Today we are going to take a look at
our chakras. I will give an overview of the chakra system and each of
the seven main chakras then touch base on some “minor” chakras.
Later, I will be posting more in-depth information about each of the
chakras, ailments associated with closed or over-active chakras, and
some tips on how you can open and balance your energetic system.
Please know that this information comes from not only from research I
have done, but through my experiences as a Reiki practitioner as
well. If you have any information that you would like to share,
please feel free to leave a comment below! Enjoy~
The word chakra comes from the Sanskrit
word “wheel”, and the chakra concept is featured in tantric and
yogic traditions in Hinduism and Buddhism. The shakta theory,
introduced to the West in 1927 by Sir John Woodroffe (known by the
alias Arthur Avalon) in the book The Serpent Power, was primarily
based on the translations of two Indian texts: Sat-Cakra-Nirupana and
Padaka-Pancaka.
Chakras are not found in the physical
body. We cannot cut someone open and find the root or any other
chakra; however, these energy centers can be detected. I often check
chakras before and after giving a Reiki treatment with my pendulum,
but I will get into that more later! There is no consensus on the
total number of chakras that we have in or around our bodies. Some
believe there are as many as 340,000! Almost everyone can agree that
there are 7 main chakras, starting at the base of the spine and
continuing up the torso to the top of the head. These vortices of
energy collaborate with the body through the endocrine and nervous
systems. Each of the seven chakras is associated with one of the
endocrine glands, and also with a specific group of nerves called a
plexus. This means each chakra is linked to particular parts and
functions within the body controlled by the plexus or endocrine gland
associated with the chakra.
Each of the seven chakras have their
own colors, correspondences, and functions. The following are short
descriptions:
Chakra One: The Root Chakra is red, and
located at the tailbone. It is masculine in nature, and associated
with the adrenal glands. Primary characteristics include survival,
security, stability, and the ability to meet one's basic needs.
Chakra Two: The Sacral Chakra is
orange, and located just below the navel. It is feminine in nature,
and associated with the reproduction glands. Primary characteristics
include sexuality, creativity, reproduction, emotionality, and
adaptability.
Chakra Three: The Solar Plexus is
yellow, and located below the breast bone. It is masculine in nature,
and associated with the pancreas. Primary characteristics include
personal power, confidence, and mental agility.
Chakra Four: The Heart Chakra is green,
and located where? You guessed it, at the heart. It has feminine
qualities, and is associated with the thymus gland. Primary
characteristics include loving yourself and others, compassion,
kindness, and a sense of peace.
Chakra Five: The Throat Chakra is blue,
and is located in the throat center. The throat chakra carries
masculine qualities and is associated with the thyroid. Primary
characteristics include standing and speaking your truths, expressing
oneself creatively, and maintaining integrity in all areas of living.
Chakra Six: The Third Eye or Brow
Chakra is indigo in color, and located above the brow, between the
eyes. Feminine in nature, and associated with the pineal gland, the
primary characteristics of the brow chakra include wisdom,
imagination, vision, perception, and intuition.
Chakra Seven: The Crown Chakra is
violet or white, located just above the crown of the head, and is
associated with the pituitary gland. Since this is not a “bodily”
chakra, it is unified, rather than associated with feminine or
masculine aspects. The primary characteristic of the crown chakra is
connection to the divine or universal life force.
There are other minor chakras including
the ears (associated with clairaudience). The seat of the soul (also
known as the 8th chakra) holds information about karma and past
lives. There are many more chakras from various cultural traditions!
I find that working with the seven main chakras is effective, and
trying to give you information about the hundreds or thousands of
other chakras could confuse things in an already complex subject.
As you can see, chakras are not only
relative to our biological body, but also an expression of our
consciousness, much in the same way our auras reflect the condition
of our consciousness. They are the openings for life energy to flow
into and out of our aura, powering our physical, mental and emotional
health. The Chakras are often described as "lotus flowers"
or spirals of energy. They can also be perceived as a long funnel.
The small end of the funnel is attached to the nerves or glands, and
the wide end of the funnel reaches just outside of the body.
Blockages or abnormalities can be detected with a pendulum held
slightly above the body at each point.
Many people believe that the
directional flow of energy differs between men and women. Like
interlocking gears rotating clockwise and counter-clockwise, energy
flows through the chakras from the root to the crown. For women, the
root chakra spins clockwise and the sacral chakra spins
counter-clockwise. For men, the root chakra spins counter-clockwise
and the sacral chakra spins clockwise. This flow can be disrupted
however, causing some chakras to spin at irregular speeds, to stop
spinning completely, or to even spin in the opposite direction. As I
go through each of the individual chakras more thoroughly, you will
develop a better understanding of each energy center and how it
directly relates to, and even manifests symptoms, in the physical
body. I'll also give you tips to help you open and balance these
energy centers. In the meantime, take some time to digest this
information, and send all your questions my way. See you soon, my
beautifully colored and peaceful beings!
Namaste
