A Singer's Guide to Chakras and Vocalising
Posted: Thursday, June 14, 2007
by Sheena Mackie
Sheena B. Mackie
THE SINGING CHAKRAS
An holistic way of discovering the textures and potential of your vocal instrument...
Oh, no... not more stuff about chakras and new age fads! Well, not exactly. What this article is about, is reaching into parts of yourself that you have not touched upon before and drawing out what lies within these realms of consciousness - through your voice!
Humans are exceptionally sensory beings. We feel and because we feel, our world is colourless without emotions such as love, fear, happiness, apprehension, sadness and anticipation. Hope is something that we all need to survive. Hope comes through a ‘feeling’. Therefore, let me go on to say that singing is a pretty dull occupation without some kind of ‘buzz’ or ‘vibe’ to keep the singer and listener interested.
It is commonly known these days, that there are 7 major chakra points of the body, through which energy moves. In modern occultism and the ‘new age movement’, these chakras have been linked to various mental, emotional and physical states, being said to govern over the health and well-being in specific ways. Of course, one could read ceaselessly about the meanings of the various energy centres, but to access them and experience them, is another matter.
Many forms of simple meditation, focus upon the chakras as a means of deepening or altering the mental state. One method in particular, focuses upon colour, by allocating a colour for each chakra area. This can be highly effective in revitalizing the mind and the body. Another method, that I stumbled across through experimentation, uses both colour and sound - but not in the traditional way or pattern, that has been used by mystics of the East. This method is pure expression. Expression of what you find there ‘inside’ and expression of these things through uninhibited sounds, the flow of breath and the singing voice...
It makes for an interesting experience for one... and on another note, it is a great way to get in touch with how your body is coping with daily pressures. Through this simple method, you can clear blockages in your energy field and create a buzzing radiance that could only be pure ‘life-force’ or ‘chi’ energy flowing unimpeded. There is not much preparation involved and it is not scary or dangerous in any way, as you remain in complete control the whole way through.
Another way to use the chakras during your vocalizing, is to direct your focus of breath to them, to extract levels of emotion that may otherwise be difficult to access. Breathing in to the area and letting the sound flow out carrying the emotion with it, is an interesting experiment. You may find that you reach another level in your singing ability, as you breath is more focused and appropriate to the expression of the song that you are singing. Do not hold back or hesitate with this exercise, even if you come out with a gutteral growl!! That is the point - you are in a mode of discovery, so keep an open mind and let it flow!
A S I N G E R ’ S M E D I T A T I O N
1. Sit or lie comfortably in a place where you will not be disturbed.
2. Slowly count backwards from five to one... (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)
3. Allow your breathing to regulate itself and become slower and deeper.
4. Now see the colour red in your mind’s eye. Draw the breath in, as though it is coming through your feet, from the ground beneath you.
5. Experience the sensation of the colour red, the colour of red traffic lights, of red roses, of the blood that gives you life, a ruby, a red apple and so forth. What does it feel like, smell like. What does it sound like? How would you make it sound? Let your body express the sensation of red on every exhalation, starting from a soft sound and building in intensity. Feel your feet vibrating with the vibrations that you are making. Sing from your toes, fill your whole body up with the vibrations of your ‘red sound’.
6. When you feel satisfied that you have expressed your ‘red sound’, then move on through the following chakra levels using the same method of vocalizing and breathing.
7. Next, see the colour orange. Orange like the fruit, like a traffic light, like a beautiful sunset. Feel the breath being drawn into the abdominal area and lower back, as if it is a hole in your body through which the air moves in and out. Experience the sensation of the colour orange, and of the abdomen. Breathe right down into it. Release your fears and tensions. Let your voice sing and vocalize the feelings. Feel the vibrations...
8. Now move on to the colour yellow. Yellow like a banana skin, or a lemon, or a sunflower... experience the breath being drawn in from the stomach area and middle of the back - allow your voice to create the sounds of this colour, yellow and of this area of your mental, spiritual, emotional, physical body...
9. Move on to the colour green. Green like grass, trees, traffic ‘go’ lights, green like emeralds, limes... Feel the breath coming in through the centre of the chest and the upper spine, between your shoulder blades. Release any tension here - just let it go. Experience this colour. What sound does it make? Let it sing its tune and resonate through your body.
10. Blue is the next colour. Blue like the clear blue sky on a summer’s day, like the ocean, like neon signs glowing brightly... Feel the breath being drawn up through the base of the neck at the front, and the spine at the back - relax the muscles. What does it sound like?
11. Now move on to the third eye region, in between your eyebrows and towards the back of your skull. See the colour purple - the colour of royal robes, of an amythest gemstone...Feel the breath rushing in through a tunnel -like opening from the back and front, and then allow the sound to fill up your body - all of the way down to the tips of your toes. Feel the sound vibrations resonating...
12. See the colour white - a soft whitish purple - a whitish violet colour - like the edges of a fluffy cloud in the sunset... or the subltle shadows in the late afternoon... or like a u.v. light playing upon a smoky room... Allow the breath to descend from the universe above you, through an opening in the top of your skull and to fill your whole body with light. Feel the vibration of sound connecting down to the ground and resonating up through your entire body...
To return to an awake and alert state once more and to end the session, count from one to five - 1,2,3,4,5... arise and feel revitalized!
Sheena is a Teacher of Vocal Technique, Singer , Songwriter , Editor of VLS (Vocal Lifestyle Exclusive Newsletter for Contemporary, Rock & Pop Singers), Author and Entertainer
This article was featured in VLS Issue 3. If you enjoyed this article, please visit Sheena's website..
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