Unlocking the Chakras

“First is the Earth Chakra. Located at the base of the spine. It deals with survival and is blocked by fear. What are you afraid of?”

Azula closes her eyes and reaches into the back of her mind, pushing aside all the emotional walls she erected to protect herself from the world, “I am afraid of being abandoned, I am afraid of losing the love of those closest to me, of being betrayed. My mom was banished when I was young, my father’s love turned into harsh discipline, and my closest friends betrayed me.” Guru Pathik’s voice swirls into Azula’s mind, “Let your fears become clear to you. You must not concern yourself of those fears. You must push past them.” Azula starts to sweat and clenches her fists, she takes a deep breath in, then exhales her fears.

“Next is the Water Chakra. Located at the pelvis. It deals with pleasure and is blocked by guilt. What do you blame yourself for?”

Azula closes her eyes and reaches into the back of her mind, “I blame myself for Mai and Ty Lee’s betrayal, I treated them poorly and used manipulation to force them into joining me on my mission.” Guru Pathik’s voice echoes in Azula’s mind, “Accept the reality that these things happened, but do not let them cloud and poison your energy. You need to forgive yourself.” Azula takes a deep breath in, then exhales her guilt.

“Third is the Fire Chakra. Located in the stomach. It deals with will power and is blocked by shame. What are you ashamed of? What are your biggest disappointments in yourself?”

Azula thinks back, “I’m ashamed of my failure at Ba Sing Se, the drill. I underestimated my opponent. I am ashamed of my failure with the Kemurikage, they overthrew me. I am ashamed of my paranoia during my coronation, I banished everyone at the royal palace.” The voice of Guru Pathik flows through Azula’s ears, “You need to accept that part of your life. Your failures make you stronger, not weaker.” Azula wrenches her head back and takes a couple deep breaths to let the words settle in her mind, then exhales her shame.

“Fourth is the Air Chakra. Located in the heart. It deals with love and is blocked by grief. What do you grieve over?”

Azula clenches her chest, “I-I grieve over the banishment of my mother, I grieve over losing the one person that truly loved me. I buried my feelings so my father wouldn’t see how weak I was, his star-child, his fire bending prodigy.” The melodious hymn of the Guru’s voice resonates through Azula’s mind, “Your loss is reborn in the form of new love. Let the pain flow away.” Azula’s breath is easy and begins to slow, her heart rate settles to a normal rate. Azula takes a long deep breath in, then exhales her grief.

“Fifth is the Sound Chakra. Located in the throat. It deals with truth, and is blocked by lies, the ones we tell ourselves. What lies do you tell yourself?”

Azula swallows her pride and utters, “I lie about my mother’s hatred toward me. I think of myself as a monster. I couldn’t accept the fact that someone who loved me would leave, so I told myself: ‘Mom hates me, she must think I’m a monster under Dad’s thumb. She was banished because she was plotting to kill me.’” Guru Pathik’s words were sweet like honey, “You cannot lie about your nature, you must accept who you are. You are Azula.” Azula tears up, then swallows her hatred and takes a deep breath, then exhales her lies.

“Sixth is the Light Chakra. Located in the center of the forehead. It deals with insight and is blocked by illusion. The greatest illusion of this world is the illusion of separation. Things you think are separate and different are actually one and the same.” Azula picks up the thought, “Like my brother Zuko and I. We both have internal struggle, unsure of where our loyalty and ambitions truly are. Pushed by expectations and royal status, both facing the wrath of our manipulative and harsh father, Fire Lord Ozai. Even my mother suffered under his grasp. We all struggled; we are not so different from each other.” Clear words echo from Guru Pathik, “We are all connected. Everything is connected. Division is meaningless” Azula wipes the sweat from her brow and does away with her corrupted thoughts, she exhales the thick veil of illusions.

“Last is the Thought Chakra. Located at the crown of the head. It deals with pure cosmic energy and is blocked by earthly attachment. What attaches you to this world?” Azula leans inward toward the pool of water in front of her, staring at her reflection. A drop of sweat falls from her chin and into the water. She sees her life play out in front of her, memories of what she holds closest to her, “My royal status. My best-friends, Mai and Ty Lee. My fire bending. My family. My Power.” Guru Pathik takes a deep breath in and out, “Now, let all of those attachments go.” Azula’s eyes shoot open, shocked to hear the words, Guru Pathik continues, “Learn to let go.” Azula clenches her eyes shut to hold back tears and yet, one escapes her grasp. The tear travels down her cheek and falls from her chin and into the pool of water. Her past fades from the pool and returns her reflection: a gold-eyed, messy hair girl, with tattered clothes, and pain painting her face. Azula reseats herself and takes a few deep breaths, then places her hand over her heart for one long exhale. She takes a long and steady deep breath in then out and opens her eyes. Calm. Steady. Balanced.

Azula looks around her, unnerved to find she is back on the isolated island, her boat still beached ashore, the scorched statue of her mother staring at her. Azula walks up to the statue, takes in a deep breath and speaks from the heart, “I’m sorry for my past mistakes. For attempting to kill you when you were with your new family and kidnapping your new daughter. I wish to make amends with you, with everyone. In person.” Azula pushes the boat out onto the water and jumps in, she hops toward the back of the boat and uses her fire bending to propel the boat, heading for the fire nation royal city.