This Spiritual Hack Offers Instantaneous Centering

The Sign of the Cross as Chakra Alignment

I have since childhood employed a simple technique that instantly centers me, and returns me from the cycle of desire and aversion to the Being mode. Right down the line, clearing a pathway of energy that connects to the divine source, the unmoved mover, fount of infinite space, from which we can gain spontaneous access to and insight from the wisdom of emptiness.

This is the Christian “Sign of the Cross.” I relate this to the alignment of Chakras, as expressed in Vajrayana through embodied, site-traversing chanting such as “Om Ah Hung” and “Om Mani Padme Hung,” which of course draws on deep, ancient Vedic work through the lens of Buddhist Psychology and Philosophy.

Forehead, Navel, Shoulder, Shoulder, Heart.

I’m using an Orthodox version of the Sign which can be found here. There is a specific thing that I do with my hand, which has Orthodox significance over which I superimpose Buddhist significance, but you don’t need to do that if that’s not your thing. I will probably write about that in another post.

Forehead, Navel, Shoulder, Shoulder, Heart.

I sometimes end with my palms in a 🙏.

[Forehead] In the Name of the Father,

[Navel] and of the Son,

and of the [Right Shoulder] Holy

[Left Shoulder] Spirit,

[Heart] Amen.

But this is easily translated.

From Divinity Down 

and Into Us, 

Filled with the Holy 

Spirit, 

OM. 

The concept of the cross incorporates a number of deeply significant symbols.

In the Christian symbolism, the sign does indeed symbolize the instrument of Christ’s murder, but that instrument of Christ’s murder also represents both the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge. Knowing we will die, we sense the miracle of our birth. Knowing the limits of our knowledge, we sense the infinite wisdom that transcends and includes us.

When I make this gesture, I am connecting my head to my heart, extending throughout my entire limbic system. I am also balancing my left and my right, making it such that I find my center in which balance may be accomplished. Doing this throughout the day (before meals, before beginning a complicated task, to commence prayer, and any time I need to reconnect) unites me to my historic faith, and reminds me to live religiously.

One could do worse.