It can be said that aligning and opening your chakras is the key to finding inner peace, ultimate happiness, and eventual enlightenment. Chakras are energetic focal points in the human body that are used in an array of meditation techniques in the esoteric traditions of Indian religions and used in holistic healing and modern, new age thought and psychology. With aligned and tuned chakras, you can experience the world energetically, as we as divine beings were meant too.
You can understand the chakras as circular spinning vortexes that work with 7 different energy compartments that center up and down your body. These energetic centers through which life force flows are an integral part of how we process emotions, vibrational frequencies, and higher consciousness.
A closed chakra can lead to creative, spiritual, emotional, and energetic blockages, as well as physically manifested illnesses. The 7 chakra centers in your body start at the base of your spine and work all the way up to the top of your head. A healthy, well-adjusted human being has exactly the right amount of energy moving through every part of their body, mind, and spirit.
In order to transform your life, you must balance, open, and heal each of your 7 chakras.
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To open your chakras, you must acknowledge that you are aware of their energies. Partaking in grounding exercises, such as yoga, swimming, or simply walking in nature, as you visualize each chakra can help you become more aware of their presence. Meditation and visualization is another way in which you can open your chakras. Focusing on the colors of each chakra can also help you realize the energies.
To heal your chakras, you can use elements such as crystals and incense aromatherapy, along with your meditation and visualization techniques to open them. Using affirmations can also help heal and cleanse your chakras. Using tarot cards, might help you locate what chakra needs the most aid. You can also simply get a lot of natural sunlight, and monitor the types of foods you eat. Drink herbaceous teas, such as chamomile and sage tea to soothe the chakras. To balance and tune your chakras, you can use Meditative Music and Healing Sounds with a certain amount of frequency in hertz in alignment with Pranayama Breathing techniques.
Now that you have some resources on how to open, heal, and balance your chakras, read through the following list of where each chakra is found, how they function, and how you may be affected if any of your chakras are closed or wounded.
1.ROOT CHAKRA (RED)
The root chakra or the 1st Chakra is placed at the base of your spinal cord, or your lower vertebrae, and behind your pelvic area.
The energy that it works with is of the earth, so it deals with feeling physically grounding and connecting to all things energetically. It affects our sense of security, survival, courage, natural instincts, and making sure that our basic needs of, food, water, shelter, and self-preservation is intact.
Someone who does not care for either of these things most likely has a weakly activated root chakra. With this chakra balanced, opened, and healed, one can better maintain financial security and the ability to smoothly manifest desires in a very physical way.
With this chakra closed, one might have issues with utilizing common sense, the ability to get grounded when under pressure, or have the bad habit of lashing out and not controlling their thoughts, feelings, impulses, anger, fears, and emotions.
Affirmation: "I am a divine being of light, and I am peaceful, protected and secure."
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Originally published April 29, 2018
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However, to my surprise, I received an email that read: “It’s with great excitement that we announce your film, Super High: A Period Piece, has been selected for the 24th Anchorage International Film Festival.” After looking at the flight distance from Atlanta to Anchorage—a solid 10 hours one way— I’d decided this would be one I wouldn’t attend.
That was until there was a follow-up email that shared that the festival was sponsoring two excursions for filmmakers: A Northern Lights Tour and A Glacier Hike.
With that, I knew I had to make the trip to the 49th state! I flew Delta, which offered the shortest layovers—just 50 minutes each way. For a more comfortable flight on the longer legs that were about six hours between my layover city and Anchorage, I upgraded to first class with an in-app discount for $256 (the regular price of a first-class ticket runs about $2,100), which was so worth it for additional space and service for the six-hour trek.
Courtesy of Bianca Lambert
"So What’s Alaska Like? Did You Have To Wear a Snowsuit? What’s the Food Like?"
These are among the major questions I’ve gotten. Anchorage reminds me less of a bustling major city and more of a small town with an easygoing feel. When I arrived, they’d just had snow a few days before, so it was cold, and the streets were slick. So, I was so happy I’d invested in a pair of snow boots. For my first few days, the locals said it was warm. Warm to them being 20s at night and mid-30s during the day.
However, by the time I left, fresh snow was on the ground, and temps were well into the single digits—and it felt like it. Oh, the sun doesn’t rise until 10:30 a.m., and it sets around 4 p.m. That was among the most challenging things to experience because I felt like I never really woke up. So, between the lack of sun and the four-hour time difference, I felt tired the whole time I was there.
As for food, I didn’t explore a ton because I was so cold. But I found two gems! First was Whiskey and Ramen. If you enjoy ramen and exceptional service, this is a must-visit. I’d make a trip back just for their Wagyu ramen and their special take on an old fashion!
And, for coffee, I thoroughly enjoyed That Feeling Co. The coffee was great, and being surrounded by plants helped to perk up my spirits.
The Northern Lights
Iceland is one of the most popular places to see the Northern Lights, so I was very excited to know that Alaska also gets to see the Aurora Borealis light show. Typically, many people visit Fairbanks to see them, but there are tours offered in Anchorage too! When prepping for the late-night tour, we’d heard that the night we were heading out to see the lights, the cloud coverage likely meant we wouldn’t be able to see them. Bummer. I know. So, we could sit the tour out or still try. But, in my mind, I was like, why would I come all the way to Alaska not to try?
So, at about 9:30 p.m., we piled into vans and headed out to chase the Northern Lights. We traveled about an hour and a half from Anchorage, and when we stepped out of the van, it was cold and pitch black. And unfortunately, after a couple of hours in the cold, those clouds in the sky never parted for us. I know that when we see the posts of people who do get to see Mother Nature do her thing, we don’t have all of the context of the science, which is Aurora Borealis.
Sometimes, the weather just doesn’t do what we earthlings would like, which can lead to disappointment. However, our guide did give a recommendation. When you book a trip to see the lights, give yourself four to five days to see them. Don’t bank on one day because, at the end of the day, this is science.
Courtesy of Bianca Lambert
Now, On to the Glacier!
Just six hours after returning from the Northern Lights tour, we were up for the glacier tour because they were back-to-back! I was exhausted and so excited. If someone had told me I’d hike on a glacier, I would have given them a mean side-eye. I mean, where on earth does one climb a glacier? Let me share a few destinations with you, just in case you want to plan an icy adventure: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Chile, Argentina, and Alaska.
Aside from the fact the Matanuska Glacier is 22,000 years old, it’s the largest glacier accessible by car in the United States—27 miles long and four miles wide, making it one of the easier ones to see IRL. As a girlie with generalized anxiety disorder, I get anxious about doing this kind of thing because I know that to see these world wonders is usually a mountainous trek.
This one was two hours long, one-way, up snow-capped, windy, mountainous terrain. However, my therapist always reminds me to push myself to do what scares me (as long as it’s for a reason, of course). I held my breath for the journey there and back! And white-knuckled it from time to time, too.
Courtesy of Bianca Lambert
Once we got there, we were surrounded by fresh, fluffy snow, and it was COLD! In the negative cold. I was thankful, I’d over-prepared. If you even go on a glacier tour, I recommend a few things: Balaclava, heavy-weight gloves, cashmere socks, snow boots, and lots of layers.
Here’s what I wore. My first layer was Ann Taylor leggings and a Wolford Turtleneck. Then, I layered a cashmere turtleneck and cashmere joggers. A COACH down vest, which I’d recommend anyone own just for winter, in general, because it’s SO warm! For my feet, I wore Ann Taylor cashmere socks (I love these because they’re affordable and so warm) and Adidas Adifom Superstar Winter Boot and topped all of that with a Brandon Blackwood ankle-length parka. I know BB is known for his accessories, but the brand’s outwear is truly amazing and worth the investment. After two hours on the ice, I felt great!
If you’re open to adventure travel, I highly recommend putting a glacier tour on your list of things to do. There are a few reasons. First, standing on an ice age-old massive piece of glacier was my 2024 version of touching some grass. I was reminded that I’m a speck on this spinning rock and need to spend more time grounded in that fact as I move through the world. I looked to the sky and thought of how proud my ancestors would be, even though I know they’d be telling me to get my butt home and off a dog on a glacier!
Secondly, I gained an ever-large appreciation for Mother Nature as I learned that glaciers are the world's largest reservoir of freshwater, containing around 69% of the world's freshwater. Again, another fact that helped me gain perspective. Lastly, it’s just fun and stunningly beautiful!
After this, I’m looking forward to my next cold-weather adventure! Iceland and Argentina are at the top of the list!
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Featured image courtesy of Bianca Lambert