ENERGY + LEADERSHIP

4 DIMENSIONS OF HUMANKIND

“Energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.” - Law of Conservation of Energy

Balanced, whole-body leadership requires us to keep our AURIC dimension clear and flowing. The AURIC dimension is energy that is metabolized into our PHYSICAL dimension. It is a Bio-energetic field of interpenetrating layers that define our personality. As Brene Brown says, “Who we are is how we lead,” and the AURIC field contains the energy and elements of who we are, our personality.

The AURIC field is also where our defenses exist, and, when we are not aware of it, these defenses can negatively impact our ability to be authentic, show up in our truth, and lead from our strengths. We will take the next seven weeks to deeply explore each level of the Human Energy Field (HEF) and explore each level's impact on your leadership.

💎Level #2: The Emotional Level

⭕️ The consciousness of the Emotional Body is our relationship to our feelings about ourselves.

⭕️ Our need to lovingly accept ourselves exists on this level.

⭕️ It is unstructured, and when healthy, is clouds of rainbow-colored light that flow along the lines of the Etheric Level.

⭕️ It extends about 1 to 3 inches beyond the skin. (2.5 to 7.5cm)

Place your hand 1-3 inches beyond your skin, what do you perceive? Does it feel light/airy? Does it feel dense? What/how are you currently feeling about yourself in your leadership?

4 DIMENSIONS OF HUMANKIND

“Energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.” - Law of Conservation of Energy

Balanced, whole-body leadership requires us to keep our AURIC dimension clear and flowing. The AURIC dimension is energy that is metabolized into our PHYSICAL dimension. It is a Bio-energetic field of interpenetrating layers that define our personality. As Brene Brown says, “Who we are is how we lead,” and the AURIC field contains the energy and elements of who we are, our personality.

The AURIC field is also where our defenses exist, and, when we are not aware of it, these defenses can negatively impact our ability to be authentic, show up in our truth, and lead from our strengths. We will take the next seven weeks to deeply explore each level of the Human Energy Field (HEF) and explore each level's impact on your leadership.

💎Level #1: The Etheric Level

⭕️ The consciousness of the Etheric Level is our relationship to our physical body/and the physical world.

⭕️ Our need for physical well-being and our need to take care of our physical bodies exists in this level.

⭕️ It is a structured level with standing blue lines of light with tiny points of light flowing through them.

⭕️ It expands about 1/4 to 2 inches beyond the skin. (0.5 to 5cm)

Place your hand ¼ to 2 inches beyond your skin, what do you perceive?

4 DIMENSIONS OF HUMANKIND

“Energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.” - Law of Conservation of Energy

BLOCKED CHAKRAS in the AURIC DIMENSION: For balanced, whole-body leadership and clear energy flow in all four dimensions, it can be helpful to explore our Auric Dimension, specifically our CHAKRAS- front and back aspects- to notice where we may have blocks or distortions in each CHAKRA, which can then manifest as blocks, distortions, and otherwise difficult experiences in our physical world.

✨ FEELING STUCK?? Specifically for leaders, or people who desire to show up in their truth with more grace, ease, and strength, we recommend a focused meditation on all chakras to explore for potential energetic blocks, but specifically:

4 DIMENSIONS OF HUMANKIND

“Energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.” - Law of Conservation of Energy

❌ DO YOU KNOW YOUR HABITUAL ENERGETIC DEFENSE SYSTEM?❌

❌ ENERGETIC DEFENSE SYSTEMS: Defense Systems are created in the Human Energy Field, usually very early in life, and are meant to give their creator a false sense of “safety”. When we use our energetic defenses, we keep ourselves out of what Patterson, et.al, call in Crucial Conversations, “the pool of shared meaning” in our professional and personal relationships.

⭕️ As leaders, being consciously aware of our own Human Energy Field can give us a way to directly work with our Energetic Defense Patterns and keep us in, “the pool of shared meaning” with our team members.

❌ Take a moment and explore- which one of these energetic defense patterns do you use (consciously or subconsciously)? How does it hurt your interactions with your team? Which one of these energetic defense patterns do you realize people on your team or in your family use with you that bothers you the most?

To begin exploring your Human Energy Field and strengthen your leadership to include more authentic connections, message me to set up a free 15-minute Intro to Leading with your HEF: Human Energy Field.

❌ 📷 1-3 = Unhealthy Energetic Defense Patterns

🌟📷 4-6 = Healthy Energetic Relationships - Harmonic Induction/Pool of Shared Meaning

Information + images adapted from Hands of Light, B. Brennan

4 DIMENSIONS OF HUMANKIND

“Energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.” - Law of Conservation of Energy

🌟 Balanced, whole-body leadership requires us to operate from a place of POSITIVE INTENTIONALITY. HARA is the dimension of INTENTION. It sets the template for how our energy flows. We can be in a flow of positive intentionality or negative intentionality as we move about our day. We can also have splits, conscious or subconscious, in our Intentionality.

🌟 Positive intentionality is the flow of energy that creates a pleasure current in the body. When we are in positive intentionality we allow energy to flow freely, and we are in alignment with what we want to create, consciously and sometimes subconsciously, in our world. As we live and lead from positive intentionality, we notice an ease in our creation, cohesion in our teams, and productivity that often defies linear time.

🌟 Negative intentionality can create what Freud calls Schadenfreude and what Brene Brown calls “common enemy intimacy” which can negatively impact “the vault” and trust in a team. When we create from negative intentionality, our team can feel the splits in our intention, and it will negatively impact team cohesion, trust, and productivity in the work.

Information + images adapted from Hands of Light, B. Brennan

4 DIMENSIONS OF HUMANKIND

“Energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.” - Law of Conservation of Energy

Balanced, whole-body leadership requires us to keep our AURIC dimension clear and flowing. The AURIC dimension is energy that is metabolized into our PHYSICAL dimension. It is a Bio-energetic field of interpenetrating layers of the field that define our personality. As Brene Brown says, “Who we are is how we lead,” and the AURIC field contains the energy and elements of who we are, our personality.

The AURIC field is also where our defenses exist, and, when we are not aware of it, these defenses can negatively impact our ability to be authentic, show up in our truth, and lead from our strengths.

The CONSCIOUSNESS of the first seven levels of the AURIC Dimension:

Level 1 – Physical Sensations

Level 2 – Personal Emotions

Level 3 – Thinking/Human Mind

Level 4 – I-Thou Emotions

Level 5 – Higher/Divine Will

Level 6 – Higher Emotions

Level 7 – Higher Concepts/Divine Mind

Information + images adapted from Hands of Light, B. Brennan

4 DIMENSIONS OF HUMANKIND

“Energy is neither created nor destroyed, only transformed.” - Law of Conservation of Energy

Build awareness of how your energy is flowing in the 4 DIMENSIONS of HUMANKIND:

🌟 PHYSICAL- the third dimension; it is the dimension we are most familiar with and is slowed down so we can focus and discern what we are experiencing in our body and self in any given moment

🌟 AURIC- is energy that is metabolized into the PHYSICAL; is it the Bio-energetic field of interpenetrating layers of the field that define our personalities; our defenses exist here as well

🌟 HARA- is the level of INTENTION; it is how our energy flows; we can be in positive intentionality or negative intentionality and we can have splits in our intentionality

🌟 CORE STAR- is the eternal “Self”; it is our place of creation; everything comes back to this place and then is reborn without distortion.

Information + images adapted from Hands of Light, B. Brennan

CHAKRAS

✨MONDAY MINDFUL MOMENT: CHAKRAS ON THE SECOND LEVEL OF THE HEF✨ 

🌟 WHAT IS A CHAKRA?🌟

Chakra is the sanskrit word for “wheel."

Chakras take in energy from the HEF and nourish our physical bodies.

Chakras are located near the major nerve plexus of the human body.

Chakras have a front and a back aspect, except for First and Seventh Chakras.

Front aspects align with our emotional centers; back aspects align with our will, and upper chakras align with our reason.

🤍SEVENTH CHAKRA-VIOLET WHITE🤍

Color: VIOLET WHITE

Location: Crown Center

Number of Vortices: 972

Consciousness: Integration of total personality with life, and spiritual aspects of mankind

Organs: Upper brain, right eye

🤍WAYS TO STRENGTHEN🤍

Wear violet and white

Breathe in the color violet white through the top of your head while feeling your feet firmly on the ground

Sit in meditation/prayer

CHAKRAS

✨MONDAY MINDFUL MOMENT: CHAKRAS ON THE SECOND LEVEL OF THE HEF✨ 

🌟 WHAT IS A CHAKRA?🌟

Chakra is the sanskrit word for “wheel."

Chakras take in energy from the HEF and nourish our physical bodies.

Chakras are located near the major nerve plexus of the human body.

Chakras have a front and a back aspect, except for First and Seventh Chakras.

Front aspects align with our emotional centers; back aspects align with our will, and upper chakras align with our reason.

💙💜SIXTH CHAKRA-INDIGO💜💙

Color: Indigo

Location: 6A- forehead center 6B- mental executive

Number of Vortices: NINETY-SIX

Consciousness: 6A- capacity to visualize and understand mental concepts; 6B- ability to cary out ideas in a practical way

Organs: lower brain, left eye, ears, nose, nervous system

💙💜WAYS TO STRENGTHEN💜💙

Wear indigo

Stand outside in the night time and focus/meditate on the sky on a clear night

Breathe in the color indigo to the center of your brain, focus on the pituatary gland

Practice visualizing and breaking down the steps to something you want to bring into your life

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHAKRAS? Stay tuned for a powerful upcoming HANDS OF LIGHT workshop in Ann Arbor, MI this August!

CHAKRAS

✨MONDAY MINDFUL MOMENT: CHAKRAS ON THE SECOND LEVEL OF THE HEF✨ 

🌟 WHAT IS A CHAKRA?🌟

Chakra is the sanskrit word for “wheel."

Chakras take in energy from the HEF and nourish our physical bodies.

Chakras are located near the major nerve plexus of the human body.

Chakras have a front and a back aspect, except for First and Seventh Chakras.

Front aspects align with our emotional centers; back aspects align with our will, and upper chakras align with our reason.

🩵FIFTH CHAKRA-SKY BLUE🩵

Color: Sky Blue

Location: 5A-Throat Center; 5B-Base of neck

Number of Vortices: SIXTEEN

Consciousness: 5A-taking in and assimiliating; 5B- sense of self, within society and one’s profession

Organs: Bronchial and vocal apparatus, lungs, and alimentary canal

🩵WAYS TO STRENGTHEN🩵

Wear sky blue

Stand outside and focus/meditate on the sky on a clear day

Breathe in the color sky blue to the throat region and focus on having the breath go all the way down to the feet

Practice speaking your truth with compassion, notice when you agree to be polite, but go against your own truth.

*Some information adapted from Dr. Barbara Brennan Hands of Light + Light Emerging

CHAKRAS

✨MONDAY MINDFUL MOMENT: CHAKRAS ON THE SECOND LEVEL OF THE HEF✨ 

🌟 WHAT IS A CHAKRA?🌟

Chakra is the sanskrit word for “wheel."

Chakras take in energy from the HEF and nourish our physical bodies.

Chakras are located near the major nerve plexus of the human body.

Chakras have a front and a back aspect, except for First and Seventh Chakras.

Front aspects align with our emotional centers; back aspects align with our will, and upper chakras align with our reason.

💚FOURTH CHAKRA-GREEN💚

Color: Green

Location: 4A-Heart Center; 4B-Between Shoulder Blades

Number of Vortices: TWELVE

Consciousness: 4A- heart feelings of love for other beings, openness to life; 4B- ego will, will toward outer world

Organs: Heart, Blood, Vagus Nerve, Circulatory System

Hz= 250-475Hz

💚WAYS TO STRENGTHEN💚

Wear green.

Stand barefoot on grass.

Breathe in the color green to the heart center and shoulder blades.

Spend time connecting with humans or animals.

Listen to music/meditations at 250-475 Hz

CHARKAS

✨MONDAY MINDFUL MOMENT: CHAKRAS ON THE SECOND LEVEL OF THE HEF✨ 

🌟 WHAT IS A CHAKRA?🌟

Chakra is the sanskrit word for “wheel."

Chakras take in energy from the HEF and nourish our physical bodies.

Chakras are located near the major nerve plexus of the human body.

Chakras have a front and a back aspect, except for First and Seventh Chakras.

Front aspects align with our emotional centers; back aspects align with our will, and upper chakras align with our reason.

💛THIRD CHAKRA-YELLOW💛

Color: Yellow

Location: 3A- Solar plexus; 3B- Diaphragmatic Center

Number of Vortices: TEN

Consciousness: 3A- who you are in the universe; 3B- healing, intentionality toward ones health

Organ(s) nourished by this chakra: Stomach, Liver, Gall Bladder, Nervous System

Hz= 500-700Hz

💛WAYS TO STRENGTHEN.💛

Wear yellow and breathe in yellow to the solar plexus chakra front and back

Listen to music at 500-700 Hz

Meditate on your place in the universe and your consciousness toward your own healing on the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual levels

CHAKRAS

✨MONDAY MINDFUL MOMENT: CHAKRAS ON THE SECOND LEVEL OF THE HEF✨ 

🌟 WHAT IS A CHAKRA?🌟

Chakra is the sanskrit word for “wheel."

Chakras take in energy from the HEF and nourish our physical bodies.

Chakras are located near the major nerve plexus of the human body.

Chakras have a front and a back aspect, except for First and Seventh Chakras.

Front aspects align with our emotional centers; back aspects align with our will, and upper chakras align with our reason.

🧡SECOND CHAKRA-SACRAL🧡

Color: ORANGE

Location: 2A: pubic center; 2B: sacral center

Number of Vortices: six

Consciousness 2A: quality of love and pleasure; 2B: quantity of sexual energy.

Organ(s) nourished by this chakra: Reproductive System.

🧡WAYS TO STRENGTHEN🧡

Wear orange.

Breathe in the color orange all the way to the base of your spine.

Eat orange food.

*Some information adapted from Dr. Barbara Brennan Hands of Light + Light Emerging

CHARKAS

✨MONDAY MINDFUL MOMENT: CHAKRAS✨ Over the next seven weeks we will do a mini-lesson on each of the seven major chakras on the second level of the Human Energy Field (HEF ™) and provide some suggestions on how to strengthen each chakra. Feel free to give the exercises a try and/or reach out with any questions.

🌟 WHAT IS A CHAKRA?🌟

Chakra is the sanskrit word for “wheel."

Chakras take in energy from the HEF and nourish our physical bodies.

Chakras are located near the major nerve plexus of the human body.

Chakras have a front and a back aspect, except for First and Seventh Chakras.

Front aspects align with our emotional centers; back aspects align with our will, and upper chakras align with our reason.

❤️FIRST CHAKRA-BASE❤️

Color: RED

Location: perineum/coccyx

Number of Vortices: FOUR

Consciousness: Quality of physical energy; will to live.

Organ(s) nourished by this chakra: Spinal column, kidneys.

❤️WAYS TO STRENGTHEN.❤️

Wear red

Breathe in the color red, all the way to the base of your spine.

Eat red food (bell pepper, red apples, etc.).

*Some information adapted from Dr. Barbara Brennan Hands of Light + Light Emerging

NERVOUS SYSTEM HACKS

It’s been 1 year since I started sharing Monday Mindful Moments ✨ Sharing some of my mindful leadership best practices 🙏:

🖇️Cold Plunge: My December Challenge was a daily cold plunge in my Ice Pod. Even if you don’t have a pod, run the shower cold for a minute or two, or combine mindful breathing with a splash of cold water on the face.

🖇️Wim Hof Breathing: I employed this method during my cold plunges. Take 30-40 deep breaths, in through your nose or mouth, out through your mouth. Fill your belly and chest with each powerful burst. Inhale deeply, exhale, then hold your breath again.

🖇️Body Scan: Do a full body scan to support calm focus and full embodiment in the day to day. This video guides you through a short body scan exercise.

🖇️Walking Meditation: A 5-min walking meditation to increase blood flow and boost inspiration and mood. I recommend this one to my leaders.

NERVOUS SYSTEM HACKS: COLD PLUNGE

Sharing lessons learned after 31 days of my cold plunge challenge in this video.
📎 Immediate support and nervous system reset in times of anxiety/panic.

📎 Better sleep!

📎 Increased confidence.

📎 Increased presence, calm and peace in my day!

NERVOUS SYSTEM HACKS: COLD PLUNGE

Embracing the #chill in both water and in life for my first holiday season without Liv at home. I’m aiming to start each day with a cold plunge, setting the temp at 55 and building from 5 minutes to 10! Excited to share this journey! I am pairing the cold plunge with the Wim Hoff Breathing video linked here.

NERVOUS SYSTEM HACKS: TAPPING

Stress can be paralyzing, but don't give up on yourself! TAP into your inner strength by using simple techniques like tapping to release the tension.

Tapping on pressure points while repeating affirming phrases has been shown to send a calming signal to our brains. This 7-min video from The Tapping Solution shows common tapping points, including the collarbone and the top of your head, and how tapping each can be used to release stress. 

NERVOUS SYSTEM HACKS: YOGA POSES

Connecting your body and mind, for even a few minutes, can do wonders for an anxious nervous system. The Human Performance Resource Center shared several easy yoga poses to do in your office or classroom for a moment of respite and grounding - no experience required! 

NERVOUS SYTEMS HACKS: BRAIN/BODY HEALTH

In the midst of difficult news, stressful situations, and long hours, there’s some pretty easy ways to get your daily dose of happiness chemicals using your brain and body:

How to boost your happiness chemicals (from The Brain Health Doctor):

• DOPAMINE for reward + motivation: Exercise, briefly meditate, or soak in a new experience

• OXYTOCIN for love + connection: Hug a child, socialize, or perform an act of kindness

• SEROTONIN for good mood: Stand outside in the sunshine, express gratitude, or take a short walk

• ENDORPHINS for pain + stress: Make time for exercise, laugh with a colleague, and break off a piece of dark chocolate!

BREATHWORK/BREATHING

The holiday season can feel stressful as teachers and admins push to the end of the year. We recommend the Wim Hof method of breathing to calm your nervous system and refocus your energy:

Sit or lie down, find your zen zone, and follow these simple steps:

1️⃣ Get comfy in a meditative position.

2️⃣ Take 30-40 deep breaths, in through your nose or mouth, out through your mouth.

3️⃣ Fill your belly and chest with each powerful burst.
4️⃣ Inhale deeply, exhale, then hold your breath. Feel the calm.

BREATHWORK/BREATHING

A simple technique to lower stress levels, improve sleep, and reduce anxiety…We ask our leaders to practice Box Breathing at least 3x each week, and move to once a day during particularly stressful weeks. Follow this 3-minute BOX BREATHING EXERCISE (aka SQUARE BREATHING) to get started.

Intentional deep breathing can actually calm and regulate the autonomic nervous system. Box breathing has numerous positive effects on our physical system, including:

✨ Lowers stress levels

✨ Stimulates brain growth

✨ Reduces anxiety

✨ Lowers blood pressure

✨ Cleanses the lungs

✨ Improves sleep

MEDITATIONS: LOVING KINDNESS, BUILDS COMPASSION

⤴ Positive motions and ⤵ negative ones. One of our favorite ways to support leaders in difficult conversations: a 2-min Loving-Kindness meditation ✨ 

Guide yourself through this 2-min meditation and hold compassion for all who cross your path.

MEDITATIONS: FULL BODY SCAN 

The FULL BODY SCAN is like a reset button for your mind 🧠 Body scans are one of the mindful leadership techniques that we practice during our IMPACT Cohort training. Taking just 10 minutes to guide yourself through this experience can make a world of difference in your day and clear your mind to allow you to show up as your authentic self.

Click here for a 10-min guided body scan, and let me know what you think.

MEDITATIONS

How to infuse mindfulness into your DECISION MAKING. 📝 Prioritize decisions that align with your school’s values and mission. By making MINDFUL choices, you lead by example and inspire others to do the same.

Practicing mindful decision making is a gift for your entire school community.

MEDITATIONS: DOODLING

Why we fully encourage DOODLING throughout the day…We know art benefits kids, so why not apply that learning to adults who need a break? Doodling activates the prefrontal cortex. Try it as a kickoff to your next staff meeting or take a mindful moment to yourself.

MEDITATIONS: LOVING KINDNESS, BUILDS COMPASSION

At Jill Dunchick Consulting, we believe in the power of Loving-Kindness -- so much that it is our go-to for starting off meetings and crucial conversations. Let us share this 2-min meditation led by Sylvia Boorstein with you! Start your day off right or take a calming break before diving into something difficult. Give yourself some self compassion; after all, at JDC we know how hard each one of you works to make things happen every single day. 

MEDITATIONS: LABYRINTHS

Reduce stress and calm the mind through labyrinths.

A labyrinth is a single winding path with no end that is used for walking meditation. Many use labyrinths to quiet the mind, calm anxieties, and encourage meditation. Labyrinths are used worldwide; here is a locator to find one near you.

MEDITATIONS: MINDFULNESS QUIZ

Uncovering our true PRESENCE when faced with tough circumstances can help us become the most effective leaders for a more impactful future. Part of our Impact Cohort work is focused on building self-awareness of how we show up in all scenarios, challenging and comfortable alike. Check out this Mindfulness Awareness Self-Assessment that we use in our Impact Cohort pre-work.

MEDITATIONS: BODY MAPPING

“Leadership is not just some empty formulas but establishing deep connections at soul levels through service, integrity, passion, perseverance and equanimity.” ― Amit Ray

Click here for a 12-min body map meditation from Michelle Maldonado, which leaders can use at the start or end of their days, or after periods of overwhelm. Taking the time to ground yourself can, in turn, allow you the emotional space to serve others with compassion and care.

MEDITATIONS: WALKING MEDITATION

Click here for a 5-minute walking meditation with Jack Kornfield. At Jill Dunchick Consulting, we use this meditation with leaders who want to increase their dispositional mindfulness, but struggle with traditional meditation. We suggest using this video at least three times each week.  

According to Healthline, the benefits of walking meditation include:

✨ Boosts blood flow + blood sugar levels

✨ Improves digestion

✨ Reduces anxiety

✨ Alleviates depression

✨ Inspires creativity