It is important when communicating with people that you try to speak at the same level. Almost like tuning into the person you are talking to so that you are both on the same wavelength. When you are talking with someone and you are both on the level it makes it easier for you to both understand each other. This is often called rapport in the professional communication community. Having rapport or gaining rapport is essential in therapy, public speaking, and making friends. We can all see the value of learning how to gain rapport with the people we are in contact in any capacity, can’t we?

Neuro-Linguistic Programming specializes in developing skills for rapport. This includes enough sensory acuity to notice breathing rates, posture, hand gestures, eye accessing cues, and sensory predicates as well as many other indicators.

Chakras, or energy centers, are part of the East Indian tradition of Yoga, and are used to designate 7 centers on the body that correspond to levels of evolution of the human spirit. Each of the Chakras relate to an element, a stage of psychological development, colors, sound, anatomical organ, as well as a whole spectrum of aspects. This metaphysical tradition uses this understanding to further understand one’s self as well as others.

While the subject of Hindu mysticism is beyond the scope of this article, the aspect of psychological development is of great use to us in regards to establishing, understanding, and manipulating rapport as a phenomena of personal communication.

The Chakras:

1. Earth Chakra: Located at the base of the spine; relates to Survival, Grounding, and Stillness
2. Water Chakra: Located just below the navel; relates to Desire, Sexuality, and Tears
3. Fire Chakra: Located at the Solar Plexus; relates to Will Power, Laughter, Anger, and Joy
4. Air Chakra: Located at the Heart; relates to Love, Balance, and Compassion
5. Sound Chakra: Located at the Throat; relates to Communication, Creativity, Connection
6. Located at the Forehead; relates to Intuition, Imagination, and Dreaming
7. Located at the Top of the Head; relates to Understanding, Knowing, and Bliss

Trying to converse or speak with someone who is at a different level than your communication will result in a disconnected reaction. Ever tell a joke at the wrong time? You were possibly using the wrong level of communication. Ever have a long conversation that starts with Tears and ends with Laughter? You may have unconsciously directed another’s thoughts up from the 2^nd Chakra to the 3^rd Chakra, if this conversation brought you closer you moved onto the 4^th Chakra, and finally if you continued to communicate in a creative and natural way that reached an understanding between the two of you, you finally ascended to the 7^th Chakra.

It is impossible or difficult to skip levels when talking to someone in a meaningful way. As you may have done this when making up with someone, or coming to an agreement with someone by ascending, you can also of course do this in a descending manner as well.

The Japanese have a term for this kind of communication, that parallels Maslow's hierarchy of needs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs), which in English might be translated to Mind Dancing. This is a process of first determining where a person is, what level they are on, and then with deliberate communication techniques arriving at a predetermined result. Whether your result is to make them feel safe or threatened (1^st Chakra) or create a sense of Understanding or Confusion (7^th Chakra) will determine which direction you speak in.

Use this information both wisely and thoughtfully, and take care to notice when others use it on you. Mind Control tactics are a two edged sword, and cuts both ways. The repercussions can have long lasting effects.