The Throat Chakra—Sticking Your Neck Out!

On a recent trip to Cortes Island, British Columbia, Canada, I was surprised when I came across a giraffe on the beach. No kidding! A giraffe. Right there on the beach! Well, okay, it wasn't a real giraffe, but a large piece of driftwood, a big log, that (at least to me) looked like a giraffe. Basking in delight, perhaps taking a snooze in a lazy afternoon sunshiny sort of way. Sprawled out there with her neck long, vulnerable, she looked perfectly content, relaxed, serene—calm.  

I happened to be writing an article on the throat chakra at the time so finding a giraffe on the beach served as a great motivator and additional inspiration. The giraffe had been showing up for several weeks before this so I had already been reading about her energy. In the book Animal Speak by Ted Andrews, he tells us that the giraffe is about communication and being farsighted. I also recently took a Non-violent Communication (NVC) class and, lo and behold, guess what!?!  NVC uses the giraffe as a metaphor for practicing empathic and compassionate communication. The giraffe is also about "sticking your neck out" to "speak your truth"—a common throat chakra mantra. And that sense of calm? Well, calmness is the key aspect of the throat chakra.   Giraffe may as well have been screaming at me to pay attention to throat chakra energy!   

In the past, before I had studied energy medicine, I would use the word uncanny or ironic to describe these little gifts (messages from who knows where!) falling into my lap just when I needed them most.  Now, when I receive these miracles (that's exactly what they are) I attend to them with respect.  I study up on the meaning of the gift. Invariably, there's layer upon layer to guide me in whatever I happen to be working on or in personal need of at the time. In this case, I was struggling to meet a deadline for an article I was writing on the throat chakra. On a personal note, I was learning (literally at a retreat on Cortes at the time I stumbled upon the giraffe log) to "hold nothing back"—another way of saying "speak your truth."  

There have been many signs from animals and nature for me; especially now that the Universe knows this is a viable and meaningful communication style for me.  It's the same for everybody! 

Pay attention to your surroundings. There are messages everywhere—everywhere! Stop, look, and listen. Just be still and take in what's around you. These gifts come when you least expect them.  Just let yourself relax into whatever you are doing ...in the here and now. Just keep in the moment. That's where the gift resides—here, now.  I think I heard that's why they call it the "present" :o)  

Each response you give to the Universe is affirming.  Saying, yes, this is working, keep talking! to whatever form of communication is coming, use it. The more you do, the more you can expect the same sorts of messages. Animals show up for me a lot because my acknowledgment signifies to the One sending the message that I "get it" and appreciate the help!

So, go ahead, stick your neck out there, hold nothing back!, speak your truth! ....then listen and be ready to receive. Help is there, waiting for you to slow down and grab it.

"Messages can come from songs, reading material, or other people. Be on the lookout." ~ James Van Praagh   

To read more about the throat energy center along with several tips on balancing the fifth chakra read my column, ChakraTalk, in the July issue of New Spirit Journal.