An odd order of Chakras

[twilight]

Quite a while ago I was researching astral projection; I never was able to do it, probably due to the fact that I didn't practice an awful lot and sort of gave it up after a while (ok I know I'm a quitter!) But I did continue for quite a while to do the chakra meditations the book suggested. The interesting thing is, the book I was learning from started with the crown chakra and moved down. I know they usually start at the root and work up, and I have never found another source that has the going the other way round.
Even now I still think of the Chakras as starting with the crown, because that's how I first heard it. On the one hand the root makes sense because everything starts at the earth and grows up, progresses (or at least that is the goal); But on the other hand the crown chakra is associated with the divine, and the spiritual right? (or something like that? I don't actually know much about chakras so correct me if I am wrong) and in one way everything comes from spirit.
So what do you all think of this? I know it's wierd, but I have to ask because I have been wondering about it for years!

~Aelish~

[Brandybuck]

Quite a while ago I was researching astral projection; I never was able to do it, probably due to the fact that I didn't practice an awful lot and sort of gave it up after a while (ok I know I'm a quitter!)

You should not be so hard on yourself for giving up astral projection..I did so as well. It is a very draining and very time-consuming practice to learn. Personally, I grew bored with it. Plus, the one time that it worked, I didn't like the feeling of re-entering my body.

I have read many different sources on the chakras (especially the meditations). This may make you feel better..I have seen the meditations start in different chakras. There are many different ways that you can work with your chakras through meditation.. You can single one of them out if you can pinpoint that a certain chakra is giving you trouble, but the rest are in balance. Then there is a meditation called the "Double-Chakra Cleansing", wher you can perform the same cleansing meditation on the two chakras of your choice. Or, there are basic cleansing meditations (the ones that you speak of) that cleanse all of them . Most of these I have seen start from the root as well...but I have sen more than one source that starts at the crown. I think that it may come down to the author/practitioner's choice, and what works best for them. The best thing for you to do would be to do what feels right...if you feel that you should start at the crown chakra, then by all means, start there. Your body is probably telling you something. Well, that is my opinion and advice. Sorry that I rambled.

[twilight]

Wow, it's a relief to hear that. I haven't done so much research on them so I haven't seen so many variations. I was getting a little worried that I had got it all wrong! Not that I ususally worry about that, because all my practices consist of just what seems right to me, and most of them are of my own creation; but since chakra work isn't exactly origional I guess I thought I should have been following a specific way. But I see there are many. Thank you!

~Aelish~

[Laurasia]

Hi Aelish.

Yeah, you can pretty much start wherever you want. It's not really the order that matters, as much as the fact that you do work on them.

Sincerely,
Laurasia