God. The notion of releasing our power of choice to a Divine force remains the greatest struggle for the individual seeking to become conscious. Prim… - Caroline Myss

But rewarding oneself with trips and toys is third chakra love — using physical pleasure to express self-appreciation.

The chakra system is an archetypal depiction of individual maturation through seven distinct stages. The chakras are vertically aligned, running from the base of the spine to the crown of the head, suggesting that we ascend toward the Divine by gradually mastering the seductive pull of the physical world. At each stage we gain a more refined understanding of personal and spiritual power, since each chakra represents a spiritual life-lesson or challenge common to all human beings.

We begin the formidable task of getting to know ourselves by discovering our emotional nature — not in relation to anyone or anything, but in relation to ourselves alone. With or without anyone else playing a primary role, a person needs to know: What do I like? What do I love? What makes me happy? What do I need for balance? What are my strengths? Can I rely upon myself? What are my weaknesses? Why do I do the things I do? What makes me need the attention and approval of others? Am I strong enough to be close to another person and still honor my own emotional needs? These questions are different from those of the tribal mind, which teaches us to ask: What do I like in relation to others? How strong can I be while still remaining attractive to others? What do I need from others in order to be happy? What will I have to change about myself in order to get someone to love me? We