Bija Practice with the Chakras

These are, you will recognize, the seven chakras of the Hindu system. I chose this image because the bija syllables, aka seed syllables, are so clear. Each chakra comes with a core sound. In Hindu practice, it’s called a bija.

They are from bottom to top:

LAM, VAM, RAM, YAM, HAM, OM, HU, SOHAM.

The idea is to intone the syllable over and over again to infuse your energy with it. Elongating the vowel, using the breath, I’ve found that bijas are great for clearing chakras. It’s as though they contain a reset frequency for the chakra itself, making it return to factory settings, if you will.

Well, not exactly, but kinda. For me, they clear away static — which could be spelled o-p-i-n-i-o-n if you like. They clear away preconceived ideas. They call forth the vibrancy of the chakra’s color.

When dealing with a particularly ouchy issue, intoning the bijas for the chakras above and below the ouch can make it less tender, more approachable, more willing to give you the information you need to clear it.

You might try it sometime and see how bijas work for you. Breathe in normally, breathe out on the sound. Then pay attention to your body. What’s happening?