in Jainism. Navpada (Nine elements) is at the core surrounded by circles of petals called valaya. There is variation in the number of circles made by the petals in different images but generally there are ten circles.
Navapada Navapada is the core of the lotus. Navapada includes five supreme beings having virtues, Guni or Panch Parmeshthi, and four right virtues, Gunas according to Svetambara tradition. Their attributes are described in 108 scriptures.
The Third Eye or Pineal Gland is located in the middle of the brain, at the same level as the eyes. Its connection with the third eye chakra or Ajna in the Hindu system has long been investigated by yogic traditions and modern metaphysics alike. They view this gland as a possible seat of the soul and its development, a source for mystical experiences and extrasensory perception or psychic abilities.
This gland is usually considered to be in charge of producing melatonin and regulating our sleep cycle and our sexual maturation. The ways it functions is closely connected to the cycles of light and darkness.
Other Third Eye exercises include:
1. Go outside and get lots of natural light.
2. Eat foods or supplements that support a healthy activity of the pineal gland (and counter its calcification), such as iodine, chlorella, apple cider, Tamarind fruit (as it helps remove excess of fluoride involved in decreased pineal activity).
3. Meditate; meditation balances the activity of the nervous system and stimulates parts of the brain that help the pineal gland.
4. Spend time in complete darkness, as it stimulates a healthy activity in the gland and production of its associated hormones.
Occult Aspects 