OUR CROWNING GLORY
Volume 26

With so many idioms on hair alone in every culture, we can be sure that our hair plays an important, and even sacred, role in our lives. After all, our hair is one of the first things that people notice about us!

Hair Reverence In Different Cultures

Most of us know that the Native Americans have a deep respect for hair. They believe that our hair is an extension of us – what we have gone through – just like our thoughts and dreams. They also believe that our hair is a connection to everything around us – nature, sky and Universe. To cut our hair would be to cut off our connection with the world and Higher Intelligence. Even if they do cut their hair, it is not discarded as trash but the hair is revered through a “ceremonial burning”, usually with specific herbs. The burning of hair transforms the energy in the hair and releases it into the air. This ritual returns its energy to the environment in a respectful manner.

Chinese men and women too, did not cut their hair until as recent as 1911 when the Han men cut off their queues with the end of the Qing dynasty. It was believed by the Chinese then that hair was a parent’s gift and hence cutting hair equated to cutting off the parents and so it was considered a very unfilial act. But no one practices this anymore today although other filial acts are still being carried out.

The Sikhs also have the culture of not cutting their hair. I remember when I was about 8 years old asking my Sikh playmate why he kept his hair long. He told me that Sikhs are forbidden to cut their hair as they believed that hair is given by the Creator, and they are to treat their hair with utmost respect. Being 8 at that time, I was fascinated and yet doubted his answer as he had a habit of pulling a fast one on me. I recall going home and asking my mother if it was indeed true!

What Is Hair?

A simple description of hair as found in Wikipedia is that it is a protein filament that grows from follicles found in the dermis.

Hair follicles have sensory nerve fibers at the base, thereby enabling hair to act as receptors. So if one’s hair is “moved”, the nerve endings will be stimulated, and one would feel the “touch” or “movement”. Amazing, right?

Hair And Chakras

Chakra roughly translates to “energy center” or “energy field”. Students of energy medicine and metaphysics see these energy centers as energy distribution hubs for the nearby areas and parts of our body, making them essential to our continued health and well-being.

In terms of the chakra, the hair on our head is closely related to the crown chakra and also the third eye chakra. The crown chakra is located at the top of our head while the third eye chakra is located around the middle of the forehead, slightly above and in between the eyebrows.

The crown chakra connects us to the Universe and allows us to access infinite wisdom. Our third eye chakra has the ability of “All-Seeing” enabling us, for example, to see the truth and know with clarity which direction to take in life.

Therefore, it is important to keep our head and hair clean at all times to avoid any blockage of energy to these two important chakras as any blockage can diminish our ability to receive intuitive guidance or messages.

Hair And Energy

It is believed that the tips of our hair are like antennas, receiving information from our surroundings.

How many of us have experienced goosebumps and the hairs on our neck or arms standing on end when we enter a hotel room or go to a new place, or hear someone say something that is “creepy”? This is because of the vibration of the information, or the energy, from the environment being received by our hair and transmitted through our body.

In the same way, our hair also receives frequencies from the Universe. Déjà vu and the “aha!” moments are such frequencies and information that we receive.

When I was small, I loved it when my mother combed and tied my hair for me before school. Looking back now, I realized that it was the energy of her unconditional love for me that I felt. The gentle, nurturing energy of love and care flowed from her hands to the tips of my hair and on to my entire being. Although I can’t “see” the energy, I most certainly felt it. Recalling those times flushes my entire body with waves of her love all over again.

Men or women taking drastic haircuts and “cutting it all off” when they go through transformational shifts in their lives are nothing new. Many speak of feeling light and free after the big cut. The sense of a new beginning infused with a feeling of newfound freedom. The effect of cutting away hair in this case is extremely powerful as it is that of cutting away energies that no longer serve us. This results in an immediate shift in energy and is very empowering.

Hair And Emotions

We have heard that stress has an effect on our hair and some of us may also have experienced it. Prolonged unhealthy emotions such as fear, sadness, anxiety or depression can cause stress which in turn may result in hair breakage, hair thinning, hair shedding, or even dandruff.

Emotions can get trapped in the hair, too. For example, when we’re upset or overwhelmed, our hair usually feels heavier and can look limp or dull. An easy way to resolve this is by washing the hair as it helps to rid such trapped energy in the hair.

An effective coping technique for stress would be to meditate. Meditation can bring us into a deep state of tranquility, quieting our thoughts and enabling inner calm. Numerous studies show that meditation is a very effective stress-management tool. Join meditation classes on a regular basis to fully reap the benefits of meditation, including having luscious hair!

Our hair not only reflects our personality and health, it also holds our power and is sacred. Let’s treat our hair with respect and love, and we’ll see ourselves with a full head of beautiful and bountiful hair!