Page 246 - Nursing: The Philosophy and Science of Caring

t he sev en ch akra s
fuel of our physical and spiritual bodies. Each lesson in life, at some
level, is a lesson in some respect about learning more about love (Myss
1996:198–199).
The color associated with the fourth chakra is green.
This fourth heart chakra is highly associated with Carative Factor/
Caritas Process 1: humanistic-altruistic values; practice of loving-kind-
ness and equanimity toward self and other. As the Caritas Nurse evolves
more fully within the Caritas Model, she or he is cultivating this energy
point; this chakra makes the greatest contribution toward caring-heal-
ing practices. The Caritas Nurse is open to a heart-centered conscious-
ness evolution, moving beyond the strictly intellectual, technical, ego-
head-centered nurse.
Thus, there is a difference between ordinary nursing and Caritas
Nursing. The difference lies in the evolution of heart-centered con-
sciousness and working from this evolved awareness, including the
fourth chakra and above, to address any lower chakra issues. The first
Caritas Process of loving-kindness and equanimity contributes to the
evolution of Caritas Nursing practices. Cultivation of this energetic
source is foundational for caring-healing work in the world. When the
heart chakra is open, we connect with source.
5. Fifth chakra: “throat chakra”—giving voice to one’s life force
expression in the world. This center is related to expression through
the voice to convey one’s heartfelt intentions, bringing voice to action,
seeing and knowing through mind and heart and evolving conscious-
ness. The organs associated with this energy anatomy include throat,
thyroid, trachea, neck vertebrae, mouth, teeth, gums, esophagus,
parathyroid, and hypothalamus (Myss 1996:98). According to Myss,
the symbolic challenge of this chakra is to progress through the matu-
ration of will, from the perception that everyone and everything has
authority over you to the perception that you have authority over
you and making onward progress in realizing/awakening to the fact
that true authority comes from aligning yourself with the higher will
of God/Godhead. This includes a spiritual surrender of ego control
to that which is greater. The primary fears are related to having no
authority or power of choice within our own lives and our personal-
professional relationships. Then, fearing that we have no authority

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