April - Month of Awakening
The last remnants of winter in the Northern Hemisphere are replaced by warmer days and nights. The word “April” is from the Latin word “aperire,” meaning “to open.”
It is a month of exploring new ideas and concepts that stimulate our minds. We imagine future opportunities and experiences while gathering more information and data to understand all the changes occurring. Nature blooms with colorful flowers, trees, and fields of grass.
The Head Center energy intensifies in the anticipation of milestone events and plans for the upcoming change in seasons. The sun shifts in the sky, reflecting the astrological movements of the stars and planets. It is a time “to open” our minds to alternative views. We must become more self-aware of how we react, and hopefully respond, to triggers that challenge us with different perspectives, helping us discern opinions from facts. By taking a full inventory of our biases or presumptions, we can learn to respond versus react. Is our verbal, emotional, and somatic language inclusive or dismissive of racial, ethnic, religious, or political viewpoints?
The Head Center’s three types (5 6 7) all share the unconscious motivator of fear. There is a deep-rooted energy of fearing what could happen or what danger lies ahead, along with the anxiety of not being certain or being constrained by others. The hyper-cognitive curiosity of this Center can spark more fear and anxiety. Under stress, each type moves to three other types’ less resourceful behaviors in one of each of the three Centers – being overwhelmed with chaos and too many options (Type 5 to 7); becoming busy doing rather than focusing (Type 6 to 3); and becoming rigid, controlling, and inflexible (Type 7 to1).
Type 5 – The Investigator focuses on gathering information, clarity, and certainty. They are curious, prepared and observant. Their fear of being unprepared prompts their intellectual strength into projections that may or may not be true. By not engaging and preferring observing, they have a sense of security and comfort. Under duress or chaos, Type 5s fear not having clarity and certainty and seek more information. However, with too many options, they fail to trust themselves and act on the information they have.
Type 6 – The Loyal Skeptic may appear calm on the outside but exemplifies fear and anxiety within. They are loyal, want to please, and anticipate any possible threat to their safety and security. Their dutiful, reliable, adherence to rules, regulations, and authority can be undercut with skepticism and distrust.
Type 7 – The Enthusiast exudes positivity and opportunity. Their reluctance to limit and focus their energies on being satisfied challenges them to seek more. They focus on the future and can tend to avoid negative or sad feelings. When stressed, Type 7s often resort to less desirable characteristics of Type 1, which can be controlling, critical, and judgmental behaviors. Their fear manifests into defensiveness and an unwillingness to take responsibility or deflect their involvement.
All of us rely heavily on our cognitive Center; however, unlike the other two Centers, Head Center types can dismiss sensations from the Body or feelings from the Heart, in exchange for more information and verification. This Center is called the Perceiving Center because it seeks awareness, clarity, and accuracy.
So, let’s celebrate this month of the Head by noticing the truth with facts that are verified. With the month beginning with “April Fool’s Day,” it is essential we verify and clarify what we are reading and hearing, deciphering what’s true and false.