Healing my Millennial burnout, one woo-woo experiment at a time.
Yes, that’s me with a singing bowl on top of my head, bracing myself to be shaken like a dinner bell from an old cartoon. You’re probably wondering how I got here? So was I.
Like a lot of people, I’ve spent the past couple of years trying to “fix myself.” As a millennial who’s navigating burnout and starting over, I’m constantly looking for new experiences to rediscover my creativity and my pre-burnout self – and I know I’m not alone.
Fortune Magazine reported last year that more than half of millennials are suffering from burnout – more than Gen X or Gen Z. Honestly? We’re all just tired.
Which takes me back to the singing bowl on top of my head inside a crystal store in Van Nuys, California. I’m heading into my fourth year living in Los Angeles, and honestly it seems like I just got here. I finally feel like I’m coming out of that 2020 fog – and I’m embracing some of the “woo woo” aspects of living here.
Why a chakra healing now? Because I know I’m on a journey – spiritual, mental and physical. To make the most out of every moment and not take life and myself so seriously. I’ve always loved crystals, so when I discovered MagicasGemas in Van Nuys, I had to check it out. The owner, Raul Melendez, was so knowledgeable and welcoming that when he mentioned chakra readings, I figured why not?
He could sense that I was very new to this and explained the process thoroughly before we got started. Raul explained the seven main chakras – crown, third eye, throat, heart, solar plexus, sacral and root – and how they all relate to each other before reading mine.
This was an intense experience. You really felt like he was looking into your soul – but I guess that’s the point. The room smelled faintly of incense, eucalyptus and maybe lavender? The stones were cool against my skin, and the vibrating hums of the singing bowls were incredibly relaxing.
Turns out, my crown chakra – which he said connects you to your angels and ancestors – is not balanced the way it should be, which you can imagine affects the entire body. He said I overthink too much, which if you know me, won’t shock you. I’d also closed off my heart chakra at some point (also not shocking) and I have a lot of anxiety affecting my solar plexus – which honestly checks out, too.
What did surprise me is that he told me my throat chakra was “keeping me afloat,” and that I had no problem communicating and expressing myself. This was validating to someone who’s relied on writing skills for the past 10 years.
My root chakra was also surprisingly grounded, giving me great stability. Raul said my mind, body and spirit were disconnected and recommended Tai Chi to help with that (I’ve now added that to my list of activities to try). For additional grounding, he told me to spend more time in nature – which is good advice for all of us.
After the reading came the healing itself. Using stones/crystals, essential oils and singing bowls, he went through each chakra from the root up – having me visualize the healing with each chakra’s coordinating color.
Raul clearing my third-eye chakra.
The final chakra was the crown – hence the singing bowl on top of my head – and that vibration rattled me from my toes to the top of my head.
It was disorienting in the best way. I instantly felt lighter and more aligned. Afterwards, I sat in the car to reflect on my experience – grateful to be in a city with so many nice people and new experiences.
Obviously I’m not a doctor – this was spiritual exploration, not medical advice. But if it’s in your belief system, it’s worth trying. The best part? You get a customized bracelet in two weeks for your specific needs. Your own, personal prescription.
I’ll keep you posted on mine once it’s completed. In the meantime, take care of yourselves and remember to have some fun. Your 90s/2000s self would be so proud of you.
