no. five

the throat chakra archetype

A toolbox for

communication // truth // self expression // Creativity // co-creation // Trust // authenticity // listening // resonance // voice // purification

Working with no. 5 support

I invite you to utilize this course in whatever way serves you to get the most value. I would listen to the audios a couple of times and read through all of the content to begin and see what jumps out at you. Maybe you know exactly what you want to dive into or you visit a piece of it everyday working your way through. Another option is grabbing a tool or a few and work with them for 30 days noticing what shifts or doesn’t and then experiment with a new one.

If you’d like to inject some whimsy + have some daily guidance. Here is a 30 Days to a more balanced THROAT Deck. You can print the pages and cut them into cards; fold them and put them in a bowl, and then draw a card each day to offer you a focus.

“All life is rhythmic. From the rise and fall of the sun to the rise and fall of our breath, from the beating of our heart to the infinite vibrations of atomic particles , we are a mass of vibrations that miraculously resonate together as a single system. In fact, our ability to function as a unified whole depends upon the coherent resonance of the many subtle variations within us. The task of the fifth chakra is to enhance the resonance.”

— Annodea Judith

No. 5

Anatomy associated with The Throat: cheeks, chin, ears, larynx, lips, mouth, neck, nose, pharynx, thyroid gland, throat, tongue, upper esophagus, hypothalamus, neck vertebrae, jaw and teeth.
Related functions: Metabolism, Calcium regulation.

Element: Sound

SOME THEMES ASSOCIATED WITH THE throat:

talking, hearing, chewing, swallowing + breathing
our ability to communicate our truth
our ability to trust in Source/the Universe and release control
our expression through creativity
manifestation/co-creation/alignment - how we speak our life into existence
the power of our words
our spiritual karma; choice and consequence
rhythm and resonance, our frequency/vibration
clearing house of our higher consciousness + purifier of the lower chakras
our authenticity
connecting to/utilizing our senses, tuning in to the information they offer
the inner critic
the boundary between the known + the unknown

DEFICIENCY:: not enough vital energy in this area from energy leaking. The energy may flow in but there are poor boundaries and energy can’t be contained like a sink without a plug. It’s important here to create a boundary to contain the energy. Deficiency may lead to a difficulty in communication, fear of speaking, fear of sharing ones truth, a weak or mumbly voice, and/or a tight neck and shoulders from protecting our vulnerability. Folks experiencing deficiency here may also be uncomfortable with silence. It can also be helpful to check in if you have an open Throat Center in Human Design.

EXCESS: too much energy flowing in, the sink is overflowing. This is too much talking as a way to keep control, a lot of words without much depth, an inability to listen, gossiping, interrupting, an overbearing voice, an imbalance in sharing and listening. Sometimes this can seemingly present as someone who likes to hear themself speak but on a deeper level it can be a defense mechanism to avoid things they don’t want to hear or maybe they aren't yet ready for that wisdom/lesson. There can be a general closed off-ness to Divine Guidance and/or the general flow of life.

Note that one can experience elements of deficiency and excess at the same time.

_____________

BALANCE:

standing in your truth + authenticity.
ability to make one self known as well as hold space for others
a resonant voice, able to empower others through language.
ability to accurately communicate the truth of your experience and your feelings
a balance between listening and speaking.
the ability to release judgement and the inner critic
comfy in silence with others.
able to speak what you mean, and clearly about your feelings.
live life creatively and freely express ones creativity
a good listener
embrace change and groundlessness, trust that the sharp turns in our lives have a purpose
able to release control and trust in the bigger plan for our highest good.
healthy expectations or even no expectations.
a healthy sense of timing and rhythm

“But a silence where you interact with your thoughts is also a sacred act, a way of owning your interior being. Sometimes you need to wade through your thoughts in order to let them settle. My presence to myself, in all its detail, gives me a platform to recognize a unifying divinity, sometimes contained in mundane messages from other people.

We are also communing together, experiencing community, in silence with each other. We are all focused on becoming present to ourselves so that we can become present to others.

We sit in silence to listen, to hear what is inside.”

— Quaker Community

toolbox

JOURNAling

Morning Pages. I really encourage you to try out this powerful ritual from The Artists Way for at least for 30 days. First thing in the morning, before you check your emails or look at social media, sit down with your coffee, hot water, or tea and write 4 pages stream of consciousness. No need to think about grammar or spelling or even necessarily writing very legibly. It's about getting it out and onto the page. It's just for you. No ones going to read it. So write about your fears, your dreams, what you’re working on calling in, how angry you are about a conversation from last night, future worries, whatever you're feeling, whatever is on your mind... Put it on the page.
Also, when it comes to general journaling I love this book on journaling as art.

Journal prompts

Do you have a defined or open Throat Center in Human Design?
Are you able to trust in the Universe/Divine Guidance? Can you receive that guidance?
How does your inner critic show up? Is it constructive or destructive?
Do you honor your Strategy + Authority in Human Design?
What rhythms are you in tune with in life? Where are you lacking connection?
Are you experiencing a healthy level of noise pollution in your environment? Any alterations you can make?

Healing

Release + Breath Practice

food

KEEP IT COLORFUL + chew your food

like really chew it…

Some other quick tips:

With slowing down, it can be helpful to put your fork down between bites and/or eat with chopsticks.
Eat one Brazil Nut per day to protect your thyroid. It's all you need to get your daily dose of selenium.
Introduce a new food into your life! If you typically only focus on a few of the 5 tastes (savory, bitter, sour, salty, sweet) work to bring in some of the others. Often people miss sour and bitter. Bitter greens (kale, mustard, endive, escarole, spinach, dandelion, etc..) are a great addition for their healthful properties.
Have you ever had an Umeboshi plum? They cover sour and salty! They can also help with a host of teeth and gum problems due to their antibacterial properties. In addition, they aid in digestion as they stimulate the salivary glands.
Enjoy sea vegetables, soups, juices + sauces!

recipes

Sweet Pea & Pearl Onion Pesto smothered Zucchini Noodles

Makes 1 large serving or 2 servings as a light lunch or as a side dishIngredients:
2 6″ zucchinis, julienned or spiral cut, preferably organic
24 fresh pearl onions, peeled (substitute frozen if need be)
2 cups organic frozen peas
3 tbsp fresh mint, roughly chopped
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp maple syrup or 3 drops liquid stevia
pinch himalayan salt or good sea salt
freshly ground black pepperDirections:
1. Using a spiral noodle slicer or a julienne peeler make your noodles from the zucchinis. Place in a medium sized bowl and set aside.
2. Place the pearl onions in a covered steamer basket over boiling water and steam for 8-10 mins till layers just begin to separate and they appear translucent. (If using frozen pearl onions your steam time will be a little less). Add frozen peas and steam for 2 minutes longer, stirring at the one minute mark to ensure even cooking.
3. Remove from heat and pour half the mixture into a small bowl and the other half into your food processor–be sure to divide the onions evenly.
4. To the food processor, add the olive oil, lemon juice, mint, salt, pepper and maple syrup. Process until creamy but not completely smooth, leaving a little texture.
5. Now lets put it altogether. Pour the creamy pea and onion pesto over the noodles, scraping the bowl clean with a spatula. Using two forks toss the noodles well to coat. Transfer to serving dish or divide into two bowls. Top with remaining steamed peas and pearl onions. Garnish your bowl(s) with fresh mint and freshly ground pepper. Enjoy:)

Note: This is yummy as is, with the mildly warm pea and onion pesto but it’s also delish at room temperature. If this dish stands for more than two hours the zucchini will release some of it’s juices and become a little more tender. It’s still quite tasty this way but is best if eaten within one hour. Store the pesto separate from the noodles if you are making it ahead. And…if you share this dish between 2 servings maybe top it with some sliced avocado to round it out a little more. Enjoy:)

From My New Roots

CAULIFLOWER, KALE + CHICKPEA CURRY POT RECIPE
serves 4-6
notes: The amount of vegetable stock you use depends on how thick/thinned out you want this. I went for something in between :)

1 tbsp coconut oil
1 cooking onion, small dice
1 tbsp curry powder
1 bay leaf
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tsp minced fresh ginger (optional)
small jalapeno or cayenne pepper, seeded + minced
1 cup 1/2 inch diced waxy potatoes
3 cups small cauliflower florets
28 oz can crushed tomatoes
1-2 cups vegetable stock, depending
1 cup cooked chickpeas
1 bunch lacinato/Tuscan kale, stems removed and chopped
salt + pepper
chopped leafy herbs to finish (parsley, cilantro etc)

Heat the coconut oil in a heavy + large soup pot over medium heat. Add the onions and cook slowly, lowering heat if necessary. Cook until very soft, translucent and almost breaking down, about 6-7 minutes. Add the curry powder and bay leaf and cook, stirring often, for 3 more minutes. Add the garlic, ginger (if using), and jalapeno to the pot. Stir and cook until fragrant, constantly stirring to avoid burning the garlic.

Add the potatoes and cauliflower to the pot and stir. Season with lots of salt and pepper. Add the crushed tomatoes to the pot and stir once more. At this point, add 1 cup of vegetable stock (you may want to add more later). Stir the pot, place a lid on top, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat on the stove to a simmer and remove the lid. Cook until the potatoes are just-tender, about 40 minutes. Add the chickpeas and diced kale,, and simmer for 5 more minutes or until greens have wilted.

Check the curry pot for seasoning, adjust, and serve hot with bread, naan, cooked brown rice, quinoa, millet etc. Garnish with chopped leafy herbs.

From First Mess

CURRY LENTIL SOUP

Serves 8

I add all of these ingredients to my Instant Pot:
2 large onions chopped
1 cup diced sweet potatoes
sea salt to taste
2 heaping tsp of Curry Powder
3 cups of black lentils
enough broth (of choosing) or water to cover + 1 inch

Cook 35 minutes

Top with chopped onion, bitter greens + cilantro, lemon zest

*Can also add a grain or cauliflower rice to the base and/or top with a dollop of yogurt.
*adapted from the Farro Soup recipe in Super Natural Every Day

quick “morning” broth

Warm Vegetable Broth or Bone Broth w/
Big dollop of Chickpea or Adzuki Miso (stir around to combine)
Chopped shallot or green onion
Hijiki Seaweed
Chopped Jalapeño or Fresno Chillis
Minced Ginger + Garlic

explore the tastes

sweet + bitter + salty + sour + savory/umami +

other recipes

Bone Broth

Sea Bone Broth (I make this one a lot from Moon Juice for my menstrual phase)

Calming Greens Juice

Beauty Boost Smoothie

Butternut Mac and Tease

Sweet Potato + Blood Orange Soup

Turkey Ragu

Mushroom ‘Scallops’ in a Pesto Pool

Liquid Gold Dressing

Tortilla Soup

Shrimp + Sweet Potato Curry

Kale Nori Wraps

One Bowl Skillet Meal

Mexican Spiced-Steak w/ Chimichurri and Chayote Squash Salad

Snack Options for nourishing your Thyroid from Medical Medium:

cauliflower and an apple
tomatoes + spinach
celery + dates
kale + mango
pears + arugula
wild blubes and papaya
tangerine + rasberries

“The throat chakra has been referred to as the Holy Grail of the chakras because it holds information from all the chakras. Energies from the root, womb, solar plexus, and heart chakras move up through the throat on their way to the head; energies from the pituitary (third eye) and pineal (crown) chakras move down through the throat on their way to the trunk of the body. Within the sacred container of the throat chakra, all of this energy and information is “metabolized” - broken down and put back together into a form that becomes your unique expression in the world.”

— Donna Eden

Resource

deep listening

The Throat is as much about listening as it is about communication.

M E D I T A T I O N

Sit in silence in easy pose or in a chair with your feet flat on the floor. You can lie down if that's more comfortable and you can stay awake. ;)

Begin to really listen.

Stretch your hearing out seeing how many sounds you can detect from those within your body: breath, heartbeat, etc.. to the sounds of the room, to the sounds outside; including white noise.

After you've listened for several minutes begin to let them all bleed together into one general sound. Let the rhythm of your breath and the subtle movements of your body move with and become part of that sound.

Relax around any active hearing. Soften your ears around it and just sit and listen with your whole being.

“Listen to the essence of things.”

— Heraclitus

exercise

from Eastern Body, Western Mind

Allow yourself to move freely around the room with your eyes closed.

Try to move from the natural inclinations of your body, rather than from the decisions from your head.

After your body begins to loosen up, accompany each movement with an abstract sound that emanates from the movement.

Let yourself be open to an experience of “movement making sound”, and look for places where the movement and sound are a coordinated vibration that runs through your whole being. Let yourself enjoy the experience and see where it takes you.

Ujayi breath

Sit in a comfortable seat.

Bring your awareness to your throat.

Inhale and exhale deeply through the nose for 5-10 minutes. At the same time slightly contract the throat so that the breath sounds like that in deep sleep.

Direct your attention completely to the sound of the breath in the throat.

This breathing technique quiets the mind and balances the emotions.

Practice

Active listening.
Meditation on Sensation
Check out Radiant Human for getting your colors photographed! Mine is full on purple + indigo, you can barely see me through my purple haze! 🤣
Get inspired to dance around your living room with Personal Practice! Let your body resonate with the beat of the music.
Listen to the podcast I spoke about on Silence!
Chanting + MANTRA work.
Breathwork
Express yourself creatively without goals or a need to control the outcome. Try a new medium!!
Chant the seed sound HUM. As you do feel the vibrations releasing tension throughout your face and throat.
Explore the voices (definition) in your Throat Center. Don’t know your chart? Find it here.
Check out your Astro*cartography to see what foods from around the world would be the most beneficial for you in this moment.
Explore recipes unique to your heritage (also nourishing for The Root Chakra).
Face Yoga for releasing holding patterns in our face fascia (as well as graceful aging)
Check out the Throat Chakra mood board and/or make your own.

“To listen is to lean in softly with a willingness to be changed by what we hear. ”

— Mark Nepo

The INNER CRITIC stems from the THROAT CHAKRA, originally as a mechanism for protection. We say the mean things to ourselves before someone else can say them. The energy is bolstered by all of the trapped energy in the Throat and is fed back to us through negativity. Eventually it becomes a feedback loop, a story that we perpetuate. It’s always a monologue with only one side of the story, the harsh critic. But there is always another option, a different perspective. In You Are A Badass Sincero speaks so well about this. Our Inner Critic says “this always happens”, “It never works out for me”, “I’ll always be like this”, “I’ll never be enough/have enough”. We never turn that around and shout back in our minds… “wait remember that time I was deeply happy”, “that time I was blissfully in love”, “remember when I had more than enough”, “remember that time things worked out differently”, “the many times I did feel supported, loved, cared for, validated, good in my body, fill in the blank…”

We always have that choice, to shift the conversation. Who are you listening to, your lower self or your higher self? What stories are you feeding + therefore amplifying and attracting? You get to choose. A good mantra to work with when we get caught up in our minds, in gossip, in judgement, in story is “I choose __________ instead” [insert peace, ease, love, kindness, beauty, magic, trust, belief, whatever is needed most in that moment]. ❤