Welcome back to the “Wisdom Within” series—eight articles on ways to tap into your inner wisdom. Each week in this series we are exploring a different “lens” or perspective that can help you navigate relationships, circumstances, and events in your life and in our world.
Last week, we looked through the first lens of Common Ground, remembering that we all live on the same planet Earth, that we all stand on the same Common Ground. The lens of Common Ground helps us feel a sense of belonging—a tactile sense that we are part of a greater whole. It helps us recognize that everything is part of a larger unfolding story. It’s related to Root Chakra wisdom, strengthening our sense of personal grounding as well as our ability to foster safety and security within ourselves.
This week we tap into Sacral Chakra wisdom through the lens of Connection. It’s through the Sacral Chakra that we first sense an energetic or emotional connection with people, places, and events. In the simplest terms, it’s where we first experience attraction or revulsion—where we first recognize "I want more of this” or “This doesn’t feel right; get me out of here!” The Sacral Chakra is found in the lower belly just below the navel. Place your hands on that area of your body and take a slow, deep breath. And then take another breath. You might notice a subtle shift in your energy when you focus your breath deep in your belly.
The feelings and emotions of the Sacral Chakra are primary—love, fear, anger, attraction, infatuation, revulsion. These emotions are our first instinctual, unfiltered, inner wisdom reactions to what is happening in the moment. There is nothing sophisticated or refined about them. They may or may not make rational sense, and often it feels like we have no control over them. The truth is, often we don’t, especially when something catches us by surprise. The reaction happens instantly.
However, that instant reaction has a purpose and an invitation. Its purpose is to get our attention. The invitation is to go deeper to the primal core of our intuition, which lives deep within the Sacral Chakra. Our primal intuition is finely attuned to what is happening right here, right now. The more we learn to tap into that intuition through the lens of Connection, the more we can sense its direct, clear, unvarnished messages. That gives us a bigger reading on what is happening, helping us consciously choose our next response.
Noticing Patterns of Reaction and Response
As we explore situations and relationships through the Sacral Chakra and the lens of Connection, we can also begin to recognize our default patterns of reaction and response—how we tend to engage or avoid feelings and emotions. If we are honest with ourselves, we can acknowledge the ways in which our patterns serve us as well as the ways they don’t. Then in the coming weeks, as we climb on up the Chakras and look through their corresponding lenses, chances are you will find greater strength and resolve to begin changing patterns that are not serving you.
There are many more dimensions or aspects of the Sacral Chakra—connection, feelings, sensitivity, sensuality, sexuality, giving and receiving, creativity, expression, nurture, care. However, for now, we will focus on tapping into this primal intuitive wisdom through two exercises.
Looking through the lens of Connection
The exercises below will help you look at what is happening around you and within you through the lens of Connection and the wisdom of the Sacral Chakra. The first looks at life more broadly, paving the way for the second exercise focusing on a specific challenge or situation in front of you now. Give yourself time and space for both.
We’ll start with an initial inquiry: Are you drawn towards what is happening, or do you instinctively pull away? Sometimes we experience both, and that’s ok. Remember that whatever you feel is an invitation to look deeper through the lens of Connection. There is almost always more to discover.
Exercise #1—Looking out at the world
Put your hands on your lower belly just beneath your navel and take three deep and slow breaths. Give yourself the time you need to connect with the Sacral Chakra and the lens of Connection, trusting that it has guidance and wisdom to share. …
We’ll start close in with people and situations in your more intimate circle.
Consider yourself, your family, and intimate friends through the lens of Connection. Notice who or what situation comes to your awareness first and trust there’s a reason. Start with noticing the feelings deep in your Sacral Chakra area. Do you feel a pull towards this person or situation—do you feel like you want to get closer? Or do you instinctively pull away? Let go of judgement and simply take in the information. … Whatever you feel, be curious. What is it about this person or situation that draws you closer or pushes you away? … What feels important to pay attention to as you sense and experience through the lens of Connection?
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Now expand your circle to consider the people and situations you encounter in your work or public life. Again, trust whatever shows up. Notice the feelings deep in your Sacral Chakra area. Are you feeling drawn towards this person or situation, or do you instinctively pull away? Again, no judgement; it’s just information. Whatever you feel, be curious. What is it that draws you closer or pushes you away? … What feels important to pay attention to?
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Consider people who might think or believe differently than you. Meet them through the lens of Connection. Notice the feelings deep in your belly. Do you want to get closer to them, to learn more? Or do you want to pull away? … Be curious. What gets your attention?
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Consider people who are living in war or who are in crisis. Even though they may be far away from you, step back to last week to the lens of Common Ground. Acknowledge that they are living on the same common ground as you are and that their situation is unfolding right now on that same common ground. Sense the magnitude of what is happening. … Then, staying connected to the lens of Common Ground, look through the lens of Connection. What is happening deep in your belly? What feelings or emotions come up? … Are you drawn closer, or do you want to pull away? … Be curious. What feels important to pay attention to?
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What are you discovering about yourself when you look at life through the lens of Connection?
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When you are ready, move on to the second exercise to focus on a specific situation or relationship of your choice.
Exercise #2—Looking at a specific situation of your choice
Perhaps there is a situation or relationship that will not let go of you right now. It might be deeply personal, or it might be national or global, or something in between. Step beyond judgments and opinions and be present with it through the lens of Connection. Notice what is happening deep in your belly. … What is it about this connection that will not let go of you? … What draws you closer? … What pushes you away? … Acknowledge that there is a connection between you and the situation or other person. It may or may not be comfortable, but it is there. How do you choose to show up in what is happening? Who do you choose to be? What role do you choose to play? …
What is important to pay attention to when you meet this situation through the lens of Connection?
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In the coming days, practice looking at the world around you through the lens of Connection. Be gentle and compassionate with yourself, and at the same time, stay with it. Keep stepping past judgment and opinions and see what you discover. And next week, we’ll tap into the wisdom of the Solar Plexus Chakra through the lens of Integrity.
Articles in the “Wisdom Within” Series
Tapping Into the Wisdom Within
Standing on Common Ground
The Mystery of Connection
Living Integrity
Right Relationship
The Truth of the Matter
The Power of Vision
Wisdom Greater than Our Own
Resources:
Book Intuitive Living by Alan Seale, Chapter 9
Monday Meditations Recordings—In the Autumn 2023 free series of Monday Meditations titled “Wisdom in our Bones,” Alan focused on these seven lenses. The recordings of those 20-minute meditations are available to you as a free resource to deepen your experience in working with the lenses. Go to the Monday Meditations Recordings on the Center for Transformational Presence website to listen. The recordings are in reverse chronological order with the most recent at the top. Scroll down to the October 23, 2023 recording to hear the meditation on “Connection.” Then scroll back up for each succeeding meditation through November 20th.